DPM challenges youths to take over 3D jobs

SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants local youths to take over jobs categorised as dangerous, dirty and difficult (3D) to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign labour.

The Deputy Prime Minister said this was necessary because foreign workers now dominated in sectors such as the plantation industry, manufacturing, construction, and cleaning services.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the unwillingness of local youths to take up 3D jobs had resulted in the industries hiring foreign migrants.

“This is our problem. It’s not the government but it’s the industry players which want to bring in foreign workers to Malaysia as local workers could only last one to three months working in such sectors.

“I am not challenging the industry players, employers and related unions, but our youths to take up the (3D) jobs in these sectors from the foreign workers,” he said when opening the Selangor Youth Council’s 32nd Annual General Assembly, here, yesterday.

Also present were Selangor Federal Action Council chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar and Selangor Youth Council chairman Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim.

Ahmad Zahid stressed that the country also required the expertise of skilled and semiskilled workers in these sectors in order to develop its economy.

“I believe the employers, unions, manufacturers and other related parties can find skilled workers from among the locals, besides hiring foreign workers,” he said.

Recently, it was reported that the government planned to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers over a period of three to five years. - Bernama