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KUALA LUMPUR - Former human resources minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan wants his case to be expedited so he can clear his name over graft allegations tied to foreign worker approvals.
"Don't use delay tactics to tarnish my name. I am ready to face the court, to cooperate, just expedite this case," he told reporters at the Courts Complex, here, today.
Earlier, the MIC deputy president was charged at the Sessions Court, here, with three counts of corruption involving RM1.097 million in connection with the approval of foreign worker quotas.
He described the allegation against him as a wild accusation.
"I am shocked. I consider this a wild allegation against me. I do not want to touch on the facts because we will discuss them in court," the Tapah MP said after the proceedings.
He also cautioned his political rivals that the charge was 'not the way to bring him down' and challenged them to field their best candidate against him in Tapah.
"If this is how you want to bring me down, send your best candidate to contest Tapah. Don't use this kind of tactic to bring down a politician.
"I am not ashamed of the charges brought against me because when the facts are out, you are the ones who would ashamed. The people will know how you falsely accused me.
"The facts will come out and the people will laugh at you... When the time comes, you will know. And today, the whole of Malaysia knows what kind of accusation this is," he said.
Saravanan also confirmed that he had raised the matter with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the past six months, not to seek protection, but simply to discuss it, while maintaining that he wanted the investigation to continue.
He said the matter was particularly important to him as an elected representative and MIC deputy president, adding that he wanted the legal process to proceed quickly rather than allowing prolonged proceedings to affect his reputation.
Saravanan pleaded not guilty to all three charges after they were read out separately before Judge Azura Alwi.
For the first and second charges, Saravanan was alleged to have corruptly received RM150,000 and RM350,000 in cash respectively from Vectica Resources Sdn Bhd director Tan Teck Lim, 65, through Syed Amirul Syed Ahmad, 38, at Bukit Jalil Golf & Country Resorts and Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar, on June 16 and July 7, 2022.
The payments were allegedly received as an inducement and reward for Saravanan, in his capacity as Human Resources Minister, to approve an application by TYKB Engineering Sdn Bhd for 1,000 foreign worker quotas.
through a bank cheque deposited into the account of Big Seven Ventures Sdn Bhd for the same purpose at Maybank Islamic Berhad, Old Klang Road branch in Taman Desa here on July 7, 2022.
All three charges were framed under Section 16(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 [Act 694], punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act, which provides for a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the value of the gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Judge Azura allowed Saravanan bail of RM450,000 with one surety for all three charges.
His case will be up for mention on Sept 29.
