{
  "id": 11431679,
  "title": "MACC statement implied 12-year-old son had to show up, says Saravanan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/macc-statement-implied-12-year-old-son-had-to-show-up-says-saravanan-11431679",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T11:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/02/macc-statement-implied-12-year-old-son-had-to-show-up-says-saravanan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Malaysian human resources minister M Saravanan has vehemently criticized the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the summoning of his 12-year-old son to its headquarters. Saravanan, who served as the former HR minister, stated that his son was brought to the MACC headquarters on the basis that he was required to present himself to receive an asset declaration notice. This came after MACC chief commissioner Abd Halim Aman mentioned this in a statement dated September 25.\n\nSaravanan's son had accompanied him to the MACC headquarters, as he was made aware of the requirement via Halim's remarks. Saravanan's son, however, is not the only child involved in this matter; his wife and two of their children were also summoned to declare their assets.\n\nIn response to MACC's actions, Saravanan took to Facebook to clarify that one of his children was abroad at the time of the summons. However, Halim's subsequent comments suggested that MACC had exercised its discretion in deciding not to serve a notice on Saravanan's 12-year-old son. The 12-year-old's presence at the MACC headquarters did not imply he was there to receive a notice related to the investigation, according to Halim.\n\nSaravanan claimed that he was informed that his 12-year-old son did not need to sign anything and could return home after entering the MACC headquarters. He had previously informed MACC officers that his son was a minor with no property in his name. Saravanan accused MACC of failing to exercise basic discretion and common sense, calling the whole episode absurd.\n\nSaravanan criticized MACC's justification for involving his 12-year-old son at the agency's headquarters, calling it \"entirely illogical\" and demanding clarification on why a minor should be involved in such matters. He accused MACC of failing to show basic discretion and common sense when dealing with a 12-year-old child.",
  "summary": "The MIC deputy president says he was only told the boy could go home after they arrived at the commission's headquarters.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "MACC statement implied 12-year-old son had to show up, says Saravanan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/macc-statement-implied-12-year-old-son-had-to-show-up-says-saravanan",
        "published": "2026-10-02T11:15:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}