BY JAMES WONG & NURFARAHIN OKI
KUCHING: Issues related to foreigners, including undocumented foreign workers (PATI) dominating the vegetable industry in this country, fall under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry (KDN) and the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that the authority to grant permits, permissions, and approvals to foreigners, including PATI, is legally vested in these two ministries.
“This issue should be directed to KDN and KESUMA. The existing procedures related to this matter are still operational and are being enforced,” he told reporters after the Bubur Lambuk Distribution Programme at Surau Al-Hidayah Taman Sejoli on Sunday (Mar 17).
Earlier, Surau Al-Hidayah had distributed 500 packets of bubur lambuk to residents in six areas within the Tupong constituency, including Taman Sejoli, Taman Harmoni, Taman Heritage, Taman Longseng, Taman Peaceful, and Taman Muhibbah.
Additionally, Lim Ser Kwee, the chairman of the Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association of Malaysia, reported through local media that vegetable production in Malaysia is predominantly managed by foreigners.
He said that immigrants from Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Rohingya ethnic group significantly contribute to supplying vegetables to wholesale and wet markets throughout the country.
Lim also raised concerns about illegal vegetable farms, which pose a risk to the country’s agricultural sector and affect registered local farmers.
Furthermore, he warned of a potential 40 per cent decline in national vegetable production next month due to a labour crisis facing farm operators.
This comes after the government’s recent announcement that the unused foreign labour quota will be cancelled if it remains unutilised by March 31.
