I call upon Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak to explain why Home Minister Dato Seri Zahid Hamidi allegedly wrote to the FBI concerning Paul Phua.
Calls upon Zahid to explain seem to have fallen on deaf ears. The IGP has also chosen to avoid making comments on the matter.
Zahid wrote the letter in his official capacity as Minister of Home Affairs. So, the Prime Minister must now be accountable and take full responsibility for the actions of his minister as head of government.
He cannot and must not run away. He must explain the circumstances under which the letter was written.
We want to know in full the basis upon which the Home Ministry issued the said letter. He must also explain if the advice of the Attorney-General was obtained before the said letter was issued as it involved an ongoing criminal prosecution in the US and spoke of “international relations” between Malaysia and US “especially in the exchange of information”.
Further, It is reported that the letter was allegedly written to correct a mistake the police had made in an earlier report they gave the FBI about Paul Phua and that Paul Phua was in fact assisting Malaysia on matters concerning national security.
The Prime Minister must respond to this and put the record straight.
This is not just a matter of public importance but one which has generated international attention. It is shameful to find that Malaysia seems to have contradictory if not odd positions taken by the police, the Home Ministry and its government over the matter and it makes it even worse to find the Prime Minister silent in light of this all.
This reflects poorly on our country. He is duty bound to speak up.
If the Prime Minister does not as of now yet have the requisite information to respond, he should say so and immediately direct a full, open and transparent inquiry into the matter so that all doubts surrounding the matter can be resolved.