A SOPHISTICATED network of company owners, agents and accountants has been accused of orchestrating a large-scale fraud scheme that exploited the identities of unsuspecting Malaysians, including persons with disabilities, to illegally claim millions of ringgit from the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 employment incentive programme.
The alleged syndicate was uncovered following a joint investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO), after artificial intelligence-driven fraud detection systems identified suspicious patterns in thousands of employment incentive claims.
The findings were disclosed during a joint press conference following the launch of Op Daya, a targeted enforcement operation led by the MACC against individuals suspected of abusing government employment assistance intended to support workforce development.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said investigators uncovered a coordinated operation involving business proprietors, third-party agents and accountants who manipulated employment records and submitted fraudulent claims through SOCSO using stolen personal information.
He said one of the principal methods employed by the syndicate involved using individuals' personal data without their knowledge to submit claims under the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme.
"We also found workers who only received a single payment of between RM50 and RM2,400, even though full incentive claims were submitted under their names," BH reported Abd Halim saying, adding, investigators also uncovered cases involving persons with disabilities whose personal information was allegedly misappropriated to obtain incentive payments that were diverted to third parties instead of reaching the legitimate beneficiaries.
"In other cases, information of disabled applicants was allegedly misused, where payments were channelled to third parties instead of the rightful recipients."
The investigation gathered pace after SOCSO deployed advanced artificial intelligence and machine-learning technology to strengthen its anti-fraud capabilities and identify irregularities that would have been difficult to detect through conventional auditing methods.
SOCSO Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said the organisation's dedicated Anti-Fraud Division began integrating artificial intelligence into its operational systems in late 2024 to analyse large volumes of employment incentive applications.
"The analysis identified suspicious patterns and prompted Perkeso to refer information on alleged fraudulent claims to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in August last year for further action."
He said the AI-powered monitoring systems, supported by intelligence received from whistleblowers, enabled investigators to isolate recurring fraud patterns and identify the organised network behind the false claims.
The operation marks one of Malaysia's most significant uses of artificial intelligence in combating public sector fraud, demonstrating how advanced data analytics and inter-agency cooperation can detect complex financial crimes involving identity theft, fraudulent welfare claims and the diversion of government funds intended to support employment and vulnerable communities. - June 18, 2026
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