KUALA LUMPUR (July 6): The Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (PRESMA) has urged the release of undocumented migrant workers detained in the recent crackdown nationwide, especially as there are businesses that can hire them given the acute labour shortage in the sector.

"Any employers who are capable of, can rehire these workers," association president Ayoob Khan Muhamad Yakub told media today, after attending a briefing with the five-man Council of Eminent Persons (CEP). He indicated there was no need for the government to spend RM25 million every month to house the illegal foreign workers in 13 depots nationwide, as revealed by immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali recently.

President of Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (PRIMAS), Muthusamy Thirumeni, who was also present at the briefing, said both associations had proposed to the council that the rehiring process for foreign workers be simplified and kept at a minimal cost to ensure employers are held accountable. This will also assist in the collection of statistics that can be used to shape future policies, he said.

Muthusamy said there have been a number of restaurants that have either ceased operations, downsized, or reduced their operating hours in face of the labour shortage. Furthermore, members have not been able to get replacement workers in time, thereby aggravating the issue.

"Unless we get new approvals, it's very difficult to run our restaurants. Some of the restaurants are downsizing, operation hours are reduced, the shortage is really very acute," he said, adding notwithstanding the lifting of a freeze on the employment of foreign labour two years ago, they have not been able to replace workers who have returned home.

"Our industry is facing an acute shortage, especially in Indian and Muslim restaurants, which is why we came here to explain what's happening in our industry and why we need to hire foreign workers."

Together, PRIMAS and PRESMA represent over 10,000 restaurants in Malaysia, with a majority of them claiming a 40% to 50% worker shortage, Muthusamy said. He observed the lack of local workers interested in applying for these vacancies even if attractive wages are offered, noting not more than 5% of restaurant cooks are local.

Since the beginning of the month, the Immigration Department has reportedly detained 1,224 illegal immigrants in 473 operations under Op Mega 3.0.

It is understood that the associations will be submitting a memorandum for the council's review over the next few days.