Similar Functions Of Two Ministries Malaysia Is Unique

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MP SPEAKS | Presently, the Home Ministry and Human Resources Ministry are entrusted with the recruitment and management of migrant workers.
It is essential to note that a comprehensive study on the management of migrant workers has already been conducted during my tenure as the human resources minister.
The independent committee on migrant workers produced a report explicitly stating that the Human Resources Ministry should be the sole authority responsible for handling migrant workers.
The findings of this thorough investigation are crystal clear: out of 64-odd countries managing migrant workers, Malaysia stands alone in having two ministries involved in this crucial task.
This dual responsibility is not only inefficient but also counterproductive. The report emphasises the need for a streamlined approach, with the Human Resources Ministry taking the lead in managing migrant worker recruitment.
It is evident that the wheel does not need to be reinvented; we have a well-documented solution at our disposal.
Migrant workersTo address this issue, I strongly advocate for the immediate establishment of a task force dedicated to implementing the recommendations outlined in the aforementioned report.
This task force should comprise experts, stakeholders and representatives from relevant sectors to ensure a swift and effective execution of the proposed measures.
The long-awaited migrant worker management report was recently declassified and released, which makes ignoring it an inefficient approach.
The committee, headed by former Court of Appeal judge Hishamudin Yunus, was set up by the Pakatan Harapan government in August 2018.
Its preliminary findings were presented to the then-home minister Muhyiddin Yassin and me as human resources minister in January 2019 before the full report was presented to the cabinet on May 22, 2019.
The current situation, where two ministries share responsibility for managing migrant workers, is not in the best interest of our nation. Functions are overlapping and thus corruption seeps in!
Transparency and corrupt-free practices
The singular authority of the Human Resources Ministry in this matter aligns with international best practices and will undoubtedly result in a more efficient, transparent and cohesive system.
And it would do much good if all recruitment and management of migrant workers were done transparently with due accountability and corrupt-free practices by the ministry.
I urge the relevant authorities to take prompt action and prioritise the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the report.
The establishment of a task force is crucial to ensuring that we align with global standards in managing migrant workers and, more importantly, to address the pressing needs of our nation.
Let us not overlook the wealth of information and expertise contained in the report. It is time to act decisively for the benefit of our country and its workforce. - Mkini
M KULASEGARAN is the Ipoh Barat MP and deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform).
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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