Recommendation letters from well-known figures, such as ministers and members of parliament should not put undue pressure on government officials in executing their duty in government procurement.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Idris Jala said that

if the letter says "please consider," then, it should be taken as "please consider" and not as a must.

"The recommendation letters should not put undue pressure to bypass the policy of procurement," he said at the Second Annual Corporate Governance Summit 2010 in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said these were among the areas being worked on in the government transformation plan.

The government has put in various measures to reduce fraud and corruption including the adoption of an open tender system to ensure transparency in government contracts, public accessibility to information on government tenders via its portal, My Procurement, and the passing of the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.

NONE Idris Jala said the My Procurement portal has seen improvements after some teething problems.

The Whistleblower Protection Act is to protect those who disclose information on wrongdoings and whose assistance is required for investigations.

Idris also said the government has not given up investigation of the Port Klang Free Zone scandal and that it will strive to reach to the bottom of it.

- Bernama

Parliament sitting extended to July 15