September a worrying month for Najib as Scorpenes probe pick up pace

Nine years ago in 2002, when current Prime Minister Najib Razak was defense minister, Malaysia ordered two diesel-electric Scorpene attack submarines from French shipbuilder DCNS as part of a naval upgrade. This singular event has since set off a chain of consequences that have culminated into a sensational story of corruption, murder and sex befitting a paperback blockbuster novel.

An upcoming investigation into the 2002 deal by a French appointed investigative judge aims to “get at the truth surrounding the commisions”, according to human rights activist group Voice of the Malaysian People (Suaram) director Kua Kia Soong.

Scorpenes: More funds needed to dig deeper, says SUARAM

The RM250,000 raised by human rights NGO Suaram's fund raising events last month is expected to fall short of the total legal cost needed for the case it is pursuing at the French courts over the Malaysian government's purchase of two submarines.

This is despite the fact that the funds raised far surpasses the NGO's initial “modest” target of RM100,000, which it intended as a start-up fund.

Speaking to reporters at Petaling Jaya today, Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel said it is expected that the "overwhelming" donated amount would only cover the initial stages of the case.

Scorpenes graft: Official Secrets Act must make way for Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act is indeed a step in the right way for a government to be transparent and accountable to the people it serves. It allows the people of a nation to have knowledge on the dealings of the government it has installed to look into its welfare.

Yet in Malaysia, the Official Secrets Act (OSA) may go head to head with the proposed FOI Act. The Official Secrets Act (OSA) passed in 1972 states, “any document specified in the schedule and any information and material relating thereto and includes any other official document, information, and material as may be classified as ‘Top Secret’, ‘Confidential’, ‘Secret’, or ‘Restricted’, as the case may be, by a minister, the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister of a state or such public officer appointed under section 2B”.

In 1983, a provision was added to the OSA that makes it an offense to not report anyone seeking official Information. If charged for not reporting foul play, the accused will face an $8600 fine and/or a 5-year prison sentence.

Under the OSA, the government can classify any document as “Secret” and this is a point of contention for the FOI Act. By implementing the FOI Act, the provision that allows this has to be removed and replaced with instead by a list of documents that can be classified secret.

Suaram: Najib "inextricably linked" with Scorpenes-Altantuya

Top Malaysian NGO Suaram has charged that Prime Minister Najib Razak and his government are "inextricably linked" with the Scorpenes submarines corruption scandal and the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

Suaram based its accusation on Najib's "unceremonious deportation" of renowned French human rights lawyer, William Bourdon, who was acting on their behalf in a high-profile case filed against submarines vendor DCN at the Parisian courts.

"It is the biggest mistake yet by the Malaysian government for it is an affront to diplomacy, to international law and common decency. It was a totally arbitrary act by the Home Ministry and a gross abuse of executive power of the Najib administration," Suaram director, Cynthia Gabriel (pic, centre), wrote in a statement.

"This clumsy attempt to silence the truth about the Scorpene scandal and the murder of Altantuya only serves to fortify the belief that the Prime Minister and his government is inextricably linked with the scandal."

The cover-up Prime Minister: From Scorpenes to Mongolia to Communism

The murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu can never be swept under the carpet just like any other issue found decremental to the highest leader in Malaysia. A human life should never be bartered or made a pawn in a web of lies spun specifically to amass wealth for oneself. In true karmic fashion, Altantuya has come back to bite her tormentors. And Najib Razak, whether directly or indirectly, is one of them.

As the Malaysian PM winds up a high-profile tour of Europe, concluding a string of meetings with the British Prime Minister, Oueen Elizabeth and the Pope, waiting to greet him in Malaysia are French lawyers with a slew of new revelations and allegations. The Defense minister in charge of procurements at the relevant time, Najib still has to answer for his role in the purchase of Scorpene submarines, where huge kickbacks in the hundreds of millions have been alleged.

Najib to come under Scorpenes torpedo fire this Thursday

For over two years, Parisian prosecutors, led by investigating judges Francoise Besset and Jean-Christophe Hullin, have been gingerly investigating allegations involving senior French political figures and the sales of submarines and other weaponry to governments all over the world. French news reports have said the prosecutors have backed away from some of the most serious charges out of concern for the political fallout.

The investigators are following a paper trail that would bring to the forefront corruption involving both French and Malaysian officials. And even though the investigations will not look into the murder of translator and former lover of Razak Baginda - Altantuya - the murder would definitely be on the minds of all following the case.