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.