KAMPAR, 29 Jan 2009: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on unemployed Malaysians not to be too choosy when picking jobs especially during the current uncertain economic conditions.
He said they should instead take employment opportunities that came their way, including jobs currently carried out by foreign workers.
“We want the locals to also venture into the employment sectors which rely on foreign workers.
“We should not be too choosy at a time when we are in need of jobs and income,” he said when launching the Rural Action Plan at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Air Kuning here today.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.
Abdullah also hoped that the manufacturing sector would no longer employ foreigners.
“We should give priority to the locals. It is not wrong or an act of injustice when we give priority to our own people,” he said.
He also called on the related government agencies to facilitate the issuance of licences and permits to unemployed individuals who wanted to venture into business.
Malaysians, he said, should also give priority to buying local products because doing so would ensure that the manufacturers would remain in operation.
“Buying locals will go a long way in helping the economy. When we buy local goods, this will ensure the manufacturers will continue to operate and therefore, none of the workers will be retrenched,” he said. — Bernama
