Allow businesses to directly hire foreign workers: Malaysian Indian Business Association

Johor Baru, Mar. 24 (ANI): The Malaysian Indian Business Association (MIBA) has urged the Malaysian Government to liberalise the recruitment of foreign workers by allowing small-medium industries to hire them directly.

MIBA President P. Sivakumar pointed out that the abuse of foreign workers in the country started when outsourcing companies were given a free hand to import workers.

“Many of them abused the system and brought in thousands of workers. When there was no work, they left the workers stranded at airports and plantations,” The Star Online quoted Sivakumar, as sayings

“Obviously, the workers, who had paid huge amounts of money to come here, then went into hiding and worked illegally,” he added.

Sivakumar said that the problems involving foreign workers would be dealt effectively if the Government allows businesses requiring foreign workers to deal directly with embassies and high commissions.

Sivakumar said many businesses, especially restaurants, laundry shops, goldsmiths, barbers, hair salons and mini markets, were suffering due to scarcity of foreign workers.

He added that the association had been flooded with calls from businesses wanting the Government to either legalise or allow them to recruit foreign workers directly. (ANI)

Malay Indian restaurants to have no more cooks from India

Kuala Lumpur, Aug 13 (ANI): Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam has said that Indian restaurants will mostly have Malaysian, and not Indian cooks.

He said there has been an encouraging response from locals to being trained as cooks under a ministry programme.

“We hope to reduce the number of cooks from India in stages, especially in Indian restaurants, once the first batch of locally-trained chefs graduate,” he told reporters after visiting the CQ Tec College here yesterday.

The college received its first batch of 25 trainees for an intensive, six-month programme in June, The Star reported.

Subramaniam said the fees for the trainees were borne by the ministry through the Human Resources Development Fund, adding that they would also receive monthly allowances.

“Once they graduate, they will be able to open their own restaurants,” he said, adding that the future was promising for Indian youths of Malaysian origin.

He said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who wanted the ministry to train local chefs and not depend on cooks from India, mooted the idea.

Another training programme undertaken by the ministry was hair styling, to replace barbers from India.

“We want the two sectors (restaurants and hair salons/barber shops) to rely less on foreign workers and employ locally-trained people,” he said. (ANI)

Chinese salon lets customers pay as much as they like their haircuts

New Delhi, July 10 (ANI): Hate paying the hair-stylist despite not liking that recent haircut? Well, a Chinese salon has come up with a unique idea to ensure customer service-they can pay according to their satisfaction.

The barbershop in Xi’an, Shaanxi’s Capital, came up with the unique method of payment last December.

The new way encourages customers to rate the salon’s services – with marks between 1 and 10 – as per their satisfaction, reports the China Daily.

“If the customer gives us 10 marks, he has to make the full payment, if he says eight, he gets a 20 percent discount,” said the manager of the shop.

And the amount paid by customers goes straight into the barbers’ pockets as their salary.

Customers are welcoming this new concept and think that it is a “brilliant way to improve customer service”. (ANI)

Seven Indian barbers claim Malaysian boss abused them for four years

Penang/Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), July 2 (ANI): Seven Indian nationals have lodged a complaint with the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, accusing their employer in Penang of abusing them and failing to pay their salaries regularly for the past four years.

According to The Star, the men, aged between 20 and 28, were employed at a barbershop in Paya Terubong.

They alleged that their employer made them work 12 hours daily with only a 10-minute break for meals. They were not given any day off, except on Deepavali.

Vadivel Rajan, from Madurai, said they were hired for a monthly salary of RM1,000 and that the employer had told them their pay would be forwarded to their families every month.

He claimed his employer only paid him RM10 daily as food allowance.

According to him, the employer withheld the workers’ salaries for five months to renew their working permits, but had not done so.

He claimed that their employer would hit them whenever they asked him about their salaries or work permits.

Vadivel said they decided to run away after finding out that their permits had not been renewed for the past two years.

They saved the money from their food allowance to travel to Kuala Lumpur to file their complaint and also to make a police report at the Sentul police station. (ANI)

Talibanisation of the mind in Pak a reality, says lawyer

Islamabad, May 9 (ANI): Last week a conservative schoolteacher in Rawalpindi hailed a cab to get to work in the morning. She wore a gown and had covered her head with a ‘dupatta’.

A few minutes into the journey the bearded taxi driver asked her if she was Muslim. She said she was. Then why she had not covered her head properly, he asked. She responded by explaining that she ordinarily wears a headscarf, but as she was running late that day she was unable to put it on.

Such hurry could invite punishment and result in her being dispatched to the hereafter soon, he retorted. At this point she began to shake with fear and tried to reach for her cell phone to seek help. He turned back and grabbed the cell phone.

As the taxi had almost reached the school campus, she insisted that she be let out. The driver obliged, but left her with a chilling message: if the female staff of the school failed to observe proper ‘pardah’ they would all be sent to God sooner rather than later.

