China Projects In Malaysia To Create 10,000 New Jobs But There's Bad News
Critics are concerned that Chinese investments will affect local employment opportunities.
By Tang Ruxyn — 08 Mar 2017, 11:40 AM
There wil be more than 10,000 new jobs in the near future, all thanks to the Malaysia-China projects
Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong revealed that a total of 33 joint projects are expected to create 10,147 job opportunities.
According to Chua, foreign investors who want to invest in Malaysia must be able to commit to creating employment opportunities for the locals here.
"One of the most important criteria is the employment opportunity for Malaysians, to ensure our interests are taken care of," he was quoted as saying by The Sun yesterday, 7 March.
However, the bad news is not all the jobs will go to locals
Chua cited the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) by Alliance Steel (M) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned Malaysian subsidiary of China’s Guangxi Beibu Gulf Iron and Steel Investment Co Ltd. as an example.
Denying claims that these projects won't employ locals, Chua explained that half of the employment opportunities are dedicated to Malaysians.
"This project, for example, will create 3,648 job opportunities. An estimated 53% of these jobs will be created specifically for Malaysians," said Chua.
He was responding to Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's question in Dewan Rakyat if all the jobs are only limited to Malaysians.
Wan Azizah expressed concern and asked for clarification following reports on heavy influx of migrant workers in view of the growing China-backed projects in Malaysia
It was alleged that most job opportunities are going to Chinese nationals because of the increased investments from China.
Last November, Malaysian and Chinese companies made history when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak signed 14 agreements with China for deals worth RM144 billion.
Critics have opposed these China-funded projects, saying that "Malaysia was being sold off to China", although Najib has been dismissing these claims.
The news of job opportunities comes at a time when Malaysians are being retrenched in the midst of a tough economic situation
Just a few days ago, media reports stated that about 6,000 public universities lecturers, including professors, lost their job in 2016.
It was reported that those affected were either terminated from their jobs or had their contracts not renewed last year due to budget cuts.
According to Malaysian Academic Association Congress (MAAC) president Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Idrus Mohd Masirin, some universities went as far as not hiring administration staff just to save cost.