The AI powered TURAP platform will replace multiple agents with direct matching to eliminate middlemen and leakages.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry (KESUMA) has assured that the artificial intelligence (AI) powered Universal Recruitment Advanced Platform (TURAP) will eliminate the monopoly of middlemen, leakages and interference by interested parties in the recruitment of foreign workers.
KESUMA said the system, approved by the Cabinet on April 15, reflects the MADANI government’s commitment to reforming the governance of foreign labour recruitment while modernising the country’s migration process.
The ministry said TURAP would address issues such as forced labour and human trafficking, while strengthening the protection of migrant workers’ rights.
“Through this transformation, the traditional recruitment process, which previously involved multiple layers of agents, will be replaced with an AI matching system, enabling employers in Malaysia to recruit workers directly from source countries,” it said in a written reply published on the Parliament website.
KESUMA was responding to Senator Datuk Koh Nai Kwong, who sought assurance that TURAP would be transparent and would not repeat the weaknesses of previous systems.
To ensure the system remains free from agent influence and external interference, KESUMA said TURAP would be supported by four key control pillars. These include the use of Transparent Algorithm (Explainable AI) for direct matching that is open and auditable, integrity governance involving the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and CyberSecurity Malaysia, as well as Immutable Ledger technology to provide a digital audit trail.
The system will also feature direct financial transactions through official cost structures to eliminate hidden charges, while the Human in the Loop (HITL) principle will ensure final policy decisions remain under KESUMA’s control in line with international standards.
KESUMA stressed that TURAP was not merely a rebranding exercise or software upgrade, but a shift towards a more ethical, transparent, efficient and fair foreign worker recruitment ecosystem.
“KESUMA will not compromise with any party that attempts to manipulate or undermine the integrity of this new system,” the ministry said.