Cabinet accepts Zahid's explanation on letter to FBI - Anifah

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman has disclosed that the Cabinet heard an explanation from Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over his letter to the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with regard to Malaysian citizen, Paul Phua Wen Seng.

"We heard his (Ahmad Zahid's) explanation, we have accepted the explanation given," he said when asked why it was Ahmad Zahid who wrote the letter, and not the Foreign Ministry.

Anifah was met by reporters after receiving a courtesy call from Brunei High Commissioner to Malaysia, Alaihuddin Awang Mohd Taha and Timor-Leste Ambassador to Malaysia, Jose Antonio Amorim Dias at Wisma Putra here Wednesday.

On details of the explanation given by Ahmad Zahid, Anifah said the matter should be addressed to the Home Minister.

Paul Phua and his son, Darren Phua Wai Kit were under house-arrest in the US and faced charges in court there over the sending of information on bettings and carrying out illegal gambling in Las Vegas during the 2014 World Cup.

Paul Phua, who is renowned in the professional poker circuit had taken part in the Big One For One Drop championship in the 2012 World Poker series. He was in sixth place in the 2014 European Poker Tour Grand Final Monte Carlo 100k Super High Roller, and he was also suspected to be involved in the secret society 14K Triad, which is involved international drug distribution.

Following his detention, his lawyers at Chesnoff & Schonfeld had requested that Ahmad Zahid issue a letter to FBI deputy director Mark F. Giuliano to confirm the man was not a 14K Triad member and that the secret society did not exist in Malaysia.

On Dec 18, last year, Ahmad Zahid wrote to Giuliano stating that Paul Phua was not a member of the secret society and the 14K had never existed in Malaysia.