M'SIA: CABINET COMMITTEE TO HANDLE MAIDS ISSUE

PUTRAJAYA, June 30 (Bernama) -- The issue of foreign maids will be handled
by a cabinet committee which will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin
Yassin.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said a date for a meeting
of the committee had not fixed yet but did not rule out it being held earlier
than anticipated.

The Indonesian government has ordered employment agencies in the republic to
stop sending maids to Malaysia effective Friday following complaints there had
been cases of abuse by employers.

On June 27, Malaysian Foreign Maid Agencies Association president Raja
Zulkepley Dahalan said the Philippines government had indicated that the country
could send up to 50,000 Muslim maids from Mindanao at any time to fill vacancies
as a result of the move by Indonesia.

Hishammuddin said Malaysia had many options but it depended on the sector
needing foreign labour.


"In the economic situation now, I feel we should be focusing on sectors that
need foreign workers.

"We need not worry because the fact is many want to come and this shows
there is something good and beneficial that can be obtained by coming here," he
said.

-- BERNAMA