Did Najib know, or know of Altantuya?

On the night of 22nd August, 2008, in the Masjid Guar Perahu in Bukit Mertajam, just days before the Permatang Pauh by-election that would pave the way for Anwar’s re-entry into Parliament, Najib took oath that he was not involved with nor did he know the murdered Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaaribuu. Utusan Online has the report HERE.

““Wallahi, Wabillahi, Watallahi. Bahawasanya saya tidak terlibat dan mengenali wanita Mongolia yang dikaitkan dengan diri saya.

‘‘Biarlah Allah menjadi saksi di dalam Masjid Guar Perahu yang mulia ini. Saya tidak mahu kata ini sumpah rasmi atau tidak, tapi ini urusan saya dengan Allah. Apa pun tohmahan, saya percaya saya berdiri di atas prinsip yang benar”, is what Najib is reported to have sworn.
The all-important words are in black.

Two nights ago, at the Siri ke-4 Jelajah Scorpene – Rapat Rakyat ABU ceramah in Melaka, Chegubard disclosed evidence relating to the negotiations for and, ultimately, the purchase of the Scorpene submarines. Those evidence, I am given to understand, are documents obtained through court processes in France when the office of DCN, the suppliers of the submarines, were raided by the French investigators pursuant to search and seizure warrants issued by the French courts.

I have also been informed by Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia that they are in the process of putting together a book on this Scorpene scandal where all the relevant documents relating to the same will be included. You must get your hands on a copy once the same is available.

Now, before I share with you  the  information that was made available, I am going to ask you, in evaluating this information, to try and put yourself in the shoes of Najib.

No, don’t imagine you  were the Defence Minister at the relevant time that this purchase was negotiated, but imagine that your company is negotiating the biggest ever transaction it has ever contemplated.
A RM7.7 billion deal that could either make you or break you forever.

Now the first piece of information that Chegubard shared has already been circulating in news circles, and that is, that Najib had demanded the sum of US$1 billion as a “condition” for Perimekar Sdn Bhd’s “stay in France. Asian Sentinel has the story HERE.

Asian Sentinel, in relation to this part of the report, refers to a document No. D00087. That document, in PDF, is linked below.

98105976-D00087
The relevant part of the document that alludes to this demand is at page 2, at the end of —cote 22, and if you use Google Translate to translate all of —cote 22, this is how it reads.

Approval — 22: a fax written in English and sent by F.DUPONT dated 01/06/2001 for D. ARNAUD copy BAIOCCO and SAUVAGEOT aimed Malaysia / Submarine Project. Mr. SMITH detailed chronology of visits and future acts during travel in Malaysia, which are planned including appointment of negotiation with the Defence Minister and leaders in PERIMEKAR which two contract proposals will be discussed (in the DCNI

PERIMEKAR and between the Malaysian government and PERIMEKAR). Finally, it indicates an appointment with DATO SERI NAJIB in France July 14, 2001. Provided DCNI provides for the stay of PERIMEKAR an amount up to $ 1 billion. ——

To the best of my knowledge, there has been no response by Najib to refute this.
What this suggests to me, if I do not get distracted by considerations of  graft and corruption, is that Najib was taking a direct interest in the progress of this deal.

Hey, who amongst us would not if our company was negotiating a RM7.7 billion deal?
Now, it was the next piece of information released by Chegubard which, for me, was telling.
The audience at Melaka was informed that there was a delegation of 15, from Malaysia, that went to France, in relation to this contract. There is a list of the individuals on that delegation. One name : Altantuya Shaariibuu.

I have not seen the document but have been assured that it exists. Presumably, it will be included in the forthcoming SAMM book.

Now ask yourself.
You are not going to be part of the delegation going to negotiate your company’s RM7.7 billion deal. Would you want to know, and decide yourself, who makes up the delegation?