Syed Saddiq Wants Probe For Language-Specific Job Ads In Industries That Don't Need It
The Youth and Sports Minister was present at a dialogue with students at Universiti Malaysia Pahang yesterday, 18 February.
By Jia Vern Tham — 19 Feb 2019, 10:43 AM
Yesterday, 18 February, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman stressed that language-specific job advertisements for industries that do not require such skills should be investigated
Syed Saddiq speaks during the dialogue with students at Universiti Malaysia Pahang, on 18 February.
Image via Sin Chew DailyChina Press reported Syed Saddiq as saying that such actions are a form of discrimination that should be probed.
"This (requirement) is wrong, please report it to me so I can meet with the board of directors of those companies," the Muar Member of Parliament (MP) said, according to Kosmo.
The minister was responding to a student from the National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN), who claimed that a job advertisement for the automotive industry had listed Mandarin as a language requirement
"The job is related to technical skills, and not one's mastery of the Mandarin language," Syed Saddiq said.
"With the exception of Chinese companies, businesses run by Malaysians should not limit their job advertisements to Mandarin speakers or candidates of a certain race," Syed Saddiq was quoted as saying by China Press.
"I am against job advertisements that list mastery of languages as a requirement when the job itself does not require it," he added.
The Muar MP also requested the student to provide him with the name of companies with such requirements for investigation.
However, Syed Saddiq expressed that mastering another language such as Mandarin is important in industries such as education, international relations, and hospitality.
Syed Saddiq also lamented the lack of opportunities provided to Malaysian jobseekers
"If there are Malaysians who are willing to pick fruits illegally in other countries rather than working here, it means we have failed (them)," the minister said.
He revealed that the government is keen on adjusting the salary of university graduates, with a RM100 increase every year.
According to the Muar MP, there will also be 1,000 working holiday visas available for Malaysians who are interested in visiting France.
Details of the visas, which will be effective for up to two years, will be announced by Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at a later date.