Home Minister Zahid Hamidi has said that Suaram leaders were liable for sedition over their allegations about the Scorpene deal.

“Police can take action as such claims have affected the image of our leader and also the country,” he was quoted as saying in New Straits Times today.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at Utusan Zahid ( left ) said that the Home Ministry cannot act against Suaram as it is under the Companies Commission of Malaysia which is under the purview of the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.

However, he said that a police case could be initiated against the NGO if police reports were made against them.

Zahid added, according to the report, that it was “not too late” for action to be taken against Suaram and its key personalities.

Suaram has filed a case in the French Court over an alleged RM452 million in kickbacks to Perimekar Sdn Bhd in the sale of submarines to Malaysia by naval defence firm DCNS.

The broker of the deal, Jasbir Singh Chahl, has denied that the payment was a bribe, stating that they were paid for services rendered such as training, accommodation and expenses for the Malaysian Royal Navy personnel.

He had also said murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu was not linked to the deal and whatever affair she had was a personal matter with defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who is a key figure in the Scorpene deal and an associate of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.