I refer to your report that employers in Malaysia want the government to ease up on the clampdown on Indonesian workers. I think there is an important question here that must be considered seriously after Sept 11, 2001.

The most important one has, of course, to do with national security as well as international security. The government and the police are right in clamping down illegal Indonesian workers.

The massive influx of illegal Indonesian workers has caused problems not only in social order and peace, but also created the potential menace of terrorism. Who knows if terrorists are not mingling among the illegal Indonesian workers?

Terrorists could easily come into Malaysia under the guise of foreign workers and spread chaos not only within but also outside the country.

Cheap Indonesian labour may help our economy but the social and political costs of their presence are too high a price to pay. Is it worth it? Thus, we must think of national interests in security terms also. The people must support the police for their tough action against illegal Indonesian workers.

It is also time we review how we stoke our economy - cheap labour may cost us much more than it is worth.