Military Intelligence Deny Giving Anwar Information About His Safety - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Military Intelligence on Friday denied that it had been a source of information for Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim concerning threats to his safety or that of his family members.

Its director Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Salleh Ismail also denied it had a report on the Mongolian Altantuya murder case as claimed by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin in his statutory declaration (SD) made at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 18.

"Statements made by Anwar that military intelligence had warned him about threats to his safety are not true. He might have other sources of information but certainly not from my department," he told reporters after opening a basic digital photography course at Kolej Multimedia Telekom here.

He said this when asked to comment about Anwar claiming on Sunday that he had received information from government sources and military intelligence that Barisan Nasional (BN) agents planned to harm or assassinate him and also harm his family members and supporters.

Touching on Raja Petra's SD, he said:"Since I took over (as Director of Military Intelligence) I have no knowledge that such a report exists."

In his SD, Raja Petra had alleged that a copy of the report was in the possession of Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Rembau, and that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had knowledge of it.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=343971]

Malaysia voices displeasure over US statement - The Star

By Mazwin Nik Anis

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has ticked off the United States over what the Government regarded as "meddling into its internal affairs", following a statement by the US state department on recent investigations on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's case.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said a letter was dispatched to the US Embassy Friday morning addressed to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, voicing Malaysia's "displeasure and unhappiness" over the statement.

"The comments were uncalled for and Malaysia takes a serious view in respect of this position. We made it very clear in our letter that we are displeased with the statement. I hope this is taken stock of.

"Malaysia is a sovereign country with its own rules and laws and the United States should not condemn us just because they do not like our system or because they do not approve of our laws," he told reporters Friday after opening the media centre for the 6th Developing Eight (D8) Summit.

On Monday, foreign wires reported that US State Department spokesman Tom Casey as saying the United States would oppose any "politically motivated investigation" or prosecution of Anwar.

"The main point for us is that the rule of law needs to stand above politics," Casey was quoted as saying in the statement, adding the department "hoped there would not be a pattern" because Anwar had faced similar charges in 1998.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/4/nation/20080704200231&sec=nation]

Kuala Kangsar election petition dismissed - Malaysiakini

By Athi Veeranggan

The Ipoh High Court today dismissed an election petition that challenged the victory of former minister Rafidah Aziz in the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary constituency.

Election Judge Zakaria Sam ruled that Rafidah's "silly mistake" in failing to sign two out of three sets of her nomination papers in the March 8 general election was not a proper reason to nullify the final outcome.

He added that the election for the seat proceeded freely, fairly and without any corrupt practices.

"Her presence at the nomination centre to submit her papers was enough to prove her consent to accept the nomination to contest," he said.

Since signing and submitting nomination papers were merely part of an electoral process, he said Rafidah's mistake was unsubstantial for the election officer to neither reject her candidacy nor stop the election process.

Moreover, the petitioner did not mention any other wrongdoings like corrupt practices in his affidavit, other than on the ‘missing signature', he added.

He said non-compliance to the requirement to sign all three nomination papers would not have affected the election results anyway, stressing that "it was a mere technical error.'

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85558]

PI retracts stunning statutory declaration - Malaysiakini

By Soon Li Tsin

Private investigator P Balasubramaniam today retracted his stunning statutory declaration which had linked Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The said declaration claimed that Najib had a sexual relationship with Altantuya and that he was the one who had introduced the deceased to political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

In his new statutory declaration dated July 4, Balasubramaniam said that he was forced to make his earlier declaration under duress.

"I wish to retract the first declaration. I was compelled to affirm the July 1 declaration under duress," the new statutory declaration read.

He however did not reveal who forced him to affirm the first declaration.

Balasubramaniam disclosed this during a brief press conference at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur this morning. Also present was lawyer M Arulampalam.

[More at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/85552]

Abdullah: Govt stable, don’t believe in rumours - NST

By : V. Vasudevan and Joseph Sipalan

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is safe and stable, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said as he calmed jitters over the country's political outlook.

"This government is a stable government. Please believe that.

"The administration is moving, projects are being implemented.

"Please don't get overexcited about what is happening. There are a lot of rumours. Please don't believe them.

"Don't panic about what is happening," he said after chairing the first meeting of the Northern Corridor Economic Region board of directors yesterday.

Abdullah said there were no security issues or concerns in the country.

He dismissed rumours that an exercise being conducted by the police and army was a prelude to emergency rule.

"Please don't read anything into it. I don't think anyone should be worried. This is an exercise and should not be regarded as something else.

"Rumours here, rumours there. It is as if rumours are lording over us. I am not so wrong to say that Malaysians are very gullible."

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Frontpage/2284946/Article/index_html]

Anwar: Proof on Najib soon - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Evidence allegedly linking Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to murdered Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu will be released in the next few days.

“The next evidence will come in the next few days. Just be patient. This is not the end. I just want to test the nerve and commitment of the Prime Minister,” said PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He was taking questions from reporters at the press conference where private investigator P. Balasubramaniam – once hired by Abdul Razak Baginda – released a statutory declaration that alleged Najib’s involvement with Altantuya.

Anwar pointed out that when his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and daughter Nurul Izzah met the Prime Minister in Parliament on Tuesday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave the assurance that he would investigate Anwar’s recent police report against the Attorney-General (A-G) and Inspector-General of Police (IGP) about fabricating evidence in the 1998 infamous “black eye” incident.

Anwar, however, noted that just 10 minutes after Abdullah gave the assurance, he (Abdullah) told reporters he had full confidence in the A-G and IGP.

“So I don’t know what he means by giving that assurance because my police report involves these two key institutions and they had fabricated evidence against me,” he said.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/4/nation/21738312&sec=nation]