KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has raided several firms owned by a businessman in connection with the processing of visas and recruitment of Bangladeshi workers.

Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the businessman, a Datuk Seri, was called up on Monday to assist with the investigation.

“I can confirm that we are investigating the company which handles the recruitment of foreign workers from Bangladesh as well as developing a system to manage the registration of foreign workers,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Azam said no arrest had been made so far, adding that more individuals will be called up for questioning.

He said the investigation was focused on elements of graft in connection with registration and approval on the hiring of foreign workers, with several individuals involved with developing the centralised system.

It was reported that the MACC raided several firms belonging to the businessman in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

The businessman was said to be involved in handling matters connected to the registration of foreign workers as well as in control of most of the 25 Bangladeshi agencies selected for the recruitment of workers from that country.

A news portal claimed that most of the foreign workers who wanted to work in Malaysia were charged exorbitant fees amounting to tens of thousands of ringgit.

Several NGOs and politicians unhappy with the businessman’s alleged monopoly had expressed reservations too.