Attorney-general (AG) Abdul Gani Patail has refused to comment on Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's letter to the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) vouching for a suspected 14K triad member.

Gani dodged the issue when asked about this after the launch of Legal Year 2015 in Putrajaya today, a gathering of the country's judges, lawyers and judicial officers.

"I will not say anything (today). Let today be the occasion for the courts.

"Otherwise, (when) you suddenly come out with something else, you belittle the court's affairs.

"I will answer you when you approach me next time," he told Malaysiakini when approached.

Earlier, when asked about the same matter during a press conference, Gani also refused to comment, insisting he wants to focus on the present event.

He was asked to comment if the Home Ministry had consulted the Attorney-General's Chambers before Zahid ( above ) submitted a letter to the FBI claiming alleged kingpin Paul Phua is not a member of the 14K triad.

Zahid in a letter dated Dec 18 told the FBI that Phua, a Malaysian citizen, is purportedly not a 14K triad member.

He went on to reveal that Phua had assisted Malaysia on "national security" projects and that the government was "eager" to see him return to Malaysia.

Plot thickens on Phua

Phua is under house arrest in Las Vegas and is standing trial with his son on illegal gambling charges.

When the South China Morning Post ran a story of Zahid's letter, reproducing the document in full, veteran lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah came to the minister's defence.

Shafee held a press conference last Saturday explaining his law firm had requested Zahid to verify Phua's background and claimed the minister's letter to the FBI was a "legal obligation".

He added that Zahid's clarification was meant to correct an erroneous report by the Malaysian police to the FBI that Phua was a 14K member, information that was used in the case against the alleged gambling kingpin.

However, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli accused Zahid of overstepping his powers , pointing out that vouching for Malaysian citizens is the job of the Foreign Ministry.

Zahid, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar and Wisma Putra have all refused to comment on the controversial letter.

Phua's lawyers had submitted the letter to the Nevada Court for Phua's defence but withdrew it on the same day after the Putrajaya opposed to it becoming court evidence.

The 14K triad is a transnational organised crime entity based in Hong Kong. It is one of four major triads in the former British colony.