The DAP disciplinary committee has warned that it would henceforth take action against any party member elected to public office who issue support letters for business purposes.

“The DAP does not condone the practice of issuing support letters for business or commercial purpose as it could be easily abused and misconstrued,” said committee chairperson Tan Kok Wai.

However, the party would not bar elected representatives from issuing support letters for welfare assistance, appeals for reduction of summonses/compounds, application for hawker licenses, education loans and scholarships.

“This is perfectly acceptable as it is in the public interest,” he said.

Tan also urged all Pakatan Rakyat states to disregard business support letters in order to ensure that all commercial dealings are aboveboard and to avoid any negative public perception of malpractice or favouratism.

He said that this has already been practiced by the DAP-led Penang government.

“As a matter of best practice, this directive should apply across the board to all Pakatan elected and non-elected representatives,” he said.

Tan said that this was in line with Pakatan’s position of upholding the principle of good governance in the state administration.

DAP has been embroiled in a controversy after it was alleged that its member Tee Boon Hock had misused state government stationary to issue support letters for 20 companies who were vying for RM1 million in government contracts.

Tee has since been sacked from DAP and lost his position as Klang municipal councillor.