Clarifying his remark made in his “policy talks” session on Facebook last Wednesday, the former prime minister blamed the situation on the government for being unable to make available jobs that could match the graduates’ expertise.
“People who send students to universities have hopes that they will graduate and be able to land high-paying jobs.
“Only a crazy person would hope for a person to graduate from university and become a nasi lemak seller or Uber driver,” Mahathir said in a social media post today.
The Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) chairman was criticised by government leaders who deemed his remark as insulting to the creativity and initiative of graduates.
Mahathir congratulated graduates who chose to be nasi lemak sellers and ride-sharing drivers, saying that it was their right to earn a living by those means.
“But it isn’t what they want or a mistaken choice. It is because they are forced to do so due to government policies made to apparently help achieve a higher GDP (gross domestic product) and higher income per capita,” he said.
Mahathir’s remark was refuted by minister of rural and regional development Ismail Sabri Yaakob when he said fresh university graduates who took up the nasi lemak business or became Uber drivers were showing their creativity in grabbing opportunities.
Ismail said the choice of jobs by the present generation also should not be considered a failure of the government to provide employment opportunities.
Deputy Minister of Defence Mohd Johari Baharum said graduates who sold nasi lemak or became Uber drivers should be praised for their independence and not insulted despite their high academic qualifications.
Johari said nobody should look down on them but should instead show them support for not banking on office jobs.
He also said the younger generation should be encouraged to take up two jobs to earn more income.
Mahathir not impressed by graduates becoming Uber drivers, nasi lemak sellers