Sivakumar summoned, questioned by MACC over migrant worker case

Kuala Lumpur, April 16 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today summoned the Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar to assist in its ongoing investigation into alleged corruption related to the recruitment of migrant workers.

According to a source from the anti-graft body, Sivakumar presented himself at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 10am to have his statement recorded. The questioning was conducted by the MACC’s investigation division, although no further details were provided.

Sivakumar’s aide stated that the minister was called in only as a formality and is neither a witness nor a suspect. Despite this, the MACC has widened its scope of investigation to include senior officials and heads of agencies under the Human Resources Ministry.

At least one agency head is expected to be called in for questioning in the near future.

This development comes just days after the MACC conducted several arrests as part of its probe into the contentious migrant worker recruitment contracts. It is alleged that those involved had set up a migrant worker recruitment agency to obtain direct approval from the ministry.

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 raided the ministry on Thursday morning, and the agency is now investigating claims that large amounts of money, luxury goods, and apparel were exchanged in return for large contracts and approvals to bring in foreign workers.

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 speculation and promised to give full cooperation to the agency’s investigation.

Given the ongoing nature of the investigation and the widening scope of the probe, it remains to be seen whether any further individuals will be called in for questioning or whether any charges will be brought against those already arrested.

NMT