MP to Najib: If Sirul’s claim isn’t true, what is?

Gobind Singh Deo says Najib may have just check-mated himself by rubbishing Sirul's claims that he was acting on orders in the Altantuya murder

PETALING JAYA: MP for Puchong, Gobind Singh Deo has said the prime minister must tell the people the truth behind the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu now that he has publicly denied Sirul Azhar Umar’s claims that he acted under orders.

In a statement Gobind asked, “If Sirul’s claim isn’t true, then what is?

“Najib may have just check-mated himself with that answer.”

Gobind said that whether Najib Razak knew what happened that night in 2006, he must answer three important questions namely “what did investigations reveal as motive for the killing?” and “Who directed the killing and why?”

Corporal Sirul and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri of the Special Action Unit (UTK) were both convicted of shooting, then blowing up Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu and are now facing the death sentence. However Sirul, who fled the country before the verdict and is in detention in Australia, revealed recently that he was only acting on orders.

The MP also said that if Najib was in the dark about certain aspects of the murder, then he must find out the truth.

“He (Najib) would until then, be in no position to say whether Sirul is telling the truth or not.

“So why has he as Prime Minister denied it publicly?” Gobind asked of Najib’s statement this morning that Sirul’s claims were “total rubbish”.

Gobind also said, “Would he be, in those circumstances, prepared to retract that statement and direct an open and transparent inquiry into the matter?”