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Malaysia bans Indian recruitment Malaysia bans S Asia recruitment
(about 1 hour later)
Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India amid growing domestic tensions. Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh, amid rising domestic tensions.
An official told Reuters news agency that the ban came into effect two weeks ago and applied to all categories of workers, including professionals. A government official said the decision might be linked to the actions of a group that led protests complaining of discrimination against ethnic Indians.
Indian workers already in Malaysia will not have their work visas renewed, the official said. But the official did not say why the decision had been made, nor how long the restrictions would last.
Ethnic Indians held a series of protests late last year over alleged social and economic discrimination. The ban will affect thousands of manual labourers as well as professionals, including religious workers.
The announcement came on the final day of a visit to Malaysia by Indian Defence Minister AK Antony. There are currently about 250,000 legal workers in Malaysia from India and Bangladesh.
'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.
Demonstrators said they were discriminated againstThe 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.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.