PEOPLE OF CHENNAI DESCRIBE PM NAJIB AS MALAYSIA'S "NEW HERO"

FROM B. ANBUMANI

CHENNAI, Jan 22 (Bernama) -- Many people might be wondering what is that attracted Mohd Najib Tun Razak to make a historical two-day visit beginning Thursday to Chennai, which makes him the first Malaysian prime minister to make and official visit to the capital of Tamil Nadu state in India.


In fact the people here are deeply touched by his gesture as all the people
met by this reporter here described Najib's visit as very symbolic because
Malaysia and Chennai had longstanding ties.

They described Najib as Malaysia's "new hero" and said they were also
eagerly awaiting the historic meeting between Najib and the Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu, M.Karunanidhi.

Business leaders from around Tamil Nadu and also Malaysia have already
camped here since two days ago in anticipation of the visit.

Hotels around this city have been fully booked till the end of this week
because of the huge number of people who have here for the visit, which includes
people from Singapore as well.

It is understood many businessmen had to put up with friends because rooms
at five star hotels had all been taken up.

Malaysia's Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay, who is also in
Chennai, related to Bernama as to how Najib made the decision to make a two-day
visit to Chennai.

“Initially it was to be only a three or four-hour visit but I managed to
impress on the Prime Minister on the importance needed to be given to Chennai
because of the longstanding and special ties between Malaysia and Chennai.

"Not only in terms of family ties but also in terms of business, investment
and others. In the end the visit was extended to two days and the Prime Minister
will also be meeting Malaysian students in Chennai," he said.

Najib and Karunanidhi are expected to discuss issues like entry of foreign
workers into Malaysia from Tamil Nadu, work permits, visa problems and also on
politics.

-- BERNAMA