Wanita MCA urges action as job losses exceed 42,000 nationwide

 

WANITA MCA has called on the government to establish a cross-ministerial economic and employment task force following the loss of 42,807 jobs nationwide, warning that rising retrenchments could have serious economic and social consequences.

Its Selangor chapter chairperson Tee Hooi Ling said the latest figures released by the Human Resources Ministry should be treated with urgency, particularly as Selangor and Kuala Lumpur recorded the highest unemployment figures in the country.

Of the 42,807 individuals who lost their jobs, 17,485 were retrenched due to company closures or layoffs, accounting for about 40% of all cases.

“The government should establish a cross-ministerial economic and employment task force to regularly disclose retrenchment figures, reduce the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), strengthen investment promotion efforts, expand skills training and job-matching programmes, and enhance unemployment assistance and social safety nets for affected families,” she stated.

Tee said the concentration of unemployment in the Klang Valley was particularly concerning given the region’s role as Malaysia’s primary economic and investment hub.

“The Klang Valley has long been Malaysia’s economic powerhouse and centre for investment and employment opportunities,” she continued.

“The fact that it now leads the nation in unemployment suggests that retrenchments are no longer isolated incidents but are increasingly affecting the country’s economic backbone.”

She added that if Selangor, often regarded as the engine of the national economy, was experiencing such challenges, the government needed to address concerns surrounding the business environment and investor confidence.

According to Tee, the latest figures represented more than just economic data.

“More than 40,000 job losses are not merely statistics, but a reflection of tens of thousands of families facing financial hardship and uncertainty,” she stressed.

She noted that in high-cost areas such as the Klang Valley, unemployment could place significant pressure on households struggling to meet commitments such as housing loans, vehicle instalments, education expenses and daily living costs.

Tee also cautioned that rising unemployment could weaken consumer spending, affect local businesses and contribute to a cycle of declining demand and further job losses.

While acknowledging the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy to Malaysia’s long-term development, she said policymakers should not overlook the immediate challenges faced by workers and businesses.

“For many Malaysians, the immediate concern is not future technologies, but where their next income will come from and how they can continue supporting their families,” she said.

Tee said business closures and retrenchments were often symptoms of broader economic pressures, including rising operating costs, increased tax burdens and weaker consumer demand.

She urged the government to take steps to improve the business environment, support SMEs and restore confidence among investors and employers.

“More than 40,000 job losses constitute not only an economic challenge, but a social issue affecting families, communities and the nation’s future,” she remarked.

“The government must move beyond broad narratives of economic prosperity and directly address the warning signs reflected in rising retrenchments and business closures.”

She added that immediate intervention and targeted support measures were necessary to prevent more Malaysians from falling into hardship and to strengthen confidence in the country’s economic outlook. ‒  Focus Malaysia