Kuching: The FWTA (Sarawak Foreign Workforce Transformation Approach) issue is no longer merely a simple business fee dispute.
It is now a major public interest issue involving government transparency, accountability, and ultimately the cost of living borne by ordinary Sarawakians.
Had it not been for the persistent efforts of Pending Assemblywoman Violet Yong, who continuously raised questions both inside and outside the State Legislative Assembly and was among the first to expose the many concerns surrounding the FWTA charging mechanism, many Sarawakians today would still have little understanding of how the entire system operates, let alone the role that the private company involved will play once the scheme is fully implemented.
Since this issue first surfaced, much of the information available to the public has come to light only through relentless questioning by opposition representatives, rather than through proactive, comprehensive disclosure by the government.
Businesses are not cash machines; the costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers.
The high fees imposed under FWTA are not merely a problem for businesses and employers. The ultimate victims of these additional costs will be ordinary Sarawakians.
Foreign workers form the backbone of Sarawak’s construction, manufacturing, plantation, and service sectors.
When FWTA-related processing fees and annual charges increase significantly, businesses will inevitably face mounting financial pressure. For many local SMEs and contractors, the only practical option will be to pass those additional costs on to the market.
This means that when construction costs rise, housing prices will inevitably increase, making home ownership even more difficult for young Sarawakians.
When manufacturers and service providers are burdened with additional expenses, those costs will eventually be reflected in the prices of everyday goods and services, from a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop to vegetables at the market to daily necessities sold in retail stores.
It is deeply contradictory for the GPS government to claim it is committed to easing the people’s cost of living while, at the same time, allowing the FWTA system to impose excessive charges on local businesses.
Such a policy effectively drains the pockets of ordinary Sarawakians and risks triggering another wave of inflationary pressure.
If businesses are treated as cash machines and private companies are allowed to profit handsomely from administrative charges.
At the same time, the public is left to bear the cost; it is entirely understandable why many Sarawakians feel dissatisfied and frustrated.
Public Deserves Answers on Beneficiaries and Contract Transparency
This issue once again demonstrates the crucial role played by the opposition in holding the government accountable.
As more details emerge, it is only natural that the public will begin asking a more fundamental question: whether the private company that stands to benefit directly from the FWTA charging system has any connection whatsoever to political figures, senior government officials, or influential interest groups.
Such questions do not arise without reason. They stem from the government’s continued refusal to disclose the full Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement, as well as its failure to adequately explain how the company was selected and what criteria were used in the decision-making process.
When a public charging system is implemented by a private company and the revenue collected does not flow into government coffers, the people have every right to know who stands to profit from the arrangement and through what process the company was awarded the project.
What the public opposes is not merely the issue of fees. The greater concern is any system that lacks transparency and accountability while requiring businesses and ordinary citizens to bear the long-term financial burden.
I therefore call upon the Sarawak Government to immediately disclose the full decision-making process behind the FWTA project, including the complete PPP agreement and all relevant contractual details.
Matters involving public interest must be subjected to public scrutiny, and the government must demonstrate its commitment to transparency through concrete action rather than mere assurances.
Chin Fang Chi
DAP Sarawak Kenyalang Branch Chairman
23 June 2026
