Kuala Lumpur, 11 April 2025 —
Ottrangknews Editor-in-Chief and social activist, Dato’ G. Kumaar Aamaan, today called on the Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim Chee Keong, and the government to urgently expedite the processing of Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) benefit claims, which are currently reported to be experiencing significant delays, burdening contributors who are in dire need of assistance.
According to Dato’ G. Kumaar, the prolonged delays have worsened the plight of contributors, particularly those suffering from disabilities caused by accidents or work-related illnesses. This situation has become even more pressing following the exposure of fraudulent claims, which have disrupted the smooth operation of the application process.
> “Many contributors who are genuinely eligible are still waiting with hope, yet they continue to endure financial strain because of the slow process. The government must treat this matter seriously, as the affected rakyat (people) cannot afford to wait any longer,” he emphasised in a press statement today.
For the record, on 4 September 2024, the Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim Chee Keong, instructed SOCSO to reorganise its standard operating procedures (SOP) to accelerate the benefit claims process. This directive came in the wake of revelations regarding a fraudulent claims cartel involving three medical officers at hospitals in Penang. The operation, known as “Ops Tunjang”, identified 32 individuals suspected of involvement, with estimated losses exceeding RM2 million. Consequently, all claims associated with those hospitals were temporarily suspended for investigation.
Prior to this, on 25 February 2023, then Minister of Human Resources, V. Sivakumar, also mentioned that his ministry was exploring alternative methods to speed up compensation payments for contributors whose claims were rejected by the medical board. He explained that SOCSO is bound by existing laws, which require medical expert advice and the decision of the appeals board before payments can be processed.
Further commenting, Dato’ G. Kumaar acknowledged the challenges faced by the government in combating fraud and complying with legal procedures but stressed that immediate solutions must be pursued in the interest of the people.
> “I propose the establishment of a special task force to process the backlog of cases, including those pending due to internal investigations. Priority should be given to critical cases so that affected contributors receive their rightful benefits without undue delay,” he added.
Dato’ G. Kumaar also informed that he plans to hold an official meeting with the Ministry of Human Resources in the near future to convey the concerns of contributors and to offer his cooperation in seeking the best possible solutions.
His call reflects the anxiety of thousands of SOCSO contributors nationwide, who hope for a fair and efficient resolution to their claims.