Malaysia's Indian business community says it needs a foreign workforce of 100,000 as it has exhausted avenues for hiring locals.

There is a dire need for 100,000 new foreign workers among the Indian business community, Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) president K.K. Eswaran told The Star newspaper.

He said these workers were required in Indian restaurants, construction, goldsmith outlets, mini-markets and provision shops. 'They are also needed in laundries, hairdressing, textile, florists and tailoring outlets.'

Other representatives of the Indian business sector here also urged Friday that the problem should be addressed soon.

'The associations have tried every means to recruit locals but have been unsuccessful. Some have to delay their production schedule due to the worker shortage,' Eswaran said.

He said the Indian businessmen's problems were 'peculiar' as they needed the workers from India, who were well-versed in their respective trade activities.

'It is difficult to source for a cook in an Indian restaurant or a craftsman for the goldsmith industry from any other country other than India,' he said.

Eswaran observed that goldsmiths now had to have their jewellery designed overseas but if they could recruit new workers, they could save on foreign exchange.

The associations had also requested the government to allow them to be agents for the recruitment of foreign workers in their own sectors.

'We will make sure that only bona fide members are allowed to recruit the workers and also to ensure that the workers are not exploited or cheated.'

Malaysia is home to nearly two million ethnic Indians, a bulk of whom are Tamils settled here during the British era.