MALAYSIANS SHOULD NOT BE TOO CHOOSY ABOUT JOBS

KAMPAR (Malaysia), Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
has called on unemployed Malaysians not to be too choosy when picking jobs
especially during the current uncertain economic conditions.

He said they should instead take employment opportunities that came their
way, including jobs currently carried out by foreign workers.

"We want the locals to also venture into the employment sectors which rely
on foreign workers.

"We should not be too choosy at a time when we are in need of jobs and
income," he said when launching the Rural Action Plan at the Sekolah Menengah
Kebangsaan Air Kuning in Kampar, a town in the northern state of Perak, Malaysia
here Thursday.

Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek
Hassan.

Abdullah also hoped that the manufacturing sector would no longer employ
foreigners.

"We should give priority to the locals. It is not wrong or an act of
injustice when we give priority to our own people," he said.

He also called on the related government agencies to facilitate the issuance
of licences and permits to unemployed individuals who wanted to venture into
business.

Malaysians, he said, should also give priority to buying local products
because doing so would ensure that the manufacturers would remain in operation.

"Buying locals will go a long way in helping the economy. When we buy local
goods, this will ensure the manufacturers will continue to operate and
therefore, none of the workers will be retrenched," he said.

-- BERNAMA