KUALA LUMPUR: RM10mil will be allocated to upgrade restaurants and eateries around Kuala Lumpur, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

       The Prime Minister said he wants Kuala Lumpur to be recognised as a clean and pleasant city for all.

       "I was informed that the funds for the city has been insufficient, and it's because of this I will be adding another RM10mil in allocation to upgrade its restaurants and eateries," he said during the launch of the Lestari Niaga programme at D'Medan Selera Madani Kompleks Tun Sambanthan here.

       He also said the government would be lifting a freeze on the intake of foreign workers for the textile, goldsmith and barber shop subsectors, albeit partially.

       Anwar said Putrajaya would not lift the ban, which had been in place since 2009, as a whole for now.

       "Since there is an urgent need (of workers in these subsectors), we will approve (recruitment), but not in its entirety.

       "(Human resources) minister (V Sivakumar) will bring the matter to the Cabinet when it meets this Friday so we can approve a portion (of applications) for these three sectors," he said.

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       In March, the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) said the three sectors did not have sufficient foreign labour because of the 2009 freeze.

       It said the present foreign workers had been on temporary employment passes which were renewed on a yearly basis. However, those passes would be terminated in stages.

       Anwar also said he hopes the ministry would provide training or incentives to ensure the country’s Indian youths were trained and employed.

       "Each time I meet an Indian leader, they would bring up these three sectors, so I said okay, I will grant the approval for now.

       "But let’s also add training and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for our Indian youths."

       Sivakumar confirmed later that a memorandum on unfreezing the three sectors will be presented to the Cabinet on Friday (Sept 8).

       He also said he previously held discussions with home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and the late cost of living and domestic trade minister, Salahuddin Ayub, about reopening the three sectors.

       "In principle, both ministers had agreed to reopen these three sectors," he said.

       Sivakumar said requests had been made to bring in a total of 15,000 foreign worers for the three sectors.

       "The number isn't that high at around 6,000 for the textile sector, 6,000 for barber shops and 3,000 for goldsmith.

       "We will look into each request on a case by case basis," he said.