Deputy Premier Najib Abdul Razak would not be responding to alleged claims that he was pictured seating on the same table as murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shariibuu.

His press secretary Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad said Najib would not issue any new statement on the claims by Burmaa Oyunchimeg, 26, during the ongoing murder trial of her counsin Altantuya.

"I wish to make it clear that the deputy prime minister had on several occasions when interviewed by the media previously and during the Ijok by-election had said that he had never met and known Altantuya and was not involved in the case.

"As such, the issue over the picture does not arise," Tengku Sarifuddin told Bernama today.

The picture in question was raised by Burmaa, who claimed that Altantuya had once shown her a photograph of the deceased together with Abdul Razak Baginda, one of the accused in the trial, along with one government official known only as "Najib Razak".

Negative opinions

Following this, opposition leaders such as PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng took Burmaa's testimony at face value and demanded answers from Najib.

Tengku Sarifuddin said he aimed to make a clarification to deflect negative opinions on Najib.

"This brief clarification is made because media reports on yesterday's proceedings of the court case have given rise to various views and statements by certain parties that could affect public opinion on the deputy prime minister," he added.

During the Ijok by-election, Najib was under siege from Anwar who demanded answers from the former as to why his bodyguards were involved in the high profile murder case.

In turn, Najib denied ever knowing Altantuya and accused the opposition of character assassination.