According to an editorial in The News authored by lawyer Babar Sattar, this is no isolated event.

“Be it warnings delivered to the medical community in NWFP to wear shalwar qameez, or edicts issued to music shops and barbers, or threats communicated to schools, or reports regarding women being harassed in bazaars and public spaces more generally, there has been a surge in vigilante action being carried out by our self-styled moral police,” he says.

He further goes on to say that the worst justification for the Nizam-e-Adl regulation comes from liberals within the ANP and the PPP claiming that this legislation doesn’t set up a parallel system of justice, as it is merely procedural law adorned with Islamic nomenclature.

“The growing Talibanization of the mind is a real threat to our fundamental rights and liberties. Simply put it is bigotry, intolerance, obscurantism and coercion practiced in the name of religion,” Sattar says

It feeds on (a) the fear of change being ushered in by modernity, (b) confusion about the role of religion in the society, and (c) the failure of the state to provide for the basic needs of citizens, including means of subsistence the absence of which renders people desperate and a balanced education without which they lack the tools to question and resist extreme intolerant ideas, he concludes. (ANI)

Pak Taliban still in control of several areas in Buner

Peshawar, Apr 16 (ANI): Pakistan Taliban militants are still holding several areas of Buner, carrying out armed patrol to keep up a campaign for recruiting fighters, and having no impact of the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, as demanded by their Swat counterparts.

The repetition of Swat-like scenes could now be seen in parts of Buner district as barbers displayed “shave is banned” papers at their shops while tailors put notices inscribed with “sewing of un-Islamic dresses is prohibited.”

There were no threats, locals said, to barbers or tailors but they put a self-imposed ban on shaving off beards and sewing modern dresses to avoid wrath of the militants, as they had forced their co-professionals in Swat into stopping such practices.

Though there were no clashes between people-militants or militants-police, locals from Swarai and Daggar said, the militants rigorously kept up their campaign to recruit fresh fighters in their force, The News reported.

The militants’ commander along with his armed fighters addressed a big gathering of people at College Masjid, or mosque, in Swarai and Elai on Wednesday and asked people to join their ranks.

Maulana Fazlullah-led militants had time and again said they would stop militant activities and lay down arms if Nizam-e-Adl was enforced, but it was not the case even after the enforcement of Shariah.

Tanzim Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) chief, Maulana Sufi Muhammad, had also guaranteed peace after enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation.

Expressing surprise over the continuing activities of militants, TNSM spokesman Amir Izzat Khan said that it was not helpful for building trust and bringing peace.

However, he said Sufi Muhammad was going to make an important announcement in April 19 public meeting about militants role. He said if the militants did not stop activities, they would withdraw from the peace process or consider another option. (ANI)

Barbers agitate in Manipur

Imphal, Mar. 9 (ANI): The killing of a 22-year old barber by unidentified gunmen has spared off agitation in the capital of the State.

Unidentified gunmen shot dead Suresh Thakur and Raj Kumar Choudhury at Sagolband Ingudam Leikai and Kwakeithel Bazar in Manipur recently.

It is suspected that Suresh Thakur, a 22-year-old barber was shot dead inside his hair-cutting saloon by miscreants who came to the saloon on the pretext of having a haircut.

Raj Kumar Choudhury, an 18-year-old sugarcane juice seller, was also shot dead the same day. eople of the locality are criticising the government for its inaction.

The All Manipur Barbers’ Association (AMBA) took out a silent rally condemning the heinous act. Pappu, a member of the All Manipur Barbers’ Association asked “Why are they killing innocent people? What is the reason? What is the fault of our brother? They should think about it. We want an answer. We want to live in peace.”

AMBA President Brajesh Singh said: “Not only our barbers association’s members but others too, including non-Manipuris, who are working for their livelihoods are being killed in this way. Inhuman acts are committed by miscreants. All human beings should settle their differences and try to reach a solution by sharing with each other their likes and dislikes. Miscreants are killing mercilessly without any reason. ”

The association has the state government to punish the culprits.

Meanwhile, the local police is investigating the murder cases.

Y Chandramani, an officer in charge in the Imphal police station said, “It was a very sad incident. As directed by the highest authority, the security forces are on an extreme alert to protect people and now the situation is normal.”

“The police are also going on regular patrolling to prevent such incidents,” he added. By L. Chinglen K. Singh (ANI)

Silent protest over killing of migrants in Manipur

Imphal, Mar 3 (ANI): Barbers took out silent march here after three migrant labourers shot dead by unidentified militants.he All Manipur Barbers’ Association (AMBA) staged rally against the killings non-Manipuri labourers, condemning as the heinous act.

