A former MP has urged the MACC to investigate a purported proposal for a new digital system to manage migrant workers, which industry sources say will be named The Universal Recruitment Advance Platform (Turap).
Charles Santiago also questioned why Bestinet Sdn Bhd is being considered as the operator for the new system, despite the company already managing the existing Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS).
“Were there other bids? Was there an open tender? Are there no other competent firms?” Charles (above) asked in a statement yesterday.
On Thursday, Bernama reported Human Resources Minister R Ramanan denying a Bloomberg report on the Turap system, which sources said was aimed at improving the recruitment ecosystem and allowing employers to hire workers directly.
Describing the report as unverified and inaccurate, Ramanan claimed it contained details unknown even to him, as the minister responsible for tabling any proposal to the cabinet.
“It is shocking to me that they seem to know more about the proposed system than I do. I have not tabled anything to the cabinet, yet they are able to explain it in detail,” he added.
Later, Ramanan was reported as saying that he had no issues with Bestinet developing the new system, but it has yet to receive government approval.
“We are still in discussion. After that, I will table a paper to the cabinet. At the moment, I see no issues with adopting Bestinet as the system developer,” he added.
Contradicting remarks
Charles, however, questioned Ramanan’s differing remarks made on the matter that same day.
“The minister told The Star yesterday (Thursday) that the Bloomberg report on the new migrant recruitment system, Turap, developed by Bestinet was ‘unverified and inaccurate’.
“By afternoon, the minister changed his mind and told NST that he sees no issues with adopting it. Two different positions by the same minister on the same day.
“Is this indecisiveness or hypocrisy?” the former DAP lawmaker asked.
Charles also questioned why the Human Resources Ministry is managing the migrant worker recruitment system when it comes under the purview of the Home Ministry.
“And who is going to pay for it? Will it be the government, the employers, or ultimately the workers again?” he asked.
Malaysiakini has reached out to Bestinet and Ramanan for comments.
Batu Uban assemblyperson A Kumaresan came to Ramanan’s defence, arguing that the latter had clearly said nothing had been decided yet.
“To set the record straight, the minister’s remarks, made before both local and international media, were unambiguous.
“The ministry is reviewing all submitted proposals, including one from Bestinet. At no point did the minister indicate acceptance or endorsement of any particular proposal.
“Unfortunately, some individuals appear to have drawn premature conclusions and attempted to frame the narrative in a misleading manner, despite the absence of any such confirmation,” said the PKR central leadership council member.
Police probe, lawsuit
The police have launched an investigation into Malaysiakini over an article concerning Turap on March 27, with one of its journalists called in to give a statement.
In an official letter, Sepang district police headquarters stated that the investigation is being conducted under Section 203A of the Penal Code for unauthorised disclosure of information and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for misuse of social networks.
Police questioned senior journalist B Nantha Kumar as a witness. His statement was recorded for one and a half hours.
In February, Bestinet and its founder, Aminul Islam Abdul Nor, sued 10 media outlets and individuals, including Malaysiakini, seeking over RM1 billion in damages.
This is over Bloomberg’s report titled “Everyone gets a cut, and migrant workers pay the price”, published on Jan 23, and subsequent reports repeating its claims and commenting on the issue.
In their statement of claim, Bestinet and Aminul claimed that the impugned statements, among others, portrayed them as being involved in human trafficking, money laundering, corrupt practices, deliberately denying the government access to FWCMS, and had enriched themselves at the expense of vulnerable migrants. - Mkini
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