The
emergency motion for the Defence Ministry to answer allegations of the
sale of confidential documents related to the Scorpene submarines to a
French defence company has been denied.
The parliamentary speaker today rejected Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (left) filed the motion last Thursday under Standing Orders 18(11).
The motion comes after Joseph Breham, the French lawyer for human rights movements Suaram, revealed on May 30 in its corruption case against French shipbuilder DCNS, that a French company had paid 36 million euro (RM142 million) to Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd.
It is alleged that the sum was for a copy of the Malaysian Navy’s evaluation of the submarines contract.
"This is disappointing, it should be debated," Nurul Izzah told reporters later, adding that related questions were also dismissed by the speaker.
Access to documents
During a press conference at the Parliament lobby, Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) act on the allegations.
"This issue was even raised in the Parliament in Malta... but what are we going to do about it?
"How did Terasasi, come into possession of all the information on our submarine requirements? So of course the company knows what price to quote in their bidding for the submarines," he said.
Questions for the Defence Ministry by Johari were also rejected under Standing Order 23(1)(h).
"Earlier on, the speaker said that the Parliament (is not privy to) the said document therefore the motion is rejected, but now, it is because the French court does not allow for it," added Batu MP Tian Chua.
Chua explained that the French legal procedures only allowed for parties involved in the proceedings to have access to the relevant court documents.
Long saga
Terasasi had been accused of funnelling money through its accounts to Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as "commissions" for the sale of the submarines.
The submarines were purchased from the French company Thales International, also known as Thint Asia, in a deal inked in 2002 when Najib was defence minister.
Thales is a subsidiary of French defence giant DCN, which later changed its name to DCNS, which is being tried by the French court.
Terasasi's directors includes Najib's former confidante Abdul Razak Baginda and his father Abdul Malim Baginda.
In 2006, Abdul Razak was charge with abetting two of Najib's bodyguards in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
While the two bodyguards were sentenced to hang for the murder, Abdul Razak was acquitted without his defence being called.
The parliamentary speaker today rejected Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (left) filed the motion last Thursday under Standing Orders 18(11).The motion comes after Joseph Breham, the French lawyer for human rights movements Suaram, revealed on May 30 in its corruption case against French shipbuilder DCNS, that a French company had paid 36 million euro (RM142 million) to Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd.
It is alleged that the sum was for a copy of the Malaysian Navy’s evaluation of the submarines contract.
"This is disappointing, it should be debated," Nurul Izzah told reporters later, adding that related questions were also dismissed by the speaker.
Access to documents
During a press conference at the Parliament lobby, Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) act on the allegations.
"This issue was even raised in the Parliament in Malta... but what are we going to do about it?
"How did Terasasi, come into possession of all the information on our submarine requirements? So of course the company knows what price to quote in their bidding for the submarines," he said.
Questions for the Defence Ministry by Johari were also rejected under Standing Order 23(1)(h).
"Earlier on, the speaker said that the Parliament (is not privy to) the said document therefore the motion is rejected, but now, it is because the French court does not allow for it," added Batu MP Tian Chua.
Chua explained that the French legal procedures only allowed for parties involved in the proceedings to have access to the relevant court documents.
Long saga
Terasasi had been accused of funnelling money through its accounts to Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as "commissions" for the sale of the submarines.
The submarines were purchased from the French company Thales International, also known as Thint Asia, in a deal inked in 2002 when Najib was defence minister.
Thales is a subsidiary of French defence giant DCN, which later changed its name to DCNS, which is being tried by the French court.
Terasasi's directors includes Najib's former confidante Abdul Razak Baginda and his father Abdul Malim Baginda.
In 2006, Abdul Razak was charge with abetting two of Najib's bodyguards in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
While the two bodyguards were sentenced to hang for the murder, Abdul Razak was acquitted without his defence being called.
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