He was responding to questions by opposition MPs – notably M Kula Segaran (PH-Ipoh Barat) and RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) – on the alleged involvement of MIC members in the scandal, following the arrest of dozens of individuals by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recently.
The DAP MPs have been quizzing the minister, who is also the MIC deputy president, on the alleged involvement of MIC members since the latter tabled the bill to amend the Employment Insurance System (EIS) Act 2017 last week.
In his explanation, Saravanan said it was the Social Security Organisation (Socso) that filed a complaint with the MACC on the alleged involvement of 66 companies in the misappropriation scandal.
“We did a detailed search (on the guilty companies) until we were able to identify them, and then decided to file a complaint with the MACC without looking into any political links,” said Saravanan in his winding-up speech.
“If we wanted to sweep everything under the carpet, maybe I would have ordered Socso not to report this to the MACC.
“(But) we were the ones that reported it. Therefore, there is no need to confuse the Dewan.”
Saravanan’s response prompted Kula to interject and ask: “So, MIC members were involved (in this misappropriation scandal)?
Saravanan then replied: “MIC members might have (been involved), but we have no information about it yet. But Bagan (Lim Guan Eng) was charged in court (for corruption cases related to) two plots of land (in Penang). The whole world knows about it.”
Rayer then interjected the minister and told him: “Don’t raise the matter that is currently under court trial. This (case) has nothing to do (with the PejanaKerjaya issue).”
A brief argument then took place between the three of them until it was cut short by deputy speaker Rashid Hasnon.
To date, MACC has arrested 45 individuals under an operation known as Ops Hire to facilitate investigations into false claims and the misappropriation of funds from PenjanaKerjaya involving a total of RM100 million.
On July 17, Saravanan was reported as saying that he did not deny the involvement of MIC members in the misappropriation scandal.
However, the next day, he was reported as saying that he did not have any information about the involvement of MIC members.
He then told the Dewan Rakyat that he was misquoted by the press over the earlier comment.