Malaysian minister involved in Phua investigation

Malaysian Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is facing questions after he wrote to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in order to help the former Macau casino promoter Paul Phua Wei Seng, Singaporean newspaper The Straits Times reported yesterday.
Paul Phua is a former casino junket operator in Macau who was arrested in Las Vegas last year, and subsequently charged with illegal bookmaking during the World Cup Football tournament that took place in Brazil.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is said to have written on December 18 a letter at the request of Phua’s lawyers saying that Phua was not a member of the Hong Kong-based 14K triad. The member of the Malay Government also stressed that Phua had assisted the government of Malaysia on projects affecting national security.
Last Monday, it was reported that the letter was withdrawn after the Malaysia Government objected to its use in court. However, the move failed to deflect the spotlight from the connection between Malaysia leaders and underworld figures.
“The time has come for Zahid to answer openly on this secret letter of support to end public speculation”, said Mr Fahmi Fadzil, communications director for the opposition People’s Justice Party (PKR), on Tuesday.
The director also questioned the Strait Times on the nature of the “national security projects” mentioned by the local Home Minister in his letter, saying that the opposition will take this issue up in Parliament.
According to US prosecutors, Phua, who was arrested in Macau last June and later released on bail, operated an illegal sports gambling business that collected bets worth “hundreds of millions”.
J.F.S.