JERLUN, Dec 11 — Malaysia will not be short of foreign workers even if Myanmar were to stop its citizens from coming to work in the country, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Othman Aziz.

He said there were about 56,000 Myanmar nationals currently working in various sectors, especially plantation and construction, in Malaysia.

"It will not be a problem. Many other countries can accommodate our need for foreign workers.

"As a peaceful and prosperous country, many foreign people are waiting for an opportunity to work in Malaysia,” he told reporters after handing over school aid contributed by PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) to 1,000 children in the Jerlun parliamentary constituency here today.

Last Monday, the Myanmar Ministry of Immigration announced that licenses would no longer be issued to its citizens seeking employment in Malaysia.

However, two days ago, Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem said the ministry had not received any official notification from the Myanmar government on the matter.

Meanwhile, PLUS Northern Region manager Mohd Yusuf Abdul Aziz said the company had allocated RM1.3 million for the programme this year to be carried out nationwide.

He said about 7,500 school students would benefit from the programme this year.

He said PLUS had spent RM5.4 million for the programme since 2014, with about 28,000 students benefitting from it. — Bernama