Malaysian Govt Urged To Review Decision To Bring In 45,000 Workers From India

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - The Home Ministry has been urged to
review the decision to bring in 45,000 workers from India to solve the shortage
of workers faced by local Indian business operators.

Lawmakers generally felt that the Malaysian government should study whether
there was a real, urgent need for such a big number of workers from India.

Ibrahim Ali, a MP said such a big number was a security concern as there
were already too many foreign workers in this country.

He was interjecting the winding-up of the debate on the motion of thanks for
the royal address for the Home Ministry by its deputy minister Abu Seman Yusop
in the House of Representatives Monday.

Human Resources Minister Dr S.Subramaniam had early this month said
that the government had approved the hiring of 45,000 workers from India to
solve the shortage of workers faced by local Indian business operators.

Ibrahim's views were shared by Mohamed Aziz. "I'm
actually worried that there might be another agenda," he said.

Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said the 24-hour operations of
several restaurants required the recruitment of many foreign workers.

Therefore, he said, the authorities should consider whether it was
appropriate for eateries be allowed to operate round the clock while the
government was trying to reduce dependence on foreign labour.

"I urge the government to review the 24-hour operations of restaurants as
bringing in more foregn workers to meet the need in this sector will have social
and health implications on the Malaysian public," he said.

The sitting will continue Tuesday.