Putrajaya must ban support letters by ministers, aides - Latheefa

Putrajaya must announce an immediate ban on the "immoral" practice of ministers and their aides issuing support letters for party members, says lawyer and activist Latheefa Koya.

Latheefa, who is Lawyers for Liberty executive director, said such a practice could deny ordinary Malaysians, especially those who are better qualified, equal opportunities when putting in a tender bid.

This, following a letter written by the political secretary of Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Romli Ishak, on a catering contract which was reported recently.

Romli, however, had denied that the letter, printed using the Deputy Prime Minister's Office letterhead, was a support letter but said it was merely a "referral" to accompany a party member's bid.

In a statement today, Latheefa said: "It (issuing support letters) is a pernicious practice bordering on corruption, and contrary to ethics and good governance.

"It is also an immoral practice. A government is elected into power to serve all citizens equally, [...] Are the rest of the public to be discriminated against simply because they did not become members of the political party that is in power?

"It should be remembered that the letter was issued under the letterhead of the DPM herself, the second highest-elected public official in the country."

She added that the practice negated everything Pakatan Harapan stood for in the promise of a New Malaysia.

"We urge Prime Minister Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and the cabinet to immediately announce a complete ban on support letters for party members by ministers, political secretaries or official aides."

'Wan Azizah must explain'

Wan Azizah, meanwhile, must explain if she was aware of the letter, and if she had authorised it, Latheefa also said.

"If she was not aware, it raises the serious question of abuse of the deputy prime minister's letterhead for unauthorised purposes.

"On the other hand, if the DPM was aware, then she must explain why she allowed this type of BN-style patronage," she said.

The issue surrounding Romli's letter came to light after a picture of the letter began circulating online.

Romli had stated that the letter had "no value" and did not construe as an abuse of power as it had never requested that the contract be given to the bidder, nor did it state support for the bid.

He also claimed that party members regularly ask for letters to accompany their bids as referrals, and politicians could not turn them down. -Mkini