MIRI: The implementation of the Foreign Workers Transformation Approach (FWTA) initiative continues to be reinforced as part of the Sarawak Government’s strategic efforts to ensure the management of foreign workers is carried out in a transparent, systematic and accountable manner, thus safeguarding the interests of Sarawakians.

The initiative not only enhances the efficiency of the state’s labour ecosystem, but also serves to address the issue of undocumented foreign workers through a more coordinated and integrated management framework.

Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring) Datuk Gerawat Gala stressed that the implementation of FWTA complies fully with established legal, administrative and financial procedures, and has received the approval of the relevant authorities.

According to him, the implementation is also subject to periodic reviews, audits and monitoring by authorised bodies to ensure continued compliance, accountability and value for money.

He said this when commenting on the statement of Pending Assemblywoman Violet Yong regarding the implementation and financial structure of the FWTA which was raised in the debate session of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) recently.

Elaborating further, he explained that the FWTA was implemented through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the entire development and operational costs being fully funded by the private sector without involving government allocations.

“The approved RM1,854 fee is utilised entirely for operational purposes, system maintenance and upgrades, and the government does not receive any portion of the payment,” he said.
He added that revenue generated through the platform is reinvested into the development of critical infrastructure and infostructure, including the Integrated Immigration and Labour Centre, a centralised digital platform, enhanced cyber security measures as well as human capital development.

Addressing the figure of 106,242 approvals linked to collections amounting to nearly RM200 million, he explained that 36,672 AP approvals were recorded in 2025, of which 35,336 proceeded to payment.

“A total of 69,570 applications were processed manually before the implementation of the FWTA and were not subject to the fee,” he said.

Meanwhile, he noted that FWTA Sdn. Bhd. had been legally appointed as a subcontractor by the service provider, with the appointment made in accordance with procurement procedures and subject to audit and monitoring by the authorities.

Datuk Gerawat also cautioned against politicising administrative matters involving the state’s interests, urging instead for discussions to be conducted responsibly and grounded in verified facts.

The government, he said, remains committed to the principles of transparency and good governance, although any disclosure involving contracts or commercial dealings remains subject to existing laws and confidentiality obligations. -UKASnews