Friday, August 27, 2010

Support Letter

To issue a support letter is no big deal as the issuant are merely support and there are no assurance that anyone will get anything by doing so. Such a letter can only be taken as a recommendation for certain issue. Relevant authorities can consider it as well as ignore it. It’s no big deal! Let’s imagine if we you are somebody with power to approve something. When you are confirming a purchase, you found that a support letter was attached with an application or quotation. Will you approve it if the price are higher than other contester? Will you award the purchase order to that company if the company is not up to the par to supply your demand?

Majlis Perbandaran Klang (MPK) Councillor was sacked from DAP over the support letter issue. We must be clear that Tee was sacked by DAP Disciplinary Board because he awarded a RM19,000 project to a company which his son is one of the shareholders. This is conflict of interest. DC did not act on the support letter’s issue. Tee who sits in the Tender Committee approved the project to his son without informing the committee that his son owns the company before and after the decision. It does not mean if you are a councilor, your relatives cannot work for council. As a decision maker, one should inform the committee about the background of the company and he or she must leave the meeting room when discussing, debating and deciding on that particular issue.

On the other side, Pandamaran Village Head who issued support letter to his own company for certain government project stirred up another round of controversy. It was reported that Yap, when contacted claims that it is fair for him to do so as he is only paid RM 450 monthly by state government. The income will be used for JKKK purposes. This is a stupid statement. To be a Village Head, you was told of your allowances and scope of jobs before appointment. No excuses for you to say that you want to earn more money because you are not paid up to your needs. I agree JKKK are not financed by state government but there are certain allocations for them.

JKKK are entitle to RM1000 monthly claims for activities.

Through this issue, we can be very sure that DAP’s integrity has not changed. DAP are delivering as they meant their word that no corruption and abuse of power are allowed in their government. DC will not let anyone guilty off the hook regardless how long you were with the party. Although Tee has been with DAP for 26 years, he have to pay for it too. I am proud to be a DAP-man.