If UMNO is out of power, the new government will definitely give full cooperation to Interpol to drag Najib

Prime minister Najib Razak should protect the good name of the country and not avoid the on-going French probe into the alleged kickbacks linked to Malaysia's purchase of the Scorpene submarines, said PAS's Salahuddin Ayub.

“If the prime minister has integrity and wants to be seen as someone with dignity and morals, he should give full cooperation to all legal requirements,” said the PAS vice president.


Last month, rights group Suaram revealed that French public prosecutors had obtained evidence in the form of a fax page dated June 1, 2001, in which Najib, the then Defence minister, had sought a payment of US$1 billion for Perimekar, a company owned by Abdul Razak Baginda.

Razak had been acquitted of a charge of murdering Mongolian citizen Altantuya Shaariibuu, with whom he said he had an affair and whose murder was linked to the Scorpene purchase.

The ongoing tribunal in Paris has listed several top Malaysian officials, including Najib and Defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid had earlier questioned the tribunal's powers to issue a subpoena and seek Interpol help if witnesses refused to attend.

“Who are they to issue a warrant of arrest? We are not subjected to French laws,” Zahid had said.

Salahuddin said Zahid's remarks only raised more public suspicion over Najib’s role in the case.

He added that Najib should instead use the opportunity in the French probe to clear his name once and for all.