PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil says Malaysians want an explanation on Paul Phua Wei Seng’s citizenship and role in national security. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 4, 2015.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been urged to clarify if gambling kingpin Paul Phua Wei Seng is still helping Malaysia in "national security projects" even as questions arise over his citizenship.
PKR said today that Zahid, who had previously written a support letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on behalf of Phua, should explain to the public whether the gambling lord was still a Malaysian as the implications were serious.
"If Paul Phua is no longer a Malaysian, is he still helping the Malaysian government in projects that involve national security?" PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said in a statement today.
"Did Zahid know about his citizenship status when he wrote to the FBI? I believe the people of Malaysia want him to give a full explanation on this issue."
Last week, Malaysiakini reported that Phua, who is currently standing trial in the United States for a multimillion-dollar betting scheme, had accepted citizenship from Montenegro between October 2013 and October 2014.
This was before Zahid had written the letter to the FBI, vouching for Phua and declaring that he was not a member of the Hong Kong 14K triad. Zahid also told the FBI that Phua had helped Putrajaya in national security projects.
In his letter dated December 14, 2014, Zahid said Putrajaya continued to call upon Phua to assist the government from time to time and as such, Putrajaya was eager for him to return to Malaysia.
Zahid came under fire for writing the letter, which was exposed by the South China Morning Post on December 31.
Quoting Montenegrin news portal Vijesti, Malaysiakini reported that Phua was given Montenegrin citizenship after being personally recommended to the country’s prime minister Milo Djukanovic as a person of “special importance for the state, scientific, economic, economic and other interests of Montenegro".
Malaysia's Federal Constitution does not allow for dual citizenship. Those who accept citizenship from another country will automatically lose their Malaysian citizenship.
Phua, a former Macau casino junket operator, is facing illegal sports betting charges in Las Vegas after being arrested during last year's FIFA World Cup football in Brazil. His son also faces the same charges.
- TMI
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