Najib Tun Razak Prime Minister MALAYSIA

Najib Tun Razak
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This is a Malay name; the name "Tun Razak" is a patronymic, not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, "Mohd. Najib".
Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri
Mohd. Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak



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Prime Minister of Malaysia
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 April 2009
Monarch Mizan Zainal Abidin
Deputy Muhyiddin Yassin
Preceded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

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Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
In office
31 October 2004 – 3 April 2009
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Preceded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Succeeded by Muhyiddin Yassin

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Finance Minister of Malaysia
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 September 2008
Preceded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

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Defence Minister of Malaysia
In office
31 October 2004 – 17 September 2008
Preceded by Mahathir bin Mohamad
Succeeded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

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President of the United Malays National Organisation
Incumbent
Assumed office
26 March 2009
Deputy Muhyiddin Yassin
Preceded by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

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Born 23 July 1953 (1953-07-23) (age 56)
Kuala Lipis, Federation of Malaya
Political party National Front - United Malays National Organisation
Spouse(s) Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar (1976–1987)[1]
Rosmah Mansor
Children Mohd Nizar
Puteri Norlisa
Mohd Nazifuddin
Nooryana Najwa
Norashman Razak
Religion Islam
Website 1malaysia.com.my
Dato' Seri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak (born July 23, 1953) is the sixth and current Prime Minister of Malaysia. He previously held the post of Deputy Prime Minister from January 7, 2004 until he succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister on April 3, 2009. Najib is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), and is currently the President of UMNO. He is also the son of Malaysia's second prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak.[2]

Contents [hide]
1 Personal life
2 Political career
2.1 UMNO
2.2 Cabinet member
2.2.1 Early career in Cabinet
2.2.2 Minister of Defense
2.2.2.1 Malaysian National Service
2.2.3 Minister of Education
2.2.4 Minister of Finance
2.2.5 Deputy Prime Minister
3 Succession Issues
3.1 Criticism
4 Prime Minister
4.1 1Malaysia
4.2 Political Developments
5 Controversies
5.1 Ethnic and Religious Controversies
6 Corruption Allegations
6.1 Eurocopter deal
6.2 Scorpene Submarines and Sukhoi Fighters
6.3 Patrol Boats
7 Murder of Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa
7.1 French newspaper Liberation
7.2 Murder trial
7.3 Alleged destruction of evidence
7.4 Religiosity issues
7.5 Conspiracy against Anwar Ibrahim
8 Notes and references
9 External links

[edit] Personal life
Born July 23, 1953, in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, Najib is the eldest of Malaysia’s second Prime Minister Abdul Razak's six sons, and the nephew of Hussein Onn, Malaysia’s third Prime Minister. Najib’s five brothers are named Nizam, Nazim, Nazir, Nazri Aziz and Johari.His younger brother, Dato' Seri Mohd Nazir Abdul Razak[3], runs the country's second-largest lender, Bumiputra-Commerce Holdings Bhd.[4] Najib is also one of the Four Noblemen of the Pahang Darul Makmur (Royal Court) by virtue of his inherited title as the Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar. Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak (born July 23, 1953) is the sixth and current Prime Minister of Malaysia.[5]

In 1976 he married Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar ('Ku Yie') with whom he had three children: Mohd Nizar Najib (born 1978), Mohd Nazifuddin Najib and Puteri Norlisa Najib. In 1987 he divorced Ku Yie and married Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor with whom he had two children: Mohd Norashman Najib and Nooryana Najwa Najib.

Najib was born in Kuala Lipis, Pahang, and he received his primary and secondary education at St. John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur. He later attended Malvern College in Worcestershire, England, and subsequently attended the University of Nottingham, where he received a bachelor's degree in industrial economics in 1974.Returning to Malaysia in 1974, he entered the corporate world, serving briefly in Bank Negara (Central Bank) and later with Petronas (the national petroleum corporation) as a Public Affairs Manager.[6]

[edit] Political career

[edit] UMNO
Najib was first elected to the Member of Parliament in 1976, representing the parliamentary constituency of Pekan in an uncontested election after the death of his father. At the age of 23, Najib was also the youngest member of parliament to be elected.[7]

