Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia has decided to lift an earlier ban and renew visas and permits for Hindu priests, musicians and artisans from India.

Indian origin Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam said the issue was brought to the attention of the cabinet, which took the decision last week.

"The cabinet agreed to allow and to extend the services but for special categories only," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Subramaniam, who is also the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) secretary general, said he would meet NGOs and Hindu bodies as soon as possible to discuss the categories as well as the guidelines.

MIC president S. Samy Vellu had earlier appealed to the government to lift the ban on the recruitment of priests from India for Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras.

Vellu had said the temples and gurdwaras urgently needed about 500 and 300 priests respectively.

The cabinet decision has been well received by the Malaysia Hindu Sangam, The Star newspaper said on Wednesday.

Source : IANS