"Appointments for sale" is the most recent difficulty experienced by certain employers, particularly those from small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), in their efforts to hire overseas workers for their organizations.

Some of the employers interviewed by The Star stated that it was challenging to acquire appointments due to the bureaucracy involved in developing foreign personnel.

One of them, who did not wish to be identified, stated that if an employer were to interview to secure employees, there was a good possibility they would receive less than half of what was required.

"If you apply for 50 staff, you will receive 20; SMEs bear the brunt of this shortage because their annual sales are between RM5 million and RM20 million.

"Giant organizations receive priority because the government supports them, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often overlooked unless you know someone.

"You must lobby because applications are often rejected because there are many standards to meet and documentation to post.

"You also need some assistance from the organization to promote your applications," he stated.

According to the source, this followed a series of arrests by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged bribery in procuring foreign worker quotas by firms.

The Chief executive officer of an information technology company was among those arrested.

According to the source, residents work as ordinary laborers for at least three months before purchasing a vehicle and becoming ehailing drivers or "entrepreneurs."

He noted that this was the shelf life of a local worker in the manufacturing industry, which is why local businesses continue hiring foreign workers.

Currently, the Human Resources Ministry's Foreign Workers Centralized Management System (FWCMS) is utilized to recruit foreign workers in Malaysia.

An employer must build a company profile online and upload all relevant papers, including the company's annual revenue and Employee Provident Fund.

There is also a ratio involved; for SMEs, it is 1:1; however, for larger organizations, it is 1:3 (one local to three foreign workers), depending on the organization's size and revenue.

Another industry insider disclosed that they know individuals who offer to pay for an interview.

The fee is between RM1,300 and RM1,500 per person; there is no quota to worry about.

"Those who pay within three weeks will receive it; however, those who attend the interview without payment may not receive it for up to three months. It is common knowledge.

The source stated, "We already have a system in place, and those who are aware of their responsibilities should carry out their duties with integrity so that this does not occur."

Some enterprises in George Town that seek to hire foreign workers have encountered problems with "agents" who claim to be able to help them get interview sessions for the application and screening procedure in Putrajaya.

Datuk William Ng, chairman of the policy and government relations for the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (Samenta), stated that these enterprises reported the instances to Samenta and voiced their concerns about probable "hanky-panky" underlying the approach.

"We received numerous complaints from members who encountered problems employing foreign labor via the FWCMS.

"They are expected to interview Putrajaya after registering.

"They are either physically present or represented by agents.

"However, there have been numerous instances in which applicants have been informed on their way to an interview that it has been canceled or postponed due to understaffing or incorrect scheduling" (Putrajaya).

"What's peculiar is that shortly after postponed, canceled, or rejected interviews or applications, 'agents' would call the applicants.

"These 'agents' would offer assistance and expedited processing for a price ranging from RM1,000 to RM1,500 per applicant.

"It arouses suspicion, and we wonder how those 'agents' are aware of the status of our application in such a short period of time," said Ng.

He stated that the association wished for the interviews to be conducted at the state level or through industry or association organizations with certified officers.

"In the past, during interviews with ministries such as the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti), officers from other agencies would also be present.

"However, they have eliminated third-party interviewers as of this year.

"We intend to eliminate the use of agents and simplify hiring foreign personnel.

"The interviews may not be necessary at all.

"If the process can be delegated to the state or association level, then the relevant agencies can participate in the panel and assist in the decision-making process," he said.

Ng stated that simplifying the procedure would save time and money and decrease the possibility of dishonest parties exploiting opportunities.