PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob should personally intervene in the fiasco leading to the freezing of migrant workers from Indonesia; both to repair relations with our neighbour and provide economic growth to counter the global economic downturn expected by the end of the year.
At a time when Malaysia is facing inflationary pressures and rising prices, compounded by a rapidly depreciating ringgit, the acute migrant labour shortage has compelled many businesses to scale down their operations or reject new orders.
Never has the situation been so bad before. Due to the 1.2 million worker shortage, the plantation and glove industry alone are facing losses of RM21 bil and the damage could run to tens of billions of ringgit more if other sectors are included.
This desperate state of affairs is reprehensible because it could be easily resolved with a stroke of a pen or a personal intervention from the prime minister.
Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, has announced the temporary freeze of migrant workers from Indonesia to Malaysia, condemning Malaysia “for breaking its promises in the memorandum of understanding (MoU)” signed by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan on Indonesian maids just three months ago.
Saravanan pathetically and irresponsibly did not dispute Hermono’s accusations but merely said that the Human Resources Ministry (MOHR) will hold urgent discussions with the Home Ministry.
Resolve it now
Instead of personally intervening on such a major economic and diplomatic matter, Ismail Sabri has chosen to delegate and instruct the MOHR and the Home Ministry to immediately resolve the issue.
How can both ministries resolve the problem when they were responsible for creating the problem in the first place?
This is a classic case of scientist Albert Einstein famous saying that: “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Ismail Sabri should stop delegating the problem but take charge when the nation’s economy, business community and rakyat wants an immediate solution.
The Bera MP should learn to be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem so that economic growth will not be hampered due to the inefficiency and incompetence of his Government. – July 16, 2022
Lim Guan Eng is a former finance minister and MP for Bagan.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
