Legalise illegal foreign workers: Amir Kahar
Published on: Monday, August 03, 2015
Kudat: The State Government should consider legalising illegal foreign workers in Sabah in order to help overcome the shortage of labourers especially in the construction industry, said Inspector-General of Projects in Sabah, Datuk Amir Kahar Tun Mustapha Harun. He said this was necessary to ensure development projects, whether by the Government or private sector, would not be affected.He said some projects in Sabah had been delayed due to the difficulty in hiring workers, apart from poor weather.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said many developers and contractors, during his visit to a number of projects, had voiced their grouses on the difficulty to hire labourers to complete their projects on schedule."They are not keen to hire locals as few are interested to work in the construction sector as well as not possessing certain skills needed in the construction industry like 'paitong' (smoothening cement walls)."As a result, these developers and contractors have to hire foreign workers mostly from our neighbouring countries, some of whom are working here illegally."Due to the ongoing operations to flush out illegal immigrants, many of those who are working here illegally have left Sabah on their own to avoid being arrested and deported by the enforcement authorities," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Amir Kahar said this to Daily Express when met at his Raya open house at the Astana residence of the late Tun Mustapha Harun, here.Together with his wife Datuk Aminah Ambrose who is also Umno Kudat Wanita Chief, they presented donations to underprivileged people, organisations and welfare associations such as the Kudat Single Mother Association, Kudat Community-based Rehabilitation Centre, Banggi Community-based Rehabilitation Centre, special people, senior citizens and orphans.
ADVERTISEMENT
Amir Kahar said an alternative is to hire foreign workers from Bangladesh to work in the construction industry in Sabah. However, he added, it would be difficult to bring them in as the recruitment agents are mostly in Kuala Lumpur.Furthermore, he said there is yet a demand from the developers and contractors for Bangladeshis to work at the construction sites in Sabah.Last month, the national media quoted newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister as saying that the Government would allow 1.5 million Bangladeshis to work in the country and a portion would be sent to Sabah to complement the workforce, especially in agriculture sector.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
