Malaysia is considering the adoption of a new foreign worker recruitment platform developed by Bestinet Sdn Bhd, the company founded by labour tycoon Datuk Seri Aminul Islam Abdul Nor.
The proposed software, called the Universal Recruitment Advanced Platform (TURAP), is being marketed as a system that would allow companies to hire workers directly through a digital portal, bypassing middlemen who often charge excessive fees, according to six people familiar with the matter.
Employers would be able to sign up and connect with prospective employees through the platform, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the matter remains private.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan mentioned the new recruitment system in an interview with The Star in early February, though he did not specify that Bestinet would operate it.
The development follows a January investigation by Bloomberg News into widespread corruption in Malaysia’s recruitment of migrant workers from Bangladesh, which highlighted the roles played by Amin and Bestinet.
Amin, better known as Amin, has denied contributing to high recruitment fees for migrant workers, insisting he has devoted his career to helping them. His law firm, Lui & Bhullar, said he declined to comment further. Representatives of Ramanan, the Prime Minister’s Office, and Bestinet also did not respond to requests for comment.
Bestinet already runs the Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS), which Malaysia uses to manage parts of its recruitment process, particularly from Bangladesh. That system includes modules for worker health checks and insurance but also involves recruitment agents.
In a July 2023 interview with Bloomberg, Amin likened the system to a highway, saying he was not responsible for how officials or agents used it, including approving bogus applications or overcharging workers.
In 2024, Bangladesh police requested Malaysia stop using FWCMS and sought Amin’s extradition, alleging he played a key role in a system that “fraudulently extorted” workers.
Malaysia’s Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed in October that Malaysian police were in contact with their Bangladeshi counterparts. Amin has not been extradited or charged.
Ramanan has said Malaysia hopes to adopt the new system by mid-2026, though the process remains at an early stage. Approval would be required from the Home Ministry and then the Cabinet. Ramanan became human resources minister in December after a reshuffle.
His predecessor, Steven Sim Chee Keong, had raised concerns about the proposal, including the potential of granting Amin and Bestinet greater influence.
Several current and former officials have expressed reservations about awarding Bestinet a lucrative contract. Under Amin’s proposal, Bestinet would receive a 12-year contract allowing it to charge companies US$1,000 (RM3,953.50) per foreign-worker application, plus a fee equivalent to one month’s salary per worker.
Malaysia had 2.1 million registered low-skilled foreign workers as of August, government data showed. The details are still under discussion and may change.
Officials also noted that middlemen might continue to play a role in source countries, as Malaysia has limited control over recruitment practices abroad.
Some warned that direct recruitment could be difficult for large companies seeking thousands of workers, and eliminating licensed agents might push more of the business underground, complicating oversight.
Amin has previously promoted the new direct-recruitment system, saying it would cut out agents and reduce costs. In a presentation, he even suggested the system could make Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a contender for the 2027 Nobel Peace Prize.
“Our target, within 36 months from now, is the Nobel Prize. This is our target. And we will get it,” Amin said.
