Allegations that the government and certain individuals will reap 'big bucks' from the Home Ministry's plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers, are baseless.
Ever since the plan was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Zahid Hamidi in June, the opposition and critics alike accused him and the government of wanting to lucre from such a business, without acknowledging the fact that the decision was based on feedback from employers.
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Of course there would be revenue for the government in terms of levy and other costs but it is a standard transparent procedure in other countries that 'import' foreign workers. After all, it will be a government-to-government arrangement.
In other words, no agents will be appointed on both sides to manage it.
Also, allegations that Zahid's brother Hakim has won the contract to provide KDN and the Immigration Dept with a registration system to facilitate the process on bringing in the workers, are also unfounded as no specific system has been identified and approved thus far.
There are dozens of proposals for supply of such a system but the government has yet to award it to any company.
At the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Zahid refuted claims that the government's aim to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers is profit oriented. In fact, he said the decision was made based on the demand from the employers association itself who were prompted to opt for foreign workers from Bangladesh.
On June 25, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, was reported to have said that 1.5 million foreign workers from Bangladesh would be brought to Malaysia in stages in the next three years to meet the needs of employers from numerous sectors.
He was also reported to have said the move would only be made after illegal foreign workers here were deported.
Most employers prefer Bangladeshis because they are loyal and most hard working as compared to other nationals.
They usually will stay with the employer and do not 'run away' like others, and this makes them high on demand.
There are still unsolved matters to attend before the workers enter the country, among which is the ongoing effort to send home those who have overstayed in the country as illegal immigrants.
Ever since the plan was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Zahid Hamidi in June, the opposition and critics alike accused him and the government of wanting to lucre from such a business, without acknowledging the fact that the decision was based on feedback from employers.
In other words, no agents will be appointed on both sides to manage it.
Also, allegations that Zahid's brother Hakim has won the contract to provide KDN and the Immigration Dept with a registration system to facilitate the process on bringing in the workers, are also unfounded as no specific system has been identified and approved thus far.
There are dozens of proposals for supply of such a system but the government has yet to award it to any company.
At the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Zahid refuted claims that the government's aim to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers is profit oriented. In fact, he said the decision was made based on the demand from the employers association itself who were prompted to opt for foreign workers from Bangladesh.
"To date, from the worker profile, no prejudice, loyalty of Bangladeshi workers much better than workers from other countries, more trustworthy, for example, looking after counters and petrol stations.He also told the Dewan that the entry of 1.5 million foreign workers from Bangladesh had yet to take place because the government had not signed any agreement related to the matter.
"Let's not be too easy to accuse that this is about money, this is about modern slavery..the government always endeavour to find means so that these situations do not take place," he said when winding up the debate on the 2016 Supply Bill at the Dewan Rakyat here, today.
On June 25, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, was reported to have said that 1.5 million foreign workers from Bangladesh would be brought to Malaysia in stages in the next three years to meet the needs of employers from numerous sectors.
He was also reported to have said the move would only be made after illegal foreign workers here were deported.
Most employers prefer Bangladeshis because they are loyal and most hard working as compared to other nationals.
They usually will stay with the employer and do not 'run away' like others, and this makes them high on demand.
There are still unsolved matters to attend before the workers enter the country, among which is the ongoing effort to send home those who have overstayed in the country as illegal immigrants.