I refer to the letter Amnesty for illegals subverts national integrity by Dr Jacob George.

Most of the illegal workers who land in Malaysia are lowly educated economic migrants. They are among the 48 million unemployed people in Indonesia. They need jobs to feed their dependents.

They also have the dignity to earn an honest living through their own sweat.

It is always 'the chicken and egg' argument when one asks who is supposed to be responsible for the presence of the illegal workers in Malaysia.

But prior to making it an issue of national integrity, it is important that George know about the issues outlined below:

the mechanism of the human trading monopoly in Malaysia;

why cases of illegal immigrants hired by the 'big boys' including Felda, Golden Hope, KL Kepong, IOI, JTOP, Talam, Gamuda, Road Builder, Tan and Tan, Peremba and Landmark etc are never prosecuted in court.

the hows and whys the Malaysian economy accommodates 1.2 million immigrants;

the significant contribution of Indonesian workers to the Malaysian economy. They comprise about 60% of the construction sector's work force with about 36% of Malaysian active work force being foreign;

what would be the cost of the immediate deportation of 1.2 million foreign workers by force in terms of lost productivity and

whether the Malaysian economy is ready to absorb the sudden vacuum created by the exodus of these illegal workers.

There is no immediate solution to the influx of illegal migrant workers. But a replacement of the current agencies-controlled monopolistic system with direct government-to-government dealings would solve at least half of the illegal migrant worker problem.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi deserves to be praised for his decisions that place universal human values above a narrowly defined political boundary that confines national integrity.

One thing for sure - Pak Lah did not make the decision to grant the illegals amnesty without an in-depth analysis of its total impact and implications.