Yudhoyono, who leaves Monday for his first official visit to Malaysia since assuming office last October, said the labour issue would top the agenda of his meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Indonesian Manpower Minister Fahmi Idris earlier this week said a memorandum of understanding on the recruitment of Indonesian workers in Malaysia was expected to be signed Monday in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed by the two leaders.

No other details were available.

Indonesia has said many of its citizens have complained that they could not take up Malaysia's offer of a temporary amnesty for illegal workers because they have been cheated out of their pay.

Jakarta has engaged 10 lawyers to take legal action against errant Malaysian companies but Abdullah has warned such a move may backfire because many of the defrauded Indonesians were illegal immigrants.

Asked about Abdullah's comments, Yudhoyono declined to reply, saying he preferred to use diplomatic channels.

"It will not be good if we continue to make (public) comments because this could give rise to problems that we all do not want," he said.

He pledged to protect the rights of Indonesian workers, both legal and illegal, but also urged his countrymen to respect Malaysian laws.

Malaysia has extended indefinitely a conditional amnesty for illegal immigrants after Indonesia said it was ill prepared to handle mass deportations following the December 26 tsunami disaster.

Nearly 400,000 illegal immigrants, mostly Indonesians, left without facing any penalty during the three-month amnesty which expired January 31, leaving at least the same number behind according to official estimates.

Kuala Lumpur has vowed to continue its crackdown on illegal immigrants but has softened its approach.

Illegal workers would be fingerprinted and given a week to leave the country with the opportunity to return legally. Failing this, they would be jailed, whipped and barred from ever reentering the country, officials said.