KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) did not serve an asset declaration notice on former human resources minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan’s 12-year-old son, its chief commissioner said today, after the politician complained that the child had been drawn into the asset declaration process.

Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman said the commission exercised its discretion in deciding not to issue the notice to the boy, Utusan Malaysia reported.

“Under the law, there is no specific age category stated, whether a person is an adult or a child. What is stated is in relation to relatives or associates.

“So, in the case of the 12-year-old child, we exercised our discretion and judgment based on what was reasonable,” he told reporters after MACC’s 59th anniversary celebration in Putrajaya.

Abd Halim said MACC had previously issued notices to Saravanan, his wife and his children, although some of the former minister’s children were unable to attend because they were studying overseas.

“So, for those who were available, we proceeded to serve the notices first. But as for his 12-year-old child, we did not serve him with a notice,” he said.

He also clarified that the boy’s presence at MACC headquarters did not mean he had been summoned there to receive a notice.

“The child’s presence did not mean he had physically come to receive a notice. He was there more as a companion to his parents.

“In other words, perhaps there was no one at home to look after the children, so they came along as usual,” he said.

Abd Halim said the asset declaration notices were issued under Section 36(2) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLA), rather than under the MACC Act.

He said recipients were given one month from the date they received the notice to submit their asset declarations.

“However, if that period is insufficient for any reason, we can extend it for a reasonable period of time,” he said.

Saravanan, who is MIC deputy president, had on September 28 criticised the handling of the matter after arriving at MACC headquarters with his wife and two children.

He said at the time that his 12-year-old son had been affected by publicity surrounding the asset declaration exercise and claimed the boy had become reluctant to attend school.

Saravanan also said he was willing to cooperate with MACC and provide information on assets held by him and his family, but questioned why his young son had been brought into the process.