Malaysia Oversight

Cooperate with French probe on 2002 submarine deal, govt urged

By FMT in May 23, 2025 – Reading time 2 minute
Cooperate with French probe on 2002 submarine deal, govt urged


image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.freemalaysiatoday.com%2Fwp content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F05%2F245dbddb scorpene submarine resize bernamapic 230525
Malaysia purchased two French-designed Scorpene submarines in a controversial deal in 2002. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA:

The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) has urged the government to fully cooperate with French authorities probing the 2002 submarine deal allegedly linked to former prime minister .

C4 cited a Bloomberg report quoting French prosecutors as alleging that, as the then defence minister, Najib had attended meetings to arrange contracts for the Scorpene submarine deal.

It said the report also quoted a source as claiming that had not cooperated with the French probe all these years.

C4 said this development demanded action from the government, especially its alleged lack of cooperation with French authorities.

“While the French authorities have seen significant breakthroughs in uncovering and publishing facts on this matter, there have been no public updates from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“The silence calls into question Malaysia’s commitment to anti-corruption and justice, France has made their commitment clear, while Malaysia has not.

“C4 strongly urges the Malaysian government to cooperate fully with French authorities in their prosecutions, as well as to initiate their own investigations and, if need be, legal proceedings against individuals involved in this scandal,” it said in a statement.

Bloomberg previously reported that French financial prosecutors alleged last year that Najib attended meetings with defence company executives to arrange contracts ahead of the Scorpene submarine deal in 2002.

They claimed the contracts were structured to benefit local decision-makers, including Najib’s then-adviser, Abdul Razak Baginda. A classified document cited in the report asserted that the contracts were designed to remunerate Najib and others.

Bloomberg also quoted a source as saying that it was virtually impossible for French investigators to gather evidence needed to summon Najib for questioning and possibly charge him due to “a lack of cooperation from Malaysia”.

Najib’s legal team has always denied that the former prime minister benefitted from the submarine deal or played any unlawful role in its negotiation.

They also dismissed the claim that French investigators were blocked by Najib’s “influence”, saying subsequent federal administrations since 2018 have had full access to the defence ministry’s records, yet no documents implicating him have ever surfaced.



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