14 Feb, 10 4:36pm | Malaysiakini
A tenth of the remains of the murdered Altantuya Shaariibuu were taken on Nov 17, 2006, back to her native Mongolia by her father Dr Shaariibuu Setev for purposes of her burial rites.
It is time, said lawyer Karpal Singh, that the government – on compassionate grounds – host Dr Shaariibuu once more so that he can collect the remaining 90 percent of Altantuya’s remains and complete the last rites in Mongolia to appease her soul.
In a statement, the DAP leader said the Honorary Consul-General of Mongolia in Malaysia Syed Abdul Rahman Al Habshi was informed by the Attorney-General’s Chambers that Altantuya’s remains could be released for the purpose of burial in Mongolia.
Following an enquiry from the Mongolian government, Syed Abdul Rahman had written to Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan asking for the Malaysian government and the Royal Malaysian Police Force to foot the bill for Shaariibuu and a representative’s journey to Malaysia for that purpose.
This enquiry by the foreign and justice ministries of Mongolia arose out of the conviction and sentence to death of chief inspector Azilah Hadri and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar in April, 2009, said Karpal, who said a copy of the request relayed through Syed Abdul Rahman was extended to Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail .
Since Syed Abdul Rahman’s letter dated Nov 26, 2009, however, there has been no reply from either Musa or Abdul Gani, said Karpal.
Appeasing her spirit
Reiterating the request, Karpal said: The expenses incurred by Dr Shaaribuu and the representative for the purpose of coming to Malaysia to collect Altantuya’s bone fragments will not exceed RM20,000.
I cannot understand why, on compassionate grounds, the request made by the foreign and justice ministries of Mongolia cannot be favourably considered.
The government should not forget that Altantuya met her horrendous death by being blown up by C4 explosives by police personnel while she was in Malaysia. The least that the government can do is to bear the expenses requested, said Karpal.
In the event that the government is unwilling to bear the expenses, Karpal said he would be forced to seek public funds on compassionate grounds to bring and accommodate Dr Shaaribuu in Malaysia to collect his daughters remains.
Until her burial has been completed with the last fragments of her bones, said Karpal, her spirit will not be appeased.
Public interest demands that Malaysia show compassion, he added.
Justice delayed
On a related matter, Karpal criticised the judiciary’s delay in expediting the appeals of Azilah and Sirul Azhar against the death sentence ruled on them by the Shah Alam High court in April last year.
Given chief justice Zaki Azmi’s crusade against delays in the finalisation of trials and appeals in other matters, Karpal said there appears to be an exemption in the Altantuya murder appeal.
Having regard to the international spotlight on the issue, I wold have thought every effort would be made to speed up the appeal (of Azilah and Sirul Azhar) so that the adverse impact on the country could be minimised, and with the spirit of Altantuya being appeased.
The murder trial received overwhelming attention after a close aide of Prime Minister Abdul Razak – Abdul Razak Baginda – was charged with abetting Azilah and Sirul Azhar.
He was, however, later acquitted, and walk out a free man after the court found that the prosecution had failed to furnish adequate proof of conspiracy.
The court’s failure to address the issue of motive, among others, has sparked speculation that greater powers were involved in the case.
Najib has repeatedly denied having any links with the matter.
#1 by Ramesh Laxman on Sunday, 14 February 2010 - 7:51 pm
Is this not the guy who lost all the documents on the case that were given to him by her father?
#2 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 14 February 2010 - 8:23 pm
Would Dr Shaariibuu want to be indebted to the government that he is suing for RM100 million for being vicariously responsible for its employees’ causing wrongful death of his daughter merely for a relatively paltry expense not exceeding RM20,000-00?
Thats a small amount for the govt to seize to pay to show a “compassionate” face : why give it this propaganda advantage?
Public interest demands that Malaysia show compassion? No I think RM20,000 is too little a price for the party that you allege is wrongdoer to mitigate its wrongdoing under the pretext of compassion!
#3 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Sunday, 14 February 2010 - 8:36 pm
YB Karpal,
Have u consulted Dr Shariibuu on such a demeaning request to the Malaysian govt considering the circumstances as suggested by Jeffrey?
I think it demeans the memory and dignity of Altantuya.
But, ok, that gives the govt a chance to prove its humanity, not just compassion. And if the malaysian govt chooses silence or refuses outright, then i think Malaysians would probably double the amount if a call is issued.
Can u just give us the bank a/c number please?
#4 by Dap man on Sunday, 14 February 2010 - 9:20 pm
The Malaysian Government is not going to give Dr Shaariibuu even a sen.
Let me think aloud.
Because the government’s untold version could be that Altantuya was a threat to national security and had to be disposed off 007 style and immigration records erased. Perhaps she too too many defense secrets and wanted blackmail government leaders.
