KL may freeze inflow of workers

KL may freeze inflow of workers

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia is considering freezing immigration of Bangladeshi workers after Premier Mahathir Mohamad's ruling party blamed them for the country's rising security and social problems, officials said yesterday.

"The National Security Council will evaluate inputs on the problems caused by the Bangladeshis in the country when it meets on October 16 before a decision is made," a security official said.

Mahathir's United Malays National Organization (UMNO) expressed grave concern last Friday over the social problems they said were caused by Bangladeshis, who make up the second largest component of foreign workers in Malaysia, after the Indonesians.

Concerns have risen here following reports that Bangladeshis were involved in fights with local residents and that Bangladeshi men were abandoning Malaysian women when their work permits expired.

Malaysia's rapid economic growth, averaging above eight percent since 1987, and its acute worker shortage in recent years have led to the influx of expatriate labor.