Court Told Of Procedure To Recruit Bangladeshi Workers

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Forms pertaining to the Foreign Workers Management System (FORMS) needed be filled up to recruit Bangladeshi workers, a corruption trial was told Friday.

Foreign Workers Management Division principal assistant secretary Ayub Abd Rahman said this was because Bangladesh was not among 14 countries from which foreign workers were allowed to be recruited by the Home Ministry.

He said the 14 countries were Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Uzbeskistan, Turkistan and Laos.

"To recruit Bangladeshi workers, employers cannot merely apply online but must submit an application letter and get the approval of Home Minister," he told the Sessions Court.

Ayub was testifying at the trial of former Immigration director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don, 57, who is charged with agreeing to accept RM60,000 from businessman Datuk Low Chang Hian as part payment to expedite approvals for 4,337 visa applications for Bangladeshis to enter the country.

Wahid was accused of committing the offence at his house in Jalan Lembah Ledang off Jalan Duta at 10.15pm on July 10 2007.

Ayub, the prosecution's sixth witness, said applicants must complete the forms in the required sector and produce pertinent documents before filling up the FORMS.

He said applicants would be interviewed by a panel and if the requirements were met, they would have to pay a levy within 48 hours after a declaration letter was issued.

"The letter is valid for six months from the date it is issued. Applicants can then make arrangement with the Immigration Department to recruit foreign workers," he said.

To a question from Deputy Public Prosecutor Nik Azrin Zairin Nik Abdullah, Ayub said the quantum of levy were manufacturing and construction (RM1,200), plantation (RM540), agriculture (RM360) and services (RM1,800).

Ayub, who is also one of the panel members, said the services sector interview was conducted by only two panel members while that of other sectors by three or four members.

The trial before judge Rosbiahanin Arifin will be continued on Nov 15. -- BERNAMA