MP to IGP: Fear not, probe if Zahid breached OSA

 

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar must not be rattled and should initiate an investigation against Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

In making the call, a DAP lawmaker also challenged the police chief to file a report against the minister, whom he claimed could have breached the Official Secrets Act (OSA) himself.

Gobind Singh Deo was referring to the letter penned by Zahid (left) to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) regarding alleged Malaysian gambling kingpin Paul Phua.

Among others, the minister had stated that Phua assisted Malaysia in national security matters, but when quizzed on this later, he said the information fell under the OSA and cannot be disclosed.

"According to Zahid, those projects involving national security that Phua allegedly helped Malaysia on are official secrets," said Gobind.

"The minister's letter exposing Phua's identity and that Phua is instrumental to and had helped Malaysia on security projects may itself be an offence under the OSA," he added.

The Puchong MP said Khalid (right) should also look into the credibility of the information that was earlier furnished by his personnel to the FBI on Phua to clear the police’s reputation.

"This investigation should focus if there was indeed any 'big mistake' made by the police in respect of Phua's alleged association with the 14k triad as claimed.

"I am of the view that it is Khalid's duty as IGP to have this matter probed as it involves the credibility of his men," he added.

Gobind, who is a lawyer, emphasised that the issue was a matter of public interest and therefore warranted an investigation.

"The IGP should not be afraid and must do what is necessary to protect his men and matters which are protected by law from irregular, if not unlawful, communication to others," he said.

Zahid had written to the FBI last December to state that Phua was not associated with the Hong Kong-based 14K triad.

This was after the alleged triad link was used to secure a warrant to raid Phua’s hotel room. He was later charged with illegal gaming activities in the United States.

Zahid, who came under fire, said he had penned the letter following a request from Phua’s lawyers.

When the issue erupted, Phua's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the minister's letter was meant to correct a "big mistake" by the Malaysian police regarding Phua.

Since then, police sources have defended their findings and even denied that Phua (left) had assisted them in national security matters.

Khalid, on the other hand, has maintained silence on the issue in order not to jeopardise the court proceedings in the US.