Zahid challenges youths to take up 3D jobs

SHAH ALAM:  Youths should take up jobs in the dirty, difficult and dangerous (3D) fields if they do not want more foreign workers to be brought into the country, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

The Deputy Prime Minister said it was a fact that not many Malaysians were willing to work in the 3D fields.  

''Many have been criticising the Government following the decision to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers in stages over the next three years.  

''They also asked for the existing two million foreign workers to be sent back. But how many are willing to work in those fields, that Malaysians are clearly not interested in?  

''I challenge the youths to take up any jobs such as cleaning the drains, clearing rubbish and working in farms if they do not want foreign workers here,'' he said in his speech before launching the Selangor Youth Council 32nd annual assembly, Youth Love Selangor assembly and the Selangor4Youth programme ‎here Sunday.  

Citing an example, Dr Ahmad Zahid said the furniture manufacturing industry needed more than 160,000 workers and yet the industry was often shun away by locals.  

‎''Employers also often complained that when they hire Malaysians and provide them with good pay and benefits, they still quit after several months because they could not stand the job.  

''We need to face the reality that the economy has to develop, and it needs manpower,'' he said, adding that Malaysians should take up jobs deemed unfavourable to fill up the vacancies in order to lessen the dependency on foreign workers.