Snack makers start work on hall

THE Ipoh Kacang Putih Sellers Association has officially begun work on its multi-purpose hall in Buntong, Perak, Tamil dailies reported.

Association chairman T. Selvaraju said the 0.4ha land was given to the association in 2010 but there were delays before the project finally started.

Under the new management, the association is eager to complete the RM1.5mil hall to serve the organisation and the Indian community in the area.

The organisation has a long history in the area and was formed 50 years ago by small time snack makers living and working in the Ipoh Kallumalai (Jalan Raja Musa Aziz) area.

Even though some of the early entrepreneurs lost their homes and even lives in the rock-slide which affected the area in 1973, they moved to Buntong and continued with the industry and flourished.

> Two strikes within a week of each other by millions of bank employees by two unions in India are expected to put a dent in trade in the holiday season, Tamil dailies reported.

Millions of bank officers went on strike last Friday, which was followed by two days of bank holidays. Another strike will be held tomorrow.

This caused a massive backlog of transactions. Customers were also unable to carry out large cash transactions as the authorising officers were on strike.

The unions are demanding better pay for bank officers and the cancellation of a new retirement scheme.