KUALA LUMPUR: Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran said the suggestion to source for African workers to work in Malaysian plantations will be dropped.
In a statement, he said his comments on hiring African workers after a dialogue session with farmers in Cameron Highlands on Saturday had been taken out of context and blown out of proportion.
He added that the issue of taking in African workers arose when the farmers complained that they were in need of foreign workers, and suggested that the government consider employing workers from African countries where Malaysia had invested heavily.
“This seemed an understandable suggestion given the reasons for the labour shortfall in estates in Malaysia and the fact that we have invested considerably in Africa.
“It was in this context that at the town hall session, I floated the idea that the government may have to look to Africa to shore up the labour shortfall in plantation agriculture in Malaysia.”
Kula Segaran added that cabinet approval for the suggestion had not taken place.
“As the prime minister has said, there is no necessity to bring in workers from Africa.
“Thus, I will inform the plantation owners that the whole suggestion to bring in foreign workers to Malaysia will be dropped.”
Kula Segaran had said that workers from Vietnam and Indonesia were no longer interested in working in Malaysia as wages were not too different from their countries of origin.
Kula Segaran had also said that he had been discussing with ambassadors of African nations, adding that they would get the views of their respective governments on the matter.
In response, Dr Mahathir, during a Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration in Langkawi on Saturday had said the proposal to bring in workers from Africa was “merely a suggestion”.
