1,638 firms linked to RM45mil false claims under Daya Kerjaya 2.0, says MACC

PETALING JAYA: A total of 1,638 companies are suspected of abusing the government’s Daya Kerja 2.0 hiring initiative scheme and submitting fraudulent claims worth an estimated RM45 million, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman said that 63 investigation papers had been opened, with 97 individuals arrested, comprising 11 agents and 86 company owners, Sinar Harian reported.

A total of 577 witness statements were also recorded, he added.

“Of those arrested, 77 were remanded. Seizures involved movable assets worth RM74,198, including gold, cash, and other items, while 36 company accounts containing RM463,076.92 have been frozen,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya today.

The Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme provides employers with hiring incentives of RM1,500 a month for up to six months for each eligible worker employed, including persons with disabilities, parolees, and senior citizens aged above 60.

Halim said the syndicate’s modus operandi involved using individuals’ personal details without their knowledge to submit claims under the Daya Kerjaya 2.0 programme, with some workers paid one-off sums ranging from RM50 to RM2,400 while claiming the full incentive amount.

He said information belonging to persons with disabilities was also misused to facilitate payments to third parties.

“MACC also found that accountants from business firms submitted applications with the approval of company owners, who merely received commissions without knowing the workers being registered,” he said.

Halim said Op Daya would continue until investigations are complete.

“MACC has received good cooperation from Perkeso, and once investigations are complete, we will begin prosecution proceedings in court,” he said.