Opposition party DAP wants the police to reinvestigate Scomi Precision Engineering Sdn Bhd (Scope), in view of the recent arrest of senior executives of its Japanese business partner.

The New York Times had reported that Tokyo Metropolitan police had arrested the president and five executives and employees of Mitutoyo Corp on Aug 25, on suspicion of exporting equipment without approval to an unspecified Malaysian recipient in late 2001.

Japanese police had raided the company premises in February as part of their probe.

While the police have provided few details, Japanese media reports alleged that the three-dimensional precision measuring instruments were eventually sold to Scope - a unit fully owned by listed oil and gas firm Scomi Group Bhd.

The company is owned by Kamaluddin Abdullah, whose business dealings have been in the spotlight for having allegedly benefitted from patronage of the government helmed by his father and prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

At a press conference in Parliament House today, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the latest development warranted the Malaysian authorities revisiting the Scope files.

"I hope the prime minister and his son can come clean on this matter," he said, also referring to Abdullah's statement over the weekend.

"Since Abdullah has said he is not sure of what his son is doing, he should get to the bottom of this matter and give the people a clear response, including whether the five arrested in Japan are directly linked to Scope."

The premier had said he was willing to apologise if he had lied during an interview aired over national television, when he said Kamaluddin and Scomi had not been awarded government projects.

"I was unaware of it because I don't run my son's business. I didn't ask him to report to me because he is a grown man," Abdullah was reported as saying after he apparently received a letter containing information on Scomi projects.

Scope was set up in 2001 to produce centrifuge components for Gulf Technical Industries LLC in Dubai, under a deal arranged by Sri Lankan businessman BSA Tahir.

These found their way into Libya's uranium enrichment programme, said to be capable of producing nuclear weapons.

Malaysian police launched an investigation into the company's transactions after a tip-off from the US and British intelligence services about Scope's alleged role.

Tahir, identified as the middleman, was arrested in May 2004 and detained under the Internal Security Act. However, Kamaluddin was cleared of any wrongdoing.