Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has warned certain quarters against running a smear campaign over alleged irregularities in the purchase of two submarines in 2002.

Commenting on a claim made by French lawyer William Bourdon that he would uncover more information on the purchase, Ahmad Zahid said the ministry was willing to be investigated in upholding the truth.

“The acquisition of submarines was transparent as I had mentioned in the Parliament. Please remember, any mistakes on their part, they will not get away scot-free,” he told reporters after launching the Armed Forces’ ‘Jiwa Murni’ (community) programme in conjunction with ‘Ops Pasir’ at Danawan island in Semporna, Sabah today.

Bourdon, a human rights lawyer, who is on a four-day visit to the country until Sunday, gave a speech at a Suaram fundraiser dubbed ‘Ops Scorpene’ in Bayan Baru, Penang last night purportedly to fund an awareness campaign to pursue the case in French courts.

Bourdon was deported tonight after being detained at KLIA this morning on arrival from Penang.

Suaram filed a case against French naval defence giant DCNS in 2009 over alleged irregularities in the Scorpene deal worth RM7.3 billion between Malaysia and France and it is being investigated by French authorities.

Ahmad Zahid described the campaign as a malicious attack on the government and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who was the defence minister at the time when the purchase was made.

In another development, Ahmad Zahid said the ministry would beef up naval capabilities in Sabah waters and an allocation would be sought from the 10th Malaysia Plan in October.

- Bernama