Bringing in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers due to need - Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi refuted claims that the government's aim to bring in 1.5 million Bangladeshi workers is profit-oriented.

On the other hand, he said the decision was made based on the demand from the employers' association itself who were prompted to opt for foreign workers from Bangladesh.

"To date, from the worker profile, no prejudice, loyalty of Bangladeshi workers much better than workers from other countries, more trustworthy, for example, looking after counters and petrol stations.

"Let's not be too easy to accuse that this is about money, this is about modern slavery... the government always endeavour to find means so that these situations do not take place," he said when winding up the debate on the 2016 Supply Bill at the Dewan Rakyat here, Wednesday.

He also told the Dewan that the entry of 1.5 million foreign workers from Bangladesh had yet to take place because the government had not signed any agreement related to the matter.

On June 25, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, was reported to have said that 1.5 million foreign workers from Bangladesh would be brought to Malaysia in stages in the next three years to meet the needs of employers from numerous sectors.

He was also reported to have said the move would only be made after illegal foreign workers here were deported.

On terrorism, Ahmad Zahid said, to date, 179 people who were involved with elements of terrorism, including 136 of them who were involved with the Islamic State (IS) elements, had been detained since 2013 until Nov 2.

He said, of the total, 15 were civil servants and Armed Forces personnel.

On another matter, Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia's success in deradicalisation of individuals, who were involved in militant and terrorism violence, also received the attention of other nations.

He said Malaysia had started its rehabilitation programme on former communist members since 1948 and not less than 97 percent had been rehabilitated.

Now the programme was used to rehabilitate those who were involved in militant and terrorism violence, he said.

"Our deradicalisation programme has become a template for many nations," he said.

He said the nation's success in this aspect was also recognised by other countries when Malaysia was picked to host the deradicalisation conference on Jan 25-26 next year.