PRESS STIFLED IN ALTANTUYA MURDER TRIAL OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 000130

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2018
TAGS: PGOV KDEM KJUS MY
SUBJECT: PRESS STIFLED IN ALTANTUYA MURDER TRIAL OVER
MENTION OF PRIME MINISTER

REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 73

B. 07 KUALA LUMPUR 291

Classified By: Political Section Chief Mark D. Clark
for reasons 1.4 (b and d).


1. (C) In the latest turn of the ongoing Altantuya murder
trial (reftels),accused political insider Abdul Razak
Baginda, who has remained calm and composed through most of
the proceedings, unleashed an emotional tirade shortly after
the February 20 noon recess on the trial's 90th day.
Referring to the Prime Minister by his nick-name "Pak Lah",
Razak reportedly exclaimed: "You can die, Pak Lah! (in
Malaysian - "Matilah kau, Pak Lah!") I'm innocent!",
according to unpublished journalist accounts. Local
newspapers and the government news service Bernama reported
the fact of the outburst, but did not print Razak's
statements. The short-lived exception was the English
language newspaper The Sun, which included the quotations
from Razak in its early morning February 21 edition. Sources
at newspaper confirmed to us in confidence that the Ministry
of Internal Security compelled The Sun to withdraw and recall
thousands of copies of their first run paper in which the
original quote was included. Prime Minister Abdullah serves
concurrently as Minister of Internal Security.


2. (C) Razak Baginda, who is on trial for abetting two
police officers in murdering Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu,
had appeared uneasy throughout the morning session of court
on February 20. Razak's father, Abdullah Malim Baginda had
whispered something to him shortly before the trial had begun
for the morning and apparently upset the accused. Razak had
remained quiet throughout the morning hearings, but just
after the noon recess was called and as he was leaving the
courtroom he kicked and banged the door and yelled "You can
die, Pak Lah! Die, Pak Lah! I am innocent. I am innocent."
He was later seen crying before his lawyer while his mother
attempted to comfort him.


3. (C) Comment: Speculation is rife in Malaysia's on-line
community concerning what it was that set off Razak Baginda
outburst, including conspiracy theories alleging the Prime
Minister's office had urged Razak to implicate Deputy Prime
Minister Najib Abdul Razak (see also ref B) in return for
sparing Razak a guilty verdict and its mandatory death
sentence. Regardless, the Internal Security Ministry would
want to limit any possibly inflammatory reference to the
Prime Minister at the trial, and particularly at this
juncture due to the proximity of Malaysia's general election
to be held on March 8. Any connection between the Prime
Minister and the murder trial would be scandalous. The GOM
reportedly has worked hard to "drive (the case) from public
view" (ref B) and is not about to allow the case to influence
the coming elections.
KEITH