“I do not wish to add anything more as the case is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). It is our policy to cooperate with the relevant authorities in exposing criminal cases,” he said during question time.

Mohamad (PH-Kota Raja) was replying to a supplementary question from Ramkarpal Singh (PH-Bukit Gelugor).

Ramkarpal told the house that French investigators had recently mentioned the name of murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu being in the procurement contracts.

“Her name has been exposed in the contract documents, therefore there is the possibility she was involved in the purchase, which is now under investigation for graft.

“My question is, will the government work with the French government to find out the extent of Altantuya’s involvement in the purchase scandal?” he asked, stating that if she was involved, it could link back to her murder in 2006.

Earlier, to the initial question by Chang Lih Kang (PH-Tanjung Malim), Mohamad said his ministry would take firm action to ensure that corruption would not occur during the procurement process.

Among the steps taken by the ministry to tighten procedures include implementing the suggestions and proposals made by the government’s special investigation committee on procurement, governance and finance.

Rights body Suaram had previously filed a complaint with French authorities over the purchase of the Scorpene submarines and it was previously reported that the MACC had reopened investigations into the Scorpene deal.

Former prime minister Najib Razak, who was then defence minister, oversaw the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines and one Agosta-class submarine from the French naval dockyard unit DCN, for nearly €1 billion (RM4.5 billion) in 2002.