Cabinet wasn’t briefed about Zahid’s letter to FBI, DPM says

(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did not brief the Cabinet before penning a letter to the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) allegedly backing suspected gambling kingpin Paul Phua, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin revealed today.

The deputy prime minister added, however, that he would first have to study the matter before issuing further comments, according to Malaysiakini this afternoon.

“We did not discuss this in the Cabinet,” he was quoted by the news portal as telling a press conference in Cyberjaya.

Muhyiddin added that he was also not aware of the different responses to the matter issued by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Umno-linked lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is representing Phua.

The letter in question surfaced at the trial of the former Macau junket operator whose full name is Paul Phua Wei Seng, who is facing illegal gambling charges in the US for taking bets during the football World Cup last summer.

The letter was presented as part of the defence’s case but was later withdrawn after Putrajaya objected to it being made public.

Shafee had explained last Monday that Zahid’s letter was not intended to vouch for the Taiwan-based former junket operator.

According to the prominent lawyer, the letter was a response to a request for information about Phua’s alleged involvement with the 14K triad, which the home ministry said was untrue because there was no such triad in Malaysia.

National newswire Bernama also reported Zahid last Tuesday as saying that it was beyond Malaysian legislation if there were Malaysians associated with the 14K triad overseas.

Asked to respond last week, however, IGP Khalid insisted that there are Malaysians overseas who are members of the 14K triad. He did not reveal further details.