Worker shortage in Sabah

The Borneo Post / 2-July-2010

We should welcome the pending policy change in order to meet the challenge of worker shortage in various sectors of the industries in the state.

The main reason is low pay across the whole spectrum of the work forces in Sabah, including degree graduates and other professional category workers.

A large proportion of our youngsters are now currently working in Semenanjung and Singapore, and the reason is quite obvious.

Worker shortage is detrimental to the growth of our economy in Sabah.

How are we going to implement all the various projects and plans as outlined in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) with the limited human resources and the foreigners?

What's the point of having the huge sum of federal funds in the state but without the workforce to implement, and benefiting only the foreigner most?

If we were to engage the foreigner to do it, it's not really in line with the objective of creating job opportunity for the locals, and the acquisition of skills along wit it.

Yet, we can't wait for the locals to implement it.

We need the various infrastructures now for our future growth.

The outflow of money abroad is expected if engaging foreigner to get things done and maintained in the state. It may turn out to be more problematic later, especially on the social and security issues.

However, it'll be regrettable for the Sabahan not to fully capitalized the opportunity to implement the 10MP in a feverish way as the fund will be taken back and used elsewhere of the country if not finished within the period.

It's therefore crucial that the government to address the worker shortage issue with the highest urgency and carefulness.

On the other hand if we couldn't take up the full challenge of the 10MP allocated for us, maybe the money be best kept with the federal coffer until we need it.