Human rights NGO Suaram is a party to the Scorpene judicial inquiry in France and allegations to the contrary are “a malicious accusation (and) a total lie,” its secretariat member Fadiah Nadwa Fikri said today.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Fadiah (right in photo) showed French court documents dated April 11, naming Suaram director and founder Kua Kia Soong as the plaintiff.
“If you have followed the progress of the case, we had testified before the judge on April 19.
“The judge heard us and we proffered a list of witnesses to the judge to facilitate the court process,” the lawyer added.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Fadiah (right in photo) showed French court documents dated April 11, naming Suaram director and founder Kua Kia Soong as the plaintiff. “If you have followed the progress of the case, we had testified before the judge on April 19.
“The judge heard us and we proffered a list of witnesses to the judge to facilitate the court process,” the lawyer added.
Several pro-government NGOs have been quoting a a document dated March 13 to claim that Suaram’s application to be a civil party in the case was rejected.
Young Journalists Club Malaysia (KWMM) president Dzulkarnain Taib decried Suaram's stand as the “biggest lie in Malaysia’s political history,” but he refused to produce the March 13 document.
Dzulkarnain had also claimed that after the rejection, Suaram lawyer William Bourdon applied to be a “joint plaintiff” on grounds that Suaram had been working with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
However, Suaram secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel rejected this claim, saying, “The FIDH has no role in the ongoing judicial investigations.”
Asked about the visit to Malaysia in November by the two French lawyers of Suaram, Cynthia said Bourdon and Joseph Breham were “taking even greater pains” to apply for a working visa, after Bourdon wasdeported from Malaysia last year, for allegedly abusing his social visit visa.
“We really urge the Home Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, and the Malaysian government not to obstruct their travel to Malaysia.
Young Journalists Club Malaysia (KWMM) president Dzulkarnain Taib decried Suaram's stand as the “biggest lie in Malaysia’s political history,” but he refused to produce the March 13 document.
Dzulkarnain had also claimed that after the rejection, Suaram lawyer William Bourdon applied to be a “joint plaintiff” on grounds that Suaram had been working with the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
However, Suaram secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel rejected this claim, saying, “The FIDH has no role in the ongoing judicial investigations.”
Asked about the visit to Malaysia in November by the two French lawyers of Suaram, Cynthia said Bourdon and Joseph Breham were “taking even greater pains” to apply for a working visa, after Bourdon wasdeported from Malaysia last year, for allegedly abusing his social visit visa.“We really urge the Home Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, and the Malaysian government not to obstruct their travel to Malaysia.
“It is for a very legitimate reason that they are coming: to offer an open briefing to parliamentarians on the status of the (Scorpene) case,” she said.
In addition, Cynthia said, the lawyers would also be visiting Suaram.
In addition, Cynthia said, the lawyers would also be visiting Suaram.
Bourdon and Breham have also been invited by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to explain the issue at the Dewan Rakyat.
However, this has resulted in pro-government NGOs - the same group accusing Suaram of lying about its plaintiff status - to lodge police reports against Anwar, Suaram and several other Pakatan Rakyat MPs for supposedly inviting “foreign interference”.
However, this has resulted in pro-government NGOs - the same group accusing Suaram of lying about its plaintiff status - to lodge police reports against Anwar, Suaram and several other Pakatan Rakyat MPs for supposedly inviting “foreign interference”.
DCNS' lawyers also invited
Asked about this, Cynthia pointed out that French shipbuilder DCNS’ lawyers have also been invited, so the briefing for the MPs would not be a “one-sided affair”.
However, she said, she does not know whether DCNS’ lawyers had agreed to come and that this question should be posed to the Pakatan Rakyat MPs.
DCNS is a French state-owned company that built Malaysia’s two Scorpene class submarines, but the deal has since being plagued with allegations of corruption.
Meanwhile, Kua (left) pointed out that France was investigating the Scorpene deal not because it was interested in Malaysia’s affairs, but because DCNS was involved and the French want to investigate alleged kickbacks paid by its officials.
“Do you think the French are so bothered about interfering with the Malaysian government? You’ve got to be kidding me.
“The French inquiry going on is because the company that sold the submarines is a state company. What is involved is possible corruption - commissions paid to Malaysia, Pakistan and Taiwan.
“There is a question of French taxpayers' money being used and that is what the judicial inquiry is about,” Kua said.
Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously denied allegations of corruption, saying the auditor-general had declared that the Scorpene submarines purchase was above board.
Asked about this, Cynthia pointed out that French shipbuilder DCNS’ lawyers have also been invited, so the briefing for the MPs would not be a “one-sided affair”.
However, she said, she does not know whether DCNS’ lawyers had agreed to come and that this question should be posed to the Pakatan Rakyat MPs.
DCNS is a French state-owned company that built Malaysia’s two Scorpene class submarines, but the deal has since being plagued with allegations of corruption.
Meanwhile, Kua (left) pointed out that France was investigating the Scorpene deal not because it was interested in Malaysia’s affairs, but because DCNS was involved and the French want to investigate alleged kickbacks paid by its officials. “Do you think the French are so bothered about interfering with the Malaysian government? You’ve got to be kidding me.
“The French inquiry going on is because the company that sold the submarines is a state company. What is involved is possible corruption - commissions paid to Malaysia, Pakistan and Taiwan.
“There is a question of French taxpayers' money being used and that is what the judicial inquiry is about,” Kua said.
Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously denied allegations of corruption, saying the auditor-general had declared that the Scorpene submarines purchase was above board.
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