Although the federal government refused to answer questions related to alleged gambling kingpin Paul Phua, saying it is a "big secret", Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi touched on the subject today.

Zahid said he was aware of public perception that he was involved with Phua because of a letter he issued in support of him.

"I know what is halal or haram. But I have been accused of all sorts of things because of the letter," he said during his speech at a seminar on crime and policing at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

"I have never taken a single sen from anyone (from gambling)," he emphasised.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Shahidan Kassim had refused to divulge details on this issue in Parliament.

Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) had asked the government to state the number of ministers who had written to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the number of national security projects Phua ( left ) was involved in.

Shahidan refused to disclose the details, stating that it involved national security and therefore constituted a "big secret".

He was referring to Zahid, who wrote a letter to the FBI last year vouching for Phua after the latter was arrested in the US for allegedly running an illegal betting ring in Las Vegas.

The home minister had claimed that Phua assisted the country in "national security matters".

During a press conference later, Zahid said he would reveal about other ministers’ support letters in Parliament.

"Do not write about this yet. Because I want to reveal it in Parliament," he said.