MACC arrests four Skills Development Fund Corporation big shots

KUALA LUMPUR: Four high-ranking officials including one who is a Datuk in the Skills Development Fund Corporation (SDFC) were arrested yesterday in an operation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the alleged siphoning of RM40 million.
The missing funds was over 53% of the RM75 million allocated the for 2016 and this year by the government to provide financial assistance to school leavers, the unskilled and the unemployed for skills training.
Sources said the corporations chief executive officer aged 58, secretary, 34, assistant finance officer, 32 and a 38-year-old private company director with a doctorate were arrested by the federal MACC at several locations here between 4.30pm and 6pm yesterday.
It is believed that the CEO had roped in the three other SDFC personnel who were held to swindle the RM40 million since last year.
They allegedly abused their powers by approving training programmes run by 15 companies owned by the private company director who was arrested by the commission.
The government had disbursed RM35 million last year and RM40 million this year to the SDFC for training programmes to upgrade the skills of the jobless.
Federal MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki when contacted by theSun confirmed the arrests.
He said the commission is in the midst of acquiring documents linked to the alleged swindle and will soon summon witnesses to assist in the probe.
"We need to carry out a thorough investigation and do not discount the possibilities of arresting more people," he said.