Malaysia: 15,000 HIV, TB positive foreign workers deported

January 28, 2005

More than 15,000 foreign workers were sent home last year after being found afflicted with tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This was detected in medical tests carried out after they had worked for a year.

Pantai Holdings Berhad chairman Datuk Dr Ridzwan Bakar said this was worrying as the foreign workers could have spread the diseases to Malaysians during their one-year stay.

Furthermore, he added, studies showed there had been an increase in Malaysians suffering from TB and other infectious diseases, believed to have been transmitted by foreign workers.

"We wrote to the Government seeking its approval for the Foreign Workers' Medical Examination Monitoring Agency (Fomema) to conduct medical examinations on all foreign workers upon their arrival in Malaysia," he said.

"This is because diseases such as HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis have incubation periods and may not be detected at medical examinations before their arrival."

Last year, some 715,000 foreign workers underwent their one-year medical examination and 2.6 per cent were found to be infected with communicable diseases.

Dr Ridzwan said Fomema was entrusted with ensuring that all foreign workers hired legally undergo strict medical examinations and those found with diseases deported.

Medical examinations are required for workers seeking to renew their work permits after the first year of employment and not upon arrival.

This rule does not apply to white-collar foreign workers and foreign students.

Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Lee Kah Choon said the Government was studying a proposal to have foreign workers undergo medical examinations a month after their arrival.

"We want to cut down on the communicable diseases brought into the country by foreign workers," he said.

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