If you crossed the causeway into Singapore, you will find Malaysians doing the dirty, difficult and dangerous jobs.
But they are paid a living wage and perks, unlike in Malaysia where they are paid below average wages.
So using this argument to push through the plan to bring in 1.5million Bangladeshi workers, over three years, is purely nonsensical.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, claims these workers will be brought to Malaysia to meet the demands of employers from various sectors and that the government had no choice but to do so as Malaysian workers were “choosy” with jobs.
My question to Zahid is this: where is the Labour Impact Assessment? Was it done in the first place? What are the industries that have been identified as needing workers? Why hasn’t the assessment report been made public?
Furthermore, the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers have said they have not made any specific requests for Bangladeshi workers.
And even more so with a predicted downturn in the country’s economy. The job market will continue to be slow with the weakening of the economy.
So what exactly is the mantra in play here?
Over the last few weeks, a movie that brought nostalgia about the heyday of Malaysian football united us as a nation.
Today, in an unprecedented move, trade unions, non-governmental organizations, human rights workers, civil society members and the public have come together to vehemently oppose this plan.
Maybe they are terrified that this is another scandal unfolding, to the tune of billions of dollars.
Their concern does hold water.
Zahid’s brother and businessman, Abdul Hakim Hamidi’s name was touted from the onset as the person who is set to make huge profits because of this deal.
He has clarified that his company was not chosen to provide the management system in Malaysia but would assist agents in Bangladesh.
Abdul Hakim said his company, Real Time Networking, is providing a system to the Bangladesh Association of International Recruitment Agencies (Baira), in exchange for a contract of providing other services to the migrant workers when they reach Malaysia.
This includes providing them with mobile phone SIM cards and cash cards to better manage their wages.
“I’m not making a huge profit, just small commissions. Even Allah rewards you for good deeds, so why begrudge me a few cents?
“We make up our expenses through the volume, so we can make some money for our children and grandchildren,” he said been quoted as saying in the media.
This is clearly a conflict of interest and reeks of nepotism.
The controversial plan also contradicts objectives in the 11th Malaysia Plan to reduce dependency on low-skilled foreign labour.
Malaysia’s aim to raise salaries of workers by 2020 will come to a naught. Wages have either been stagnant or saw a nominal increase over more than a decade now. And bringing in 1.5million Bangladeshi workers will suppress wages even further.
Furthermore, there are more than three million undocumented workers in the country. Why doesn’t the government give them documents plus training and absorb them into the job market?
Why is the UMNO-led government not paying heed to the plea by the United Nations to allow 150,000 refugees to work?
There are just one too many unanswered questions here.
As such the government must halt the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh until after the Labour Impact Assessment report is scrutinized by all stakeholders.