Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Friday, 26^th November 2009: 

Before telling the world the true Malaysian story, let Malaysians know the truth of what is happening in Malaysia – beginning with the story of Altantuya C4 murder

In his recent visit to New York, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia’s message of reforms and transformation needs to be told to foreign investors consistently or risk being overshadowed by countries like China and other emerging economies.

First things first. Najib should allow the true Malaysian story to be told to Malaysians first or the credibility of the Malaysian story to global investors by Najib’s spin doctors would come under a great discount.

In the era of instant communications, it is both imprudent and self-defeating to believe that it is possible to mislead global investors about what is happening in the country.

Recently in less than three months, Malaysia suffered three grievous blows undermining Malaysia’s international competitiveness, viz:

• World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Competitiveness Report (GCR) 2009-2010 – dropping three places from 21st to 24th ranking;

• World Bank’s Doing Business 2010: Reforming Through Difficult Times – falling two places from 21st to 23rd placing.

• Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2009 – worst ranking at No. 56 and score of 4.5, as well as the worst single-year drop in 15 years in CPI ranking by nine places from No. 47 last year and fall of 0.6 CPI score from 5.1 last year.

It is because “global investors” are privy to the “true Malaysian story” that the country has suffered these grievous blows to our international competitiveness.

A good start to tell the world the true Malaysian story is to let Malaysians know the truth of so many dark secrets of the Malaysian story, stating with the true story of the C4 murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The Prime Minister and the authorities concerned just cannot pretend that the re-appearance of private investigator P. Balasubramaniam after 18 months and his video explanation for his two Statutory Declarations contradicting each other within 24 hours in July last year in connection with the Altantuya murder case, followed by the Malaysiakini interview with Bala’s lawyer, Americk Singh Sidhu, do not exist.

A response is warranted from the Prime Minister and the authorities concerned, for to continue to ignore the most damaging disclosures and allegations which have surfaced and taken the Internet by storm would gravely impair the credibility, integrity and legitimacy of the office of Prime Minister and key national instutions in Malaysia – further causing the “true Malaysian story” to global investors to be taken with more than a pinch of salt.

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor