MACC Did Not Serve Asset Declaration Notice on Saravanan’s 12-Year-Old Child
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has stressed that it never served an asset declaration notice on the 12-year-old youngest child of former Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said earlier media reports alleging that the agency had done so and required the child to appear in person were inaccurate.
He explained that the MACC exercised reasonable discretion in exempting the child from being served with the notice.
“I would like to clarify the issue concerning the alleged service of a notice on his 12-year-old child. In fact, we did not serve any notice on the child.
“Although the law does not specifically stipulate an age category — whether adult or child — in relation to the definition of a relative or associate, we exercised our discretion and applied the principle of reasonableness. We therefore decided not to serve the notice on his 12-year-old child,” he told a press conference held in conjunction with the MACC’s 59th anniversary celebration at its headquarters here today.
Commenting further on the child’s presence at the agency’s headquarters on Monday, Abd Halim clarified that the authorities had never instructed the child to appear in person.
“No, there was no instruction for the child to come in person… it was more a case of the parents bringing their children along.
“Perhaps there was no one at home to look after the child or for some other reason, so bringing the child along was quite normal,” he said, responding to claims that the MACC had compelled the child to attend.
On Monday, Saravanan, his wife and two of their children were reported to have gone to the MACC headquarters to receive the notices.
The child’s presence, however, sparked controversy and criticism from lawyers following an initial perception that the MACC had disregarded the child’s legal capacity by requiring the child to appear in person.
Meanwhile, Abd Halim said the asset declaration notices were issued under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009.
On the deadline for the declarations, he said the Act provides a period of 30 days, although an extension may be granted on reasonable grounds.
The MACC issued the notices as part of its ongoing investigation involving Saravanan in connection with corruption charges previously brought against him.
The Tapah MP faces three charges of receiving nearly RM1.09 million in bribes in connection with the approval of a quota for 1,000 foreign workers for a company at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
BERNAMA