PM Anwar says premature to ask HR minister Sivakumar to take leave from work as MACC probe ongoing

KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — It “is too early” to suggest Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar take leave from official duties while the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigates the ministry officials for alleged corruption, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

Sivakumar also told reporters at a separate event in Putrajaya today that he was not arrested nor was his statement taken by the MACC yesterday as a suspect.

“It is only a probe and there are no charges pressed yet,” Anwar told reporters at a government function here.

“For example, if I, as prime minister, 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,” he said.

Utusan Malaysia today ran a report citing unnamed sources who claimed Sivakumar was called by the MACC for questioning about alleged cash kickbacks from an unnamed businessman who had been detained alongside two of the human resources minister's aides.

The Malay daily reported that Sivakumar had spent over nine hours with the MACC and suggested he was a suspect. Sivakumar has since denied he is a suspect.

The probe on Sivakumar came as Anwar repeatedly pledges to eradicate corruption within the government ahead of crucial local elections in six states, three of which are governed by the Pakatan Harapan coalition he chairs.

Anwar continues to assert his commitment to give zero tolerance against any members of his administration found to be corrupt in the wake of the MACC's probe against Sivakumar.

“To me when it comes to the issue of governance we are firm and care not if it upsets anyone or any party.

“But in this specific case involving V. Sivakumar it is not appropriate to make any presumption apart from the fact that he had been called to record his statement by the MACC,” Anwar said.

Two of Sivakumar’s aides were reported to have been arrested on two separate occasions last week.

One of them was arrested on April 13 together with a recruitment agent.

The second aide was reportedly nabbed on April 14.

According to Utusan Malaysia’s report today, the two ministry staff have been released but an unnamed businessman who was arrested by the MACC on an undisclosed date in connection with the case is still being detained for questioning.