Nazri says Malay supremacy wrongly interpreted

Nazri says ‘ketuanan Melayu’ is not about the Malays, it is about the Malay Rulers. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz attempted today to silence arguments on “Malay supremacy”, claiming it has been grossly interpreted to propagate the supremacy of the Malay race by leaders with “cow dung in their brains”.

The minister in the Prime Minister’s Department told The Malaysian Insider that the famous phrase, often used by Malay right-wing leaders to push for Malay rights, was coined to protect the sovereignty of the Malay Rulers.

As such, Nazri stressed that “Malay supremacy” did not in any way mean that the Malays were more superior than the other races.

“It is not about me as a Malay or about (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) as a Malay. It is not about the Malays, it is about the Malay Rulers. For as long as they are around, we respect them.

“These people do not understand what it means. How can we have a race more supreme than the others? It is ridiculous,” the Padang Rengas MP said when met at his office in Parliament yesterday evening.

The straight-talking politician explained that the phrase had been coined long ago before the country achieved independence in 1957 and was created to give due recognition to the special position of the Malay Rulers in the Federal Constitution.

“It has been enshrined in the Constitution. When the Constitution says that there is a special place for the Sultans in the states where there are Rulers, that is the ‘ketuanan Melayu’ (Malay supremacy). It is not about Najib or Nazri being more Malay and thus, more supreme than others,” he said.

Nazri acknowledged that the phrase was oftentimes used by politicians across the political divide when referring to the special position of Malays under Article 153 of the Constitution but insisted that they were leaders with “cow dung in their brains”.

“They are rubbish leaders. They have cow dung in their brains. You want to put that in? Please do. They have cow dung in their brains. They do not know what it is all about.

“How can you say that just because you are a Malay in this country, that means you are supreme. What is that?

“How do you measure the supremacy of one race over another? In every community, there are those who are smart, clever, stupid.... you find this in all races so what are they talking about? Those who think this way have cow dung in their brains,” he said.

Nazri was responding to statements made by PKR leaders over the weekend, including its president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and newly-elected deputy president Azmin Ali, both of whom rejected the concept of Malay supremacy and pushed instead for “ketuanan rakyat” (supremacy of the people).

Dr Wan Azizah had described Malay supremacy as a slogan used by a small group of Malay elites to cheat others.

She also called on the Malay community to become a dignified race and not to be obsessed with being a “master”.

In his speech at the PKR congress, Azmin had ridiculed Najib’s 1 Malaysia concept and accused Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) of continuing to condone racist policies in its administration.

“If we want our country and people to march forward then we must ensure the end of racist policies brought by Umno and BN. The national agenda should be based on needs not on race. This is very important.

“We must not be defensive when we want to reject the concept of Malay supremacy. Even though the media have relentlessly attacked us that we are traitors because we want to reject Malay supremacy but I want to proclaim today that we will reject Malay supremacy. We will carry people power to become the basis of the party’s struggle,” he had said.

Nazri accused Dr Wan Azizah of being “ignorant” for failing to understand the true meaning of “Malay supremacy” and questioned if she believed that the country was a republic instead of a constitutional monarchy.

“She is really ignorant. She does not know what she is talking about. We are not a republic so there is no ketuanan rakyat. We have Rulers here and it’s about them that this Malay supremacy was created.

“When she says ketuanan rakyat, is she saying she wants a republic? Because that is not what is said in the Constitution,” he said.

Nazri also agreed that those who fanned their “false” interpretation of the phrase “Malay supremacy” were only succeeding in creating unrest among the people.

“That is why people need to start learning. Do not talk without thinking and studying the facts. Do not simply pass on what others tell you... and you just repeat it without thinking.

“Trouble about people is that they talk too much and they do not even know what they are talking about,” he said.

When asked why the term was so often misinterpreted by groups to mean the supremacy of the Malay race, Nazri said: “It was started by those who have cow dung in their brains.”

He then urged the people to be wary of such leaders when voting for them during elections.

“I hope the people will not elect leaders with cow dung in their brains. Yes, I have repeated it many times. They have cow dung in their brains,” he said.

Earlier today, Perkasa Youth chief Arman Azha Abu Hanifah had described PKR leaders as being desperate for the non-Malay votes and had called Dr Wan Azizah a “political prostitute” for rejecting the concept of Malay supremacy.

