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Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email The school may have had good intentions, but to have students to do it during Moral Education, while the muslim students go for religious classes sent the wrong signal to the parents. In this time of heightened sensitivities and tension, the school should have done this toilet-cleaning activity in a better way, maybe on Saturday or Sunday…with parents and all. » Read more: Cleaning toilet during Moral class
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email KUALA LUMPUR: Three leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and two others detained with them under the Internal Security Act will know their fate when they face the ISA advisory board on Monday.
The three — P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabathirau and T. Vasanthakumar — and Hindraf lawyers R. Kenghadharan and M. Manoharan are being held at the Kamunting detention centre in Taiping.
Karpal Singh, who is the lead lawyer for four of them, said yesterday that the five men would appear before the three-member board, chaired by a judge.
"The board will hear their representation and defence and give its recommendations to the king."
The detainees would be represented by their lawyers at the closed-door meeting.
Gobind Singh Deo is appearing for R. Kenghadharan while the others are represented by Karpal, A. Sivanesan and M. Kulasegaran.
Karpal said the board could give its recommendations to the king to have the Hindraf members released.
The five were detained on Dec 13 last year on the grounds that they were posing a threat to national security.
They are to be detained for two years for their part in an illegal rally on Nov 25 last year, where some 10,000 Indians protested against alleged racial discrimination.
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email 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/
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.
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 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.
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email 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
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.
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Asked if Antony had raised the issue of alleged discrimination against Indians and Hindus in the country, Syed Hamid said he had not.
PTI says:
India and Malaysia today discussed the plight of ethnic Indians, who had been protesting against the government alleging their marginalisation in this multi-racial country.
The issue came up during talks Defence Minister A K Antony had with his counterpart Najib Razak here.
However, the two leaders did not reveal details of their discussions on the issue.
"He is aware of the political situation. Let's leave it at that," Najib told reporters at a joint press conference after the meeting.
When Indian journalists sought his remarks, Antony declined to comment.
So who said what? Maybe Syed Albar did not hear the discussion properly or the reporters misunderstood his comments.
By PTI : Monday January 7, 04:26 PM
Kuala Lumpur, Jan 7 (PTI) India and Malaysia today discussed the plight of ethnic Indians, who had been protesting against the government alleging their marginalisation in this multi-racial country.
The issue came up during talks Defence Minister A K Antony had with his counterpart Najib Razak here.
However, the two leaders did not reveal details of their discussions on the issue.
"He is aware of the political situation. Let's leave it at that," Najib told reporters at a joint press conference after the meeting.
When Indian journalists sought his remarks, Antony declined to comment.
The Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf), a non- governmental group, had organised a massive rally attended by over 20,000 ethnic Indians here on November 25 to protest their alleged marginalisation in this country. The allegation has been denied by the government.
Authorities took into custody scores of people following the assembly, declared "illegal" by the government. Five leaders of Hindraf are still in detention under the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows holding people without trial for a long period of time.
Asean-India FTA talks enter final stage
PUTRAJAYA: Discussions on a free trade agreement (FTA) between Asean and India are in the final stage with only one more outstanding issue to resolve.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said once the issue – which centred on the export of palm oil from the region to India – had been resolved, the FTA would be signed.
“A feasibility study on a separate FTA between India and Malaysia has also been completed and discussions on the matter have started between our International Trade and Industry Ministry and India’s Ministry of Commerce.
“Both our Prime Ministers had in a previous meeting stated that they wanted discussions on the agreement to be concluded as soon as possible,” he told reporters after meeting India’s Defence Minister A.K. Antony at his office here yesterday.
Syed Hamid said Antony had also expressed the Indian government’s wish to play a greater role in its relationship with Asean.
“They hope to see Malaysia’s support on that matter,” he said, adding that the Indian government also hoped to see a “broadening” of the existing relationship, particularly in defence and trade matters.
Asked if Antony had raised the issue of alleged discrimination against Indians and Hindus in the country, Syed Hamid said he had not.
“In fact, he said India hopes to learn from the Malaysian experience and development model. The matter raised by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) is a domestic matter,” he said.
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