PKR's Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin today asked if other Malaysians could get support letters from Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi just like alleged gambling kingpin Paul Phua, who is facing charges in the United States.

In a series of tweets aimed at Zahid and the authorities, Sim ( right ) sarcastically applauded Zahid for being "people-friendly", in writing a letter for Phua upon request by his legal team.

"(The home) minister corrected PDRM's report to the FBI. He put professional police force in doubt. That warrants public explanation," he tweeted.

"Since when (does the) Malaysian government work with underground kingpins? This is new to me. (The home) minister must explain," he continued.

In the letter , Ahmad Zahid reportedly said that Phua had assisted Malaysia in national security matters, and Sim has urged Zahid to explain how Phua had done so.

"Many are asking this question," he noted.

Shafee: Zahid's 'legal duty'

News of Zahid’s controversial letter to the FBI broke when South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported the Dec 18 communique where the minister pleaded to the US government on behalf of Phua denying the latter is a member of the said triad, “based to our information”.

"...as such, we are eager for him to return to Malaysia," read the minister’s letter.

The Hong Kong daily also published the original letter in toto.

Yesterday, prominent Umno lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah claimed Zahid had penned the letter purportedly in order to correct a “ mistake ” in the report by the Malaysian police to the FBI.

Shafee said Zahid had a legal duty to release such information upon request in such cases, as long as it does not affect national security.

 

"If he did not answer the question, I could have actually compelled the minister to answer by way of a court proceeding.

 

"The minister was very aware of his rights pertaining to national security," he added.

Zahid's letter to the FBI

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