Foreign workers: Sabah, Sarawak have power to decide

Ahmad Zahid says the two states have own immigration powers to decide where to source workers.

PETALING JAYA: The Sabah and Sarawak state governments have been told they can use their autonomous immigration powers to decide for themselves from which country to source foreign workers if they have a need.

Home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the federal government had given the green light for the two states.

The two states have their own powers over immigration into the state.

“So we leave it to both state governments of Sarawak and Sabah to decide where to source for the workers they need because they know very well the demand of the industry (and not necessarily from Bangladesh),” he was quoted as saying.

“The two states can decide and we will endorse,” he told local reporters in Kuching on Friday, according to Borneo Post Online.

Ahmad Zahid spoke to reporters when he made a Chinese New Year visit to KTS Group managing director Henry Lau at the Lau residence. The KTS group comprises a diversified range of businesses including timber and the media, Oriental Daily News and a recently-launched radio station.