Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar resigns as PM’s aide amid controversy over support letter for Muar hospital project
PETALING JAYA:Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin has tendered his resignation from the position of Senior Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, effective today.
The resignation letter was delivered to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier this morning. Shamsul announced his decision through a post on the social media platform X, citing concerns that ongoing controversies surrounding him could negatively impact the Madani Government’s reputation.
“I understand that there is an attempt to attack me with things that can damage the image of the Madani government. Therefore, I have decided to defend myself from this attack,” Shamsul stated in his social media post.
He expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the confidence placed in him during his tenure. “I also submitted my resignation letter this morning to YAB Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. I thank YAB PM for the trust he has placed in me,” he added.
The resignation comes in the wake of allegations regarding a support letter purportedly issued by a political aide to the Prime Minister. The letter, addressed to an aide of a health minister, reportedly requested that six contractors be given consideration for the Muar hospital project.
The matter gained significant attention after former minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli publicly called for decisive action against Shamsul Iskandar over the issuance of the support letter, which was allegedly issued last year.
Addressing the controversy, Anwar characterised the support letter issued by his political aide as “vague” and clarified that it did not constitute a formal instruction or directive.
The Prime Minister’s statement appeared to distance the government from the letter while responding to mounting pressure from within his own coalition to address the matter transparently.
Shamsul Iskandar’s departure marks a significant development within the Prime Minister’s Office, as senior political secretaries typically play crucial roles in liaison work, political coordination, and policy communication.
The resignation also highlights the heightened scrutiny facing government officials under the Madani administration, which has emphasised transparency and good governance as key pillars of its agenda.
Support letters from political aides, while common in Malaysian politics, have increasingly come under criticism as potentially creating conflicts of interest or the appearance of improper influence in government procurement and project allocation processes.
