Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should not be involved in any decision-making on whether to hold a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder scandal, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang says.

This is to avoid any conflict of interest, since Najib has ‘admitted’ to having a stake in the matter in his list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) published on Sunday, Lim said in a statement today.

“As Najib’s FAQ is nothing but public admission that he has a direct interest in the case, he should withdraw from all decision-making processes as to whether there should be an RCI into Altantuya’s murder.

“Is Najib prepared to announce that he is cognisant of such conflict of interest and that he will not be involved in any manner with the decision-making process as to whether there should be an RCI into Altantuya’s murder?” he said.

Lim ( photo ) said this would give the rest of the cabinet, or the Parliament, a free hand to decide whether or not to hold an RCI into the murder.

He said although the murder investigation and trial on the Mongolian national’s death has resulted in death sentences being passed on two police commandos, there are still unanswered questions regarding the case.

Who ordered the murder?

These are: Who had ordered Altantuya’s murder, and whether the police, the attorney-general, the judiciary and others have been involved in a “conspiracy of silence” to avoid investigating the motives of the murder.

On Sunday, Najib published an FAQ on his blog to address various issues and controversies surrounding his administration, and first on the list was Altantuya’s murder.

He was implicated in the murder through his association with Abdul Razak Baginda, who was initially charged with abetting in the murder but subsequently acquitted without being called to make his defence

One of those convicted of the murder, Sirul Azhar Umar ( photo ), has told Malaysiakini that he was merely acting under orders , but refused to disclose from whom.

Najib in his FAQ lamented that the opposition was “recycling” the case and continued to implicate him, although the nine-year trial has already ended and he has repeatedly denied any involvement.

“As it was a lengthy court case, the appellants had ample time to give their full account and tell the courts everything. So why are we listening to individuals whose testimonies have already been given and who have been found guilty of the crime?

“What is important is that the judgment brings justice to everyone, most importantly to the family of the victim, to the accused and even to me,” Najib wrote.

However, Lim pointed to the phrase, “What is important is that the judgment brings justice to everyone… even to me”, as proof of Najib’s admission to having a vested interest in the case.

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