KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is reportedly investigating Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar for allegedly receiving millions of ringgit through a middleman to continue the government’s foreign worker recruitment contract for certain individuals.

The Batu Gajah MP was called to have his statement recorded in the national MACC headquarters yesterday, days after investigators questioned several of his aides.

Citing an unnamed source, Utusan Malaysia today reported that Sivakumar was called by the MACC to answer questions about alleged cash kickbacks from an unnamed businessman who had been detained alongside the two ministerial aides.

"The businessman is believed to be doing ‘public relations’ on behalf of Sivakumar to ask for money from certain individuals who are running government projects in the ministry as a guarantee that they will be able to continue with the project and promised to be given other projects afterwards.

"The businessman’s actions are suspected to have been performed with the knowledge of Sivakumar’s two officers who are said to have also witnessed the money transaction.

"The money is suspected to have been paid in cash before it was all allegedly handed over to Sivakumar,” the unnamed source was quoted as saying.

According to the source, the MACC also carried out a search at Sivakumar’s office and home yesterday.

"The search was carried out by MACC as soon as the minister’s statement was taken to obtain evidence to complete the investigation,” the same source was quoted as saying.

Utusan Malaysia reported that the minister was still with the MACC as at 6pm yesterday, nine hours after he went to Putrajaya, but was not under arrest and may have been released later.

The Malay daily also reported that the businessman is still in MACC custody but Sivakumar’s two aides have been released.

Malay Mail is contacting the MACC to verify the news report.