National Human Rights Society (Hakam) chief Ambiga Sreenevasan and Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel have demanded for heads to roll over the alleged embezzlement of RM100 million in the Youth and Sports Ministry.

Cynthia said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar and the director-general of the department involved should be held accountable.

“ To be blunt, it should be the minister and the director-general of the ministry who is directly responsible for the public sector personnel in that department,” she said, when asked who should be held accountable for the case.

Echoing Cynthia's call, Ambiga said the case shows a clear lack of oversight in the ministry.

In addition to the minister and director-general, she said the suspect's immediate supervisors should also be hauled up.

“ It is shocking that kind of pilfering can go on for five years without anyone knowing.

“ The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has completed its investigations. Someone has to be held accountable, not just the person who did it, but someone above him should take responsibility,” she told reporters in Petaling Jaya today.

Call for an ombudsman

The MACC had previously revealed that it has arrested nine persons on March 17, who are believed to be part of a syndicate involved in misappropriating RM100 million in state funds.

Among them was a suspect described as a 56-year old division secretary, who is said to have masterminded the scheme and pocketed RM20 million in kickbacks.

The group is said to have been active since 2010.

“ Someone has to take responsibility and resign… this is so huge that it cannot go without any accountability,” Ambiga added.

Meanwhile, Cynthia reiterated C4's call for an ombudsman tasked with monitoring and tackling corruption.

Often when an auditor comes along, the deed is already done and public money is lost.

“ Now we need a pthe anel or independent mechanism to ensure that these public funds are being tracked and financial misappropriations minimised.

“ So punishment must come with wrongdoing. As long as that doesn't happen and the staff of public sector never get fired or never get punished, then we know this is going to continue,” she said.