PASIR GUDANG: Industry players in Johor must ensure that foreign workers have minimum academic qualifications before they can be employed as general workers.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the grouses of the local community is primarily the influx of foreign workers and the conflict that could arise if preventive measures were not taken.
Khaled said management and administrative staff must be locals, while foreigners can only be employed as general workers but they need to have the minimum academic qualifications equivalent to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
"We don't want a similar problem to arise like in Singapore," Khaled said in reference to the sharp rise in the foreign population in the republic, which in 2014 led to racial tensions in its Little India district.
"Those who are renewing the work permit of an existing foreign worker must ensure that the worker has the necessary academic level of education," he said.
Khaled also urged industry players to also provide workers' quarters for the foreigners as he did not want the workers to rent a house, and have more than 20 people living under one roof.
Khaled said that in his meetings with the grassroots, he has found foreign workers and flash flood woes to be among the primary concerns of the local community.
He was speaking to reporters after launching a fun ride, organised by the Persatuan Peminat Berbasikal Pasir Gudang Johor Darul Takzim (Pasir Gudang Johor Darul Takzim Bicycle Enthusiasts and Charity Association) in Kg Sungai Rinting here today which saw the participation of 300 cyclists from various cycling associations.
Khaled also presented RM20,000 toward the charity fund of the association, as the state government has set aside RM2 million for applications from associations for their funds for welfare and community building programmes this year.