Trial may pose threat to Malaysian government
Saturday, 9 June 2007
John Burton
A high-profile murder trial that began recently in Kuala Lumpur, could pose a political threat to the Malaysian government ahead of expected general elections because one of the accused has links to the deputy prime minister, Najib Razak.
Abdul Razak Baginda, a former adviser to Mr Najib, is accused of abetting the murder of a Mongolian fashion model with whom he admitted he had a romantic affair.
Two members of an elite police security unit, which is overseen by Mr Najib, are being tried for allegedly killing the woman, whose corpse was blown up with explosives. All three men have pleaded not guilty.
Opposition parties are using the sensational case to question the integrity of the government of Abdullah Badawi, the prime minister, as he prepares to call general elections within the next year.
The trial could undermine support for Mr Najib, who has denied any involvement in the case, and might reduce his chances of succeeding Mr Abdullah.
During a critical by-election in April, supporters of Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader, carried posters of the murdered woman as they confronted Mr Najib, who was leading the campaign for the government candidate.
Analysts say that if Mr Najib were forced to resign because of the case, it could benefit Mr Anwar by possibly opening the way for his return to the ruling United Malays National Organisation, where he still enjoys considerable support.
Umno ousted Mr Anwar in 1998 after he was sacked as deputy prime minister by Mahathir Mohamad, the then prime minister, in a power struggle. He was then jailed on charges of sodomy and corruption before being released in 2004.
Mr Anwar is now trying to form an alliance among the three main opposition parties ahead of the general elections, but analysts say his chances of becoming prime minister are slim unless he returns to Umno, which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957.
Ramon Navaratnam, the head of Transparency International Malaysia, said the murder trial would be seen by the public as a test of judicial independence and would be closely watched for its political implications.
Mr Razak, a respected defence analyst who is married, said he met the Mongolian woman in 2004 and had a romantic affair with her until 2005, according to an affidavit filed in court to support his bail application.
He claimed that she demanded money and after paying her several times, he stopped. She then turned up on his home last October.
Afterwards he discussed the situation with two members of the police unit that guard Malaysia's top leaders and who have been accused of the murder. Mr Razak said he gave no instructions for the woman to be killed, according to the affidavit.
— FT Syndication Service
A high-profile murder trial that began recently in Kuala Lumpur, could pose a political threat to the Malaysian government ahead of expected general elections because one of the accused has links to the deputy prime minister, Najib Razak.
Abdul Razak Baginda, a former adviser to Mr Najib, is accused of abetting the murder of a Mongolian fashion model with whom he admitted he had a romantic affair.
Two members of an elite police security unit, which is overseen by Mr Najib, are being tried for allegedly killing the woman, whose corpse was blown up with explosives. All three men have pleaded not guilty.
Opposition parties are using the sensational case to question the integrity of the government of Abdullah Badawi, the prime minister, as he prepares to call general elections within the next year.
The trial could undermine support for Mr Najib, who has denied any involvement in the case, and might reduce his chances of succeeding Mr Abdullah.
During a critical by-election in April, supporters of Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader, carried posters of the murdered woman as they confronted Mr Najib, who was leading the campaign for the government candidate.
Analysts say that if Mr Najib were forced to resign because of the case, it could benefit Mr Anwar by possibly opening the way for his return to the ruling United Malays National Organisation, where he still enjoys considerable support.
Umno ousted Mr Anwar in 1998 after he was sacked as deputy prime minister by Mahathir Mohamad, the then prime minister, in a power struggle. He was then jailed on charges of sodomy and corruption before being released in 2004.
Mr Anwar is now trying to form an alliance among the three main opposition parties ahead of the general elections, but analysts say his chances of becoming prime minister are slim unless he returns to Umno, which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957.
Ramon Navaratnam, the head of Transparency International Malaysia, said the murder trial would be seen by the public as a test of judicial independence and would be closely watched for its political implications.
Mr Razak, a respected defence analyst who is married, said he met the Mongolian woman in 2004 and had a romantic affair with her until 2005, according to an affidavit filed in court to support his bail application.
He claimed that she demanded money and after paying her several times, he stopped. She then turned up on his home last October.
Afterwards he discussed the situation with two members of the police unit that guard Malaysia's top leaders and who have been accused of the murder. Mr Razak said he gave no instructions for the woman to be killed, according to the affidavit.
— FT Syndication Service