Impressive pieces: Mohd Hairi viewing some of the paintings at the Mini Johor Arts Fiesta at Paragon Market Place, Johor Baru.
JOHOR BARU: Youths in Johor should be less picky about jobs as many local industries are in need of workers, says state Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah.
He said feedback from business owners showed that youths were quite choosy about the pay and location of the workplace.
“Rather than the jobs going to foreigners, I have advised business owners to prioritise hiring local talents because youths, too, have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“At the same time, locals should not be too choosy about the pay and industries where the jobs are offered, given the present situation.
“There are actually many job opportunities in Johor; just do not be too choosy or demanding,” he said after attending the Mini Johor Arts Fiesta at Paragon Market Place here yesterday.
Mohd Hairi said there is a lack of local workers in several sectors such as service, commodities and manufacturing in Johor.
The state government had on May 24 announced that it would set up a special task force to tackle employment issues involving locals as well as the brain drain to Singapore.
Many Malaysians had received offers to work across the border when Malaysia reopened its borders on April 1.
On a separate matter, Mohd Hairi, who is also Johor Barisan Nasional Youth chief, said discussions should be held on seat allocations to parties which are friendly to the coalition as preparation for the 15th General Election.
For now, he said coalition chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s comment that friends of Barisan would be given a chance to stand as Barisan candidates was merely “a suggestion”.
“It was just a suggestion as discussions need to be held involving the top leadership of the parties involved.
“As for Barisan Youth, I am confident that our national chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki will continue fighting for seats for youths to contest in,” he said when asked to comment about the possibility that Barisan Youth’s seats may be taken away to give way to Barisan-friendly parties in the upcoming polls.
During Barisan’s 48th anniversary convention on June 1, Ahmad Zahid said friends of Barisan are almost certain of being fielded in GE15 due to their contributions to the coalition including during past by-elections and state elections.
Barisan-friendly parties, commonly referred to as Friends of BN, comprise Makkal Sakti, Parti Cinta Malaysia, Malaysian Indian Progressive Front, Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress, Malaysian United Indian Party and Parti Punjabi Malaysia.
