FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE SABAH FULL CONTROL OVER THE RECRUITMENT OF FOREIGN LABOUR IN THE STATE

Sabah BN partner slams plan to absorb illegals for jobs

KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional component Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is against a proposal to absorb illegal immigrants into the workforce.

Party information chief, Johnny Mositun, slammed the demands by employers in the state to ease restrictions on employing foreign labour, especially illegal immigrants.

He said it was absurd that while Malaysians have been forced to accept the removal of many subsidies in national interest, employers were still relying on cheap foreign labour.

"Furthermore, I don’t see how Malaysia can become a high income country if we continue with the present low wages for labour," he said.

PBS wants the federal government to give Sabah full control over the recruitment of foreign labour in the state.

"We know our own needs better, so we should have control over the recruitment of foreign workers in our state.

"Processing can be faster, and problems resolved quickly without having to refer everything to ‘Ibu Pejabat’ (headquarters) in Kuala Lumpur."

He said KL should also consider allowing Sabah to set the rates, collect and keep the levies on foreign workers here.

Careful study needed

He, however, conceded that the demands by employers that they be allowed to hire illegal immigrants to make up for a labour shortage "needs to be thoroughly studied" though labour needs and illegal entry are two different matters.

"The chief minister is right to say that a careful study should be made before acceding to calls for illegal immigrants to be employed.

"The implications are many and we must be sure the benefits outweigh the negative impacts of any such move," he said.

"Illegal immigrants should be detained and deported. If they wish to work in Malaysia they should return to their home countries and acquire the proper travel papers to enter Malaysia for legal employment.

"The PBS stand is that illegal immigrants should be dealt with under the Immigration Act and labour matters should be dealt with according to the provisions of the National Labour Act and State Labour Ordinance.

"Only then can we come up with a proper and effective strategy to resolve this problems," he said.

Mositun said that those asking the government to permit illegal immigrants had not considered the political repercussions.

"The government cannot just listen to employers and certain interest groups. It has to consider the views of the general public too," he said.

"Easy legalisation of those who are here illegally will only be sending the wrong signal to not just the illegal immigrants but also unscrupulous employers who will deliberately employ those foreigners who accept low wages and abuse.

"Let’s not forget that despite amnesties and regularisation exercises in the past, the rise in the numbers of illegal immigrants continues unabated," he said.