Within the ranks of UMNO, Najib was first appointed as the head of UMNO Youth's Pekan branch and as a member of UMNO Youth's Executive Council (Exco) in 1976. Beginning 1981, he was selected as a member of UMNO's Supreme Council, before winning the post of vice president of UMNO Youth in 1982.[8]

In 1987, Najib was announced as the Acting Leader of Movement of UMNO Youth by Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim after Anwar was asked to contest for the post of Vice President of UMNO. Following the complete reorganisation and founding of the "New" UMNO by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad in the aftermath of the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis, Najib was appointed president of UMNO Youth in 1988.[9]

By 1993, Najib was elected as one of six vice presidents of UMNO in response to Anwar's decision to contest as the deputy president of UMNO. Najib continued to defend his post in party elections held in 1993, 1996 and 2000. In 2004 he won the election unopposed and stressed the extent of responsibilities this post represented.[10]

On March 26 2009, Najib won the UMNO presidency unopposed. UMNO permanent chairman Onn Ismail made the declaration at the outset of the 2009 UMNO General Assembly at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).[11]

[edit] Cabinet member

[edit] Early career in Cabinet
Throughout his political career, Najib held a variety of ministerial portfolios (the first at the age of 32), culminating in the post of Minister of Defence before being chosen as the Deputy Prime Minister by then Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Najib was first assigned into the Cabinet of Malaysia at the age of 25 when he was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Post in 1978, becoming the youngest deputy minister in the country.[12]

Najib would go on to assume myriad posts in the Cabinet, including the Deputy Minister of Education, the Deputy Minister of Finance, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (and its split successor, the Minister of Youth and Sports), the Minister of Education, the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of Finance beginning September 17, 2008.[13]

In addition to positions held in the federal government, Najib served as the Menteri Besar (Chief Executive) of Pahang between 1982 and 1986, becoming the youngest Menteri Besar in the state to enter office when he was sworn in at the age of 29.[14] Najib was also appointed chairman of the Livestock Development Institute (Lembaga Kemajuan Penternakan, Majuternak). During the 1986 general elections, Najib was returned as the Member of Parliament for Pekan, and was appointed as Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. He immediately focused on improving Malaysian sports and introduced the National Sports Policy in 1988. In 1989 Malaysia achieved its best-ever performance at the South East Asia (SEA) Games, which were held that year in Kuala Lumpur.[15]


[edit] Minister of Defense
In 1991, Najib was appointed Minister of Defense. He was seen as revitalizing a Ministry that needed modernization.Under his direction, Malaysian troops were deployed to assist the UN peacekeeping force in Bosnia in 1993.[16] Malay forces were greeted warmly by Bosnians as well as Serbs and Croats.[17]Malaysia also assisted peacekeeping operations in Somalia in 1993, losing one military personnel in an effort to aid U.S. soldiers during the Battle of Mogadishu. Najib later criticized the UN’s Somalia operation as putting too much emphasis on military action.[18]Since then Malaysia has stated a preference for participating in Chapter 6 “peace enforcement” missions, rather than Chapter 7 “peacekeeping” missions.[19] After four years at the Ministry of Defense, Najib assumed control of the Education Ministry in 1995. He returned to the Ministry of Defense in 2000.

During his second tenure as Minister of Defense, Dato’ Sri Najib coordinated Malaysia’s humanitarian relief efforts following the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, and provided support to Indonesia in arresting those responsible for the 2004 Bali bombings.[20] Najib also oversaw the deployment of Malaysian troops as a part of a UN peacekeeping force in 2006, when Malaysia volunteered to help maintain peace in Lebanon following the 2006 Lebanon War.[21]

[edit] Malaysian National Service
As Defense Minister, Najib instituted a compulsory military service program in December 2003, stating that it would encourage intersian action and friendship between youth of different races, religions, and ethnic groups and address concerns that the country’s various cultures were becoming increasingly isolated from one another.[22]

During its first five years of operation, over 339,000 Malaysian youth participated in PLKN,[23] whose programme is intended to promote the principles of tolerance, team work, and community engagement. The programme, however, has faced administrative challenges. Some facilities have been reported as substandard, there have been instances of food poisoning, and service avoidance continues to be an issue. During its first five years of operation, 16 participants died during, or shortly after, their term of service.[24]In response, Najib strengthened PLKN health screening requirements and reinforced government’s commitment to impose sanctions against anyone found negligent in running the programme.[25]In 2008, after 13 years in total serving as Minister of Defense, Najib left that portfolio to manage the Ministry of Finance.[26]

