KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 27): Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran asserted that there is a need for the government to streamline the management of foreign workers by allowing the Ministry of Human Resources to take the lead, instead of having two ministries to handle similar functions as it would lead to overlapping functions and corruption.
Under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration, recruitment and management of foreign workers are handled by both the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Human Resources.
“It is essential to note that a comprehensive study on the management of foreign workers has already been conducted during my tenure as the human resources minister,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 27).
“The independent committee on foreign workers, produced a report explicitly stating that the Human Resources Ministry should be the sole authority responsible for handling foreign workers.
“The findings of this thorough investigation are crystal clear: out of 64-odd countries managing foreign workers, Malaysia stands alone in having two ministries involved in this crucial task,” he said.
Kulasegaran, who held the human resources minister post during the Mahathir Administration in 2018-2020, said the current situation with dual responsibility in handling foreign worker matters is not only inefficient but also counterproductive.
“The report emphasises the need for a streamlined approach, with the Human Resources Ministry taking the lead in managing foreign worker recruitment. It is evident that the wheel does not need to be reinvented; we have a well-documented solution at our disposal,” he said.
“The current situation, where two ministries share responsibility for managing foreign workers, is not in the best interest of our nation. Functions are overlapping and thus corruption seeps in!
“The singular authority of the Human Resources Ministry in this matter aligns with international best practices and will undoubtedly result in a more efficient, transparent, and cohesive system,” he added.
Kulasegaran’s statement came after recent media reports that the police arrested a group of 171 Bangladeshi men who were walking in a large group in Pengerang, Johor, as captured in a video that went viral.
The incident ignited renewed attention on foreign worker matters again, with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said calling for an immediate investigation into the recruitment agents responsible for duping migrant workers to secure jobs that were not available.
In the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Anwar replaced former human resources minister V Sivakumar with Steven Sim Chee Keong.
The independent committee on foreign workers, headed by former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Seri Hishamudin Yunus, was set up by the Pakatan Harapan government in August 2018, and its report was declassified and released in October this year.
Kulasegaran on Wednesday also called for the immediate establishment of a task force dedicated to implementing the recommendations outlined in the report.
“This task force should comprise experts, stakeholders, and representatives from relevant sectors to ensure a swift and effective execution of the proposed measures,” he said.
“I urge the relevant authorities to take prompt action and prioritise the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the report. The establishment of a task force is crucial to ensuring that we align with global standards in managing foreign workers and, more importantly, to address the pressing needs of our nation,” he added.
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