[UPDATED] Sivakumar summoned, questioned by MACC over migrant worker case

KUALA LUMPUR – Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar was called in by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) this morning to assist with its investigation into alleged corruption involving the recruitment of migrant workers.

A source from the anti-graft body confirmed to The Vibes that the DAP lawmaker had presented himself at its headquarters in Putrajaya at 10am today to have his statement recorded.

The questioning was conducted by the MACC’s investigation division.

“Yes, he arrived at 10am. We called him in to record his statement,” the source said, but stopped short of providing further details.

The Vibes has reached out to MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki for comment on whether Sivakumar would be arrested today.

Meanwhile, an aide to Sivakumar told FMT that he was called in only as a matter of formality, and that the minister is neither a witness nor a suspect.

“He was there for a short while and has left the (MACC) office,” he said.

Today’s development comes just days after the MACC conducted a number of arrests as part of its ongoing probe into the contentious migrant worker recruitment contracts.

It is learnt that the arrests pertain to allegations that those involved had set up a migrant worker recruitment agency to obtain direct approval from the ministry.

The Vibes was previously informed that the two individuals – a senior aide to the minister and a recruitment agent – were nabbed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport around 1am on Wednesday after arriving from Bangkok.

MACC officers later proceeded to raid the ministry on Thursday morning, with the commission widening its scope of investigation to include senior officials and heads of agencies under the Human Resources Ministry. 

It is understood that the head of at least one agency under the ministry is expected to be called in for questioning in the next few days.

“Large amounts of money and luxury goods and apparel were understood to have changed hands in exchange for large contracts and approvals to bring in foreign workers,” a source had said previously.

On Friday, another close aide to Sivakumar was arrested, bringing the total number of arrests to three.

Sivakumar had previously urged the media to refrain from making any speculations about the MACC probe, while vowing to give full cooperation to the agency. – The Vibes, April 16, 2023