More than one third of prisoners in Malaysia are foreigners, local newspaper the New Straits Times reported Monday.

The government is concerned over the fact as this is one of thecauses of overcrowding in prisons in the country, Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow was quoted as saying.

Statistics have shown that foreigners make up more than 34 percent of the 32,000 convicts in this country. The report, however, did not say what crimes or offenses those foreigners have committed.

Commenting on the figures, Fu expressed his support for the proposal made by Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan who called for strict regulations on the housing of foreign workers.

"We need to have a more regulated policy where we can place the foreign workers in designated areas without depriving them of their basic rights," Fu told reporters in Pahang state Sunday.

Fu added he thinks the proposal will help improve public security in this country.

Editor: Yan