He also likened Dr Wan Azizah’s remarks to an attack on the constitutional position of the Malays. - Malaysian Insider

Protest vote of 2008 will not be repeated, politicians say

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — A little over two years after the last general election, politicians across the divide agree the momentum built up by the political tsunami that rocked Malaysia has all but subsided.

Some pundits think Barisan Nasional, which had a disastrous outing in March 2008, has in fact gained ground since then while Pakatan Rakyat has squandered the goodwill of voters as its component parties grapple with various issues.

Political leaders told The Malaysian Insider the tsunami had sparked off an era of political maturity among voters who were now more discerning and critical of those they choose to govern the nation.

Many predicted that the “protest vote” of Elections 2008 would now become a “positive vote” that would no longer be affected by emotions or blind hatred towards either coalition.

They noted that while PR’s success in 2008 was bolstered by an all-consuming anger towards the ruling BN coalition which was further propelled by sentiments ignited during the infamous Hindraf and Bersih rallies in 2007, such emotive considerations would no longer be a factor in the next general election.

In the March 2008 general election, the opposition parties of PKR, DAP and PAS surprised even themselves when they trounced BN in five states and even denied the ruling coalition its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament.

The results changed the country’s political landscape and the aftermath saw the powerful BN coalition, led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, scrambling to repair its image and regain the people’s confidence through a slew of inclusive transformative policies.

Khairy said in the coming polls, voters would weigh the strengths of both coalition pacts critically. — File pic

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin told The Malaysian Insider that in the coming polls, voters would weigh the strengths of both coalition pacts critically as they are more discerning than they were pre-Elections 2008.

“It will be a discerning vote. It will depend on who is putting forward a better proposition and who can best execute their promises. We have reached that inflection point where we have gone past the protest issue and we are looking now for positive changes,” he said.

The Rembau MP even said that the weaknesses seen in PR parties, particularly in PKR, would not play a major contributing factor in BN’s strategies to regain support.

“I have always maintained that our enemies’ weaknesses are not our strengths and unless we address our own strengths and actually pull through with our reforms, it is not going to be any easier for us.

“We need to concentrate and ensure that there is traction from the people in responding to our strengths. That would be the positive sign. I do not believe that just because our enemies are doing badly, it is time for us to strike,” he said.

Umno’s Kota Belud MP Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahalan agreed with his colleague, adding that it was no longer feasible for the opposition to bank on petty accusations against its rivals to secure support.

“It is a level playing field and it should be that way. Let us fight it out in policy matters. PKR can no longer tell the people not to vote for BN because BN is evil.

“It is more about what I can do for you, not because I am saying that the other guy is corrupt and evil.

“It is about telling the people what your plan is, what is the alternative that you are giving to the people?” he said.

Abdul Rahman said there was presently a clear shift of support towards BN and claimed that even the opposition was aware of the sway.

He coyly pointed out that this was proven in how opposition backbenchers were no longer as vocal in Parliament as they were before, after the 2008 election.

“Go to Parliament now, you hardly see them shouting and getting angry. They are all sullen and sulking and slumped in their chairs. You do not see the feisty mood that was there before.

“This is an unscientific indication, no doubt, but I can feel it when I am there. After 2008, they were larger than life... now, they have just been downsized,” he said.

Abdul Rahman said this was partly due to the opposition’s own doing, citing the example of the just-concluded PKR direct elections, which was fraught with complaints of irregularities and malpractices.

“I have a lot of friends, I talk to them, people on the fence who are leaning to PR, and they are worried about giving the government to the opposition,” he claimed.

He noted that on the other hand, the ruling BN coalition had proven its worth and had weathered the storm since Elections 2008.

Najib’s policies, he said, were a major contributing factor to BN’s increasing momentum against PR.

“He brought stability, he is a reasonable man. He even deals with the opposition with decorum and respect and you hardly see him shooting from the hip.

“We have dealt with crime, corruption, the court system, our anti-corruption agency packs more bite now and we are even catching up in our communication methods,” he said.

Abdul Rahman admitted that in the previous election, BN had been “outnumbered, out-manoeuvred and out-strategised” in the use of communication tools to reach out to the younger voters.

