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PM will look into appeal by MCCBCHST on work permit

January 9th, 2008
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Earlier, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) expressed shock and disappointment over the final renewal of work permit for priest, temple musicians, and sculptors issued by the govt. They have submitted an appeal via telegram to PM, and the PM responded:

In Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, when asked about the appeal, said: “They can send a letter to me. I’ll see what they have written.”

Meanwhile, MCCBCHST further stated:

The council’s president, Datuk A. Vaithilingam, said further enquiries by parties showed that the restriction extended to all Indian nationals.

According to Immigration Dept:

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don declined to comment on the issue, saying it was a policy matter which should be referred to the Home Affairs Ministry.

Read the full articles from Star and NST below and other related articles in the blog at:http://poobalan.com/blog/religion/2008/01/08/no-more-work-permit-renewal-for-religious-workers/

http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2008/01/08/samy-says-indian-workers-banned-then-say-no/

Samy Vellu: No truth to claims

source

NEW DELHI: Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has denied foreign wire reports that Malaysia had frozen the intake of workers from India.

“There is no truth in the report,” the Works Minister and MIC president said here last night. He said he had spoken to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Dr Fong Chan Onn on the matter.

More than 50 pressmen waited for clarification on the issue after a wire agency reported the “freeze” on Indian workers.

Later, Indian Minister for Overseas Affairs, Vyalar Ravi said there was a memorandum of understanding between Malaysia and India on the recruitment of foreign workers and it still stood.

It is believed that the issue arose after the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Taoism urged the Government to reconsider a decision to stop issuing permits for new applications for Hindu priests, temple musicians and sculptors.

In Kuala Lumpur, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, when asked about the appeal, said: “They can send a letter to me. I’ll see what they have written.”

Samy Vellu: No ban on Indian workers

From K. Harinderan in New Delhi, India

source

WORKS Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was mobbed by the press just as he finished speaking on economic and infrastructural development at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2008 meeting here.

Samy Vellu, who was a guest speaker at the event, was approached by some 50 newsmen, including camera crew, who had been kept waiting for him to respond to an article flashed by Reuters.

The article quoted an unnamed Home Ministry official as saying that Malaysia had suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh since Dec 31.

Several other ministry officials were also reported to have confirmed the ban without providing a valid reason.

Members of the press, mainly from the Middle East, India and Bangladesh, blockaded the exit of the Vighan Bhavan Convention Centre after having waited for hours for a statement from Samy Vellu.

In answering the questions by the press, he denied all claims based on a quick phone conversation with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“These claims have been refuted,” said Samy Vellu, adding that there was no truth to the article.

Meanwhile in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) claimed that the Immigration Department had stopped issuing work permits to new applications for foreign priests, temple musicians and sculptors.

The council’s president, Datuk A. Vaithilingam, said further enquiries by parties showed that the restriction extended to all Indian nationals.

He said the department had also given final renewal permits of six months for priests, three months for temple musicians, and one week for sculptors, after which they would have to leave the country.

“This decision has caught us by surprise. After all, there are so few priests, musicians and sculptors here. They are only a tiny dot out of the few hundred thousand Indian workers based in Malaysia.”

He estimated that there were about 180 Hindu priests, 100 musicians and between 200 and 300 sculptors working here.

“This is an unprecedented move as the department had previously always had discussions with the council before any change in the system,” he said.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Wahid Md Don declined to comment on the issue, saying it was a policy matter which should be referred to the Home Affairs Ministry.

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International Ponggal Festival 2008 15 Jan

January 9th, 2008
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I think last year it was still National Ponggal Festival. This year, it has gone international 🙂

KUALA LUMPUR: Celebrate the Indian harvest festival again at the KL Tower on Jan 15.

source

Malaysians and tourists are invited to join in the International Ponggal Festival 2008 by boiling milk in a clay pot until it overflows, after which rice and sugar is added. Ponggal is celebrated to thank the sun, earth and animals that have helped in getting a good harvest. To participate, call P. Kamalanathan at 012-330 2079, M. Ravi at 017-399 9000, Thomas Samuel at 012-206 8260 or Maha Ganapathy at 012- 223 1702.

