PenjanaKerjaya probe: MACC nabs 47 company directors for misappropriating funds

PETALING JAYA: A total of 47 company directors have been arrested for making false claims through the PenjanaKerjaya recruitment and training incentive programme.

They were arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) through the nationwide Op Hire 2.0, an operation to curb the embezzlement and leakage of government funds as a result of false claims made by company directors through the programme.

Those detained, aged between 30 and 70, were company directors who had submitted claims for having operated recruitment and training programmes for Socso.

However, they were not implemented as claimed.

The arrests of the 33 men and 14 women were made on Monday (May 15).

According to sources, they had allegedly made claims between RM450,000 to RM2mil.

They have since been remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests and said the case is being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 471 of the Penal Code.

In the previous Op Hire 1.0, a total of 74 people from 60 companies were arrested, involving false claims amounting to RM88mil.

To date, 52 of them have been charged in court.

According to Ahmad Khusairi, MACC is taking strict action to curb embezzlement and leakage of government funds as it is a serious offence.

He said MACC has identified hundreds of other companies that have made these false claims and would continue the operation to arrest all those who are involved.

He also urged any company involved to come forward voluntarily to resubmit the claims that have been made to avoid being charged in court.

"We have identified the names and list of owners of the companies involved.

"To recover all the false claims involved, I warn everyone to come forward immediately before the MACC knocks on the doors of the offices of the companies involved.

"I guarantee that anyone who is involved who comes forward voluntarily and hands over the claims that have been made will not be brought to court.

"For those who are still stubborn, they will be subjected to more serious actions," he said.