KUALA TERENGGANU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has detected irregularities involving the government initiative, the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme, which was implemented previously, with a value of false claims totalling RM9.01 million.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said that through investigations, his office identified 143 companies involving 320 employees nationwide involved in the embezzlement of government funds handled by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) starting in 2024.
“Through the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 program, the government provides incentives to employers in the form of salary payments of RM1,500 per month to employees (groups such as the disabled, ex-convicts and senior citizens) who are appointed, for six months.
“However, based on the initial intelligence conducted by our party, it was found that several issues had been detected in terms of implementation and so on. Among them, we found that there was an individual who was declared as an employee but in fact he did not exist,” he told Bernama in conjunction with his visit to the Terengganu MACC Office, here, today.
Abd Halim said his department also detected that there were workers who did not meet the minimum six-month employment requirement but received full payment and that there was activity of using false documents to obtain the incentive payment.
Apart from that, he said, his party has also detected 1,638 other companies that carried out similar activities involving a value of approximately RM45 million, but it is still in the early stages of investigation.
He said that MACC had received good cooperation from Socso headquarters throughout the investigation and would continue to seek assistance from the agency at the state level to further streamline operations, including the process of collecting information and evidence.
Abd Halim said his party views seriously any elements of corruption or weaknesses in the management of government funds initiated to help the people.
In this regard, he said, MACC, through the Governance Investigation Division, will intensify efforts to assist government departments or agencies as well as companies to improve governance or tighten procedures to prevent leakage or misappropriation of government funds.
“If there are weaknesses in the system or procedure, we will help identify and suggest improvements to ensure that the implementation of an initiative can be delivered to the people more effectively and accurately.
“The case related to Daya Kerjaya 2.0 is among the examples of irregularities detected involving government incentives that were created with good intentions to help the people and stimulate job opportunities, but were misused by a few irresponsible parties,” he said.
In another development, Abd Halim said MACC intends to establish Anti-Corruption Cadets at the secondary school level to foster awareness and instill a culture of integrity and hatred of corruption among the younger generation.
To begin with, he said, his party plans to start the project in one or two schools around Putrajaya or Kuala Lumpur with the involvement of between 30 and 40 students.
“We will of course discuss our wishes with the Malaysian Ministry of Education first.
“Then we will see whether the ministry agrees or not, in addition to examining the constraints that exist and the expenses that need to be incurred such as buying uniforms and so on,” he said.
— BERNAMA
