Scorpene lawyers now deciphering documents to show Najib 'received the money directly'

High or low treason, Malaysia's ruling BN government is keeping its eyes tightly shut over a shady RM7.3bil submarines acquisition and with good reason. Their leader, Prime Minister Najib Razak, is at the center of the arms procurement corruption trial involving French vendor DCNS that began in Paris in April.

Despite the mountain of evidence uncovered by the French police, Malaysian authorities - from Najib's department to his Umno party, the police, Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission and even the Royal Malaysian Navy itself have refused to comment.

But silence will not be golden for Najib, who controversially came to power in 2009.

"The lawyers told us that the documents seized by the French police show a clear link between Razak Baginda and Najib. The French judge is satisfied there are grounds to subpoena Baginda and wants Suaram lawyers to decipher more documents that directly showed Najib received the money before they summon him," PKR MP for Batu Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Tian was referring to the French legal team hired by Malaysian NGO Suaram, which had in 2010 filed a complaint with the Parisian authorities after failing to get the Malaysian agencies to initiate a full-scale probe despite years of trying and growing public anger over the abuse of trust and taxpayers' money.

The 58-year-old Najib has been accused of accepting 114 million euros or RM570mil bribe for agreeing to buy two Scorpene submarines from DCNS in 2002 when he was the Defense minister.

Razak Baginda, formerly a prominent political analyst, has long been a close friend of Najib's. He was a lecturer for the Ministry of Defense and among the negotiators in Scorpenes purchase by the Malaysian government. He also ran a private think-tank. 

Bombshell in Bangkok leaves Malaysian navy 'deaf' and 'dumb'?

Suaram and its lawyers had last week held a high-profile press conference in Bangkok, revealing the latest status in the Parisian investigation, and Tian was among those who had flown to the Thai capital to get the latest information.

In Bangkok, French lawyers had dropped a bombshell. According to Joseph Breham, who heads the legal team, Parisian police had found evidence that a firm Terasasi controlled by Baginda and his father had sold Malaysian naval secrets to DCNS.

“It was a secret document by the Malaysian Navy, an evaluation for the order of the submarines, which is a highly confidential report,” said Breham.

But it looks like the cat may have got Royal Malaysian Navy's tongue. Despite the gravity of the situation, the Malaysian naval leaders had nothing to say.

"We have no comment for now," Royal Malaysian Navy media and web director Commander Ismail Othman was reported as telling a news portal.

Silence is NOT golden despite media blackout in M'sia

Baginda was also charged for abetting the murder of his ex-lover Altantuya Shaariibuu, who is believed to have been killed because of her knowledge of the Scorpene transaction. Baginda's private investigator P Balasubramaniam has alleged that she was also Najib's mistress and it was the PM who had 'passed' her onto Baginda.

Two of Najib former bodyguards were sentenced to hang for murdering Altantuya while Baginda was controversially acquitted, prompting further concern that the Malaysian authorities were shielding the 'real killers' or 'puppet-masters'.

“We were shocked with Suaram’s exposé that a company linked to PM Najib had sold these defence secrets. This is a national crisis that requires immediate action," PKR MP for Gombak Azmin Ali told reporters on Wednesday.

“I urge Najib not to take this issue lightly. He must come forward to answer how his key advisers had sold off our defence secrets. I also urge the relevant authorities — the police, MACC and the Malaysian Armed Forces — to commence investigations immediately and bring those responsible to justice."

Given that the submarines were ordered in 2002, Altantuya was murdered in 2006, Najib's bodyguards sentenced in 2009, few Malaysians expect the BN to move with any speed on the case - especially with the 13th general election looming.

Due to the complete blackout by the government media, with opinion pollsters also cautioned against doing any survey on whether the Scorpenes corruption and Altantuya murder had dented Najib's credibility, Azmin is unlikely to get any answer from Najib at all.

Will Najib and Umno duck the issue again at Parliament next week?

Nonetheless, the Pakatan Rakyat coalition led by Najib's arch rival Anwar Ibrahim is unlikely to let Najib off the hook. Pantai Lembah MP Nurul Izzah has also pledged to raise the matter in Parliament, which convenes next week.

Tian has also assured constituents that he will lodge another formal report with the MACC.

Documents seized by the French police included a document tagged “Malaysia”, wherein there was a confidential report regarding Perimekar and Terasasi - two firms linked to Baginda and alleged to be the vessels through which the DCNS bribes had been funneled back to Najib and his Umno party.

The confidential report included a note on “Retracing the background of negotiations", which stated that pursuant to the major defense contracts between France and Malaysia, there was a requirement that substantial transfer of money had to be channeled to individuals and/or political organizations.

“The note specifically states that apart from individuals, the ruling party Umno is the biggest beneficiary. Consultants are often used as political network agents to facilitate these monetary transfers and to receive commissions from their mandators. The note mentions about Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Noor and Abdul Razak as points of reference for the political network," said SUARAM in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Mohd Ibrahim is known to be close to former Finance minister Daim Zainuddin, but he dropped out of Perimekar when Daim's power in Umno waned after resigning in 2001. It was then that Razak Baginda took over as Najib's power in both Umno and the federal government grew.

Outlaws in Europe

Baginda is being sought as a witness in the French case. After his acquittal, he left overseas and obtained a doctorate fro the Oxford university and is believed to be living in self-exile with his family in Europe.

All eyes are now whether the French court will summon current Malaysian Defense minister Zahid Hamidi and if Najib will agree to take the witness stand.

If the Malaysian men refuse to do, they will become outlaws in Europe, which would make it extremely embarrassing for Najib to continue to be PM unless Malaysia were to cut off diplomatic ties with the Eurozone.

Malaysia Chronicle