Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has refused to comment on his younger brother Abdul Hakim Hamidi's bid to convince Putrajaya to allow his company run a lucrative system to monitor 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers.

When asked to comment on the matter today, Ahmad Zahid replied: "I have not been able to contact him yet".

In an exclusive report today, Malaysiakini has revealed that Abdul Hakim's company - Real Time Network Sdn Bhd - is among several companies competing for the rights to run the system.

This system was designed to provide online registration and monitoring of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

It is a highly lucrative venture as each applicant would have to pay 60,000 takas (approximately RM3,000), which includes flight costs, to Real Time Network in order work in Malaysia.

On Putrajaya's end, it would be able to use Real Time Network's system to monitor these foreign workers because it would link databases of various agencies such as the Immigration Department.

'Not nepotism'

Putrajaya would not have to pay Real Time Network, but the company has to be appointed by the Home Ministry to run the system.

Apart from being deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid is also the home minister.

Speaking to Malaysiakini , Abdul Hakim stressed that his company was not seeking a government contract and refuted suggestions of nepotism.

"My brother is the minister but I am a businessman. It is a democratic country and I can do anything, other than be a drug pusher.

"Malaysians are very difficult. They say if my brother is a minister, I cannot do anything. They want us all to be jobless.

"I have experience in the field and I am an IT man. All these designs are from my brain," he said.

Abdul Hakim was formerly involved Motorola Semiconductors, Tenaga Nasional Bhd and labour supply firm Warisan Juara Padu Sdn Bhd.

Zahid's kin eyes system for 1.5m Bangladeshis

Home Ministry: Realtime not given approval yet