Singapore's riot a wake up call for Malaysia - MTUC

Its president, Khalid Atan said a recent foreign workers riot in Singapore should serve as a wake-up call to Malaysia in preparing a strategy to anticipate and contain such occurrence.

Growing discontent among foreign workers in Malaysia due to poor working conditions, discrimination and low wages are like a 'time bomb', he said, adding so far dissatisfaction among foreign workers in the country were confined to factories and work places.

Khalid felt that if a widespread discontent among foreign workers was not addressed, it could spell trouble for the country in years to come.

He said the MTUC felt that the government should take steps to reduce and even curtail recruitment of foreign workers until it could come out with a plan to cater to their basic needs and rights.

The government should also stop out sourcing companies from importing workers who could not find jobs here, he added.

Last Sunday, about 400 South Asian migrant workers angered by an accident battled the police and set vehicles ablaze in Singapore's worst rioting in decades, leaving 39 policemen and emergency workers injured.

The rampage erupted in the crowded Little India after an Indian worker was killed by a private bus driven by a Singaporean.

In SINGAPORE, five more Indian nationals are expected to be charged Thursday afternoon over rioting in Little India.

Singapore Police Force (SPF) said the workers aged between 24 and 45 would be charged under Section 147 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224.