Mark my words, Azila and Sirul WILL BE acquitted on Appeal.
What they did was national service. Case closed.
Now Altantuya spirit must terrorise her killers, including their families.
And Syed Abdul Rahman for abetment in the cover up.
#5 by boh-liao on Monday, 15 February 2010 - 12:58 am
As a true compassionate diplomat, NR ought 2 appoint ARB as his special envoy 2 personally deliver Altantuya’s bone fragments 2 her father n family in Mongolia
A closure loh n 2 win diplomatic brownie points 4 NR, RM, n ARB
#6 by yhsiew on Monday, 15 February 2010 - 1:52 am
///Having regard to the international spotlight on the issue, I wold have thought every effort would be made to speed up the appeal (of Azilah and Sirul Azhar) so that the adverse impact on the country could be minimised, and with the spirit of Altantuya being appeased. ///
Whether the appeal (of Azilah and Sirul Azhar) is sped up or not, that will not make any difference since we all know they will be acquitted on all charges in the end.
#7 by boh-liao on Monday, 15 February 2010 - 7:58 am
Who r in jail? Azilah n Sirul Azhar or their avatars?
#8 by HJ Angus on Monday, 15 February 2010 - 9:13 am
I think such an action should not be deemed as being generous but more in terms of consistency of principles.
After all the Malaysian government did make some determined efforts to bring back the body of the slain bomb terrorist from Indonesia so he could be buried in Malaysia.
But of the course the government does not operate on well-thought out principles.
#9 by negarawan on Monday, 15 February 2010 - 11:04 am
Many Malaysians share the pain and grief of Dr Shaariibuu and his family on the cruel and inhumane murder of Altantuya. He has to realize, like many Malaysians have, that the Malaysian judiciary is corrupted and is largely controlled by UMNO. It is impossible for any true justice to be served to anyone who has a case against any powerful UMNO politician or interest. However, we know that God’s justice will be served on the evil criminals in UMNO and its cronies, irregardless of their positions in the government. These UMNO criminals and their cronies cannot escape the law of Karma. Let’s take comfort in this fact and pray that Karma will be served on these criminals while they are still here on earth.
#10 by Jamal Malik on Monday, 15 February 2010 - 1:06 pm
Has Nasir Safar statement been taken by the Police since the Bala revelation that Nasir was one of the last few who saw her before her death. No, they will not.
How could an incumbent government rule when there are so many issues outstanding and nothing been done about it.
#11 by ChinNA on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 - 9:09 am
Malaysia is the country of silent majority (just like me). No action, talk (and blog) only.
Put the action where the mouth is.
#12 by lopez on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 - 1:06 pm
Once narrow in mind does not changed anything……even if you do things in vain and endlessly comparing your actions with others in other parts of the world.
#13 by ekans on Tuesday, 16 February 2010 - 5:50 pm
“The court’s failure to address the issue of motive, among others, has sparked speculation that greater powers were involved in the case.”
If it was pre-meditated murder, it was a surely sloppy one, what more when 2 cops were the alleged perpetrators. Blowing up the victim’s body with military explosives is not the best way to conceal forensic evidence which the cops themselves would certainly know about if they did not want to get caught. Somebody else had the motive. Somebody else did the job but in an amateurish manner. Somebody else who has enough clout to have 2 cops take the fall for him or her.
“Najib has repeatedly denied having any links with the matter.”
But did he repeatedly sue those foreign publications which said that he had links with the matter?
#14 by lopez on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 - 10:18 am
why the hoods?
even amateur fisherman can tell you , the need use the right bait to catch whatever fish.
small fish catch big fish..
small fish can get easily and got many, they usually swamps together.
you can also buy small fish as bait.
why stop at small fish…so if you are professional fisherman…you go to hyper market buy fresh big fish.
QED.
#15 by dagen on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 - 10:55 am
Real reason why no decision yet. Some umnoputras are haggling over it and are competing with each other to negotiate with the government for the right to send the remains back to mother gobi at a certain guaranteed XXX amount of profit. And I use three “x”s to indicate the vulgarity of the sum involve.
#16 by garfunky on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 - 7:24 pm
Umm…why is a visit from Dr Sharibuu and “the” representative (which because of the word “the” I assume to be one person) going to cost RM20,000?
Even with flights and accomodation for two people. Surely it doesnt exceed RM10,000? It would probably be around RM8000.
Just curious.
#17 by ktteokt on Thursday, 18 February 2010 - 11:04 pm
Even if their appeal fails, Azila and Sirul will not be the guys dangling at the end of the hangman’s noose! Who has seen their faces since day 1 of the trial? And who will see that they are the ones hanged on the day of execution? Any two unfortunate prisoners on the death roll can take their places! Who is to check on their authencity??????