Harris backs Shafie's proposal
Published on: Sunday, July 01, 2018
Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh (pic) said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Mohd Apdal's proposal to set up a task force to issue special work passes to foreigners already in Sabah to do plantation work deserves support.He said it is high time to devise plans and programmes which are good for the state as the issue of illegal workers has been going on for far too long and affecting the state's economy.He blamed this on erratic Federal Government policies on foreign workers and urged the State Government to propose its plans and programmes to the former as policy inputs for implementation.
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"The Federal and State Governments should look into why the plantation and construction industries continue to employ illegal workers, despite heavy penalties that include caning."A root problem is that recruitment agencies charge high fees (at RM4,000 per worker) that employers are reluctant to pay."On the other hand, companies in the plantation, construction and restaurant businesses, for example, cannot afford to have interruptions. "They are therefore forced to take the risk to continue with their operations by hiring illegal workers," he said in a statement.
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Harris explained that there are two categories of workers, with the first being Indonesians who work in nearly two million acres of plantation such as oil palm, rubber and other estates.The other are Suluks/Filipinos who work in restaurants and various other industries.
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However, he said the number of Indonesia workers in the state is dwindling due to the economic development in Indonesia which is far better than in Malaysia.He pointed out that Kalimantan had already developed 5 million hectares of oil palm plantations and is developing another 5 million hectares."Many large plantations have lost their workers most of whom decided not to return to Sabah after being required to renew their passports in Nunukan, across the border of Tawau," he said. As for the Filipinos (Suluks) who are in the restaurant and construction sectors, Harris said some have been in Sabah for almost 30 years.He cited a Daily Express report on 26 June last year that the Federal Government's policy was either to grant them citizenship or permanent residence."It's a matter of implementation. The state government should support the federal government's policy and programme on foreign workers."However, the State Government must abolish agencies such as Fomema and others that are charging high fees," he said.Harris noted that, in fact, the previous Federal Government had already announced that plantations and business establishments can go directly to the Immigration Department to apply for work permits without having to go through agents.Meanwhile, he urged leaders and the media to stop stressing on race, especially Suluks."Based on my experience working with foreigners and illegals since 1963, I'd like to advise the present government leaders to accept that Sabah is multiracial. The majority of the so-called Malays in Sabah are ethnically Suluks. Just treat everybody as Sabahans," he said.The State Government's proposal on the issue special work passes to foreign plantation workers has received mixed responses from several stakeholders.Sabah Employers Association urged the State Government to do an in-depth study and consult all relevant stakeholders first to determine how many should be considered for the special pass, if at all, rather than issuing such passes to every foreigner residing illegally in Sabah.It pointed out that to issue special work passes entails resolving technicalities such as tenure allowed, spouse passes, children passes (and education needs), quota per company, and the most important point of all procedures and costs incurred (especially to companies wishing to employ them).SEA had also suggested that the government look into setting up its Human Resource Ministry first, since human resource concerns 1.8 million locals and 783,000 foreigners counted as workforce in the state.In the meantime, the Sabah Builders Association (SBA) appealed for consideration to be given to the construction industry as well.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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