Al Jazeera story based on hearsay, not evidence

The report is malicious with a sensational story being presented as the truth, says minister.

(Bernama) – Everything featured in the controversial documentary by Al Jazeera on the murder of the 28-year-old interpreter and part-time model Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006 is based on hearsay and not on any tangible evidence, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said.

He said the documentary also contained re-enactment of various scenes with voice overs “which give an impression that this is evidence, whereas the scenes were actually played by actors”.

“How they concluded that these scenes are an adaptation of what really happened is not explained. In fact, Al Jazeera admits that the scenes are re-enactments.

“Why Al Jazeera wants to spin this distortion, some of which are merely lies and speculation, leads to a suspicion that an ulterior motive may be the reason,” he said on his blog, sskeruak.blogspot.my, today.

Salleh said Al Jazeera also featured the testimony by private investigator P. Balasubramaniam, which was changed so many times.

He said Al Jazeera also failed to mention that the French police recorded Bala’s testimony in Paris, but decided not to include it in their findings after it (testimony) was found to be inconsistent and unreliable.

“The focus of the Al Jazeera story is that Altantuya was the interpreter for the submarine contract, something that happened even before she came onto the scene.

“The French police, in its report, said that Altantuya never entered France during that period, and neither did Razak Baginda or the Prime Minister. This, Al Jazeera did not mention,” he added.

This, he said, was a classic case of facts being weaved with fiction and stories that had been floating around.

“I can only classify this Al Jazeera report as naughty and malicious with a sensational story being presented as the truth,” he said.