ZAHID & PAUL: An Umno kingpin helping out a Chinese kingpin?

‘What does our home minister know about this shady character?’

Ferdtan: We believe Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has no business to write this “clarification letter” to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

This is not a government-to-government exchange of information. If it is, then it should go through the Foreign Ministry.

The right authority or proper protocol is the police chief, the inspector-general of police (IGP), or any of the top police officers who have his delegated authority to disclose secret information (if it is) between two security departments of different countries.

If the letter is allegedly sent by our home minister to ‘assist’ the alleged gambling kingpin, Paul Phua, then it can be construed as an abuse of power.

We expect the inter-exchange of information between various policing agencies around the world, that is normal; but what is not, is that between a politician - even as a home minister - and the famed FBI.

Here’s the million-dollar question: “Is somebody calling for a favour here?”

Sali Tambap: Why is the government of Malaysia or ministers of the government of Malaysia often associated with shady characters?

1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) appointed a little-known Hong Kong firm called Bridge Partners to manage around RM7 billion (US$2.3 billion) of the controversial funds.

Some time back, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman was alleged to have links to Sabah timber trader Michael Chia, who was arrested in Hong Kong and charged with money laundering as he attempted to smuggle SG$16 million in bank notes back to Sabah in 2008.

Now, Zahid is helping gambling kingpin Paul Phua. Yesterday, we heard about the official Malaysian government jet being used for a ride around the world without the PM.

How could a government like this have any credibility to govern the country and have been elected for more than half a century?

What’s wrong with us Malaysians? Are we so short of good and clean people to lead us that we have no choice but to stick to all these politicians?

Malaysian 53: There are so many of these underworld kingpins involved in business becoming "datuks" and "tan sri's" and ending up as "legitimate" directors and chairs of firms, including public-limited companies (PLCs).

Now several questions arise: What does Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, our home minister, know about this shady character? What is his project for the government in terms of national security? Are we using the underworld to govern the country?

I cannot imagine this home minister becoming the PM. We will soon be an underworld paradise with all these triads deciding who becomes Umno president.

What a shame it is, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Are you ignorant of these underworld connections, or are you part of it?

Mushiro: Amazing! A Malaysian minister going all out to help a big-time gambling kingpin caught and detained in the US. His appeal letter makes Phua look innocent, and as if he is a big help to the Malaysian government.

If Umno ministers go all out to help such a shady character caught in the US, what will they do if one of these ministers is accused of a major crime in Malaysia? No wonder the Altantuya Shaariibuu murderer is still free in Malaysia.

Tailek: Oh my god, what is our government doing when the minister can vouch for a person who has been charged for criminal offences?

Just from looking at the letter, we can see who is the famous Malaysian lawyer acting for this person. Shows a very cosy relationship between the minister and an Umno lawyer.

Every one of these Umno bigwigs have some dirt on each other, so all must sink or swim together. That's why there is zero accountability to the rakyat. They all just do as they please and do not give a fig about what the public thinks.

Please, there must be some Umno members still out there with some conscience to question your leaders' actions and make them accountable.

A Real Fake!!: Of course he will deny everything, knowing that the US won't be commenting on the existence of the letter purportedly signed by him.

Onyourtoes: Hey, don't give them too many difficult questions. These are national security issues which only the home minister is privy to. It is seditious to ask him to disclose national security information, got it?

Anonymous_40bb: The best part is that the Chinese (kingpins) are being used to help with national security to portray the ‘evils’ we Chinese practise (such as gambling, drinking, prostitution and drugs) in Malaysia, so that the general population of Muslims look at us as bad examples and a security threat.

Not all Chinese are like that; just the ones used by the government.

JBond: Here is an example of an Umno kingpin helping out a Chinese kingpin, so what's your problem? Najib says “1Malaysia”, so Zahid is just following Umno's motto.

Birds of the same feather flock together. We all should know that.

Debra: The country is bending backwards to help an unsavoury character but 'encouraging' the hardworking and decent ones to migrate! - M'kini