Don't probe us, probe Scorpene deal, says Suaram

Suaram has slammed the authorities for what it calls intimidation and harassment of the NGO when they should be probing the Scorpene submarines scandal instead.

“We challenge the police to spend time and energy to curb serious crime in this country rather than trying to intimidate and harass Suaram.

“We also urge the police, Malaysia Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Companies Commission Malaysia (CCM) to investigate companies connected to the Scorpene submarine scandal such as Perimekar and Terasasi, as recently highlighted in the French media.

“Stop harassing the whistle-blowers, investigate the corrupt suspects,” said Suaram executive director Nalini Elumalai in a statement today.

Last weekend Suaram executive member Cynthia Gabriel (left) was called to report to the police station today over a report lodged against the NGO for their French Scorpene probe’s fundraising dinner.

Gabriel described the police action as a “second round of harassment” since the extended Registrar of Societies (ROS) probe into the NGO last year.

In 2009, Suaram filed a corruption suit against French-based naval defence firm DCNS, for allegedly paying 114.9 million euro (RM452 million) in illegal commissions to Perimekar Sdn Bhd - a company partly owned by Abdul Razak Baginda, a close confidante of then Defence Minister Najib Razak.

'Trying to silence Scorpene probe'

Nalini said Suaram viewed the move against Gabriel as “selective investigation” over their pursuit of the Scorpene probe in France.

“We believe that the Malaysian government is determined to clamp down on human rights in Malaysia through a sustained campaign to intimidate and harass Suaram in retaliation for Suaram’s whistleblowing role in the Scorpene submarine scandal, involving at least RM500 million in suspected kickbacks,” she said.

Nalini pointed out that the previous probe against them from July 2012 till February 2013 where “Suaram was severely harassed and faced a barrage of investigations from the CCM, ROS and the police” had come up empty handed.

This despite various Acts used in the probe - the Companies Act 1965, the Societies Act 1966 and the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012.

The NGO has also been accused of being Jewish agents and bribing top government officials including those involved in the probe, she said.

“The world must view these worrying trends as a signal of a potentially broader crackdown against critical activists and human rights defenders and organisations in Malaysia,” she said.