KUALA LUMPUR: Former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda is ready to cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission probe into any possible corruption in the deal to buy two Scorpene submarines in 2002.
News portal Malaysiakini quoted Razak as saying he was “always ready” to cooperate with the authorities.
This follows reports that the MACC has reopened investigations into the procurement of the submarines, with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak having reportedly been questioned regarding the deal for four hours at the commission’s headquarters in Putrajaya.
Razak was one of the people implicated in the case amidst allegations that kickbacks were paid for the purchase of the Scorpenes as well as an older Agosta-class submarine for training purposes.
“In any event, I am always ready to cooperate with the authorities if called upon in any investigation," Malaysiakini quoted Razak as saying in a text message.
Razak was a former close associate of Najib, who was the defence minister at the time the submarine deal was sealed between the federal government and French supplier DCN International (DCNI).
The deal also involved Spanish supplier Izzar Cons Trucciones Navales, and Malaysian service provider Perimekar Sdn Bhd which was owned by Razak at the time.