{
  "id": 5281287,
  "title": "Malaysia's foreign worker intake based on industry needs, says Ramanan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/malaysias-foreign-worker-intake-based-on-industry-needs-says-ramanan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T07:55:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1524956/malaysias-foreign-worker-intake-based-industry-needs-says-ramanan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan has clarified that Malaysia will not be recruiting 200,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next six months as previously reported. The figure cited by Bangladeshi junior minister Mir Shahe Alam was not an official declaration from the Bangladeshi government, according to Ramanan's spokesman, Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. Ramanan stated that foreign worker intake would be determined by verified industry needs and the ceiling set under the 13th Malaysia Plan, rather than the proposed timeline of 200,000 workers within six months. He dismissed the timeline as illogical and emphasized that the decision to allow foreign workers would be made on a sector-by-sector basis, only when genuine needs were identified. Ramanan stressed that the federal government's approach aimed to balance the needs of employers and critical sectors with the prioritization of job opportunities for Malaysians and the adherence to the approved policy framework regarding foreign worker reliance.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has dismissed claims that it plans to recruit 200,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next six months.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Akmal: Malaysia must future-proof energy security, OGSE industry",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/akmal-malaysia-must-future-proof-energy-security-ogse-industry",
        "published": "2026-09-03T07:24:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Malaysia must act now as 10pc US tariff not guaranteed ceiling, says industry expert",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/malaysia-must-act-now-as-10pc-us-tariff-not-guaranteed-ceiling-says",
        "published": "2026-09-03T09:05:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}