O Tian Chua, what have you done!

Last week malaysiakini carried a news item where Malaysia’s self-declared de facto leader demanded DPM Najib Razak explain a claim by a witness in the Altantuya murder trial.

Prosecution witness Burmaa Oyunchimeg (a cousin of murdered Altantuya Shaariibuu) told the Shah Alam High Court that the late Altantuya showed her a photo after the latter returned from a trip to France - see malaysiakini article Najib seen with Altantuya.

Burmaa claimed that the photo showed her late cousin having a meal with one of the accused, Abdul Razak Baginda, together with ‘a government official’ and other people.

Then Karpal Singh, who was holding a watching brief for Altantuya’s family, queried her about the 'government officer', to which Burmaa responded: “I remember the name Najib Razak, they had the same name, ‘Razak’. I thought they were brothers. I asked her if they were brothers.”

Needless to say, the de facto leader, leaping on Burmaa's claim, pounded Najib, the man whom he had hounded since Ijok, for an explanation, acting as if he was judge, jury, prosecution and hopefully executioner.

I had blogged on this issue in Altantuya trial & Najib Razak - why we seek alternative process.

Unfortunately Burmaa did not produce said photo which could have transformed her hearsay evidence (“Altantuya told me ...”) into steamy solid sh*t for the DPM.

But then, trust Malaysia's WB to oblige, well, in a sort of way.

Who’s WB?

Oh, it’s our country's most famous ‘wannabe martyr’.

Tian Chua, PKR’s head of publicity posted the missing photo on his blog to show an 'Altantuya' (with cleavage and all) together with a 'Najib' and a 'Razak' having a cosy French dinner.

As one visitor to his blog commented (extract): “... I understand that you need to pull all the shots you have at your disposal for your political sake. At least, just put there ‘this is a superimposed image’”

Yes, unfortunately Tian Chua neglected to mention that wee qualification about his posted photo.

Putting up a doctored photo as a joke is OK for ordinary bloggers like KTemoc. But for the PKR information chief to resort to such gimmickry, for obvious political gains, it is no longer a joke or a humorous gambit.

It actually demonstrated an act of desperation, a sinister intention to rubbish a political opponent along the lines of the infamous 50 Dalil Mengapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM (50 reasons why Anwar cannot be PM).

Well, wouldn't it a case of orthnithological specimens of identical plummage ... eh? Yes, what irony!

Even Raja Petra Kamarudin of Malaysia-Today, a blog renown for bold hard hitting revelations and robust exchanges, saw it fit, nay, was compelled to qualify/question the authenticity of Tian Chua’s posted photo when he (Raja) posted Tian Chua’s article in his blog corner.

Tian Chua, known for his recklessness (though hitherto only to his own safety), has certainly exceeded his normal boundaries. I was shocked as I didn't expect him to descend to such gross grubby gutter level cheap shots, which would be more suited for another sector of the PKR. Much as I had ribbed him about his wannabe martyr inclinations, I, like many people, have a secret fondness and some admiration for the eccentric bloke.

Tian, having realised his faux pas which might even attract a libel suit, quickly made a damage control qualification the following day. He attempted to brush it off with a casual : "I thank those good hearted individuals who tried to inform me the picture is doctored. I should certainly know. I also believe the real photo exists, and hopefully it will eventually be displayed publicly."

"I believe the real photo exists ..." does not and cannot excuse a politician's surat layang-ish (poison pen-like) posting of a doctored photo. Alas, for a political party which wants Malaysians to take it seriously, the salacious sleazy sin has already been committed.

Oh dear, oh dear, Tian Chua, what have you done?

You have transformed not just the photo but your own WB image as an eccentric but still likeable ‘wannabe martyr’ into a malicious ‘wicked monger’.

And the collateral damage to PKR?

If anything, Tian Chua's intemperate act has proven PKR to be desperate, as 'desperate' can be.