Zahid should ‘know what to do’ about underworld funded politicians

By admin-s On Oct 24, 2014

Strange that Zahid instead told political parties to take action against the errant politicians who are backed by underworld funds.

Hazlan Zakaria, The Ant Daily

I must applaud our home minister for his daring expose on the alleged involvements of illegal gambling syndicates in funding politicians, though I wonder if he has the chutzpah to go beyond postulating rhetoric and actually take action.

After all he is the Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi, the minister who is renowned for his willingness to take action against uncooperative reporters from the media.

As he told media when talking about those who he deemed problematic, “I know what to do”.

I would like to hope that he “knows what to do” as well when it comes to politicians that he claimed are funded by criminal elements.

“Based on information I received, there are politicians involved. If they want proof, the police have evidence,” Zahid reportedly told reporters earlier this week.

Though I wonder if he is truly aware that links between politicians and the underworld or indeed government officials with that less than favourable elements are not new.

There is one political party whose membership has been closely associated with gangs. With several personalities in the party leadership and NGOs close to it having been revealed to be underworld figures, the latest during the funeral of one shot dead.

Another major party in the ruling coalition has been said to have leaders who are closely linked to gangs or even take part in underworld activities themselves. Some have even been accused of using thugs to “secure” their constituencies form opposition politicians.

Tales were also told of a leading complaints bureau personality of a component party of the ruling coalition whose efforts to help the rakyat includes giving them loans, of the high bearing interest, sharp toothed sea life kind.

One senior law enforcement official was even linked to an underworld kingpin of the gambling kind before this. Though the individual denied it and instead accused politicians of direct connections with gangsters he was trying to stop.

Whatever the case, the underworld taint in our politics and government is an open secret if not a festering sore.

So perhaps Zahid shouldn’t act as if this is anything new or just existing on only one side of the political spectrum. Or maybe he is aware, but is just not bothered about it.

For if he has evidence, one wonders why Zahid did not ensure that action was taken by law enforcement. After all I would presume this involves acts of a criminal nature and must be punished under existing laws.

Strange that Zahid instead told political parties to take action against the errant politicians who are backed by underworld funds.