BN leaders decry spread of 'lies' on Scorpene deal

Umno leaders have slammed those involved in “the proliferation of lies and slander” involving the purchase of the Scorpene submarines.

Commenting on the recent media interview with dealmaker Jasbir Singh Chahl, Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar ( left )said one of those is NGO Suaram.

The Santubong MP told the New Straits Times that Suaram “did not verify their sources and facts” and police will investigate and take action against the human rights NGO.

“It is politics that is to blame for the proliferation of lies and slander in the media. I blame the players out to create this false perception, which in turn leads to public disobedience in the form of protests and rallies,” he was quoted as saying.

In an interview published the New Straits Times on Saturday, Jasbir, said to be the deal's “architect” claims that slain Mongolian woman Altantuya Shariibuu was never an interpreter in the negotiations, nor was she ever involved in the contract.

He added that whatever affair she may have had with defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda was a personal matter and had nothing to do with the deal.

The deal involved Perimekar Sdn Bhd, whose director is Abdul Razak's wife, Mazlinda Makhzan.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin ( right ) also hit out at the opposition for spreading “slander” on the issue.

Agreeing with him, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor added that the lies were merely repeated as truth to demolish Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's reputation.

“Once you repeat a lie, it becomes like the truth,” he said, referring to speculations over Altantuya's murder in October 2006.

Najib was deputy prime minsiter and defence minister when the Scorpene deal took place, while Abdul Razak was said to be Najib's close confidante.

Abdul Razak was charged for abetting the murder, but was acquitted without his defence being called.

Two police officers with the elite Special Action Unit (UTK), who were assigned as bodyguards to Najib, were convicted for her murder and are now awaiting appeal.