MACC: Transfer recruitment of migrant workers to HR Ministry

Combating corruption linked to the recruitment of migrant workers should begin with returning the process back to the Human Resources Ministry, says Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Latheefa Koya.

Describing the current policy, which is under the purview of the Home Ministry as one that allows the exploitation of migrant workers, Latheefa said MACC has proposed for an end to the system, which also contributes to high levels of corruption.

"What is our suggestion? Stop this policy which allows exploitation.

"Bring back the recruitment of foreign workers to the Human Resources Ministry," she said at a public talk hosted by Kelab Bangsar Utama in Kuala Lumpur last night on anti-corruption culture as part of a new narrative in Malaysia.

Latheefa said the cycle of migrant workers being cheated and exploited could be broken if they are only recruited for available jobs in pre-determined sectors.

This, she said, could only be done by the Human Resources Ministry as it has capacity to assess the demands of the various sectors for migrant workers.

"Every year, in other countries, the governments will put out lists of jobs that needed to be filled by migrant workers.

"If, in Malaysia for example, our government says this year we only need migrant workers for the construction sector, we can manage it," she said.

At present, she said, the recruitment process for migrant workers is often viewed as a lucrative source of income for the government, as well as for the third party agents at all stages of the process.

"This is organised labour trafficking that we must handle," she stressed.

Responding to a question on MACC's plans to combat corruption linked to the migrant labour workforce, Latheefa recalled that the recruitment process for migrant workers was transferred from the Human Resources Ministry to the Home Ministry around 20 years ago.

She said systematic "demonising" of migrant workers over the years had eventually led to their recruitment being seen as a national security issue under the Home Ministry's purview, rather than a labour issue under the Human Resources Ministry.

"Stop the xenophobia, and stop demonising them.

"We at MACC have been telling the various departments that corruption is very high because of this (existing) policy," Latheefa said.

Among others, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is currently on trial for 40 charges under the MACC Act, linked to the migrant workers' recruitment process during his tenure as former deputy prime minister and former home minister.

On June 26, Zahid claimed trial to seven counts of receiving bribes totalling S$4.24 million (RM12.95 million), as an inducement to extend the contract of Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd in managing the One Stop Centre (OSC) in China and the Visa Luar Negara (VLN) system.

The very next day, Zahid claimed trial to 33 more charges linked to receiving RM42.7 million in bribes, also from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd. - Mkini