This follows an AFP report that a French court had charged defence equipment manufacturer Thales with complicity in bribery over the purchase of three submarines by the government in 2002.

In a Facebook post today, Anwar said: “I have read a report where the French court has charged Thales for its involvement in a bribery scandal related to the sales transaction of submarines with Malaysia back in 2002.

“This case is on trial in France, and yet Malaysian authorities seem to be taking this matter lightly. Justice does not seem to be applied swiftly in this matter.”

Anwar urged the government and “relevant parties” to state if Malaysians involved in the scandal would be brought to justice here.

Yesterday, Muda also urged the authorities to reopen investigations into the procurement of the submarines.

Its vice-president, Zaidel Baharuddin, said there was a possibility of corruption involving Malaysians in the purchase of the submarines following the charges levelled against Thales.

Najib Razak was the defence minister when the deal was signed to buy two Scorpene-class submarines and one Agosta submarine from French naval dockyards unit DCN, now part of Thales, in a deal worth US$1.2 billion.

His associate, Abdul Razak Baginda, acted as an adviser on the deal, and he was alleged to have disguised the kickback of more than €114 million as “consulting work” by a firm in which he was the largest shareholder.