THE government is utilising foreign funds to cover the cost of skills training that will be given to Myanmar refugees, Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said.

He said that the government will not use public funds in an effort to help the refugees obtain skills in this country.

According to him, local industries hvae so far not been able hire Myanmar refugees they do not have the required skills.

“Right now we have a shortage of foreign labour. Many restaurants, factories and the construction sector are experiencing labour shortages, but perhaps, employers are not willing to take them (refugees) because they don’t have basic skills.

“Thus, we are planning a skills training programme for certain people who want to work, but not using public funds, so we are thinking of how the funds can be obtained. As foreign minister I have also lobbied to get funds from other countries and international donors,” he said.

Saifuddin, who is also Indera Mahkota MP, added that so far, Qatar has contributed US$50 million (RM222 million), of which US$6 million has been spent on healthcare for the refugees.

“I say this so that Malaysians don’t get upset when the foreign minister talks about refugees in Malaysia and the need to provide them with opportunities for work and education.

We have never used public money, all of this is done using contributions from foreign countries,” he said.

When asked about the distribution of seats in Pahang for the next general election, Saifuddin, who is also Pahang Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman, said component parties will defend the seats that they had been previously won.

“Bersatu will contest in the one parliamentary seat it had won, while PAS will contest eight state seats. Bersatu and Gerakan will not ask for the seats won by PAS. We will look at the focus seats and determine who is most suitable to contest.

“However, we are still looking at the appropriate formula, and the decision will be finalised at the PN supreme council,” he said. – Bernama, August 14, 2022.