Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has
refused to attend the French inquiry on the Scorpene submarines
purchase, adding that the ministry will not be sending any
representatives.
According to the Chinese press, Zahid told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, “Why should I attend? I am not a witness.
"If you want me to attend, who is going to pay my costs? I don't want to use my own and the government’s money.
“They
can have a trial, but Mindef will not send any representatives to
France. I believe the Malaysian ambassador there will follow this up,”
he was reported saying.
This was a complete reversal to his earlier stand, where he said he was willing to testify.
“I'm ever willing to go to court if I am requested, provided that it is approved by the cabinet. But if the cabinet doesn't allow, I don't have to go,” he told journalists in May 2011.
Zahid (right) also criticised Suaram’s move as one that had a “political agenda” aimed at spoiling the government’s image.
When asked by the press about Suaram’s claim that they had to file the case in France because the Malaysian government had refused to reply the issue in Parliament, Zahid merely replied that Suaram had the right to take legal action abroad and that he would respect the French court’s decisions.
“The ministry always follows the law and is transparent. We have already given them (Suaram) an answer but they keep creating an issue (over the Scorpene submarines),” he added.
“If we want to satisfy everyone, there will be no end,” Zahid was reported saying.
Yesterday, the Paris Tribunal Grande Instance accepted Suaram’s list of potential witnesses for the case against French-owned defence giant DCNS for allegedly paying illegal commissions to top Malaysian officials in the sale of two Scorpene class submarines to the Malaysian government in 2002.
Among the witnesses Suaram listed are Prime Minister Najib Razak (left) and Ahmad Zahid.
The human rights NGO filed the case against DCNS in 2010, and the hearing began on Thursday.
Present in Paris for the inquiry are Suaram director Kua Kia Soong, secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel and lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, with their counsel William Bourdon and Joseph Breham.
The case will be conducted before investigative judges Roger Le Loire and Serge Tournaire.
According to the Chinese press, Zahid told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, “Why should I attend? I am not a witness.
"If you want me to attend, who is going to pay my costs? I don't want to use my own and the government’s money.
“They
can have a trial, but Mindef will not send any representatives to
France. I believe the Malaysian ambassador there will follow this up,”
he was reported saying.This was a complete reversal to his earlier stand, where he said he was willing to testify.
“I'm ever willing to go to court if I am requested, provided that it is approved by the cabinet. But if the cabinet doesn't allow, I don't have to go,” he told journalists in May 2011.
Zahid (right) also criticised Suaram’s move as one that had a “political agenda” aimed at spoiling the government’s image.
When asked by the press about Suaram’s claim that they had to file the case in France because the Malaysian government had refused to reply the issue in Parliament, Zahid merely replied that Suaram had the right to take legal action abroad and that he would respect the French court’s decisions.
“The ministry always follows the law and is transparent. We have already given them (Suaram) an answer but they keep creating an issue (over the Scorpene submarines),” he added.
“If we want to satisfy everyone, there will be no end,” Zahid was reported saying.
Yesterday, the Paris Tribunal Grande Instance accepted Suaram’s list of potential witnesses for the case against French-owned defence giant DCNS for allegedly paying illegal commissions to top Malaysian officials in the sale of two Scorpene class submarines to the Malaysian government in 2002.
Among the witnesses Suaram listed are Prime Minister Najib Razak (left) and Ahmad Zahid.
The human rights NGO filed the case against DCNS in 2010, and the hearing began on Thursday.
Present in Paris for the inquiry are Suaram director Kua Kia Soong, secretariat member Cynthia Gabriel and lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, with their counsel William Bourdon and Joseph Breham.
The case will be conducted before investigative judges Roger Le Loire and Serge Tournaire.
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