KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 — The Inspector-General of Police’s silence on whether his force exonerated bookie Paul Phua of alleged links to the 14K triad only jeopardises police credibility and not the latter’s US trial, a DAP lawmaker said today.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo also labelled as “ludicrous” Khalid’s refusal to state if police had made mistakenly linked Phua to the notorious Hong Kong-based triad, over purported concerns that it may sway court proceedings in the United States.

Phua is facing illegal gambling charges in the US for taking bets during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

“Don’t play games. This is a serious matter. The credibility of the police force is at stake not only here in Malaysia but internationally. There is no point dropping hints,” Gobind said in brief statement today.

Khalid has kept mum over claims made by Umno-linked lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that police here have cleared his client, Phua, over the latter’s involvement with 14K.

Instead, the IGP justified his silence last week by saying that his comments might influence Phua’s trial.

But Gobind, who is also the Puchong DAP MP, said that Shafee “had no business speaking for the police force or the government”.

“He [Shafee] may speak on behalf of his client but it must be the IGP, who also must likewise speak up for his force,” he said.

Shafee, whose law firm is assisting the defence counsel representing Phua in the US, claimed that Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid had sent a letter to US authorities pleading for the return of Paul Phua, but said the missive was not intended to vouch for the Taiwan-based former junket operator, as reported by some media.

The letter in question was ostensibly in response to a request for information about Phua’s supposed involvement with the 14K triad, which the Home Ministry confirmed as untrue as such a group does not exist in Malaysia, Shafee had said.

US authorities have said Phua is part of the 14K triad, which has been described as a fearsome Hong Kong based triad with international reach.

Shafee also claimed that Zahid had also written that Phua, whose full name is Paul Phua Wei Seng, had provided assistance to the government on matters of national security.

Gobind added that Khalid was only asked to state the enforcement agency’s position on Phua as Shafee has accused the police of making “a very big mistake” in the matter.

“[...] the IGP cannot just zip up in silence. He must respond. Did the police make a very big mistake or not?” he demanded.

“If the police did, then own up to it. If they didn’t, the IGP must defend his force. He must strike back and tell both Shafee and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi they are wrong,” said Gobind.