PETALING JAYA: Ten PKR MPs are urging the Human Resources Ministry to stay aligned with national policy frameworks under the 12th Malaysia Plan and the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan.
They called on the ministry to prioritise labour market reforms aimed at reducing reliance on foreign workers.
The lawmakers said they strongly oppose the proposed introduction of a new recruitment system by Bestinet Sdn Bhd.
In a joint statement on Monday (April 20), they said the central goal is to reduce the cap on foreign workers from 15% of the total workforce to 10%.
"We call on the Human Resources Ministry to focus its efforts on continuing labour market reforms as outlined in national policies, instead of reinforcing reliance on foreign workers," they said.
The group includes Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Subang MP Wong Chen and Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung.
Other signatories are Rodziah Ismail (Ampang), Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju), Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau), Hassan Karim (Pasir Gudang), Kesavan Subramaniam (Sungai Siput) and Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat).
The MPs highlighted Cabinet-approved measures intended to encourage employers to hire local workers and develop certified skilled careers.
They said that Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan should prioritise implementing these policies rather than deepening dependence on foreign labour.
The lawmakers took issue with Ramanan portraying Bestinet and its Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) in a positive light.
They argued that such a stance contradicts the governance principles emphasised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The government has an agreement with Bestinet until Jan 31, 2031, at a cost of RM215 per worker, which is more than double the original RM100.
This decision was reportedly made to avoid potential legal claims and in anticipation of the National Integrated Immigration System (Niise) becoming operational by 2028.
"Against this backdrop, the proposal to introduce yet another system by Bestinet, known as Turap, has understandably drawn public anger," they said.
The MPs rejected Turap, arguing there is no need for a new system given the planned rollout of Niise, which reportedly costs over RM1bil.
They warned against privatising critical government systems related to national security and foreign labour management.
The group said if a new system is required, it must follow government specifications and be awarded through an open tender process.
They cautioned that introducing Turap would effectively extend a monopoly concession to a private company for up to 12 years.
The lawmakers cited a Public Accounts Committee report from Mar 6, 2025, which found FWCMS was used for over six years without a signed contract.
They also highlighted "chronic weaknesses" in system controls, including unauthorised users who approved employer applications.
