Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been given an ultimatum to reveal the contents of the police report lodged against him by a businessman, so that the people can decide for themselves whether he is fit to be a minister.

NONE Ahmad Zahid was given 48 hours to do so by Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo ( left ). However, Gobind did not reveal how he would respond if Zahid failed to reveal the contents of the police report filed by businessman Amir Bazli Abdullah.

"I challenge Zahid to publicly reveal the police report lodged against him by Amir, so that the people can decide for themselves whether he should remain as home minister or not pending the trial against him for assault.

"I had earlier asked Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to remove Zahid pending his trial, as its outcome could trigger calls for police action and it would be improper for the Umno vice-president to be the minister-in-charge of the police force if that were to happen.

"It will put the home minister in a position of conflict of interest," Gobind said in a statement issued today.

Amir lodged a police report and filed a civil suit against Zahid, saying the minister punched him at the Country Heights recreational club in Kajang in January 2006.

Zahid denied the claim by Amir and applied for the civil suit to be struck out, but his application was dismissed by the High Court in Shah Alam.

He then appealed to the Court of Appeal, which ordered him to first respond to Amir's claim.

Zahid in responding to calls for him to resign or be suspended following the case said this week that only the PM can tell a cabinet member to resign.

Questions on Najib's reform

Several other people, including DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, have called on Najib to respond to Gobind's allegation.

They have also questioned whether the country has a criminal as a home minister, for this puts to shame the prime minister's calls for good governance and integrity.

Gobind in the statement also claimed that Najib's inability to deal with Zahid showed the prime minister's lack of capability in dealing with such matters.

"Now that Ahmad Zahid has walked into the ring, I dare him to go all the way, to show the rakyat in full what the allegations against him are, and explain why he should not step aside as home minister while awaiting trial.

"If Zahid is so sure there is nothing for him to worry about and that the PM has made the right decision by remaining silent on my call for his temporary removal, then he should be brave enough to take up my challenge," Gobind added.