LETTER | Bestinet's response to migrant worker allegations

LETTER | In reference to former Klang MP Charles Santiago’s repeated comments and allegations against Bestinet Sdn Bhd, we would like to reiterate the following points from our press statement, dated April 16, 2023, issued in response to his earlier allegations:

1. Bestinet would like to place on record that all matters regarding the recruitment process of foreign workers, including the number of recruitment agents, are discussed and agreed upon on a government-to-government (G2G) level between the government of Malaysia and the Labour Source Countries. Bestinet’s management, including the founder, is not involved in nor privy to this process.

2. The Company would also like to point out that contrary to Charles’ claim of only 25 companies being accredited for worker recruitment in Bangladesh, the government has, in fact, accredited 100 companies in Bangladesh.

3. The Foreign Workers Centralised Management System (FWCMS) is a holistic system that is fully digital and automated to address corruption and leakages as well as to enhance efficiency in the processing and management of foreign workers to Malaysia. In 2013, Bestinet was given the mandate by the government of Malaysia to implement FWCMS and by 2015, the platform managed to eliminate impersonation, paperwork, forgery, and corruption, and shortened waiting time in the processing of foreign worker applications, helping Malaysia’s commitment towards providing a more secure and abuse-free environment for foreign workers working in the country.

As we clearly stated, the 100 agents were accredited by the government of Malaysia. We question Charles’ motive in taking this statement of fact which is publicly available and twisting it into an alleged admission by Bestinet of having accredited recruitment agents.

It appears that Charles has chosen to continue to issue untruthful and malicious allegations against Bestinet, for which we continue to demand a full apology and retraction.

Bestinet takes these baseless allegations very seriously and is in the process of engaging a lawyer to take the necessary action.

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