KUALA LUMPUR – Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar should go on leave pending the completion of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation into alleged wrongdoing involving the recruitment of migrant workers, said Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.
Appealing to his commitment to fight corruption, similar to Pakatan Harapan’s anti-graft agenda, Hassan said Sivakumar should voluntarily take a leave of absence rather than wait for a directive from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The honourable minister should understand the principles of collective responsibility and the ministerial responsibility in the cabinet. Do not wait for the prime minister to give instructions for you to go on leave or even resign.
“Every minister must be responsible to protect the good name of the administration under the leadership of Anwar Ibrahim, who is taking active steps to fight corruption in the civil service,” Hassan said in a statement today.
Hassan said he acknowledges that Sivakumar is not a suspect but the fact that the latter was called twice by the MACC to give his statement and his house and office was visited by anti-graft officers, does not give a good perception as he is a cabinet minister.
“I believe YB Sivakumar has a good conscience and generous heart. As a parliamentarian and a political leader, he will take the right action,” he said.
Hassan, however, said he is not pressing for Sivakumar to resign.
The Vibes had previously reported that a senior aide to the minister had been arrested in relation to an ongoing graft probe into the recruitment of foreign workers.
MACC officers visited Sivakumar’s residence and office, with the commission widening its scope of investigation to include senior officials and heads of agencies under the Human Resources Ministry. – The Vibes, April 23, 2023
