Malaysia Notes

PETALING JAYA: Blogger and online editor Raja Petra Kamarudin is expected to be charged today with criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The Malaysia Today editor said in a posting on his website that he had been ordered to report to the ninth floor of the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters at 10am today.

In his June 18 declaration, Raja Petra claimed to have knowledge that two lieutenant-colonels and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Najib Tun Razak's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were present when Altantuya's body was blown up on Oct 19, 2006.

When contacted, Raja Petra confirmed that the police wanted to charge him with criminal defamation and said he was not surprised.

“I expected that they would do that. I am not worried. I am well prepared,” he said.

He said he expected to be taken to the Kuala Lumpur court complex in Jalan Duta.

Raja Petra also discouraged people from gathering today to protest the charge or arrest, as he did not want to give the police an opportunity to arrest anyone.

“This is exactly what they want us to do. The action (of gathering) may be unintentional, but they want to provoke reaction from the supporters to take part in a street protest,” he added.

Raja Petra reiterated that he would stand by his statutory declaration and stressed that he would not reveal the identity of his informer.

On Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s arrest an hour before his (Anwar's) 2pm deadline yesterday, Raja Petra said it was uncalled for.

“Not only did he give his word that he would be at the police station sharp at 2pm, he also reconfirmed it when a police officer called him,” he added.