JULY 7 — I refer to the massively highlighted issue of illegally employed immigrant workers.
A great deal of government resources (public money) is being deployed to hunt for, arrest and detain thousands of these workers. Illegal employment of foreigners is, of course, not a new issue. One might even say in Malaysia, it is decades old.
But what puzzles me is that the authorities and other relevant parties do not seem to see the 500-kilogramme orangutan sitting in front of them.
Does it take a great deal of intelligence and acute perception to realise that the crux of the problem is employment?
If so, does it not then follow that employing foreigners illegally should be made extremely painful for the employer, who is the offeror in the employment contract? Hopefully, this line of thinking is not too complicated for senior officers in the Immigration, Police, etc., to follow.
Can they not see that the resources needed for going after perhaps hundreds of fat cat employers would be much less than chasing after tough, young foreigners into our jungles?
Maybe I am being naive in thinking that such a simple solution, where highly publicised punishments including heavy fines and whipping are meted out to culprit bosses, would radically reduce illegal employment of foreigners and even the arrival in Malaysia of undocumented immigrants.
Just wondered. The government authorities and corporate types probably know better.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
