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.
Nice and fine and good - now the Tamil Hindus will not be able to bashed against the Muslims. Since I am from India - and living in europe - so I very often come in contact with Tamil Hindus , but when ever they come to know that I am from India , they jump on to the topic of " Anti Muslim " , they start laughing and say that all the stuff with are anti Muslim in nature. But when they come to know that I am a Muslim from India, OHHHHH this is the moment to see them. Alhamdulillahi I am Muslim - and when ever I see and think about them the Tamil Hindus - I get pity about how they are being opressed by their own Tamil brahmins !!!!!!
Why suddenly lots of crazy news came out from Malaysia?
The answer is - General Election is getting nearer.
And the crazy thing is that nobody knew the election date but the Prime Minister...
Why the government want to ban Indian workers.... nobody knows... and nobody cares... why.... Malaysians are having cooking oil shortage... which is more important than immigrant issues.
Around 7 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people are ethnic Indians, whose forefathers were brought over as labourers by British colonial rulers.
This statement is not entirely true... yes most of the Indians are low caste south Indians brought over by British to work in rubber and tea plantations. But there is a substantial number of Malaysian Indians who migrated to Malaysia on their own as traders, money-lenders, professionals etc. There are hundreds of thousands if not millions of the "Malay" majority having Indian ancestry too. For example, our former Prime Minister has Malayalee ancestry and our current Minister of Information has Tamil ancestry. But as both of them are Muslims and speak Malay Language... they're considered to be "Malays". That's why they're admitted to be members of ultra-nationalist party like UMNO.
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.
(...)
"DRASTIC STEP"
(...)
"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.
it is this where a see some racial tensions also in the question. But anyway I put a question, not a statement, because I want information from a Malaysian actually, not a radical mullah from Pakistan or elsewhere.
NEW DELHI: Datuk Seri S. Samy Velu 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 (MAlaysian Indian Congress) President said here last night. He said he had spoken to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi and Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri 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."
This probably from the hindraf...they really love to create havoc.
25:36 And the true servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk the earth with humility and when the ignorant address them, they respond with words of peace.
it is this where a see some racial tensions also in the question. But anyway I put a question, not a statement, because I want information from a Malaysian actually, not a radical mullah from Pakistan or elsewhere.
These racial tensions exist among the politicians only. For us ordinary Malaysians, we have no racial problems. My clerk is a Hindu, we dont discriminate her and she's happy working as usual.
When I went to Indian Muslim restaurant, there were Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists etc eating together in one place.
We still saying "hi" to our Hindu neighbours and vice versa.
These racial tensions exist among the politicians only. For us ordinary Malaysians, we have no racial problems. My clerk is a Hindu, we dont discriminate her and she's happy working as usual.
When I went to Indian Muslim restaurant, there were Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists etc eating together in one place.
We still saying "hi" to our Hindu neighbours and vice versa.
I love stories like this. It shows the "Best" of humanity.
I dont like the lies they spread about Malaysian Muslims... I never heard of any "Malays" ethnic-cleansing the Indians.... It's ridiculous.
I think they are envy of the indian muslims...
25:36 And the true servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk the earth with humility and when the ignorant address them, they respond with words of peace.
Are you concerned that those politicians are actually trying to stir up racial tensions for political gain?
Of course. But I dont know about other fellow Malaysians.
General Election is coming soon (many people predicted that it would be held after Chinese New Year - between mid of February until mid of March). There would be lots of issues that would be raised up by all politicians. I am afraid that racial tensions could happen again like what happened on the 13th May 1969.
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