BAGAN DATOH: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Auditor-General has already explained that the purchase of Scorpene submarines was made according to legal procedures and his official report must be accepted by all quarters.

In response to the opposition's plan to bring in a French lawyer, William Bourdon, to brief the Malaysian lawmakers on court proceedings in France on the purchase of the submarines, Ahmad Zahid hoped no quarter would twist the existing facts on the matter.

He was also in the opinion that the lawyer was invited to Malaysia by the opposition merely with political motive and not so much for legal business.

Ahmad Zahid said this to reporters after opening the Sekolah Agama Rakyat Al-Ulum Al Tarbiah's Sports Day in Kampung Tanah Lalang here on Saturday.

The purchase of the submarines should be seen from the aspects of an offset programme, training, and performance assurance for certain period of time, he said.

Ahmad Zahid said this in response to the invitation made by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to a French lawyer, William Bourdon, who represented Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), to brief the Dewan Rakyat on court proceedings in France on the purchase of the submarines.

Ahmad Zahid said the invitation was made by the opposition with the aim to tarnish the image of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who held the post of Defence Minister when the submarine was purchased.

"However, I will personally defend the moves because the purchase involved a thoroughly negotiated price and specifications.

"This is really an old issue and it was brought up to create public anger and confusion," he added. - Bernama

Related Stories:
6 NGOs want probe into Opposition's plan to bring in foreigners over Scorpene buy
Hisham: Investigations into Suaram not linked to Scorpene subs
Stop touching on defence issues, Opposition cautioned

• iGate sacks chief executive Murthy after sexual harassment probe
• Eversendai Q1 earnings slip 13.1% to RM23.68m on timing differences
• US asks judge to deny S&P's motion to dismiss fraud lawsuit
• Perdana Petroleum bidding for over RM1b contracts
• IOI Corp Q3 earnings up just 2.8% to RM567.8m (Update)
• Tenaga lifts KLCI, property stocks in focus (Update)
• CIMB maintains outperform on UMW Holdings
• Yahoo's rise in Asia offsets risk from Tumblr bet
• Asia Brands up, Kenanga Research has Outperform
• Alliance Research lowers Affin to Neutral but ups target price
• KLCI inches up in early trade, boost from PPB Group, HLFG
• Malaysia's Titan seeks up to 130,000 tonnes of naphtha
• Maybank KE Research maintains Buy on TSH, TP RM2.38
• CME to launch palm oil swaps contract on June 3
• Maybank KE Research maintains Buy on Gamuda, TP RM5.30

• 6.0 quake off Russia's far-east Kamchatka coastline: USGS
• Death toll rises to 21 in Indonesian mine collapse
• Dozens dead as tornado hits Oklahoma City
• No new H7N9 cases in China for a week: government
• Villagers discover ancient ball game statue in Mexico
• British PM survives gay marriage vote
• Kerry to help ink $2.1 bn defense accord with Oman
• Yahoo unveils makeover of flickr site

• Former Asian phenom takes slow route to success
• Plenty for Hafizh as 55 is significant in his early racing career
• Yi Ting on a mission
• Razif: Indiscipline the cause of senior players’ poor performances
• Cool V Shem believes he will be too hot for rivals to handle
• Spirited Malaysian team vow to deliver against Germans
• Japan hope to reach their first semis in tourney
• KLHC to rule the roost if other teams don’t raise their game
• Malaysia have their work cut out in the World League
• Gobi’s fate to be decided by MHC’s administrative committee
• Andre nails it with last jump
• Grace hammers home a point with two golds
• Delia one step away from main draw after easy win
• Sharon believes KPT circuit is excellent for squash’s future
• Nadal and Williams are looking unbeatable leaving rivals stunned

• Please wait.

• Rape accused defends marriage to 13-year-old, says it was mutual
• Malindo set to operate from Subang Skypark
• MAS flew baby home with doctor's certification, says CEO Ahmad Jauhari
• The best ways to national unity
• Revival of abandoned RM1.4bil 79-storey Plaza Rakyat near Pudu bus terminal
• Not taken for a good ride and not ungrateful
• ‘Boycott will be self-defeating’
• Court: Sosma not applicable to Yazid and two others
• Indonesian who brought mum to Penang for treatment falls to her death
• Ex-Penang Hindu Endowment Board secretary urged to help in missing gold bars case