Zainuddin Maidin has defended former inspector-general of police Abdul Rahim Noor following objections to the latter's appointment as the new facilitator for the southern Thai peace process.

Training his guns on PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah, he said the daughter of Anwar Ibrahim was only concerned about her father's black eye.

“She does not see Rahim's greater contribution in making the peace talks between the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) and Thailand a success for the good of the people.

“There is no need to dig up old wounds,” the former minister, better known as Zam, tweeted today.

Earlier, Nurul had criticised the government's decision to appoint Rahim to replace Ahmad Zamzamin Hashim as the new facilitator for the southern Thai peace talk process between the Thai government and Mara Pattani group.

The Permatang Pauh MP had described the former police chief as a "brutal assaulter of an innocent man."

"I unequivocally oppose this appointment of a brutal assaulter of an innocent man, as he lay there blindfolded and handcuffed – left without medical attention for days.

"This being then lied to the whole world as to the victim’s whereabouts and well-being. Shame on those who executed this travesty," she tweeted.

Bersatu strategist Rais Hussin, who had supported Nurul, said he disagreed with Zainuddin.

“There are many others who are not less capable than former IGP Rahim. We need to understand Nurul's angst as much as many right-thinking Malaysians,” he tweeted.

Anwar was assaulted in police custody following his sacking as deputy prime minister in 1998, which left him with the infamous black eye.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was prime minister at the time, initially suggested that the injury could have been self-inflicted, but a Royal Commission of Inquiry later found that Rahim had assaulted Anwar.

Nurul objects to picking of 'brutal assaulter' ex-IGP as peace facilitator