The overzealousness with which Umno leaders have denounced opposition leader Tian Chua for doctoring a photo of deputy premier Najib Abdul Razak indicates there is more than meets the eye, said rights group Suaram.

That Umno figures have gone overboard in demanding action be taken against the PKR information chief - such as calls for the use of the Internal Security Act against him - reinforces rather than erases the doubts and questions that have been raised, it said.

"In fact, the threats and over-reaction suggest there is more than meets the eye," said executive director Yap Swee Seng in a statement issued today.

In his blog, Chua had posted a picture that had been altered to 'feature' Najib dining with political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda and an unidentified woman.

This followed the claim made during the trial into the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu by prosecution witness Burmaa Oyunchimeg.

Burmaa said Altantuya had shown a photo of her having dinner in Paris with Abdul Razak and a "Najib Razak".

Chua, who has refused to apologise for the posting, said this was done in the satirical 'Monty Python' style used throughout history as a means of social commentary.

Incensed Umno leaders

Umno leaders, however, were not amused.

Comparing the blog post to caricatures of Prophet Muhammad published by a Danish newspaper, Umno Youth chief Hishammuddin Hussein warned of the need to curb the insulting of leaders.

"I am not equating the Prophet to our leaders but if the act is not stopped, it will become the norm," he said.

Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Tian's refusal to apologise, "although (the photo) is slanderous, shows that he is rude and arrogant".

"Stupid people don't know how to say sorry because they do not understand the meaning," said Khairy.

Challenging the assertions that Najib had ben defamed, Yap said Suaram viewed the threats against Chua as "a form of intimidation and suppression of freedom of expression on a topic of public interest".

He said the only way to still the questions surrounding Najib's alleged links to the case is to answer them.

Such questions include how the Special Operations Force, to which two of the defendants in the murder trial belong, were allegedly involved in the murder when its personnel were said to be assigned to the deputy premier's office.

Another question pertains to the allegation that Altantuya and her companions' entry into Malaysia were deleted from immigration records.

"Suaram calls on the public prosecutors to probe the questions and get to the bottom of these issues," added Yap.