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.

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.

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.<this Mr.Samy really out-off dated folks><you come here 1st and see the changes, then answer! you fool Minister don’t know whats happening here, you talk with your 28th experience? Blady fool>

“I have talked to the minister of human resources. We have never made such a decision.”

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our correspondent says tensions are high with a general election expected to take place early this year.

In an exclusive interview to NDTV the minister admits that his government has no concrete evidence to suggest that Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force), a coalition of 30 Hindu organisations in Malaysia, has links with the LTTE and explains his Cabinet colleague’s recent outburst against the Tamil Nadu chief minister.

Following is the excerpts from the interview:

NDTV: Do you have any evidence to back your government’s charge that the Hindraf has links with terrorists?

D S Vellu: Hindraf said they would fight like the Tigers, the way the Tigers are fighting in Sri Lanka. It was by Vedamurthy. After he talked like that, we did an investigation and it was felt that he may have gone there for training. <its mean not confirm yet?>

NDTV: Do you have evidence of this?

D S Vellu: No. It is our suspicion.<im suspicion you are the killer Benazir. How?>

NDTV: The Tamils were protesting with pictures of Mahatma Gandhi. It was a peaceful demonstration.

D S Vellu: I don’t think it was peaceful. They started at 4 am and broke the temple door and shops and stoned policemen and broke the heads of 4 policemen. Is that called peace?<did you at the spot? where was you there? when people start to broke temple door? shops and stoned policemen? I tell you something. There was Chiness to join wt them. Are you agree? Have to, since you are not state your own self in proper knowledge yet, and don’t know what was happening there. How come you tell people start broke the tempel gate? Stupid Minister you are!>

NDTV: Do you think the statement of your colleague in the Cabinet asking the Tamil Nadu CM to lay off, could have been avoided?

D S Vellu: When two or three opposition parties got up in Parliament and said the Tamil Nadu government wants the Indian government to interfere in Malaysia’s internal affairs, my colleague had answered them, and interference is different from using diplomatic channels.

NDTV: But the Tamil Nadu CM didn’t ask the Indian government to interfere.

D S Vellu: My colleague didn’t mean any disrespect. <roll and roll>

He said more than 80% of them were concentrated in urban areas compared to 60% that previously lived and worked in the estates.

“This migration has provided better incomes for the Indian families,” he said in a statement Sunday.

He said 847,900 Indians were in the workforce currently.

• 11.5% of them professionals and managers,
• 19.4% associated professors, lecturers and nurses,
• 22.9% in sales,
• 4.9% in agriculture,
• 9.4% in craft and trade,
• 20.1% of them machine operators 
• 16.3% elementary workers. 

Samy Vellu said about 2.9% of Indian households were below the poverty line but the mean monthly household income of Indian families was RM3,456, compared to the national figure of RM3,022. 

He said 46,054 Indians were employed in the public sector with another 3,642 in the police force. 

On the participation of Indians in the economy, Samy Vellu said there was a slow increase in the present 1.2% ownership of share capital of limited companies because many Indians believed in investing in property and not in the share market. 

“Investing in property is also a good move as the price of property will appreciate,” he said.

He said MIC obtained Micro-Credit business loans for 4,000 Indian businessmen over the past few years through Bank Negara and financial institutions. 

“We have also assisted in getting business licenses for Indian businessmen,” he said.

Samy Vellu said the Government provided business-training programs to Indian youths through the National Entrepreneur Skills institute while RM3mil has been allocated for business loans for Indians through the Tekun foundation. 

On education, he said 2,447 Indians were offered places in public universities in the 2007 intake.

The Deputy Prime Minister said the group would be subjected to the same law that had been taken against other militant, extremist and fanatic groups. 

Veteran UMNO, Tan Sri Aishah Ghani berkata, sudah tiba masanya kerajaan menggunakan ISA ke atas mereka yang mendalangi Hindraf.

Katanya, kerajaan tidak perlu teragak- agak untuk bertindak jika terbukti kumpulan itu mempunyai niat mencetuskan keganasan dan memecah-belahkan perpaduan rakyat.

“Pada saya memang wajar guna ISA. Kalau memang mereka nak guna kekerasan, memang elok sangat (guna ISA). Tangkap dalang-dalang ini, kita tak boleh pandang ringan lagi perkara-perkara macam ini,” katanya di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas kenyataan Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan bahawa Hindraf sudah sampai ke tahap mengancam keselamatan negara kerana terdapat bukti pertubuhan itu berusaha mendapatkan sokongan dan bantuan pengganas antarabangsa.

Bekas menteri itu turut menggesa polis supaya segera mengesan semua dalang Hindraf kerana mereka adalah ‘musuh besar’ negara.

