More HR Ministry officials expected to be called up by MACC, say sources

PUTRAJAYA: More officials under the Human Resources Ministry are expected to be called up as graft investigators deepen their probe into a case involving the recruitment of foreign workers.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation believe the probe would keep investigators busy in the coming days as officials from the ministry as well as its agencies would be asked to have their statements recorded.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had already remanded an aide to Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar and a businessman in the probe.

The senior officer and businessman were arrested at the KL International Airport (KLIA) at about 1am on Wednesday (April 12).

"Investigators had gone to the aide’s office twice, once in the early morning of Wednesday and again, today (Thursday).

"It is believed that some files were picked up from the aide’s office," said sources.

According to sources, the businessman was believed to have acted as a runner for foreign worker recruitment agencies to "pay" to obtain quotas to bring in these workers.

The role of the minister’s officer was, however, unclear but a source said that the aide had previously held a senior position with the Perak DAP Youth wing.

According to reports, the MACC would investigate the ministry under the current and previous administration.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests.