THE controversy over Human Resources (HR) Minister V. Sivakumar deserves an answer – and since the minister himself and no other lawmaker close to him are willing to divulge any information – FocusM has embarked on its own initiative to gather some new leads.
According to a source, the Batu Gajah MP who has held the seat since May 2013 is a “straight-laced politician, not known to go for any hanky-panky deals.”
This, she said, was what she learnt from within her own circle of friends in DAP Perak.
She further highlighted that lawmakers are tight-lipped to the extent of not keen to divulge any information as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is very particular about not interfering with the on-going investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
It is learnt that after the interrogation by the graft buster, Sivakumar was also queried by comrades close to him.
“From what I understand, Sivakumar denied any involvement in the case,” she revealed. “To be fair to him, we want to give him the benefits of doubt.”
Sivakumar who also served as Speaker of the Perak State Legislature when he was Tronoh state assemblyman between March 2008 and 2013 – until he was forcefully removed in May 2009 following the Perak State Assembly crisis – is currently the only minister of Indian descent in the unity government.
He returned to work immediately after his MACC probe despite pressure from certain quarters but thankfully, Anwar was adamant that Sivakumar did not have to go on garden leave as was proposed among others by MCA and Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.
“If you think about it, Anwar would have access to the MACC,” she suggested. “If he knew Sivakumar was involved in some hanky-panky, would you think Anwar will still allow him to helm the HR Ministry? Be fair to Sivakumar. In our justice system, one is deemed to be innocent until found guilty.”
Only time will tell. But, according to the source again, the MACC investigation was on something that is unrelated to what was reported in the local media.
“The press got it all wrong,” she insisted. “It has to do with one of the three aides who joined Sivakumar’s team with his own baggage in the past. Sivakumar only took him in because he was jobless.”
FocusM has tried to reach out to MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki since last Friday (April 29) to follow up on the case but no response has been forthcoming from him. – May 1, 2023
