COMMENT Home Minister Zahid Hamidi has attacked Internet portals for digging for "the postmen who bite dogs" in his attempt to discredit them for playing up his links to alleged kingpin Phua Wei Seng.
 
To Zahid, I have this to say: It is not the postman that we want, but that letter that he had sent. It does not matter if the postman bit the dog or not, the media is not interested. And we now have the letter, but we want to know why you wrote and posted the letter.
 
This letter that Zahid signed to clear Phua, who was arrested by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on illegal gambling charges in the US, was obviously being  returned to sender because of late delivery.
 
The US government, according to the US district attorney, had objected to the submission of the letter because the deadline for new submissions was over.
 
Then, some postman sent it to the 'wrong' address and the FBI declassified the letter and the public stumbled upon it.
 
We also want to know why the sender, which you have now admitted to be, sent that letter in the first place, and what your business is with a man known for his illegal gambling habits.
 
From the information we have gathered, Phua is not just your poker buddy, he is a high-roller recognised by Caesars Palace, one who had even been suspected of nonchalantly running betting dens in Vegas.
 
Phua is also a top poker player and one can get high and rolling by just watching how he plays on the top gaming shows depicted on YouTube alone, where he represents Malaysia.
 
PDRM gave Phua up
 
His only sin, which exposed him in the sin city, was he was not too careful and the FBI appears to have a watertight case, judging from the FBI notes which are now exhibits in the case Phua has counter-filed against the US government.
 
Phua is claiming entrapment and nothing can be more damning when entrapment is a tight rope that has been wound round and round.
 
Those caught along with him at the Caesars Palace operations, except for his son Darren, have peaded guilty or been dismissed. The FBI is not letting Phua go after all the hard work and from the mountain of evidence, Phua was targeted as he was believed to be part of the 14K triad, which is known for an assortment of major crimes, including illegal wagering.
 
This is why the FBI had asked for the confirmation from the Royal Malaysian Police (PRDM), which the latter had obliged.
 
The FBI, according to its notes, had not asked specifically about Phua being a member of the triad 14K but was inquiring about another man, also a Malaysian, whose name was blacked out and was later referred to as "fugitive".
 
Phua's name, according to the FBI, was furnished by PRDM itself as an accomplice to the 'fugitive'.
 
Therefore, the question arises as to who is this Phua, who had received Zahid’s help over his Las Vegas case, and why Zahid did not help the other 'fugitive'.
 
Dear Mr Minister, this is the era of Google and everything is open to all and sundry who are smart enough to searched the right keywords.
 
Therefore, when all this information comes landing on our laps, we as journalists search for the truth on behalf of the public, whose home minister you are.
 
And the truth, we are sure, is not in the hands of the postman or the dog, but with the very one who had signed the letter, which happens to be you, Mr Minister.


ZAKIAH KOYA is a member of Team Malaysiakini.