PI Bala’s widow apologises to Rosmah, storms out of media event

Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu was murdered and a number of high-profile individuals, including the prime minister, are linked to the killing in 2006. – Al Jazeera file pic, March 12, 2016.The widow of private investigator P. Balasubramaniam today apologised to the prime minister's wife for allegations over her late husband's death, but inexplicably stormed out of a press conference minutes later.

A. Santamil Selvi read out her apology in the office of Persatuan Minda dan Sosial Prihatin (PMSP) activist, Ramesh Rao Naidu, in Petaling Jaya, but ran off after she was unable to answer questions about her statement.

In her statement, Selvi blamed certain individuals, among them PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, for failing to help her family after the death of her husband in 2013.

She also said she had met Ramesh to get his help in obtaining RM20,000 for her children’s education before agreeing to hold the press conference today.

She later said her husband’s statutory declaration linking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was true.

"When my husband died I felt 'tension' so I blamed Datin Seri Rosmah.

"Come March 15, my husband would have been dead for three years, but not a single person has asked if I needed help.

"I apologise to Datin Seri Rosmah for saying she killed my husband," Selvi said.

Asked if she was also apologising to Najib, she said she was only apologising to Rosmah.

"No. (The) SD (statutory declaration) by Bala is true," she said.

Balasubramaniam in July 2008 had made two statutory declarations three days apart on Najib's alleged involvement in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. His second SD retracted the contents of the first, which he said he had made under duress. He had said before that he had been hired by Najib's associate, Abdul Razak Baginda, to monitor Altantuya.

Selvi today was asked by reporters if she stood by her husband's SD that alleged Najib's and Abdul Razak's links to Altantuya, who had been a translator.

"I come here today for my children's education. Not for the SD," she replied.

When reporters began asking if her press conference was a deliberate move to defend Najib, Ramesh Rao interjected and exchanged harsh words with the media.

"What nonsense are you talking about. We are here to help this woman and you are talking like a fool.

"Are you paid by PKR to be provocative?" Ramesh asked the reporter who posed the question.

Selvi then said she had tried to get help from PKR for her family's welfare but was turned away.

"I went to PKR to seek financial help but got nothing so I am here today," she said.

Reporters then continued asking Selvi if she would also apologise to Najib.

"I'm not getting involved in Bala's SD," she replied.

When asked to re-confirm her apology to Rosmah, she said, "I said I am apologising to Datin Rosmah only. So, to husband and wife. But the one I mean is Rosmah."

Selvi then said she wanted to stop the press conference because "I am only here to get help for my children. I don't want to start anymore stories, okay? Sorry."

She got up from her chair as the media began asking her questions about the amount of financial assistance she was seeking.

Appearing agitated, she began talking in a louder tone, saying, "I am here for my children's education. That is all!

"It's only RM20,000. PKR could not give me so I came here for my children's education. That's all!

"Let me take my bag and I don't want anymore questions!"

Balasubramaniam died on March 15, 2013 of a heart attack, weeks after he and his family returned from India where they had exiled themselves after his two SDs.

Selvi had tried to name and sue Najib and Rosmah, among others, for purportedly sending her and her family into exile in 2008. She previously filed a notice of appeal against eight orders made by the High Court to the Court of Appeal.

Last December, the Federal Court dismissed her application to amend her notice of appeal on the grounds that her application was "insufficient", failing to pass the threshold Section 96(A) of the Courts of Judicature Act. – March 12, 2016.