GEORGE TOWN, May 29, 2015:

Penang has a shortage of more than 6,000 workers which will enable the state to take in the 6,000 Malaysia Airlines (MAS) workers who will be retrenched on Monday.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state government was looking at ways and mechanisms to assist the 6,000 workers who would be made redundant by offering them jobs.

“I’m sure some of them are from Penang but whether or not they want to come back and work here we do not know as the pay scale at MAS is high.

“We also do not know if the jobs here are suitable for them but there is great demand in the hospitality industry,” he told a press conference in his office in Komtar here today.

He, however, repeated that he was unsure if the same amount of salary could be paid to them.

“Here I don’t know if we can pay the same rates but still we are willing to offer assistance because I feel that they have worked hard and carried the flag for Malaysia overseas so I think their contributions should also be appreciated.

“The workers are just workers and were not involved in the wrong decisions that have resulted in the losses for MAS and should not be punished for losses incurred as a result of mismanagement,” he added.

Lim went on to express concern, sympathy and support with the 6,000 workers who will be retrenched on Monday.

Last week, it was reported that the restructuring plan will see a downsizing of its current 20,000 employees to approximately 14,000, a reduction of 30%.

“I’ll wait for further announcement when there’s some clarity,” Lim added.