RI workers remit $1.2b

RI workers remit $1.2b

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Indonesians accounted for 62 percent or 1.86 billion of the three billion ringgit (US$1.2 billion) sent home by foreign workers in Malaysia in 1996, news reports said yesterday.

A a quarter of the total or 750 million ringgit was sent to Bangladesh followed by the Philippines in third place with 210 million ringgit, or seven per cent.

In contrast, Malaysians working abroad sent home about 400 million ringgit last year, Deputy Finance Minister Affifuddin Omar said, but stressed it is difficult to determine exactly how much money was actually remitted by locals.