April 6, 2010
Source: Google News
Wire Service: AFP
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j3oIxo3vla6pW9LIBQXY8Gr_W_dQ
Malaysia has set up an academy to train Hindu priests in a bid to reduce the number of foreigners working in temples in the Muslim-majority nation, a newspaper reported Monday.
Human resources minister S. Subramaniam's announcement came after the government rescinded a 2008 immigration ban on Indian priests aimed at cutting the country's foreign workforce.
"With the academy, the community is also assured of qualified and accredited priests to perform various Hindu ceremonies," the minister was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.
"Prior to the setting up of this academy...there was no standardisation.