Prime minister pledges swift action as April job losses jump 21pc to 7,057 cases

BUKIT MERTAJAM, May 26 — The government will take immediate measures within the next two weeks to assist the 7,057 workers reported to have lost their jobs in April.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the matter had been discussed at the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting to improve the situation and provide alternative employment opportunities for those affected, especially youths.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the government would also ensure better synergy between incoming investments and job opportunities for Malaysians, particularly in several major industrial areas nationwide.

“There are now new job opportunities and we must channel them properly so there is synergy with new investments coming into areas such as Perak, Penang, Kulim High Tech (Kedah), Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Sarawak.

“So within the next week or two, there will be other measures to help restore the situation and provide several new job opportunities, especially for young people,” he told reporters after presenting sacrificial cows to the Penanti state constituency community at Padang Mengkuang Titi here today.

Anwar was responding to media reports today that job losses in April rose by 21 per cent compared with 5,855 cases recorded in March, as disclosed by Economy Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

The prime minister said that the information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors are among the government’s key focus areas due to strong market demand.

“So if there is a need, we will provide special training to enable these youths to enter new fields of employment,” he said.

He added that while the job losses had not reached an alarming level, the government viewed seriously the impact on affected individuals and their families.

“Every job loss within a family is certainly worrying, so we are trying to address it as best as possible,” he said.

Earlier, Anwar, who is also former Permatang Pauh MP, contributed 260 sacrificial cows to the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency in conjunction with this year’s Aidiladha celebration. — Bernama