Human Resources Minister Dr S Subramaniam said today the Immigration Department will speed up visa and permit applications for priests, musicians and artisans from India.

He said the department’s director-general Mahmood Adam has assured him that he would be meeting all the state immigration heads tomorrow to ensure that the government’s decision to allow for new applications were implemented immediately.

dr s subramaniam "I have to make this statement as there are still complaints from many Hindu temples that the visa and permits for priests from India are not being approved or processed," he said in a statement.

He said the Cabinet’s decision to approve visas and permits for priests, musicians and artisans from India has yet to be fully implemented in many states.

"Some state Immigration Departments has turned down or were delaying approvals from Hindu temples and this is worrying," he said.

Subramaniam said Mahmood also assured that all decisions made at a meeting between Subramaniam and Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar would be carried out without any more delays.

Among them was that the visas and permits for priests, musicians and artisans from India among fresh applicants would be valid for a maximum period of three years and based on a set of guidelines.

Subramaniam hoped that there would not be any more delays or problems on the matter.

He advised temple committees to contact his senior private secretary, Manikumar, at 03-88865003 or 012-3887350 for any queries.