Support letters not wrong for politicians - MACC deputy chief

It is not wrong for politicians or ministers to issue support letters, said MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil.

However, he said it is wrong for civil servants to consider such letters as determining factors in making their decisions.

"We have made a statement before, that if anyone wants to issue a support letter, we do not prohibit that. It is not an offence for a minister, or a politician to issue a support letter.

"However, on our part as a government servant, we cannot make support letters as a basis in making a decision. That is why we have issued a guideline," he said.

Shamsun was speaking to reporters at the second Malaysia Anti-Corruption Forum organised by the International Strategy Institute at a hotel in Putrajaya this morning.

He was answering a question on recent events that saw politicians, including a cabinet minister, being involved in giving out support letters.

According to Shamsun, it is normal for politicians to make support letters especially when they are asked to by their supporters or constituents.

"There were hundreds of support letters. This is normal... For politicians, when their constituents ask them for support letters, then they issue it.

"But, as civil servants, we cannot take that as an order. We have a standard operating procedure (SOP) to follow. Whatever decision we make, we have guidelines, so we must use that guideline," he added.

Last month, a photograph of a support letter by Deputy Defence Minister Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz was circulated on social media, which showed him asking for his son to be appointed into Pharmaniaga's board of directors.

This came about two weeks after Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal was caught on video promising to leverage on his position in the government and party to issue support letters in exchange for votes.

De facto Law Minister Takiyuddin Hassan had said yesterday that Putrajaya has barred civil servants from using support letters issued by any member of the administration or influential individuals. - Mkini