Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar said 6,597 foreigners were jailed at Sungai Buloh Prison between 2001 and last month while 15,751 foreigners were under remand for the same period.

"I have visited Kajang Prison recently. Of the 1,200 women prisoners there, 700 are foreigners.

"We have built jails for Malaysians. Now there are more foreign prisoners than Malaysians in our jails and lockups," he told reporters after launching Prisons Department's Warrant Cards at Sungai Buloh Prison, here Wednesday.

He said from January to May this year, 65,737 of the two million foreigners in the country were detained for various criminal offences.

Noh said among the cases involving foreigners were murders, attempted murders, armed robberies, rapes and house breakings.

He felt an indepth study and an intergrated action plan involving various enforcement agencies should be undertaken to resolve problems related to crimes committed by foreigners.

"We should not view lightly the problems created by foreigners. Previously they came for an honest living and jobs were easily found. Now their numbers multiplied and illegal immigrants are mostly involved in criminal activities," he said.

He said foreigners who were once detained and deported for committing crimes now became wiser and changed their identity to again enter into this country.

To overcome the problem the Immigration Department was planning to use the thumb print system at every entry point to detect foreigners who were once deported, he said.

Meanwhile, the warrant cards launched Wednesday will serve as identity cards as well as authorisation card for Prison Department officials to discharge their duties.

The warrant card, similar to the credit card in size, is equipped with three security features to prevent imitation by irresponsible people.

Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Internal Security Minister Chia Kwang Chye, Prisons Department Director-General Datuk Mustafa Osman and Sungai Buloh Prison Director Hassan Sakimon.