RPK's Bombshell

Raja Petra has dropped a bombshell on Rosmah's (Deputy PM Najib Razak's wife) involvement in the Altantuya murder case.

In his latest bombshell, Raja Petra accused Rosmah as among three individuals who were present when Altantuya was murdered on October 19, 2006.

"I have been reliably informed that between about 10pm on October 19, 2006 and early hours of the following day, the night Altantuya Shaariibuu was murdered, three other people were also present at the scene of crime," he said, according to his two-page statutory declaration.

His new allegation will hurt Najib's already fragile credibility amongst common folk especially his own Malay community. Najib is expected to take over from PM Abdullah Badawi in a leadership transition deal agreed by the two.

However, the deal will not see an automatic ascension for Najib to the top position. Dr Mahathir had warned Najib to take on Abdullah in the coming party's election. He said the window of opportunity for Najib is closing if the latter refused to do so.

Najib had pledged his support for PM Abdullah.

On the ground, Najib's succession of UMNO's leadership may not be able to reverse the party's decline if he is plagued with this serious accusation against his wife, Rosmah. Not long ago, a taxi driver taking me home told me it is cruel (kejam) in Islam to 'blow up' someone.

Najib should know by now that he needs to justify his innocence if he wants to provide a strong leadership to UMNO. Anwar Ibrahim, in the previous general election, had manipulated this issue to great success in the Malay majority constituencies.

Najib is wobble.