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30 days since Indians united

December 26th, 2007
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Yesterday marked the 31st day or one month since Indians in Malaysia took to the streets to protest against marginalisation and discrimination against them. As a mark of respect for Christians who celebrate Christmas, I decided against writing about the significant milestone (unlike some who organise the General Assemblies on religiously significant public holidays and have the gall to complaint about newspapers not being delivered!).Even though 20,000 to 30,000 people were physically present, there seemed to be much, much higher number of support from nearly 1.8 million Indians and also other Malaysians who understood their predicament. From my experience, very few of the people I met talked negatively on the rally, perhaps less than 10%. From relatives to friends to acquaintances, there was words of support for the organisers, HINDRAF and the rally participants, and volleys of condemnation againsts MIC, the police and certain segment of the government.
What is clear is that the Indians are using the newly found spirit and camaraderie to jump-start their lives, with or without the millions from the British government. For the last 30 days, HINDRAF have been a topic over thosais and teh tariks, at home and office. There is a new born awareness against discriminative policies and citizen rights.
But how long will this last? The main leaders are behind bars, and HINDRAF is clearly not a political party will millions to spend.
The torch is seen to be taken over by MIC and a handful of NGOs who before this were quite invisible. The ordinary Indian is left wondering where were this folks when bad things happened to them. Again, how long the torch is carried by the newly self-election champions is left to be seen.
The government had taken initiative to spew statistics, make promises (without the word “promise” in it) and set up committees and panels; all the usual stuff expected of a government. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
All the players are playing their cards now. The trump card is still with the Indian community. How well would they remember the water canons and tear gases in another 30 days? More importantly, how well would they remember the last 50 years when the candidates come knocking on their doors?
What can the Indian community learn from the rally and subsequent voice of discontent raised by themselves? How can they make use of this energy to improve their lives and to ask for their rights? What is the role of the individual? Can this rally be used to turn the youths into better persons, the women into equally important contributors to economy, the men into educated and matured citizens?
Can the community force a reduction in crime statistics, suicide percentages, and school dropout rates? Can they work together, with or without HINDRAF to make this country a better place to live?
HINDRAF has set the pace. It is now the responsibility of the Indian community to ensure the sacrifices made by the group is not forgotten and left to rot.
Let’s see how things are after the 100th day.

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MIBA president told PM the truth

December 18th, 2007
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Nampak gaya MIBA will be blacklisted soon?

I told PM the truth
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76170
RK Anand | Dec 18, 07 11:29am

As citizens of Malaysia, Indians have the right to enjoy equal opportunities and must not be treated like third-class citizens.

This was the crux of Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar's hard-hitting speech during the meeting between Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last Friday.

"In the past, only the educated and middle class Indians were unhappy about the difference in treatment. But over the last three years, every Indian in the country is unhappy and angry over the way we are treated,” he said.

Sivakumar told Malaysiakini that at the onset of his speech, he sought permission from Abdullah to speak without fear or favour and to tell the truth.

To this, he said, the premier replied: “Yes, please tell me the truth.”

Following this, Sivakumar continued: “As you (Abdullah) are aware, the communities in Malaysia are affluent and very much matured after 50 years of Independence.”

“The term bumiputera and non-bumiputera literally means ‘son of the soil’ and ‘not son of the soil’ (respectively). That means the Indian community was born where – in the sky?” he said, telling Malaysiakini that Abdullah tittered at this remark.

Sivakumar said in the past, the New Economic Policy (NEP) won the support of all three communities because it was initiated to address the socio-economic position of all races.

“So what is happening?” he asked the premier.

“What 40,000 Indians, you should have given the (police) permit, there would have been more than 300,000 Indians on that day,” he added in reference to the Nov 25 rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

The urban poor

Citing the agriculture sector, Sivakumar said there more than 70 percent Indians were involved in this sector.

“When the policies changed, what measures did the government take to address the thousands of Indians chased and driven out of the estates, with nowhere to go, and no housing left,” he added.

The Miba president said this led to the emergence of urban poor, resulting in serious social problems like gangsterism.

“Indians killing each other for a living, who is to be blamed?” he asked.

“If only a Felda-type (scheme) had been extended to these Indians, with proper nurturing and with land given to develop small holdings and animal husbandry, they would have contributed well to the economy and even cut down our import bill, especially on dairy products. We need not depend so much on foreign workers,” he said.

On the issue of funding, Sivakumar pointed out that MIC recently held seminars by calling Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Muhyiddin Yassin who promised the Indian community help and support.

“But what happened? Let’s take Johor for example, I personally followed up with the (state) Agriculture Department after Muhyiddin reminded the director to help the Indians.

“Nothing, not a single ringgit was given to the Indians,” said the Johor-based businessman.

“Let’s take other funding agencies, like MIDF, SMIDEC and SME. Yes, all (of them) like to hold seminars, (produce) good paper work. But nothing for the Indians,” he added.

No help extended

As for privatisation, Sivakumar once again cited the situation in Johor.

