DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has urged Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to probe allegations that his deputy Najib Abdul Razak knew high-profile Mongolian murder victim Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Referring to testimony by Altantuya's cousin Burmaa Oyunchimeg in the Shah Alam High Court yesterday, Lim said Abdullah must find out why Najib had allegedly chosen to conceal such a fact.

Najib had previously denied any knowledge of Altantuya, but questions were raised when Burmaa testified that she had seen a picture of her sister having dinner with accused Abdul Razak Baginda and one government official known only as "Najib Razak".

Choosing to take Burmaa's testimony at face value, Lim alleged that Najib's previous denial contradicted the testimony by Burmaa.

"In the interest of integrity, accountability and the political principle that 'political leaders must not only be clean and truthful, but also seen to be clean and truthful', Abdullah should demand a fresh explanation from Najib,

"Any failure to come clean quickly will deal a fatal blow on Abdullah's efforts to establish integrity and justice in his administration, when he is seen as more intent in covering up than in discovering the truth," Lim ( pic below ) said in a statement today.

Don't cover up

He warned that any attempts by the authorities to protect VIPs would be counter-productive and lead to more exposs in the future.

Lim's statement on the matter follows calls by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim for Najib to explain the alleged photograph.

Abdul Razak, a political analyst, is a well known close associate of Najib and he is being tried for allegedly abetting in the murder of Altantuya.

Along with Abdul Razak, two others charged with the murder of Altantuya are chief inspector Azilah Hadri, 31, and corporal Sirul Azha Umar, 36.

The two police personnel are attached to the elite Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK) and were tasked as Najib's bodyguards.