The dispute between Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah and blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin over the truth of the matter relating to the Altantuya murder case is perhaps best settled by the traditional Bidayuh way, according to State Reform Party (Star) president Dr Patau Rubis.

dr patau rubis Patau, a Bidayuh from Krokong, Bau near Kuching, said he is prepared to sponsor the ceremony if the trio will come and swear before a Bidayuh ketua gawai in the Kampung Gumbang baruk (head house) to the truth of their statements to the authorities.

According to him, the Bidayuh belief is that anyone who tells a lie will die within three weeks.

“But if you are scared to come, let the court decide the matter,” he added, referring to Najib and his wife Rosmah's denial about any link to the Altantuya murder case.

They had also described the allegations contained in the prominent blogger's statutory declaration as complete lies and fabrication.

Rosmah had denied RPK's allegation that she was at the murder scene or had anything to do with it in her statement to the police.

Patau said Malaysians did not know what to believe or who was telling the truth and he felt the only way, apart from going to court, was for the individuals concerned to swear through the traditional Bidayuh way to the truth of their statements, and woe betide those who lied.

Top issue now

Since RPK made the statutory declaration in the Kuala Lumpur High Court, this has been the No 1 issue in the past week that has caught the attention of Malaysians in and outside the country.

najib rosmah and altantuya murder case Najib has stated publicly that the allegations are aimed at tainting his image politically and discrediting him in the eyes of the public.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also denied that he had received, as alleged by RPK, a report from the military intelligence linking his deputy or his wife to the murder scene of the Mongolian woman.

Patau said: “Whatever it is, the damage has been done in the eyes of many people. What is the DPM going to do about it?'

Najib's statement that the allegations were aimed at damaging him politically appears to suggest that he believes there are other people involved behind those allegations contained in RPK's statutory declaration.