The Malaysian National Service,the creative brainchild of Najib Razak, has been beset by problems since its inception.[27] As of May 2008, there have unfortunately been 16 deaths in the Malaysian National Service.[28] Earlier in 2007, when queried by the press on these deaths, Najib was quoted as saying that the 14 children have died at their homes during NS holidays except for 2 who died from drowning, in an attempt to placate worried Malaysian parents.[29] When recently pressured by more calls to suspend the program due to the deaths, Najib responded that it was not feasible to stop the program since the benefits of the program outweighs the disadvantages.[30] It was reported that nine out of 89 camps in Malaysia will be closed in 2009 after these camps were found to have failed hygiene standards and the camp infrastructure was not properly maintained. [31]

[edit] Minister of Education
In 1995, Najib left the Defense Ministry for the first time when he was appointed Minister of Education. His challenge was to respond to Malaysia's newly proclaimed aspiration to become a fully developed nation by the year 2020. During his five-year tenure, Najib restructured the Ministry, created an independent corporate structure for the public universities, and encouraged collaboration with foreign universities and institutions.[32] This was accomplished through the 1996 Private Higher Education Institutions Act, which for the first time allowed foreign universities to establish degree-conferring schools in Malaysia, providing greater educational opportunities for Malaysians and positioning Malaysia as a regional learning hub.[33] Najib also upgraded teaching certificates to the status of diplomas, so that teachers in that category would receive a higher monthly starting salary.[34]

[edit] Minister of Finance
In September 2008, Najib traded portfolios with Abdullah Badawi, the Prime Minister, and assumed control of the Ministry of Finance.[35] In the midst of the global financial crisis, Malaysia was faced with an international recession and reduced levels of trade throughout the Southasian region. In response, Najib announced a series of stimulus packages to be implemented over a two year period with the intention of acting as a countercyclical response that would cushion Malaysia’s economy. He also pressed for the country to move beyond existing manufacturing capabilities through education, research and development to develop greater strength as a provider of sophisticated business services.[36]


[edit] Deputy Prime Minister
Upon his appointment in 2004 as Deputy Prime Minister, Najib was given a broad portfolio of responsibilities, including oversight of FELDA, the Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM), and the Election Commission. Najib also chaired more than 28 cabinet committees, which preside over a wide range of issues.[37]

On January 29, 2008, Najib also took over as Perak UMNO liaison committee chairman and state Barisan Nasional chairman, replacing former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali who resigned from the posts.[38]


[edit] Succession Issues
After poor election results for the UMNO ruling coalition on March 8, 2008 in which opposition parties gained control of five of thirteen Malaysian state governments, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi identified Deputy Prime Minister Najib as his intended successor in line with the ruling party's tradition of political succession. On October 8, 2008, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi announced he would step down in March 2009, paving the way for Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak to succeed him. However he said the onus was on Najib to win party elections set for March before he could take over.[39]Najib ran for the presidency of UMNO and went on to win on November 2, 2008, without contest.[40]

In many of the controversies about him, the then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Abdullah Badawi identified Deputy Prime Minister Dato' Seri Najib Tun Razak on 6 April 2008 as his probable successor in line with the ruling party's tradition of political succession.[41] . Even former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad predicted that Abdullah will never allow Najib to take over as Prime Minister. He said that although Badawi promises that Najib would succeed him by 2010, allegations would be hurled against the deputy prime minister before then to show up his inability to take over.[42]

Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) report was lodged by veteran UMNO member Mazlan Harun, whose father was imprisoned for 10 years for corruption by Najib's maternal uncle of the second Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn, in August against Najib and the then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi for alleged abuse of power. Mazlan had said the report was based on a letter written by then Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno division head Kapt (R) Datuk Zahar Hashim who wasn't chosen as candidate for the last general elections which accused the two of "political corruption of the highest order." Ironically, both Mazlan and Zahar has been convicted before for corruption and wealth obtained by unexplained means. In the letter addressed to the Umno secretary-general, Zahar said the two top leaders had been campaigning to defend their positions despite asking others not to do the same, adding their actions had violated guidelines issued by party headquarters.[43]


