SPRM tak serah notis isytihar harta kepada anak Saravanan berusia 12 tahun

Former human resources minister Saravanan criticized the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) explanation for the presence of his 12-year-old son at the MACC office on Monday as completely illogical. He emphasized that there was no need to involve children under the age of 12 in such matters. The former minister argued that for an agency with broad investigative powers, failing to exhibit basic courtesy and reasonable judgment towards a 12-year-old child is highly discreditable.

"The chief anti-corruption officer's claim that 'no one else is at home' to (look after) my children, and (that I) am handling things like usual, not only lacks relevance but also detracts from the core issue. It shifts attention away from the poor management that demands a minor's presence at the MACC office for formal investigation procedures," Saravanan stated.

Earlier, MACC Chief Anti-Corruption Officer Abd Halim Aman said the agency had exercised its discretion and considered what was reasonable when deciding not to deliver a property declaration notice to Saravanan's son. Halim added that the 12-year-old's presence at the MACC office does not mean he is there to receive a notice related to the investigation.

Malaysian media also reported Halim saying Saravanan's children may have come because no one was available to look after them at home. However, Saravanan questioned why the MACC did not show more discretion earlier, suggesting that physically requiring a minor's presence in court breaches reasonable authority and reflects the use of overly expansive statutory powers.

Saravanan had previously criticized the MACC for attending the office with his family on Monday, emphasizing that the property declaration notice intended to be delivered to his son could be communicated through him as a father.