HUMAN Resources (HR) Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has brushed aside concerns that his ministry will be swayed away by support letters from elected parliamentarians – or even from the Prime Minister for the matter – with regard to its selection of approved Bangladeshi recruitment agencies (BRAs).
This comes about after Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Sharif Salim and Parit MP Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Zakaria submitted a recommendation letter each to seek Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s support to include four BRAs on the ministry’s approved list.
“That’s normal (practice). But it ends with us receiving the letter,” Saravanan told news portal Malaysiakini. “Because any interested (recruitment) companies (in Bangladesh), need to submit a formal application. Not via a support letter from other parties.”
The minister explained that this meant that the recruitment agency must apply and submit its company profile with all relevant details to the HR Ministry.
“Not just one single page with a company’s name. We will not entertain it,” he asserted.
Interestingly, both UMNO lawmakers deemed inking their signature on the said recommendation letters as “normal practices” for MPs.
“As an MP, I just give my support. There is no issue. This person came a long way to see me in Parliament, asking for a letter, so I just gave one,” Sharif told Malaysiakini, stressing that he did not personally know the agency owner nor have any interest in lobbying for the BRAs.
In a similar tone, Nizar also maintained that he issued the support letter as requested with no vested interest in the recruitment of migrant workers.
“It is just a support letter. People asked for it, and we gave it,” Malaysiakini quoted him as saying. “I don’t know the person, but he’s the same person who went to see Datuk Seri Sharif.”
Added Nizar: “I’m not a business person. I don’t have any personal interest in recruiting workers.”
Even though there was a list of over 1,500 BRAs, Saravanan had said that the final list of 25 agencies were selected from only 61 that submitted complete details ranging from company directors to financial status, among others.
Last month, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) launched a probe into the selection of 25 Bangladesh recruitment agencies authorised by Malaysia, following multiple reports lodged against alleged irregularities in the process.
Even as investigations are ongoing, Malaysia had on Aug 9 proceeded to receive the first batch of Bangladeshi migrant workers recruited under new bilateral terms signed in last December’s labour recruitment memorandum of understanding. – Aug 16, 2022