[edit] Criticism
The former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim has urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong not appoint Najib as Prime Minister of Malaysia, and instead appoint someone else from UMNO. He pointed out Najib has been linked on the internet and by political rivals to the brutal murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu. Zaid also cited the RM400 million in commissions reportedly paid by the Defence Ministry while Najib was minister for the procurement of submarines, and pointed out that Abdul Razak Baginda, Najib's friend, was an agent in the deal. [44] This was after Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the former Prime Minister also said that Najib did not shine as a deputy prime minister and stated that Najib carried a lot of baggage into the Prime Minister's job.[45]

UMNO statesman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah stated that as the PM-in waiting Najib should take the witness stand to clear his name or take legal action against the growing number of foreign publications linking him with the murder of Altantuya Shariibuu and the purchase of submarines.[46]


[edit] Prime Minister
Main article: Premiership of Najib Tun Razak
Najib became the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 3 April 2009. His cabinet has 28 members, which is slightly smaller than his predecessor's 32 member cabinet.

First 100 Days Najib entered office with a clear focus on domestic economic issues and long-standing political reform questions. On his first day as Prime Minister, Najib announced as his first actions the removal of bans on two opposition newspapers, Suara Keadilan and Harakahdaily, run by the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim-led People's Justice Party and the Pan Islamic Party, respectively, and the release of 13 people held under the Internal Security Act. He pledged to conduct a comprehensive review of the much-criticized law which allows for indefinite detention without trial. In the speech, he emphasized his commitment to tackling poverty, restructuring Malaysian society, expanding access to quality education for all, and promoting renewed “passion for public service.”[47]In a speech given to the media on April 6, 2009, Najib stated that Malaysia must establish “a new national discourse,” based on the principles of “transparency and accountability”; “service to all”; and “respect and fairness in the public dialogue”, in which “world-class, fact based reporting” including the new media led to better governance through “vibrant public dialogue.”[48]

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has expressed disappointment that Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Cabinet appointments include several unsavoury characters, which negated any desire to rid Umno of blatantly corrupt politicians.[49]


[edit] 1Malaysia
On September 17, 2008, Najib launched his personal website at www.1Malaysia.com.my in an effort to increase communication with the people. As Prime Minister, he has used the site as a communications portal to highlight his political and policy initiatives and to provide a location to solicit the opinions and policy goals of any Malaysians who choose to take part in the site. While Najib has personally emphasized the meaning of 1Malaysia as an effort to unify that which is common to all Malaysians, during the initial days of his new government, the 1Malaysia concept has become subject to a broad range of interpretations and discussion, both by those in favor of and opposed to particular government policies, and involving different elements of Malaysia’s major ethnic groups.[50] Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said that Malaysians should evaluate 1Malaysia against issues such as the constitutional failure in Perak and the corruption involved in the Port Klang Free Zone project. [51]


[edit] Political Developments
Najib’s first significant political crisis as Prime Minister erupted after three months of escalating legal and political disputes came to a head in May 2009 over control of the government of the state of Perak, the second-largest state in peninsula Malaysia. The dispute involving the legitimacy of the state government began with the announcement by a Barisan Nasional politician to change parties to the opposition Pakatan Rakyat. He then returned to Barisan Nasional, together with three Pakatan Rakyat representatives who agreed to now shift their votes to Barisan, in a deal said to have been brokered by Najib when he was Deputy Prime Minister. After the Sultan of Perak dismissed the Pakatan Rakyat government in favour of a new Barisan administration, a constitutional crisis developed, which included dozens of arrests of Pakatan political figures over the course of their efforts to prevent the seating of a new Barisan-led government in Perak. . On May 11, 2009, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled that the Sultan was not constitutionally permitted to dismiss the previous government. On May 22, 2009, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision, and confirmed that Barisan should remain in power, prompting the promise of further appeals by Pakatan.

