Jenifer apologises, explains FB post on jobless grads
KOTA KINABALU: Assistant Education and Innovation Minister Jenifer Lasimbang has apologized for the misunderstanding caused by her post in her Facebook account concerning unemployed graduates.
"First of all, I apologise for the misunderstanding caused due to my Fb post regarding my concern that parents are contacting me to recommend or provide jobs individually for their children, specifically unemployed graduates," she said in her statement issued yesterday.
She added that her intention was to draw attention to the issue of unemployment amongst graduates.
"I am actually very concerned indeed with the number of unemployed graduates in Sabah with numbers close to 40,000 and this did not happen overnight but over a period of many years," she said.
She noted that her Fb post on March 20, which read: "Getting sick and tired of getting phone calls; WhatsApp and emails from PARENTS asking me to look for a job for their children -unemployed GRADUATES", drew many criticisms and comments.
As of 6.30pm yesterday, the post has generated 822 comments and shared 173 times.
"Indeed, the Sabah government and relevant agencies are working hard to provide jobs for graduates, with organizing career fairs, job portals," she said.
The effort is paying off as many companies and employment agencies have contacted her to help with job offers or job placements.
In her Fb account, Jenifer, who is also Moyog assemblywoman, also shared an article entitled: "Way too many parents are filling out jobs applications for their grown children", written by Corrinne Purtill for a website Quartz at work (qz.com). The article, as the title surmises, talks about over-anxious parents who go as far as fill out job applications for their adult children, inducing children's over-dependence on their parents.
This post only generated 36 comments, both positive and negative and was shared six times as of the time of writing.
In her last comment on her social media, Jenifer thanked everyone for their positive comments and constructive criticisms and wrote in brackets "not to mention the personal attack".
"I accept all with an open heart. The aim of the post is to widen the perspective and hearts by looking at this worrying issue and I apologise if I have hurt the feelings of any persons.
"I am truly and genuinely concerned FOR our future generation," she said in her comment.
This last comment attracted 106 comments as of 6.50pm and nine shares. It has also received 188 likes, thumbs up and love.