Concern over Maszlee's Dakwah call

Kota Kinabalu: State Assistant Minister of Education and Innovation Jennifer Lasimbang expressed concern over Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik's (pic) purported call on religious scholars from Kelantan, Terangganu and Kedah to make Sabah and Sarawak their Dakwah battleground.

Dakwah is a general Malaysian term for missionary work, proselytisation, and Islamisation.

Jennifer said Federal has to listen to and consider circumstances in Sabah before making any such decision.

"There are many things we need to discuss with Putrajaya. There are many things that we have to look at that have been neglected before this.

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"They never asked what is happening in Sabah because (if you look at) some of policies and instructions, it is as if they are "siok sendiri" (do as they please).

"We have to speak out on such matters, but we also must not be an "empty can" when we go about it. We have to work together to do something and they should also listen to us because the question here is why Sabah and Sarawak?"

When asked if there would be an official state response, she said the state cabinet had yet to discuss and provide feedback and regarding the issue.

"But obviously, this is a very sensitive issue for the people of Sabah and Sarawak."

She added that Sabah is now taking a step forward in an effort to restore the equal partner rights between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

"We need to review many things and our relationship needs to be rebuilt.

"I am confident that we are here today and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is being discussed in Kuala Lumpur.

"Now our responsibility is to inform Kuala Lumpur what is happening in Sabah," she said, when launching the Sabah Labour Handbook.

Meanwhile, SEA (Sabah Employers Association) President Yap Cheen Boon said labour and employment matters in the State and nation were at times complicated and tedious for employers. Hence the launch of the handbook aimed at helping employers to navigate the issue.

He said it was obvious that over-regulation or too much compliance costs can impede the labour market's efficiency by holding back business development and thereby job creation while also encouraging "grey" employment arrangements.

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"By compiling these Acts and regulations into one easy reference book for Sabahan Employers to refer as a guide, SEA hopes to assist employers to streamline their compliance work and reduce compliance times and cost."

Yap said SEA also believes that it is time for the State Ministry of Education and Innovation to consider a Sabahan panel on labour issues (to be named Sabah Labour Consultative Council) which incorporates both demand and supply representatives such as workers reps and employers reps to look into recommending policies that are catered to Sabah's own situation; issues in mismatching of skills against jobs, training for not just workers but employers too to change their mind set that training is just cost but profit inducing, enforcement matters and compliance issues and to serve as a platform for everyone in Sabah to come together to discuss for their voices to be heard compiled and to allow interaction with Federal ministries in order for Sabah to have a say in any policy to be drafted lest it suffer uneven consequences if left to the Federal side only to decide. - Neil Chan

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