The government's decision to outsource the renewal of foreign worker permits and vetting of foreign workers could lead to a threat to national security and national sovereignty, PKR said today.

In a joint statement, PKR's Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul ( right ) and its Semambu state assemblyperson Lee Chean Chung, said that they are "shocked" by the revelation that MyEG Services Berhad - which has been tasked with the duty - would have access to the database of all foreign workers in the country.

"Any leaks or abuse of private information will definitely threaten the safety and sovereignty of our country," the statement noted.

The duo also said that the government's move could be in breach of the Competing Act 2010.

Special treatment?

"We are hoping that Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will provide an explanation to the public within the next 24 hours, or we shall bring the case forward to the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC)," they added.

Meanwhile in another statement on the same matter, DAP's Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong urged Umno's Lenggong MP Shamsul Anuar Nasarah to explain if MyEG was given "special treatment" by the government in being awarded with this outsourcing.

Shamsul Anuar is a director at MyEG, a government e-services concession company.

"The e-government system - which is meant to make management easier - should not be done with outsourcing to private companies in order to reap profits," Liew ( left ) said.

"If an extra RM38 is being charged to 2.4 million foreign workers in Malaysia, MyEG will be collecting more than RM90 million," he noted.

The extra fees had been justified by the government as extra operating and management costs for the new system.

"I urge Shamsul Anuar to come forward and explain if he was given special privilege to be awarded with the project," he stressed.

Malaysiakini has contacted Shamsul Anuar for his response to the controversy, although he is yet to respond to Malaysiakini 's queries.