Datuk Dr Noor Soeraya Norsham

Datuk Dr Noor Soeraya Norsham, 38, Ex-Negri Sembilan Veterinary Services Director, was charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday (17 January 2012) to four counts of falsifying documents to secure higher positions in her department. She was charged for knowingly giving a fake reference letter (from the department) to get a promotion and confirmation of her position to a higher grade in the Veterinary Services Department. As a result, she managed to get an extra RM 50,315.58. She has pleaded not guilty for all the charges.

The case prompted the government to call for an audit of all appointments and promotions in the civil service. Observers said they were shocked by the weak process for verifications of promotions. The President of Transparency International Malaysia, Datuk Paul Lau said, “It’s amazing. Surely promotions are checked”. He added that a forgery could be found out easily unless there is collusion between that person and the person administering it.