The issue of hiring Hindu priests and artisans from India which cropped up again in recent days due to the rejection of many fresh applications looks set to be resolved. The Home Ministry has sent a written directive to state Immigration department officials to issue three-year work permits to these applicants who meet the requirements. The government recently removed a blanket ban on visas for Hindu priests and artisans but the move was not implemented properly until now.
from The Star
Three-year permits for temple workers
PUTRAJAYA: The problem faced by Hindu and Buddhist temples and Sikh gurdwaras when applying for priests, musicians and artisans from India looks set to be resolved after the Home Ministry sent a written directive telling the Immigration officials to issue three-year work permits to these applicants.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the new ruling to allow temple workers to get the work permits had not been passed down to state Immigration Departments, causing many applications to be turned down.
“Now we have given a written directive to state Immigration officers to do the needful.
“If there are still problems, the matter can be referred to my ministry and we will try to solve it,” he told reporters after discussions with Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam on foreign worker issues at the Home Ministry here yesterday.
It is learnt that around the time the Cabinet passed the new ruling, some top officers in the Immigration Department were moved, resulting in the directive not being implemented at state offices.
Syed Hamid was commenting on Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam’s complaints that although the Cabinet had lifted a blanket ban on Indian priests and temple workers imposed last December, the Home Ministry was blocking the process.
However, he continued to stress that it was still better to get locals trained as priests, musicians, and artisans for temples in Malaysia.
Syed Hamid said applicants must still adhere to terms and conditions, such as being 30 years and above, and that during their three-year working stint in Malaysia they were required to train locals to do the job.
“These people must also have certificates and be acknowledged by the local community, such as through the MIC,” he said, adding that approval by the Human Resources Ministry, which conducts induction courses, was also required.