Dennis Ignatius
~ Provoking discussion, dissent & debate on politics, diplomacy, human rights & civil society.
The Great Foreign Worker Quota Scam
20WednesdayNov 2024
Posted in corruption, foreign workers
[1] Its beyond incredible that a few intrepid reporters from Malaysiakini have been able to do what the entire machinery of government has been incapable of doing – uncover one of the most egregious scams involving foreign workers.[1] Just think about it: they have done what the police, the MACC, the Immigration Department, the Home Ministry and the Human Resources Ministry combined were not able to do!
[2] Of course, we’ve known for quite some time now that all is not right with the foreign workers recruitment scheme. Reports abound of hapless, abused and abandoned workers while business leaders complain bitterly about not being able to meet their manpower needs. Talk to almost any small business owner and they’ll tell you stories about how they struggle to find labour while a few well-connected cronies grab hundreds of quotas and resell them.
[3] Indeed, judging by the almost constant reports in the media, it is clear that corruption runs wide and deep throughout the whole system. Thus far, no one in power seems to have had the courage or integrity to put an end to these dastardly and nefarious scams. I supposed we shouldn’t be too surprised given the staggering amounts of money to be made from this criminal enterprise.
[4] Every time some scam, some scandal is uncovered, the government immediately goes into a song and dance – expressing outrage and promising to act to end the abuses. Talking about the Malaysiakini exposé, the Human Resources Minister Steven Sim – the man ultimately responsible for managing the migrant worker quota system – warned of “stern” action and pledged to “permanently blacklist” those involved in abusing migrant worker quotas. He also appealed to those who have information about such abuses to contact his ministry.[2]
[5] I cannot think of a more feckless and feeble response to an issue of such magnitude. How many times have we heard such inane responses in the face of great crimes and great abuses? How much more information does the minister need to convince him to clean up the system once and for all? One would have thought that in the face of such outrageous criminality, the entire machinery of government would rise up as one to bring every last one of the criminals and corrupt officials involved to justice instead of merely promising to blacklist them “if there is a violation.”
[6] And why on earth is the minister asking the media or the public for information about these abuses. If Malaysiakini can uncover the truth about what is going on, why can’t he – with all the resources at his disposal – do the same? The whole country knows about all the corruption and abuse that is going on in connection with the foreign workers scheme but apparently the minister does not.
[7] As well, what does it say about the prime minister’s oft-repeated commitment to combatting corruption that such a massive scam can go on right under his government’s nose without detection? Common sense would suggest that a racket of this size and scope, one that involves so many agencies, and which rakes in millions, has got to have a high level of political involvement to survive and thrive. Perhaps that’s why it’s so hard to clean up the whole process. It just confirms that the prime minister’s war on corruption is a phony one that lacks real substance.
[Dennis Ignatius |Kuala Lumpur |20th November 2024]
[1] Migrant workers: ‘Employers’ raking in millions through ‘A to B’ syndicate |Malaysiakini | 19 Nov 2024
[2] Minister vows to blacklist those involved in ‘A to B’ syndicate | Malaysiakini | 19 Nov 2024
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