Dhaka, Feb 19 (UNB) – In a quick reversal of its stance, Malaysia has decided to ‘suspend’ the recruitment of all foreign workers to Malaysia, including those from Bangladesh. “We urge all employers to recruit local workers,” said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also the Home Minister, after meeting Army personnel at Kem Muara Tuang on Friday. The announcement came hours after the Human Resources Minister of the Southeast Asian country said not all of the 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers thought to be headed for Malaysia were meant for the country. Zahid was speaking in Kuching, Sarawak, today saying the decision of suspension came after a thorough consideration while the government would also review recent changes to the levy system on foreign workers, according the Malaysian Insider.com. He said the suspension would be in place while the government will review the two-tier levy programme for foreign workers, Malaysian media outlet The Star Online reported. Dr Ahmad Zahid added that the existing illegal workers in Malaysia would be detained and deported. Earlier, Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot said the number actually referred to the number of Bangladeshis registered with the Ministry in Bangladesh to work in 139 countries worldwide. “There’re a total of 1.5 million Bangladeshis registered for future employment in foreign countries, but that’s not the number of workers coming to Malaysia,” says Riot. “The perception that 1.5 million? workers will be brought in from Bangladesh to work in Malaysia is not true,” Malaysian media outlet The Star Online quoted the Human Resources Minister as saying. At a press conference on Friday in Malaysia, he said the Bangladeshis were seeking employment in 139 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, The Star Online reported from Putrajaya. He hoped the clarification would allay fears and concern that a huge influx of foreigners, particularly from Bangladesh, were on their way to Malaysia. As of December last year, there are 2,135,035 documented foreign workers in Malaysia, of which 282,287 are from Bangladesh. Riot also said the Memorandum of Understanding signed in Dhaka on Thursday was similar to what the government had previously signed with Indonesia, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Earlier, it was reported that Malaysia will recruit 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers in the next five years. Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem and Bangladesh’s Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Nurul Islam BSc signed the MoU on Thursday in Dhaka.
