Human Resources Minister R Ramanan has no issues with Bestinet Sdn Bhd developing another migrant worker management system.
However, he indicated 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 was quoted as saying by NST.
Industry sources previously told Malaysiakini that the system would be called The Universal Recruitment Advanced Platform (Turap).
Sources said the proposal is to improve the recruitment ecosystem and allow employers to hire workers directly.
However, industry players are sceptical about whether the new system will bring genuine changes or merely add another layer to existing systems.
Meanwhile, two sources from the Immigration Department claimed employers could be charged up to US$1,000 (RM4,000) if the new system is implemented.
This amount reportedly includes airfare for the migrant workers but does not account for other possible costs, such as processing fees.
The police are investigating Malaysiakini over its report on Turap.
Multiple systems
At present, migrant worker management relies heavily on the Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS), which is also operated by Bestinet.
Despite being privately operated, as of Dec 31, 2025, the government has paid over RM381 million to Bestinet to manage 2.35 million passes through 11 main modules - including eQuota, bio-medical system (BMS), and eRecruitment.
Simultaneously, the government is developing the National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) through Heitech Padu Bhd, with a contract worth about RM1.01 billion.
NIISe is a “mega” system designed to replace the 20-year-old MyIMMs system, focusing on biometric technology and facial recognition at national entry points.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail previously said the integration of these systems is being planned in the near future.
Slams media report
Separately, Bernama reported Ramanan denying a Bloomberg report on the Turap system, describing it as unverified and inaccurate.
He claimed the report 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 said during a dialogue session with the Concorde Club at Wisma Bernama.
Citing anonymous sources, Bloomberg reported that the software is being marketed as enabling companies to hire workers directly, bypassing intermediaries who charge excessive fees.
Ramanan also dismissed claims in the report that the system would impose a recruitment cost of US$1,000 (RM4,000) per worker.
“That figure is totally false. I have consistently stated that the government is moving towards zero migration cost. It is ridiculous to suggest otherwise,” he stressed.
The Sungai Buloh MP also questioned the basis of the report, stating that neither he nor the relevant ministries had been contacted directly. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.