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MHS to help temples with permit problem

January 11th, 2008
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Minister Radzi says no such thing, but his secretary say there is shorter renewal period as claimed by MCCBCHST.

He also denied an allegation by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism that the Immigation Department had given renewal permits of six months to priests, three months to temple musicians and a week to sculptors.

http://www.hindusangam.org.my/news/index.php?id=72

9TH January 2008
PRESS RELEASE

Temples Visa Issues – Hindu Sangam Acts
The President of Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Datuk A. Vaithilingam met senior officials of Ministry of Home Affairs and discussed the issue of work permit being given to Hindu temple workers by having their visas renewed to a shorter period than the normal schedule. During the discussion with a senior official of the Ministry En. Mat Sor Udin, Senior Secretary of the Minister, he explained that all those who had their renewal for a shorter period as mentioned above can appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs for reconsideration.

In view of this Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) calls upon all the leaders of temples affected by this exercise to make their appeals and immediately contact the MHS for its recommendation. It has been confirmed that the MHS will be the only coordinating body for Hindus in Malaysia to submit their recommendations to be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs as has been the practice all the time.

The MHS calls upon the Hindu community to remain calm over this issue because the Ministry officials have shown their concern to solve this issue in a satisfactory manner. We must also appreciate the necessity for the Ministry to go through their own process for proper investigation before making their decision.

Those temples which have only obtained 7 days extension of their work permit renewal for their temple sculptors should immediately appeal and get the recommendation letter from MHS tomorrow at Malaysia Hindu Sangam Head Quarters, No.67, Jalan PJS 1/48, Taman Petaling Utama 7, 46150 Petaling Jaya between 10.00 AM – 6.00 PM. The temple representatives must bring all their relevant documents when they come to our office. For more information please contact Datuk A.Vaithilingam (012-297 0765), Mr. R. Thiagaraja (012-692 5036), Mr. V.Govindarajah (013-323 2167) or Ms. Saraswathy (Office Numbers: 03-7784 4668/4669/4244).

Thank you,

Yours in service,

Datuk A.Vaithilingam
President
Malaysia Hindu Sangam

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Radzi denies claim by MCCBCHST on renewal ban

January 10th, 2008
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He also denied an allegation by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism that the Immigation Department had given renewal permits of six months to priests, three months to temple musicians and a week to sculptors.

read the MCCBCHST statement and other related articles at:

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

http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2008/01/09/pm-will-look-into-appeal-by-mccbchst-on-work-permit/

http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2008/01/09/home-affairs-minister-clarifies-work-permit-issues/

source
On the entry of foreign religious teachers and priests, he said the government had tightened the rules to encourage the hiring of locals. He said those already here would have to undergo stringent interviews before approval could be granted for renewal of work permits. There are 5,468 temple priests, musicians and sculptors in the country. "Our policy is that we want locals to become religious teachers, priests, musicians and sculptors.

"We have given enough time for foreigners to work here. If we find that they have worked here too long, we will not extend their work permit." He said some of them had been here for 10 years.  "Five years is normal, but if it is too long we encourage the search for local priests, musicians and sculptors."

On new applications by religious teachers and priests, he said the ministry would review them on a case by case basis.

He also denied an allegation by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism that the Immigation Department had given renewal permits of six months to priests, three months to temple musicians and a week to sculptors.

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home affairs minister clarifies work permit issues

January 9th, 2008
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finally, the ministry clarifies the issue of work permit being stopped for foreign indian workers. the confusion may have arised due to previous statements banning workers from bangladesh and also some miscommunication between ministry officials. MCCBCHST said the ban was for hindu priests, musicians and sculptors, but the minister clarified that it affects all religions. However, minister also said the approval for those three categories will be on a case by case basis, mean there’s a ban on renewal of permit after all, it is only worded differently. The applicants have to appeal.

Worse is PM said he will consider the appeal sent by MCCBCHST! That means either there is a ban or the PM is as confused as like me. I rather take the first option, since the second one sounds scary!

I also feel that over reliance on priest and workers from india is too long. surely we could have sent some apprentices over there or even open a training institute here, under the auspices of MHS for example. for so many years we are still dependent on foreign workers. being a priest pays well, so it is a good career move, if one wants to view it that way.

but to blame employers for not hiring foreign indian workers citing hindraf sounds like a joke to me. most likely a cooked up story to cover for the reduction of workers. If i’m not mistaken, foreign workers from india are less than 20% (including expats and professionals in IT, banking, mgmt, universities, MNCs etc). There are far more indonesians, more myanmars, Filipinos, etc. most of the time, the employment goes haywire due to agents and employers, causing workers to protest/gather at their high commissions/embassies.

Read more about it 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/

http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2008/01/09/pm-will-look-into-appeal-by-mccbchst-on-work-permit/

No freeze on intake of workers from India

source

By MAZWIN NIK ANIS

PUTRAJAYA: There is no freeze on the intake of Indian foreign workers, confirmed Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

However, he said, there were employers who had asked for the ministry’s approval to change the foreign workers they had planned to hire from India to those from other countries.

“I categorically state that the ministry has never come up with such a ruling or policy to stop the intake of foreign workers from India, what more the professionals. The report by a foreign wire agency claiming the ministry has done so is disturbing.

“But let us be honest here. As a result of the demonstrations that had taken place, some employers feel uncomfortable employing workers from India even though they have already been given approval to take in the workers. “Then they come to us and request to, for example, employ Indonesians instead, and we allow them to do so,” he said in obvious reference to the demonstrations by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), adding that the ministry had allowed several employers who had initially asked for workers from India to switch to workers of other nationalities.

Radzi also said the confusion might have stemmed from the Government’s decision in October last year to once again freeze the intake of workers from Bangladesh due to several problems. The Government, in 1999, had frozen the intake of Bangladeshi workers as a result of the social problems that had arisen from their presence in the country.

He said he had briefed the Cabinet on the issue and had called for a press conference to “clear the air,” adding that he was confident the matter would not strain relations between Malaysia and India and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries on the issue of Indians working in the country remained valid.

On claims his ministry had stopped issuing permits for new applications for Hindu priests, temple musicians and sculptors, Radzi clarified that applications would be considered on case-by-case basis as the number of foreigners working in temples in the country has reached 5,468. “Some of the priests have been in the country for more than 10 years and it is time for us to sit down and look at whether it is necessary to renew their permits. We want locals to do the job and I am sure there are qualified individuals for the job. “Furthermore, this does not apply to Hindu priests only but to Buddhist monks, Muslim ulamaks or imams and religious figures of all religions,” he said, adding that the decision to be more “stringent and careful” started about two months ago.

Radzi said that since November, those wanting to employ foreign workers had to go through the Human Resources Ministry, which would advertise the vacancies and if there were no takers an approval letter would be issued for employers to come to his ministry to apply for foreign workers. “This is an effort to ensure most employment opportunities are taken up by locals and the hiring of foreigners from the 10 source countries, including India, are done in a more orderly fashion. “We must remember that there are about two million foreigners working in the country and the number is substantial,” he said.

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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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interview with tan sri gnanalingam

January 6th, 2008
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Voices’08: On the road to glory and unity
By : K.P. WARAN

source

Westports Malaysia executive chairman Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam has made a name for himself as an entrepreneur but he and is also a member of Pemudah, the special task force to facilitate business in Malaysia. He speaks to K.P. WARAN about everything, from the lack of interest in local sports among Malaysians to what local companies have to do to stay ahead in the age of globalisation » Read more: interview with tan sri gnanalingam

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