KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called out what he described as the Opposition’s hypocrisy when he read out support letters issued by government officials from Terengganu and Kelantan in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Dec 2).
During the Prime Minister’s Question Time, Anwar read aloud support letters issued by his own officer and those from officials in the Perikatan Nasional-ruled states.
He noted a difference in the wording, where his officer’s letter simply stated the matter was "dipanjangkan" (forwarded), while letters from Kelantan and Terengganu explicitly requested approval for projects, with one endorsing a project to be awarded through direct negotiation.
"This one is not acceptable," he said.
"One is from Kelantan and the other is from Terengganu. We have to be consistent. There was havoc over a letter that said this letter is forwarded to.
"Meanwhile, not a single word was spoken over the letters that asked for approval," he added.
Anwar said the action of his officer warranted reprimand, but not dismissal.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN–Masjid Tanah), who asked whether the government will conduct an internal audit on ministers’ officers following the Prime Minister's reminder for stricter monitoring.
In her supplementary question, Mas Ermieyati asked why Anwar had not sacked his former political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin earlier, and showed screenshots of Anwar’s social media repost which she said could influence investigations in the Shamsul Iskandar and businessman Albert Tei case.
Shamsul Iskandar and Tei have been remanded for six days to assist investigations into allegations involving attempts to recover money said to have been distributed to several Sabah assemblymen.
"We do not sack officers who issue letters asking for considerations. But I must call out the hypocrisy, that there was not a single word on the letters by the Kelantan and Terengganu exco asking for approval," Anwar said.
Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN–Hulu Terengganu) then pressed Anwar to reveal the identity of the individual from the Terengganu government who issued the letter.
"I am in Parliament, I have a responsibility. This is a letter by the Infrastructure, Utilities and Rural Development chairman," said Anwar.
