BUKIT MERTAJAM – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must be given time to continue investigations into alleged corruption involving the recruitment of migrant workers.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said as the investigations are still in the early stages, and to be fair to all quarters, there should not be any unnecessary speculation over the matter.
“Let them do their duty,” he said.
Anwar said MACC is empowered to probe any claims of corruption, as the country wants clean and corruption-free governance.
Anwar said this when asked to respond to reports that up to three aides of Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar have been detained by the anti-graft body.
Sivakumar is DAP’s deputy secretary-general and Batu Gajah MP.
Anwar told a press conference here that he was informed about the arrests and he would leave it to MACC to investigate.
He said his instructions to the agency are clear: to take action if there is evidence related to corruption.
A close aide to the minister was arrested by MACC earlier 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.
Anwar also said that veteran civil service officer Tan Sri Khalid Ramli, was appointed as the chairman of the reactivated Penang Bumiputera Development Council.
Kelantan-born Khalid served as Penang’s state secretary and the Implementation Coordination Unit director-general before retiring, but he was then appointed as the Langkawi Development Authority chief executive officer.
Khalid has pledged to do his best and thanked Anwar for the latter’s confidence.
Among the slew of projects Anwar announced which the council will undertake is a RM200 million allocation to redevelop the “wakaf” land in Penang.
Some of the plots are located in prime commercial localities on the island and mainland.
The council’s work will go in sync with efforts by the Penang government to assist the underprivileged Bumiputera individuals in the state.
Anwar also announced an allocation of RM10 million to assist religious students at Maahad Tahfiz schools with technical vocational education training skills.
This will enable the students to be equipped with skills to aid them when they enter the workplace, said Anwar. – The Vibes, April 14, 2023
