Kuching: The Sarawak Government should reconsider and scrap the Foreign Workers Transformation Approach (FWTA) in its current form if it is not prepared to fully disclose details of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, said ADUN for Pending, Violet Yong.
In a statement, Yong said the latest explanation by Deputy Minister Gerawat Gala on the FWTA still left several critical questions unanswered despite repeated assurances that the system is transparent, efficient, and capable of processing work permit applications within 61 days.
She said transparency should be demonstrated through disclosure rather than assertions, adding that the government had yet to reveal key details of the FWTA concession, including the identity of the concessionaire, its ultimate beneficial owners, the value and duration of the concession, the fee structure imposed on employers, and the performance benchmarks tied to the 61-day processing target.
Yong also questioned the government’s claim that applications can be processed within 61 days, calling for data on the number of applications approved within the timeframe, those exceeding it, and the average processing period since the FWTA was implemented.
“The government’s assertion that the system leaves ‘no room for abuse’ should be backed by evidence, including whether the procurement process underwent independent audits, conflict-of-interest declarations were enforced, beneficial ownership was independently verified, and whether the concession agreement contains enforceable performance standards, review mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance,” she said.
Yong also raised concerns that engagement with industry stakeholders only began after the FWTA was implemented, arguing that post-implementation engagement could not replace meaningful consultation during the policy formulation stage.
While acknowledging the need to modernise immigration services and improve administrative efficiency, Yong said employers required to use a privately operated platform and bear additional costs were entitled to full disclosure of the concession structure, financial arrangements and supporting performance data.
Yong added that until such disclosures are made, the FWTA would remain “a system defined by claims rather than verified transparency.”
