PETALING JAYA: Employers and businessmen have toned down their protests following the re-opening of counter services at the Immigration offices in sharp contrast to loud complaints a week ago over the mandatory online permit renewal for foreign workers.
Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and the Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) deputy secretary-general Tan Sri Teo Chiang Kok said its members were happy after the counter services resumed.
“We are, however, worried that this will end on Feb 28. This is not what we want.
“Counter services must continue to be made available to the public.
“The Government should give us the option of doing renewals online via MyEG or over the counter,” he said here yesterday.
Echoing this, other business groups pointed out that the extension of counter services until Feb 28 would not allow all employers to try and use the new MyEG system as permit renewals were only done once a year.
The Immigration Department had announced that renewals must only be done online via MyEG effective Jan 5.
However, it decided to re-open its counters until Feb 28 following protests from various groups while still allowing online applications via MyEG.
Malay Chamber of Commerce acting secretary-general Hanafee Yusoff said employers must be given the option of renewal over the counter.
“The department said it had to outsource the service because its offices were too congested.
“By allowing the online system as well as the counter services, this problem can be solved.
“Surely, many will choose the online system for its convenience while others will opt for the counter services which cost less,” he said.
Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Tan Sri K.K. Eswaran said the move to re-open counter services was good and showed that the Government was listening to the people.
“Please continue with this dual system. If they can afford to pay, they can use MyEG. If not, they can choose to do it at the counters.
“The level of service at the counters also needs to be improved,” he said.
Centre For A Better Tomorrow (CENBET) co-president Gan Ping Sieu said the decision to appoint MyEG as the sole company to renew permits had raised questions about good governance.
“It was most embarrassing that the Competition Commission has now started a probe into alleged monopolistic practices following the public outcry.
“This could have been avoided had the Home Ministry or the department cleared the matter with the Competition Commission earlier,” he said in a statement.
The Government, he said, should review all of its outsourced services which had created monopolistic situations to ensure that consumers continue to have options.
news source & image credits: thestar.com.my
