Scorpene: RM452 million is Perimekar's service management fee

The architect of the Scorpene submarine purchase vehemently denied today, the existence of elements of corruption in the controversial Scorpene deal.

Negative perspectives deliberately played by certain quarters on the issue of payment of RM452 million (115 million euros) as "commission" to Perimekar Sdn Bhd, was crushed by Jasbir Singh Chahl, who pointed out that the amount was meant for the company's service management fee.

In an exclusive interview with a local newspaper (New Straits Times), Jasbir who spoke for the first time about the deal, said the company was in charge of the logistics and training of the officers and men of the Royal Malaysian Navy's Submarine Force.

According to the report, the fees covered project management and project integration services, coordinating the involvement of Malaysian companies in the industrial participation programme in the provision of services during the construction phase and to monitor the performance of these firms.

Perimekar Sdn Bhd is owned by the Armed Forces Fund, Boustead Holdings Sdn Bhd and K. S. Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd.