Seeking a venue to quiz Bala

By Shuhada Elis, New Straits Times

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will decide on a suitable place in London to record private investigator P. Balasubramaniam's statement relating to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

MACC investigation director Mustafar Ali said because Balasubramaniam was abroad, it needed a proper place to carry out the investigation.

"(We need to identify) where to record his statement. Is it at the Malaysian high commission? We cannot simply do as he wishes," he said yesterday.

An online newsportal recently reported that Balasubramaniam was ready to provide his statement after "disappearing" for two years.

On Friday, the MACC released a statement saying that it was ready to meet Balasubramaniam in London in July to record his statement.

Asked why it had to wait until July, Mustafar said it was at Balasubramaniam's request.

"We were ready a long time ago but he said he would only be ready in July. We are accommodating his request."

On July 3, 2008, Balasubramaniam made a statutory declaration related to the murder of Altantuya but withdrew it the next day through a second declaration. He disappeared abroad soon after with his family.

On another matter, Mustafar said the MACC had not opened an investigation paper into Sime Darby as it was waiting for the company's internal inquiry to be completed.

"We also need to analyse various information pertaining to the matter but so far, no statements have been recorded."

However, he said the commission would call up anyone, including company chairman Tun Musa Hitam, to assist in investigations if there was any element of corruption.

Sime Darby recently confirmed the market's worst fears when it announced that it would have to book in massive losses over projects in the Middle East as well as the Bakun hydroelectric dam project in Sarawak.

It is expected to book in close to RM1 billion losses in its third quarter results, which are expected to be released on Thursday.