Despite a damaging week
of revelations in the Mongolian murder case, clout and connections
are likely to keep Malaysia’s deputy prime minister where he
is.
It has been a bad week
for Najib Tun Razak, the deputy prime minister of Malaysia.
of revelations in the Mongolian murder case, clout and connections
are likely to keep Malaysia’s deputy prime minister where he
is.
It has been a bad weekfor Najib Tun Razak, the deputy prime minister of Malaysia.
With his close friend
Abdul Razak Baginda on trial for her murder, Najib was identified
Monday by a witness as having had his picture taken with the victim,
Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Abdul Razak Baginda on trial for her murder, Najib was identified
Monday by a witness as having had his picture taken with the victim,
Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.
But the worst could be
over, leaving Najib weakened in his quest to succeed Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi as Malaysia’s prime minister, but probably able to fend
off political demise, unless there are further revelations. Burmaa
Oyunchimeg, Altantuya’s cousin, who said she had seen the
picture of Abdul Razak, Najib and Altantuya having dinner together,
finished her testimony and has returned to Mongolia. No picture has
been shown in court and none is likely to be.
over, leaving Najib weakened in his quest to succeed Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi as Malaysia’s prime minister, but probably able to fend
off political demise, unless there are further revelations. Burmaa
Oyunchimeg, Altantuya’s cousin, who said she had seen the
picture of Abdul Razak, Najib and Altantuya having dinner together,
finished her testimony and has returned to Mongolia. No picture has
been shown in court and none is likely to be.
Earlier in the week,
there were reports that Tengku Razaleigh, a Malay prince and member
of the old guard, former finance minister and one time pretender to
the premiership, was working to challenge Najib for the job of deputy
prime minister. But that challenge appears to have been blunted as
well.
there were reports that Tengku Razaleigh, a Malay prince and member
of the old guard, former finance minister and one time pretender to
the premiership, was working to challenge Najib for the job of deputy
prime minister. But that challenge appears to have been blunted as
well.
Altantuya was murdered
on October 19 last year and dumped in a jungle clearing near the
suburban city of Shah Alam, her body blown up with explosives after
she had been shot twice. Abdul Razak is accused of engineering the
killing at the hands of Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Constable
Sirul Azhar Umar. Azilah was head of Najib’s personal security
team and both men served as bodyguards to the country’s top
political leaders. According to testimony this week, Azilah told
officers that Sirul had killed the woman. There are questions over
the admissibility of the confession and Sirul took the stand Friday
to deny he had confessed.
on October 19 last year and dumped in a jungle clearing near the
suburban city of Shah Alam, her body blown up with explosives after
she had been shot twice. Abdul Razak is accused of engineering the
killing at the hands of Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Constable
Sirul Azhar Umar. Azilah was head of Najib’s personal security
team and both men served as bodyguards to the country’s top
political leaders. According to testimony this week, Azilah told
officers that Sirul had killed the woman. There are questions over
the admissibility of the confession and Sirul took the stand Friday
to deny he had confessed.
Because the
links of the case to top political figures, the trial is being
treated with extraordinary sensitivity by the tame local press,
partly because the leading newspapers, the New Straits Times, the
Star and the top Malay-language papers, are controlled by the
country’s ruling ethnic political parties. Thus, the photo
revelation – an obvious front page story was buried deep
inside the major papers.
links of the case to top political figures, the trial is being
treated with extraordinary sensitivity by the tame local press,
partly because the leading newspapers, the New Straits Times, the
Star and the top Malay-language papers, are controlled by the
country’s ruling ethnic political parties. Thus, the photo
revelation – an obvious front page story was buried deep
inside the major papers.
At the time of
Altantuya's death, Abdul Razak was head of the Malaysian Strategic
Research Center and perhaps Najib’s closest advisor. In an
affidavit filed in December in his defense, Abdul Razak said he had
contacted Azilah through Musa Safri, Najib’s aide-de-camp, to
ask for help in dealing with Altantuya, who by that time was
demanding as much as US$500,000 for the care of a baby she said Abdul
Razak had fathered.
Altantuya's death, Abdul Razak was head of the Malaysian Strategic
Research Center and perhaps Najib’s closest advisor. In an
affidavit filed in December in his defense, Abdul Razak said he had
contacted Azilah through Musa Safri, Najib’s aide-de-camp, to
ask for help in dealing with Altantuya, who by that time was
demanding as much as US$500,000 for the care of a baby she said Abdul
Razak had fathered.
But despite the
connections between Najib, the bodyguards, Abdul Razak and Altantuya,
so far there has been no suggestion that Najib knowingly supplied the
bodyguards to Abdul Razak. That gives Najib, the son of the late
Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and the presumptive heir to the
premiership, the chance to rebuild his battered connections with the
old guard of the United Malays National Organisation, the lead party
in the country’s ruling national ethnic coalition, the Barisan
Nasional.
connections between Najib, the bodyguards, Abdul Razak and Altantuya,
so far there has been no suggestion that Najib knowingly supplied the
bodyguards to Abdul Razak. That gives Najib, the son of the late
Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and the presumptive heir to the
premiership, the chance to rebuild his battered connections with the
old guard of the United Malays National Organisation, the lead party
in the country’s ruling national ethnic coalition, the Barisan
Nasional.
“Najib's
credibility ahead of taking over as PM is certainly dented to an
extent over the Altantuya case,” says a Kuala Lumpur-based
lawyer. “Despite the allegations of complicity in the murder
trial and questions about the submarine sale (Abdul Razak and Najib
have both been accused of profiting from a Malaysian government
purchase), the fact remains that Najib is a well-entrenched
politician. The Razak family history practically guarantees his
rise.”
credibility ahead of taking over as PM is certainly dented to an
extent over the Altantuya case,” says a Kuala Lumpur-based
lawyer. “Despite the allegations of complicity in the murder
trial and questions about the submarine sale (Abdul Razak and Najib
have both been accused of profiting from a Malaysian government
purchase), the fact remains that Najib is a well-entrenched
politician. The Razak family history practically guarantees his
rise.”
