Citing the Official Secrets Act, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has claimed that the assistance rendered by Paul Phua on national security is classified.

However, Malaysiakini learnt that the alleged gambling kingpin did not work with the police on such matters.

Confirming this, police sources said that Phua (left) may perhaps have worked with other national agencies.

"He did not work with the police, but perhaps he helped other departments. That is something only the minister would know," one of them told Malaysiakini.

However, the source refused to elaborate on which other agencies would require the help of a world renowned Malaysian poker player, who is currently facing legal proceedings in the United States.

Contacted later, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar also declined to comment.

Previously, sources told Malaysiakini that Zahid did not consult the police or the nation’s top cop before penning a letter on Phua to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) of the United States.

In the letter, which courted controversy, the home minister claimed that Phua had assisted the Malaysian government on security matters.

Commenting on this today, Zahid (right) said: "Regarding my letter that Phua had assisted the government in national security, it cannot be revealed as it involves security issues that are classified 'top secret' and cannot simply be revealed to the public...
 
"Such government information is protected under the Official Secrets Act 1972."

After the letter surfaced, there have been widespread calls for Zahid’s resignation, with the opposition accusing the minister of breaching diplomatic convention as well.

Zahid today also stressed that his letter was not meant to defend Phua, but penned to clarify the latter’s status with regard to the 14K triad, and the transnational crime network’s existence in Malaysia.

Previously, Phua's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is known to have close ties with Umno, said the home minister’s letter was meant to correct a "very big mistake" by the Malaysian police regarding his client.

However, police sources later defended their findings, while the IGP himself on several occasions hinted the same.

Khalid chose not to comment on the issue on grounds that it could jeopardise the court proceedings in the US.