Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged in Parliament that his political secretary acted inappropriately by issuing a letter of support to a contractor involved in a hospital project — an action that he said clearly violated government procedures. He stressed that such letters are not permitted under existing regulations and confirmed that he had already taken corrective action by reprimanding the aide responsible.
Anwar made the clarification during Ministerial Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat while responding to Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadli, who raised concerns about the letter. The MP highlighted that the document reportedly listed six contractors tied to a hospital project, yet only two of them were qualified. The remaining four reportedly had no record with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), raising questions about due diligence and procedural integrity.
Without specifying which hospital project was involved, Ahmad Fadli pressed the prime minister on why such a letter had been issued. Anwar responded by reiterating that federal procedures do not allow for letters of support to be issued by ministers or their aides, except in very narrow circumstances where officers may request technical review or verification — but never endorsement.
Anwar explained that in legitimate cases requiring his intervention, the most he is allowed to write is a short directive such as “please review,” which signals the relevant ministry or agency to examine a matter without implying any support or favoritism. Anything beyond that, he said, risks creating improper influence over procurement decisions.
He stressed that public projects must follow strict procedures to ensure transparency, fairness, and compliance with the government’s procurement guidelines. By overstepping these boundaries, his political secretary had acted contrary to established rules.
According to Anwar, the aide had prepared the letter without fully adhering to these regulatory limits. The prime minister said he took the issue seriously and had reprimanded the individual as soon as the matter came to his attention. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to avoiding practices that could lead to favoritism, misuse of authority, or the perception of political interference in public tenders.
The prime minister also noted that while some contractors or project proposals may require technical reassessments, this does not justify issuing letters that imply preferential treatment. The government, he said, must remain disciplined in adhering to its own standards — especially in procurement matters that involve public funds.
The clarification came amid heightened scrutiny over government integrity, with MPs pressing for stricter enforcement of procurement rules and better oversight of political appointees involved in administrative processes.
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