'It is obvious that the truth is not out. The law is clear and simple. Foreign workers must possess a work permit before gaining employment in Malaysia.'

Immigration burns midnight oil to clear permit backlog

DNA: What 'technical and communications problems' is Immigration Department director Alias Ahmad talking about? My company has a lot of foreign workers too and Immigration takes almost a year to renew their work permits.

There have been instances where the workers received their permits after the expiry date. This shows the efficiency of Immigration Department. I have seen many Immigration staffs in coffee shops and repairing their cars during working hours.

Apart from that, many arrive late, leave early for lunch, and at 4pm start to get ready to go home. With the prevailing attitude, it would definitely take a year for Immigration to issue the work permits.

Saengch: ‘Technical and communication' problems can only mean a coordinated effort by Malaysian government agencies to create an illegal situation to extort money from Western Digital and the employees.

Kudos to Western Digital (and the US law to punish bribery in foreign land) for not surrendering to the Malaysian corrupted government (or else the "technical and communication" problem would have been resolved long ago).

Tkc: Thank goodness they did not blame computer system problem - which is up there in the list of favourite phantom problems in most government agencies.

Ferdtan: Well done, Malaysiakini for highlighting the plight of the Indonesian workers without work permits.

The precursor of any true democratic nation is a free press. Governments that are not performing, corrupted and dictatorial will fall once the people are well-informed enough not to be suppressed.

The government and its agencies like the police, MACC, judiciary, AG's Chambers and other civil departments cannot get away easily from any wrong committed as adverse exposure will get them sacked due to public pressure.

A free press acts as a check and balance on the three pillars of government: the executive, legislature and the judiciary. Let's fight to abolish or amend the stifling Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984.

ONG: Earlier, before the clarification from Immigration, I read many comments condemning Western Digital. Now the comments are condemning Immigration but I don't come across any apology from those who had earlier blindly condemned Western Digital before getting the facts of the case.

I also see some comments now asking why Western Digital is employing foreigners instead of locals, including graduates. Perhaps these commentators should also ask why almost all Malaysians employ foreigners instead of locals as maids.

While they are at it, don't forget to ask all the restaurants, coffee shops, contractors and plantations why they are also employing so many foreigners.

Hbasill: It is obvious that the truth is not out. To me both Western Digital and Immigration is at fault. The law is clear and simple. Foreign workers must possess a work permit before gaining employment in Malaysia.

So the argument that these Indonesian workers permits were supposedly delayed because of communication breakdown is utter rubbish and stupid on the part of the Immigration Department.

On the part of Western Digital, how did it employ these workers when they were not in possession of the work permits? The company tag being replacement for passports is a different issue. How did these workers get employed without work permit is the question before us.

Both Western Digital and the Malaysian government have violated the law. MACC should rightfully investigate the matter and charge those responsible.

Anonymous: This is where PM Najib Razak's 'transformation' is destined - failure. While 'transformation' sounds good on paper, it is the 'small' things like communication, responsibility and customer service that count.

Kit P: "There was a communication breakdown among the (government) agencies involved," said the Immigration official.

The story I hear is some officials needed ‘lubricating oil' for the permits to move at each stage of the process. Layers of red tape and all kinds of regulations and requirements are a great promoter of corruption.

Ttloo: This is 'Malaysia Boleh' as proven by Immigration Department in clearing the permit backlog overnight, especially when cornered.

This same old problem would not have arisen if the ministries concerned had slotted it under their KRA (key result area) for their annual appraisal. Or have they?

It is time to buckle up the civil service to prevent another embarrassing incident occurring and thus jeopardising Malaysia's international image as a foreign investor haven.

Michael Angelo: Miscommunication, misunderstood, misrepresented, lost in translation, etc. All the usual jargons used to cover up their shortcomings and inefficiency.

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