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Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Got the photos of the rejection of MIC Youth including Vigneswaran in Kulim via email. Origin of photos not known. If the owner wants the photos to be removed or to be acknowledged, please let me know.
the banner above reads: Resign Dato’ Seri Samy Vellu. Give way for new generation
| 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 It seemed that there were far more protestors than the supporters who attended the MIC Youth's talk/meeting.
'Opposition 'using Hindraf 'for own ends'
KULIM: Opposition parties are using Hindu Action Rights Force (Hindraf) supporters for their own political agenda, says MIC Youth.
MIC Youth chief S.A. Vigneswaran said the Opposition, especially Parti Keadilan Rakyat, had never championed the cause of the Indians in the country and were using Hindraf supporters to garner support for the next election.
"It is only recently after the Hindraf issue that they started speaking for the Indians. It is all a ploy to fish for votes," he said.
"Indians must be very careful of their ulterior motives," he told reporters after meeting IPF Youth leaders and members from Baling, Kulim and Padang Serai here on Sunday night. Also present was IPF Youth chief R. Ravishankar.
MIC and IPF Youth wings have recently joined hands to look into the problems of Indians in the country.
Vigneswaran said the Indians must realise that it was only by consultation and negotiation that their grievances and problems could be solved effectively.
"We are aware that there are many Indians who are unhappy over various things. But letting themselves to be used by the Opposition is not the right way to achieve their goals," he said.
Earlier, more than 100 Hindraf supporters gathered with placards and banners along the road leading to the IPF meeting hall in Paya Besar here, shouting at Vigneswaran and his entourage when he arrived for the meeting.
Kulim acting OCPD Deputy Supt Ghuzlan Saleh said more than 30 personnel members in four trucks from the Public Order Riot Unit were deployed there to be on standby, adding that a man in his late 20s was detained and released later for being unruly.
He said the crowd dispersed at about 11.30pm
| 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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KUALA LUMPUR: More than 1.5 million people are expected to converge on the Batu Caves temple here for the Thaipusam celebration.
With two weeks to go before the festival on Jan 23, preparations are in full swing to ensure better crowd control and facilities.
Among others, the temple committee will be spending about RM20,000 a day during the festival to treat the "prayer milk" which coagulates in the drain.
There are also 25 new permanent toilets near the Sri Venkatajalapathi temple.
These will complement the 80 toilets at the Sri Sanes-warar Temple located 500 metres away.
The temple committee has also come up with a better rubbish collection system.
Thirty cleaners will be hired on two-hour shifts throughout the five-day festival period. The rubbish will be placed in three stationary compactors which are able to crush up to 24,000kg of rubbish an hour.
The crushed waste will then be stored at a transfer station where it would remain until it is sent to the landfill.
The temple committee is also seeking the help of the Selayang Municipal Council to keep the beggars away from the 6.5ha temple complex during the festival.
"We have so many things to deal with to ensure that the celebration proceeds smoothly.
"Text messages calling for a boycott of the celebration is the last thing on our minds," said Sri Maha Mariamman temple chairman Datuk R. Nadarajah.
He was referring to text messages that have been circulating urging Hindus to boycott the Thaipusam celebration at Batu Caves.
The text messages claimed that the temple committee had allowed the police to enter the temple complex during the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally in November to disperse the supporters who had gathered there.
"This is propaganda against Hinduism. No one from any religion will call for a boycott against a temple or any religious place," Nadarajah said.
"You do not have to support me or contribute to the temple but don't boycott the temple.
"Don't worry or panic and spread rumours. There will be two FRU (Federal Reserve Unit) trucks as usual and the Selangor police force will be here on Jan 23 to handle the crowd," he said.
Yesterday, the temple committee started registering traders who would be setting up shop during the festival. By noon, some 260 of the 345 lots had been snapped up.
A successful applicant, Ka-thirasan Kannusamy, said he had faith that it would be business as usual during the festival.
"I've also received the text message but I consider it a rumour.
"In my six years of trading in textiles during the Thaipusam celebrations here, the crowd has never gone down and it's more likely to increase this year," said the 56-year-old.
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