Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he is willing to testify in court following French investigations into alleged graft in the multi-billion ringgit Scorpene submarines deal.

Ahmad Zahid Umno VP “They may challenge us in court. We want to be more transparent. On allegations made by them, let the court reveal the truth,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters today.

The foreign authorities are investigating whether commissions - which is illegal under French laws - have been paid in the RM7.3 billion deal between the Malaysian government and French-based defence company DCNS.

In 2009, human rights NGO Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) filed a suit against DCNS with the Paris court for “active and passive corruption, trading of favours and abuse of corporate assets”.

Suaram is currently raising funds for its lawyers' litigation fees.

When quizzed on the matter, Ahmad Zahid said, “I'm ever willing to go to court if I am requested, provided that it is approved by the cabinet. But if the cabinet doesn't allow, I don't have to go.”

The case attracted international attention when judges in the Paris Prosecution Office prompted a preliminary police inquiry after two French lawyers filed the case on behalf of Suaram.

Why no local probe?

The crux of the allegation is the payment of 114.96 million euro (RM574.8 million) went to a local company called Perimekar Sdn Bhd.

military malaysia navy french built submarine scorpene class The sum was claimed to be a commission, but the Defence Ministry has insisted it was for “coordination and support services” involving the submarine deal.

       

When asked why the French authorities were suspicious of alleged discrepancies in the deal, while there has not been a similar probe on the matter in Malaysia, Ahmad Zahid skirted the issue.

“We respect Suaram as a NGO but they have to differentiate between defence issues and political issues,” he said.

“Although as much as we like (the deal) to be transparent, in terms of specifications and such, we shouldn’t reveal these to the court, even though the court has the right to know everything,” he added.

“The capability of Scorpene has been proven... Scorpene is an asset to the ministry."

NONE The defence minister was circumspect when pressed further.

“Different countries request for different submarine systems. I don’t have the specific details of our submarine system, but I reckon it is available for technical specifications comparison,” Ahmad Zahid answered.

“As a matter of fact, for Suaram ( above ) to make a comparison, they probably got the specifications from defence journals or other publications,” he added, and refrained from commenting further except that he welcomed a probe.

“If I was to stop (the suit) and issue whatever adverse comments or action, it is likely that I would be accused of not cooperating with them (the complainants),” he said.

NONE Perimekar is wholly owned by another company, KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, that in turn is controlled by Abdul Razak Baginda, a close confidante of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ( left ), who as defence minister at the time had closed the DCNS deal. 

Scandal over the controversial deal broke when Abdul Razak was charged with abetting two of Najib’s bodyguards in the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was shot in the head on Oct 19, 2006, then blown up using C4 explosives available only to the military.

According to testimony revealed in court, Altantuya was apparently blackmailing her then-lover Abdul Razak for US$500,000 for reasons unknown.

She had allegedly accompanied Abdul Razak to Paris when the ministry was negotiating the submarine deal.