Bringing in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers now will tarnish PM’s image, says NGO

Putrajaya should postpone its plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers until after the next general election, a pro-government NGO said today, adding that the delay would benefit the government and prime minister. Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia (IKHLAS) president Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah said going ahead with the plan would only tarnish Datuk Seri Najib Razak's image as the prime minister was currently "busy with efforts to restore the political and economical situation in the country". "For the sake of the Barisan Nasional government, we appeal that the government postpone the intake until the 14th general election. "If (BN) wants to win GE14, and the prime minister wants to keep his image, stop the recruitment of the 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers and the legalisation of illegal foreign workers," he told reporters after lodging a police report on the matter at the Dang Wangi police headquarters today. Ridzuan said as head of a pro-government NGO, he was concerned that the opposition would used the issue during their campaigning in GE14. "We are very serious about this, we don't want the opposition to use this issue or illegal immigrants for their GE14 project. "We don't want the current political situation, which is being restored by the prime minister, to be threatened." He said that BN should seized the moment now as its image has showed some improvement and was being accepted again by the people. "We don't want that due to this issue, the current government will lose the people's support," he said, adding that if Putrajaya insisted on proceeding with the plan, it should be implemented only after GE14. Ridzuan also urged the Home Ministry to review the plan to legalise illegal foreign workers and to send them back to their respective origin countries. "IKHLAS has conducted a survey and found the majority of Malaysians disagree with the plan to bring in more Bangladeshi workers, despite the minister saying that the intake will be done in stages. "90% of the respondents reject the plan," he said, adding that the figure was calculated from feedback on IKHLAS's Facebook page and his own account. Ridzuan said the group would forward their objections on the matter to Najib in one month. On Thursday, Bernama reported Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying the plan to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers was at the request of the industries. He added that the 1.5 million would not be brought in at one go but in stages over a period of three to five years. – February 13, 2016.