Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has sent an invitation to lawyers representing local human rights NGO Suaram and shipbuilder DCNS in a French judicial inquiry into alleged kickbacks during Malaysia’s purchase of two Scorpene submarines to come to Parliament and explain the facts of the case to members of the Dewan Rakyat.

NONE “Anwar has left for France last night and at 4pm Paris time today, he will hand-deliver the invitation letters to the lawyers,” related PKR veep Tian Chua ( left in photo ) at a press conference in the Parliament lobby today.

The invitation, copies of which were distributed to the media, was made in his capacity as opposition leader and sough to invite Suaram lawyers William Bourdon and Joseph Breham as well as Olivier Metzner, who represents DCNS in the ongoing judicial investigation, to attend a briefing session in Parliament House sometime during this session.

The purpose of the invitation, chimed in PKR’s Subang MP R Sivarasa, is to explain to the parliamentarians the facts of the case as these lawyers are well-versed in the documentation and progress of the French judicial inquiry.

Sivarasa explained that Anwar is in France to receive an award, though he did not disclose what award or from whom.

He expressed hope that the lawyers will accept and can set aside a date to conduct the briefing.

PAS Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, who was also at the press conference, hoped that the government will not try to prevent the lawyers from coming into the country.

“It is not appropriate to place restrictions to prevent them from entering Malaysia,” stressed Mahfuz.

azlan Previously in July this year, Bourdon was deported by Malaysian authorities for allegedly misusing his social visit pass for other purposes, while both lawyers were later denied working permits to visit Malaysia in their capacity as Suaram lawyers.

Suaram and the opposition have accused the government of a campaign of persecution and harassment against them for bringing up the alleged corruption in the French courts, although the government maintains that the deportation and denial of visas were kosher and without prejudice.

Suaram had petitioned French courts to open an inquiry into alleged corruption during the Scorpene purchase after the country’s government and law enforcement refused to investigate the matter.

Under French law, the judiciary itself can commence investigations and giving kickbacks to foreign governments to secure contracts is considered a crime.

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