Digging deep: MACC officers visiting the Human Resources Ministry to obtain follow-up documents on issues involving HRD Corp. — Photo courtesy of Utusan Malaysia
PUTRAJAYA: After securing documents in relation to the investigation into the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) audit report, graft investigators are planning to call up several individuals for questioning, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Its senior director of investigations Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hashim, who confirmed that investigators had gone to the Human Resources Ministry and the HRD Corp office yesterday to obtain files and documents, said the focus of investigation into the audit report would be on allegations of corruption, power abuse and misappropriation.
“The MACC was present at the Human Resources Ministry and HRD Corp to obtain documents for our investigation.
“While we have yet to record any statement, the MACC is not ruling out the possibility of calling up witnesses once the documents have been reviewed,” he said.
Investigators were reported to have gone to the HRD Corp office in Bukit Damansara yesterday morning. They were also at the Human Resources Ministry.
The MACC said on Saturday that they will be obtaining documents from the two bodies as part of the investigation into the HRD Corp audit report.
The agency had opened several probe papers and set up a task force to look into the audit report.
On Friday, Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud submitted the audit report to the MACC following the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee’s reports, which were tabled in Parliament.
Minister Steven Sim had instructed for the report to be made, in line with the recommendations of the Auditor-General.
Suspicious real estate deals and high-risk investments were some of the issues identified by the PAC in its report on HRD Corp.
One such deal was the purchase of Menara Ikhlas for RM202.5mil in February 2021 when a deposit of RM120mil was paid upfront to a company called Crystal Clear Technology.HRD Corp chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid had acknowledged the shortcomings found in the audit reports, adding that the training fund had implemented several improvements, which helped increase levy collection over the years.
At the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, several MPs called for HRD Corp chief executive Datuk Shahul Hameed Dawood to step down.
He should go on garden leave until the investigations had concluded, said Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin.
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim suggested a suspension or termination of services.
