Suspend Zahid and probe ties to alleged criminal cases

(FMT) – DAP is demanding Najib Razak suspend Home Minister Zahid Hamidi and investigate the minister’s alleged involvement with two alleged high-profile international criminals.

In a statement, MP for Bukit Mertajam Steven Sim said, “Prime Minister Najib Razak must look at this matter seriously as it involves allegations against a senior Umno leader who was the Defence Minister and now is the Home Minister, both critical positions in regard to national security.”

Sim was referring to Zahid, who he said was “now linked” to 14K Triad member and alleged gambling kingpin Paul Phua Wei Seng and Glenn Francis Leonard, also known as Fat Leonard, owner of Glenn Defence Marine Asia (GDMA), who was involved in a high-profile corruption case some years back.

Sim said, “I raised this critical issue in Parliament on 25 November 2013, but the government has yet to provide any response to this matter.”

In the case of Fat Leonard, Zahid who was Defence Minister defended the redirection of USS George Washington to Port Klang as a move to “improve diplomatic and military cooperations between the two countries” although court documents submitted in the United States said Fat Leonard docked in Port Klang in October 2012 as it was “one of Francis’ preferred ports where his company submitted fake contractor bids”.

He said another who backed Zahid on the redirection was his deputy at the time, Abdul Latiff Ahmad.

Sim added, “The fact that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, currently the Home Minister, is now linked to another high-profile international criminal case involving one Paul Phua Wei Seng only reinforces the need for him to clear his name thoroughly from both scandals.”

“The Prime Minister should suspend Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from official duties pending the results of the investigation,” Sim, who is also National Political Education Director of DAPSY Malaysia, added.