THERE are approximately 2.13 million active and legally registered foreign workers in Malaysia as of Oct 15, 2025 – a 13% drop from 2.4 million the prior year, according to Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad.
This does not take into account the presence of undocumented workers in the country. Legalised recruitment of foreign workers has been a thorny issue in the country.
It was found that the recruitment process imposed a financial burden, especially on the workers.
The new recruitment system, Universal Recruitment Advanced Platform or TURAP – supposedly developed by Bestinet, a foreign workers management technology solutions outfit – promises to overcome some of the serious problems associated with labour recruitment.
However, given the controversial role of Bestinet – especially its Bangladeshi-born businessman Aminul Islam Abdul Nor who is dubbed a labour tycoon – there are fears that the new recruitment system would be given to Bestinet to operate.
Recently, 10 PKR MPs opposed the development of TURAP, claiming that the Madani government should improve and rely on the earlier recruitment systems in the country.
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Uphold transparency, accountability
Apparently, Bangladesh is not happy with the founder of Bestinet. To date, the government has yet to establish an open tender process to select the most competent company to operate the new TURAP system.
There are fears that Bestinet might be appointed as the operator. The newly appointed Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan has said that Bestinet might be considered.
Whether Bestinet will be appointed or not, what is important is for the government to ensure transparency and accountability in the labour recruitment process.
Bloomberg had exposed the unsavoury nature of the labour recruiting process in the country. At the end of the day, the government must ensure that foreign workers who are brought into the country are protected and that wages are paid without any delay.
Editor’s Note: The Human Resources Ministry has urged restraint after 10 PKR MPs voiced their opposition on the proposed introduction of TURAP.
In a statement, the ministry said that differing versions and interpretations have caused confusion among the public and stakeholders.
“Any reports or statements suggesting that a final decision has been made are inaccurate, misleading and don’t reflect the government’s actual position,” the ministry contended as it continues to explore the development of an AI-powered digital platform to holistically improve the foreign worker recruitment ecosystem.
Most importantly, the cost of importing foreign labour should not be passed on to workers and their families.
The foreign labour recruitment process in the past was exploitative. The new recruitment system should be better and more progressive than the earlier one.
The appointment of controversial companies should be avoided, to say the least.
An individual boasted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should be given the Nobel Prize for the establishment of the new labour recruitment system. This should be avoided at all costs.
There is no need for such sycophantic appeasement! – April 21, 2026
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
