IGP’s dilemma – defend his men or his boss
Basically: The involvement of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in this Paul Phua case is curious, but senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s involvement is even more curious.It shows the importance this man of alleged good character and value to the nation, who just happens to be accused of a gambling network in Las Vegas, is to Umno.
This is reminiscent of the case of the Kuala Lumpur CCID (Commercial Crimes Investigation Department) chief Ramli Yusuff and a Johor kingpin Goh Cheng Poh aka Tengku Goh, which involved former IGP (inspector-general of police) and the AG (attorney-general).
What a cosy bunch they seem, and they want to talk about gangsterism driving Penang’s wealth. Is it a case of ‘it takes one to know one’?
Kim Quek: It is a scandal of the highest order for the home minister to intervene in the name of his government in favour of an alleged notorious international underworld kingpin who is charged in a US court for a criminal offence.
PM Najib Razak has to step in to do what is right in order to save his government from being dragged under.
For a start, the PM has to clarify:
1) Who is telling the truth – the police or Zahid – over the contradictory claim of the accused Paul Phua Wei Seng’s status in relation to the 14K triad, which is one of the world’s largest, engaging in all kinds of criminal activities?
2) The veracity of Zahid’s claim to the US government that Phua has been an invaluable and indispensable asset to Malaysia’s national security, to the extent that Zahid wants to see Phua returned to Malaysia.
3) Why has Zahid stuck his neck out for Phua to the extent of breaching all proper procedures such as:
a) Writing directly to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to plead for favourable treatment to Phua – instead of allowing the police to make the clarification of facts.
b) Unnecessarily advancing the information of Phua’s alleged role in Malaysia’s national security.
c) Allowing Phua’s lawyer to exonerate Zahid’s highly questioned role in this affair, instead of Zahid defending his position himself.
FellowMalaysian: The home minister took liberty to write to the FBI in defence of an alleged gambling kingpin by claiming that his own police force had made a serious oversight and judgement error in their report to FBI when he, the home minister, was not even asked to do so by the US investigative agency?
What epoch-making national service has the known gambler Paul Phua done to deserve such honorary rescue from Zahid especially when, using Shafee’s own words, Phua’s only misdemeanour was just a ‘revenue-offence’?
Mushiro: It is surprising that the police ‘made a mistake’ on Phua and did not correct their own mistake. And it is shocking that our home minister apparently acts at the beck and call of Shafee.
And what an ‘innocent coincidence’ for Zahid to give additional bonus information to the FBI about Phua – that Phua helps the government on national security and that the government is eagerly waiting to work with Phua again.
Zahid’s letter to the FBI is not only for information purposes as Shafee suggested, but it is clearly a plea to release Phua. Why should Zahid’s letter end with “We extend our many thanks for your understanding and assistance and look forward to your reply”?
Justice for Malaysia: In my opinion, a matter as seriously as this should be checked and re-checked before it is forwarded to the FBI.
Are you admitting that your police force is performing in a slipshod manner, in a case as serious as this where the international reputation of our country’s law enforcement department is concern?
Odin: Shafee, you are correct. Paul Phua was never a member of the 14K triad. He has never been involved in any criminal activities in Malaysia or anywhere else on this planet.
Yes, the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) has made a mistake in their report that Phua was an underworld figure. The US authorities have also made a mistake in accusing him of running an illegal gambling operation in Las Vegas, arresting him, and incarcerating him.
In actuality, he is an innocent man, whiter and purer than the driven snow, and a living, walking saint – like those saints in Tiga Line, one of whom is the home minister of Malaysia.
Oh Ya?: This story line is more interesting that those concocted against DSAI (Anwar Ibrahim). Bolehland is not called Bolehland for nothing.
If PDRM is the party which made the mistake, isn’t it the IGP’s duty to clarify? Why involved the almighty home minister? Whose favour is he doing? Shafee? Or the kingpin?
If it is done in favour of Shafee, that must be the most explicit commercial favour to help him win the case under the disguise of assisting a Malaysian.
If it is done to favour of the kingpin in return for the “security cooperation”, Malaysians are entitled to know why is that the home minister, who had loudly proclaimed he would eradicate all the illegal underworld activities, is cooperating with a kingpin.
This must be the most shocking revelation of the New Year.
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