After Fayhsal's support letter offer, Loke recalls 'unpowerful' Harapan ministers
A former Pakatan Harapan minister has questioned Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Ahmad Kamal’s offer of support letters in exchange for votes in the Bersatu Youth polls.
In a Facebook post, former transport minister Anthony Loke (above) recalled how Harapan MPs were specifically advised against issuing such letters.
The advice, he said, had come from former MACC chief Mohd Shukri Abdull in a lecture on good practices in governance back in 2018.
“Among the things Shukri told all Harapan ministers and deputy ministers was to never issue support letters to anyone, especially members of their own party,” Loke wrote.
He recalled cabinet members were further advised to make mere “neutral” comments on documents to prevent swaying administrative decisions.
The DAP national organising secretary sarcastically remarked that this had caused Harapan ministers to lack "power", unlike their Perikatan Nasional successors.
“That was during Harapan’s administration. Yeah, Harapan ministers were not powerful. It was no use in coming to lobby ministers. Everything would be a no.
“But it is different now. Even deputy ministers are powerful.
"Support letters can become fodder for a party election. Army planes can be used to attend party activities. Anything is possible. Memang power! (Very powerful),” he said.
Fayshal (below) came under fire after he was recorded making the controversial pitch during a Bersatu Youth campaigning event yesterday.
“How (can I help?), I can issue support letters as a deputy minister, as the youth chief and I can make a copy to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to strengthen (the support letters).
"That is using one's position. Positions are given to help make things easier for you. It is not for me alone. But to help you, help me too.
"Firstly, vote for me,” he was recorded saying in a video.
The youth wing election is slated for Sept 27.
Aside from Loke, PKR’s Kota Anggerik MP Najwan Halimi and DAP’s Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto have also criticised the deputy minister for abusing his position.
