PUTRAJAYA should provide greater clarity on the unemployment situation in the country and how it wants to solve the issue, said Anwar Ibrahim. 

The opposition leader said there is a need for credible and comprehensive unemployment data before effective policies to solve the issue can be formulated.

Anwar also criticised the lack of coherence in data presented by different government organs such as the Prime Minister’s Office and the International Trade and Industry. 

“When the true nature of unemployment is clear, then we can create policies to increase investments. 

“I agree with the need of stricter measures due to Covid-19 but we can request state governments and municipal councils to speed up the process in areas that required approval,” said the Port Dickson MP.  

“I honestly feel the unemployment rate is not realistic. Firstly, the number of unemployed. Secondly, those who were forced to go on unpaid leave. Surely, the numbers are higher.” 

Anwar said the government must be firm and clear regarding the rate.  

“Instead, this government is too concerned with political stability, and GLC (government-linked companies) appointments. Too much internal politics. They haven’t even presented a new stimulus plan in Parliament,” Anwar added.  

During the Parliament sitting on Monday, Anwar questioned a survey used to record the number of unemployed Malaysians after Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan said the unemployment rate is at 5.3%. 

He asked if the numbers were “realistic” as the survey was carried out through phone interviews and not a field survey. 

Anwar had asked the government to state the unemployment rate and the estimated number of jobless until the end of the year. 

He said the Malaysian Employers Federation had been quoted as saying the majority of companies were suffering, and the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research had estimated that up to 1.4 million Malaysians may become jobless after the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, according to the Statistics Department, Malaysia’s unemployment rate increased to 5.3% in May from 5% in April as the number of unemployed persons rose by 47,300 to 826,100 individuals. – July 25, 2020.