Zahid did not need to write to FBI, says ex-IGP

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has defended his letter to FBI defending an alleged gambling kingpin on trial in the US. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 19, 2015.Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's letter to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in defence of an alleged gambling kingpin has been described as unnecessary by a former inspector-general of police.

Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor‎, quoted by Malay-language daily Sinar Harian, said Zahid was not obliged to reply to the request by lawyers for Paul Phua Wei Seng.

"It would have been better if the minister had not been involved. In fact the letter need not have been written by any government office or police," he said.

"It would have been more appropriate if a lawyer, who does not necessarily represent the minister, had responded, seeing as the request only came from a lawyer who represents Phua."

Rahim said Zahid's revelation of Phua's ties with the government had led to suspicion and misunderstanding among Malaysians.

Zahid, who disclosed that Phua had helped Putrajaya with "national security projects", had said he had the authority to write to the FBI.

"The lawyers in the US had asked the firm here, Shafee & Co, which then asked my office to give an explanation (to the FBI)," said the home minister, referring to the law firm headed by Umno lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

But Rahim (pic, right) said Zahid should not have disclosed to the US authorities that Phua was‎ involved in national security projects.

"The letter should have focused on the main request, which was clarification on the existence of the 14K Triad and whether Phua is a member of it.

"But when it comes to ‎Phua's work in national security, that question should have been ignored because it is none of the US's business. And if they had not even asked, then there was no need for Zahid to reveal it."

Former US ambasador to Malaysia John Malott had also questioned Zahid's action.

"Like everyone in Malaysia, I wondered why in the world Zahid wrote that letter.

"In his letter to the FBI, Zahid never explained the contradiction between his assertions and the information that the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) gave the FBI eight years ago," Mallot wrote in comments published by news portal Malaysiakini.

"To make matters worse, Zahid dug himself in even deeper by claiming to the FBI that the gambling kingpin had provided services to "projects" involving Malaysia's national security," he added.

Rahim said while the police employed many tactics to gather intelligence, including requesting assistance from individuals, they should not be disclosed to the public.

"We (the police) have our own ways to infiltrate these criminal groups, but the methods we use should remain confidential.

"The identity of our informants should also be protected so as not to endanger their lives. In the case of Phua, if it is true that the government turned to him for his services, we must must not say a word of it as this is a huge secret," he said.

Meanwhile, another former police chief, Tun Hanif Omar (pic, left) told Sinar Harian it was common for any national security force to combat serious crime by cooperating with lesser criminals.

But he said authorities would usually consider other options before resorting to such tactics.

"When authorities face a dilemma on whether or not to obtain assistance from a criminal, for instance a gambling kingpin, to solve a criminal problem or national security issue, they will choose the approach that would help the country.

"The principle 'set a thief to catch a thief' does exist among the police. Even in terms of national security, we often cooperate with criminals to take down bigger threats."

Hanif said special considerations were sometimes given to the criminal informants if they were arrested abroad.

"The authorities (of the country) will refer to the Attorney-General who will bring the matter up to the Foreign Ministry and the Cabinet. If they are convinced that the authorities of the other country are counting on special considerations, they will evaluate it based on the interests of the country.

"They can drop all charges against the informant or lessen it. What matters is that national security remains a priority," he said.‎

Phua was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and is facing charges of illegal betting.

The Sarawakian is said to be a professional gambler and had taken part in world poker championships.‎

- TMI