Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has written to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, for an assurance that Suaram's French lawyers will not be barred from entering Malaysia when they arrive later this month.

"I am seeking a written assurance from the Home Ministry that the lawyers will not be denied and/or stopped from entering the country to give a briefing to Parliament on the (French Scorpene inquiry),” he wrote.

"I will send an alert to Parliament and to the BN Backbenchers' Club (about the bipartisan briefing) once the written assurance is obtained.”

azlan The letter follows confirmation from lawyer William Bourdon ( left ) that he will brief parliamentarians on the judicial investigation into the Malaysian purchase of the Scorpene-class submarines from French defence contractor DCNS.

PKR's Subang parliamentarian R Sivarasa said Bourdon had said, in subsequent telephone communication, that he would brief the MPs on Nov 22 if he could be assured that he would not be deported ,as had happened in July last year.

Bourdon had confirmed in principle to give the briefing on Nov 22 through a letter dated Oct 29.

According to Anwar's letter, copies of which were distributed to media, Anwar had also urged Hishammuddin to respond urgently so arrangements can be made.

This includes contacting DCNS lawyers to invite them to the briefing.

“We had written to DCNS to invite them prior to this but have not gotten a reply. To be fair, this was probably because there was no date, so once we get an assurance from Hishammuddin, we'll write to DCNS with the confirmed date,” Sivarasa said.

NONE However, Batu MP Tian Chua, ( right ) who was also at the press conference, added that DCNS may choose not to attend as they are not party to the judicial inquiry.

“It has not yet come to a stage where DCNS has to defend itself so they may choose to remain silent, but we are inviting them as good practice,” he said.

Nazri gives okay

He added that Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of parliamentary affairs Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz ( below ) also indicated that there was no problem with holding the briefing in the Parliament building.

The briefing is planned at a conference room in Parliament, and not in the Dewan Rakyat during sitting.

NONE Chua said that if the Home Minister wants Bourdon to declare that he is entering on a work visit, then the lawyer would comply.

Bourdon was deported before as he had entered on a social visit, but had in fact visited his clients, Suaram and spoke at a fundraiser in Penang.

However, Chua said that this was “harrasment” as it was normal for professionals to fly in and out of Malaysia to have short meetings with clients here without obtaining a work visa.

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