SHAH ALAM: Following a newspaper report on the alleged abuse of a state executive council member’s letterhead, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said yesterday all elected and appointed government representatives in Selangor should avoid giving out support letters for businesses.
Khalid said the state was of the view that support letters for services and supplies contracts could create a conflict of interest that in turn could affect the people’s trust in the state administration.
Speaking after chairing the state executive council meeting here yesterday, he said the representatives could still give out support letters for welfare and charity purposes.
“This is to help those in need of urgent help.”
Khalid said mayors and local council presidents would be told to compile all support letters that have been issued by the representatives as they would be audited and their effectiveness gauged.
He said the state did not want to ban all support letters outright as it would be a poor public relations move and a political disaster.
“People sometimes come from far away places for such letters and turning them away would not be a good idea,” he said, adding that local councils would now just file away all support letters for businesses.
Khalid said the letters were not a good idea because, for example, if a support letter from him did not result in someone getting a contract, then he would be deemed as powerless.
He said contracts were now won through tenders and on merit and not merely with support letters.
“It will not look good if my letter does not result in a contract,” he said, adding that the state was striving towards good governance and integrity at all levels.
Meanwhile, Klang municipal councillor Tee Boon Hock denied any wrongdoing with regard to using state exco member Ronnie Liu’s letterhead for the purpose of securing contracts.
“My family and I have not applied for nor received a single contract from Klang Municipal Council, and we will not bid for any such contracts as it would mean a direct conflict of interest,” he said in a joint press conference with Liu and Selangor DAP chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah.
Referring to a newspaper report on the matter, Tee said the description of the councillor provided in an earlier report fitted his profile although there was no name mentioned.
“I am 50, had previously stood twice for a state seat in the general election and was in the MPK tender board until last month.”
Khalid: No more support letters for businesses
Khalid: No more support letters for businesses
0 Comments | New Straits Times, Jul 29, 2010
SHAH ALAM: Following a newspaper report on the alleged abuse of a state executive council member’s letterhead, Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said yesterday all elected and appointed government representatives in Selangor should avoid giving out support letters for businesses.
Khalid said the state was of the view that support letters for services and supplies contracts could create a conflict of interest that in turn could affect the people’s trust in the state administration.
Speaking after chairing the state executive council meeting here yesterday, he said the representatives could still give out support letters for welfare and charity purposes.
“This is to help those in need of urgent help.”
Khalid said mayors and local council presidents would be told to compile all support letters that have been issued by the representatives as they would be audited and their effectiveness gauged.
He said the state did not want to ban all support letters outright as it would be a poor public relations move and a political disaster.
“People sometimes come from far away places for such letters and turning them away would not be a good idea,” he said, adding that local councils would now just file away all support letters for businesses.
Khalid said the letters were not a good idea because, for example, if a support letter from him did not result in someone getting a contract, then he would be deemed as powerless.
He said contracts were now won through tenders and on merit and not merely with support letters.
“It will not look good if my letter does not result in a contract,” he said, adding that the state was striving towards good governance and integrity at all levels.
Meanwhile, Klang municipal councillor Tee Boon Hock denied any wrongdoing with regard to using state exco member Ronnie Liu’s letterhead for the purpose of securing contracts.
“My family and I have not applied for nor received a single contract from Klang Municipal Council, and we will not bid for any such contracts as it would mean a direct conflict of interest,” he said in a joint press conference with Liu and Selangor DAP chairman Ean Yong Hian Wah.
Referring to a newspaper report on the matter, Tee said the description of the councillor provided in an earlier report fitted his profile although there was no name mentioned.
“I am 50, had previously stood twice for a state seat in the general election and was in the MPK tender board until last month.”
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