No need for new foreign worker recruitment system, say 10 PKR MPs

 They say Putrajaya should utilise the planned National Integrated Immigration System, expected to be operational by 2028, instead.

Bestinet Sdn Bhd currently operates the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System, which Malaysia uses to manage part of its recruitment, especially from Bangladesh.

PETALING JAYA:

 Ten PKR MPs have opposed the proposed introduction of the Universal Recruitment Advanced Platform, also known as Turap, saying there is no need for it given existing and upcoming government platforms.

They said the government should instead utilise the planned National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe), which is expected to be operational by 2028.

“We strongly believe there is no need to introduce a new system, as the government should use NIISe (which reportedly costs more than RM1 billion),” they said in a joint statement today.

They were responding to a report that the human resources ministry had proposed to implement Turap, developed by Bestinet Sdn Bhd, a company founded by labour tycoon Aminul Islam.

DAP’s Charles Santiago had previously also questioned the government’s appointment of Bestinet to develop a new foreign worker recruitment system, given the irregularities flagged in an existing system also developed by the firm.

Bestinet currently operates the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), which Malaysia uses to manage part of its recruitment, especially from Bangladesh.

The MPs, who include Rafizi Ramli (Pandan), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Wong Chen (Subang) and Lee Chean Chung (Petaling Jaya), also warned against having multiple foreign recruitment systems operating simultaneously, noting that the government is already bound to use FWCMS until 2031.

“Introducing another system like Turap would extend the monopoly of a private company for a prolonged period,” they said.

They said the FWCMS had operated for more than six years without a signed contract, while weaknesses in system controls allowed unauthorised users to approve employer applications.

“These findings clearly show chronic governance issues involving FWCMS and the government’s relationship with Bestinet in managing foreign worker recruitment.

“Critical government systems and services related to national security and foreign workers should not be privatised through public-private partnership arrangements,” they said.

The other six MPs are Rodziah Ismail (Ampang), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju), Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau), Hassan Karim (Pasir Gudang), S Kesavan (Sungai Siput) and Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat). - FMT