MACC uncovers RM9mil in false claims under Daya Kerjaya 2.0

 MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman says 143 companies and 320 workers were linked to the alleged misuse of government funds under the Perkeso initiative.

MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman meeting staff at the MACC office in Kuala Terengganu today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has uncovered irregularities involving the government’s Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme, with false claims amounting to RM9.01 million.

MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman said an operation against offenders is expected to begin next week, Bernama reported.

He said investigations found that 143 companies and 320 workers nationwide were linked to the alleged misuse of government funds under the Social Security Organisation’s (Perkeso) initiative in 2024 and 2025.

“Under the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme, the government provides employers with a wage incentive of RM1,500 a month for six months for each eligible worker hired, including persons with disabilities, former prisoners and senior citizens.

“However, based on our preliminary intelligence gathering, several issues have been identified in the implementation of the programme.

“Among them, we found people who were declared as employees but did not actually exist,” he said at the Terengganu MACC office today.

Halim said investigators also detected cases involving workers who did not meet the minimum six-month employment requirement but the employers still received the full incentive payment.

MACC is probing the use of forged documents to obtain the payments.

Halim said MACC had also identified another 1,638 companies suspected of engaging in similar activities, involving about RM45 million.

However, these cases remain at the preliminary stage of investigation, he added.

Halim said MACC had received good cooperation from Perkeso in the investigation and would continue working closely with the agency’s state offices to facilitate operations, including the collection of information and evidence.

MACC views seriously any elements of abuse or weaknesses in the management of government funds intended to benefit the public, he said.

Halim said the commission’s governance investigation division would intensify efforts to assist government departments, agencies and companies in improving governance and strengthening procedures to prevent leakages and misuse of public funds.

“If there are weaknesses in the system or procedures, we will help identify them and recommend improvements.

“The Daya Kerjaya 2.0 case is one example of how a government incentive introduced with good intentions to help the people and create employment opportunities can be abused by irresponsible parties.”

Separately, Halim said MACC plans to establish anti-corruption cadets at secondary schools to promote integrity and anti-corruption values among the young.

For a start, it may be launched at one or two schools in Putrajaya or Kuala Lumpur, involving 30 to 40 students, after consultations with the education ministry. - FMT