Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the cabinet did not discuss the purchase of two French naval submarines during his tenure as prime minister.

According to The Malaysian Insight, Mahathir said he would have opposed the acquisition because it was too costly and unsuitable for Malaysia's shallow waters.

"I never wanted to buy the submarines because we could not use them. We can't use submarines in the Straits of Malacca, And, we didn't have the money. The cost was high.

"But suddenly, after I resigned, I found out that the defence minister had made an order for two submarines...