Ministers mind your language

There is no a clear understanding on the proposed ban against foreign cooks at hawker stalls and Nazri's 'full' support is uncalled for.

PETALING JAYA: MCA says cabinet ministers must be mindful that their words are often taken to represent Putrajaya’s position.

MCA Youth secretary general Leong Kim Soon said an example is Tourism Minister Nazri Aziz’s remarks that he “totally agrees” with the proposal by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to ban foreign cooks at hawker stalls.

Leong said as there is still so much controversy regarding this proposal, one cannot help but wonder if the support pledged by Nazri was meant to win himself personal publicity.

“With divergent views on the issue of whether foreign cooks can contribute towards ensuring traditional food culture, opponents to the proposal argue that foreign cooks are hired to cope with the labour shortage,” Leong said in a statement.

Leong added that as the tourism minister, Nazri’s remarks to a large extent, represent the federal government’s position as well.

“In the absence of a clear understanding on the issues related with the proposed ban against foreign cooks at hawker stalls as opposed to addressing labour shortage issues, Nazri’s full support does not aid in resolving the issue, but rather, it adds to his personal publicity,” Leong said