While the Perak crisis reflected a struggle over control at the state level, opposition figures focused on Najib’s alleged role in securing the defections from Pakatan, and demanded new elections in the state. In turn, Najib stated his position that Malaysia’s political system required rule of law to be followed, and that judicial decisions would determine the outcome of the Perak crisis, which should be based on existing laws and regulations.[52]


[edit] Controversies
Over a period of two decades, Najib has become the subject of two principal types of controversies. First, he has been criticized for alleged (and disputed) statements involving promoting Malay or Islamic interests over non-Malay and secular ones. Second, he has been accused by opposition leaders, and by journalists and bloggers, of acts of corruption in connection with his term as Defense Minister. Since 2006 he has also been accused by the opposition of involvement in connection with the death of a Mongolian woman killed by two police officers employed as security personnel for senior Malaysian government officials. Najib has contended that his statements relating to ethnic and religious issues have been exaggerated or taken out of context. He has denied all of the corruption allegations, describing them as fabrications by opposition forces. He has vehemently denied having any contact with the Mongolian woman, and denied opposition allegations that he undertook any action to influence the investigations following her death.


[edit] Ethnic and Religious Controversies
1987 Kampung Baru rally

In the midst of UMNO's internal crisis in 1987, a rally by UMNO Youth led by Naijb was held in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Anti-Chinese sentiments were expressed openly during the rally with placard carrying slogans like "May 13 has begun". In a widely documented speech Najib vowed to bathe the keris with Chinese blood. [53][54][55][56] The keris is a traditional Malay weapon that is often used as a symbol for Malay nationalism. This precipitated existing ethnic tensions leading to fears of a repeat of inter-ethnic violence and eventually resulted in a security operation known as Operasi Lalang, where administrative detentions were made on scores of individuals [57].

UMNO was also declared illegal in early 1988, allowing the then Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to consolidate his power with the establishment of a new party that assumed the name of the previously banned UMNO. The newly formed party excluded those who had previously challenged Mahathir's authority within the party.[58]

Malaysia's relationship to Islam

In August 2007, at a conference on the role of Islamic states in a globalised world, Najib declared that Malaysia has "never been secular because being secular by Western definition means separation of the Islamic principles of in the way we govern the country." Najib said Malaysia did not want to be stereotyped with the Western definitions of a secular and a non-secular state, but rather, would apply the fundamentals of Islam to its governance, even as it protected the rights of those with other religions.[59]

Najib's comments subsequently sparked a heated public debate which led to a number of Malaysia’s political parties expressing a wide variety of views on Malaysia's position as an Islamic state, secular state, or secular state in which Islam plays a special role. The Opposition member PAS of the Pakatan Rakyat coalition responded to Najib’s comments by demanding an immediate implementation of Hudud laws and separating males with females and Muslims from non-Muslims at public places, actions which Najib opposed.


[edit] Corruption Allegations
The Malaysian opposition has repeatedly accused Najib of corruption. For example, in September 2007, they asserted that he was involved in the alleged payment of commissions to close associates for the purchases of two Scorpene submarines and 18 Sukhoi fighter jets, but produced no evidence to date to back up these assertions.[60] Similar allegations were made against Najib by the opposition and covered by journalists reporting opposition allegations in connection with the purchase by Malaysia of French submarines.[61]

Opposition leaders and a political blog affiliated with the opposition, Malaysia Today, sought investigations of Najib for his involvement in a procurement involving 12 helicopters that they contend involved kick-backs, claiming that the Defence Ministry overpaid more than RM1.4 million for an award to to Eurocopter for the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Following the report by the blog, on October 14, 2008 Anwar called for an investigation into the Eurocopter deal and an alleged abuse of power by Najib.[62] Anwar’s request was followed ten days later with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat Youth wings formally lodging a report against Najib the Anti-Corruption Agency for alleged involvement in the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter deal.[63] They submitted information stating that Malaysia was reported to have signed a letter of intent to acquire 12 Eurocopter EC725 Cougar helicopters for the sum of RM2.3 billion while Brazil paid US$1.2 billion for 50 units of the same model. A Malaysian parliamentary panel, The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), composed of government and opposition lawmakers, investigated,[64] and cleared the government of any wrongdoing, finding the transaction properly followed Malaysia’s procurement procedures.[65]


