By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Secret documents obtained during the on-going Scorpene submarine probe have revealed the roles of an alleged ally of former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin as well as Abdul Razak Baginda in procuring major defence contracts between France and Malaysia, Suaram has said.
The human rights group said that police have seized documents in the form of a note for the French Minister of Defence dated June 2, 1999. This was in relation to an interview on Malaysian and French strategic defence ties with the then Malaysian Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
It said that the note read that pursuant to major defence contracts between France and Malaysia, there was a “requirement” that a substantial transfer of money had to be channelled to individuals and/or political organisations.
“The note specifically states that apart from individuals, the ruling party (Umno) is the biggest beneficiary. Consultants (company agents) are often used as political network agents to facilitate these monetary transfers and to receive commissions from their mandators.
“The note mentions about Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Noor and Abdul Razak as points of reference for the political network,” said Suaram in a statement today.
Suaram said that according to the note, Mohd Ibrahim’s influence began to wane by early 2001 following Daim’s “fall from power”, which then resulted in his “disappearance” from Perimekar Sdn Bhd as both shareholder and director.
Malaysia paid RM6.7 billion in 2009 for the two submarines of which RM574 million was earmarked for co-ordination and support services for Perimekar Sdn Bhd, owned by Abdul Razak Baginda. Abdul Razak is being sought as a witness in the French case.
The note also said that Daim’s ally was later replaced by Abdul Razak’s own “people”, and that he eventually became the main point of reference for the political network to facilitate money transfers.
“On the contrary, Abdul Razak maintained excellent ties with the Minister of Defence and the Prime Minister. Furthermore, his wife is a close friend of the Minister of Defence’s wife. Therefore, Baginda became the centre of the network: Terasasi is linked to Baginda while Perimekar was initially controlled by Mohd Noor,” the note added.