“But now, we have addressed this and our campaign strategy has changed. There is now hope for the people,” he said.

MIC central working committee member S. Murugessan told The Malaysian Insider that a “good percentage” of those who opposed BN in 2008 were now willing to give the ruling coalition another chance.

“The 2008 election was an eye opener and was fuelled by events that occurred in late 2007. It was a shock for us and the people sent a clear signal to BN that they have to listen to the community and not sweep things under the carpet.

“But now, the people can see that BN and the prime minister are listening to the people. We hear you and we are ready to take changes,” he said.

He agreed that the tsunami of Elections 2008 had long dissipated but cautioned BN leaders against being over-confident.

“The wave has fallen but we should approach this with cautious confidence,” he said.

Murugessan added that the onslaught of racially-charged issues involving civil servants did not help boost BN’s popularity and urged the government to do everything it could to prevent such incidents from recurring.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Kong Cho Ha told The Malaysian Insider that the ruling BN coalition needed to concentrate on working for the people and not rely on the dissipation of the 2008 tsunami as a sign of voter support.

“There is a feel good factor for BN but that may not amount to the tsunami being totally over,” he cautioned.

PR lawmakers also agreed with their BN counterparts that the 2008 tsunami had lost its steam and that it had given birth to a more critical-minded electorate.

Dzulkefly said voters were now more ‘enlightened and informed’. — File pic

PAS’s Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told The Malaysian Insider that the voters were now more “enlightened and informed” and were now willing to “punish” whomever came in the way of positive changes in the country.

“It does not matter whether it is from BN or PR. It is a time of new politics and the rakyat are telling us that they are the real stakeholders in Malaysia. They are saying that the political players will have to step up and subscribe to their demands, aspirations and expectations,” he said.

The contest in the 13th general election, he added, would be a test of the capabilities of both BN and PR as viable governments.

“This is a new, pro-change element that we are seeing. I do not subscribe to the whole tsunami phenomena as a propeller for PR. It is this pro-change and pro-reform wave that has been invoked... this is the wave that is currently holding the sway and influencing the entire politics of Malaysia,” he added.

Pua disagreed that BN had an edge above PR in the coming polls. — File pic

DAP’s Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua however disagreed with the notion that BN had an edge above PR in the coming polls, pointing out that many events like the flip-flopping of national policies had served to cancel out BN’s other transformative moves.

“Yes Najib is popular but for him, it’s a mixed bag. On some counts, he has done well but in others, he has also proven to be no different from the past in many aspects.

“If we were to draw up a report card for Najib, it would be a checkered one,” he said.

As such, the MP predicted a possible status quo in the political landscape come the next polls.

“It has been a period of digestion on the gains made by the respective parties. BN has not made significant changes and for PR, we have also not made significant headway in comparison. I do not think that the gains we made in the past will be lost.

“I agree that things have declined but it does not mean total reversal. So we will win in some and lose in some,” he said.

PKR’s Batu MP Chua Tian Chang predicted that the results of the next polls could be one of either two things — that it will be a contest of competency for BN and PR, or that status quo would be maintained as the people were happy that the opposition currently had a strong voice in Parliament.

“But this is BN’s greatest fear. Because for us, at worst, we stay put where we are and then BN will have to accept that this is a permanent trend in the country.

“I think that 80 per cent of our supporters want a strong opposition and they will continue to want this so if they somehow think that we are not yet matured enough to take on Putrajaya, they will maintain status quo,” he said. - Malaysian Insider

Liong Sik’s case transferred to High Court

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 30 — The Sessions Court today transferred former Transport Minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik’s trial in connection with the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Dr Ling’s bail of RM1 million was maintained pending mention of the case in the High Court. He has claimed trial to the charges.

He was charged on July 29 of knowingly deceiving the Cabinet to approve a land purchase in Pulau Indah for the purpose of the Mega Distribution Hub project in Port Klang, which resulted in wrongful losses to the government.

Dr Ling, 67, was allegedly to have committed the offence at the Prime Minister's Office here between September 25 and November 6, 2002. - Malaysian Insider

Makkal sakthi or what not, Indians will not be fooled

by Dr Ravichandran (Malaysiakini)

It was the 'makkal sakthi' awakening and the civil society's overwhelming contribution that made March 08 a reality for Pakatan. Not denying their efforts but the win was definitely to their disbelief.