“Saya yakin ada dalang yang menghasut mereka (kaum India). Dalang luar dan dalang dalam ini mesti dicari dan dikenal pasti,” katanya.

Mengulas isu yang sama, Ketua Menteri Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd. Ali Rustam berkata, rakyat perlu menolak pemimpin pembangkang yang sanggup menggunakan militan asing untuk memburuk-burukkan negara.

“Kalau mereka tidak puas hati tinggal dengan aman dan makmur di sini, pergilah tinggal di Tamil Naidu,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, mereka yang menyokong kumpulan pelampau itu merupakan golongan yang tidak bersyukur dengan apa yang mereka kecapi selama ini sehingga sanggup memburuk-burukkan Malaysia di luar negara termasuk berbohong mengenai pembersihan etnik.

Ketua Penerangan UMNO, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd. Taib mahu pemimpin kumpulan pelampau Hindraf yang berusaha mendapatkan sokongan dan bantuan militan antarabangsa ditangkap segera kerana tindakan mereka itu boleh mengancam keselamatan negara.

“Golongan sedemikian tidak boleh dibiarkan bergerak bebas dalam sebuah negara yang berbilang kaum kerana tindakan kekerasan oleh mana-mana kaum akan mendorong kaum lain untuk bertindak balas.

“Ini membahayakan keselamatan negara. Kerajaan harus bertindak menangkap pemimpin-pemimpin yang bertanggungjawab,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Awam (PAC), Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad berkata, tindakan kumpulan pelampau Hindu cuba mendapatkan bantuan daripada pengganas antarabangsa menimbulkan kemarahan rakyat.

Katanya, percubaan itu juga menimbulkan kemarahan di kalangan penyokong kumpulan itu sendiri kerana mereka mahu masalah diselesaikan secara dalaman tanpa perlu campur tangan pihak asing.

‘‘Sekalipun masyarakat antarabangsa akan bersimpati namun mereka mengetahui tuntutan kumpulan itu hanyalah masalah dalaman sesebuah negara sebagaimana yang dialami oleh kebanyakan negara lain,’’ katanya.

Menurut laporan Bernama, bekas Setiausaha Agung Barisan Nasional (BN), Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat pula hairan dengan dakwaan Hindraf kononnya kaum India di negara ini dipinggirkan sedangkan mereka semua mendapat pelbagai nikmat.

“Semua rakyat India yang dibawa masuk semasa pemerintahan British dahulu telah diberikan hak kerakyatan sebaik negara mencapai kemerdekaan.

“Semua orang tahu mengenai hal tersebut. Jadi apa lagi yang tidak cukup? Dah jadi rakyat pun, dah nikmati pun apa yang orang Melayu dapat, jadi apa lagi yang tidak kena,’’ katanya.

Di JOHOR, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Kahang, S. Ramis menasihatkan masyarakat India supaya tidak terperangkap dengan pembohongan yang dilemparkan oleh Hindraf.

Katanya, kaum India harus melihat gambaran yang lebih luas sebelum menerima dakwaan bahawa mereka dipinggirkan daripada arus pembangunan negara.

Sementara itu, Pengerusi Persatuan Siam Kelantan, Eeh Chot Cha Chan membidas puak pelampau Hindraf kerana membuat tuduhan kononnya wujud penghapusan etnik di Malaysia.

“Masyarakat Siam kesal dengan tuduhan Hindraf kerana kami sebagai masyarakat minoriti tidak dipinggirkan dalam pelbagai program pembangunan,” katanya.

“Kita tidak boleh menyokong atau mempunyai urusan kewangan dengan organisasi seperti itu kerana ia akan memberikan implikasi yang serius.

“Namun, saya percaya siasatan lanjut sedang dijalankan berhubung laporan polis tersebut,’’ katanya.

Ditanya sama ada mereka yang dinamakan dalam laporan polis itu akan didakwa dalam waktu yang terdekat, Abdul Gani menjawab, pendakwaan tidak akan dibuat dengan sewenang-wenangnya.

“Ini bukannya perkara main- main. Sebab itu, saya menyebut perkara ini di dalam mahkamah. Memang ada laporan polis sebab itulah saya memandang serius perkara ini.

“Seluruh dunia juga risau jika mereka mempunyai hubungan dengan LTTE,’’ kata Abdul Gani kepada pemberita sejurus Mahkamah Tinggi di sini petang ini membenarkan permohonan peguam penyokong Hindraf supaya prosiding semakan yang difailkan ditangguhkan sehingga Isnin ini.

Peguam Negara menyatakan demikian ketika diminta mengulas kenyataan beliau yang berhujah di hadapan Hakim Mahkamah Sesyen di sini kelmarin bagi membantah 31 penyokong Hindraf dibebaskan dengan ikat jamin.

