Kuching: I am deeply concerned by the Sarawak Government’s repeated assertion that discussions on the Foreign Workers Transformation Application (FWTA) issue are still ongoing, while at the same time the company involved continues to push ahead with the implementation of the charging system.
The contradiction is difficult for the public to understand. On one hand, the Government tells the people that the matter remains under discussion. On the other hand, the charging mechanism continues to move forward, and the fee structure continues to be adjusted. Under such circumstances, it is only natural for the public to question how meaningful these so-called discussions actually are.
If the Government is genuinely still discussing the matter, why is the charging system allowed to proceed uninterrupted? If no final decision has been reached, why is the company able to continue implementing its plans according to its intended direction?
This “Government continues discussing, company continues charging” situation is precisely why many people are beginning to question whether the discussions are merely intended to calm public concerns while the implementation proceeds in parallel.
More importantly, the Sarawak Government has previously stated that revenue collected through FWTA will not go into government coffers but will instead be collected by the private company appointed to implement the system. The Government has also indicated that the fee rates are determined by the company itself.
If the fee structure is indeed decided by the private company, then the public has every right to ask a simple question: what exactly can the Government’s ongoing discussions change?
If the Government has no authority over the fee rates, what is the practical purpose of continuously emphasising that discussions are ongoing? Conversely, if the Government does possess the ability to influence the fee structure or charging mechanism, then its earlier claim that the fees are solely determined by the company appears inconsistent with reality.
This, in my view, is the central issue that must be addressed.
What the people truly want to know is not how many meetings are being held or how many discussions are taking place. What they want to know is what role the Government actually plays in the entire charging system, and whether it possesses any real authority to influence the policy.
If the Government is unable to influence the fee structure, then the public deserves to know why it continues to stress that discussions are ongoing. If the Government can influence the fee structure, then it should clearly explain the extent of its decision-making power, rather than leaving the public confused by seemingly contradictory statements.
As public concern continues to grow, the Government has a responsibility to provide clear and concrete answers instead of repeatedly responding that the matter is “still under discussion.”
Only by openly explaining who holds the actual decision-making authority over the FWTA charging mechanism, and by clarifying what these discussions are capable of achieving, can the Government effectively address public concerns and restore confidence in transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Sylvester Lim Kai Bin
DAPSY Stampin Chief
22 June 2026
