Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim urges India to address minority issues, hopes for stronger bilateral ties
New Delhi: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, during his state visit to India, expressed his concerns regarding the challenges faced by minorities in the country, urging India to address these issues effectively. Speaking at an event hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in Delhi on Tuesday, Ibrahim acknowledged that India is grappling with "some serious issues" concerning minorities and religious sentiments. He expressed hope that India would continue to play its "rightful" role in addressing these matters.
Ibrahim's remarks come amid improving India-Malaysia relations, which had previously been strained following criticism from former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed over India's internal policies, including the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
During his address, Ibrahim also touched upon the contentious issue of Zakir Naik, a fugitive Islamic preacher currently residing in Malaysia. While noting that the issue was not raised during his discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ibrahim indicated that Malaysia might consider India's request for Naik's extradition if credible evidence is provided. He emphasized that this issue should not hinder the further enhancement of bilateral ties between the two nations.
Praising India's rich historical and democratic values, Ibrahim highlighted the contributions of Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others who have been instrumental in shaping the country's identity as a beacon of hope and democracy in the region.
Ibrahim's three-day visit to India marks his first since taking office in 2022. During a joint press conference on Tuesday, PM Modi announced that the India-Malaysia partnership had been elevated to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,' with a focus on expanding economic cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, financial technology, defense, and artificial intelligence.
In a significant move, India also agreed to make a one-time export of 200,000 metric tons of non-basmati rice to Malaysia, despite a ban on such shipments, reflecting the deepening ties between the two countries.
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Karnataka government employees demand return of Old Pension Scheme
Bengaluru: Government employees in Karnataka have urged the state government to scrap the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and bring back the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), The New Indian Express reported.
The demand was made by the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association, whose leaders met senior IAS officer Uma Mahadevan on Monday and submitted a memorandum. The association asked the NPS Review Committee, headed by senior IAS officer Anjum Parvez, to recommend the reintroduction of OPS in the state.
Association president C.S. Shadakshari reportedly said the review committee has already visited Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana where NPS was revoked and OPS re-implemented. The committee is yet to submit its report, but has told the government it will do so soon.
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Shadakshari allegedly said NPS has been in force in Karnataka since 2006. He pointed out that West Bengal never adopted the scheme, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana replaced NPS with a contributory pension model.
States including Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Jharkhand have already scrapped NPS through cabinet decisions or budget announcements.
“Under NPS, 10% of the employees’ basic salary and DA, and 14% contribution from the state is credited to the employees’ fund. It constitutes 24% of the total which is non-withdrawable. This is invested in the share market and the final amount depends on the ups and downs of the market,” TNIE quoted Shadakshar as saying.
As per the report, he said that by limiting its contribution to 14%, the government could save up to ₹1.87 lakh crore annually if all vacancies are filled, strengthening the case for bringing back the old pension system.
