Anti-corruption watchdog Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has expressed its disgust at the "deafening silence" of the Malaysian government on the recent indictment of political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda in France.

Abdul Razak was on July 18 indicted by the French Tribunal deGrande Instance for alleged "active and passive corruption" linked to the purchase of two Scorpene class submarines by Malaysia.

Based in Kuala Lumpur, Abdul Razak is a close associate of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and is believed to have advised Najib on defence related matters.

In a joint statement, C4 director Cynthia Gabriel and its legal officer Fadiah Nadwa urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to immediately initiate criminal proceedings against Abdul Razak.

Cynthia cited Section 66(1) of the MACC Act 2009, which provides for liability for offences committed outside Malaysia.

The Act empowers the MACC to conduct criminal proceedings against citizens and permanent residents of Malaysia when an offence under the Act is committed in any place outside Malaysia," she noted.

"It is most unnecessary and a waste of public funds for the MACC to send investigators to France to get information on the status of the case as it clearly has the power to investigate and initiate its own criminal proceedings in Malaysia against Abdul Razak."

As news about the indictment broke out, MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said he had instructed his officers to seek accurate information from the French Embassy on whether the case against Abdul Razak is at the inquiry or prosecution stage.

"Malaysia is obliged to offer its full cooperation under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and work to uncover those persons who have embezzled public funds for their personal gain.

"The use of shell companies for laundered monies, hidden from public srcutiny, warrants serious and urgent attention, as the indictment of a Malaysian in the submarine deal has pointed to massive embezzlement and cross-border corruption by these persons," Cynthia stressed.

Fadiah said the recent developments in France called for accountability for this "serious crime of corruption".

She demanded that the commission takes swift action, as per the MACC Act.

"The ball is in the court of the MACC. It must act now, without fear, without favour," Fadiah said.

Malaysia acquired the two Scorpene-class submarines from France's DCNS for around one billion euros, in a deal inked with the shipbuilder in June 2002, under Najib's watch.

Najib was then deputy prime minister and defence minister.

French authorities are investigating alleged kickbacks on the deal paid to Malaysian officials. Since 2000, the payment of commissions have been outlawed in France.

Four French nationals and Abdul Razak are reportedly under investigation over the Scorpene deal.