KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is set to summon several individuals to provide statements over irregularities related to Human Resources Development Corp (HRD Corp).
MACC deputy chief commissioner for operations Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said an investigative team would visit the Human Resources Ministry and HRD Corp on Tuesday to obtain several documents.
This action follows the MACC’s identification of issues requiring clarification from the involved parties, based on an audit report from the Human Resources Ministry’s secretary-general.
“According to the audit report, we have pinpointed several issues needing documents and statements from involved parties,” Khusairi said in a statement today.
“These include matters of investment, fund and training management, and asset purchases. A special team has been formed, and an investigation paper is open.”
He noted that the investigation was being conducted under Sections 18 and 23 of the MACC Act 2009, which pertain to the offences of intending to deceive a principal by an agent and using an office or position for gratification, respectively.
In a separate statement, MACC investigation division senior director Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim also confirmed the summoning of certain individuals for the investigation.
He said that this action followed recommendations by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the auditor-general (A-G).
He added that the MACC was still examining documents provided by the Human Resources Ministry.
Yesterday, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said his ministry would adhere to the A-G’s recommendation to refer HRD Corp to the MACC, following discoveries by the statutory body and the PAC.
The PAC revealed a levy collection totalling RM3.77 billion from employers using HRD Corp in various investment activities.
Yesterday, PAC chairperson Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin told Scoop that the MACC had been actively involved in the committee’s proceedings concerning HRD Corp.
She said the anti-graft agency was well aware of the issues as it was part of the committee.
The PAC’s extensive three-volume report on HRD Corp identifies the MACC as one of the permanent government representatives, or ex-officio members, of the committee.
This development coincides with the submission of a report to the MACC by Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud and HRD Corp chief executive Datuk Shahul Dawood, yesterday.
At a press conference held at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, Khairul initially stated that the report was related to findings by the PAC and the A-G’s report. He later clarified that it encompassed “issues raised by the A-G as well as feedback from the ministry and HRD Corp”.
The report also disclosed that HRD Corp’s investment panel failed to report its activities to its board, under the justification that the panel’s chairman was also the board chairman.
Subsequently, the A-G recommended that the Human Resources Ministry take appropriate action against HRD Corp’s management over these irregularities and reexamine the need for amendments to the firm’s management and operations, ensuring consistency with the provisions under the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act 2001. – July 6, 2024