[edit] Eurocopter deal
Malaysia Today posted an article entitled "Eurocopter" featuring a letter purportedly from a businessman Datuk Zahar Hashim, the chairman of Mentari Services Sdn Bhd, the local representatives for a Russian helicopter, who lost his bid through international tender with a series of allegations. The letter alleges irregularities in the recent award to Eurocopter for the supply of 12 new aircraft to replace the ageing Sikorsky S-61A-4 "Nuri" fleet of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The letter claims the award was given to Eurocopter even though it was the most expensive of all the companies which submitted tenders. It was claimed that Eurocopter's bid was more than RM1.4 billion over that of the lowest bidder and that there was no proper evaluation done by the Defense Ministry. A purported Letter of Intent was signed by a mid-ranking officer in the ministry (which was later exposed as unfounded) just two days before Najib switched portfolios and moved from the Defense Ministry to the Finance Ministry.[66][67] Datuk Zahar has since faced a tribunal of judges and was expelled form his party UMNO. He has since joined the Pan Islamic Party (PAS). He is now under investigation for misappropriation and abuse of party funds when he was in UMNO. Among the allegations was that he registered the party building wih party funds under his personal name.

On 24 October 2008, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat Youth wings lodged a report at the Anti-Corruption Agency against Najib for alleged involvement in the RM2.3 billion Eurocopter helicopter deal. They submitted alleged evidence which showed that Malaysia was reported to have signed a letter of intent to acquire 12 Eurocopter EC 727 Cougar helicopters for a sum of RM2.3 billion while Brazil paid US$1.2 billion for 50 units of the same model which was found to be of a much lower specifications.[68][69][70]

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence, Datuk Abu Bakar Abdullah, stated that the price offered by Eurocopter in the tender to replace the Nuri aircraft was through an international open tender which opened on November 7, 2007.[71]


[edit] Scorpene Submarines and Sukhoi Fighters
The second controversial purchase brokered by Najib was the purchase of Sukhoi fighter planes. The deal, worth US$900 million (RM3.2 billion), was through a Russian state company, Federal State Unitary Enterprise 'Rosoboronexport' on May 19, 2003. A company called IMT Defence Sdn. Bhd. was appointed the local agent for the Russian company and received 12 percent of the purchase price, US$108 million (RM380 million). The principal figure and chairman of IMT Defence is Mohamad Adib Adam, the former chief minister of Malacca, the previous Land and Development Minister and a longtime UMNO stalwart. The involvement of IMT Defence only became known because in March 2005, a former director of IMT, Mohamad Zainuri Mohamad Idrus, filed suit against several Adib-related companies, alleging that Adib and his sister, Askiah Adam wanted to prevent him from exposing the Sukhoi deal. In 2006, Mohamad Zainuri lodged a police report alleging that Adib had stolen the US$108 million commission that was supposed to be channeled to the company while Najib was the Defence Minister.[72]

The Malaysian opposition has also accused Najib of involvement in the alleged payment of large commissions to close associates for the purchases of two Scorpene submarines and 18 Sukhoi fighter jets. Sekretariat Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) recently lodged a police report with allegations tying Najib Razak for corruption and the ongoing trial of Razak Baginda of the murder of Altantuya, who were one of the alleged beneficiaries of the large commissions. [73]


[edit] Patrol Boats
In late 2007, Malaysia's Auditor General tabled a report in Parliament alleging that a contract to build naval vessels given to PSC-Naval Dockyard, a subsidiary of Penang Shipbuilding & Construction Sdn Bhd, owned by an UMNO crony, Amin Shah Omar Shah was in serious trouble. PSC-Naval Dockyard was contracted to deliver six patrol boats for the Malaysian Navy in 2004 and complete the delivery by last April 2008. Those were supposed to be the first of 27 offshore vessels ultimately to cost RM24 billion plus the right to maintain and repair all of the country's naval craft. But only two of the barely operational patrol boats had been delivered by middle of 2006. There were 298 recorded complaints about the two boats, which were also found to have 100 and 383 uncompleted items aboard them respectively. [74] The original RM5.35 billion contract ballooned to RM6.75 billion by January 2007. The auditor also reported that the ministry had paid out RM4.26 billion to PSC up to December 2006 although only RM2.87 billion of work had been done, an overpayment of RM1.39 billion, or 48 percent. In addition, Malaysia's cabinet waived late penalties of RM214 million. Between December 1999, according to the Auditor General, 14 progressive payments amounting to RM943 million despite the fact that the auditor general could find no payment vouchers or relevant documents dealing with the payments. The auditor general attributed the failure to serious financial mismanagement and technical incompetence stemming from the fact that PSC had never built anything but trawlers or police boats before being given the contract by Najib and the Ministry of Defense. [75]


