KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating potential criminal elements within the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) following irregularities highlighted in the Auditor General’s (A-G) Report.
In a statement today, the MACC revealed that it identified 12 summary remarks in the report. The investigation is being conducted under the MACC Act 2009.
“The MACC will not focus its investigation on management weaknesses and regulatory non-compliance, as these issues have already been addressed and rectified by HRD Corp management during the Exit Conference with the National Audit Department,” the statement read.
“MACC calls on all parties to give sufficient space and time for this investigation process to be carried out without any interruption.”
Earlier today, MACC officers visited the HRD Corp office on Jalan Beringin, leaving after an hour with several documents.
The officers collected documents related to irregularities highlighted in the A-G’s Report, which was made public last week.
On July 6, MACC deputy chief commissioner for operations Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya said that an investigative team would visit the Human Resources Ministry and HRD Corp on Tuesday (today) to obtain several documents.
This action follows the MACC’s identification of issues needing clarification from the involved parties, based on an audit report from the ministry’s secretary-general.
On July 5, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim announced that his ministry would adhere to the A-G’s recommendation to refer HRD Corp to the MACC, following findings by the statutory body and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The PAC disclosed HRD Corp used a total of RM3.77 billion in levies collected from employers for training development programmes to make investments worth RM3.84 billion at market value as of March 2024.
PAC chairperson Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin recently told Scoop that the MACC had been actively involved in the committee’s proceedings concerning HRD Corp.
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 the Human Resources Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud and HRD Corp chief executive Datuk Shahul Dawood. – July 9, 2024