India aims to simplify OCI applications for Malaysian Indians
In an exclusive interview with Bernama, High Commissioner of India to Malaysia B.N. Reddy said the mission recognises that many applicants face difficulties in providing proof of ancestry, particularly due to historical migration patterns and the loss of documents over time.
'Before OCI status is issued, individuals need to provide documents proving Indian origin, up to the third generation.
'The challenge is that many documents are not available because those who came here during the British era often did not retain them, and some were lost during the war period,' he said.
Reddy said the High Commission has been engaging with the Indian government to allow for the use of documents issued by Malaysian authorities and former British colonial administrations to support OCI applications.
'We have tried to get our government to agree that documents issued by the Malaysian government or former Malaya authorities can be accepted.
'If a document identifies India as the country of origin, we can issue the OCI card,' he said.
He said currently around 100,000 of over two million Malaysian Indians are holding OCI cards.
OCI status allows foreign nationals of Indian origin to travel to India without a visa and grants certain rights, including the ability to own property under specific conditions, but does not confer citizenship.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
32 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
It's an investment in Malaysia's future and fiscal resilience
Taking a comparison between the Sales and Service tax (SST) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is actually engaging in a misguided debate. The focus should be on where the expected additional revenue derived from the SST expansion (SST 2.0) will be directed and invested, and how the reform in the SST 2.0 model can improve the fiscal resilience of the economy. The state of the Malaysian economy and the global economy at large today is different from a decade ago when GST was rolled out. When GST was introduced, SST was abolished. And when GST was abolished in 2018, SST was reintroduced. Now, we have SST 2.0. In Madani economic terms, it is about achieving the twin objectives of "raising the ceiling" and "raising the floor", which essentially seeks to empower the people and to transform the economy into a high-income nation. Today, a whole range of public support — schools, universities, clinics, hospitals, roads, Internet access, bridges, security, legal system, etc — is more crucial than ever and this involves government spending and investments. Imagine how we faced the Covid-19 pandemic without government support, just to show one example. Currently, humanity is facing a slew of existential and once-in-a-lifetime changes. Climate change, technological revolution, digital economy and ageing society all require a fundamental shift in the structure of the economy and, hence, the need for the government to broaden their revenue base in a sustainable manner. Adding to this is the global economic uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical risks which, again, require the government to play a greater role than in the past to mitigate their downside impact to the economy. To stay competitive, the government needs to invest in many "moonshot projects" and research and development that will anchor and propel the economy to greater heights. When it comes to paying taxes, the real question is always about the value that the people get from paying those taxes. For instance, Denmark, Sweden and Finland have among the highest tax rates in the world. But they are also always ranked at the top globally in the happiness report. Finland now has the "happiest people" for eight consecutive years. Denmark ranked second while Sweden came in fourth. What are the reasons behind their happiness? One factor that cannot be denied is their robust welfare system, including the comprehensive, high-quality and reliable healthcare, education and public transport systems. In Sweden and Denmark, their strong social safety net and pension systems are among the best in the world. To put it simply, it is about "higher taxes, higher rewards". The same argument can be extended to the business community. The issue is not so much about additional costs due to higher taxes, but the value these companies can get for paying those taxes. If the logic is that lower taxes will attract more businesses and investments, then many companies would have flocked to Paraguay, where its corporate income tax is one of the lowest in the world at 10 per cent. Even with the higher taxes, Stockholm has been dubbed the "Unicorn Factory". From Spotify to Minecraft, Stockholm has the highest number of tech unicorns (startups valued at above US$1 billion) per capita in the world after Silicon Valley in the United States. Meanwhile, with the extra revenue from SST 2.0, Malaysians must feel their well-being and prosperity will improve in the future. It is expected that the tax-to-gross domestic product ratio can be increased from the present 12 per cent to a level that is at least at par with our peers or with other Asia Pacific countries.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
RELA a symbol of people's resilience
KUALA LUMPUR: The People's Volunteer Corps (RELA) is not just about volunteerism but stands as a symbol of the Malaysian people's resilience in times of crisis, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. In a Facebook post, Saifuddin Nasution said the corps' vital role is evident through its readiness to respond under various circumstances – whether during peacetime, disasters, border control needs or major gatherings. 'I have personally witnessed how RELA operates – not merely 'on the ground', but truly becoming a part of the people's pulse. 'May RELA continue to move forward with strength, better organisation, improved training, and sustained respect as a volunteer force that is a national pride,' he said in his post in conjunction with RELA's 53rd anniversary. Saifuddin Nasution added that in the 53 years since its formation, RELA has not only remained relevant but has increasingly gained the nation's confidence as a steadfast, resilient and loyal front-line force.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Malaysia to buy military assets from Italy to enhance maritime security
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim shakes hands with his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni on Thursday. - Photo: Bernama ROME: Malaysia intends to purchase maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, and naval vessels from Italy to bolster its national security capabilities, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The acquisition will include two Maritime Patrol Aircraft designated for the Royal Malaysian Navy. Additionally, Malaysia also plans to procure 28 Leonardo AW149 helicopters, while the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri is expected to supply multi-role support ships (MRSS) and littoral mission ships (LMS). These defence assets will help strengthen Malaysia's longstanding bilateral ties with Italy, renowned for its advanced military industry, Anwar said at his exit press conference at the conclusion of his three-day official visit to Italy Thursday (July 3). Meanwhile, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who accompanied the Prime Minister on the visit, added that details of the procurement would be finalised to ensure Malaysia benefits from areas such as centralised training and other cooperative opportunities. Initially, operations for the maritime patrol aircraft are expected to be based out of Batu Berendam Airport in Melaka, he noted. Mohamed Khaled also said Malaysia has proposed that the acquisitions be carried out through government-to-government (G2G) agreements. "This approach will help us secure better pricing and asset guarantees directly from the Italian Government," he explained. The Defence Ministry has also recommended exploring new areas of collaboration between the two countries in the defence sector, including artificial intelligence (AI) and underwater security command centres. Anwar arrived here on Tuesday (July 1) for a maiden official visit at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Georgia Meloni. This is part of Anwar's three-nation visits to Italy, France and Brazil, which form part of Malaysia's ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation at the global level. Anwar will later depart for Paris, where he is scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron during his two-day stay there. Subsequently, Anwar will attend the 17th BRICS Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. - Bernama
