[UPDATED] HR Ministry probe: MACC has not summoned me, says Sivakumar

KUALA LUMPUR – Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said he has yet to be called by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following the arrest of two of his aides over graft allegations involving migrant worker recruitments.

Sivakumar, who is also Batu Gajah MP, said this to reporters after attending a Tamil New Year event in Brickfields here today.

“I have not been summoned (by MACC). If I am called, I am willing to give my statement (on the matter).”

When asked by reporters whether he would consider going on leave while MACC continued its investigation, Sivakumar ignored the queries, pushing through the media scrum with the aid of his security personnel.

Earlier today, Bersatu associate wing information chief S. Subramaniam had urged the minister from DAP to take a break pending the conclusion of MACC’s probe involving the latter’s officers, so as to avoid a conflict of interest. 

Sivakumar, in his speech today at the event, took the opportunity to reiterate his stance to cooperate with MACC’s investigation, saying he had to remain “neutral” to avoid disrupting the probe.

“Anything that I say about the allegations (investigated by MACC) might impact the probe.

“I have to be neutral, but what I can say is that we cannot meddle in the investigation process. Let them (MACC) carry out their duties,” he said. 

He also assured the audience that the arrests are “normal (MACC) investigation procedures”, adding that the public will know whether the accusations have any truth to them once the probe has been completed.

“(Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also agreed that we should not jump to any conclusions while MACC does its investigations. 

“The probe is still in its early stages. If they (suspects) are found to have committed crimes, then they will be brought to court.”

To date, MACC has detained three individuals to facilitate investigations. They are his private secretary, another senior officer and a migrant worker recruitment agent.

It is learnt that the arrests revolve around conflicts of interest involving a migrant worker recruitment agency and ministry approvals.

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

In January, Anwar 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 15, 2023