To:

The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH), the Nursing Board Malaysia (LJM), and Relevant Authorities.

​We, the undersigned citizens and concerned residents of Malaysia, would like to raise our collective concern regarding the recent policies allowing private healthcare sectors to recruit foreign nurses, including from neighboring countries like Indonesia, under relaxed criteria.

​While we acknowledge the staffing challenges faced by private hospitals, we firmly believe that relying on foreign labor is a short-term fix that could undermine the sustainability of Malaysia's local nursing profession and the future of our healthcare system.

​Therefore, we respectfully urge the Ministry of Health and the relevant authorities to:

​Prioritize Local Graduates First: Ensure that thousands of local nursing graduates from public and private higher education institutions (IPTA/IPTS) are given absolute priority for employment, backed by better career progression and competitive salary structures to prevent brain drain.

​Maintain Strict Regulatory Standards: Retain rigorous vetting processes, including mandatory local licensing examinations (LJM) and strict language proficiency requirements, to ensure that patient safety and communication quality in Malaysian hospitals are never compromised.

​Enforce a Strict Local-to-Foreign Ratio and Time Limit: Ensure that any recruitment of foreign nurses is strictly temporary, subjected to a clear quota, and tied to a mandatory succession plan where local nurses are trained to take over those positions.

​We urge the government to protect the welfare, dignity, and career prospects of Malaysian nurses first, ensuring the long-term sovereignty and quality of our national healthcare system.