Penjana funds misappropriation, 47 company directors arrested

PUTRAJAYA - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested a total of 47 company directors through Op Hire 2.0.

A total of 33 men and 14 women aged between 30 and 70 were detained since Monday.

All the individuals were suspected of submitting a claim that was supposedly for a hiring and training programme to the Social Security Organisation (Socso), but the programme was not even implemented.

Op Hire 2.0 is an operation to curb embezzlement and leakage of government funds as a result of false claims made by company directors through the Hiring Incentive and Training Programme (Penjana).

According to a source, the total claims involved were between RM450,000 and RM2 million.

Op Hire 2.0 is a continuation of Op Hire 1.0 implemented last year.

All 47 individuals will be hauled to the magistrate's court around the country on Tuesday for the remand application under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests and said the case was being investigated under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009 and Section 471 of the Penal Code.

"MACC's takes serious action to curb embezzlement and leakage of government funds which were serious issues.

"MACC has identified hundreds of other companies that made false claims and will continue operations to arrest those involved," he said when contacted.

He urged companies involved to come forward voluntarily and submit all the claims made to avoid from being charged in court.

"We have identified the names and list of company owners involved for the purpose of recovering all false claims involved, I am warning everyone to come forward immediately, those who are stubborn will be subjected to strict action," he said.

In Op Hire 1.0, a total of 74 individuals from 60 companies were arrested over involvement in submissions of false claims totalling RM88 million and 52 individuals have been charged in court.