GOVERNMENT URGED TO REVIEW HIGH LEVY ON FOREIGN WORKERS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA)
Youth has urged the government to review the high levy imposed on foreign
workers as some sectors are not attractive to local workers.

Youth chief Dr Wee Ka Siong said although it supported the government
decision to reduce foreign workers, increasing the levy was not practical.

"Feedback received from various quarters shows that many want the levy
exception be given to all sectors. Without it, employers will face higher
operational cost," he said after a meeting of the the MCA Youth special
taskforce on the economic crisis at parliament here Wednesday.

Wee said MCA Youth supported the RM60bil stimulus package but felt it would
only be effective over the long term as only RM15bil or 25 percent was allocated
to fiscal investment. (US$1=RM3.67)

The levy collected from unskilled foreign workers by the Immigration
Department is placed in a consolidated fund as government revenue.

Expatriates are subjected to income tax.
-- BERNAMA