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samy says indian workers banned then say no

January 8th, 2008
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Something funny went on now. News started to trickle in that all visa for foreigner workers from India and Bangladesh (including professionals) were suspended since end of last year, Dec 2007. Read below articles from Reuters ( 6.20pm) and BBC. However, a newer article on Reuters at 7.05pm says that no such thing happened. Looks like Samy Vellu made a big blunder. Telling the indians that their workers are not wanted, in their own country!

Earlier, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) issued a statement expressing shock that permit for temple priests, sculptors, and musicians will not be removed by the govt. Read about it at:

http://poobalan.com/blog/religion/2008/01/08/no-more-work-permit-renewal-for-religious-workers/

Malaysia denies ban on India, Bangladesh workers

Tue Jan 8, 2008 7:05pm IST
source
 

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A Malaysian minister denied on Tuesday that his governmenthad suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh.

"I just spoke to my prime minister … There is no truth in the statement released by Reuters … It's not true means everything is status quo," Works Minister S. Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian member of the cabinet, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi.

"Indian workers are already there. When it is needed, they are welcome."

Earlier, a Malaysian Home Ministry official told Reuters that the cabinet had decided about two weeks ago to freeze the intake of workers from India and Bangladesh. Other ministry officials had then confirmed the ban but gave no reason.

About an hour before his denial, Vellu had said the country had enough foreign workers.

"The government decided it is enough and we don't want to recruit any more because we have enough workers," he told Reuters at the conference. "Is it wrong?"

The minister's press secretary later said those comments should be "disregarded", saying they were made before the minister had adequate information.

Relations between India and Malaysia have been hurt by recent allegations of discrimination against the ethnic Indian community in this Southeast Asian country.

Ethnic Indians staged a mass anti-government protest in November, alleging that the authorities had sidelined the community under an affirmative action policy that favours the majority ethnic Malays.

From Reuters: Malaysia bans intake of India, Bangladesh workers

Tue Jan 8, 2008 6:20pm IST
 

Source

By Jalil Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh, the government said on Tuesday, in a move one official said could be linked to a recent uproar about Malaysia's treatment of its ethnic Indians.

The ban, which took effect on Dec. 31, 2007, could further strain India-Malaysian relations after some Indian politicians sympathised with ethnic Indians who complained they had been marginalised by the Malay-majority government.

"The cabinet decided about two weeks ago to freeze the intake of workers from India and Bangladesh," a Home Ministry official told Reuters.

"Those already in the country will not have their work permits renewed," he said. "The ruling applies to all workers, including expatriates."

The news came as Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony ended a three-day visit aimed at boosting defence ties.

Other ministry officials confirmed the ban but gave no reason. The government had said in October it was trying to determine exactly how many foreign workers the country needed.

"Frankly speaking, we have got enough workers," Works Minister S. Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian minister in the cabinet, said on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi.

"The government decided it is enough and we don't want to recruit any more because we have enough workers. Is it wrong?

Malaysia also decided on Tuesday to ban foreign workers at all major airports in the country, state news agency Bernama reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib said the ban must be complied with as soon as possible, although the government realised that companies carrying out various works at the airports had to make some adjustments.

"We will issue rulings to Malaysia Airports Bhd to ensure that the workers are Malaysian citizens," he said.

Latest figures up to last Sept. 30 show Malaysia was home to about 2.2 million legal foreign workers, with 35 percent employed in factories and 17 percent in plantations.

Indonesians made up the highest number at around 60 percent, followed by Nepalese (11 percent), Bangladeshis (9 percent) and Indians (7 percent), government data showed.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was due to visit Malaysia on Friday, seeking to smooth relations between the two neighbours following disputes over cultural theft and ill-treatment of migrant workers.

"DRASTIC STEP"

Indians are mainly employed in restaurants and in the construction, information technology and financial services industries.

The Indian government said it had no immediate comment but some Indian professionals said they were upset.

"They (the Malaysian government) should not take such drastic steps. They should recognise the contribution made by Indian workers and professionals in the economic growth of the country," said one Indian professional who declined to be named.

A Malaysian inter-faith group criticised the ban, which it said would hit the intake of foreign priests and temple workers.

