Decide on the use of Bestinet’s system, PAC tells Home Ministry

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged the Home Ministry to decide on whether it wants to continue utilising the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) provided by Bestinet Sdn Bhd.

Speaking during a press conference, PAC chairperson Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the Home Ministry must also ensure all future information technology-related procurements comply with the existing guidelines enforced by the National Digital Agency.

"PAC found that no contract has been finalised and signed between the government and vendor (Bestinet) even though a letter of acceptance to develop the system (FWCMS) was issued on Jan 12, 2018.

“That means the government has been using FWCMS for about six years without a finalised contract, and this clearly goes against government guidelines,” said Mas Ermieyati.

On June 24, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced the cabinet has agreed to extend Bestinet’s contract to run FWCMS for another three years, under new stricter terms.

This comes despite the auditor-general uncovering various discrepancies in processes related to the system used by the Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry.

Overlapping systems

Meanwhile, Mas Ermieyati said PAC proceedings found that on Aug 26, 2015, the cabinet had approved the developments of the Foreign Workers Integrated Management System (ePPAx) and also FWCMS - two separate systems but both under a single window concept.

"This resulted in overlapping functions between agencies in developing the foreign worker management system and a wastage of public funds,” she said, adding PAC also made three other recommendations in its report released today after holding four proceedings since December last year.

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