Premier: Beware of ‘good-looking’ foreign workers

Abang Johari (centre) presents a Sumbangsih Raya box to Sarawak Bomba director Datu Khirudin Drahman while (from left) Rosey, Fatimah, Juma'ani, Dr Sim and Razi look on. Photo credit: Sarawak Information Department (Japen)

By Nur Ashikin Louis

KUCHING, April 14: Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has expressed concern over the possibility of social problems in light of Sarawak reopening its doors for recruitment of foreign labour.

He was quoted as saying that foreign workers, especially from South Asia, are all “good-looking”.

“The late Tan Sri James Jemut Masing (former Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak) has requested for my help previously because sometimes, our friends from abroad working in this region mostly look like Shah Rukh Khan.

“In some villages, they would come to sell carpets and other products by monthly instalment. These ‘Shah Rukh Khans’ who are good-looking would collect debts every month.

Apabila kacak-kacak, nok lain keluar. (When they have good looks, it results in other outcomes.) Thus, beware,” he said when officiating Sumbangsih Raya 2023 presentation ceremony held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today.

“Sidak Shah Rukh Khan tok kacak-kacak pegi nagih tiap bulan. Apabila kacak, nok lain keluar. Jadi jaga-jaga.” – Abang Johari

He also mentioned that the decision to reopen Sarawak’s doors for the recruitment of foreign labour was inevitable after exhausting the efforts to give priority to the locals.

“If they (locals) do not want to apply (for the job), like it or not, we have to open doors to the foreign labour. So when we do, there would be many foreign workers and this couldlead to social problems,” he emphasised.

Sumbangsih Raya is a programme carried out under the Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) to distribute boxes of goodies to various law enforcement teams and personnel who will be on duty during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration.

This year, the Ministry has prepared 12,000 boxes in total to be distributed to 11 agencies namely Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Malaysian Prison Department, Malaysian Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Road Transport Department, Civil Defence Force (APM), People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) and Sarawak Safety and Enforcement Unit (UPKS).

Among those present were the Premier’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah; Deputy Minister of Women and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus and Deputy Minister of Community Wellbeing Mohammad Razi Sitam. — DayakDaily