Bersatu’s associate wing has called on the MACC to reveal the status of the commission’s graft probe against Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar’s aides.
The wing’s information chief S Subramaniam claimed the minister’s aides, who were arrested in connection with the investigation, were back on duty after their remand period.
“We ask the MACC to immediately provide an explanation regarding this investigation. This is because there are too many speculations and conclusions regarding this case.
“Among them, two senior ministerial officers who were previously investigated, are now back on duty after the end of their remand period.
“Does this mean that the investigation is over? Have the two officers been released from the investigation? This explanation is very important because if the two officers are still under investigation, then the minister’s decision to allow them to return to duty is likely to disrupt the investigation,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.
Sivakumar previously suspended three senior aides, including a private secretary and special functions officer, who were detained by the MACC over a graft probe on migrant worker approvals.
The third officer suspended was also a special functions officer, according to a source.
Checks by Malaysiakini on April 16 found all three officers were no longer on the Human Resources Ministry directory.
However, the officers’ names reappeared in the ministry’s staff directory yesterday when checked.
Malaysiakini has contacted the minister’s office for confirmation.
Meanwhile, Subramaniam said MACC’s explanation on the matter is of the utmost importance as it will prevent the public from speculating.
“We all know that two officers were suspended for being involved in the investigation. However, many do not know that the third suspended officer is the biological son of the private secretary.
“As far as I know, never in history has a mother and her child been appointed as officers by any minister. This is why we urge the MACC to reveal the development of this investigation.
“I am surprised MACC has not made any statement regarding this investigation until today,” he said.
Subramaniam compared this to MACC’s probe against judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali where the anti-graft body issued several statements on the matter.
“But now, when a minister is involved, they (the MACC) are keeping silent,” he said.
The MACC also arrested three people last week, two of whom were senior officers to the minister and a businessperson from Ipoh, Perak.
The Star reported that all three were released after their remand orders expired.
The MACC has questioned Sivakumar twice regarding its probe into migrant worker approvals.
Anwar said there is no need for Sivakumar to go on leave pending a probe into the case as no charges have been pressed against the minister. – Malaysiakini