KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — Opposed to a proposal for the intake of 1.5 million Bangladeshis into the country to meet a worker shortage for menial labour, a coalition of non-government organisations warned of dire socio-economic repercussions, including a spike in terror activities, rape cases and loss of business opportunities for locals, should Putrajaya proceed with the plan.

Pertubuhan Rapat Malaysia president A. Rajaretinam told a news conference here the influx of migrant workers was a major threat to national security and Malaysians’ health and safety, claiming the foreigners could promote terror activities like the Islamic State (IS).

“It has become a norm for them to rape local women. They rape the wife and daughters of people here.

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“They act like they have a licence to rape. What kind of action will be taken? This will become worst,” he said, without providing any proof to back up his allegation.

Rajaretinam also claimed that a lot of new diseases have been found in Malaysia since the influx of foreign workers here.

“We noticed that they are (a) threat to local health. We don’t know the ones who come here are clean or not.

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“We notice a lot of new sickness and viruses being spread here since foreigners came,” he said.

The NGO coalition also blamed foreign workers of operating businesses here illegally.

“They are starting their own empires here. They are opening business and they are conquering everywhere [sic],” Rajaretinam added.

The group also said it will hold a mass protest if Putrajaya decides to go ahead with bringing in the foreign workers.

“If they go ahead with this plan, we will have a protest. We are not sure about the details yet but it will be a protest involving the youth. It will be multiracial,” Rajaretinam said.  

Putrajaya has been publicly roasted over a planned intake of 1.5 million Bangladeshis to fill a void in industries seen as dirty, dangerous and difficult, namely in the plantation, manufacturing, construction, and cleaning service sectors.

Locals are seen to shy away from these 3D industries due to a number of reasons, including the low floor wage.