He urged critics to help provide solutions because the plantations would suffer losses of up to RM1.5 billion a year for lack of workers to harvest fresh fruit bunches.

Two weeks ago, Masing had stated that Sarawak had decided not to recruit workers from Bangladesh as they had been found to be not suitable for the job.

“You (critics) always say that I only take orang luar (foreigners); now please come forward with your suggestions and recommendations so that we can address this issue once and for all. Don’t just criticise — you tell me what’s your solution, including the economics of it as well as we do need the harvesters; otherwise we will continue to lose RM1 billion annually,” he said on Friday, according to Borneo Post Online.

Masing said his ministry would hold discussions with planters and those who hold licence to recruit workers.

“We will find out the best possible solution for this long-outstanding issue. We cannot be depending on the Indonesians, as they could eventually become our competitors once they decide to go back to their country,” he was quoted as saying.

Sarawak and Sabah have autonomous powers over immigration into the states and the federal government has given the two states the green light to bring in foreign workers from any source country.