KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 26): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he has accepted the resignation of his senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin. He added that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is free to investigate the allegations against Shamsul without any interference. Anwar thanked Shamsul for his service.
Shamsul resigned on Tuesday following public backlash over a support letter he issued in 2024 to recommend six contractors for a government hospital project, according to media reports.
The matter resurfaced on Nov 18, 2025 in the Dewan Rakyat, when opposition MPs alleged that Shamsul had improperly endorsed contractors to the Ministry of Health.
During the same session, Anwar confirmed he had reprimanded Shamsul over the incident, stating clearly that government regulations prohibit such letters of support for procurement or tender processes. Over the following days, the issue gained traction online and in the media, prompting calls for firm action.
Former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli publicly urged Anwar to take a stronger stand to demonstrate the anti-corruption commitment that Anwar himself often reiterates under the Madani government.
The matter escalated further when Malaysiakini reported that businessman Albert Tei Jiann Cheing — previously charged in a separate case — claimed he had spent RM629,000 on Shamsul, including on home renovations, cigars and tailored suits.
Shamsul has not publicly addressed the specifics of Tei’s allegations.
On Tuesday, Shamsul posted on his X account (formerly known as Twitter) that he had submitted his resignation letter to the prime minister. He said the decision was made amid what he described as coordinated attempts to attack him in ways that could “harm the image of the Madani government”.
“Therefore, I have decided to defend myself from these attacks. I thank the prime minister for the trust he has placed in me,” he wrote on the social media platform.
He did not deny the authenticity of the support letter but suggested that the issue was being weaponised to damage the administration.
“The Madani government remains firmly committed to transparency and integrity, and will allow the investigation to proceed according to the rule of law,” Anwar said in Wednesday's statement.