Sabahans, Sarawakians below 35 allegedly barred from working in S'pore

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Malaysians above the age of 18 are allowed to work in Singapore except for male natives from Sabah and Sarawak whose age limit has been raised to 35.

The new ruling was imposed as an "administrative punishment" after a series of crimes and fights involving rowdy native Sabahans and Sarawakians in the republic.

It is learnt that several high profile murders involving Sarawakians and Sabahans in Ang Mo Kio Avenue, Kallang, and also Geylang in recent years have contributed towards the stricter regulations.

Fresh workers below 35 were barred entry while those within that age group and already working there could not renew their work permits after they expire within two years.

Gagasan Dayak Iban Bersatu Malaysia (GAIU) president Sai Malaka said although the ruling was not made official by the Singapore Manpower Ministry (MOM), all work permit applications by native men from Sabah and Sarawak below the age of 35 were automatically rejected.

"I feel that this measure is very extreme and discriminatory towards native Sabahans and Sarawakians," he said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from MOM confirmed that Singapore had tightened the policies governing the hiring and retention of foreign manpower in the last few years to moderate the growth of foreign work force as well as to promote productivity-driven economic growth.

He said that foreign manpower from all sources were required to meet various criteria to be eligible for work passes.

"We will continue to approve or renew the work passes of workers from Sabah and Sarawak who are found to be eligible and suitable to work in Singapore," said the spokesman.

Sabahans and Sarawakians are upset with Singapore for tightening employment regulations which bar those below 35 years of age from working in the republic.

They feel that Singapore should not impose a blanket punishment for the "rowdy behaviour" of a handful of the natives.

An affected worker, Linggi, 28, from Kapit in Sarawak, said he had been with a marine engineering company in Tuas, Singapore, since 2004 but lost his job last month when he could not renew his work permit.

"My employer and I tried to appeal several times but was rejected by the manpower ministry," he said, adding that he was earning S$12 (RM28.80) an hour.

The Iban said he had heard of many other natives below the age of 35 from Sabah and Sarawak facing similar difficulties.

"It is not fair to punish everyone else when only a handful were creating problems in Singapore," said Linggi.

Linggi has since found work in an engineering company in Pasir Gudang.