Washington, May 27 (IANS) Two persons of Indian origin figured among Forbes list of Malaysia‘s 40 richest as the rebounding Malaysian economy expanded 10 percent in the first quarter of 2010, its highest growth rate in a decade.

Malaysia’s 40 wealthiest are worth a total of $51 billion, up from $36 billion a year ago and even higher than the $46 billion they were collectively worth in 2008, the US business magazine noted.

Indian origin Ananda Krishnan with a net worth of $8.1 billion retained his second place after Malaysian Chinese Robert Kuok. They are worth a combined $20.1 billion, or 40 percent of the top 40′s wealth. The country’s 10 billionaires are worth $30 billion, accounting for 59 percent of the total.

The 72-year-old former oil trader Krishnan’s most valuable asset is Maxis Communications, Malaysia’s largest cellphone service provider, which went public in November, raising $3.4 billion in Malaysia’s largest-ever IPO.

Krishnan’s telecom interests in Indonesia and India are still privately held and he plans to take his satellite TV broadcaster, Astro All Asia Networks, private.

Reportedly mulling listing of shipping arm Bumi Aramada, Krishnan sold interest in property firm Overseas Union Enterprise to partner, Indonesia’s Lippo Group, Forbes said.

Newcomers include another person of Indian origin self-made building contractor A.K. Nathan, 54, placed 24th with a net worth of $250 million.

He owns and runs Eversendai, a Kuala Lumpur contractor that fabricates, designs and erects the steel frames for buildings. Nathan grew up in Malaysia, aside from some years of schooling in India.

Among the five drop-offs is yet another person of Indian origin, Vinod Sekhar, who runs Green Rubber, which recycles used tires. The company had previously been valued based on what private investors had paid for shares in anticipation of a public offering; that IPO still hasn’t happened, Forbes said

Kuala Lumpur, Jan.13 (ANI): About 250 Malay Indian and Malay Tamil families in the Kampung Pandan Indian settlement are worried that they would not be able to celebrate Pongal (Harvest Festival) tomorrow as they have received final notices from the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL) to vacate their houses by today.

A Malaysia Nanban report said the families had been living there for the past 70 years. In earlier letters to the residents, DBKL requested the residents to move into rental houses built by the city council in Bukit Jalil, Puchong.

The residents, in their counter offer, asked for houses in the Sri Alam, Sungai Besi area. DBKL rejected the request.

The residents are hoping that Federal Territories Deputy Minister M. Saravanan would look into the problem and find an amicable solution. (ANI)

Kuala Lumpur, Jan.13 (ANI): Pakistani terrorists are reportedly using Malaysia as a transit point to move counterfeit Indian rupees into India to destabilise that country.

The New Strait Times quoted Indian Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis senior researcher Brigadier S.K. Saini as saying that the transfer of fake notes had been going on for some time but had worsened in the last five years.

“The latest incident occurred in October last year when Indian authorities intercepted a large consignment of fake Indian rupees en route from Malaysia to India,” Brigadier Saini said.

He declined to state the exact amount involved but said the overall figure from Malaysia and other countries ran into billions of rupees.

Saini said the movement of counterfeit currency continued unchecked despite concerted efforts by Indian and Malaysian authorities.

“The Pakistani elements behind this racket are doing this to create confusion and destabilise India,” he told the New Straits Times.

It is understood that counterfeit rupees are also being smuggled into India from Nepal and Bangladesh.

Saini said the terrorists’ objective were two-pronged — to undermine the Indian fiscal sector and set up legitimate companies and businesses to fund their terrorist activities in India. He said the fake notes were of such high quality that even experts in India could not tell them apart. (ANI)

India, Malaysia sign pact on employing labourers

New Delhi, Jan.3 (ANI): India and Malaysia on Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for improving recruitment and working condition of employees.

Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and the Malaysian Human Resources Minister Dato Dr. S. Subramaniam signed the MoU in New Delhi.

“It is a major milestone in our friendship mark towards the protection of Indian workers going abroad and of course it will further strengthen relation between Malaysia and India,” said Ravi.

The broad procedure for employment of workers and the responsibilities of employees, workers and recruitment agencies are outlined in the agreement.

With the signing of MoU both the nations have agreed to facilitate orderly recruitment and deployment of workers.

The two governments will work together on pre-departure orientation and upgrading of skills.

They have also agreed for protection and welfare of all categories of workers under the labour and other laws of the host country.

A joint working group (JWG) would be set up to implement the MoU and review employment opportunities and availability of corresponding skills in both countries.

“This joint committee will work out the administrative details of how are we are going to implement the spirit of intentions of this memorandum of understanding. Hope with this we will have a sufficiently strong legal framework to ensure such recruitment is done in ordinary manner and any problems which might arise could be resolved on the basis of suitable systems and mechanics which will be set up by the joint committee,” said Subramaniam.

The group will also explore new avenues for cooperation in the field of labour and manpower development for mutual benefit.

The JWG consisting of at least three members from each Government will meet twice a year, alternatively in India and Malaysia.

Malaysia is an important destination for Indian workers. According to official estimates of the Malaysian Government, there are approximately 150,000 Indian workers in Malaysia, out of about 2 million foreign workers there.

Most of the Indian workers work in the plantation and construction sectors. During 2007, about 30,916 workers immigrated to Malaysia after obtaining emigration clearance.

Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan was Thursday admitted to the Lilavati hospital here after he complained of pain in his abdomen, hospital sources said.

“He is suffering from an intestine infection. The doctors are still conducting the tests. He will have to remain in the hospital for a few days,” a hospital source told IANS.

In 2006, Saif underwent surgery in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. He had complained of pain in the abdomen then too and the doctors had diagnosed he was suffering from appendicitis.

A French ship on Saturday took experts to repair broken undersea Mediterranean cables that caused severe disruption to telephone and Internet services across the Middle East and Asia, France Telecom said.

But many operators said that communications services had improved as alternative routes had been used to carry calls and Internet information.

The France Telecom cable ship Raymond Croze left Seyne-sur-Mer, southern France, on Friday night and was expected to be on the scene of the damage, between Sicily and Tunisia, on Monday, a spokesman said.

Egypt was one of countries worst affected by Friday’s incident

Egypt announced on Friday that it was re-routing Internet services to back-up cables and satellite.

The disruption also affected countries as far away as Singapore, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, but most reported services returning to normal on Saturday.

The cables are jointly owned by several dozen different countries. One cable is 40,000 kilometres (25,000 miles) long and links 33 different countries while a second is 20,000 kilometres long and serves 14 states.

An official of Mumbai-based Reliance Communications blamed a ship’s anchor dragging off the Egyptian port of Alexandria. France Telecom also said this was a “probable” cause of the disruption.

One cable appeared to be fully severed, while the other two seemed to be only partially cut, he added.

France Telecom said that temporary re-routing of communications had reduced the disruption for clients, especially as traffic was lower at the weekend. Business communication links between Europe and India had been diverted via the United States.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Saturday became the first foreign actor to be conferred the title of Datuk, akin to a British knighthood, at a special ceremony here.

Shah Rukh responded by announcing that he would shoot an entire film, tentatively titled Happy New Year, in Malaysia next year.

“There is a film I am planning some time in August and September and will send a team down to look around,” The Star Online quoted him as saying.

He would also help develop the Malaysian movie industry that has had directors like Phani Mazumdar and Ritwik Ghatak making films.

On how he felt about his Datukship, the actor said that it was an honour not only for him but also for all actors from India.

“I am very happy that I have found a big space in the hearts of people here,” he added.

Resplendent in a black baju Melayu, samping and songkok, the traditional Malaysian attire, he received the state award from Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, the royal constitutional head of the state.

The 43-year-old actor held the estimated 1,000 guests at the investiture spellbound as he received the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM), conferred on him in conjunction with the 70th birthday of the royal chief on October 11.

Shah Rukh was tied down by a busy work schedule and could not fly in from Mumbai to receive the award in October or on the later date, Nov 29.

He arrived at the venue, Dewan Seri Negeri, at 10.55 a m (local time) and kept smiling and waving to his fans as he was escorted into the hall, Bernama, the official Malaysian news agency reported.

The actor was the focus of attention of the local and foreign photographers as well as guests who clicked away on their camera phones from their seats in the hall.

At the end of the investiture, the guests took the opportunity to have photographs taken with Shah Rukh.

He has received over 40 awards in the entertainment and film industry including, the Screen Award, Zee Cine Award and International Indian Film Award.

He had acted in the Hindi film, One 2 Ka 4, that has scenes shot in Malaysia, including at the A Famosa Resort in Alor Gajah near here.

At a joint news conference with the chief minister, Shah Rukh Khan repeatedly thanked Khalil and the Melaka state government for the award bestowed on him.

“Thank you to the Melaka government for this prestigious award. I was so honoured to receive this award that was given by a country that does not even understand my language,” he said.

He said Melaka has many beautiful places and he will come back to shoot a movie here.

“Melaka has beautiful scenery and I will promote this country to the world for hosting a shooting here,” he said.

Shah Rukh said he was excited and flattered wearing a baju Melayu and samping when he received the award. He sounded disappointed that he could not stay longer here this time and said he might bring his family on a holiday.

The baju Melayu he wore was sponsored by Sovereign Wear Sdn Bhd and the Melaka state official samping made of songket was sponsored by the Institut Seni Malaysia Melaka.

The royal chief’s wife, Toh Puan Zurina Kassim, and Melaka Chief Minister Mohammed Ali Rustam and his wife, Asmah Abdul Rahman, were also present at the investiture.

Shah Rukh noted that Malacca is a beautiful state that possesses many locations ideal for moviemaking. He suggested the state set up at least one or two floor studios and labs here in order to attract moviemakers.

Shah Rukh is immensely popular among the Malaysians, besides other Indian actors like Saif Ali Khan and Salman Khan. Their popularity goes beyond the estimated 2.6 million Indian diaspora that forms eight percent of Malaysia’s 28 million population.

Chandrasekhar Yeleti, who won the critical praise for his stunning movies like Aitey an Anukokunda Oka Roju, is beginning another new film set in the backdrop of an airport. According to our sources, ‘Prayanam’ (means travel/passage) is the title under consideration for it. As the film’s storyline is completely revolves around airport and traveling the title is the choice. Chandrasekhar Yeleti is making romantic drama for the first time. Manchu Manoj is the lead hero.

The shooting will commence from next month in Malaysia.