BANGLADESHIS' VISAS CANCELLED IMMEDIATELY: MINISTER

PUTRAJAYA, March 10 (Bernama) -- All entry visas for Bangladeshi workers
approved in 2007 and who had not entered the country have been cancelled
immediately, said Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after his ministry's monthly assembly here, he said
the move was in line with the government's decision to not accept any new
applications unless they were for critical sectors.

"The government has decided to cancell all entry visas for Bangladeshi
workers wanting to enter the country.

"This is due to the current scenario in the country, in that there is no
need for foreign labour, except for certain sectors identified by the
government," he said.

With the move, Syed Hamid said the government will refund workers' levies
paid by employers.

"The government gives assurance that the levy would be refunded in the near
future and hopes the issue would not be politicised by certain quarters," he
said.

Syed Hamid said this in response to a statement by the Labour Counsellor at
the Bangladeshi High Commission here, Talat Mahmud Khan, on Sunday that more
than 70,000 Bangladeshi workers would enter Malaysia soon to work in various
sectors.

Correcting the figure, Syed Hamid said government entry-approval for the
workers who had yet to enter the country but had not done so was for only 55,147
persons.

"No new approval was made after that year and I do not know how the figure
was arrived yet. I will ask the Bangladesh counsellor to meet the Immigration
Department to clarify the matter.

"Decision to take in foreign workers after that period would be made
carefully for sectors classified as 3D or dirty, dangerous and difficult. That
too if really necessary," he said.
-- BERNAMA