Mahathir urges Philippines to think about entry of foreign workers

March 7, 2019

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad on Thursday said the Philippine government to must carefully think about the effect of the entry of foreign workers to the country's economy. 

Mahathir, in an interview over ANC, said the government should reassess impact of  foreign worker to the economy. He made the statement in regards to the influx of Chinese workers in the country. 

"As long as they're not going to be permanent residents, it's not a danger to the Philippines. But if a huge number of any foreigners in the Philippines come to live and stay in the country and even influence the economy of the country, then you have to do some rethinking whether it's good or bad or the limits that you have impose on them," Mahathir explained. 

"Foreign direct investment should not involve bringing huge numbers of foreigners to live in the country because that might disturb the political equations in the country," Mahathir added. 

He was asked whether the Philippines might suffer a debt trap through borrowing from China.

Mahathir said "this is something that China has been accused but it is also the country's concern which can regulate or limit this influence from China."

"If you borrow huge sums of money from China and you cannot pay - when a person borrows and he cannot pay, he is under the control of the lender - so we have to be very careful with that," Mahathir said. 

Mahathir withdrew last year from Chinese government-funded East-Coast Rail Link project and a natural gas pipeline agreement worth over $20 billion. He said it will be remained on hold until Malaysia can pay. 

"We have always welcomed foreign direct investment in Malaysia. We have a proper definition of what constitutes foreign direct investment," he said. Cristina Eloisa Baclig/DMS