PETALING JAYA: The government understands the crucial need for businesses to hire foreign workers, especially for those sectors facing a shortage of manpower.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government was open to receiving suggestions and proposals from businesses on this issue while employers had also requested for the freeze on hiring new foreign workers to be lifted.
“The government understands the need of certain sectors for foreign workers. However, an important decision on this will be announced in due course,” he said.
Zahid, who is also home minister, was speaking at the Malaysian Retailer Chains Association (MRCA) 2016 Council Installation Night yesterday. Also present event were Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) chief executive Datuk Seri Idris Jala and former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.
Zahid said retail business was a key part of the modern Malaysian economy and it was a sector that would continue to drive the country's economy forward.
He said the sector was the fourth biggest contributor to Malaysia's economy behind oil and gas, agriculture and manufacturing.
“However, as far as contributions to the people's economy is concerned, the retail sector plays an integral part of our economic future and several initiatives and incentives that directly and indirectly benefit the retail sector have also been introduced.”
Among the measures introduced includes providing an additional RM1 billion for the Shariah compliant Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Financing Scheme until Dec 31, 2017 with the government subsidising two percent of the financing profit rate, said Zahid.
The government, he added, had also allocated RM107 million for the SME blueprint to provide funds for entities at various stages of business development.
Other measures rolled out by the government include an allocation of RM60 million for the Entrepreneurs Acceleration Scheme, SME Capacity and Capability Enhancement Scheme and to establish a RM200 million SME Technology Transformation Fund under the SME Bank to provide soft loans at four per cent interest rate.
Meanwhile, Zahid also presented the certificate of inauguration to MRCA's new president Datuk Garry Chua, who will be leading the council until 2018.