Saravanan offers full asset disclosure within 30 days to MACC amid graft probe

FORMER Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan has pledged to fully cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and disclose all assets acquired since 2019, including those held in Malaysia and overseas.

Saravanan, who is also MIC deputy president and Tapah MP, said he had agreed to provide the agency with all information required under the asset declaration notice, which forms part of its investigation.

“I have already agreed to cooperate with the MACC by providing all the information they require. This is a normal procedure and there is nothing to hide.

“If there are allegations against any party, this is how they investigate whether the wealth is unusual or not,” he told reporters after appearing at the MACC headquarters today.

Saravanan arrived at the MACC office at about 9.15am with his wife and two children before leaving about an hour later.

The notice relates to three charges against Saravanan involving an alleged RM1.097 million bribe received four years ago in connection with the approval of an application for 1,000 foreign worker quotas for TYKB Engineering Sdn Bhd.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said last Friday that a notice under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009 would be issued to Saravanan today.

Saravanan said the MACC had given him 30 days to submit the required information and was prepared to grant an extension if he needed more time to compile the documents.

“MACC officers are very flexible. They have given me 30 days and if I do not have enough time, they are willing to grant an extension. As far as the MACC officers are concerned, there is no problem and everything is proceeding smoothly.

“I will personally announce to the media all the assets that I have. There is no need to hide anything,” he said.

Saravanan, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the way the investigation was publicised, particularly after his 12-year-old son was linked to the matter.

He said he had gone to the MACC with his family, including his two children, but was told that his 12-year-old son did not need to sign any notice.

“My son is only 12 years old. How could we possibly have assets in the name of a 12-year-old child? Even opening a bank account requires a declaration.

“I have already told the MACC officers about this and they accepted my explanation. Today, when we arrived here, they said it was not necessary and my son could go home,” he said.

Saravanan said the reference to his son had affected his family, particularly after the matter spread on social media.

He said his son was now under pressure and did not want to go to school for fear of being mocked or criticised over the issue.

“My son is a little traumatised and does not even want to go to school. Children today all read social media and they know what people write about families.

“I have gone through trauma, and my family has also gone through trauma because of the announcement,” he said.

Saravanan nevertheless stressed that he had no objection to being investigated and respected the MACC as a government institution.

“I respect government institutions and government agencies. As an MP, I also have a responsibility and will respect the investigation.

“But as a human being and a father, I am dissatisfied when a routine investigation is announced in a way that involves a young child,” he said.

He also questioned the need to publicise the matter at such an early stage of the investigation, saying such action should not have occurred. - September 28, 2026