Ex-IGP turns heat on Zahid over FBI letter

 

A letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) concerning alleged gambling kingpin Paul Phua has been the home minister drawing even more flak.

Last week, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied any wrongdoing, cited the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and pinned the blame on “pro-opposition” news portals.

While current inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has chosen to remain silent, his predecessor Abdul Rahim Noor (right) decided to air his views.

Rahim said Zahid should not have written to the FBI, even if just to clarify the status of Phua, a Malaysian facing criminal proceedings in the United States.

Rahim said the police too need not entertain Phua's lawyers' request for the Malaysian government to clarify to the US on whether Phua was a 14K triad member.

"It would have been better if it did not involve the minister. Even the police do not need to write the letter.

"It would have been more suitable for the letter to be written by a lawyer who does not necessarily have to represent the minister as it is merely a request by Phua's lawyers," Rahin is quoted as saying in a Sinar Harian report today.

In the letter dated Dec 18 last year to the FBI, Zahid claimed Phua was not a 14K triad member in Malaysia.

The home minister went on to reveal that Phua had assisted Malaysia on "national security projects" and expressed hope for Phua to return to Malaysia.

No reason to reveal Phua helping gov't

Elaborating on this, Rahim said Zahid had no reason to reveal that Phua was involved in national security matters with the Malaysian government.

"The letter should focus on the main request, which is to explain the existence of the 14K triad in Malaysia and whether Phua is involved with the group.

"But if questions were posed on Phua's cooperation on national security matters, that question should not have been answered as it is none of the US' business," Rahim said.

He said revealing that Phua (left) was working with the Malaysian government would create misconceptions among the people.

In the same vein, Rahim agreed with Zahid's refusal to disclose the exact nature of "national security projects" Phua is supposedly involved in, based on the OSA.

"In the case of Phua, if it is true the government is using his services, we need to shut our mouths as it is considered a top secret," Rahim said.

'Authorities must consult AG Chambers'

Meanwhile, another former police chief Hanif Omar said it was not unusual to "set a thief to catch a thief".

Hanif said the government can also assist informants who are arrested overseas to request for their freedom or reduce their sentence.

However, he said, this would require authorities to refer to the Attorney-General's Chambers and Foreign Affairs Ministry.

While Khalid has declined to comment on the matter in order not to jeopardise the case in the US, sources from the IGP's office told Malaysiakini that the minister did not consult the police before penning the letter.

It was also revealed that Phua did not assist the police on security matters.