M'sia to review rules for hiring foreigners

“Our [Immigration Department] detention centres are full and there is not enough space [because] there are too many who have abused their social visit pass, student visas or work permits for foreign workers.

“Foreign workers have also cost the government some 26 million ringgit [Bt254 million] in unpaid hospital bills,” Ahmad Zahid said in a press conference after attending the ministry’s monthly staff gathering.

Chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the Cabinet Committee on Foreign Workers will also find ways to curb widespread abuse.

Zahid said discussions were being held with the United Arab Emirates about their policy for foreign workers. The UAE has a 4.6-million-strong foreign workforce that far exceeds its local population of some 500,000. The employment guidelines review will compare systems being used in other countries, such as the UAE and Singapore, and will cover all countries where Malaysia has sourced its foreign manpower.

“We have to give [foreign workers] basic living needs because we don’t want Malaysia to be accused as a country that does not give fair treatment to foreign workers.

“Employers should not victimise foreign workers.

“Although some [foreign workers] may be involved in adverse activities, some of them assist in our economic growth and so we would like to see a [thorough study] from all angles – legal, humanitarian as well as their welfare,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid urged the ministry to take on a “roh baru” (new spirit) to strengthen its agencies’ bite in enforcement.

“Before this, the ministry was feared but received little respect from the community. We need to renew ourselves as we execute the law without abuse of power or compromise so that our ministry will no longer be ridiculed,” Ahmad Zahid said to hundreds of ministry staff members.