MACC PROBES PERAK AGENCY
Centre probed over false claims by consultant
THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissioner (MACC) has been urged to investigate stateowned agency Pusat Kerjaya Amanjaya (Peka) over false claims submitted by a consultant employed by the agency.
This was after Peka board of director member Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin lodged a report with the commission yesterday.
State Youth Development and Sports Committee chairman Howard Lee Chuan How said the false claims came to light after the court sent an Employees Provident Fund notice on nonremittance of contributions for eight months to Zainol.
An internal investigation was ordered to investigate the possible misappropriation.
“Initial investigation revealed that Telekom Malaysia bills totaling RM30,000 and office rental at Terminal Amanjaya totaling RM80,000 were not settled,” Lee said.
“Among the false reports tabled by the company was that 6,000 people secured a job for a year in the state, but the probe revealed that only 100 individuals found employment,” he said at a press conference at the Perak Darul Ridzuan building here yesterday.
The previous state government launched Peka, the first state-run, onestop recruitment and entrepreneurship centre, on March 21, 2011.
To reduce unemployment, Peka acts as a link between the community and industry to facilitate employment searches and create jobs.
Lee said after a four-week audit, there were many suspicious transactions, with the possibility that the consultant was raking in money for personal gain.
“There was a lack of checks and balances by the board of directors, resulting in the consultant allegedly deceiving the board, Peka management and the people of Perak.
“Let the MACC investigate whether there was any misappropriation.
“The state government has terminated the contract with the consultant with immediate effect.”
He said the agency would be restructured and re-branded with a new name, Perbadanan Aspirasi Anak Perak (Pasak).
“The re-branding will provide a new dimension for youth in the state for development of programmes, education, skills and career.”