In a country that often prides itself on hospitality and justice, the deaths of Ivana Smit and Altantuya Shaariibuu cast long, uncomfortable shadows. Both were young, foreign women who died under suspicious and violent circumstances while in Malaysia. Both cases involved powerful individuals, questionable investigations, and international outrage. Yet, nearly two decades apart, the difference in how these two women were treated by our system is telling.
One mother Ivana’s just won RM1.1 million from the government over police negligence. The other Altantuya’s father is still waiting, still wondering if Malaysia will ever deliver the justice his daughter deserves.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Ivana Smit: A Mother’s Fight Rewarded
Ivana Smit was just 18 years old when she plunged to her death from a luxury condo in Kuala Lumpur in 2017 after partying with a wealthy American couple. The scene was bizarre. She was found nude on a sixth-floor balcony, with alcohol and drugs in her system, and yet the police swiftly ruled it as sudden death no foul play suspected. The public smelt something rotten, and so did her family. But the system shrugged.
That could have been the end of it another “expat party gone wrong” swept under the rug. But her mother, Christina Verstappen, refused to give up. She pushed. She filed a civil suit. She went to court. And last week, the Kuala Lumpur High Court agreed with her: the police failed. They ignored evidence. Mishandled the scene. Allowed suspects to leave the country. They did not act like professionals sworn to uphold justice they acted like they were trying to shut the case down.
For that, the court awarded Christina RM1.1 million. Not just as compensation, but as a loud message that negligence in death investigations, even involving foreign victims, has consequences.
Altantuya Shaariibuu: A Case Still Tied in Knots
Now shift the spotlight back to 2006, to the gruesome murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian interpreter who was shot in the head, and her body blown up with military-grade explosives in a forest in Shah Alam. No ordinary murder, this. The kind of killing you see in spy thrillers. And when you learn that she was linked to a high-profile defence deal, and romantically involved with Abdul Razak Baginda a close associate of then-Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak the case takes on an even darker hue.
Two police officers, Azilah and Sirul, were convicted of the murder. But till today, no court has established the motive. Sirul reportedly claimed he was paid to stay silent. Azilah, still in prison, gave a statutory declaration saying he acted on orders from Najib. Najib denied it. No one was prosecuted further. The mastermind remains a ghost.
Altantuya’s father, Setev Shaariibuu, has been waiting nearly 20 years. He's still attending hearings, still hoping Malaysians will one day say, "Yes, this was wrong. Yes, we will make it right." But our system drags on, caught in politics, diplomacy, and legal gymnastics.
Foreign Victims, Local Failures
Both the victim and the alleged offender were foreigners who arrived on our shores for entirely different reasons one in pursuit of opportunity, the other perhaps for pleasure or profit. But when tragedy struck, it was our own system that faltered. The failure to conduct a proper, thorough investigation wasn’t just a procedural misstep it became a national shortcoming. And now, while justice delayed has begun to show signs of justice denied, we as Malaysians are left to carry the consequences. Not only have we been ordered to pay compensation in ringgit, but we also pay a far heavier price in public trust, international reputation, and the erosion of faith in our institutions. This isn’t just about a court ruling. It’s about who we are as a nation when no one is watching and whether the truth still matters when the victim isn’t one of our own.
What’s the Difference?
Some might ask why did Ivana’s case move forward and Altantuya’s didn’t? Both involved foreign nationals. Both exposed flaws in our police work. Both hinted at deeper, uglier truths behind the scenes.
But there’s one glaring difference: Ivana’s case had no political baggage. No billion-ringgit defence contracts. No ex-prime ministers. No French submarines. It was messy, yes, but it was still relatively safe to touch. The court could acknowledge police negligence without toppling any political towers.
Altantuya? She’s radioactive. Her case is a minefield of political implications. Bringing it up risks touching on names that still carry weight, even after losing power. And in Malaysia, we know too well once politics enters the courtroom, truth becomes negotiable.
Justice Shouldn't Be a Luxury
What message do we send when one foreign mother gets closure, while another father grows old chasing the same answers? That justice in Malaysia is selective? That it works only when it's convenient? That our police will only act when a judge drags them by the collar?
We cannot keep operating like this. If we want Malaysia to be respected globally, if we want to tell investors, tourists, and expats that we are a law-abiding, fair nation then we need to clean up our own house. That means:
- Investigations must be thorough, transparent, and free from political interference.
- The police cannot be allowed to decide who deserves justice based on class, connections, or headlines.
- Courts must have the courage to follow facts, not faces.
And above all, we must be brave enough to admit when we’ve failed, and commit to fixing it not just in Ivana’s case, but in Altantuya’s and many more.
Malaysia's Soul Is On Trial
There is a Malay saying “Berani kerana benar, takut kerana salah.” Be brave if you are right, be afraid if you are wrong.
Our institutions must stop being afraid of truth. If Azilah is lying, prove it. If he’s not, act on it. If Sirul knows more, bring him back not to hang, but to speak. If there are others involved in Altantuya’s murder, the rakyat deserve to know. Her family deserves to know. And the system deserves the chance to redeem itself.
Because what happened to Ivana and Altantuya isn’t just about two women. It’s about us. Our values. Our reputation. Our future.
If we can’t get justice right for them, what hope do the rest of us have?
“This article reflects the personal opinion of the writer and is based on publicly available information.”
Annan Vaithegi (annanvaithegi@icloud.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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