Indians free to work in Malaysia, says Samy ‘no ban’

The Malaysian government has reportedly refuted media reports claiming that Kuala Lumpur had banned Indian workers from entering the country.

A cabinet minister denying earlier reports that suggested Malaysian government has banned Indian workers; said that Malaysia has not frozen the recruitment of workers from India .

Works Minister Samy Vellu told that he spoke to the Prime Minister and Home Ministry secretary-general, “The statement is not true.� He told reporters on Tuesday in New Delhi, where he has come to attending a conference of the Indian Diaspora.

‘There is no truth in the… report, everything is status quo,' said Samy as per agency and television news network.

The alleged discrimination against ethnic Indians in Malaysia did not get a place in the talks Indian Defence Minister A K Antony had here with the Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the other Malaysian leadership, a media report said on Tuesday.

The ban report came on the day when the Indian Defence Minister finished a three-day visit to Malaysia , and caught Indian officials off-guard.

All these reports arose after Home Ministry officials told reporter that Malaysia has stopped recruiting Indian workers citing a cabinet order of December 18 and after this declaration to reporters on the phone, the whole turnaround came. For this flip-flop of government even Samy had no explanation.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar replied ‘no', when asked about whether Indian Defence Minister had raised the issue of discrimination against Indians living in Malaysia .

"In fact, he said India hopes to learn from the Malaysian experience and development model. The matter raised by Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) is a domestic matter," said the Malaysian Defence Minister.

Besides the Malaysian government has claimed Hindraf has connections with terrorist organisations, particularly the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeelam (LTTE).

However, Hindraf has denied the charge and its chief P Uthaikumar has sued the government for defamation.

The third largest group of foreign workers approx. 1,40,000 Indian migrants, mostly low wages proletariats like barbers, waiters, gardeners etc. works in Malaysia. While some hold top professional posts in banks and information technology industries.

Some of the Indians have lived in Malaysia for at least two generations and bulk of them went there during the British era. In comparison to Malays, who are in majority and forms 60% of population; ethnic Indians forms just 8% of the country's population

In November last year about 20,000 mostly Indian Hindus demonstrated on roads, streets for complaining against bias in job opportunities and racial discrimination.

One Home Ministry official expressed that the ban was related to recent unrest among Malaysia 's minority ethnic Indians, who are demanding racial equality in the Muslim-majority country.