“Let the voice of the people be the ultimate decision. The people can rise up as one and reject anything that’s against their interest.”

Shahbudin Husin, the analyst, was commenting on Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announcing in Kuching on Friday that the Federal Government has decided to put off, indefintely, taking in workers from Bangladesh or any other country. “The directive takes immediate effect.”

“Apparently, his earlier decision may have been made based on a dream he had, whispers from the other world, or after ghostly visitations. It was not based on proper studies.”

He noted that Zahid had said that the postponement will stay in place until the government was satisfied on the real needs of industry for workers. “The government also wants more time to re-consider its decision on two categories of levy on foreign workers.”

The question that arises, said the analyst, was why the government put the cart before the horse and decided to go ahead with taking in 1.5 million workers from Bangladesh without conducting the study that it now wants to undertake. “Zahid opened his mouth without doing any studies on labour needs.”

Shahbudin pointed out that even Zahid’s daughter jumped up in defence of him in the social media on the question of bringing in Bangladeshi workers. “She was carrying on as if it was a must to take in foreign workers before the end of the world.”

“Finally, Zahid’s brother announced on Thursday night that his company was no longer involved with the Home Ministry and would not be bringing in foreign workers. This could be the real reason for the postponement.”

He expressed confidence that the postponement would not have taken place if the people had not risen up in protest, if they had just kept quiet. “Zahid must remember that he had earlier said all sorts of things about local youths, including describing them as choosy, and comparing them unfavourably with Bangladeshi and other foreign workers.”