PETALING JAYA: Human Resources Minister Steven Sim (pic) has announced an internal audit to investigate discrepancies in the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS).
The ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud will conduct the audit.
“With the reforms implemented over the past six months, there are improvements in reducing bureaucratic processes,” Sim said at an event yesterday.
“We want to eliminate opportunities for both internal and external parties to exploit the application process, not only for foreign workers but for all applications within the ministry.”
Sim was responding to a PAC report that uncovered 24 unauthorised users under FWCMS who approved applications for foreign workers.
Malaysian Employers Federation president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman called for an audit on all past projects related to foreign worker management to ensure compliance and proper documentation.
The PAC report revealed that the government used FWCMS for six years without a finalised contract.
Syed Hussain suggested finalising the contract and possibly backdating its effective date.
Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia president Datuk Foo Yong Hooi said the government must ensure those who used or are in charge of the system are transparent with the approval of the application when using the FWCMS.
“As long as the services are effective, delivered up to mark and monitored, consumers should not have any major concerns. But we are opposed to monopoly practices as we do not want people to abuse the system,” he said when contacted.
Transparency International-Malaysia president Dr Muhammad Mohan said the issue of the 24 unauthorised users was “very serious”.
“Such unauthorised people could be approving the entry of foreign workers into the country without jobs available here and this has created a big headache for the government.
“Those who abused their power must be punished even if these officers have retired,” he said.
Muhammad also questioned how payments to the vendor were made without a signed agreement.
“The Finance Ministry must step in to relook at payment procedures as these are governance issues,” he said.
