KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, February 20, 2009: Sixty-three Hindu priests, musicians and sculptors from India became the first batch to receive the certificate of eligibility to work in Malaysia after going through the Human Resources Ministry’s induction program. They will serve at 31 temples nationwide.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the induction program, a condition imposed by the Immigration Department after a cabinet decision, was to familiarise them with the workplace, local culture and laws. He said the cabinet also wanted Malaysians to be trained as priests.
In late 2007, the government had frozen the recruitment of priests from India.