KHAIRY IS IGNORANT
IHAD spent some eight years working in Japan and returned to Malaysia 13 years ago. I now run a small enterprise in Nilai, Negri Sembilan. I am appalled that Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin poured cold water on a proposal for Malaysia to send blue-collar workers to Japan.
He had insinuated that Malaysia was going to be a source of labour for the so-called 3D jobs (dirty, dangerous and difficult), not unlike how we import workers from neighbouring countries as maids and construction workers. I am perplexed by his understanding of this issue.
The former youth and sports minister has no inkling what it means to work in Japan.
The country is a technological giant. Workers are able to pick up
many useful technological skills there.
Back in the day, my peers and I would save up money to make our way to land a job in Japan. It was a big deal for us! For Malaysians who read Chinese, they can adapt more easily in the country because of the similarities between the Chinese and Japanese alphabetic writing systems.
While a major draw were the salaries (we could easily save up to RM100,000 over three years), that was not all. We learnt new skills from the Japanese who are at the technological forefront in many industries. And let’s not forget their work ethics — something which has been ingrained into its workers.
I would not have been able to build up my modest production facility without the exposure I got in Japan.
Having had a working stint in Japan does wonders for a worker. If the Human Resources Ministry wants to send workers there by the thousands, we should applaud the initiative. For the Japanese government to accept these people as workers is an admission that the Malaysian workforce is already on a par. Do not forget that in Japan, many processes are already automated and there are very few menial jobs around.
Eventually, these people will return and add value to our nation. There is really no need to play petty politics over this, Khairy. MARCUS CHAN Nilai, Negri Sembilan