KUALA LUMPUR: There is no need for Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar to resign after graft-busters arrested his senior officer over allegations of corruption.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this was because Sivakumar was still being investigated, and not yet charged.
"(For example) if as the prime minister I am being asked to explain (to authorities), I cannot be immediately stepping down.
"We have to differentiate between investigating (and being charged). The investigations are ongoing and I leave it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) (to do the probe)."
He said this after launching the Sayr Al-Salikin and Hikayat Iskandar Zulkarnain books at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka here today.
MACC yesterday summoned Sivakumar to aid in its investigations into alleged corruption relating to the recruitment of migrant workers.
An MACC source had said the Batu Gajah member of parliament had his statement recorded at 10am but did not disclose the location where the minister's it was taken.
Anwar said the public should not make any assumption on the matter, and he reiterated his stand against corruption.
"On the issue of governance and fighting corruption, we are firm. We do not care who we offend, who the person is or which party they belong to.
"That is our stand," he said.