MALAYSIA'S prime minister Najib Razak has described the partly unsolved murder of a glamorous Mongolian socialite who begged for the life of her unborn baby before two of his bodyguards blew up her body with military explosives as an "old story".
In an unusual address to the nation answering criticism of his leadership within his ruling party, Mr Najib also pledged there would be no cover-up of his handling of a debt-laden state investment fund.
He said his revival of draconian detention without trial and anti-terrorism laws was needed to prevent the incitement of racial or inter-ethnic conflict and to combat Islamic extremism.
Earlier, United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein warned that both laws threaten to severely curtail freedom of opinion and expression and breach the country's international obligations.
Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have arrested dozens of people in a crackdown on dissent weeks after the jailing of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for five years on a sodomy charge that was widely seen as politically motivated.
Breaking a long silence on the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006, Mr Najib said he had sworn on the Koran that he did not know her and was not involved in her case either directly or indirectly.
Malaysia's former strongman prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has used the murder that for years has been a taboo subject in the country's government-controlled mainstream media to attack Mr Najib, who he says will take the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) to defeat at the next election unless he resigns.
Dr Mahathir last week called for an investigation into a claim by Mr Najib's former bodyguard Sirul Azhar Umar that he was acting on orders when he murdered 28-year-old Ms Shaariibuu, who had worked as a translator in negotiations for Malaysia's $2.6 billionpurchase of two French submarines when Mr Najib was defence minister.
Allegations have simmered for years that Ms Shaariibuu was murdered to keep her quiet about alleged kick-backs to high-level Malaysian officials over the purchase that is the subject of an investigation by magistrates in France.
Both Mr Najib and his government deny any wrongdoing in the case.
Sirul, who is being held on immigration charges in Sydney's Villawood detention centre, fled to Australia before Malaysia's highest court sentenced him and another Malaysian police commando to hang over the murder in January.
No motive for Ms Shaariibuu's murder has been established in a Malaysian court.
Despite the rounding up of non-UNMO critics in recent days Mr Najib said in the televised address late on Thursday night that he respected the right of Dr Mahathir, who led Malaysia for 22 years, to ask questions of him "as I respect every other citizen of this country".
"I am answerable only to the people - not to any one individual," he said. "And if at the next general election the people want change, they will let us know through the ballot box."
Mr Najib said he accepted that some questions swirling around the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad which has $14 billion in debts were valid "but there are others that appear to be directed at the company solely with the intention of creating controversy".
Dr Mahathir had earlier asked in his widely read blog why hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund were kept in the Cayman Islands and if the money had financed a Hollywood movie.
Mr Najib has ordered an audit of the company that he set up and oversees through chairmanship of a committee.
He said those behind the attacks are irresponsible and putting politics before the national interest.
In an apparent reference to Dr Mahathir's criticisms, Mr Najib said "the only way we would lose the election is if there is internal sabotage and bickering but I am confident that the party would not tolerate any acts of betrayal within it and will stay united".
UMNO has been the backbone of a coalition that has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1957 but it lost the popular vote at elections in 2013 and managed only to stay in power because of a gerrymandered voting system.
Referring to Malaysia's economy, Mr Najib said despite criticism from "certain quarters" the economic fundamentals remain strong.
The ringitt has sunk 18 percent against the US dollar over the past six months and the stock market slid 15 per cent in the past year.
"However no country is isolated from global events and we have already had a taste of the challenges with the falling oil price affecting everything from the ringitt to rubber," he said.
Mr Najib said he is open to criticism.
"Nobody is perfect, I am prepared to improve - but at the end of the day, I am answerable only to the people and the party," he said.
In an unusual address to the nation answering criticism of his leadership within his ruling party, Mr Najib also pledged there would be no cover-up of his handling of a debt-laden state investment fund.
He said his revival of draconian detention without trial and anti-terrorism laws was needed to prevent the incitement of racial or inter-ethnic conflict and to combat Islamic extremism.
Earlier, United Nations human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein warned that both laws threaten to severely curtail freedom of opinion and expression and breach the country's international obligations.
Authorities in Kuala Lumpur have arrested dozens of people in a crackdown on dissent weeks after the jailing of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim for five years on a sodomy charge that was widely seen as politically motivated.
Breaking a long silence on the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006, Mr Najib said he had sworn on the Koran that he did not know her and was not involved in her case either directly or indirectly.
Malaysia's former strongman prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has used the murder that for years has been a taboo subject in the country's government-controlled mainstream media to attack Mr Najib, who he says will take the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) to defeat at the next election unless he resigns.
Dr Mahathir last week called for an investigation into a claim by Mr Najib's former bodyguard Sirul Azhar Umar that he was acting on orders when he murdered 28-year-old Ms Shaariibuu, who had worked as a translator in negotiations for Malaysia's $2.6 billionpurchase of two French submarines when Mr Najib was defence minister.
Allegations have simmered for years that Ms Shaariibuu was murdered to keep her quiet about alleged kick-backs to high-level Malaysian officials over the purchase that is the subject of an investigation by magistrates in France.
Both Mr Najib and his government deny any wrongdoing in the case.
Sirul, who is being held on immigration charges in Sydney's Villawood detention centre, fled to Australia before Malaysia's highest court sentenced him and another Malaysian police commando to hang over the murder in January.
No motive for Ms Shaariibuu's murder has been established in a Malaysian court.
Despite the rounding up of non-UNMO critics in recent days Mr Najib said in the televised address late on Thursday night that he respected the right of Dr Mahathir, who led Malaysia for 22 years, to ask questions of him "as I respect every other citizen of this country".
"I am answerable only to the people - not to any one individual," he said. "And if at the next general election the people want change, they will let us know through the ballot box."
Mr Najib said he accepted that some questions swirling around the state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad which has $14 billion in debts were valid "but there are others that appear to be directed at the company solely with the intention of creating controversy".
Dr Mahathir had earlier asked in his widely read blog why hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund were kept in the Cayman Islands and if the money had financed a Hollywood movie.
Mr Najib has ordered an audit of the company that he set up and oversees through chairmanship of a committee.
He said those behind the attacks are irresponsible and putting politics before the national interest.
In an apparent reference to Dr Mahathir's criticisms, Mr Najib said "the only way we would lose the election is if there is internal sabotage and bickering but I am confident that the party would not tolerate any acts of betrayal within it and will stay united".
UMNO has been the backbone of a coalition that has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1957 but it lost the popular vote at elections in 2013 and managed only to stay in power because of a gerrymandered voting system.
Referring to Malaysia's economy, Mr Najib said despite criticism from "certain quarters" the economic fundamentals remain strong.
The ringitt has sunk 18 percent against the US dollar over the past six months and the stock market slid 15 per cent in the past year.
"However no country is isolated from global events and we have already had a taste of the challenges with the falling oil price affecting everything from the ringitt to rubber," he said.
Mr Najib said he is open to criticism.
"Nobody is perfect, I am prepared to improve - but at the end of the day, I am answerable only to the people and the party," he said.
