In Memoriam: ALTANTUYA SHAARIIBUU (reprise)

(From Asia Sentinel)

The Altantuya Murder Trial has dragged on aimlessly for a whole year with the anticipated effect that most spectators have dozed off in their seats. To anyone with more than half a brain cell in their skulls, it certainly appears that Malaysian Justice is as elusive as the legendary Big Foot. Especially in view of the latest postponement of the trial on the very day Dr Shaariibuu Setev, the murdered woman's father, arrived in Kuala Lumpur to look in on the so-called trial's progress (or lack thereof). As a result, Dr Setev has decided to return to Mongolia - after giving a press conference at which he stated that his government is on the verge of severing all ties with Malaysia. The fact that the Malaysian Prime Minister has failed to acknowledge and respond to a formal letter addressed to him from his Mongolian counterpart is an utterly deplorable and disgraceful lapse in manners and reflects very badly on all Malaysians.

As a Malaysian I'm absolutely embarrassed and appalled that such a blatant charade has been permitted to drag on and on for so long while everybody pussyfoots around the thorny question of the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister's involvement in the whole sordid affair. A man who has long been under a thundercloud of suspicion - not only over spectacular irregularities in defense expenditures but also over the gruesome murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu - has been anointed as the next Prime Minister of Malaysia. This same man is on record as having unsheathed a keris during an Umno assembly in 1987 and called for Chinese blood! And yet the Malaysian media remain mute on the obscene grotesqueness of the situation.

By way of sincere apology to Dr Shaariibuu Setev and the Mongolian people, I dedicate this blogpost to the memory of a brave and beautiful woman who had the misfortune to fall into very bad company.

ANWAR TO NAJIB: "Nothing personal!"

(Courtesy of MalaysiakiniTV April 25 2007)

ANWAR TO NAJIB: "Explain photo with Altantuya Shaariibuu!"

(Courtesy of MalaysiakiniTV 29 June 2007)

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been asked to explain the claim made in a court testimonial today that he had been photographed with murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said it was all the more compelling for the deputy premier to explain since he had previously denied having met her.

THE MONGOLIAN PM WROTE TO THE MALAYSIAN PM BUT NEVER GOT A RESPONSE...

(Courtesy of MalaysiakiniTV 24 April 2008)

All ties established between Mongolia and Malaysia may be severed if the courts do not reach a fair decision in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial. Altantuya's father, Dr Shaariibuu Setev, told a press conference that this has been communicated to the Malaysian government.

UITM student Adli Syahril's "modern issues" assignment - the murder scene (28 April 2007)

NAJIB'S DENIAL

Day 10 of the Altantuya Trial (29 June 2007)

Altantuya Shaariibuu's cousin told the High Court here today that in August 2005, Abdul Razak Baginda and Altantuya were still having a relationship as they traveled to "Europe, France and Italy" together. Burmaa Oyunchimeg, also known as Amy, 26, in reply to a question from the prosecution, said Altantuya had shown her a photograph of her with Abdul Razak and Malaysian government officials. Later, when asked by Karpal Singh, who is holding a watching brief for Altantuya's family and the Mongolian government, Burmaa said the photograph was shown to her in Hongkong, on Altantuya's return from France.

Burmaa: There was a picture of Altantuya having a meal on a round table. Altantuya having a meal with Razak Baginda and Malaysian government officials and other people.

Karpal: Who were the government officials in the photograph?

Burmaa: Najib Razak. I remember the name Najib Razak. I remember Razak is the same name. I asked her (Altantuya) 'are they brothers' because they have same name.

[Originally posted 25 April 2008]