I nearly fell off my bed when I heard the “clarification” given over TV3 purportedly by the Home Minister. Come on la, you think we are stupid people is it? The permit is not “renewed” means what? Can the paper continue publishing? No right? What can a newspaper company do if it doesn’t have permit to publish? » Read more: Not banned, just not renewed!
Posts Tagged ‘Home Ministry’
Not banned, just not renewed!
April 18th, 2008
Makkal Osai Banned!
April 16th, 2008Why do I feel like being insulted? Can’t I have freedom to read and decide for myself what to believe? Are people like me soooo stupid? This is the repeated mistake being made by those in charge. No wonder people trust the Internet and SMS from their friends more than newspapers, since everything is controlled.
Subra now has a big problem. His political mouthpiece is gone. Now have to go and beg from Syed Hamid. Maybe Samy may want to help out his buddy-again Subra? » Read more: Makkal Osai Banned!
Home Minister denies ill treatment
April 15th, 2008He may deny it, but the reports given by those who visited Uthaya points to the contrary. It would be of best interest if the doctors provide some medical reports and a second opinion is obtained from a different panel of doctors. » Read more: Home Minister denies ill treatment
subra says malaysians cannot be priests
January 14th, 2008A memorandum was submitted to the Home Affairs Ministry in the 1970s outlining the various difficulties faced by Malaysian temples and gurdwaras in employing local priests and musicians. "Following the submission of the memorandum, a new policy was formulated by the Home Affairs Ministry in 1984 stating that Hindu and Sikh priests from India shall be considered to stay in Malaysia for a maximum period of seven years, and musicians for a maximum period of five years, to be renewed on an annual basis," he said.
– even if we assume 1979 as submission year, it took 4 YEARS to establish the new policy!
– renewal on annual basis. So if 7 years from 1984, it is 1991. For the last 16 years, there have been annual renewals for priests.
He added that it was not possible to train Malaysians to become priests because they had to be vegetarians and teetotallers.
– meaning generally local Hindus not fit to be priests? Can we say out of every 10 Hindus, 6 consume alcohol, while 9 are non-vegetarian?
The salary offered was also low, only about RM500 monthly.
– last time maybe yes. Now with so many prayers from birth to death, priests can earn quite well.
Subra: Consult before making policy changes
KUALA LUMPUR: A memorandum was submitted to the Home Affairs Ministry in the 1970s outlining the various difficulties faced by Malaysian temples and gurdwaras in employing local priests and musicians.
Former MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam said local Indians faced difficulty in becoming priests because they were not educated in Sanskrit, the common language used along with Tamil for performing Hindu rites and prayers.
Subramaniam was commenting on a statement by Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad that the government had tightened the rules on the entry of foreign religious teachers and priests from other countries to encourage more locals to become priests.
Subramaniam said priests from India undergo several years of training to become a priest. He added that it was not possible to train Malaysians to become priests because they had to be vegetarians and teetotallers.
The salary offered was also low, only about RM500 monthly.
"Following the submission of the memorandum, a new policy was formulated by the Home Affairs Ministry in 1984 stating that Hindu and Sikh priests from India shall be considered to stay in Malaysia for a maximum period of seven years, and musicians for a maximum period of five years, to be renewed on an annual basis," he said.
Subramaniam also urged the government to consult relevant Indian-based religious bodies in Malaysia before making any policy changes regarding the intake of Hindu and Sikh priests or issues related to their work permits.
MHS to help temples with permit problem
January 11th, 2008Minister 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