PM Najib arrives in Delhi today for a working visit to India. He will be heading to Chennai as well (I was surprised to see the way the TV3 newscasters pronounce Indian/Tamil words. Don’t they have any Indian friends?).
Hindraf hopes that its recent activities at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2010 which concluded last week, would give some input and impetus to the Indian government to pressure PM Najib on the conditions of Malaysian Indians.
“Foreign minister SM Krishna was really moved by the ‘Malaysian Indian Minority & Human Rights Violations Annual Report 2009: Malaysia Truly Asia’ which was distributed during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas international conference recently,” said Hindraf legal advisor P Uthayakumar.
As such, Uthayakumar (right) said Krishna would likely highlight the ‘human rights violations’ against Indian Malaysians to Najib during the latter’s maiden visit to the state starting today.
“We have also asked the Indian government to use diplomatic means to handle (the) issue,” he said.
Uthayakumar was optimistic about India’s intervention as the minister and a representative of an opposition party, Sushma Suvaraj, has also promised to look into the matter seriously and bring them to the attention of the Indian cabinet.
“Most of them were shocked (about) how Indians are being ill-treated and marginalised in Malaysia. This does not happen in other countries. Only in our country,” he said.
About 1500 copies of the annual report was distributed to delegates from 53 countries.
‘Trade sanctions proposed‘Among the requests submitted to the Indian government were to persuade it to terminate all present and future Malaysian company projects in India especially by Plus, Gamuda, IJN, Scomi and other Umno-linked companies.
Uthayakumar said India would also be asked to stop buying Malaysian palm oil and to halt all its information technology professionals from working here.
Hindraf has also proposed to India to imposed trade sanctions on Malaysia until all the atrocities and injustices against Indian Malaysians end.
When asked about the negative implications that Malaysia may encounter due to the trade sanctions proposed, Uthayakumar said this is the only option left.
“People may suffer for awhile but this is the only option left for us as Najib has refused to address and resolve the problem,” he said.
Uthayakumar who is also the Human Rights Party secretary-general hopes that the Indian government would intervene and end the sufferings of marginalised Indians in Malaysia.
However, I think its just wishful thinking because India is more concerned with economic issues rather than getting involved in the internal politics of another country. Sri Lanka is one such example. So, definitely no trade sanctions or strong words from India. In fact, expect more MoUs and agreements signed.