Sabahans and Sarawakians below 35 barred from working in Singapore
JOHOR BARU: Malaysians above the age of 18 are allowed to work in Singapore except for male natives from Sabah and Sarawak whose age limit has been raised to 35. The new ruling was imposed as an “administrative punishment” after a series of crimes and fights involving rowdy native Sabahans and Sarawakians in the republic.
It is learnt that several high profile murders involving Sarawakians and Sabahans in Ang Mo Kio Avenue, Kallang, and also Geylang in recent years have contributed towards the stricter regulations.
The new ruling has caused much difficulties to law-abiding Sabahan and Sarawakian native men, mainly unskilled and odd-job workers to work on the island.
Fresh workers below 35 were barred entry while those within that age group and already working there could not renew their work permits after they expire within two years.
Gagasan Dayak Iban Bersatu Malaysia (GAIU) president Sai Malaka said although the ruling was not made official by the Singapore Manpower Ministry (MOM), all work permit applications by native men from Sabah and Sarawak below the age of 35 were automatically rejected.
“I feel that this measure is very extreme and discriminatory towards native Sabahans and Sarawakians,” he said.
Sai added that Sarawakian and Sabahan men were skilled workers especially in the oil and gas sector, fabrication and factory maintenance.
He said since the ruling took effect, many Sarawakians and Sabahans who were unable to work in Singapore had opted to work in factories in Johor, particularly around Pasir Gudang.
“Luckily the government is developing the oil and gas hub in Pengerang near here. The project is now providing much needed work for these unemployed workers,” he told The Star yesterday.
State Unity, Human Resource, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman M. Asojan said that he was also aware of the issue and urged Sabahans and Sarawakians who were unable to get into Singapore to take up the 42,000 jobs available in the various industries in Johor.
Meanwhile, a spokesman from MOM confirmed that Singapore had tightened the policies governing the hiring and retention of foreign manpower in the last few years to moderate the growth of foreign work force as well as to promote productivity-driven economic growth.
He said that foreign manpower from all sources were required to meet various criteria to be eligible for work passes.
“We will continue to approve or renew the work passes of workers from Sabah and Sarawak who are found to be eligible and suitable to work in Singapore,” said the spokesman.
Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Md Hussin Nayan said that during the elections in Singapore, one of the issues raised was over the high number of foreign workers there and the government had taken steps to address the matter by minimising the intake of unskilled workers.
By NELSON BENJAMIN
Affected workers unhappy with Singapore's blanket punishment
Ministry resolving Sabah, Sarawak worker ban with Singapore govt
Disebabkan kelakuan beberapa rakyat Sabah Sarawak, semua pun terkena. Jadi terpaksalah balik negeri masing2 mereka yang merantau di Singapura ni.
BalasPadamapa boleh buat, keputusan sudah dibuat.
PadamKementerian Tenaga Kerja Singapura belum menjadikannya keputusan rasmi namun semua permohonan permit kerja oleh mereka di bawah usia minimum itu akan ditolak secara automatik.
PadamHarap keputusan ini dapat di semak semula..bukan semua rakyat Sabah Sarawak yang bersikap demikian.
PadamSebelum ni pun ada kenyataan dari Singapura yang menunjukkan imej negatif rakyat Sabah Sarawak yang bekerja di sana.
BalasPadamIni juga kerana sikap pekerja dari Sabah yang menjejaskan nama baik menyebabkan tidak diterima untuk berkerja lagi di Singapore.
BalasPadamHarap pengharaman ini tidak akan menjejaskan hubungan mesra antara Malaysia dan Singapura, terutama dari segi dasar pengambilan pekerja.
PadamTerima hakikat dimana Kerajaan Singapore berhak menyekatkan mereka yang tidak berkelayakan.
PadamApa pun terimalah sebaiknya apa yang dibuat oleh kerajaan singapore. Kerana itu hak mereka untuk menghalang kemasukan.
BalasPadamitu keputusan yang dibuat oleh Singapura, itu memang hak mereka.
PadamKetua Puteri Umno Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin yakin isu Singapura mengharamkan lelaki dari Sabah dan Sarawak berusia 35 tahun ke bawah bekerja di republik itu dapat diselesaikan.
PadamBeliau berharap kerajaan Malaysia dan Singapura dapat berbincang mengenainya demi kebaikan bersama.
"Kita belum ada maklumat lanjut pada masa ini namun kita berharap isu itu dapat diselesaikan menerusi rundingan kerajaan dengan kerajaan. Sebagai orang Sabah, kita mahu isu ini ditangani dengan adil," katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.
Padamapa boleh buat la jika kerajaan Singapura telah mengambil tindakan itu.. balik saja la ke Sabah dan menyumbang kepada negeri ini..
BalasPadamya, belia harus berusaha untuk menyumbang tenaga mereka di negeri sendiri.
PadamTempat sendiri lebih baik lagi..
PadamAgree, there must be some reason why Singapore government restrict such, can't do much, get work in Malaysia and contribute more to the country.
Padamkerajaan Singapura juga tidak sepatutnya menggunakan alasan itu untuk menghalang rakyat dari negeri ini untuk bekerja di negara mereka.. cukup la sekadar menghalang, tidak perlu membuat kenyataan sedemikian..
BalasPadamtidak adakah mahkamah dan polis di Singapura hingga terpaksa menyekat kemasukan warga sabah dengan alasan jenayah??
BalasPadamhanya kerana perbuatan seilangan kecil, semua terkena tempias.
BalasPadamtindakan atau perlakuan negatif boleh memberikan kesan negatif kepada yang lain.
BalasPadamDatuk Herbert Timbon Lagadan said the Singapore government appeared to be imposing a blanket ban due to the actions of a few individuals.
BalasPadamtindakan Singapura menolak tenaga kerja dari Malaysia itu umpama merosakkan masa hadapan rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja di Singapura dan keluarga mereka.
BalasPadamBanyak peluang pekerjaan di Malaysia juga. Kenapa nak harapkan negara lain untuk memberi peluang pekerjaan?
PadamVisa perlu dikeluarkan berdasarkan kemahiran, pengalaman, dan kesesuaian kerja, bukan berdasarkan demografi.Setiap rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja di republik berkenaan menyumbang kepada pembangunan ekonomi Singapura.
BalasPadamlangkah ini sangat melampau dan langkah diskriminasi terhadap rakyat prbumi Sabah dan Sarawak
BalasPadamkerajaan Malaysi ada membangunkan saluran minyak dan gas di Pengerang dekat sini. Projek itu kini menyediakan kerja kosong yang amat diperlukan bagi pekerja-pekerja yang sedang menganggur.
BalasPadamX masuk akal
BalasPadamMalaysia juga banyak peluang pekerjaan.
BalasPadamSemoga keputusan ini tidak menjejas hubungan baik antara dua negara.
BalasPadam