The Malaysian police cannot allow its integrity
to remain at stake by refusing to address claims that it provided wrong
information to the US' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about
alleged gambling kingpin Paul Phua.
Puchong
MP Gobind Deo Singh, who is a lawyer by training, said the force's
credibility was not only at stake locally, but also internationally.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (right) had - in a letter to the FBI dated Dec 18 last year - claimed Phua was not a 14K triad member, which contradicted Malaysian police information to the US agency.
Senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah - who is acting for Phua in Malaysia - said Zahid's letter was meant to correct the Malaysian police's error.
"The
inspector-general of police (IGP) cannot just zip up in silence. He
must respond. Did the police make a very big mistake or not?
"If the police did, then own up to it. If they didn't, the inspector-general of police must defend his force.
"He must strike back and tell both Shafee and Zahid they are wrong," Gobind said in a statement today.
IGP Khalid Abu Bakar has been coy about the matter, refusing to be at loggerheads with the home minister.
The top cop was only willing to divulge that while there were no 14K members in Malaysia, there were citizens who are part of the triad abroad.
'IGP must speak up, not hint'
He did not say if Phua is among them, merely stating that it was up to people to "interpret" his statement.
He had also denied being silent out of fear of the home minister, insisting that he did not want to jeopardise Phua's prosecution in the US.
US prosecutors have relied on information of Phua's alleged 14K triad links in the case against the Malaysian and his son on illegal gambling charges in Las Vegas.
Gobind (right)
said that Khalid dropping hints wasn't enough, and rubbished claims
that addressing the matter would jeopardise Phua's case in the US.
"With respect, that is ludicrous. All we are asking him to do is to state the position of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) insofar as Paul Phua and the 14k triad is concerned. It does not affect the case.
"As far as I am concerned, Shafee has no business speaking for the police force or the government. He may speak on behalf of his client, but it must be the IGP who also must likewise speak up for his force," Gobind said.
The 14K triad is a transnational organised crime entity with roots in Hong Kong.
Phua's lawyer Shafee has insisted that his client is not a 14K triad member.
Puchong
MP Gobind Deo Singh, who is a lawyer by training, said the force's
credibility was not only at stake locally, but also internationally.Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (right) had - in a letter to the FBI dated Dec 18 last year - claimed Phua was not a 14K triad member, which contradicted Malaysian police information to the US agency.
Senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah - who is acting for Phua in Malaysia - said Zahid's letter was meant to correct the Malaysian police's error.
"The
inspector-general of police (IGP) cannot just zip up in silence. He
must respond. Did the police make a very big mistake or not?"If the police did, then own up to it. If they didn't, the inspector-general of police must defend his force.
"He must strike back and tell both Shafee and Zahid they are wrong," Gobind said in a statement today.
IGP Khalid Abu Bakar has been coy about the matter, refusing to be at loggerheads with the home minister.
The top cop was only willing to divulge that while there were no 14K members in Malaysia, there were citizens who are part of the triad abroad.
'IGP must speak up, not hint'
He did not say if Phua is among them, merely stating that it was up to people to "interpret" his statement.
He had also denied being silent out of fear of the home minister, insisting that he did not want to jeopardise Phua's prosecution in the US.
US prosecutors have relied on information of Phua's alleged 14K triad links in the case against the Malaysian and his son on illegal gambling charges in Las Vegas.
Gobind (right)
said that Khalid dropping hints wasn't enough, and rubbished claims
that addressing the matter would jeopardise Phua's case in the US."With respect, that is ludicrous. All we are asking him to do is to state the position of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) insofar as Paul Phua and the 14k triad is concerned. It does not affect the case.
"As far as I am concerned, Shafee has no business speaking for the police force or the government. He may speak on behalf of his client, but it must be the IGP who also must likewise speak up for his force," Gobind said.
The 14K triad is a transnational organised crime entity with roots in Hong Kong.
Phua's lawyer Shafee has insisted that his client is not a 14K triad member.
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