Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday defended his deputy, who is slated to take power next year, against allegations that he interfered in a high-profile murder case.
"I can't believe that he would be involved in abuse of power," Abdullah told reporters after a political website published an SMS exchange over the case allegedly between deputy prime minister Najib Razak and a lawyer.
"I believe in him that he would be a good person, he would be prime minister and provide leadership," Abdullah added.
The popular Malaysia Today site was founded by Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who has been jailed under tough security laws for earlier linking Najib to the 2006 murder of 28-year-old Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Najib's close friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, is on trial for abetting the murder. Two police officers from a unit that guards the prime minister and his deputy have been charged with the killing.
Najib, who is expected to replace Abdullah when he steps down next March, has repeatedly denied any involvement in the slaying of Altantuya, whose body was blown up with explosives, and said he had never even met her.
The SMS exchange purportedly showed Najib and Shafee Abdullah, a lawyer who initially represented Abdul Razak Baginda, discussing the case along with possible charges and outcomes.
The site alleged that Najib spoke with police and officials in the attorney general's chambers about the case, "something that suggests an abuse of executive power," Malaysia Today said.
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