[UPDATED] MACC nabs HR minister’s close aide

KUALA LUMPUR – A close aide of Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today as part of an ongoing investigation into a migrant worker recruitment contract.

The woman in her 50s was detained at 10am after she went to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya for questioning.

This brings to three the number of those detained by MACC since the April 12 arrests of another aide and a migrant worker recruitment agent.

It is understood that more officials, including the head of an agency under the ministry, will be summoned to MACC.

Yesterday, The Vibes reported that MACC also called in a senior ministry official for questioning, and its officers later proceeded to raid the ministry and seize documents. 

MACC commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had said this was linked to the anti-graft agency’s investigations pertaining to allegations involving a migrant worker recruitment agency.

It is learnt that the arrests revolve around allegations that those involved had set up a migrant worker recruitment agency to obtain approval from the ministry despite conflicts of interest.

Meanwhile, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar urged the media not to make assumptions about the MACC probe.

“The Human Resources Ministry and I will give full cooperation to the agency if needed.

“Therefore, I hope the media does not make any assumptions or speculation that could affect any party until MACC’s investigation is completed,” he added.

The current unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had in January announced new measures to make the migrant worker recruitment exercise more transparent and humane.

Malaysia features negatively in global human rights indices for the mistreatment of migrant workers, where the Bangladeshi migrant worker business alone is valued at RM7 billion a year.

These workers are often exploited, working long hours in unsafe and unhygienic conditions for as little as RM1,500 a month – of which 50% in the first two years is used to pay agents. – The Vibes, April 14, 2023