Malaysia must reduce its dependence on foreign workers, King Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin said today, amid an acute labour shortage caused by a crackdown that sent thousands of illegal workers fleeing the country.

"We are very concerned with the large number of foreign workers in this country," the country's ceremonial leader told the opening of a new session in parliament.

"Measures have to be taken to lessen our dependency on them in various sectors. We must train Malaysians to be self-reliant," the King said.

A crackdown on illegal immigrants which began this month has left industries with crippling labour shortages. About 200,000 workers are reportedly needed in the manufacturing sector, 150,000 in construction, 50,000 in plantations and 20,000 in the services sector.

The labour crunch follows the departure during a three-month amnesty programme which ended on March 1 of nearly 400,000 illegal immigrants, mostly from Indonesia but also from the Philippines, Burma, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

The country's dependence on foreign workers could be reduced by "enhancing automation in work processes and attracting locals to work in sectors which have been dominated all this while by foreign workers," the King said.

"Measures to overcome the problems of illegal immigrants will without doubt be more effective if enforcement is undertaken by the various agencies in a more coordinated manner," he added.

Fight againts graft

The King also pledged that Malaysia would continue an anti-corruption drive launched by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he took over from former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in October 2003.

Whilst Malaysia has "accomplished numerous successes in combating corruption, we must not be contented with what we have accomplished," he said.

"The punitive approach of enforcement and due punishment imposed on those found guilty of corruption continues to be implemented," he said.