CHINESE PARTY FUNCTIONARY BEGINS CONSULTATIONS WITH PARTY LEADERS Kathmandu, 30 June: Ai Ping, senior specialist in the Communist Party of China (CPC) begins consultations with leaders of political parties Saturday ami a political crisis in Nepal that has concerned Beijing. Ai, who arrived overnight, holds separate consultations Saturday with UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, NC President Sushil Koirala and Maoist Chairman Prachanda. He will hold discussions with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav. Ai is Vice-minister at the International Department of the CPC. nnnn MALAYSIA LIFTS BAN ON SECURITY GUARDS Kathmandu, 30 June: Malaysia—one of the lucrative countries for foreign employment—has lifted the ban on hiring of Nepali workers in the security sector after three years, The Kathmandu Post writes.. The country reopened the sector two weeks ago following increased demand for security guards and pressure from local companies seeking to hire Nepalis for the job. It had stopped recruiting Nepalis in security jobs in 2009, citing unskilled Nepali workforce. The latest decision of the Malaysian government means many Nepalis aspirants having a background in Nepal Army, Police and Armed Police Force will get an opportunity for overseas employment. According to the Security Services Association of Malaysia, the government lifted the ban after pressure from employing firms and increased demand. “We hope this decision will help address the demand for quality workers,” said a member of the association. According to a report, there are around 5,000 Nepalis in Malaysia working as guards legally. The Malaysian government had planned to hire 10,000 security guards after legalisation of illegal migrant workers as part of its amnesty programme. However, the plan failed with only around 3,500 Nepali applying for security guard job after legalising themselves. The Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies has said it will soon hold discussions with agencies to send quality and experienced guards. “We will utilise this opportunity in the best possible way,” said Kumud Khanal, vice-president of the association. Khanal said they have already started to get orders for security guards. Lately, with the US dollar and Malaysian ringgit soaring, salary of security guard has also increased in the range of Rs 38,000 to Rs 41,000 a month. Nepalis are considered best workers in the security sector in Malaysia. “It will be better if aspirants learn English before going to Malaysia for effective job performance,” said Khanal. nnnn OPPOSITION SOFTENS STAND ON INTEGRATION OF FORMER PLA FIGHTERS Kathmandu, 30 June:: As the government mulls a "unilateral" move to kick start the stalled PLA integration process, opposition parties have softened their stand on the former combatants' entry into the Nepal Army, The Kathmandu Post writes. Nepali Congress and CPN-UML leaders have said they are ready to attend a meeting of the prime minister-led Special Committee for the Integration, Supervision and Rehabilitation of Maoist Combatants. This development comes in the wake of allegations levelled againt opposition leaders by the Prime Minister's Chief Political Advisor, Devendra Poudel, that the leaders were against attending a meeting of the committee. "We were never against attending a meeting of the Special Committee. We have stressed that the prime minister must reach out to parties and create an environment of trust," said Nepali Congress leader Minendra Rijal. UML leader Bhim Rawal said there should be political consensus among the parties on the structure of the general directorate and ranks to be conferred on the combatants at the top level before the committee meeting is held. "The prime minister is trying to take forward the process arbitrarily. He should sit for dialogue with the parties before taking any decision," he said. The NC and UML leaders' stance now clears the way for the PM to convene a meeting of the committee and give the Army a go-ahead for the selection process. The Army is all set to start groundwork for the selection next week. Devendra Poudel said the stalemate in the integration process resulted from the opposition leaders' reluctance to attend a meeting of the committee. nnnn