Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar has suspended three senior aides including the private secretary and special functions officer who were detained by the MACC over a graft probe on migrant worker approvals.
A ministry source confirmed the matter when contacted.
"Yes, the three officers were suspended by the minister with immediate effect," the source told Malaysiakini.
The third officer suspended is also a special functions officer, the source added.
The source, however, claimed to be in the dark why this third officer was suspended.
Checks by this news portal found that all three officers were no longer on the Human Resources Ministry directory.
Meanwhile, the source also confirmed that Sivakumar (above) had given a statement to the MACC this morning.
The MACC's dragnet began on Thursday with the arrest of one aide, followed by another arrest on Friday.
Previously, The Vibes reported that the probe pertains to allegations that those involved had set up a migrant worker recruitment agency to obtain approval from the ministry despite conflicts of interest.
Industry sources told Malaysiakini that one of the arrested officers, in his senior position, could potentially influence approvals of hiring quotas from manpower agencies.
Last month, Sivakumar announced that the quota application and approval for foreign workers, including through the Foreign Worker Employment Relaxation Plan, have been temporarily suspended.
He had at the time said the suspension was to enable employers, who have already been granted quotas, to start making plans for the immediate entry of foreign workers.
On Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim cautioned against jumping to conclusions regarding the case.
"The investigation carried out by the MACC is in line with my previous instructions for authorities to act if they have a basis against anyone.
"However, I ask that we do not get ahead of ourselves in predicting anything.
"As of now I have no information other than being informed of the arrests," he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
Separately, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil had said on Friday that the probe proved that the government was serious about eradicating corruption. - Mkini
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