Why has human rights group Suaram taken up the politically-charged controversy over the government’s RM3.7 billion purchase of Scorpene submarines from France?

military malaysia navy french built submarine scorpene class Answering this question, Suaram board member Cynthia Gabriel said the group is concerned with issues of good governance as well as human rights.

And since answers are not forthcoming from the Malaysian authorities, said Gabriel, Suaram has sought assistance from French investigators and prosecutors.

The case was “just not going anywhere in the Malaysian system,” she told Malaysiakini yesterday.

“We have tried to bring the matter up in the Malaysian courts as well as at Parliament, but those with answers are still skirting the issue.”

Suaram has enlisted the help of two judges and three French lawyers, including renowned human rights lawyer William Bourdon, to try and piece together a puzzle that so far is said to have implicated senior French political figures, French businesses and the sale of weaponry to various other governments around the world.

The French practise the Napoleonic Code whereby judges can also be investigators.

                                                

A complaint had already been filed with French prosecutors who are investigating allegations of bribery and kickbacks, said to have been paid for the sale of submarines and other defence equipment from French companies.

'Other unresolved issues'

memo to suhakam immigration ban 140907 cynthia gabriel While the complaint is “extremely crucial for good governance, transparency and accountability”, Suaram is also out to get answers for a lot of other related matters, said Gabriel ( left ).

“Of course, there are also other unresolved issues such as the murder of the Mongolian

translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, and the missing private investigator P Balasubramaniam,” she said.

Altantuya was said to have had a hand in brokering the submarine deal, while Balasubramaniam - a former Special Branch officer - fled Malaysia after making a shocking statutory declaration on the murder case.

However, a day later he retracted that declaration, but claimed later that he did so after being offered a bribe.

“There seem to be a lot of cover-ups, to the extent where people have to leave the country. Suaram as a human rights organisation, just want explanations for the Malaysian public,” she said.

Apart from links with Malaysia, the case is tied in with shady deals involving the governments of India and Pakistan, Gabriel added.

While it was previously reported that there are no formal investigations have been filed as yet, she said Suaram will “most definitely” make findings on the matter public.        

“We will also be lodging another report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, which seem to have skirted the issue for so long,” she said.