Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has challenged Malaysian youths to take up 'dirty jobs' if they don't want foreign workers here.

"I challenge the youths, take up whatever jobs that are filled by foreign workers. We take over from them and push them out," Zahid said at the Selangor Youth Council's (MBS) 32nd annual meeting in Shah Alam today.

The youths present were very responsive, loudly shouting "Agree!" again and again when Zahid said youths should take up jobs in estates, factories, and as cleaners.

"Tomorrow I want MBS president Irmohizam Ibrahim to register all these youths as factory workers," Zahid quipped to a more muted response.

The deputy premier was addressing concerns about plans to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshis to work in Malaysia.

Many of the youths met by the media later were under 18 years old.

It is understood that 200 of the 1,000 attendees were delegates from secondary school clubs such as the scouts and Pandu Puteri.

Menial jobs not favoured

The respondents who were above 18 meanwhile gave mixed responses on whether they were actually willing to take up menial jobs.

SPM leaver Nur Syalwani Kasrun said she was willing to take up the challenge.

In fact she said, she had applied for jobs in factories before, but was turned down.

"They said they just hired Bangladeshis," she claimed.

Fellow SPM leaver Mohd Amiruddin Latifuddin was also willing to take up dirty jobs, and wants foreign workers out.

"It'll be easier for Malaysians to find jobs instead of loitering on the streets," he asserted.

Marketing administrator R Levanya, 21, however thinks the move should not be so drastic.

While she worried about negative social effects foreigners will bring, she admitted many youths don't want to the dirty work.

"Maybe send back half of them. Not all youths want to sweep trash or clean drains," she said.

Another SPM leaver, Mohd Izzat Mohd Osman, meanwhile felt youths should aspire to have better jobs

"The youths want good work. Not these menial jobs," he commented.