Latest news with #HarrisSalleh
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Unwise policy on foreign workers: Harris
Published on: Friday, June 06, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 06, 2025 Text Size: Harris said many key industries, especially in states like Sabah, rely heavily on foreign labour due to a lack of local interest in physically demanding jobs such as those in the oil palm sector. Kota Kinabalu: Former Chief Minister Tan Sri Harris Salleh urged the Federal Government to review its current policy requiring foreign workers to return to their home countries for six months after a year of employment, describing it as counterproductive and disruptive to industries. He said foreign workers are vital to sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture, and the policy could unintentionally impact both productivity and workers' welfare. Advertisement 'Foreign workers contribute significantly to Malaysia's economy. However, requiring them to return home after just one year poses challenges — not only for the workers who may struggle to find short-term employment in their countries but also for industries that depend on a stable and consistent workforce,' he said in a statement. Harris said many key industries, especially in states like Sabah, rely heavily on foreign labour due to a lack of local interest in physically demanding jobs such as those in the oil palm sector. 'To maintain our economic growth, particularly our target of over five per cent annually, it is essential that labour policies are practical and aligned with the realities on the ground,' he said. He expressed concern that the six-month return policy has led to unintended consequences, including large numbers of workers being stranded in border towns such as Nunukan in Kalimantan, Indonesia. 'Reports have shown that some of these workers, once returned, lack access to proper shelter or employment, highlighting the need for a more humane and structured approach,' he said. Harris added that while Malaysia positions itself as a proponent of human rights and Islamic values, it is important that domestic policies reflect these principles in practice. He urged the Government to reassess its policies with a view toward both economic resilience and humanitarian responsibility. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Sabah activist pans Bung's claim of minimal development under local parties
Sabah activist Johan Ariffin Samad said Umno failed to lift Sabah from the poverty trap. (Wikipedia pic) PETALING JAYA : A Sabah activist says it is unfair to claim that there was minimal development when the state was governed by local parties, pointing to the contributions of leaders such as former chief minister Harris Salleh. Johan Ariffin Samad said Harris, the former president of local party Berjaya who led the state for nearly 10 years, was still regarded as the father of Sabah's industrial and agriculture development. Johan Ariffin Samad. He also cited some of Harris's legacies, like the Desa Dairy Farm in Kundasang, developed under a state government-linked company, which he said was still operating today. 'It is unfair to claim that Sabah saw minimal development under a local party,' Johan, also known as Joe Samad, told FMT. The remark was made by Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, who had referred to the period of 1963 to 1994. Bung said that development took a back seat due to political infighting and power struggles among local parties. He also claimed that frequent changes in government had led to incoherent development plans and the underdevelopment of much of rural Sabah. Harris became chief minister in 1976, following the plane crash that killed his predecessor and party comrade, Fuad Stephens. He led the state until he was ousted in an election in 1985 by Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who had left Berjaya to form Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). In 2020, former banker John Lo told FMT that he regarded Harris as the overseer of the 'golden era' of Sabah's economic development. Lo credited Harris for the development of the tourism, oil and gas industries and an acceleration in agricultural development. Bung Moktar Radin. Johan also rubbished Bung's claim that 'real change' only took place in 1994, when Barisan Nasional (BN) took over the state administration. He said Umno had failed to lift Sabah from the poverty trap and that it remains the state with the highest poverty level. 'Umno focused on urban development centres like Kota Kinabalu, which resulted in the poor infrastructure that we have today in the rural areas,' he said. He added that Umno and BN had likewise failed to resolve the issue of undocumented migrants which continued despite the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) findings on 'Project IC', which saw thousands of undocumented migrants granted Malaysian citizenship. He also cited the rotating system for chief ministers, initiated by Umno, which he said had weakened the state leadership. The system, introduced after BN regained power in Sabah in 1994, saw the post rotated every two years among leaders representing the different communities. 'Bung is the biggest hypocrite for blaming local parties and crediting Umno for development,' he said.