The later events of Hindraf's destruction to pieces were sheer disappointment or rather a stab in back for the Indians. Since the Pakatan take over it's been a tussle between the two sides of political arena, in an area of limited Indian issues hence forgetting or simply evading the many issues that Hindraf had once put forward.

British masters used the different peoples of Malaya for different purpose, some collaborated with them to pave their way into the heartland of Malaya, some simply wanted them in for their changing lifestyle; yes, money was the game even then.

However for most Indians it was pure indented labour for the British to reap the benefits of the land, denying the fact that Indians helped create the most important commodity for the future Malaysia's success and survival.

British masters always had someone doing the dirty job for them; as for the Indians they had a small group of Indians to control the bigger. Somehow the Indians from those days were appeased simply by the protection of the Tamil language and ironically toddy shops!.

However Indians did find a brief taste of freedom in new Malaya or Malaysia, however though it seemed like they were relieved of the oppression of the estates they were actually displaced to urban slums.

Struggling Indians found their success even then as education was by merit and there were government jobs. Like slumdog millionaires (the movie) it was survival of the fittest and the luckiest.

Futhermore they did well in education and managed to climb up the economic ladder. For all these hopes they always fell back to their religion and ancestral respect by maintaining the many places of worship that had given their ancestors courage during the time when the British masters forced them to clear the jungle to create townships.

Till today most others have been reaping the benefits of Malaysia's economic wealth without a single thought or sense of gratitude for this historic Indian contribution to nation building. Indians and the rest of the other communities found and maintained good friendships along the way and they were together in the politics of this country.

The free will was however short lived as the British master's cancer started creeping into the soul of the politicians. Indians needed to be marginalised, again with small group Indians doing the dirty job of their masters or simply closing one eye towards the calculated and slow measures that brought about marginalisation while camouflaging with it with the Tamil agenda; not to mention also the protection of toddy shops and further helped by samsu haram and “not haram”.

Unlike their British masters this new breed of masters found the other area Indians could be manipulated or distracted while they continuously marginalised them. Yes, religion and the place of worship that even the cruel British displayed some sensitivity in handling, which for the new masters and their subordinates has been the greatest playing field.

They plan the destruction and they come to save them in the nick of time, the sentiment which for common Indians will bring them down to their knees…. These deceitful tactics have been like a political mantra to all future politicians, while the Indians started losing their government jobs, their chance for higher education, their oppression in many ways in business ventures, leaving only a handful that managed. And the Indians slowly lost whole lots of other things that Hindraf has pointed out

Then the makkal sakthi awakening of 2008…then what changed after that?

The cancer spread into 'makkal sakthi' with similar modus operandi; the shattered movement has killed the enthusiasm of the majority Indians and they are slowly falling prey again to their political masters.

Now the gullible politicians on both ends are working on the same module that has ruled over the Indians for decades. Yes, back to issues of Tamil schools, temples and nobody give a damn about minority protection.

Oh God!!! Politics will change the man and not otherwise; this is strongly proven in the Malaysian scenario. And now there is a 'third force' hovering over the horizon……is there yet hope for Indians in Malaysia?

Will the politician ever walk the talk? Will there be a ministerial post specifically for minority protection and sensitive issues? Will any right minded politician take the lead? If there is, then it's time again for the majority Indians to awaken and to make a point, “DON'T TAKE INDIANS FOR A RIDE” no matter what you call yourselves. We know!!!!

The writer is chairman of Malaysia Hindu Sangam of Penang.

Make use of Bank Negara reserves

Make use of high reserves, says Malaysia’s self appointed Economic Advisor

Malaysia’s high international reserves can be mobilised, says former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Our reserves today are too high. We have over US$100 billion as reserves, which can sustain eight months of retained imports,” he said.

The country only needs to have reserves up to three or four months of retained imports, he said in his address at the ‘Revisiting Vision 2020′ organised by the Institute of Marketing Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Out of the US$100 billion, you can actually mobilise US$50 billion, which will help the government. It is saying it does not have the money to do this and that, no money to subsidise.

“So, why not use this money,” he said. During the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis, Malaysia’s foreign reserves was only US$17 billion and during recovery it was US$30 billion, he said.

