YOURSAY ‘A stroke of the pen can’t undo our sins or a minister’s misstep.’
Gov’t objects to Zahid’s letter for Phua’s defence
Kee Thuan Chye: What I want to ask is, didn't Putrajaya know about the letter when it was sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)? So Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi did not tell Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his colleagues in Putrajaya?
Putrajaya doesn't look good now withdrawing a letter that one of its ministers sent to a foreign organisation. Worse, the letter vindicates an alleged triad member.
Vijay47: How I wish life were so simple that a mere stroke of the pen, a withdrawal of a thing done can undo our many sins and crimes.
This issue involving alleged kingpin Paul Phua and Zahid is a matter of colossal proportions, once again revealing to the world Umno's willingness to indulge in shady international deals and the intimate relationship it has with outright crooks.
One is reminded of Sabah's bag-man trudging about with millions and the fake documents the attorney-general (AG) submitted to The Hague in connection with the Batu Puteh case .
Invalidating Zahid's letter is only the obvious start, but much more needs to be done to salvage at least a tiny bit of our self-respect.
If Najib has any sense of responsibility, the entire scandal, especially Zahid's and lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah's personal role in it, even the AG's, has to be investigated.
We have long passed the stage of excuses and reprimands. This situation calls for dismissal and charges in court.
Zahid and Shafee, perhaps your smug arrogant days are over. Heads must now roll.
Kim Quek: Putrajaya’s swift action against Zahid’s letter in the Nevada court is a virtual slap on the latter’s face. If Zahid has any dignity, he should just quit. And PM Najib should give full accountability to the nation over the dubious conduct of Zahid in this shameful episode.
As for Shafee, Umno’s lawyer extraordinaire, who specialises in defending Umno’s top leaders in distress (on law) as well as fixing Umno’s arch enemies (like the Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case), should not be spared from a full investigation of his questionable role in this unsavoury affair.
It is not for nothing that Anwar has repeatedly attempted (without success) to remove Shafee from persecuting him in his sodomy appeals, including appeal to the highest court, keeping in mind Shafee’s unflattering professional record.
In this connection, elements of malicious prosecution cannot be excluded, which I am sure, Federal Court judges who are writing their judgments on Anwar’s final appeal now cannot be totally oblivious.
Kingfisher: It is seemingly obvious now that these two men - a prominent lawyer who admits having requested the minister to write such a letter and a senior minister who wrote what appears to be a commendation letter about an alleged crime kingpin - have overreached themselves in respect to judiciousness in their roles and responsibilities and have hence put the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) and the government in some questionable disrepute.
Presumptuousness in personal matters is another issue and one bears the opportunity cost oneself but when it encroaches on professional/public roles and responsibilities, the behaviour is reprehensible as it tantamount to abuse of power.
Arrogance has a way of snaring individuals into flights of super ego with waxen wings and consequentially melting punitively the very same wings.
Hplooi: This means Wisma Putra and the Prime Minister’s Office were not kept in the loop. With ministers like this what hope have we in keeping this nation safe from external and internal threat.
Not Smart: If the PM really wants to restore his lost credibility and trust of the rakyat and also Umno-BN at this crucial juncture, the PM should take this opportunity to first sack the people involved in issuing this letter or immediately transfer them from their current positions.
The government officials involved appear to be undermining the country by associating with and protecting serious criminals. This should be considered as seditious as well.
Lim Chong Leong: Can the letter be withdrawn and not be given any weight in evidence after it has been introduced? It has become official by its introduction and it cannot be removed.
Even if it is expunged, it still remains on record that it is expunged. With Zahid’s letter, Putrajaya has inevitably assisted the kingpin whether it likes it or not.
Anonymous #05023297: I do wonder how much is a ‘surat sokongan’ (support letter) worth nowadays. I can understand if it is for a multi-million ringgit contract but for getting somebody out of a potential jail term?
Basically: This is getting more fantastical by the day. It seems the government has slapped Zahid on the butt for a breach of duty of the highest order. Yet they have not made any public statement about it. In fact, they should fire the home minister for such a botch up.
The letter, in my humble opinion, is a major abuse of government machinery to do whatever it is that Shafee apparently wanted Zahid to do.
As the said letter calls it correctly, whatever Zahid wrote is confidential to the Malaysian government, and his letter is no 'legal duty' as Shafee would like us to believe.
We are not lawyers, but we are not stupid, Shafee, and a major diplomatic issue that should have been handled through proper channels if the need arose.
Now what would that need be, seeing Phua is an alleged gangster kingpin? The FBI would have had sufficient evidence before nailing him, and it sure won’t be just on Royal Malaysian Police's word alone.
In a private firm, Zahid would be fired on immediate notice and escorted out the door by the security.
James_3392: This is what happened when a silly minister is apparently manipulated by an ‘outsourced’ lawyer.
Zahid must be completely out of his mind. He failed to comprehend the letter’s implication on the government of Malaysia.
To the home minister, this is how things are being done in Malaysia so it has to be the same in the US. Stupid is the word to use here.
RCZ: All were caught with their pants down. Isn't the home minister part of the government? Obviously not, it looks like he is a law unto himself.
The abuse of public office knows no bounds. The home minister should tender his resignation immediately.
We, the people, are ashamed and the US should see the type of ridiculous government and ministers we have. Has anyone told Najib’s golfing buddy, US President Barack Obama, about this?
Sali Tambap: Unfortunately for the home minister, the Official Secrets Act (OSA) in the US does not cover the protection of the confidentiality of such letter.
It would have gone unnoticed in Malaysia but not so in the US.
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