Abdul Razak Baginda is a former political analyst from Malaysia, and close associate of the Former Malaysian Prime MinisterNajib Tun Razak. He became prominent in 2006 when he was charged with abetting the murder of a Mongolian woman. He was acquitted on October 31, 2008 when the Malaysian High Court judge found no prima facie case against him. He continued writing while in prison, where he was remanded in custody and published a book on foreign affairs that was started during his incarceration.
Early life and career
Baginda, as he is often known, was the son of National Welfare and Social Development Council chairman Prof Datuk Dr. Abdullah Malim Baginda and Datin Rohana Abdullah. His father was born on 21 March 1936. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in politics and government from City polytechnic, London in 1982. He continued to study and gained a master's degree in War Studies at King's College London in 1984. He subsequently began a D.Phil in International Relations at Trinity College, Oxford, which he successfully completed. In 1988, Baginda joined the Malaysian Armed Forces Defense College as a lecturer and eventually as the head of strategic studies. In 1993, he formed a think tank called the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre, which is based in Kuala Lumpur. It is responsible for the publication of many books on topics that include international relations. They regularly organise seminars on myriad local and international issues. He is also known to be an adviser to Najib Tun Razak.
The French courts are investigating allegations of corruption in the purchase of two submarines and one Agosta-class submarine from French naval dockyards unit, Direction des Constructions Navales International, by the Malaysian Ministry of Defense in 2002. The $2 billion deal was brokered by Baginda who was at that time a defense analyst at the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre think-tank. The investigation is looking into bribes of $200 million involving companies belonging to Baginda and his family members, namely Perimekar, KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd and Terasasi Sdn Bhd. Shaariibuugiin Altantuyaa, a Mongolian woman hired as a French translator to facilitate the purchase of the submarines and mistress to Baginda, was found murdered after she demanded a $500,000 commission on the deal. Baginda was acquitted of the charge of conspiracy of the murder of Altantuyaa by the Malaysian courts, and the father of Altantuyaa filed a RM100 million civil suit against Baginda, the two policemen accused of her murder and the Malaysian government. On 1 August 2017, according to a French judicial source, he was charged in France on July 18 with “active and passive complicity in corruption” and “misappropriation of corporate assets”. Four others including two former DCNI chairmen, Philippe Japiot and Dominique Castellan, and two former heads of Thales International Asia, Bernard Baiocco and Jean-Paul Perrier were also charged. On August 23, 2018, the Shah AlamHigh Court allowed the government's application to strike out the suit filed by the family of Altantuya against the 2 police officers, the Malaysian government and Baginda. The Court of Appeals overturned that decision on March 14, 2018. On September 6, 2018, the federal government agreed to hear the government's leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision to reinstate the lawsuit.
Personal life
He is married to Mazlinda, a lawyer from Lincoln's Inn and former magistrate and they have one daughter, Rowena Abdul Razak Baginda born in 1987. After his acquittal in the murder trial of Altantuyaa, Abdul Razak headed to United Kingdom to receive a degree at Oxford University.
Publications
Books written and edited by Abdul Razak Baginda:
Alliance of the proxies : USSR - Vietnam relations and the implications / by Abdul Razak A. Baginda and Rohana Mahmood - 1988
