A Malaysian anti-graft watchdog has urged the new Malaysian government to allow French human rights lawyer William Bourdon (above) to enter the country.

Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel said the government led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad should now allow Bourdon to brief the Malaysian authorities on the on-going Scorpene probe in Paris.

"This move would enable him to enter Malaysia and advise the government on the latest developments of the case, the next course of action and steps to be taken to ensure that the case proceeds without a hitch in the French court," Gabriel said.

"The lifting of the entry ban would then enable Malaysians to get the full picture of the Scorpene corruption scandal.

"This is key to unveiling the whole truth behind the corruption scandal which would facilitate the quest to bring those responsible to account," she added.

Malaysiakini has contacted Bourdon and is awaiting his response.

Bourdon was deported back to France after speaking at a fundraising forum in Penang in July 2011.

The Scorpene corruption scandal centres on the payment of €114 million (RM570 million) in commissions and kickbacks made by shipbuilder Thales and DCNS to Malaysian officials through a company called Perimekar Sdn Bhd (Perimekar) for the purchase of two submarines by the Malaysian navy.

Perimekar was a company controlled by political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

Five individuals including Abdul Razak, have been indicted by the French Court for their involvement in the scandal where they are accused of allegedly paying kickbacks to Malaysian officials.

Gabriel also cited the indictment of Abdul Razak by the French court on July 18, 2017.

"The new Pakatan Harapan government must lift the ban prohibiting William Bourdon from entering Malaysia," Gabriel said.

Gabriel said Bourdon is a prominent French lawyer who is in charge of the Scorpene case in the French court.

"It is noteworthy that the case is still ongoing in the French Court and it is only a matter of time that the proceeding is moved to a higher court where those involved will be prosecuted," she added.