Pertama Digital Bhd’s subsidiary Dapat Vista (M) Sdn Bhd (DVSB), the operator of the eJamin online bail payment system, has backed the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recommendation for an urgent formal agreement with the government, following concerns over the management and safeguarding of bail funds.
In a statement on Thursday, Pertama Digital and DVSB said they supported completing the agreement to clarify responsibilities and strengthen safeguards while ensuring the eJamin service continues operating for the courts and public.
The companies also addressed a RM557,258 difference highlighted by the PAC in the reconciliation of eJamin balances as at Dec 31, 2024.
DVSB said the variance was due to funds in transit, involving transactions already recorded in the eJamin system but which had yet to clear or appear in corresponding bank statements at the year-end cut-off date.
The company said bail collections, refunds and forfeiture transfers take place daily, resulting in continuously changing system and bank balances. It added that supporting records had been provided to the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court, the Prime Minister’s Department and Accountant General’s Department for verification.
The explanation represents DVSB’s position on the discrepancy raised by the PAC.
eJamin was launched in January 2020 following approval by the relevant authorities and was initially available at six courts in the Klang Valley. Its rollout was subsequently accelerated during the Covid-19 Movement Control Order, expanding to more than 120 courts nationwide by end-2020.
DVSB said discussions on establishing a formal agreement have involved several government agencies since before the service was launched.
The Ministry of Finance issued a letter of no objection to the proposed implementation in December 2019, subject to conditions including financial compliance, government ownership of data and the conclusion of an agreement.
Work on the formal agreement resumed in February 2025 and is now at the final government approval stage, according to DVSB.
The current Finance Ministry special exemption for eJamin runs until Dec 31, 2026, or until the formal agreement is executed, whichever comes first.
Under the current operating model, DVSB said neither the government nor the public pays development, operating or maintenance fees for eJamin.
Bail funds not needed for daily refunds are placed in deposits and investment arrangements with approved financial institutions, while only the interest income generated is made available to DVSB to finance the system’s operations. The company said eJamin currently costs about RM450,000 a month to operate.
DVSB said it had previously proposed three possible longer-term arrangements to the government — an outright purchase of the system, a subscription model, or a hybrid arrangement under which DVSB would operate the platform for five years before transferring it to the government.
The company said eJamin continues to process bail payments, refunds and forfeitures in accordance with applicable court orders while discussions with the authorities continue.
