It’s the first official day of work for all the newly-sworn in ministers in Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet, and everyone is busy organising their responsibilities.
Our new Minister of Defence, Haji Mohamad bin Sabu (affectionately known as Mat Sabu), is certainly not wasting any time getting to work either, as he shared in a press conference on his first day in office.
Source: Malay Mail
Source: Malay Mail
When asked about how he felt on his first day at work, the defence minister was quoted by the Malay Mail as saying,
“Of course I’m nervous. Now I have to follow rules and protocols, I am someone who is so used to being with the people. But I don’t want to change the style of Mohamad Sabu.”
As for what his current plans are, he added that the Defence Ministry will investigate relevant scandals from the previous administration, but emphasised that he did not want to act based on hearsay, saying,
“We will not act based on hearsay. We will have our internal audit from time to time, study the matter further, and discuss with those at the ministry.”
Among the scandals the ministry will be looking into is the infamous Scorpene submarine deal involving former prime minister, who was Defence Minister at the time of the deal, Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Defence Minister Mat Sabu says he'll look into scandals including the controversial Scorpene deal overseen by then Defence Minister Najib Razak. But investigations will be done internally first. pic.twitter.com/qCEuxvf42P
— Sumisha Naidu (@SumishaCNA) May 22, 2018
In case you’re not completely up to speed, back in 2002, Najib oversaw a deal worth nearly €1 billion (approx. RM5 billion) to buy three submarines (two were Scorpene-class and one was Agosta-class), from French naval dockyards, unit DCN, which are reportedly linked to the French defence group, Thales.
Fast forward to August 2017, Najib’s former associate, Abdul Razak Baginda, was reportedly indicted in Paris over alleged kickbacks in the sale of the three submarines to Malaysia.
Meanwhile, former Federal Court Judge Gopal Sri Ram, who is urging the government to probe into this case, told Malaysiakini that investigations into these kickbacks are also necessary for other related allegations. He was quoted as saying,
“This includes the handing over of suitcases of cash, coupled with a spending spree in Paris as well as the dastardly murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.”
Source: Sinar Harian
“One may well ask why former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail did not secure the arrest and detention of two police officers pending the public prosecutor’s appeal to the Federal Court.”
Altantuya was allegedly involved in the deal, as she had accompanied Abdul Razak Baginda to Paris as a translator during negotiations to purchase the three submarines.
Now, let’s see what comes out of the new Defence Ministry’s investigations!
Also read: Two of Najib’s Lawyers Quit Just Hours Before He Gives Statement to MACC
