KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya did not approve any allocations for the supposed development of three hospitals mentioned in an official letter signed by a senior aide to the prime minister.
In confirming the authenticity of the letter which previously made the rounds on social media, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH) said the government has no intentions to undertake the projects stated in the letter.
“All three hospitals have existed for a while and are still operating. Currently, the Health Ministry has no plans to build replacement hospitals in the near future,” the minister said in a reply to Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s (Muar-Muda) during a special chambers session today.
“The applications by the companies (stated in the letter) were not considered and no follow-up action has been taken by the ministry… there is no need to conduct further checks on the companies’ background and capabilities.”
The minister said this in response to Syed Saddiq’s claim that the letter, signed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s (Tambun-PH) senior political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Akin, proves the continued use of support letters and a lack of open tender processes.
The three hospitals named in the letter are the Jelebu Hospital, the Kuala Lipis Hospital and the Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital.
Denying Syed Saddiq’s accusation, Dzulkefly said the letter in question did not state any instructions for the listed companies to be appointed for construction works at the hospitals.
The minister referenced the Guidelines on the Handling of Support by Administrative Members in Government Affairs which states that mentions of “support” or “consideration” do not constitute a specific order to approve a government matter.
“Statements such as ‘I support’, ‘I have no objections’, ‘supported’, ‘please consider’, ‘please examine’, ‘please handle’, ‘for action’… are not an instruction to approve a government matter.
“For this purpose, civil servants must take action and conduct appropriate checks based on provisions of the law, regulations and government procedures in force,” Dzulkefly said. – July 9, 2024