Answering a supplementary question by Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar) in the Dewan Rakyat today, Rafizi said efforts to reduce migrant worker numbers have met with opposition in the past.

“The National Economic Action Council meeting next month will discuss a special mechanism to reduce migrant worker numbers in stages.

“The 13th Malaysia Plan to be tabled next year will also set a significantly reduced target.

“I mention this now in Parliament so that our industries can be prepared for changes,” he said.

Rafizi said the continued presence of almost 3.5 million migrant workers, whether documented or not, will create a group doing business offering lower-cost structures that local traders cannot compete with.

In his question, Shahar had asked about the growing number of Bangladeshi businesses which competed with those run by Malaysians.

“There is no longer just competition among Malaysians, but we are also competing with non-citizens. They used to work here as labourers, but now they have become entrepreneurs,” he said.

In response, Rafizi said this issue would require both commitment and tightening of laws. He highlighted the issue of rent-seeking, blaming locals who rent their businesses out to foreigners.

“As said before, the government will table an Anti Rent-Seeking Act, or ‘Ali Baba’ Act, because part of the reason for (the large migrant worker presence in businesses) is due to locals renting or giving out licences.”

He said that many Malaysians given licences to do business prefer to get RM3,000 or RM4,000 a month by renting them out to migrants.