PUTRAJAYA: A top anti-graft official has questioned the integrity of companies given the job to channel funds and aid to the needy, saying their integrity was dwindling.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said funds such as PenjanaKerjaya, Mitra and Marii had been put in place to help those affected by the economic downturn during the Covid-19 pandemic.
ALSO READ: Lax conditions allowed PenjanaKerjaya scams, says MACC
“When the government introduced grants, loans, moratoriums, skills training, special financial assistance and so on, it aimed to help the people survive.
“But what happened? A large group of individuals, companies and organisations took the opportunity to profit from suffering.
“They blatantly took advantage by making false claims for personal wealth from the funds provided by the government,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 26).
ALSO READ: Company owner charged with submitting false claims under PenjanaKerjaya
Ahmad Khusairi said the Government must rectify this leakage, noting that fancy policies were useless if they could not be implemented properly.
“There are just too many loopholes that create opportunities for abuse," he added.
He listed several weaknesses, among them the process of verifying information submitted by applicants, as this had resulted in several companies owned by the same individuals making multiple claims.
“The Emergency (during the pandemic) was used as an excuse to not perform due diligence on applicants for fear of being called bureaucratic.
ALSO READ: 51 people nabbed by MACC so far in PenjanaKerjaya probe
“There were no clear rules and laws to act against applicants such as blacklisting them, instituting legal action and reclaiming unused funds," he added.
Ahmad Khusairi said 133 company owners and directors had been arrested during special operations last year.
More than 100 companies had been investigated for misappropriation of funds estimated around RM194mil.
As of today, he said, 34 company owners or directors have been charged in court for submitting false claims.
