The Malaysian government has decided to suspend the recruitment of all foreign workers including Bangladeshis to Malaysia, deputy prime minister of Malaysia Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Friday.

‘The freeze would be enforced with immediate effect and will stay in force while the government reviews the two-tier levy programme for foreign workers, The Star Online quoted Datuk Seri Zahid as saying’, reported straitstimes.com.

‘We urge all employers to recruit local workers,’ he said, adding that existing illegal workers in Malaysia would be detained and deported.

‘Zahid, who is also the home minister, said it was hoped that Malaysians, especially youths, would respond to the government’s call for locals to take up the jobs now held by foreigners and become the mainstay of the nation’s workforce to drive national economic growth.’

‘His announcement came hours after Human Resource Minister Richard Riot impressed upon Malaysians the need to bring in foreign workers to address what he said were critical labour shortages in the manufacturing and plantation sectors, Malay Mail reported. ‘

‘Malaysia and Bangladesh have signed a memorandum of understanding to receive 1.5 million workers over the next three years.’

‘The development also came a day after Malaysia and Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of  Understanding (MoU) to receive 1.5 million workers in stages over the next three years.’

‘Putrajaya is facing resistance and criticism from several civil and trade groups over its plan to bring in the foreign workers in significant numbers, according to the report.’

‘Workers groups such as the Malaysian Trade Unions Congress (MTUC) said locals should be given priority for jobs. It acknowledged Malaysians’ tendency to reject ‘3D’ - dirty, dangerous and difficult - jobs, but argued that it was only because of the low pay, Malay Mail reported.’

‘Prime Minister Najib Razak had previously said Putrajaya will review the decision to recruit at least some of the 1.5 million Bangladeshis following public outcry over the proposal.’