Boustead Holdings Bhd's acquisition of Deepak Jaikishan's Astacanggih Sdn Bhd included a clause prohibiting Deepak from speaking about the deal without Boustead's permission.


This was divulged by PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli today, after he scrutinised several of Boustead's documents that he viewed as a minority shareholder in the company.

"The agreement specifies that Deepak cannot make any statement without the (permission) of Boustead, which verifies my claim that the deal was to shut Deepak up," Rafizi told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

Previously Rafizi had alleged that the wholly-owned Boustead subsidiary Bakti Wira Sdb Bhd's purchase of Astacanggih was a means to silence Deepak over his revelations about the deal, the alleged complicity of Raja Ropiaah in "cheating" him.
It was also to silence him on the purported involvement of Premier Najib Abdul Razak and family members in corruption, and a cover up linked to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Malaysiakini is attempting to reach Boustead for its comments.

Ready to go to court
Rafizi also today declared he has no intention of answering the letter of demand sent to him by Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over his allegations on the Boustead deal.

Indeed he is challenging the minister to take him to court so that he can let loose the arsenal of information he has pooled with regards to the deal.

He believes it will lead to an indictment of Zahid for negligence at least, and at most, for failing to look after funds for military veterans and servicemen, which are currently heavily invested in Boustead via fund manager LTAT.

"I am more than ready and quite eager to meet him in court. He should ask his lawyer to quickly file a summons against me," quipped Rafizi.

Rafizi had alleged that Zahid has failed to watch over the LTAT funds invested in Boustead by allowing the deal to go through. The defense ministry through LTAT controls 60 percent of Boustead with numerous seats on the board.