Dr M says ‘not aware’ of MACC’s move to reopen probe into Scorpene submarine purchase

PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he is not aware that investigation on the purchase of French submarine Scorpene has been reopened.

The Prime Minister said the decision to re-examine the case is the prerogative of the anti-graft authorities.

"This is an old case but if the MACC found that there is some hanky-panky, they have the authority to reopen it.

"But I am not aware that it (the case) has been reopened. I only read what you (media) write,” he said after chairing the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption on Wednesday (Nov 21).

On Monday (Nov 19), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission confirmed that investigations into the controversial purchase of Scorpene submarines from France in 2002 have been reopened.

On the same day, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was called to answer queries on the matter.

In 2002, Najib oversaw the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines and one Agosta-class submarine from French naval dockyard DCN International, worth nearly €1bil (RM4.7bil).

The Scorpene submarines - named KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak - were meant to boost the Royal Malaysian Navy's defence abilities, but allegations of multi-million ringgit kickbacks have dogged the Najib administration.

In May, soon after the new government was formed, Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said he would need to get a full picture of the Malaysian Armed Forces before looking into the details of the issues and scandals, including the purchase of the submarines.