Carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan claimed that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was directly involved in Boustead Holdings Bhd's acquisition of Asta Canggih Sdn Bhd, which he owned.

At a press conference at PAS' headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Deepak said Najib had done so to protect his family members involved in a dodgy land deal.

NONE"I know this because I was there when the instruction was given," said Deepak (centre in photo), who did not state when or where this meeting took place.

In view of this, Deepak urged Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to withdraw his defamation suit against PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli over the latter's article on same matter.

"He (Ahmad Zahid) doesn't know anything. If at all, any (court) action should be directed at Najib, because he gave the instructions," he said.

Previously, Asta Canggih had been embroiled in a court battle with Awan Megah (M) Sdn Bhd over a land deal gone sour.
Eventually, Asta Canggih dropped the suit after an acquisition by Boustead Holdings through its subsidiary Bakti Wira Developments Sdn Bhd.

Boustead Holdings is owned by defence ministry backed pension fund Lembaga Amanah Angkatan Tentera (LTAT).

In Nov 28 last year, Deepak dropped a bombshell when he claimed that he had to pay a large sum of money in 2007 to a member of Najib's family to help facilitate the land deal.

At the time, Najib was defence minister and the deal involved land owned by the defence ministry.
[More to follow]
azlan