"This sudden decision without any dialogue or consultation with us is unprecedented," said A. Vaithilingam, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

Relations between India and Malaysia have been hurt by recent allegations of discrimination against the ethnic Indian community in this Southeast Asian country.

Ethnic Indians held a mass anti-government protest in November, alleging that the authorities had sidelined the community under an affirmative action policy that favours the majority ethnic Malays.

Some Indian politicians, including Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, voiced concern for the ethnic Indians.

Around 7 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people are ethnic Indians, whose forefathers were brought over as labourers by British colonial rulers.

From BBC:

Malaysia bans Indian recruitment


Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India amid rising domestic tensions.
source

A government official said the decision might be linked to the actions of a group that led protests complaining of discrimination against ethnic Indians.

But the official did not say why the decision had been made, nor how long the restrictions would last.

The ban will affect thousands of manual labourers as well as professionals, including religious workers.

There are currently about 140,000 legal workers from India in Malaysia.

"The government decided it is enough, and we don't want to recruit any more," Malaysian Works Minister S Samy Vellu told Reuters new agency, while at a conference in Delhi.

The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur told the Associated Press it had contacted the relevant authorities but did not give any further details.

'Unprecedented'

The move to freeze visas for all workers from the two countries was taken three weeks ago, the government said.

But Tuesday's announcement took many people by surprise.

A Vaithilingam, president of a Malaysian inter-faith group, said that the decision came without dialogue and was "unprecedented".


The BBC's correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, said it was a significant diplomatic move by the Malaysia government.

A Home Ministry official told the BBC that the decision "may be linked to Hindraf", the Hindu activists group which organised recent rallies by Malaysian ethnic Indians.

Thousands of ethnic Indians took to the streets late last year in protest against perceived social and economic discrimination by the Malay-Muslim majority.

The announcement came on the final day of a visit to Malaysia by Indian Defence Minister AK Antony.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Mr Antony "did not raise the issue of ethnic Indians in Malaysia," reported the French news agency AFP.

An unnamed Indian professional told Reuters that the Malaysian government should not have taken such a drastic step.

"They should recognise the contribution made by Indian workers and professionals in the economic growth of the country," he said.

Our correspondent said that tensions are high with a general election expected to take place early this year.

Many people fear a repeat of the racial violence which has broken out in the past.

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samy vellu at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas India

January 8th, 2008
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The MIC, he said, had submitted several memoranda to the Government on the issues even before the Hindraf rally. “We don’t go to the streets to demonstrate. They (Hindraf) submitted a one-page memorandum, alleging that the Indians were marginalised, without giving any specifics,” he said.

What memoranda and what is the status? Or is it OSA protected?

Samy Vellu said the Government had set up a committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to look into the problems of the Indians.

What committee is that? Surely it has a name right? Funny enough there was no mention of any committee headed by DPM Najib specially for Indians. Or did I miss anything?

Indian media 'grills' Samy Vellu

source

By A. LETCHUMANAN

NEW DELHI: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was “grilled” by the Indian media over allegations that Malaysian Indians were marginalised. 

While he was speaking to the Malaysian media, the local press as well as foreign media butted in and raised questions on the Nov 25 illegal rally by Hindraf and issues such as discrimination and marginalisation of Indians. Samy Vellu, who is also the Works Minister, patiently replied to the questions for more than 30 minutes. 

Later, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2008, he said there was no demonstration or violence in the country as claimed by certain quarters. 

“It was a gathering by a group calling itself Hindraf. It is not a registered body or a union,” he said. He said the organiser of Hindraf was not in the country while the others were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). 

Samy Vellu reiterated that the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had looked after the interests of the Indian community. 

The MIC, he said, had submitted several memoranda to the Government on the issues even before the Hindraf rally. “We don’t go to the streets to demonstrate. They (Hindraf) submitted a one-page memorandum, alleging that the Indians were marginalised, without giving any specifics,” he said. 

Samy Vellu said the Government had set up a committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to look into the problems of the Indians. “They (the Government) are giving more opportunities for Indians in civil sector employment, more funding for small businesses and other sectors,” he said. 

He also said a demonstration by 10,000 people did not mean the country faced an unrest. “Unrest means the whole community getting together and causing problems. This is not happening there,” he said, adding that the majority of the Indians were peace-loving and supported the Government. 

