KUALA LUMPUR: An aide to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has come under fire for issuing a letter about a catering contract to the Education Minister’s office.
The letter dated Dec 5, which has since gone viral, has sparked outrage with netizens questioning why the letter was issued despite the government’s strong stand against such practices.
However, Romli Ishak - who is the deputy prime minister's political secretary, denied that the letter was an abuse of power.
His letter was addressed to the Education Minister's Office for the attention of Mohd Nizam Morad, who is the education minister's political secretary.
The opening paragraph of the letter stated that the deputy prime minister’s office had received an application from a company bidding for a food catering contract for a hostel in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama Tun Said, Kota Belud.
It went on to state that the company bidding for the contract was fully bumiputera owned, of strong financial standing and with a good track record.
"Without any intention to interfere with the Education Ministry's affairs, this letter includes the application (by the bidder) for your further action.
"Your cooperation and attention in this matter is appreciated. Thank you in advance," the letter read.
Romli has since confirmed with a newsportal that he penned the letter but argued that nothing in it suggested that he was recommending the company for the contract.
He said his letter never requested that the contract be given to the bidder nor did it state support for the bid.
"That would have been an abuse of power. There is no value to the letter at all," he said, adding that the bidder did not win the contract.
Romli said party members regularly asked for letters to accompany their bids as referrals and politicians could not turn them down.
He explained that he regularly issues such letters for party members as it gives them the assurance and confidence to put in bids.
He said those who had been sharing the letter online should have complained to the MACC if there was any element of wrongdoing.
Ironically, the emergence of the letter had put into question the government’s announcement that Ministers and their deputies will no longer be allowed to issue letters of support for any tender or proposals submitted to the government.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik, said in June that the matter was decided by the Cabinet to ensure transparency and good governance within the administration.
Meanwhile, netizens outraged by the letter hit out hard at Romli over his explanation.
One of them read: “Aiya, Romli, you honestly think that readers are so stupid to believe and swallow wholely your about-turn story aaarh? You are nor different from the Umno politicians!”
Another posted: “It is simple: just have a blanket policy stopping the issuance of such 'supporting letters'. Especially when you said the letter has no value any way. By banning such letters, there is no unnecessary distractions and accusations of abuse of powers, favouritism, biasness, etc. Or is there? Government has no business poking their noses in such matters in the first place. Please, stop behaving like Umno. Do you politicians never learn or learn to do the right thing?”
Anonymous posted: “This is not what the rakyat want for the new Malaysia. PH government must stop such practice and this man should be publicly warned to serve a deterrent to the others.”