Kuching: The Foreign Workers Transformation Approach (FWTA) has raised serious questions regarding its governance, fee structure, and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement underpinning its implementation. These are precisely the kinds of issues that warrant proper legislative scrutiny and institutional oversight.
I therefore urge that the entire FWTA arrangement be brought before the Sarawak Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly for a comprehensive inquiry into its implementation, financial implications, contractual arrangements and overall accountability.
The PAC exists for one fundamental purpose: to scrutinise the decisions made by the executive, use of public resources and safeguard the public interest. Given the growing public concerns surrounding FWTA, it is both appropriate and necessary for the PAC to play its role and undertake an independent examination of this matter.
Such an inquiry should examine the justification and validity of the fee structure imposed under the FWTA, the terms and conditions of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement, any obligations undertaken by the State, the role and responsibilities of the private concessionaire, and whether the arrangement genuinely serves the interests of Sarawak and its people.
To date, the public remains unaware of the contents of the PPP agreement, the basis upon which the fees were determined, and whether sufficient safeguards exist to ensure value for money and protect businesses from unnecessary financial burdens. These unanswered questions have understandably led to growing public concern.
A transparent PAC inquiry would allow these issues to be examined through proper legislative processes by calling relevant ministries, agencies and stakeholders to provide explanations and supporting documentation. Such scrutiny is essential not only to establish accountability but also to restore public confidence in the decision-making process.
The effectiveness of the PAC, however, ultimately depends on its ability to operate independently and without fear or favour.
Oversight must be genuine rather than merely procedural. The committee must be prepared to rigorously examine government decisions whenever legitimate questions arise.
This also highlights the broader need to strengthen the institutional independence of the PAC. As practised at the federal level and in many mature parliamentary democracies, serious consideration should be given to having the PAC chaired by an opposition representative to reinforce public confidence in its impartiality.
At the very least, opposition representatives should be afforded full participation, equal access to relevant information and meaningful involvement throughout the inquiry process.
Until such scrutiny is undertaken, concerns surrounding the FWTA will continue to persist.
That is why I reiterate my calls on the Sarawak Government to immediately freeze the increased renewal fees while stakeholder engagements are ongoing, publicly disclose the full PPP agreement relating to the FWTA, and provide a comprehensive explanation of the contractual terms, financial arrangements and justification for the fee structure.
Sarawakians deserve transparency, accountability and proper legislative oversight. Referring the FWTA to the Sarawak Public Accounts Committee would be an important step towards ensuring that these principles are upheld and that any arrangement involving public interest is subjected to the level of scrutiny it rightly deserves.
YB Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen
MP for Bandar Kuching
26 June 2026
 to the Sarawak Public Accounts Committee (PAC), freeze increased renewal fees, disclose the PPP agreement, and ensure transparency, accountability, and legislative oversight.){kind=link}