The Malaysian government decided to suspend the recruitment of all foreign workers to Malaysia, including those from Bangladesh, Malaysian daily The Star reports on Friday quoting a local minister.

The decision came a day after Bangladesh and Malaysia signed a memorandum of understanding over the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers under a government-to-government scheme.

‘We urge all employers to recruit local workers,’ said deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also in charge of home ministry.

After meeting with army personnel on Friday he said that the suspension would be in place while the government reviewed the two-tier levy programme for foreign workers.

Ahmad Zahid added that existing illegal workers in Malaysia would be detained and deported.