MIRI: The Sarawak Indian Association vice-president Karambir Singh (pic) who is also Miri Indian Association chairman lauded Putrajaya for giving unrecorded leave yesterday to all Christian civil servants in conjunction with Good Friday.
“We hope an open-hearted approach is used and Deepavali too be declared a public holiday,” he said when contacted yesterday morning.
The various Indian associations from all over Sarawak have for decades been making requests for Deepavali to be declared a public holiday, he said.
“Ideally all these requests should be taken seriously to recognise the Indian community in Sarawak.
“However, as an interim step it would be good if unrecorded leave could be given to Indians in Sarawak,” he pointed out.
He added it should be noted that while giving unrecorded leave is a step forward, Indians would still not be able to welcome their friends to their open houses on the actual day of Deepavali because their friends and colleagues would still be working.
