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Malaysia bans Indian recruitment Confusion over Malaysia jobs ban
(about 2 hours later)
Malaysia has stopped granting visas for workers from India, amid rising domestic tensions. A Malaysian cabinet minister has denied reports that his government has imposed a ban on migrant workers from India.
A government official said the decision might be linked to the actions of a group that led protests complaining of discrimination against ethnic Indians. 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 the official did not say why the decision had been made, or how long the restrictions would last. But Works Minister S Samy Vellu cast doubt on that assertion, saying his government had made no such order.
The ban will affect thousands of manual labourers as well as professionals, including religious workers. If the prohibition is put in place it will affect about 140,000 Indians currently working legally in Malaysia.
There are currently about 140,000 legal workers from India 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.
"The government decided it is enough, and we don't want to recruit any more," Malaysian Works Minister S Samy Vellu told Reuters news agency, while at a conference in Delhi. But he later appeared to take a different stance and denied the reports.
The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur told the Associated Press it had contacted the relevant authorities but did not give any further details. "There is no such thing as banning workers from India and Bangladesh," he told the BBC.
The Malaysian authorities had already stopped issuing work visas for Bangladeshi migrant workers, arguing that labour agents were bringing in more workers than there were jobs. "I have talked to the minister of human resources. We have never made such a decision."
'Unprecedented' 'Hindraf link'
The move to stop issuing visas to Indians was taken three weeks ago, the government said. News of the apparent ban emerged after leaders of Malaysia's ethnic Indian community complained that Hindu priests and musicians had been denied visas.
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".
Lingering ethnic divideLingering ethnic divide
The BBC's correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, said it was a significant diplomatic move by the Malaysia government. Authorities had already stopped issuing work visas for Bangladeshi migrant workers, arguing that labour agents were bringing in more workers than there were jobs.
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. 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.
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.
The announcement came on the final day of a visit to Malaysia by Indian Defence Minister AK Antony. Significant move
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. 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.
An unnamed Indian professional told Reuters that the Malaysian government should not have taken such a drastic step. 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.
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 said that 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.
Many people fear a repeat of the racial violence which has broken out in the past. Many people fear a repeat of racial violence which has broken out sporadically in the past.
Have you been affected by the ban on workers from India? Are you an Indian worker in Malaysia? Send us your experiences some of which may be published.Have you been affected by the ban on workers from India? Are you an Indian worker in Malaysia? Send us your experiences some of which may be published.
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