Sivakumar quizzed a second time by MACC

The minister was questioned again on Monday, after he spent several hours at MACC’s headquarters on Sunday.

(FMT) – Human resources minister V Sivakumar was questioned again by the authorities on Monday as part of its probe into foreign worker recruitment.

A source close to the matter said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers questioned Sivakumar for the second time two days ago, after he was questioned for several hours at MACC’s headquarters on Sunday.

The source, however, did not reveal the venue of the second meeting.

“Investigators will continue to piece together the money trail,” the source said.

Meanwhile, an officer to Sivakumar denied that the minister was called in by MACC again. On Monday, Sivakumar also denied that MACC had raided his house, calling it a “visit” instead.

It is learnt that the investigators’ main focus now is to establish the money trail after a businessman arrested by MACC allegedly admitted that he had collected money from contractors for ministry officials.

While the exact figure is unknown, the source claimed that millions of ringgit may have been paid to ensure that the contractors retained contracts obtained under the previous government.

“Investigators will call in whoever they suspect is involved along the money trail, and they will investigate anyone said to have been approached by the businessman in relation to the contracts,” the source said.

Meanwhile, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki urged all parties to refrain from speculating on the case and give the agency time to complete its probe.

Besides the businessman, MACC also detained two of Sivakumar’s senior officers. The trio were released from remand on Monday.

Sivakumar has suspended the duo and another official from the ministry.