With the Government seeking to cut reliance on foreign labour and more local employers hiring Indonesian workers, rather than Indian labourers, it also created an impression that Indians were being banned, Radzi added.

Malaysia now has 2.1 million documented foreign workers, breaching the Government’s limit of 1.8 million, he said.

“We are trying to reduce the number of foreign workers in Malaysia ... but at the same time, we have to make sure our industries do not suffer. We have to make a balance,” Radzi said, stressing there was no move to place a limit on workers from India.

About 140,000 Indian migrants work in Malaysia, comprising the third-largest group of foreign workers. Most take low-paying jobs as waiters, barbers and gardeners. Some, however, hold top professional posts in banks and information technology industries.