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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Malaysia visa policy 'tightened' | Malaysia visa policy 'tightened' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Malaysia's home affairs minister has denied that his government has stopped issuing visas for Indians. | Malaysia's home affairs minister has denied that his government has stopped issuing visas for Indians. |
| Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said there was no new rule barring Indian recruitment, despite comments to the contrary by his own departmental officials on Tuesday. | Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said there was no new rule barring Indian recruitment, despite comments to the contrary by his own departmental officials on Tuesday. |
| But the BBC has learned that there has still been a policy change, although perhaps a smaller one than appeared to be the case at first. | But the BBC has learned that there has still been a policy change, although perhaps a smaller one than appeared to be the case at first. |
| More stringent checks now seem to be in place for Indians applying for visas. | More stringent checks now seem to be in place for Indians applying for visas. |
| Contentious plan | Contentious plan |
| According to the BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, what looked like a brazen diplomatic gesture on Tuesday now appears more of a subtle manoeuvre. | According to the BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, what looked like a brazen diplomatic gesture on Tuesday now appears more of a subtle manoeuvre. |
| Claims that a full-scale ban on new visas was in place and that no new Indian workers would be able to come to Malaysia caused immediate uproar. | Claims that a full-scale ban on new visas was in place and that no new Indian workers would be able to come to Malaysia caused immediate uproar. |
| But on Wednesday, Home Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad told the Associated Press: "Let me state categorically that the home ministry never came out with any ruling that we have stopped the intake of foreign workers from India." | |
| A Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman told the BBC that Malaysia would, though, be requiring further "detail" from Indian applicants in future. | A Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman told the BBC that Malaysia would, though, be requiring further "detail" from Indian applicants in future. |
| He added that each person would be treated on a "case by case" basis. | He added that each person would be treated on a "case by case" basis. |
| According to our correspondent, the clampdown is almost certainly linked to protests by Malaysian Indians in recent months, which have taken ministers by surprise. | According to our correspondent, the clampdown is almost certainly linked to protests by Malaysian Indians in recent months, which have taken ministers by surprise. |
| Demonstrators clashed with riot police during the protests, and the organisers were arrested and are now being held indefinitely under emergency powers. | Demonstrators clashed with riot police during the protests, and the organisers were arrested and are now being held indefinitely under emergency powers. |
| India has so far made no official comment on the change in Malaysia's visa policy. | |
| Malaysian Works Minister S Samy Vellu, one of the ministers involved in the confusion over the apparent ban on Tuesday, is due to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later on Wednesday in Delhi. |