The universal
assumption in Malaysia’s political and business community is
that Najib certainly knew Altantuya and may well have partied with
Abdul Razak and the woman, a petite, jet-setting beauty the political
analyst met in Hong Kong and escorted on a whirlwind romance through
Europe, showering her with money and jewels. Given Abdul Razak’s
close relationship with Najib, there is little doubt that he at least
met her, and may well have shared conversations with an increasingly
desperate Abdul Razak, who was being blackmailed by Altantuya, a fact
she even acknowledged in a letter read in court.
assumption in Malaysia’s political and business community is
that Najib certainly knew Altantuya and may well have partied with
Abdul Razak and the woman, a petite, jet-setting beauty the political
analyst met in Hong Kong and escorted on a whirlwind romance through
Europe, showering her with money and jewels. Given Abdul Razak’s
close relationship with Najib, there is little doubt that he at least
met her, and may well have shared conversations with an increasingly
desperate Abdul Razak, who was being blackmailed by Altantuya, a fact
she even acknowledged in a letter read in court.
Prior to publicity over
the murder, many in Malaysia thought Najib was growing powerful
enough to challenge Badawi for the premiership, especially with
former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad carrying on a vitriolic
campaign against Badawi, who has been perceived as a weak and tired
leader. Considerable resentment also has been stirred up against
Abdullah Badawi’s son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, whom many see
as an opportunist.
the murder, many in Malaysia thought Najib was growing powerful
enough to challenge Badawi for the premiership, especially with
former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad carrying on a vitriolic
campaign against Badawi, who has been perceived as a weak and tired
leader. Considerable resentment also has been stirred up against
Abdullah Badawi’s son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, whom many see
as an opportunist.
“There is very
little faith in Pak Lah (Badawi) and the feel good-factor has long
dissipated,” one observer said. “Parliament debates this
or that and the fact is that Badawi is never around, always
overseas.” Thus much of the day-to-day administration of the
government falls to Najib, who also functions in the powerful
position of defense minister.
little faith in Pak Lah (Badawi) and the feel good-factor has long
dissipated,” one observer said. “Parliament debates this
or that and the fact is that Badawi is never around, always
overseas.” Thus much of the day-to-day administration of the
government falls to Najib, who also functions in the powerful
position of defense minister.
“Much of the real
administration or tackling of issues lies with Najib. I understand
that Najib since the beginning of being deputy prime minister is
chairing more than 25 committees,” the lawyer said. “Most
public pronouncements on major issues are made by Najib,”
giving him increasing clout both with government figures and with
those who need government favors.
administration or tackling of issues lies with Najib. I understand
that Najib since the beginning of being deputy prime minister is
chairing more than 25 committees,” the lawyer said. “Most
public pronouncements on major issues are made by Najib,”
giving him increasing clout both with government figures and with
those who need government favors.
But, says another Kuala
Lumpur-based analyst, “The Mongolian affair altered the whole
power formula. Najib's previous arrogance towards Pak Lah has
been replaced by humble deference.”
Lumpur-based analyst, “The Mongolian affair altered the whole
power formula. Najib's previous arrogance towards Pak Lah has
been replaced by humble deference.”
Certainly, Badawi has
relied heavily on Najib to provide a semblance of leadership and
discipline. He is likely to allow Najib to stay on if he can be
assured of Najib’s loyalty. Onetime head of UMNO youth and a
parliamentarian since he was 23, the 54-year-old Najib is now deputy
president of UMNO and deeply entrenched in its leadership and
political machinery.
relied heavily on Najib to provide a semblance of leadership and
discipline. He is likely to allow Najib to stay on if he can be
assured of Najib’s loyalty. Onetime head of UMNO youth and a
parliamentarian since he was 23, the 54-year-old Najib is now deputy
president of UMNO and deeply entrenched in its leadership and
political machinery.
“Najib could
probably contribute more than any other UMNO minister towards
ensuring the prolongation of UMNO’s political power,”
said the analyst.
probably contribute more than any other UMNO minister towards
ensuring the prolongation of UMNO’s political power,”
said the analyst.
“Tengku Razaleigh
is a dark horse. His recent reactivation in UMNO politics is a
reflection of his undying ambition and considerable backing by UMNO
veterans to fill the leadership void, particularly after the
Mongolian affair, when Najib has become very vulnerable,” said
an observer. But don’t look for it to happen.
is a dark horse. His recent reactivation in UMNO politics is a
reflection of his undying ambition and considerable backing by UMNO
veterans to fill the leadership void, particularly after the
Mongolian affair, when Najib has become very vulnerable,” said
an observer. But don’t look for it to happen.
Malaysians accept all
these scandals as a way of life here, said the lawyer, who is close
to the Mahathir family. “A lethargy has set in. Our Inspector
General of Police, Deputy Security Internal Minister and others have
been accused of corruption, and all sorts of other scandalous
allegations are swirling around. After a while, people get tired and
confused. And really the system allows it. They pat your back and
tell you to do it again.”
these scandals as a way of life here, said the lawyer, who is close
to the Mahathir family. “A lethargy has set in. Our Inspector
General of Police, Deputy Security Internal Minister and others have
been accused of corruption, and all sorts of other scandalous
allegations are swirling around. After a while, people get tired and
confused. And really the system allows it. They pat your back and
tell you to do it again.”
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