PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has confirmed that he is the former minister who will be charged with corruption tomorrow.
The former human resources minister claimed that he would face charges linked to foreign workers’ issues during the pandemic in 2022.
Saravanan, who is also MIC deputy president, claimed he was being charged after a statement was made by an individual linking him to the issue. The person who gave the statement died two months ago.
“Before he died, the person made a statutory declaration (SD) withdrawing the allegations because he felt that he had wrongly named me,” Saravanan claimed.
He also claimed that the person and his family had been threatened and coerced into making the statement.
Saravanan also noted that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had closed the case as “No Further Action” (NFA) in 2023, without even calling him up.
“I had resolved this (workers’) issue honestly and efficiently, by setting up an online portal where companies could obtain workers directly through the internet without needing to pay bribes,” he said in a video message.
“If I had done something wrong, MACC could have conducted an investigation or taken my statement. They did nothing, and in 2023, I wasn’t even a minister anymore.
“The case was dismissed in 2023.
“Now, they are bringing this case to court again,” he said, adding that he had never met the person who made the SD.
“However, I have faith in the legal system of this country. I am prepared to face this charge,” Saravanan added.
Today, the MACC issued a media invitation saying a former minister would be charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Friday (Aug 28).
The minister is expected to face charges under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009 relating to the act of soliciting, receiving, giving, promising or offering a bribe.
