A pro-Perikatan Nasional group has urged the MACC to complete its probe against Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar and his aides over alleged graft involving RM97 million.
It alleged that the MACC’s investigation process was taking too long as it has passed the three-month mark.
Group member Vasantha Kumar Krishnan claimed in a written memorandum that the allegations levelled against Sivakumar (above) involved the minister receiving bribes worth millions of ringgit as a guarantee to continue with government contracts from certain individuals.
Vasantha claimed to be a member of Bersatu's associates wing, but the party disputed his membership in August 2022.
Speaking to the media outside the MACC headquarters today, Vasantha cried double standards over cases involving government officials compared to members of the opposition.
He added that the anti-graft commission was seen to be “not committed”.
“The case has been ongoing for over three months… if there is strong evidence from the investigation, then prosecution should be carried out immediately.
“(The MACC) was quick to prosecute the opposition for the Jana Wibawa case but why has (MACC chief commissioner) Azam Baki not prosecuted Sivakumar?” he questioned.
Vasantha also said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was fast to comment on corruption cases involving the opposition but kept mum on Sivakumar’s case.
“This raises the perception of selective prosecution,” he added.
5 aides sacked, 1 transferred
Malaysiakini previously reported that five of Sivakumar’s officers were sacked while another was transferred to the Public Services Department amid MACC’s probe. Sivakumar had appointed all six officers.
"Some of their contracts were terminated because of the MACC probe while others were due to poor performance," a source from the Prime Minister’s Department said.
In April, the MACC raided the Human Resources Ministry in Putrajaya and arrested the minister's senior officer over allegations of corruption in the migrant workers’ recruitment process.
Subsequently, MACC also remanded Sivakumar's private secretary for four days while the minister himself was summoned for questioning.
In response, Sivakumar suspended three of his senior aides, including the private secretary and special functions officer detained by the anti-graft commission.
Of the three, one officer remained suspended after being released while the other two had taken leave from work pending the completion of the MACC probe.
Sources previously told Malaysiakini that one of the arrested officers could potentially influence approvals of hiring quotas from manpower agencies.
He further cited a news report, confirming that MACC’s previous raid at Sivakumar’s office and residences, was carried out to trace money the minister allegedly obtained.
Malaysia Now reported in April that the MACC was looking into a total of RM97 million in bribes.
The news portal reported that the investigation was centred around claims that those involved - including ministry officials - had set up a recruitment agency to obtain approval from the ministry, despite a conflict of interest. - Mkini
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