Expert: Fomema gaps let syndicates slip through

New Straits Times

26-05-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: A security expert has called on the government to tighten oversight of the Foreign Workers' Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema), citing weak inter-agency coordination and poor system checks that have left the agency vulnerable to exploitation by criminal syndicates.
Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia's (UPNM) Faculty of Defence Studies and Management Professor Dr Mohd Mizan Aslam said the current Fomema system lacked a comprehensive verification process, making it susceptible to identity fraud and document forgery.
"Although the system is centralised, the database and monitoring mechanisms are not thorough. This opens the door for syndicates to manipulate data and forge health certificates," he told the New Straits Times.
He said Fomema currently processed medical certifications based solely on submitted documents, without verifying whether foreign workers had criminal records, previous deportations, or were using false identities.
"This loophole has serious implications. Without accurate identity verification — via biometrics or inter-agency checks — syndicates will continue to exploit the system," he added.
Mizan comments come in the wake of a recent crackdown by the Immigration Department on a forgery syndicate capable of producing up to 100 fake passports daily.
The syndicate, which charged between RM100 and RM150 per fake passport, also manipulated the biodata of undocumented migrants to obtain Fomema health clearances. These forged medical documents were sold for between RM600 and RM1,000 each.
He said this exposed clear weaknesses in the system, adding that syndicates were not just bypassing immigration rules, but also public health safeguards.
"This situation could lead to the return of diseases like tuberculosis and hepatitis B, especially as infected individuals from countries with weaker healthcare systems go undetected," he said.
"Malaysia has successfully controlled these diseases through vaccination and health campaigns. But without effective screening, they could resurface and strain our health infrastructure."
Mizan said that while international passport systems were generally secure, Fomema documents lacked similar safeguards.
"Unlike passports, Fomema certificates do not have tamper-proof features like QR codes or digital watermarks. This makes them easier to forge and abuse," he said.
To address the issue, Mizan urged the government to introduce biometric verification for all foreign worker medical screenings, strengthen access control to Fomema's database, and integrate its system with immigration and law enforcement agencies.
He also proposed placing certified integrity officers at key government departments to monitor compliance and prevent internal collusion.
While acknowledging growing concerns over the agency's integrity, Mizan stressed that Fomema should not be dismantled but reformed.
"We shouldn't abandon Fomema. We need to upgrade its technology, tighten control mechanisms, and improve coordination across agencies so it can fulfil its role in safeguarding national interests," he said.