WITH many quarters giving their input with regard to the huge local labour movement to Singapore, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P Ramasamy urged all to improve Malaysia’s economy instead of being jealous of the island state.
“Rather than trying to prevent the movement of labour to Singapore, isn’t it better to think of ways to improve our economy, particularly of Johor?
“It is imperative for Johor to create an enabling ecosystem to spur high-end investments. For starters, we need to retain talents and dismantle the non-economic basis for employment.
“Rather seeing Singapore in oppositional terms, we must look into the complementary perspective and enhance it,” he said in a statement.
On April 25, Bloomberg reported that after hitting a five-year high the week before, the SGD continued its upward trend against the ringgit by posting an all-time high of 3.1688.
Compared to US dollar, the ringgit was valued at RM4.3568 against the greenback. As of April 29, the ringgit closed at RM3.14 to S$1.
Several experts and politicians have warned the Government to act on the matter immediately as the downward trend would impact Malaysians’ already depleting purchasing power.
The matter sparked a serious discussion on economic management between both countries, with many political leaders weighing in on the matter.
Johor DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong called for Johor employers to raise their employees’ wages to two-thirds of what they earn in Singapore.
Former Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad complemented Liew’s views by saying that several policy measures including high-quality investments, reduction of low-skill foreign labour, improvements to the infrastructure, institutional and political reforms, business-favourable climate, improvements in workers’ productivity and others must be done to reduce the flow of labour to Singapore.
Singapore makes Malaysians wealthy
On that note, Ramasamy said that one must admit the fact that Singapore became more prosperous than Malaysia due to its sound economic and financial policies.
He added that political leaders should be glad that the island state has the technological and financial prowess to not only provide jobs to its people but also Malaysians, especially Johoreans.
“More than half a million workers crossover to Singapore daily for work. Many are residing and working in Singapore.
“It is estimated that more 900,000 Malaysians are working in Singapore,” Ramasamy quipped.
He noted that while the daily travel to Singapore can be a nightmare to Malaysians, they were okay with it due to the perks they get working there.
“And they use their earnings to buy houses and other properties in Johor and other parts of Malaysia.
“Since the Singapore currency has appreciated over the years compared to the ringgit, it pays to be working in the island state. So, there is nothing to be jealous or envious of Singapore,” he remarked. – May 14, 2022
