KL limits alien workers' entry

KL limits alien workers' entry

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia has limited the number of entry points for foreign workers with immediate effect to curb smuggling of illegal workers into the country, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

The entry points for Indonesian workers are the three international airports and four main seaports along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, while Bangladeshi workers are only allowed entry at Kuala Lumpur airport.

"The move to limit the entry points was to check the practice of smuggling in illegal workers into the country using fake or doctored passports and work permits," Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper.

The measure was among 11 conditions imposed by the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers after the government's move to stop the recruitment of foreign workers, except for domestic maids and shop helpers, through agencies on Aug. 2 after repeated complaints of mistreatment of foreign workers by the agencies.