KARMA TURNS ON ZAHID: For all his anti-Chinese rants, he is stuck with Paul Phua till political OBLIVION

After writing and retracting the letter sent to the FBI Deputy Director Mark F. Giuliano supporting the known gambling kingpin Paul Phua Wei Seng, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been somewhat quiet presumably on low profile to suppress the negative effects of the debacle that he created and hopefully be forgotten if not forgiven by the people.

How can a Home Minister have a friendly connection with a known kingpin, all on his own accord and not even related to police business! Zahid should answer that if he wants to clear the air. If not, what he has done will never be forgotten. And when he has not asked for an apology openly, he will not be openly forgiven.

Without clearing the air, Zahid can never be incognito; he will always be remembered as an Umno Home Minister who verily has personal connection with a kingpin. Zahid will not be remembered as someone who has done well for the country. Except for his loud mouth, what good has he done for the country anyway? But surely he has done a favour for Phua Wei Seng!

So what is the future for Zahid?

First and foremost Zahid must clear the air, admit that he has done a huge mistake and apologies openly. Once is enough, we shall not emulate the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) boss who has ordered the KTMB workers union president (RUM) Abdul Razak Md. Hassan, to apologize everyday for three months! But this is another interesting bully by management story.

Zahid should not be like the current Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob who refused to apologise to DAP's Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham. Be a man Zahid; show the example!

See, even the top brass in PDRM including the previous home ministers have said what needed to be said on the issue of writing letters to the FBI and using the underworld to help the PDRM solve some cases. Zahid is the odd man out; he did it on his own in his personal capacity as a Home Minister.

If Zahid refused to clear his name, his future in Umno is bleak. Not only he has done nothing much for the country, he has marred Umno’s image, created a huge embarrassment to his boss, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and would be a liability to Tun Dr. Mahathir if indeed Zahid is Mahathir’s man. Nobody would want to be associated with him! Thus loud mouth Zahid is stuck with Phua Wei Seng.

May be, based on the incident of hurting one Amir Bazli Abdullah at a recreational club in Country Heights, Kajang on 16 January 2006, indeed Zahid has the tendency to do bad things, unbecoming of a person of his position. Thus no wonder he could associate himself with Phua.

'Damaged goods'

Even before the letter to FBI incident, Zahid has not been respectable. There was a video clip of Zahid loud-mouthing a journalist in one press conference. He has his reasons, but the way he treated the journalist was simply shameful as a national leader.

Remember when Zahid supported the remark of one NGO offering cash reward to anyone who slaps Teresa Kok? Then Datuk Yong Teck Lee of Sabah offered RM500 to anyone who slaps Zahid because he failed to ensure the security to the islands in Sabah resulting in the hostage crisis involving tourists from Philipines and China.

Thus with his reputation, may be it would not make any difference even if Zahid apologises. He is damaged goods.

Zahid has lost his credibility to be a good and respectable leader for the country. Umno should halt his rise in the hierarchy, if not leave him alone to political oblivion. - MAILBAG