Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem spent about 10 hours at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to assist investigations regarding allegations that RM40 million was misappropriated from Skills Development Fund Corp (PTPK) funds.

Riot was seen entering the building at 10am today and came out about 8pm. 

Yesterday, the minister's 61-year-old political secretary was remanded for six days to assist in the investigations into the case, which has also seen four other arrests.

The other suspects are PTPK's chief executive, secretary, assistant financial officer and a director – all of whom allegedly collaborated with the latter to siphon off the allocations over the last two years.

Riot had pledged that his ministry will fully cooperate with MACC on the matter, and added that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

Quizzed by reporters, Riot did not have much to say about his experience. 

"I came to help their investigations," he said.

Reporter: Did you hand any documents to them?

Riot: No. I came empty-handed.

Reporter: Why did it take so long?

Riot: Biasalah (That's nothing unsual).

In Ipoh today, MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad statements were taken from Riot to facilitate investigation into the misappropriation of the RM40 million fund.

He was reported by Bernama as saying MACC would study the statements taken from the minister and his political secretary to assist in its investigation.

“As of today, we only took statements from the minister concerned and he is not being detained. If needed, we will call him back to facilitate investigations,” Dzulkifli (photo) told reporters after attending the opening ceremony of the anti-corruption mural in conjunction with the MACC Anti-Corruption Roadshow 2017.

The event was officiated by Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abd Kadir at the Perak MACC office.

Dzulkifli did not rule out the possibility MACC would take statements from other individuals, including officials from the Human Resources Ministry, to assist in the investigation of the case.

He said the investigation papers would be opened after a study is made based on the information received from the public and MACC intelligence.

“We will ensure information received has a basis before opening the investigation papers and making any arrests,” he said.