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KUALA LUMPUR - DEPUTY Prime Minister Najib Razak will not respond to the allegation that he had been photographed with a murdered Mongolian interpreter and her then lover, as it was inappropriate to do so.
But his press secretary, Datuk Tengku Shariffuddin Ahmad, pointed out that the Deputy Prime Minister had said several times he had never met or known Ms Altantuya Shaariibuu.
'Thus, the issue of the picture does not arise,' he said.
He said it was inappropriate for the Deputy Prime Minister to comment further as any statement could be deemed as sub-judice, given that the trial is still going on.
Datuk Tengku Shariffuddin said he was forced to issue the statement as the alleged photograph had invited all kinds of speculation and statements that could damage Datuk Seri Najib's public standing.
The murder trial involving Ms Altantuya had taken a twist on Friday when a witness, Ms Burmaa Oyunchimeg, a cousin of the murdered woman, said her cousin had shown her a photograph taken with a 'Najib Razak' after August 2005.
The photograph, which was not shown in court, allegedly showed Ms Altantuya, her then lover Abdul Razak Baginda, a Malaysian government official whom Ms Burmaa said was 'Najib Razak' and several others having a meal.
There was no information on where the photograph was taken, but it was shown to Ms Burmaa by Ms Altantuya after the latter returned from a trip to France with Abdul Razak.
The political analyst is a close associate of Datuk Seri Najib, and the opposition is trying its best to drag the Deputy Premier into the case.
Carolyn Hong
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