KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — Malaysia’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has announced plans to investigate the government’s decision to sign a foreign labor management contract with Bestinet Sdn Bhd, citing concerns over its high costs and inadequate safeguards for employers and foreign workers.

PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the committee has yet to receive a satisfactory explanation from the government on why it continued with the Foreign Worker Centralized Management System (FWCMS) agreement, which was finalized last September.

“The FWCMS contract is considered an insufficient step, with its high payment fees likely to burden employers and foreign workers.

“We have decided to initiate a new procedure related to the acquisition of the FWCMS system by KDN on December 10 this year,” Mas Ermieyati said today.

She said the PAC will convene the FWCMS Steering Committee, which is chaired by Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Justice Minister Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, Finance Minister Secretary-General Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, Home Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Awang Alik Jeman, Ministry of Personnel Secretary-General Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof and National Digital Department Director General Dr Fazidah Abu Bakar.

“Their explanation will be crucial for the PAC to understand their rationale for signing this FWCMS contract with Bestinet,” she added.

Earlier, on July 3, PAC found oversight issues in the management of foreign workers in Malaysia.

In particular, the PAC said there were regulatory breaches and overlaps regarding FWCMS and ePPAx under both the HR Ministry and the Home Ministry.