New HR Minister Sim to lift dignity of Malaysian workers

PUTRAJAYA: New Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong (pic) is determined to lift the dignity of workers in Malaysia irrespective of race and religion.

"We will stand together with the workers,” he told reporters after clocking in to mark his official start at the ministry on Wednesday (Dec 13).

Sim, who was previously the Deputy Finance Minister, was appointed as Minister of Human Resources following a Cabinet reshuffle that was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, replacing V. Sivakumar who was dropped.

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He arrived at the Human Resources Ministry at about 1.15 pm and was greeted by staff. Also clocking in was Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, who was previously the Deputy Works Minister.

Sim said the fate of employers and workers is interlinked and is not egocentric, adding that if workers are not protected then it will affect the company in terms of productivity.

"In an era of restructuring the economy under the Malaysia Madani framework, the focus is generally on the development of skills, worker welfare and productivity,” he said.

Sim said that he, Abdul Rahman and the ministry's staff would scrutinise efforts carried out previously and study plans for the future. - Bernama