KUCHING: Six individuals, aged between 31 and 42, have been remanded from Wednesday to assist in investigations into alleged false claims involving the Daya Kerjaya incentive programme administered by the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).
The remand order was issued by Magistrate Nursyaheeqa Nazwa Radzali to facilitate investigations under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which criminalises the submission of false, inaccurate or misleading claims, receipts or invoices with the intent to deceive a principal.
Three of the suspects, represented by counsel Ralph Lee, Benedict Bryan Khu, Jong Yee Ling, Patrick Voon, Alex Kong, Tiong Ing Neng and Yong Suk Hui, were remanded for two days. The remaining three suspects, who were unrepresented, were remanded for four days.
The remand application was made by MACC investigating officer Mohd Faiz Roseli.
Earlier, the media reported that the MACC had uncovered irregularities involving the government’s Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme, with fraudulent claims amounting to RM9.01 million.
MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said investigations identified 143 companies and 320 employees nationwide allegedly involved in the misappropriation of government funds managed by PERKESO since 2024.
“Under the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme, the government provides employers with wage incentives of RM1,500 per month for up to six months for each eligible employee hired, including persons with disabilities, former prisoners and senior citizens.
“However, preliminary intelligence gathered by the MACC revealed several issues in the programme’s implementation.
“Among the irregularities detected were individuals declared as employees who did not actually exist, employees who did not meet the minimum six-month employment requirement but nevertheless received full incentive payments, and the use of forged documents to obtain the incentives,” he said.
Abd Halim said the commission had also identified a further 1,638 companies suspected of engaging in similar activities involving approximately RM45 million in claims, although investigations remain at an early stage.
