Malaysian companies will be encouraged to hire local workers to replace over 25 lakh foreign labourers, including Indians, working in sectors like hospitality and security by increasing wages. Human Resources Minister Datuk S Subramaniam told visiting Indian journalists in Kuala Lumpur that there are around one and a half lakh Indians living in Malaysia illegally and both the Malaysian and Indian governments are taking steps to reduce the number.<br/><br/>He said, currently Malaysia has 25 lakh foreign workers both legal and illegal working in industries like plantation, restaurants and security. He said, due to porous borders with Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines, people come from those countries on a daily basis. The Minister said the government would bring a new legislation to raise the salaries of the people working in these sectors.