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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday denied that his deputy Najib Razak and Najib's wife were involved in the 2006 murder of a Mongolian model.
A prominent Malaysian blogger has linked the couple to the case.
Abdullah said that action would be taken against the blogger who made the allegations against Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, and who has already been charged with sedition over the issue.
"I don't believe that Najib and Rosmah are involved," the premier told reporters.
He described blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin's actions as "unacceptable".
"The Attorney General has told me that an investigation will be carried out and action will be taken against him," Abdullah said.
Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Najib, is currently on trial for abetting the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Two police officers from the Special Action Force (UTK), whose duties included guarding Abdullah and Najib, were also charged with the killing.
Raja Petra, founder and editor of the popular Malaysia Today site, last week lodged a signed declaration in court linking Rosmah to the case.
He has already been charged with sedition over an earlier article he wrote on his website, linking both Najib and Rosmah to the murder. If convicted, he faces three years in jail.
Najib, who is heir apparent to Abdullah, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the death of the 28-year-old Mongolian woman, whose body was blown up with explosives.
Abdullah dismissed Raja Petra's allegations that the premier had seen a military intelligence report on the murder that backed the allegations.
"No, I can't remember receiving anything. He can say anything but I have not seen it," Abdullah said.
Najib again rejected links to the case in May, telling parliament that they were "lies aimed at tarnishing my name".
"As a responsible citizen, I will say again that I have never known or even met this woman before. I pray that the court will continue to seek justice and uphold the law without any interference," he said at the time. - AFP/de
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