Come up with alternatives to reduce dependence on foreign workers - Azalina

Any quarters who disagree with the proposal to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers to meet the demands of sectors with 3D jobs (dangerous, dirty and difficult) in the country should come up with the alternatives to reduce the country's dependence on foreign workers.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said the government had no choice but to make the proposal as the locals were neither keen nor willing to work in the sectors.

However, she said she was confident that the government would carry out in depth study on the proposal to ensure that it would not affect or jeopardise job opportunities for the locals.

"This is indeed a sensitive issue. It's not easy. I believe the government will look at this matter stage by stage. Hence, we call on all quarters not to simply oppose the proposal, but to come up with the alternatives for the government to consider.

"I'm sure that the government has its own mechanism to resolve the issue, especially in ensuring that each foreign worker brought into the country will be deported when the time comes," she told a press conference after paying a courtesy call on Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Omar Osman at the Chancellory Building, USM, here yesterday.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called on local youths to take over the 3D jobs to reduce the country's dependence on foreign workers, who were dominating the plantation industry, manufacturing, construction, and cleaning service sectors.

Azalina, who is also Pengerang Member of Parliament, said the unwillingness of local youths to take up 3D jobs, including in the oil and gas industry in her constituency, had resulted in the industry being dominated by foreigners.

"I have heard complaints from employers that local youths just could not handle the stress of working in that kind of environment," she added.