[edit] Murder of Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa
Main article: Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa
In October 2006, an unofficial advisor to Najib, Abdul Razak Baginda, director of a pro-government think tank, the Strategic Research Center, was accused of involvement in the death of a Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu. The woman was alleged to have been killed by two police officers who worked in the security detail of senior Malaysian officials, including Najib. The murder case was seized on by Anwar Ibrahim and other members of Malaysia’s political opposition who contended that Najib was linked to her murder.[76] The opposition’s allegations, fanned by prominent opponents of the government through online blogs, continued following Razak’s acquittal on October 31, 2008, and the subsequent conviction of the police officers for her murder on April XX 2009. On August 22, 2008, after opposition figures reported the alleged existence of a photograph of Najib with Shaariibuu, Najib swore on the Koran that he had never known Shaariibuu.[77] The photograph has never been produced, other than a version produced by MALAYSIA'S opposition Keadilan party information chief Tian Chua that Chua later acknowledged to have been faked.[78] Allegations made by a Malaysian blogger linked to the Malaysian opposition of the involvement of Najib’s wife in Shaariibuu’s death have been denied by both Najib and his wife, and have not been backed by any evidence.[79]

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was charged by Malaysian police with committing sodomy against his former aide. Anwar accused Najib of involvement in orchestrating the charges, which Anwar stated were false and political in nature. Najib denied involvement in the matter, but acknowledged meeting Saiful at his residence a few days before Saiful filed the police report against Anwar. Najib said that Saiful sought to meet Najib to reveal that he had been sodomised by Anwar, whose trial on the charges remains scheduled to begin in July 2009.


[edit] French newspaper Liberation
The French newspaper Liberation claimed that Najib Razak had indeed met with Altantuya, who was the mistress of Abdul Razak Baginda, his close aide and associate, in Paris in 2005. It mentioned that a photograph was allegedly taken showing the three in a Paris nightclub.[80] The Liberation also suggested that Abdul Razak had been Najib’s intermediary for arms purchases. In October 2006, the newspaper claims that Altantuya was informed that the commission paid by Armaris, a Spanish company involved in Malaysia’s acquisition of three submarines for one billion euros (RM4.7 billion), had been deposited in a bank account in Malaysia. The commission of 114 million euros was allegedly paid into the account of Perimekar, a company Razak controlled. Altantuya then allegedly flew to Kuala Lumpur to demand her share of the commission, which was to have been US$500,000. [81][82]


[edit] Murder trial
On 22 July 2008, in light of the new declarations lawyer Karpal Singh filed a notice of motion to call Najib and three others to testify in the trial for the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. Najib Tun Razak is murderer of Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa Karpal who holds a watching brief for Altantuya's family, also sought to recall private detective P. Balasubramaniam who was the first prosecution witness in the trial. Karpal also wanted all proceedings with regard to the trial to be postponed pending the disposal of his application. [83] On 23 July 2008 the High Court rejected a petition by lawyer Karpal Singh to obtain testimony from Najib, dealing a blow to the opposition's efforts to link Najib to the 2006 killing of translator Altantuya Shaariibuu. In rejecting the application, High Court judge Mohd Zaki said Karpal, who is holding a watching brief for victim Altantuya's family, has no locus standi or is in no position to make the application. He mentioned only the parties involved, namely the prosecution and the defense, have the right to do so.[84][85]

Raja Petra's website Malaysia Today carried a report detailing allegations on an exchange of text messages between Najib and Shafee Abdullah, the prominent lawyer who represented Abdul Razak Baginda before he was charged with abetting two police officers in the murder of the Altantunya. The SMSes, which went on from 8 November to 2 December, 2006 raises some questions over the handling of the murder case which reads like a John Le Carre thriller. It was reported that Najib took a strong interest in the investigation from the beginning. It is well documented that Najib's political advisor, Abdul Razak Baginda, was implicated in the murder and was taken into custody.[86] A police report was made against Najib by “Sekretariat Anak Muda Malaysia” (SAMM) in relation to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case, calling for the police to reopen the investigation papers on the murder of the Mongolian and investigate their allegation that Najib misused his power and position in the case.[87][88]

