Santiago said while Bestinet’s lawyers had issued a “polished” press statement defending FWCMS, such claims could not replace proper regulatory scrutiny.

The DAP man also challenged Bestinet’s assertion that FWCMS presented “zero cost to the government”, arguing that while the company might have privately funded the platform, it continued to collect fees for every foreign worker processed – costs which he said were ultimately borne by employers and workers.

“If Bestinet is truly the hero of this story, open the books and ensure a full audit under independent oversight,” he said in a statement.

“Every fee collected, every contract signed, and every ringgit that passed through this system must be laid bare for public scrutiny.”

Santiago said the Auditor-General’s 2022 report had identified weaknesses in FWCMS, including vulnerabilities to manipulation and governance gaps.

He also noted serious irregularities found by the Public Accounts Committee, such as unauthorised users approving applications and procurements made without proper process.

Santiago also criticised the FWCMS concession, describing it as a long-term arrangement awarded without open tender that involved control over critical national data infrastructure.

He raised concerns over fee flows and transparency, asking who benefits from them and how revenues are distributed.

“These are not smears. These are legitimate questions that the government is obligated to answer,” he said.