EMBATTLED Human Resource Minister V. Sivakumar (main pic) must count his lucky stars for Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has endorsed that there is no need for him to go on garden leave pending an ongoing graft probe that has seen the former summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Anwar who is also the Finance Minister said Sivakumar had only been summoned to have his statement recorded by the graft buster yesterday morning (April 16), hence it would be inappropriate to speculate on the case.
“It’s still being investigated and no charges have been brought against him yet,” he told the media at the launch of Karya Agung Melayu in Wisma DBP in Kuala Lumpur. “The investigation process is up to the MACC. What comes after that, whether charges are pressed or not, is another matter altogether.”
Added Anwar: “For example, if I, as the PM am asked to give an explanation, does that mean I have to resign? So, we need to make that distinction between an investigation that is currently ongoing and if there is a charge then that is a different question.”
However, he stressed that Putrajaya would still not compromise with corrupt practices and that any alleged wrongdoing was being probed regardless of political affiliations.
Echoing Anwar’s decision is DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook who said there is no need for the Batu Gajah MP to go on leave following the arrests of two of his aides in connection with a corruption case involving foreign worker recruitment.
“Firstly, he is not a suspect. As far as I know, he is giving his cooperation,” the Transport Minister told reporters at a media conference at the Transport Ministry in Putrajaya. “At this point in time, we are still observing developments. There has been no instruction from the PM for him to take leave.”
Thus far, three suspects have been remanded following MACC investigations, including two of Sivakumar’s senior officers.
On Wednesday (April 12), a senior officer along with a businessman were detained in connection with the case. The two suspects, aged between 40 and 50, were picked up at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) around 1am upon their arrival from Bangkok.
While the senior officer was said to be a former leader in the DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) wing, the third suspect in her 50s is believed to be holding the post of a private secretary in the HR Ministry.
In a related development, Sivakumar denied reports that his house has been raided by graft investigators. When asked about it earlier today, the minister simply answered, “No”.
Quoting MACC sources, Malay news portal Sinar Harian had reported that the graft-buster raided Sivakumar’s office and residence yesterday (April 16).
The sources said this was in connection with the investigation into millions allegedly paid in kickbacks through a middleman for the guarantee of a government contract for certain individuals.
It is believed that the raids were part of the effort to piece together the money trail in the case. – April 17, 203
