Journos shouldn't have asked Najib about Altantuya: Syed Ali

"He (Sirul Azhar Umar) is indeed rubbish. He is trying to reignite the people's poor perception of the government, and the Altantuya case is done."

That is the response of UMNO Cheras chief Datuk Seri Syed Ali Alhabshee, on the statement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak about former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar.

Sirul Azhar had recently claimed that he had acted under orders in the murder case of Mongolian model and interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Syed Ali said the Altantuya murder case is closed when the court sentenced the two former cops.

"All parties are asked to stop any allegations or intentionally creating the perception that this case is linked to a particular party, which is ridiculous and unfounded.

"For me, the Altantuya case is closed and it is not necessary to discuss the issue in public, as if we do not respect this country's legal institutions.

"I see this issue as being deliberately played by other parties with malicious intent to paint a bad image of the government to the people.

"The case is closed. There's no need to dispute," he recently said in his blog umnobahagiancheras.blogspot.com.

He also urged all parties, including pro-opposition news portals, to stop all allegations linked to the Altantuya case.

"Their action of asking questions regarding Altantuya to the Prime Minister should not have been done.

"They are irresponsible and malicious. Their aim of asking questions is to manipulate the Prime Minister’s answer for the benefit of those wanting to tarnish the government’s image," said Syed Ali.

He said journalists should not have asked Najib any questions regarding Sirul Azhar during a Chinese New Year celebration organised by MCA at the party's headquarters.

"The question should not be asked to the Prime Minister, who has nothing to do with this case.

"How can the Prime Minister answer a question that he himself did not know anything about?"

Syed Ali said the government has a greater responsibility in ensuring the country's transformation programmes achieve its objectives rather than entertaining the Altantuya case.

On Thursday, Najib had described the allegations by Sirul Azhar as "rubbish" when asked by the media about the ex-cop's claims that "an important figure" in the Altantuya murder case was still roaming free.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had reportedly said, Sirul Azhar was entitled to make disclosures regarding the murder.

However, former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said the police should investigate and verify any claims made by Sirul Azhar, who is now in Australia.