On 31 October 2008, High Court Justice Zaki Yasin acquitted Razak of abetting in the murder of Altantuya. Dr Shaariibuu Setev, Altantuya's fathers had instructed lawyer Karpal Singh, who held a watching brief during the trial to apply for a review.[89] On 24 December, Karpal Singh filed an application at the High Court here on Wednesday to quash the Attorney General’s decision not to appeal Abdul Razak Baginda’s acquittal. He said the application for leave was necessary since the 14 day period to file for an appeal by the Attorney General against the Oct 31 acquittal had expired on 14 November. [90] Najib Razak who will become prime minister after the Umno party polls in March, will want to put to rest any links to the murder trial as he seeks to rebuild and strengthen his Barisan Nasional coalition.[91]


[edit] Alleged destruction of evidence
After the murder of Altantuya, Datuk Syed Abdul Rahman Alhabshi the honorary consul of Mongolia in Malaysia contacted Shaaribuu Setev, her father. When Datuk Said asked Shaaribuu for all documents, especially pictures, notebooks, films, computer files that could help with the murder investigation, Shaaribuu did not hesitate. He gave Alhabshi everything he had found in his daughter apartment in Ulan Bator. Alhabshi kept the documents for himself, not giving them to the court in Malaysia. “We thought he was working for us, but actually he is working for the Malaysian side”, says Shaaribuu with bitterness. Altantuya’s father then asked the Mongolian foreign ministry to dismiss Datuk Said from his position as an honorary consul. The ministry then summoned the diplomat in Ulan Bator to ask him to explain his behaviour. To justify his attitude, Datuk Said has said to Shaaribuu “Given my high position within Umno, it is not possible for me to oppose Najib Razak”. [92][93]


[edit] Religiosity issues
On 22 August 2008, Najib publicly swore according to Islam at Masjid Jamek Guar Perahu that he never knew murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, nor had anything to do with her. The then deputy prime minister said: "Even though this is not an official oath on the Quran: Wallahi, Wabillahi, Watallahi, I never knew nor had anything to do with the Mongolian woman Altantuya." [94] Najib has consistently talked of tolerance of Islam and the right of different communities in Malaysia to freely express their relgions.


[edit] Conspiracy against Anwar Ibrahim
On 30 June 2008, Najib denied any personal involvement in the alleged political conspiracy against former deputy premier Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, including a police report alleging Anwar committed sodomy against his former aide. He said the picture of his aide Khairil Anas Yusof with the alleged sodomy victim Saiful Bukhari Azlan at his office had been taken three months ago when the latter, in his capacity as a student leader, came to his office to seek a scholarship.[95] However, on 1 July 2008, Najib mentioned that he met Saiful at his residence a few days before the Saiful made the police report on Anwar. Najib also said that Saiful sought to meet Najib to reveal that he had been sodomised by Anwar.[96] Raja Petra contended that a friend had accompanied Saiful to a meeting with Najib before charges against Anwar were made public, implying that the new charges against Anwar had been trumped up.[97]

It was alleged by Federal Territory Mosque imam Ramlang Porigi that Najib's special officer Assoc Prof Khairil Annas Jusoh asked him to witness the oath-taking at the mosque on 15 August 2008 by Saiful that Anwar sodomised him. Ramlang was the witness at the Federal Territory Mosque in Jalan Duta on August 15 when Mohd Saiful Bukhari took an oath to demonstrate he was telling the truth when he accused Anwar of having sodomised him.[98] Ramlang Porigi said that Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s Quranic oath or “sumpah muhabalah” was technically wrong. “I was only there as a witness, to listen in,” he elaborated, noting that Saiful made two errors while reciting the oath. The first was when he mispronounced the word for God and Ramlang had to correct him; and the second when he confused the date of the alleged sodomy incident and corrected himself. It was supposed to have happened on June 26, but Saiful slipped and said Aug 26 instead. Ramlang described that Saiful looked far from regretful or fearful, for someone who had just uttered dreadful words that essentially asked God to rain down his just vengeance on him and his descendants if he lied. Ramlang reiterated that he had only been given the role of witness to play that day because he had been ordered to do so by his superiors. He mentioned that as a simple government servant, he had to follow orders.[99]


[edit] Notes and references
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