Former Home Minister Umar Naseer has said that an investigation must be launched after the existing online platform for managing the details of foreign workers in the Maldives was scrapped with an agreement with Malaysia's Bestinet company.
Appearing on a talk show on Dhivehi Channel on Sunday, Umar said Bestinet officials met him during an official visit to Malaysia when he was the Home Minister under the former President Abdulla Yameen's government.
"When I checked their background, they were not the type of company to deal with," Umar said explaining his reason for rejecting Bestinet's offer.
But the Yameen administration signed an agreement with Bestinet in October 2016 after Umar's resignation in June 2016. However, the government of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2018 decided not to implement the deal.
Despite concern about the company's background and allegations of corruption, the government of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu which came to power in 2023 decided to move forward with the agreement.
Umar said that an investigation must be done into why Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan decided to continue the agreement with such a company. He also called for Ihusaan's removal if he was found to be involved in any wrongdoing.
"If Ihusaan has done something wrong, he should be sacked," Umar stated.
He further said that the Maldives government must maintain records of those who visit and leave the Maldives and that it is a risk to national security if a third country is able to access that information.
He also noted that there were several local companies able to do that work.
"Maldives is an independent country. Maldivians must build that system. That should be under the full control of Maldivians," he said.
Bestinet faces serious allegations of corruption, fraud and deception. The company has faced these accusations in Malaysia, Bangladesh and Nepal and some investigations are currently underway.
Independent probes have revealed that Bestinet has links to the country's royal family, powerful politicians and businessmen.
The government did not see any issues with coming to an agreement with such a company.
Homeland Security Minister Ihusaan said the agreement with Bestinet to build the expat system was reached after the 2016 agreement failed and USD 13.7 million in damages could not be paid in one lump sum.
Although the agreement signed during Yameen's administration was not implemented by the MDP government, the company did not go to court to seek any compensation.
Following President Muizzu's decision to resume the agreement, the company will receive MVR 6.9 billion over 15 years.
The government earns MVR 6200 per foreign worker each year. That is MVR 2000 for the quota fee and a work permit fee of MVR 4200 at the rate of MVR 350 each month.
According to the agreement with Bestinet, the government will pay USD 100 or MVR 1542 to the company as the fees for each foreign worker every year. The employee will have to pay USD 50 (MVR 771) per person for medical insurance. These are the only facts known about the agreement so far.