Dr Mahathir however said he was not sure if the higher reserves were due to the depreciation of the US dollar or it was the actual reserves the country has.

The US dollar has depreciated about 20 per cent versus the ringgit. Bank Negara Malaysia announced that as at November 15, its international reserves amounted to RM326.5 billion (equivalent to US$105.8 billion).

The reserves position is sufficient to finance 8.8 months of retained imports and is 4.5 times the short-term external debt, it said.

Dr Mahathir also said Malaysia could easily emerge as a rich nation if the ringgit strengthens to the pre-crisis level of RM2.50 to a US dollar. Currently, the ringgit is hovering at RM3.1 versus a greenback.

More focus on domestic direct investments

“If the ringgit strengthen to the (pre-crisis) level of RM2.50, of course the country’s gross domestic product growth would have become higher,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said due to external factors and the crisis, Malaysia’s per capita income did not grow to US$16,000 as envisaged under Vision 2020. He said the country has a good 10 years to work to realise Vision 2020 goals provided the government very carefully manages the country’s economy and its finances as well as supervise these things vigilantly.

There should also be more focus and drive towards domestic direct investments (DDIs) as compared with foreign direct investments (FDIs), said Dr Mahathir who helmed the nation for 22 years as prime minister.

“There is not much money coming in and at the same time you should remember that there are two million foreign workers who remit money home,” he said.

“Hence, if the country continues to woo more foreign investments, the revenue will not be high enough to achieve Vision 2020.

“It will take much longer to achieve Vision 2020 and not in 2020. Therefore, the country needs more DDIs, whereby the profits remain here and achieve the seven per cent GDP growth that is needed to achieve Vision 2020. I am very sure that our industries will grow even faster and contribute to the nation’s GDP and per capita income provided the government gives good incentives as well as free them from obstacles for their growth,” he said.

Hence, the strategies to attain Vision 2020 has to be changed as “we can’t follow the path we took before, which is very dependent on foreign direct investments to domestic direct investments.”

“The government is already thinking about it and I hope a decision will be made (soon),” he added.

courtesy of Din Merican

A Muslim Shampoo Advertisement

A Muslim shampoo advertisement. This isn’t some joke. I actually drove into a part of Malaysia controlled by an Islamic party some years ago and noticed that the billboards advertising shampoo all featured women with covered heads too.

courtesy of Cowboy-Caleb

Malaysian PM's Scorpene scandal gathers steam in France

Questions over the sale of French-built Scorpene submarines to militaries across the world may finally ensnare some of France's highest-ranking leaders.In addition, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak should be starting to get nervous, along with officials in India, Chile and Brazil.

Questions over the sale of French-built Scorpene submarines to militaries across the world may finally ensnare some of France's highest-ranking leaders.

They include former French president Jacques Chirac, former prime ministers Dominique de Villipin and Edouard Balladur and the country's current president Nicholas Sarkozy, as well as an unknown number current and former French defence executives.

In addition, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak should be starting to get nervous, along with officials in India, Chile and Brazil.

Lawyers for the families of 11 French engineers killed in a 2002 bomb attack in Karachi were quoted earlier this month as saying they would file a manslaughter suit against Chirac, allegedly because he cancelled a bribe to Pakistani military officials in the sale of three Agosta 90-class submarines to that country's navy.

Sarkozy was budget minister when the government sold the subs, built by the French defence giant DCN (later known as DCNS) to Pakistan for a reported US$950 million.

Prosecutors allege that Pakistani politicians and military officials and middlemen received large "commissions" with as much as 2 million euros in kickbacks routed back to Paris to fund Balladur's unsuccessful 1995 presidential campaign against Chirac.

As budget minister, Sarkozy would have authorised the financial elements of the submarine sale. At the time he was the spokesman for Balladur's presidential campaign and, according to French media, has been accused of establishing two Luxemburg companies to handle the kickbacks.

Most explosive graft probe in French history

It is alleged that when Chirac was re-elected, the president canceled the bribes to the Pakistanis, which resulted in the revenge attack on a vehicle in which the French engineers and at least three Pakistanis were riding. For years, the Pakistanis blamed the attack on fundamentalist Islamic militants, including Al-Qaeda.

"Our complaint is going to target how the decision was arrived at to stop the commissions," French lawyer Olivier Morice told AFP, saying the suit was prompted by recent testimony from arms executives in the case.

