KUALA LUMPUR: Some 100 more suspects are expected to be charged over fraudulent claims involving the Social Security Organisation’s (PERKESO) Daya Kerjaya 2.0 incentive programme, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The move comes after MACC revealed that prosecutions had already begun against several individuals across the country in connection with the case.
On Wednesday, 13 suspects were brought before the courts in Pahang, Perak, Kelantan and Kedah, while another 17 were charged in Perak, Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Sabah on Thursday.
More prosecutions are expected throughout August as investigations into the nationwide fraud widen.
Without disclosing the total number of charges to be filed, MACC said those facing prosecution include company owners and several other individuals believed to have abused the incentive programme.
“The list of individuals to be charged is extensive because the investigations involve cases across the country,” the commission said in a statement.
The cases are believed to involve fraudulent claims that caused an estimated RM45mil in losses to the government.
Investigations under Ops Daya found that between 2024 and 2025, 143 companies allegedly submitted fraudulent applications to PERKESO to obtain incentives under the programme involving some 320 workers.
In June, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman revealed that 1,638 companies were under investigation for allegedly submitting fraudulent claims.
Investigators found that syndicates had used the personal data of unsuspecting victims, including persons with disabilities, parolees and senior citizens aged above 60, without authorisation to submit claims under the programme.
The commission also uncovered cases in which workers received only one-off payments ranging from RM50 to RM2,400, even though full incentive claims had been submitted in their names.
Last month, Abd Halim said the MACC would recommend charges in 69 investigation papers linked to the alleged abuse of the programme.
“The 69 investigation papers have been recommended for prosecution because we found sufficient evidence.
“They involve individuals, companies and agents,” he was reported as saying.
He added that six other cases had been referred to the Governance Inspection Division to examine weaknesses in systems and work procedures, particularly involving the refund process, while no further action was recommended in five cases.
One investigation paper remains open as the MACC continues efforts to trace the main suspect.
Abd Halim said the MACC’s focus was not only on prosecuting those responsible but also on addressing weaknesses within PERKESO that allowed the fraud to occur.
He added that the MACC would not take administrative action against PERKESO, noting the commission’s role is strictly to investigate criminal offences rather than mete out administrative penalties to government agencies.
Abd Halim noted that PERKESO had requested that a MACC integrity officer be stationed within the organisation following the case.
