KUALA LUMPUR (April 20): A group of PKR backbenchers have raised concerns over a proposed new system for foreign worker recruitment, said to be developed by Bestinet Sdn Bhd, warning it could worsen governance issues and prolong reliance on private-sector control.
Bestinet, founded by controversial tycoon Datuk Seri Aminul Islam, currently manages the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), which Malaysia uses to oversee parts of its foreign worker recruitment, particularly from Bangladesh.
In a joint statement, ten members of Parliament led by Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said they were alarmed by reports and remarks from Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan regarding a proposal to introduce the Universal Recruitment Advanced Platform (Turap).
They noted that the minister had defended Bestinet’s track record in managing FWCMS, despite findings by oversight bodies highlighting governance weaknesses.
These include a Public Accounts Committee report dated March 6, 2025, which found that FWCMS had operated for more than six years without a formal contract between the government and Bestinet.
The report also flagged control weaknesses, including two super administrator IDs not held by government officials and unauthorised users approving employer applications.
In addition, the Auditor General’s 2022 report classified the overall management of FWCMS as “unsatisfactory”, noting that the system was only used for recruitment from Bangladesh despite Malaysia sourcing foreign workers from multiple countries.
“The findings clearly point to chronic governance issues in the management of foreign worker recruitment systems,” the lawmakers said.
They added that the government’s decision to formalise an agreement with Bestinet from June 2024 to January 2031 at a fee of RM215 per worker — higher than the previously agreed RM100 — was made partly to avoid potential legal claims.
Against this backdrop, the MPs questioned the need to introduce another system by the same provider, particularly as the government is developing the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe), which is expected to be operational by 2028.
They said introducing Turap would be unnecessary and could result in overlapping systems, while extending what they described as a monopoly concession to a private company.
The MPs stressed that any new system should be developed based on government specifications and awarded through an open tender process, rather than via a public-private arrangement.
They also urged the Ministry of Human Resources to focus on labour market reforms aimed at reducing dependence on foreign workers to 10% of the workforce, from 15%, including initiatives such as the Multi-Tier Levy Mechanism and Akademi Dalam Industri programmes.
“The priority should be on implementing these reforms, rather than introducing new systems that may reinforce dependence on foreign labour,” they said.
The nine other MPs are Wong Chen (Subang), Lee Chean Chung (Petaling Jaya), S Kesavan (Sg Siput), Rodziah Ismail (Ampang), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju), Hassan Karim (Pasir Gudang), Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau) and Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat).