Anwar: Malaysia Must Reduce Over-Reliance on Foreign Labour

KUALA LUMPUR Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that Malaysia cannot continue to rely excessively on foreign workers if the country aims to advance to a high-income economy.

Speaking at the Malaysia Madani Scholars Forum at the Securities Commission, Anwar said that prolonged dependence on foreign labour would hinder the nation’s progress in productivity and skills development.

“We cannot remain overly dependent on foreign workers. Malaysia needs to train and equip our local workforce so they can effectively fill various sectors,” he said.

Anwar added that the government is strengthening skills training programmes and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to ensure Malaysians possess the skills required by current industries.

He emphasised that this shift is crucial to achieving the Malaysia Madani vision and making the country more competitive on the global stage.

The issue of over-reliance on foreign labour is often linked to problems such as wage suppression for local workers, large outflows of remittances, and various long-term social and economic impacts.

The government is expected to continue tightening policies on hiring foreign workers while placing greater focus on developing local human capital.

The Prime Minister’s speech is seen as a clear signal that the country’s labour policies will prioritise local workforce development to support sustainable economic growth.