26-11-2023 (KUALA LUMPUR) In response to the Al Jazeera interview featuring former corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has called on Sirul to divulge all information regarding the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Aired on Friday, the interview saw Sirul, a former police commando, refraining from naming the “top politician” who purportedly ordered the killing of Altantuya. Sirul also revealed receiving an undisclosed sum from unidentified sources to maintain silence on the case during his detention in Australia by its Immigration Department.
Najib, through a statement released by his lawyers, Shafee & Co, denies any allegations of attempting to influence or silence Sirul. The statement encourages Sirul to bravely share any information he possesses about the purported mastermind for the sake of truth, transparency, and justice.
Najib’s legal counsel emphasizes that their client has been cleared of involvement in Altantuya’s murder by multiple court rulings, including the Federal Court’s 2020 decision that dismissed former chief inspector Azilah Hadri’s attempt to implicate Najib.
Despite consistent denials by Najib regarding any connection to Altantuya’s murder, recent statements in the interview suggest a vague assertion that Najib exerted interference or influence over Sirul, according to his lawyers. They highlight Sirul’s opportunity to defend himself in court during the case and note his silence on these claims despite facing the death penalty.
Contrary to media portrayals of Sirul and Azilah as Najib’s personal bodyguards, Najib’s legal team clarifies that both were part of a pool of bodyguards shared among the top leadership in the Cabinet at the time. They were arrested after returning from the United Kingdom, having fulfilled their duties to protect the previous Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
To ensure a thorough investigation into the recent claims, Najib requests the Malaysian government to engage Australian authorities in facilitating Sirul’s extradition back to Malaysia. To support this, Najib suggests the government could offer assurances against the death penalty to promote the broader objectives of truth and justice.
