'MACC's KPI for the week': Saravanan pans asset declaration notices after court charge

Former human resources minister M Saravanan has questioned MACC’s decision to publicly announce that it would issue asset declaration notices to him and his family, sarcastically suggesting it was the commission’s key performance indicator (KPI) for the week.

“There are more important matters the public is waiting for MACC to announce.

“I believe this is MACC’s KPI for this week,” he told Malaysiakini.

The announcement comes nearly a month after Saravanan (above) pleaded not guilty to three bribery charges totalling RM1.097 million over the approval of 1,000 migrant worker quotas for a company in 2022.

MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman (below) said notices under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009 would be served on Monday (Sept 28) to Saravanan, his wife and two of their children.

Their third child, who is overseas, is scheduled to receive the notice in November.

“They have been informed and will come to MACC headquarters to receive the notices.

“They will be given 30 days to declare their assets. If that is insufficient, an extension will be granted if they apply for one,” Halim said at a press conference yesterday after the fifth National Research Conference on Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption 2026.

‘Not surprised’

Saravanan said he was not surprised by the request itself, but questioned why it came after he had been charged.

“Generally, MACC requests asset declarations to check whether there is any unexplained wealth. This is standard procedure, and I am not surprised by the request itself.

“What surprises me is why MACC is asking me to declare my assets after I was charged, rather than before.

“If the request had been made before the charges, it could have been considered part of the investigation. But asking for it now is somewhat surprising,” the Tapah MP said.

He also questioned why the notice warranted a public announcement.

“Is serving me an asset declaration notice something that needs to be announced in this way, to the point that the commission chief himself has to speak about it?

“In any case, I have nothing to hide. I will fully comply and declare all my assets as requested by MACC,” the MIC deputy president added.

SNAPSHOT | MACC to serve asset declaration notices on Saravanan, family; DAP Youth to join 'corporate mafia' RCI protest

SNAPSHOT | MACC probing Felda, subsidiary; graftbuster chief says no letter yet from Saravanan

SNAPSHOT | Saravanan surprised PM didn't get his letter; air quality in several areas worsens due to haze