“Not only Barbers’ Association members, but also other non-Manipuris who are toiling for their livelihoods as washer men and porter, killed in an brutal way, is inhuman and unfortunate. Every human being has their own likes and dislikes, but it could be sorted out amicably by sharing each other. Without any reasons, killing someone mercilessly at their own will is really painful,” said Brajesh Singh, president of AMBA.

Police have said cases have been registered in all the three incidents and investigations were on to nab the criminals.

Protesters bemoaned the fact that innocent people were being killed for no fault of theirs;

“Why is he killed? What has our brother done? I want them to think about it. We want a solution and lead a peaceful life. If we don’t get, what do we do? We have no choice, ” said Pappu a member of AMBA.

The victims of the shootings were all settlers from Bihar. (ANI)

Ranchi hairdressers get free tickets of ‘Billu’

Ranchi, Feb 18 (ANI) Ranchi hairdressers are in for some royal treatment as they will get to see ‘Billu’, the latest Shah Rukh Khan-starrer, free of cost on Thursday.

The Sujata Cinema Hall, a miniplex has offered a free show of ‘Billu’, which revolves around the life of a barber.

“We have got in touch with the Barbers Association of the region and other reputed hair saloons. All of them shall be able to watch the movie free of cost,” said Chandra Mohan Jha, manager of the cinema hall.

Although barbers say they are excited about watching the movie, it is the glitter around the character of Shahrukh Khan, who plays the role of a Bollywood star in the film, that is attracting them more than that of Irfan Khan who is the barber.

“The movie revolves around the life of a man who lived his entire life as a barber and didn’t go beyond that. We want to look beyond the scissors and want to progress,” said Phenku Thakur, a barber.

‘Billu’ is the story of a village hairdresser who is a childhood friend of a Bollywood actor played by Shah Rukh Khan.

The film ran into controversy when hairdressers objected to the use of word ‘barber’ in the title, which they said is derogatory forcing the filmmakers to drop the word from the title. (ANI)

Special screening of ‘Billu’ held for hairstylists, barbers

Mumbai, Feb 13 (ANI): Large number of hairstylists and barbers turned up for the screening of ‘Billu’ here last evening.

The film starring Shahrukh Khan, which was initially titled ‘Billu Barber’ ran into controversy when hairdressers objected to the use of word ‘barber’ in the title as derogatory, forcing the filmmakers to drop the word from the title.

Khan spoke with an association of hairdressers and salon owners and said he would hide the word ‘barber’ from posters and billboards, and bleep out the word from the film.

Expressing their happiness at the filmmakers’ decision, the barbers said, “He has kept his word and we are very happy and have come here to watch the movie. It is a special Valentine gift that he has given to us.”

Khan said he hoped the people could understand that the film is all about good feelings and all the negativity surrounding the film could die down.

“I hope they love it. People can understand a film is about good feelings so all this negativity can die down and we can have fun making more films,” he added.

Shahrukh Khan plays a popular Bollywood actor in the film, which is about a village hairdresser and his friendship with a movie star.

The film is directed by Priyadarshan and is produced by Shahrukh Khan. (ANI)

Shahrukh Khan to market his latest flick ‘Billu’ in his own style

Mumbai, Feb 12 (ANI): Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan has said that he would promote his upcoming film ‘Billu’ in his own style and not to imitate anybody else’s marketing strategy

Khan is extensively promoting ‘Billu’ that was earlier titled “Billu Barber”.

Satirical about use of means like cutting of hair to promote film marketing, Khan said that he would have his own way of film promotion.

“I am happy with the promotion of the film. Every film is promoted in a different way. We promoted Om Shanti Om in a different way; Chak De had a different marketing strategy. I don’t want to be imitate someone the way he or she cuts hair. We don’t copy. There will be innovative ways and every film will have a different way of marketing. But as far as I am concerned, I wouldn’t go and keep somebody else marketing as my standard. I will have my own way of breathing my film out,” said Khan.

Khan had to drop the word barber from the title of his home production house ‘Red Chilly’ after a section of hairdressers objected to the word barber terming it as derogatory.

“Billu Barber” had recently run into rough weather as members of Hairdressers and Saloon Association had approached him with their ‘genuine concerns’ over the use of the word ‘barber’ and its Hindi translation ‘hajaam’.

Not to invoke the wrath of any section of the society, Khan had said that he would not like to hurt the sentiments of the hairdressers and dropped the word barber from the title.

Further addressing the concerns of Hairdressers and Saloon Association and also in an innovative marketing strategy, Khan has invited selected barbers and hairstylists along with their spouses to the premiere of the film.

“The story is about hairdressers. So we want the hairdressers to watch the film with their spouses. Premieres are thronged by stars generally. We want the real stars (hairdressers) to come and watch the film,” said Khan.

Khan plays a popular Bollywood actor in ‘the film, which is about a village hairdresser and his friendship with a movie star.

“Billu Barber”, directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Khan, is all set for release around Valentine’s Day.(ANI)