Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar has met with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to have his statement recorded on Sunday (April 16).
Sources said Sivakumar (pic) presented himself at the MACC headquarters at around 10am this morning to assist with investigations into a case involving the recruitment of foreign workers which entailed the arrest of two of his senior aides in connection with allegations of corruption in the recruitment of foreign workers.
An aide said today that the minister was called in to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya for “certain formalities. He is neither a witness nor a suspect. He was there for a short while and has left the (MACC) office,” he said.
Yesterday, Sivakumar said he was ready to give his full cooperation to the anti-graft agency if summoned. However, he could not comment further on the investigation.
On Friday, the MACC arrested Sivakumar’s private secretary in connection with an investigation into the approval of migrant worker quotas. It was learnt that on the previous day, the anti-graft agency detained one of Sivakumar’s senior officers, along with a foreign worker recruitment agent.
Sivakumar yesterday reminded the public not to make any speculations following the arrest of his aides, saying that these arrests are part of the investigation process should anyone lodge a complaint to the agency.
“We will only know if the allegations are true or false once the investigation is complete. If found guilty, they will be charged in court, if not they will be freed,” he said.
The arrests of his aides have led to calls for reform in the foreign worker recruitment process, with the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) urging the government to seriously consider doing away with using third parties.
On Saturday, former Klang MP Charles Santiago called for the management of foreign worker recruitment to be placed under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), instead of the home ministry and the human resources ministry.
He said there should be a department chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and headed by a former judge, CEO or a retired senior government servant.
Yesterday, the Minister said MACC officers had not called up for questioning in relation to a case involving the recruitment of foreign workers, adding, the MACC was just carrying out its duty and responsibilities over the probe.
“In principle, I support the implementation of the law based on justice and truth,” he said.
It was reported that two of the minister’s officers have been arrested by the MACC – one on Wednesday and the other on Friday.
The minister’s aide, believed to be holding the post of private secretary, was summoned to the MACC headquarters for her statement to be recorded. The aide was arrested early Friday.
Investigators have obtained an order for the officer to be remanded until tomorrow.
On Wednesday, a senior officer along with a businessman were detained in connection with the case.
The senior officer was believed to be a former leader in the state DAP Socialist Youth.
The two suspects, aged between 40 and 50, were picked up at the KLIA around 1am upon their arrival from Bangkok, Thailand.
They were also remanded until tomorrow to assist in the investigation.
