KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has suspended RM423 million in payments for the Employment Recruitment Incentives Programme (PenjanaKerjaya) due to false claims by employers and training providers nationwide under Op Hire.
Launched last Wednesday after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Socso reviewed gathered information on PenjanaKerjaya money beneficiaries since May and found that certain employers had made false claims and misappropriated these funds.
Socso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said Perkeso frowned upon the malpractice issue because the said financial assistance was to help those who qualified needed, according to the set requirements and procedures.
"The action to suspend the payment was made based on data analysis and continuous monitoring by Socso's Anti-Fraud, Ethics and Integrity Division (AFEI)."
"AFEI also works closely with the Finance Division and Socso's Employment Insurance System Office to ensure that each application is properly assessed before payment is made to those qualified for it," he said.
Azman said as of today, Socso had provided RM1.72 billion to employers and employees under the PenjanaKerjaya Programme, involving 45,379 employers to place 327,789 jobseekers.
On this note, Socso stresses on the need for employers to be honest and have integrity when submitting applications for any government assistance programmes, including the PenjanaKerjaya Programme implemented by the agency.
"Any employer who has misused the PenjanaKerjaya funds or who has submitted an application without following the rules must come forward and make a voluntary repayment or to contact Socso to solve this problem before any action is taken," he said.
