GEORGE TOWN: Three senior doctors in the state were among 32 people arrested in a major swoop by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over their alleged links to a cartel said to have been falsifying Social Security Organisation (Socso) disability claims.
Confirming the arrests, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said two doctors were picked up from the government hospitals while another a private hospital.
Azam said others detained included 19 Socso contributors, eight agents and two runners.
The contributors included those working in numerous factories and with a port.
"Some of them, including the doctors, will be remanded tomorrow while the others have been released after having their statements recorded."We expect to make more arrests as investigations into the case progresses," he told the New Straits Times when contacted.
When asked about the possibility of the doctors being remanded, he said he would leave it to his investigation officers and it would depend on the findings of the investigation.
"It depends on their findings," he said when contacted on Tuesday.
In July, Senator Dr. Lingeshwaran R. Arunasalam had urged the Human Resources Ministry to address claims that doctors involved in Socso disability claims were linked to a cartel engaged in falsifying these claims.
A news portal reported that Lingeshwaran told the Dewan Negara that the panel was suspended until further notice after Socso discovered the syndicate at a hospital in Penang.
The senator was also reported saying that he was informed that the cartel was lobbying for the suspended panel to be brought back to the same hospital.
He also told the Dewan Negara that between 2018 and 2022, there were 683 fraudulent withdrawals involving some RM43 million.
He added that 16 of those cases involved one particular doctor whose services were terminated after the discovery.