KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak reiterated that he never knew Altantuya Shaariibuu as another claim arose yesterday linking him with the murdered Mongolian woman.

"It is a terrible lie," the deputy prime minister said in reference to a statutory declaration by private investigator P. Balasubramaniam claiming Najib had introduced Altantuya to political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda in Singapore.

Balasubramaniam, who was a witness in the murder trial, released the statement at a press conference by de facto Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday.

He said Altantuya told him "she had met Razak and Najib at a dinner in Paris and that she was promised a sum of US$500,000 as commission for assisting in a submarine deal in Paris".

Najib described the latest attempt to connect him to the crime as a "malicious, slanderous fabrication aimed at tarnishing my image".

He said it was a desperate effort by Anwar to shift attention from the latter's sodomy allegations.

"I believe this is concocted. Why, all of a sudden, at this point of time, has this emerged?

"Now, suddenly, all parties are attacked, the inspector-general of police, the attorney-general, me. Why now? That is the question.

"What is important now is not what has been brought up as a diversion or red herring but people want to know whether the sodomy took place or not.

"So I hope the authorities will investigate fully, make a decision and announcement as soon as possible," he said in a packed press conference at Parliament yesterday.

Najib also categorically denied that he had a sexual relationship with Altantuya and conspired to cover up her murder.

"No, absolutely not, because I have never never met her at all."

He said since the statutory declaration differed from the court statement and police report, he would leave it to the authorities to investigate.

"Those responsible must be able to accept the actions taken as a result of their doings if the authorities find them guilty."

Asked whether he would lodge a police report or take legal action, Najib said he would leave it to the police to take action, but warned that, as a Malaysian, he had his personal rights.

"I can take personal action but what is more important is that action can be taken against the person because there are other provisions under the law like defamation and so on."

According to the Associated Press, Balasubramaniam has acknowledged that his information was hearsay.

"It is not a statement of truth. It is a statement of what was said to him. Whether it is true or not, he doesn't know," lawyer Americk Singh Sidhu told the agency.

Najib said he was not upset by the latest allegations.

"I am relaxed about this. As you can see, I am still smiling. I am not worried because the truth will prevail. I believe in the system and believe I have not done anything wrong. Life goes on."

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi declined to comment on the statutory declaration on the ground that it was sub judice.

Najib had indicated that he would be seeking advice from the attorney-general.