Gazi Anowar :
Malaysian labour market for Bangladeshi nationals is yet to be freed from syndication. A blacklisted company ‘Synerflux’s SPPA’ by Malaysian government is now active again as Bangladesh trying to reopen its labour market there.
The SPPA (Sistern Permohonan Pekerja Asing) had reportedly monopolized the recruitment process of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia and turned into a powerful labour recruitment syndicate.
As a result, labour recruitment from Bangladesh was stopped in September last year. It also contributed to slowdown the country’s remittance flow.
At one stage, when Bangladesh government is about to reopen the Malaysian labour market for the Bangladeshi workers after trying hard, this syndicate became active again. A Bangladeshi born Malaysian, Amin Nur alias Aminul Islam Bin Abdul Nur controls the syndicate. He also received the Malaysian highest state titled ‘Dato Sri’, sources said.
To recruit workers from Bangladesh to Malaysia, this syndicate got an approval of a company named ‘Bestinet (BD) Ltd’ under Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
The Foreign Companies enlisted in Bangladesh handle unauthorized 16 medical centres for health check-up when a government-to-government (G2G) plus system remained. Among 16, Ruhul Amin possesses two centres.
When Malaysian government banned the G2G system, then the foreign companies enlisted in Bangladesh take the opportunity to recruit manpower.
However, the Malaysian government suspended the activities of Synerflux and Bestinet last year. For the widespread corruption, Nepal, Maldives and Malaysia blacklisted also the company.
It was alleged said that the company under the leadership of Ruhul Amin has already taken about 200 million Malaysian Ringgit in the name of giving jobs for Bangladeshi workers.
The Malaysian Human Resources Ministry has reportedly submitted an investigation report to Mahathir’s government, accusing controversial activities of Bangladeshi Malaysian Amin Noor.
When contacted, BAIRA General Secretary Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman said, “We have recently came to know the matter through media. The governments of both countries are trying to solve the problem.”
Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has taken an initiative to reopen Bangladesh’s labour market in Malaysia. BAIRA and government will work simultaneously in this regard, he added.
However, the high officials of the Bangladeshi High Commission to Malaysia want that labour recruitment should be through Synerflux and Bestinet. They also recommend these recruiting agencies.
Rownaq Jahan, Secretary of Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare & Overseas Employment told The New Nation, “We will take positive steps for the sake of labour market in Malaysia. Bangladesh will not accept any controversial company in this regard.
