MIC Youth has today urged the Home Ministry to shelve its plans to hire former Sri Lankan soldiers as security guards.

The movement's chief C Sivarraajh described the proposal as bizarre and thoughtless.

“It does not take into consideration the sensitivities of Tamils all over the world. Tamils hate Sri Lankan soldiers who had massacred Tamil civilians in the long war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam (LTTE).”

He added they had a horrendous human rights record and the government must understand the feelings of Tamils in Malaysia,” he said in a statement.

It was reported that Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed had said on Saturday that the government had plans to allow foreigners from countries other than Nepal to work as security guards.

“We may have to look at other source countries that have a good supply of security guards with military background, such as Sri Lanka. Formerly, the job was reserved for Nepalis owing to their reputations as Gurkhas,” Nur Jazlan said.

Sivarraajh said the lack of professionally-trained security personnel could be overcomed by training locals.

“It is not necessary to hire foreigners for all our needs. The reason that crime is escalating is not a valid reason to employ ex-Sri Lankan soldiers.”

He added Sri Lanka is facing an upsurge in crime and ex-soldiers are involved.

“They should not be allowed to come here. Put a stop to theis mad scheme,” the MIC Youth chief asserted.