Wan Roslan Wan Hamat, political secretary to the Kelantan menteri besar, has confirmed a circular that instructed his staff to be checked on to ensure that they have not joined a new political party.

He said the circular, issued to seven state bodies, was done as those in the said bodies were political appointees and not civil servants under the Public Services Department.

“That was an old letter, it is authentic. The instruction came from us.

“(We have done the checks) and no staff were found to have joined a new political party.

“We just wanted to check. If you work with the state government then you must follow the state government,” he told Malaysiakini.

He was asked to respond to the letter, dated Sept 9, 2015, which surfaced on social media recently.

The circular coincided with the time when PAS splinter Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) was formally announced, on Sept 16, 2015.

It was directed at seven heads of state bodies, which asked them to verify whether his any of their staff were involved in “new political parties” or activities that went “against the state government”.

It asked the heads to report back by Sept 23, 2015.

Among the bodies in which the circular was directed at were Kelantan’s Strategic Studies Centre, Tok Kenali Trust Fund, State Information Secretariat, Youth and Sports Secretariat, Women, Family and Welfare Secretariat and Village Chiefs Secretariat and Tok Guru Thought Institute.

Leak condemned

Wan Roslan said if any staff were found to have joined a new party, further action would be discussed.

However, he said the check revealed that none had done so.

“Don’t misunderstand. The check was to get feedback... the feedback was that none had joined a new party,” he said.

He also criticised the leaking of the letter on social media.

“It’s mala fide. It’s an old story,” he said.

He added that those responsible for leaking the circular will have to deal with Allah.