There have been at least four attempts to transfer out Otman Arsahd, a former Youth and Sports Ministry officer who was charged last week with siphoning up to RM38.5 million in public funds, according to chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa.

Otman, 57, who served as senior finance division secretary at the ministry, claimed trial to 32 counts of misappropriating public funds and forgery at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court last Thursday.

"In fact, this officer in the (Youth and Sports) Ministry was asked to be moved four times by JPA (Public Service Department), but it was stopped by the ministry, telling (us) that he is a key player, a very important officer so we cannot move him. So that was the thing. So this person became very powerful," Ali told reporters in Kuching today.

Otman is one of nine people detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in March to assist investigations into a RM107 million syndicate-wide embezzlement case that may have begun operating in 2010.

MACC said it has frozen 69 of Otman's accounts, amounting to RM8.33 million. The commission said it has also seized several houses, a dozen cars, as well as jewellery and accessories worth RM1.3 million.

The revelation had sparked calls by opposition lawmakers for minister Khairy Jamaluddin to resign. Khairy was appointed to head the ministry in 2013, taking over from Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who began his term in 2009.

"The Youth and Sports Ministry case is now under investigation by the MACC, so we leave it there. By end of this month, we should be getting a report from (auditor-general) Ambrin Buang, to look at the processes, how did all this happen, where are the weaknesses, and all that," Ali said.

Ali also said the government has begun setting term limits for officers with posts in finance, procurement, and contracts and development divisions of between three and five years before being transferred to different ministries.

"We don't want too much familiarity with outsiders... businessmen and others. But at the same time, this is good for the officers too as these are common-user officers. They should be exposed to many other ministries," Ali said, adding that 50 officers are to be transferred by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, Ali confirmed that 1.61 million civil servants, including teachers and armed forces personnel, will receive salary increments effective July 1.

The pay package, which introduces a minimum wage of RM1,200, will cost RM1.1 billion in total, according to the Budget 2016 tabled last October.