KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that public officers who issue letters asking that certain matters be given due consideration or attention should be reprimanded, but not dismissed.
He stressed, however, that it becomes an offence when officials issue support letters or request approvals on behalf of companies or individuals seeking projects.
“I have made it clear that I disagree with such letters of support, but we must differentiate the letters. In a recent case involving an officer from my office, a list of six companies was forwarded with a note to ‘consider’, so a reprimand is sufficient for that.
“But should he have been dismissed for such a letter? It said ‘for consideration’, not ‘for approval’. (The same goes for) another case involving an officer at the Finance Ministry who merely ‘forwarded’ a letter,” he said in reply to Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
Mas Ermieyati wanted to know whether internal audits would be conducted on ministers’ officers after recent warnings about oversight.
Anwar explained that he often receives letters during visits to various districts and states.
“When someone hands me a letter, I write ‘please review’,” he said. “What is unacceptable are letters that endorse a company or ask that approval be granted.”
He reiterated that all allegations of power abuse or corruption are handed entirely to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for investigation, with no government interference.
At the same time, Anwar criticised the opposition for appearing dissatisfied with the MACC’s investigation into his former senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
“Look at the current case under MACC. What more do they want? The individual has been handcuffed and placed in the orange lock-up garb. Many more serious cases didn’t even see that.
“Are they still not satisfied? I haven’t interfered, not a single word to the MACC. I’ve said from the start that they are free to investigate, and they are doing exactly that,” he said.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the Madani Government’s political will and commitment to fighting corruption, together with MACC, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), have enabled the recovery of RM15.5 billion in national revenue.
“These actions target syndicates that operated for decades. Many knew of them, but action was only possible because there is now political resolve and the determination to act,” Anwar said.
