Ex-MP: PMO should probe migrant worker fraud, not HR Ministry

Former Klang MP Charles Santiago has called for an independent probe into Malaysiakini's exposé of a migrant worker quota syndicate involving six companies.

According to him, the investigation should be led by a high-powered team under the Prime Minister's Office as it will help to avoid a conflict of interest if probed by the Human Resources Ministry instead.

“The ministry simply cannot investigate (the matter) itself. A truly impartial inquiry is necessary to ensure the integrity of the process and the credibility of its findings.

“The government must disclose the terms and scope of the investigations as soon as possible, along with the timeline for completing them. Only this can build public trust in the process and ensure accountability,” the DAP leader said in a statement today.

Charles was responding to the statement by Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar yesterday that his ministry will carry out a full investigation into the syndicate.

Elaborating, Charles said that having a team from the Prime Minister's Office investigate the matter would ensure sufficient political clout without interference from other departments or agencies with a stake in the outcome.

“This investigation will be a litmus test for the government's commitment to good governance and transparency.

“Inaction or mishandling will only erode public confidence and damage Malaysia's reputation and economy. The government must show it is serious about tackling forced labour and upholding human rights,” he said.

MACC must get involved

Meanwhile, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok urged the MACC to probe the matter, in addition to the Human Resources Ministry and the police's Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), which is already probing the issue.

“The crux of the issue here is the level of leakages and the ‘I help you, you help me’ attitude. When parts of the government machinery are involved, the matter goes undetected for so long and so begins the vicious cycle of fraud, blackmail, corruption, power abuse, bullying, and right down to modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

“Clearly, these perpetrators are not frazzled by the high fines and jail terms for human trafficking and continue to carry out their cruel and detestable activities,” Teresa said in a separate statement.

“These agents brazenly carry out their fraudulent activities without a care of being caught and the least of their worries and responsibilities is to care for the welfare of these poor workers,” she added.

She also noted that the money trail in such scandals is often expansive and in cash, involving foreign and local agents, and sometimes even officers within government agencies and departments.

“In this, we must take sides with the oppressed and the voiceless - the migrant workers.

“The MACC should use the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2010 to send a clear message that the nation and commission are both firm in nabbing those behind the false documents and fraudulent contracts.

“MACC must not rest on its laurels and go after the small fish and the big sharks that monopolize the industry, without fear, favour or prejudice,” Teresa added.

How the syndicate worked

In a syndicate uncovered by Malaysiakini, a group of six companies obtained quotas to recruit 1,625 migrant workers for the services sector in 2022.

Collectively, the six companies applied for more than 4,000 workers but received approval for 1,625 workers, documents sighted by the portal showed.

After receiving approval from the migrant worker division in the Labour Department, the companies settled RM3 million in levy with the Immigration Department before the official approval letter was obtained.

However, the alleged syndicate mastermind used shell companies or existing companies owned by others and left no money trail that could link them to the businesses.

Insiders told Malaysakini that all payments were handled in cash and transported in large duffle bags.

CCID director Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the alleged mastermind was arrested on July 10 over allegations that he was part of a migrant worker recruitment scam.

Ramli said the police acted on a report by a permanent resident who said they lost RM1 million in the migrant worker recruitment scam, led by the 46-year-old man, who is currently out on bail.

He said police are also probing several Malaysian companies involved in the recruitment and employment of migrant workers and their connection to this man.

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