MIC also distributed copies of a booklet entitled Malaysian Indians — Then & Now, outlining the history and development of the community in the last 140 years to the 1,500 delegates of the conference as well as the Indian media. The colourful 20-page booklet also contains the Indian community’s representation in the government and civil service, education, Tamil schools, tertiary education and religion.

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PKR Gobala hits back at Nalla

January 8th, 2008
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Earlier, Nalla condemned Anwar. Now, PKR man Gobalakrishnan comes out with some truths on Nalla himself. How long will this drama last? Yaare vaithu yaaru komedi pannarange? (who is making a joke of who?)

'Hypocritical' Nalla rapped for changing tune
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76806
Terence Netto | Jan 8, 08 3:38pm

The anti-Anwar Ibrahim tirade unleashed in recent weeks by MIC President S Samy Vellu, joined by the chief of the new formed Malaysian Indian United Party, KS Nallakaruppan, has drawn a scathing response from PKR supreme council member N Gobalakrishnan.

Gobalakrishnan, a staunch canvasser of Indian support for PKR, said Nallakaruppan’s latest salvo against the former deputy prime minister in today’s editions of Tamil Nesan and Makkal Osai was particularly hard to take because of what the MIUP leader has said in public and in private about Anwar in the past.

Among other criticisms, Nallakaruppan was reported by the two Tamil dailies as lambasting Anwar for hoodwinking the Indians by presently showing sympathy for their plight when he had nothing to display as proof of that empathy while he was the powerful finance minister and deputy prime minister from when he was in the government.

In remarks to Malaysiakini, Gobalakrishnan said he found this broadside by Nallakaruppan particularly galling because of what the latter had told him after one budget presentation in the 1990s by the then Finance Minister Anwar that exempted temple products from tax.

“He told me that Anwar had called him before tabling the budget to talk about the tax exemption. Nallakaruppan said that Anwar would call him before presenting the budget to parliament to chat with him about aspects of the budget that would help the Indian community,” said Gobalakrishnan.

In all, Anwar tabled eight budgets in Parliament between 1990 and 1997. He was sacked from the cabinet and Umno in September 1998, two months before what would have been his ninth budget.

Gobalakrishnan further disclosed that in 2004, he and Nallakaruppan met up in Munich while both were visiting Anwar who was in the Bavarian capital for surgery by a renowned orthopedic surgeon for a back problem.

“I remember what Nallakaruppan told me in Munich – that he believed Anwar would be the saviour of the Indian community in Malaysia,” recalled Gobalakrishnan.

“That is the same thing Nallakaruppan reiterated at the function PKR held at the Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur to welcome him into the party when he joined us in the later part of 2006. He told the gathering that he would get one hundred thousand Indians to join PKR. In the event, he barely garnered two thousand,” said Gobalakrishnan.

Anwar sympathetic to all

As preamble, Gobalakrishnan, 48, said he had known Nallakaruppan since “our childhood days in Sitiawan in the 1960s.”

“Nalla was my senior in the youth wing of MIC,” said Gopalakrishnan who between 1985 and 1999 was secretary general of MIC Youth. Gopalakrishnan joined PKR in April 1999 when the party was formed.

“There was a rift between Nallakaruppan and Samy Vellu in 1987 over a corporate matter,” continued Gopalakrishnan.

“After that, Nallakaruppan was afraid for his safety and drew even closer to Anwar whom he has known for thirty years. For him to say what he has been saying about Anwar in recent weeks is hypocritical and shows his lack of integrity,” said Gopalakrishnan.

“Just because Anwar did not support Nalla’s aspirations for a vice presidential slot in the PKR hierarchy does not mean he should forget all what has transpired between him and Anwar and all what he has said and felt about Anwar in the past,” he added.

Nallakaruppan attempted last May to contest for a veep’s positon in PKR elections but withdrew when Anwar demurred. He left the party in a huff, muttering recriminations against Anwar and went on to form MIUP.

Gobalakrishnan asserted: “Anwar is not being hypocritical in the matter of his sympathy for Indians. As a matter of fact he is sympathetic to all, irrespective of race, who are poor and in need of state help to alleviate their plight.”

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