Zahid's reply over Scorpenes raises more questions - Izzah

Defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's blanket denial of any military secrets being leaked in the controversial purchase of Scorpenes submarines from France has only raised more questions than answers, according to PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar (pic).

Earlier, Nurul, the Lembah Pantai member of parliament, had questioned Zahid over allegations that prime minister Najib Razak's aide Abdul Razak Baginda had used his Hong Kong-based company Terasasi to sell Malaysian military secrets to Thint Asia (Thales International) for RM142 million.

Zahid however said his ministry had no information on it.

But Nurul said Zahid had not explained the nature of investigation the government claimed to have carried out on the alleged leakage.

"So what was the investigation’s scope? Was the Police and AG’s Chambers involved to avoid conflict of interest when the Ministry of Defence is subject to the allegations?" asked Nurul.

'Are documents fake?'

Nurul also challenged Zahid to state whether the 'official documents' with the French court which is currently conducting the Paris tribunal on the Scorpenes sale were false.

"If this is indeed the case, when will the government issue a diplomatic note to protest the use of these false documents?"

She also questioned the use of a private company such as Perimekar Sdn Bhd to provide ‘support and coordinating services’ instead of a government body "where defence secrets will be protected?"

Nurul also said the government must prove that the submarines had passed their military capabilities, saying this should not be regarded as national secrets.

"Why keep such a secret when billions are spent on Scorpene to demonstrate our defence capabilities for the whole world to know?" she questioned further.

French lawyer representing local rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia in the Paris tribunal, Joseph Breham, had said that Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd, owned by Razak, had sold the highly confidential document detailing the Malaysian navy’s evaluation of the submarines to French defence giant DCNS for RM142 million.

Razak, who was acquitted of murdering Mongolian citizen Altantuya Shaariibuu (pics, left) in 2006, and his father Abdul Malim Baginda, were directors of Terasasi, the company used to 'funnel' funds to politicians in Malaysia.

It has been claimed that Altantuya's murder had to do with unpaid kickbacks owed to her from the submarines deal.

-Harakahdaily