I REFER to the news report, “No freeze on intake of foreign workers, just tighter rules” (NST, Jan 10) wherein, on the topic of entry of foreign religious teachers and priests, the home affairs minister was reported to have said that the government had tightened the rules to encourage the hiring of locals. He was also reported to have said that “our policy is that we want locals to become religious teachers, priests, musicians and sculptors”.

Hindu priests, temple musicians and temple sculptors require a prolonged course of training and study and/or apprenticeship of several years to be proficient in their vocation.

It is prescribed in the Hindu scriptures that priests shall be of the Brahmin caste. Brahmins are vegetarians from birth and start learning and memorising the scriptures at a very young age (as early as 4 or 5).

The duties of a Hindu priest are onerous with his work starting about 5.30am with the ritual bathing of the deities and goes on till about 10am, then again from noon till 1pm for mid-day prayer. Then again from 4.30pm till about 10pm.

The income of most of the temples is low. The priests are paid about RM400 to RM500 a month and the temple expects the priest to supplement his income from the donations left by the devotees.

The small Malaysian Brahmin community will not be able to supply the local Hindu temples with the required number of priests, and even if there are a few in their midst inclined to the austere life of priesthood, they will be put off by the unrealistic wage offered.

If and when the temples can pay decent wages commensurate with the long period of training and the onerous duties, then they will be able to attract locals to take up such occupations.

M.G., Kuala Lumpur

Source: NST – January 15, 2008