The services of Bestinet Sdn Bhd, the firm handling the visa processing and health checks for foreign workers was suspended on Jan 30.

The Immigration Department has yet to confirm the contract because the system is still in the proof of concept stage, Bestinet executive chairperson Azmi Khalid said.

"I am uncomfortable about not having a contract but this is the way the government does things.

"We hope one day to sign a contract because the proof of concept stage is also costing us money," the former home minister said.

He also denies that Bestinet is monopolising the process which was earlier conducted by in house by the Immigration Department.

"We are only providing a way to do it," he told a press conference today.

"It is up to the government if it wants to use the old method, no matter how long," he said.

The Immigration Department was under Azmi's purview when he was in cabinet.

[More to follow]