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| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Confusion over Malaysia jobs ban | Confusion over Malaysia jobs ban |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| A Malaysian cabinet minister has denied reports that his government has imposed a ban on migrant workers from India. | A Malaysian cabinet minister has denied reports that his government has imposed a ban on migrant workers from India. |
| Officials earlier confirmed they had stopped granting visas to Indian workers, in a move said to be linked to rallies by Malaysian Indians last year. | Officials earlier confirmed they had stopped granting visas to Indian workers, in a move said to be linked to rallies by Malaysian Indians last year. |
| But Works Minister S Samy Vellu cast doubt on that assertion, saying his government had made no such order. | But Works Minister S Samy Vellu cast doubt on that assertion, saying his government had made no such order. |
| If the prohibition is put in place it will affect about 140,000 Indians currently working legally in Malaysia. | If the prohibition is put in place it will affect about 140,000 Indians currently working legally in Malaysia. |
| Speaking at a conference in the Indian city of Delhi, Mr Vellu, the only ethnic Indian member of the cabinet, initially said Malaysia had enough workers and did not want any more. | Speaking at a conference in the Indian city of Delhi, Mr Vellu, the only ethnic Indian member of the cabinet, initially said Malaysia had enough workers and did not want any more. |
| But he later appeared to take a different stance and denied the reports. | But he later appeared to take a different stance and denied the reports. |
| "There is no such thing as banning workers from India and Bangladesh," he told the BBC. | "There is no such thing as banning workers from India and Bangladesh," he told the BBC. |
| "I have talked to the minister of human resources. We have never made such a decision." | "I have talked to the minister of human resources. We have never made such a decision." |
| 'Hindraf link' | 'Hindraf link' |
| News of the apparent ban emerged after leaders of Malaysia's ethnic Indian community complained that Hindu priests and musicians had been denied visas. | News of the apparent ban emerged after leaders of Malaysia's ethnic Indian community complained that Hindu priests and musicians had been denied visas. |
| Lingering ethnic divide | Lingering ethnic divide |
| Authorities had already stopped issuing work visas for Bangladeshi migrant workers, arguing that labour agents were bringing in more workers than there were jobs. | Authorities had already stopped issuing work visas for Bangladeshi migrant workers, arguing that labour agents were bringing in more workers than there were jobs. |
| The government said that the move to stop issuing visas to Indians was taken three weeks ago. | The government said that the move to stop issuing visas to Indians was taken three weeks ago. |
| An official from the Ministry of Home Affairs told the BBC that the decision "may be linked to Hindraf", the Hindu activists group which organised recent rallies by Malaysian ethnic Indians. | An official from the Ministry of Home Affairs 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. | Thousands of ethnic Indians took to the streets late last year in protest against perceived social and economic discrimination by the Malay-Muslim majority. |
| Significant move | Significant move |
| The announcement of a ban being put in place came on the final day of a visit to Malaysia by Indian Defence Minister AK Antony and took many people by surprise. | The announcement of a ban being put in place came on the final day of a visit to Malaysia by Indian Defence Minister AK Antony and took many people by surprise. |
| A Vaithilingam, president of a Malaysian inter-faith group, said that the decision came without dialogue and was "unprecedented". | 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 such a ban would be a significant diplomatic move by the Malaysia government. | The BBC's correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, said such a ban would be a significant diplomatic move by the Malaysia government. |
| An Indian worker told Reuters that the Malaysian government should not have taken such a drastic step. | An Indian worker 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. | "They should recognise the contribution made by Indian workers and professionals in the economic growth of the country," he said. |
| Our correspondent says tensions are high with a general election expected to take place early this year. | Our correspondent says tensions are high with a general election expected to take place early this year. |
| Have you been affected by this story? Are you an Indian worker in Malaysia? Send us your experiences some of which may be published. | |