PETALING JAYA: Seven years have passed since the gruesome murder that sent shockwaves throughout the nation. But it continues to haunt the political arena.
The life of a beautiful, young woman had been tragically robbed. She was shot, and her remains blown up with explosives.
Despite his repeated denials, there are those who still believe that the blood trail leads right up to Najib Tun Razak’s doorstep.
Even in this general election, the spectre of Altantuya Shaaribuu has been summoned, with her posters and images appearing on the campaign trail to remind the people of that macabre episode.
The high-profile trial revealed that Abdul Razak Baginda, a close confidant of Najib, who was later acquitted of abetting the murder, had an intimate relationship with the Mongolian national.
She had served as a translator in the procurement of two French submarines for the Malaysian navy when Najib held the defence portfolio. Razak Baginda’s firm was also involved.
Known as the Scorpene deal, the contract was mired in controversy and is now the subject of a French judicial investigation.
Two officers from the police’s elite special operations force were sentenced to death for the murder. However, the court never established a motive, pouring more fuel into the blazing speculation.
Back then, there was also talk of how former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his infamous fourth floor advisers were using the case to checkmate Najib in Umno’s game of thrones.
It was also claimed that Najib’s controversy-magnet wife, Rosmah Mansor, also played an important role in the murder. These charges have been dismissed as slander spewed by the opposition.
‘Vote for justice’
And with less than 72 hours to go before the 13th general election, a statement from Altantunya’s father has been made available to the media.
In the brief statement, Setev Shaariibuu pointed out that his daughter’s birthday falls on May 6, a day after the election.
“I would like to ask all Malaysian people to vote [for] justice,” he said.
Setev said that since 2006, his two grandchildren, Altantuya’s sons, had been denied their right to use the word “mother”.
“Since the murder, we Mongolians have been waiting for an apology from Malaysia. The children have been waiting for support from Mr Najib for seven years,” he added.
On the same note, Setev stressed on the need for a new trial to get justice.
Looking for closure
Meanwhile, Suaram’s Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, who forwarded the statement, said she met Setev when she went to Mongolia last week for a conference.
“I briefed him on the Scorpene inquiry in France, and he was glad to know that things were moving, hoping that it would help shed some light on his daughter’s murder.
“He is still in pain and he is looking for closure. He has been asking the Mongolian government to do something about the case. He has written countless letters, some of which have been published in the newspapers there,” she told FMT.
Fadiah said that Setev penned the statement because he wanted to share his thoughts on the elections in Malaysia.
“He wanted to say something because he knows that the Altantuya issue is still very much alive here and he is grateful that there are Malaysians who are still seeking the truth,” she added.
This general election, described as the mother of all electoral battles, has ignited speculation that BN might lose its more than five-decade-old grip on federal power.
Sagging under the weight of numerous allegations of corruption and abuse of power, observers claim that a wind of change is gaining traction as polling nears.
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