IS ZAHID THREATENING DR M? 'I have letters that can shame ex-ministers'

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s popularity has dwindled following the saga over a letter he penned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for gambling kingpin Paul Phua.

However, the Umno vice-president said his predecessors had also done the same.

"If I reveal the stack of letters and agreements they had signed with that country (US), they would suffer great shame. But these ministers have denied, nevermind," he said during a speech at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang today.

Zahid drew laughter from his audience when he used the term "besar kemaluannya" to indicate embarrassment, which in the Malay language refers to male genitals.

"Let me suffer the embarrassment, but I don't want to implicate others," he added.

However, Zahid told reporters after the event that he would reveal the support letters penned by other ministers in Parliament.

When the issue erupted early this year, former home ministers Hishammuddin Hussein and Syed Hamid Albar had denied issuing such letters.

Zahid's popularity takes a beating

Zahid’s comments on the letter came as a surprise since the issue has somewhat fizzled.

Yesterday, a survey stated that he is the least popular among Malaysians for the prime minister’s post among a pool of three Umno leaders.

Topping the list was Hishammuddin (left), who is also an Umno vice-president, followed by Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

Observers had noted that Zahid, who clinched the vice-president post with the highest number of votes, saw his image in Umno bruised as a result of the controversy.

There was also speculation of how the letter had been used by his rivals in Umno to put pressure on him.

Zahid’s presence at Sunday’s meeting between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Umno division chiefs saw veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin noting how the home minister needed the latter following the damage incurred as a result of the letter.

During his speech, the home minister also denied having any links with Phua or taking money from those involved in illegal activities. -M'kini