Dalam pada itu, peguam P. Uthayakumar yang mewakili penyokong Hindraf mencabar Abdul Gani, Ketua Polis Negara dan Perdana Menteri mengemukakan bukti bahawa Hindraf mempunyai kaitan dengan LTTE.

Uthayakumar juga menjemput mereka mengadakan sidang akhbar bersama Hindraf bagi membolehkan mereka mengemukakan bukti.

Sementara itu, peguam M. Manoharan hari ini memfailkan semakan di tiga buah mahkamah berasingan setelah tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan-keputusan yang dibuat ke atas 96 penyokong Hindraf yang didakwa terlibat dalam perhimpunan haram di sekitar ibu negara 25 November lalu.

Beliau ketika dihubungi memberitahu permohonan semakan jenayah berhubung keputusan Hakim Mahkamah Sesyen, Azimah Omar telah difailkan di Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini.

Turut difailkan ialah semakan berhubung keputusan Majistret Sesyen Selayang dan Mahkamah Majistret Kuala Lumpur yang menolak bantahan awal peguam-peguam berhubung pertuduhan yang didakwa tidak lengkap dan cacat.

Sambil menyatakan kerajaan tidak perlu was-was menggunakan ISA, beliau berkata, pilihan raya umum yang semakin hampir mungkin menyebabkan tindakan itu dipolitikkan pembangkang, tetapi ia tetap perlu demi menjamin keselamatan negara.

Faisal berkata, kerajaan juga tidak perlu berkompromi dan jangan sesekali ‘memberi muka’ atau berbincang dengan pemimpin Hindraf kerana kumpulan itu sudah semakin melampau dan sudah tiba masanya mereka dikenakan tindakan tegas.<Faisal the son of stupid>
Terdahulu, ketika berucap pada majlis Pemimpin Bersama Rakyat di Segamat, Perdana Menteri berkata, perkongsian kuasa yang diamalkan kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN) sejak merdeka tidak pernah mengetepi atau menghapuskan mana-mana kaum.

Abdullah yang dalam rangka lawatan dua hari ke Johor berkata, beliau tidak faham dengan tindakan Hindraf yang membuat pelbagai pembohongan dan tohmahan dengan mendakwa kononnya kerajaan melakukan kezaliman.

Katanya, tuduhan kononnya kerajaan mengamalkan dasar penghapusan etnik adalah tidak masuk akal dan beliau kesal kerana itu dibuat sendiri oleh rakyat negara ini yang sepatutnya sentiasa cuba mempertahankan maruah negara.

“Jika kerajaan zalim kepada mana-mana kaum, (sudah tentu) ia tidak akan kekal memerintah, malah 50 peratus (menteri) yang juga terdiri daripada kaum lain sudah pasti tidak akan pejam mata dan membiarkan jika berlaku perkara seperti itu.

“Jika orang yang tidak tahu, mereka akan terbawa-bawa dan mungkin orang di luar negara akan percaya, terutama apabila mereka tidak mempunyai maklumat yang secukupnya,” katanya sambil menegaskan bahawa dasar kerajaan adalah membela nasib semua kaum di negara ini.

Perdana Menteri berkata, kerajaan sentiasa peka terhadap suara setiap rakyat tanpa mengira kaum atau agama dan sebab itu ia melantik wakil setiap kaum untuk memberi perhatian dan membela nasib mereka.

Samy Vellu was asked how he planned to explain the concerns raised by the
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, through Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh.

According to The Hindu, Karunanidhi had written to Manmohan about the
rally. He reportedly urged Manmohan to employ the necessary measures
regarding the “suffering and bad treatment” of Tamils in Malaysia. Samy
Vellu, however, was quick to say that Karunanidhi had not meant to
interfere, “He will never do such a thing. But when there are reports that
50,000 Tamils were smashed on the streets, then naturally anybody, anywhere,
and not necessarily in India, will be aghast.”

He said a day after the street rally, he was interviewed by a New
Delhi-based television station in which he told the interviewer “not to be
taken in by the protest”. “This is what happens when someone starts to throw
wild allegations. “Are the Indians in this country without clothes? Are they
without jobs? Are they without food? I cannot bluff like them. I will tell
only the truth,” he said.

