KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 ― The government can help reduce Malaysia’s reliance of foreign labour with a long-term plan to facilitate the shift from labour-intensive industries to mechanised operations, a group said today.

The Malay Consultative Council (MPM) suggested that the government come up with a five-year plan for the shift towards fully mechanised or automated industries, as well as to provide incentives and allocation for research and studies in this field.

“What is your succession plan? Yes, for now you take the 1.5 million workers but what next after that? The intake of the same amount, or even worse more foreign workers?

“The government has to offer a transition plan, from being labour-intensive to a more technological focus,” MPM secretary-general Datuk Dr Hasan Mad told a news conference here.

He said the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) should spearhead the effort by working towards methods to “re-engineer” the development of industries so that there will be technological alternatives to foreign labour in the country.

“At one point in time, the collection of night soil was not an occupation which people wanted. But 30 years later we no longer hear about that kind of job because the collection of night soil has been through a mechanised and automated process.

“Now, those who work at IWK (Indah Water Consortium) are not likened to those who used to work in local councils collecting dung and waste at night,” Hasan added.

Putrajaya has been publicly roasted over a planned intake of 1.5 million Bangladeshis to fill a void in industries seen as dirty, dangerous and difficult, namely in the plantation, manufacturing, construction, and cleaning service sectors.

Locals are seen to shy away from these 3D industries due to a number of reasons, including the low floor wage.