‘Monitor Indian, Pakistani workers here’
KUALA LUMPUR: Analysts say Malaysia should monitor Indian and Pakistani foreign workers in the plantation, construction and manufacturing sectors in the country, given the soaring tensions between India and Pakistan.
Describing the issue as a “ticking time bomb”, geostrategist and political analyst Azmi Hassan said problems in India and Pakistan could spill over into Malaysia.
He said cited as an example the Myanmar and Indonesian communities in Malaysia, who had been at odds with each other due to clashes in their home countries.
“The Indian and Pakistani diaspora’s patriotism is strong. This includes those living in Malaysia.
“Malaysia has not taken sides with either India or Pakistan as we have a close relationship with both nations. Remaining neutral should be the way to go.
“On the other hand, it is difficult to monitor the ill feelings of both nations’ citizens here in Malaysia as most of them live only within their own communities.
“Since they are concentrated heavily in particular areas, despite the skirmishes happening thousands of kilometres away (from Malaysia), the high concentration of these nationalities in one area is akin to a ticking time bomb,” he told the New Straits Times.
However, Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia senior analyst Shahriman Lockman believed that such a scenario was unlikely.
He said there would not be much tension between Indian and Pakistani nationals in Malaysia, and noted that it was not the first time the two nations were in conflict.
He said there was no need to create tension or alarm.
“We do not see much repercussions domestically. The tension between both nations has been going on since 1999.
“I don’t think there would be any national tensions between both countries’ nationals. Let’s just hope for good things to work out between both countries.”
Wisma Putra yesterday advised both countries to exercise maximum restraint and re-engage in dialogue and negotiations.
It said the recent tensions between both nations were a matter of great concern for Malaysia.
“Like many countries, Malaysia aims at the creation of a peaceful and stable international order.
“In view of the gravity of this issue, the Foreign Ministry would like to advise Malaysians to postpone non-essential travel, particularly to areas directly affected.”
The ministry, through the High Commissions of Malaysia in New Delhi and Islamabad, pledged to monitor the situation and be in close contact with the local authorities for the latest updates.
Meanwhile, AirAsia issued a travel advisory for passengers travelling to northern India.
In a statement posted on the airline’s Twitter account, AirAsia urged those travelling to Amritsar and Srinagar to keep tabs on their flight status.
AirAsia said it was monitoring the situation in northern India and acknowledged that it would impact its services.
As at 7pm yesterday, AirAsia had yet to announce any flight cancellations.
“We advise customers to monitor their flight status at http:// airasia.com/flightstatus.”
A spokesman for Indian Airlines said flights to northern India had been halted immediately.
The spokesman said a circular had been issued to airlines flying out of Indian international airports to states such as Kashmir Jammu, Srinagar, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dehradum and Leh.
Malaysia Airlines did not announce cancellations or changes as it does not fly to Pakistan. A spokesman said flights to New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in India were on schedule.
This came after reports that Pakistan’s civil aviation authority had shut down its airspace to all commercial flights following tensions with New Delhi.
Checks with Pakistan International Airports showed that operations at all five major airports had been suspended for two days from yesterday.