Selangor exco members and their officers do not have a “magic pen” that can guarantee approvals with their support letters, said exco member Dr Halimah Ali.

exco interview 170408 halimah ali Commenting on Selangor menteri besar political secretary Faekah Husin’s letter to a GLC, urging it to consider appointing her niece’s law firm to its legal panel, Halimah (right) said it doesn’t mean that the firm will get the job.

“It has been the norm in our society to get a YB’s (assemblyperson’s) signature for jobs, geting into universities, get contracts and so on. In Selangor, YB’s don’t have magic pen where a signature means approval.

“Some of these people, they won’t leave a YB’s or a government officer’s office until they have a letter. Even though the letter does not say that their company must be chosen,” she told the New Straits Times in a report today.

Meanwhile, Berita Harian reported Halimah of saying she will bring the matter to the attention of the Selangor exco meeting.

“We are of the view that such practice should be changed,” she was quoted of saying.

Yesterday, Faekah denied wrongdoing in her letters to the Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB), recommending several law firms, including the one run by her niece.

The letters were written with the Selangor menteri besar office’s letterhead, stating that the companies should be given a chance.

Previously, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief Mohd Shukri Abdull said the commission was studying the letter, but no official investigations had been initiated.