By IANS
New Delhi : Defence Minister A.K. Antony confirmed Wednesday that Malaysian authorities did not discuss the reported ban – later denied — on the recruitment of Indian workers during his three-day visit to the country.
Antony told reporters: “In my talks with the foreign minister, I urged him to hasten the process of signing a MoU (memorandum of understanding) on the employment of Indians in Malaysia and Malaysians in India. He promised to expedite the process.”
Asked if the issue of the ban on Indian workers came up during the visit, Antony said: “No one raised it during my meetings with the prime minister, deputy prime minister and foreign minister. We had very cordial and very useful talks. It was a very successful visit.”
Malaysian minister S. Samy Vellu Tuesday denied news reports that Malaysia had banned the recruitment of workers, professionals included, from India and Bangladesh.
News reports from Kuala Lumpur earlier quoted an unnamed home ministry official as saying that the cabinet decided to suspend the recruitment of workers from the two countries about two weeks ago.
The official went on to say that existing workers from both countries would not have their work permits renewed.