With Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi keeping mum on his letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the opposition is now demanding an explanation from the prime minister.

DAP lawmaker Gobind Singh Deo said Najib Abdul Razak must be accountable.

"Calls upon Zahid to explain seem to have fallen on deaf ears. The Inspector-General of Police (Khalid Abu Bakar) has also chosen to avoid making comments on the matter.

"Zahid ( right ) wrote the letter in his official capacity as minister of home affairs.

"So, the prime minister, as head of government, must now be accountable and take full responsibility for the actions of his minister," Gobind added in a statement.

Zahid courted controversy with a letter written in support of alleged Malaysian gambling kingpin Paul Phua, who is facing court action in the United States.

The Puchong MP added that Zahid cannot and must not run away from this issue as he must explain the circumstances under which the letter was written.

This is not just a matter of public importance, but has also courted and generated international attention, Gobind ( right ) said.

"We want to know in full the basis upon which the Home Ministry issued the said letter.

"Zahid must also explain if the Attorney-General's advice was obtained before the said letter was issued as it involved an ongoing criminal prosecution in the US and speaks of 'international relations' between Malaysia and US, 'especially in the exchange of information'.

"Furthermore, it is reported that the letter was written to correct a mistake the police had made in an earlier report they gave the FBI about Phua and that he was in fact assisting Malaysia on matters concerning national security. The PM must respond to this and put the record straight."

Najib, Gobind added, was duty bound to speak up to clarify the matter as it was shameful to find that Malaysia seemed to have contradictory, if not odd, positions taken by the police, the Home Ministry and the government over the matter.

This makes it even worse to find the PM silent in light of this all, said the federal lawmaker, who further warned this would reflect poorly on Malaysia.

“Najib is duty bound to speak up. If the PM does not, as of now, yet have the requisite information to respond, he should say so and immediately direct a full, open and transparent inquiry into the matter so that all doubts surrounding the matter can be resolved,” Gobind stressed.

Perkasa: Has Zahid lost his integrity?

Meanwhile, Perkasa also urged Zahid to break his silence.

The right-wing movement's monitoring and integrity bureau secretary Azrul Akmal Saharudin said the minister must explain if Najib was aware of the  contents of the letter and whether it was referred to the attorney-general.

Azrul also asked whether the IGP had been briefed on the matter before the letter was sent and also whether diplomatic channels were used to secure Phua's release.

He said in a statement that the matter has tarnished the integrity and image of Malaysia, which had been safeguarded by Najib.

"The immediate question is whether Zahid has lost his integrity by willing to write the letter, which is seen as a support for a criminal who has been charged outside the country," Azrul asked.

He said Perkasa wants Zahid, who is also Bagan Datoh MP, to explain whether Najib or the attorney-general knew the contents of the letter that was sent.

These questions needed to be answered by Zahid as the home minister who wrote the letter to unfold the negative perceptions that Malaysian society now perceives, Azrul added.

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