Migrant workers

Migrant workers

Malaysia is indeed a very compassionate country. While Malaysians are counting on the government to take a harder stand on illegal foreign workers, the government continues to show leniency towards these illegal migrants.

Recently, the Indonesian government has made it clear that it has the intention to sue Malaysian employers withholding the salaries of its nationals working in Malaysia, legally or illegally employed here.

Jakarta's erratic and illogical move has taken the country by shock, our deputy prime minister included.

Our government has all this while adopted a soft approach in handling the issue of illegal foreign workers. The excessive showing of mercy has largely disappointed the Malaysian public. The government says it has diplomatic considerations in mind, and there is nothing we can do except continue tolerating.

No doubt, foreign workers have contributed greatly to the country's development and are needed in many industrial sectors. We welcome those who come here to work for a living, but can hardly tolerate those creating havoc here. We have paid a heavy social price by allowing illegal migrants to stay here, those out of job in particular.

While we sympathize with them, we should never be too complacent. We must quickly get rid of the social tumors before it is too late. -- Sin Chew Daily, Selangor, Malaysia