Iris chair: Problems in Bangladesh passport deal being looked into

Iris Corporation Bhd today confirmed that the company is dealing with the problems arising from a three-year contract with the Bangladesh government to provide machine readable passports (MRP) to its expatriates in UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Iris chairperson Razali Ismail told Malaysiakini that various parties are looking into the issue.

"That matter is being looked at very seriously. I cannot comment on it until I see more clarity about that.

"Of course I know about it (now). I am the chairperson," he said.

Malaysiakini was tipped off by a source with the information that the Bangladesh deal was made without the authorisation of Iris' board of directors back in 2014.

Written request for comments on this allegation was sent to Razali and other board members recently.

Iris, which introduced the MRP in Bangladesh in 2010, won another contract in 2014 to upgrade Bangladeshis' manual passport in Saudi Arabia and UAE, as a move to meet the deadline set by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

50,000 affected

Problems began to surface towards the end of the contract when doubts were expressed on the delivery of the passport, reported Bangladeshi newspaper The Daily Star.

On Nov 20 last year, the daily reported that around 50,000 Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Malaysia were anxiously waiting for their MRP even after paying the fees over a year earlier.

The Bangladesh missions in the three countries had been extending validity of the manual passports so that the Bangladeshis can continue their jobs, the report added.

The source alleged that the company's board of directors did not authorise the deal between the GLC and Bangladesh, adding that it was signed by a director without the approval of the board.

The news portal was unable to get a respond from the said director as he is now being detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

"The project started in 2014. Six centres were opened in UAE and Saudi Arabia respectively. They were shut down between end of 2015 and early 2016," the source said.

Millions sought

Iris is now being sued by the project's sub-contractor, Dipon Gulf in UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well its partner in Saudi Arabia, QUAD Solutions, according to the source.

"Dipon Gulf seeks RM13.7 million for Saudi Arabia and RM3 million for UAE. While QUAD is asking for RM21.15 million in Saudi Arabia. The suits were filed in 2016," the source added.

On top of that, the source said, the Bangladesh government is expecting Iris to pay them a total of RM11.56 million arising from the deal.

Malaysiakini has written to Bangladesh missions in UAE and Saudi Arabia, as well as to MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad for comments.

When contacted, both Iris managing director Tan Say Jim, who claimed he was on medical leave, and its non-independent non-executive officer Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid, declined to comment.

Bangladesh ambassador to Riyadh Golam Moshi was quoted by The Daily Star in October last year as saying that "it is frustrating that our people are suffering for a bad company".- Mkini