GEORGE TOWN – Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan has challenged DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng to scrutinise his ministry now to find flaws in its efforts to overcome the acute shortage of workers.
“If he (Lim) cannot find anything wrong with how the ministry is addressing the workers’ shortage, he should resign on the spot as the (DAP chairman).
“If he does find something wrong, then I will resign instead,” an irate Saravanan said.
According to Saravanan, the Bagan MP has refused to learn his lesson in making outlandish claims on many issues in the past and provoking his opponents.
His response comes after he was asked to comment on Lim’s statement that Saravanan should resign in view that he could not overcome the shortage of workers in the country.
“I think he constantly wants to pick fights with everyone,” Saravanan said after attending the annual World Congress on Innovation and Technology (WCIT) here.
The three-day congress saw up to 5,000 participants and government officials at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre here.
It was officiated by the Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and graced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow as well as Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
Criticising the former finance minister further, Saravanan said that he has approved up to 400,000 migrant workers to join the workforce here.
“Lim does not know what he is talking about. I think he should just focus on his court case.”
“Enough, I do not want to comment more on someone who may be going to jail.”
Two days ago, Lim urged the MIC deputy president to relinquish his ministerial portfolio after allegedly only 12% of migrant workers had successfully entered Malaysia to help plug labour shortages.
He said that the country’s palm oil industry is suffering due to the lack of manpower as 80% of its workforce depends on migrant workers.
“The Malaysian Palm Oil Association estimates that only 47,000 foreign workers have entered Malaysia or 12% of the 385,000 approvals since January 2022 for foreigners approved for companies in all industry sectors.
“Foreign workers, mainly from Indonesia and Bangladesh, make up about 80% of the workforce on Malaysian estates,” Lim was quoted as saying.
Last week, Reuters reported that Malaysian oil palm planters are letting tonnes of fruit rot as the third year of the worker shortage has left companies unable to increase their harvesting during the peak production season.
Palm oil output in Malaysia, the world’s second-largest producer, is reportedly projected to decline, or at best remain unchanged, from last year’s 18.1 million tonnes.
It is learnt that although approvals were given, some workers were unable to enter due to bureaucratic issues at both their home countries and recipient nations such as Malaysia due to concerns over human trafficking issues. – The Vibes, September 13, 2022
