Phua's involvement a 'top secret', says Zahid
Lee Long HuiPublished: Jan 15, 2015 3:32 AM | Updated: Jan 15, 2015 12:27 PM
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi refused to divulge the national security projects that he claimed involved alleged gambling kingpin Paul Phua.
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Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi refused to divulge the national security projects that he claimed involved alleged gambling kingpin Paul Phua.
Zahid said the projects were classified "top secret" and protected under the Official Secrets Act.
"Regarding my letter that Paul Phua had assisted the government in national security, it cannot be revealed as it involves security issues that are classified 'top secret' (rahsia besar) and cannot simply be revealed to the public...
"Such government information is protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972," Zahid (right) told a press conference in Putrajaya today.
In his Dec 18, 2014 letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Zahid says Phua had helped the government on a number of national security projects.
"Moreover, according to our records, Mr Phua has, numerous occassions (sic), assisted the Government of Malaysia on projects affecting our national security and accordingly we continue to call upon him to assist us from time to time and as such we are eager for him to return to Malaysia," Zahid states in the letter.
'Similar letters issued by predecessors'
The letter, which sparked controversy recently, came to light after news broke about Phua’s defence team submitting it to a US court on Dec 29, 2014.
It was used as defence evidence to rebut the information given by the Malaysian police that Phua was a member of the 14K triad.
The letter was retracted after an objection was raised by the prosecutor on grounds of technicality.
Zahid ended the press conference after answering several questions, without explaining the reason for demanding the return of Phua.
Asked about the legitimacy of the home minister sending such letter, instead of the foreign minister, Zahid claimed that his predecessors had issued similar letters.
"The ministers before us had issued such explanation letters. So, I signed the letter based on the power given to me," he added.
Asked whether it was a government-to-government matter, Zahid merely answered, "No".
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi refused to divulge the national security projects that he claimed involved alleged gambling kingpin Paul Phua.
Zahid said the projects were classified "top secret" and protected under the Official Secrets Act.
"Regarding my letter that Paul Phua had assisted the government in national security, it cannot be revealed as it involves security issues that are classified 'top secret' (rahsia besar) and cannot simply be revealed to the public...
"Such government information is protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972," Zahid (right) told a press conference in Putrajaya today.In his Dec 18, 2014 letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Zahid says Phua had helped the government on a number of national security projects.
"Moreover, according to our records, Mr Phua has, numerous occassions (sic), assisted the Government of Malaysia on projects affecting our national security and accordingly we continue to call upon him to assist us from time to time and as such we are eager for him to return to Malaysia," Zahid states in the letter.
'Similar letters issued by predecessors'
The letter, which sparked controversy recently, came to light after news broke about Phua’s defence team submitting it to a US court on Dec 29, 2014.
It was used as defence evidence to rebut the information given by the Malaysian police that Phua was a member of the 14K triad.
The letter was retracted after an objection was raised by the prosecutor on grounds of technicality.
Zahid ended the press conference after answering several questions, without explaining the reason for demanding the return of Phua.
Asked about the legitimacy of the home minister sending such letter, instead of the foreign minister, Zahid claimed that his predecessors had issued similar letters.
"The ministers before us had issued such explanation letters. So, I signed the letter based on the power given to me," he added.
Asked whether it was a government-to-government matter, Zahid merely answered, "No".
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