Morice also called for Sarkozy (right), who witnesses have told investigators was linked to the bribes, to be questioned. The French president angrily denounced the allegations. As president, he has immunity and can refuse to be questioned while in office.

Nonetheless, l'affaire Karachi, as it is widely known in France, has been called the most explosive corruption investigation in recent French history, according to AFP. It may well be far bigger than just the unpaid bribes to the Pakistanis.

Executives of DCNS embarked on a global marketing drive to sell the diesel-electric Scorpène-class subs, a new design. They peddled two to the Chilean Navy in 1997, breaking into the market previously dominated by HDN of Germany.

DCNS also sold six Scorpenes in 2005 with the option for six other boats, to India, whose defence procurement agency has been involved in massive bribery scandals in the past. Defence Minister George Fernandes was forced to step down in 2001 after videos surfaced of procurement officials taking bribes.

In 2008, Gen Sudipto Ghosh, the chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board, was arrested and seven foreign companies were barred from doing business in India as a result of a bribery scandal.

In 2008, DCNS also won a bid to supply four Scorpenes to Brazil. DCNS is to provide the hull for a fifth boat that Brazil intends to use as a basis for developing its first nuclear-powered submarine.

The Malaysian connection

DCNS sold the Scorpenes to Pakistan in 1994. At about the same time the French engineers were murdered in 2002, Malaysia placed an US$1 billion order for two Scorpenes in a deal engineered by then-defence minister and deputy prime minister Najib.

In exchange, a company wholly owned by Najib's close friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, was paid 114 million euros in "commissions," according to testimony in the Malaysian parliament.

It is unclear why Malaysia decided to acquire the two boats. A new naval base is being built to house the two at Teluk Sepanggar in Sabah because the waters around peninsular Malaysia are generally too shallow for optimal submarine operations. In addition, the boats were delivered without advanced navigational and weapons gear, which the Royal Malaysian Navy is acquiring at a high cost from individual suppliers.

That episode has been widely reported. Caught up in it, besides Najib and Razak Baginda, was Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian translator who was murdered in 2006 and whose body was blown up with military grade explosives.

Razak Baginda, her jilted lover, was charged along with two of Najib's bodyguards but was acquitted under unusual circumstances without having to put on a defence. Before she was murdered, Altantuya told witnesses she was to be paid US$500,000 for her role in the submarine deal.

After his release, Razak Baginda immediately decamped for Oxford University and apparently hasn't set foot in Malaysia since. On Nov 5, Malaysian prosecutors closed the book on the case, despite statements by a private investigator that tied Najib to Altantuya's murder.

The case, however, remains alive in France. In April, three French lawyers, William Bourdon, Renaud Semerdjian and Joseph Breham filed a case with prosecutors in Paris on behalf of the Malaysian human rights organisation Suaram, which supports good-governance causes.

Breham journeyed to Malaysia later in April to interview further witnesses. In an email, Breham said he and Bourdon are returning to Southeast Asia to ask more questions next month. If the three lawyers - or any other French or Malaysian prosecutors for that matter - want a witness, Razak Baginda remains in the UK.

Bitter split

The efforts by prosecutors to link Sarkozy to corruption allegations in the Karachi affair may well have ramifications beyond French politics. France's commercial competitors in tightening global defence markets can also be expected to seek advantage from the affair.

The decision in mid-November by DCNS and Navantia of Spain to end their collaboration on building the Scorpene-class of boats purchased by Malaysia now make the companies commercial rivals. This seemingly bitter split may unleash new insights into past business practices, notably from the Spanish side as they seek to promote their S80 submarines against the Scorpenes.

France can also expect little support from Britain, where suggestions that the two navies share aircraft carriers as a cost-cutting measure have been met with a mixture of rage and derision.

Further, any revelations of systemic corruption within the French naval shipbuilding sector could present opportunities for in Britain seeking an escape from seemingly watertight contracts with French and shipyards for the construction of two large aircraft carriers.

Any investigation into corruption at the levels now underway in France is inherently unpredictable given the interests involved. What began as a ripple in Paris may yet build into a tsunami threatening individuals and plans previously thought impervious to such a threat. Questioning Abdul Razak Baginda might be a place to start.