Two government-outsourced online systems - which operated under MyEG Services Berhad and Bestinet Sdn Bhd - are only in the "test run" stage, revealed the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM).

Hence, ACCCIM urged the government not to make these systems mandatory, but instead operate them as back-ups or second options.

"It is not even fully ready... even (if) it has no error, it should always operate as an option.

"Service counters manned by the Home Ministry must continue to be made available as an option for employers," its deputy secretary-general Teo Chiang Kok told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Currently, Bestinet Sdn Bhd manages the Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS), which means all one-stop foreign worker documentations - including medical records and visa with referrals - must be done online through the website.

Meanwhile, MyEG Services Berhad handles the renewal of Foreign Workers Permit (PLKS) using MyEG’s online system. Under this, employers have to fork out RM38 more for permit renewals compared to the old price that they had paid over immigration counters.

Together with 31 other chambers and trade organisations, ACCCIM expressed their dissatisfaction over the newly-implemented systems, pointing out that it has increased costs without any added-value.

Federation of Malaysian Foundry and Engineering Industries Associations (FMFEIA) secretary-general Pang Kong Woon also handed over a survey to ACCCIM, which showed that more than 170 factories owners are against the systems.

"We are supportive of migrating to e-government, but there must be good reasons. It has be to efficient, cost-saving, productive, but not adding another procedure and increase costs without added-value," Teo said.

Even if government agencies outsource their respective functions to external entities, the cost arisen must not be passed onto the public consumers, he added.

The gov't has an obligation'

"We have already paid our levies and licensing fees, that should be enough to cover these procedure fees (that the two systems are collecting)," he pointed out.

Teo said under the Data Protection Act 2010, the government has an obligation in protecting the privileged information of individuals and corporations.

However, after outsourcing the services, it is now the private companies which are dealing with the data.

"There is always worry when your personal data is handled by private company," he noted.

On another note, Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers's Association (MPMA) president Lim Kok Boon said that employers are already paying RM125 for the foreign workers' processing fee, it is unreasonable for them to pay another RM38.

"If indeed work is done by MyEG, the RM38 should come out of the RM125 (paid)," he stressed.

Furthermore, he stated that the government has previously implemented a biological identification system, which collected RM50 from the employers.

"(From) the levies paid by the employers, RM1,200 was increased to RM1,250, the RM50 was for this purpose.

"Now, we have another party coming in the name of MyEG and Bestinet... three parties are doing the same things," he pointed out.

The chambers also suggested all matters relating to the employment of foreign workers to be managed by the Human Resources Ministry, instead of the Home Ministry.

It is a common practice in many countries that all human resource issues - including those related to foreign workers - are placed under the purview of the Human Resources Ministry, read their joint statement.

"In the context of Malaysia, the ministry that is currently dealing with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the Human Resources Ministry, not the Home Ministry.

"Consequently, there is a present disconnect as the Human Resources Ministry is unable to positively engage with the ILO on foreign workers issues, given that they are not under its purview," it added.