KUALA LUMPUR – The Home Ministry was unaware of issues surrounding Bestinet Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Seri Mohd Amin Abdul Nor when it extended its contract with the IT solutions firm as the sole operator of the government’s Foreign Worker Centralised Management System (FWCMS).
This revelation comes from the recently published Hansard for Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) follow-up inquiry proceedings on November 5, where Home Ministry chief secretary-general Datuk Awang Alik Jeman appeared as a witness.
PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin first raised the issue of Bangladeshi authorities seeking Malaysia’s help to arrest and extradite Amin, a Bangladeshi-born Malaysian citizen also known as Aminul Islam Abdul Nor. Bangladeshi police are also looking for Ruhul Amin, reportedly Amin’s representative, to aid investigations into alleged money laundering, extortion, and migrant worker trafficking.
“Is the ministry aware of this matter? Will the ministry take action regarding this issue (since) the founder (Amin) is understood to also have shares in the company (Bestinet)?” the Bersatu lawmaker queried.
In questioning Awang, PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said he is sure that the Home Ministry is “aware” of “long-standing” issues relating to Amin.
He added that PAC was “very surprised” when it was informed that the government had decided to extend Bestinet’s contract amid controversies surrounding the company’s founder, stressing that the government’s reputation could be at risk.
In response, Awang said that the request from Bangladesh, published by the media on November 5, was the “first time” the ministry had heard of such allegations against Amin, stressing that Putrajaya has a final say on whether or not to continue dealing with Bestinet.
“Actually, this was the first time we were made aware (of claims against Amin). We were not in the know before this regarding allegations against the individual,” said Awang, who was formerly senior deputy secretary-general of the Prime Minister’s Department.
“We still adhere to the guidelines that need to be provided, or that we hope to receive from the government…if we are instructed to stop, we’ll stop. If we’re instructed to continue, we’ll continue. It depends on the decision made by the existing government.”
For the record, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had previously initiated investigations into Bestinet, which saw Amin being questioned in 2022 during the anti-graft agency’s raid on the company’s office.
However, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, without elaborating on the specifics of the investigation, told Scoop on September 20 that MACC’s probe into Bestinet has been classified as “no further action” after the anti-graft agency found “no evidence of criminal activity.”
Meanwhile, PKR’s Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan brought up during the PAC proceedings how Bangladeshi police had reportedly requested that Putrajaya temporarily suspend the use of software provided by Bestinet, commenting: “It’s something very serious actually”.
While Awang agreed that the request should be regarded seriously, he said that the ministry should be guided by Putrajaya instead of “outsiders” in determining what should or should not be done.
“If we’re guided by foreign parties, there are many things that they have asked of us. To me, it is not right if we follow what is voiced by such outsiders. We have to follow our government,” he added.
Noting that the ministry is leaving it up to the Royal Malaysia Police to investigate the matter and provide advice to the ministry for further action, Awang also said that to his knowledge, there has only been one Interpol Red Notice issued against Amin and Ruhul.
However, checks by Scoop on Interpol’s online database found that neither businessmen are listed as wanted fugitives.
In its report tabled in Parliament yesterday, the PAC chastised the government over its FWCMS, which will cost RM3.22 billion—double the initial cost—under a renewed six-year contract signed with Bestinet on September 3.
The RM215 collection fee for each issuance of an ePASS for foreign workers under the renewed contract is noticeably higher compared to the RM100 in the original letter of agreement and the RM86 figure approved by the government’s Public-Private Partnership Unit.
For its follow-up inquiries, PAC is expected to summon the Home Ministry’s Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, who chairs the FWCMS main committee, as well as the Attorney-General, the Treasury Chief Secretary and the secretaries-general of the home and human resources ministries. – November 22, 2024
