Procurement For Muar Hospital Project Done Via Open Tender Says Ministry

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The health ministry said the Prime Minister’s Office left it to the ministry to review the applications for the project to upgrade Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital’s water treatment system. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: The procurement process for the project to upgrade Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital’s water treatment system was done according to an open tender, says the health ministry.
In a reply to Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) during a special chamber session, the ministry clarified that the letter from the Prime Minister’s Office recently sighted on social media did not state any instructions that the companies listed on it be appointed to conduct construction work at the hospital.
The ministry said the PMO left it to the ministry to review the applications and decide on the necessary actions.
“This proves that the PMO does not interfere in procurement matters for projects under the health ministry and other ministries,” read the ministry’s reply.
In his question, Syed Saddiq had claimed the letter, signed by senior political secretary to the prime minister Shamsul Iskandar Akin, proved the continued use of letters of support despite the prime minister’s earlier promise that projects would go through open tenders.
However, the health ministry pointed out that the Guidelines on the Handling of Support by Administrative Members in Government Affairs, enforced from May 21, stated that mentions of “support” or “consideration” did not constitute a specific order to approve a government matter.
“Statements such as ‘I support’, ‘I have no objections’, ‘supported’, ‘please consider’, ‘please examine’, ‘please handle’, ‘for action’… are not an instruction to approve a government matter.
“This means civil servants must take action and make the appropriate checks based on the provisions of the law, regulations and government procedures in force,” said the ministry. - FMT

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