I REFER to the complaint by S.L. Gurukkal of Sungai Petani on local priests (”It’s time we trained more locals for the job” — NST, Jan 18).

I find it ridiculous when the Malaysian Hindu Sangam and Malaysian Indian Cong-ress are not attentive to the problems faced by local priests.

When our local priests are unemployed or forced to do other jobs, these people can even suggest helping the foreign priests to solve their visa problems. Let them go or please send them back so that our local priests can fill the available slots.

There are many local unemployed priests. Many of them are working in small temples in rural areas while foreign priests are earning more in big and important temples.

It is high time we change our mindset on Hindu priests.

It doesn’t matter whether there are foreign or local priests.

However, local priests will be the better choice because they understand our culture.

M.B., Shah Alam

Source: NST – January 23, 2008