Zahid denies links to Bestinet, says ready for any investigation

Former home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamdi says Bestinet had a business before his time in the ministry.

(FMT) – Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today denied any links to Bestinet Sdn Bhd, which is at the centre of claims that over 5 billion Nepal rupees (RM185 million) was milked from Nepalis seeking work in Malaysia over the past five years.

When met at the Parliament lobby, he said he was ready to be investigated over the matter.

“I’m not afraid,” he said. “I’m ready to provide proof against claims that I was involved, or that I abused my power, or that my family members were involved.

“They can investigate, I’m ready to come forward. I don’t care if it’s an old or new case. I was never involved and am ready to be investigated. It’s not my company,” the Bagan Datuk MP said.

According to the Nepali Times, the money made by Nepali businessmen and officials over the years came from fees for visas and biometric screening involving Nepali companies affiliated with Bestinet.

Bestinet, which developed a foreign worker system for the Immigration Department, has been linked with Zahid and several Umno politicians as well as Bangladesh middlemen who made huge profits from Bangladeshi migrant workers.

When asked about links with Aminul Islam Abdul Nor, who is said to be Zahid’s Bangladeshi brother-in-law, the former home minister denied any relationship with the person.

“Amin is a Bangladeshi,” he said. “How could he end up being my brother-in-law? All my younger sisters are married,” he added.

Apart from Bestinet, which is allegedly run by Amin, the report also named Kathmandu-based affiliate, Malaysia VLN Nepal and One Stop Centre (OSC), as among the companies involved in the migrant worker registration scam.

Zahid also denied having any share in the company, saying Bestinet had a business before his time in the home ministry.