He lashed out at Hindraf for capitalising on the allegation that the
government had indiscriminately torn down temples, saying that these people
had never erected temples anywhere in the country. “They have never fought
with the government to get land for the temples. Instead, they have been on
a worldwide campaign that Malaysia is against Hinduism. “I, on the other
hand, have acquired several plots of land from the chief ministers to build
temples. I have received money from the government. Each year we get RM1
million to build temples and the money has been channelled for that purpose
solely.”<all money goes to your pocket la Encik Uncle>

He also said the rally organisers had produced a CD and were distributing
copies of it worldwide alleging that 35,000 temples had been demolished in
the country. Rubbishing the allegation, he urged the Indians to go through
newspapers of the last 20 years and to read for themselves the number of
temples demolished. He reiterated that any temple in a development area
would be shifted and compensation paid. “There are so many temples which
were built illegally. For instance, along the double-tracking project
between Ipoh and Rawang, 76 such temples were shifted and compensation paid.
“Anyway, I have been working on temple matters even before he (Hindraf
adviser P. Uthayakumar) was born,” said Samy Vellu.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Selangor MIC welcomed the prime minister’s “reassuring”
stand on the Indian community. MIC deputy president and Selangor MIC
chairman Datuk G. Palanivel said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s
statement on Saturday showed how concerned he is with the situation.
“Malaysian Indians are fully aware of his fair and just commitment to all,”
Palanivel said. “The MIC is aware of the people’s grievances, but our
approach is both realistic and rational.” He denied claims by Hindraf that
Indians were marginalised or subjected to “ethnic cleansing”.

Presiden Transparency International (TI) Malaysia, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, berkata kenyataan Hindraf dalam petisyennya bahawa berlaku pembersihan etnik kaum India itu adalah sesuatu yang melampaui batas.
Katanya, walaupun Hindraf mungkin membuat petisyen yang mendakwa perkara sedemikian kerana terdesak dan mahu supaya suara mereka diberi perhatian sewajarnya, kaedah yang digunakan untuk mereka menyatakan pandangan adalah salah.

Presiden Malaysia Hindu Sangam, Datuk A Vaithilingam, berkata dakwaan Hindraf bahawa Kerajaan Malaysia melakukan pembersihan etnik terhadap penduduk berketurunan India di sini adalah keterlaluan dan tidak berasas.

“Kita (masyarakat India) diberi kebebasan meneruskan amalan kebudayaan dan keagamaan masing-masing walaupun agama rasmi negara ini adalah Islam. Dasar saling menghormati agama sesuatu kaum sudah lama menjadi sebahagian daripada kehidupan,” katanya.

Semalam, akhbar melaporkan Perdana Menteri sebagai berkata, beliau berasa amat marah dengan tindakan Hindraf yang mendakwa kerajaan melakukan pembersihan etnik dan menyifatkan perbuatan itu pembohongan amat jahat.

Perdana Menteri berkata, tindakan Hindraf itu bertujuan mencetuskan perbalahan antara kaum, dengan cubaan memperdayakan majoriti masyarakat India yang tidak bersalah kononnya selama ini mereka ditekan dan ditindas.

“Adakah anda percaya pembersihan etnik berlaku di negara ini? Apakah ia berlaku di Malaysia? Saya akan meletak jawatan jika saya membenarkan ini berlaku. Ia tidak pernah berlaku di negara ini dan (tindakan Hindraf) ini adalah satu pembohongan amat jahat,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Presiden Majlis Kelab Belia Tamil Malaysia, P Ponniah, menegur tindakan Hindraf yang membuat dakwaan tidak berasas semata-mata bagi meraih simpati dengan memburukkan nama negara pada persada antarabangsa.

“Dakwaan mengatakan Kerajaan Malaysia melakukan pembersihan etnik terhadap masyarakat India tidak boleh diterima akal dan tidak munasabah. Selama ini, apa yang kita (orang India) suarakan kepada kerajaan, akan diteliti dan diambil tindakan bertepatan,” katanya.

Ketua Jabatan Pengajian India, Fakulti Sastera dan Sains Sosial, Universiti Malaya (UM), Prof Dr S Kumaran, berkata Hindraf perlu bertindak rasional dalam perjuangannya tanpa mengada-adakan cerita semata-mata untuk meraih sokongan atau menarik perhatian.

“Keperluan mengadakan perhimpunan sebenarnya bergantung kepada individu yang mendalanginya. Namun, mereka ini perlu menilai perbuatan masing-masing kerana ia membabitkan masa depan lebih dua juta penduduk berketurunan India di negara ini,” katanya.

Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam), Prof Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Kim, berkata walaupun niat perhimpunan haram anjuran Hindraf itu bertujuan memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat India, pendekatan yang dipilih tidak sesuai.

“Bagaimanapun, Hindraf tidak boleh menyalahkan kerajaan semata-mata kerana kedudukan sosio ekonomi masyarakat India masih lagi lemah, sebaliknya mereka harus menuntut jawapan daripada parti politik mewakili kaum berkenaan.

“Kerajaan BN merangkumi parti komponen mewakili kaum etnik masing-masing dan masyarakat harus menyuarakan masalah menerusi saluran masing-masing, bukannya membuat pelbagai dakwaan terhadap kerajaan secara umum atau Perdana Menteri secara khusus,” katanya.