MACC to collect documents from HRD Corp and Ministry

PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators have opened several investigation papers pertaining to the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) audit report and will be paying the corporation a “visit” as part of the probe.

Confirming this, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said his officers would also be heading to the Human Resources Ministry.

“The MACC investigation team will be going to the ministry as well as the HRD Corp office on Tuesday to collect documents for the investigation.

“We have also identified individuals who will be summoned to provide statements to assist in our investigation,” he said yesterday.

Ahmad Khusairi explained that the investigation was prompted by findings in the audit report submitted by the Human Resources Ministry, focusing on issues related to investments, management of funds, training, and asset acquisition.

“We have set up a task force to look into the audit report,” he said.

On Friday, Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud submitted the audit report to the MACC, following the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) reports, which were tabled in Parliament on Thursday.

Minister Steven Sim had instructed that the report be made in line with the recommendations of the Auditor-General.

Suspicious real estate deals and high-risk investments were some of the issues identified by the PAC in its report on HRD Corp.

One such deal was the purchase of Menara Ikhlas for RM202.5mil in February 2021 where a deposit of RM120mil was paid upfront to a company called Crystal Clear Technology.

HRD Corp chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid acknowledged the shortcomings found in the audit reports, adding that the training fund had implemented several improvements that helped increase levy collection over the years.

The statement, however, did not address findings that HRD Corp had invested levy collected from employers on several high-risk investments despite the training fund not being an investment institution.