BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 26 — The government will take immediate measures within the next two weeks to help 7,057 workers who reportedly lost their jobs in April, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the matter was covered at the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting to provide alternative jobs for those affected, especially youth.
Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the government would ensure better synergy between incoming investments and jobs for Malaysians, particularly in major industrial areas nationwide.
“There are now new jobs and we must channel them properly so there is synergy with new investments coming into areas such as Perak, Penang, Kulim Hi-Tech (Kedah), Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Sarawak.
“Within the next week or two, there will be other measures to help restore the situation and provide several new jobs, especially for young people,” he told reporters after presenting sacrificial cows to Penanti residents in Padang Mengkuang Titi here today.
Anwar was responding to media reports today that job losses in April rose by 21 per cent compared with 5,855 cases recorded in March, as disclosed by Economy Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
The prime minister said the IT and AI sectors are among the government’s key focus areas due to strong market demand.
“If there is a need, we will provide special training to enable youth to enter new fields of employment,” he said.
He added that while job losses have not reached an alarming level, the government viewed seriously the impact on affected individuals and their families.
“Every job loss within a family is certainly worrying, so we are trying to address it as best as possible,” he said.
Earlier, Anwar, who is former Permatang Pauh MP, donated 260 sacrificial cows to the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency for this year’s Aidiladha.
