Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda should be subjected to greater scrutiny following his public re-emergence after the conclusion of the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case, said PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

 

In his first media interview after the conclusion of the case last Thursday, Razak's repeatedly defended Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, insisting that Najib was innocent and the Altantuya saga was a plot to kill Najib’s career.

 

"He has every right to explain his case including trying to defend the prime minister, that is his right.

 

"But I think because the case involves a murder, it is only proper that he submit himself to further scrutiny because many questions are unanswered and only he can assist," Anwar (left) told reporters in Ampang this afternoon.

 

Special Action Unit commandos Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, who served as bodyguards to then deputy premier Najib, were sentenced to death by the Federal Court on Jan 13 for the Altantuyaa’s murder.

 

Razak was in 2008 acquitted of abetting in the murder.

 

Altantuya's death remains a mystery as the court did not establish the motive of the murder.

 

Sirul has since fled to Australia which has laws against deporting people to countries where they will face a death sentence.

 

Sirul in his testimony claimed he was being made a scapegoat.

'Cops explored motive, court didn't'

 

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said police did explore the issue of motive in Altantuya's murder and this was submitted in its investigation papers.

 

However, he said police are not at liberty to reveal this as the court had decided not to raise it.

 

Altantuya had in 2006 harassed Razak for a portion of alleged commission payment in a Defence Ministry submarine procurement deal. Razak then contacted police for help.

 

Altantuya was later found dead in a jungle clearing in Shah Alam where she was believed to have been shot and blown up with explosives.

 

Razak denied that the incident had anything to do with the submarine deal and insisted Altantuya was harassing him over "personal matters".

 

He also claimed he got entangled in the controversy due to his relationship with Najib, with political opponents seeing it as a chance to hurt the then deputy prime minister's political career.

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