Universiti Malaya's Indian Studies Department to remain

Putrajaya, Sep 3 (ANI): The Malaysian Cabinet has decided that the Indian Studies Department of Universiti Malaya will remain and to be headed by a qualified Malaysian of Indian origin.

Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said the Cabinet was against the decision to change the name of the department when it was brought up for discussion on Wednesday.

Dr Subramaniam, the sole Indian representative in the Cabinet, had raised the matter as the Malaysian Indian Congress and several Indian non-governmental organisations were against the name change.

"The Cabinet has also directed the Higher Education Ministry to ensure that an eligible Malaysian Indian heads the department," he told reporters after meeting the ministry's training providers here," The Star quoted him, as saying.

Dr Subramaniam hoped this would put an end to speculations on the status of the department and who would head it.

There were reports that Universiti Malaya had wanted to change the department's name to the "Indian and South Asian Studies Department".

"I hope the Cabinet's decision today would put an end to all sorts of speculation on the status of the department. Too many things have been said and enough is enough," Dr Subramaniam said.

He added that the Cabinet had also discussed about the Hari Raya bonus payment for civil servants but had yet to make a stand on it. (ANI)