He said the state government identified 43 projects. “The community was offered only one project, only to be retracted after two weeks. Why?”

Apart from this, the Miba president also reminded the premier that the latter had pumped RM100 million into a fund to help single mothers embark on business ventures.

“I checked with them (the fund), nothing was extended to Indian single mothers in Johor,” he said.

Turning to the construction sector, Sivakumar said: “You (Abdullah) had offered 30,000 jobs, (but) when a group of Indians went to apply for tender, they were told to leave because it was only for bumiputeras.”

“They had to leave the place with shame and tears. Is this fair? Aren’t they citizens (too)?” he added.

Moving to the civil service, Sivakumar quoted Abdullah as saying that Indians make up five percent of the civil service.

“But our population is nine percent, what about the balance four percent? At least, place Indians where help is needed. For example, EPF in JB (Johor Bahru), only one Indian, Socso none, post office none,” he said.

The Miba president also highlighted that the scrap metal business, which involves many Indian businessman, is now under threat of licences not being renewed.

“Who will take care of their families and children, if they cannot perform?” he asked.

Three-percent equity

On the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), Sivakumar noted that it has been three years since Abdullah announced the three percent equity target for Indians.

“What are the steps and measures that you have initiated, please tell us. Even now, it is not too late, we have initiated an independent co-op for the community without any political group’s control. PM can help by funding this.

“I have even given (MIC president) S Samy Vellu a project paper on where Indians can go into – Bio-Tech business as a self-help programme. Why not help us because the Indians need the government’s help. The Indians need opportunities,” he said.

Sivakumar also highlighted the issue of temple demolitions and asked for temples constructed before Merdeka not to be demolished.

On that note, he also urged Abdullah to review the detention of five Hindraf leaders under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and called for them to be charged in court.

He had also called for the release of the 31 people charged for the attempted murder of a policeman in connection with the Hindraf rally. Yesterday, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail withdrew the charge.

Sivakumar told Malaysiakini that he wrapped up his speech by apologising to Abdullah if he had offended the latter with his remarks.

According to him, the premier replied: “Not at all, Thank you for telling me the truth.”

The special meeting between the NGos and the prime minister was called following widespread debates on the allegation raised by Hindraf that Indians in Malaysia are being marginalised.

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Samy Vellu provides statistics on community

December 9th, 2007
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1. indians form 6% of university intake for 2007. does it show a downtrend or an uptrend? Can a graph showing the intake for last 30 years be provided? The same should be for all races so that we can nip any reduction of intakes as soon as possible.

2. "Many schools have been built for the community". Tamil school or national school? i thought the number of tamil schools is still at 523.

3. there was a slow increase in the present 1.2% ownership of share capital of limited companies because many Indians believed in investing in property and not in the share market. “Investing in property is also a good move as the price of property will appreciate,” – How true is this? does this mean that an abnormal number of indians are investing in properties as compared to others?

4. "46,054 Indians were employed in the public sector with another 3,642 in the police force". – That is about 4.18% (if govt staff is 1.1million). these 46,054 indians are at what levels and ranks? how about intake rate per year? increasing or reducing?

if the household income and unemployment rate is as stated, then it is a good thing indeed. in face of the adversity and imbalance in many areas, the community has struggled and improved their living conditions to a certain extent. By the way, what is the source of all these numbers? 🙂

NST: Samy Vellu: Indian community doing well

source

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC president quoted hard figures yesterday to show that contrary to what Hindraf says, the Indian community is doing well. 

Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said that close to 12 per cent of the working Indian population are professionals or are in managerial positions. And many more could join them, as 2,447 Indians have enrolled in public universities this year.

Samy Vellu was responding to questions on the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), and its allegations that Indians in the country were facing ethnic cleansing, after the opening of the International Convention of Nagarathars. Some 650 Chettiars are attending the three-day conference.

Pressed to comment on whether he had made any effort towards a dialogue with the Hindraf leaders, Samy Vellu said: “I attempted on a few occasions to ask them to sit down and talk with us, but they do not want to. They have an agenda that is only known to them.” 
 

Samy Vellu said that Malaysian Indians could gauge for themselves how far they have come with the support of the government. He added that the Indian students who got placements in local universities this year represent six per cent of the 40,116 students who were enrolled this year.  Currently, Indians make up about eight per cent of the population.

And of the 847,900 Indians in the workforce, 46,054, or 5.12 per cent, are in the civil service. The unemployment rate among Indians is at 3.1 per cent. The national average is about 3.4 per cent. “We are also getting some help from the government for the AIMST Medical College in Sungai Petani. Many schools have been built for the community and funds are continuously allocated to upgrade the older schools,” he said.

He added that the government’s commitment to the Indian community is clear from the fact that under the microcredit scheme RM40 million has been budgeted for loans to Indians. “The aim is to create at least 5,000 Indian small businessmen under the Ninth Malaysia Plan,” he said, adding that many squatter families are now housed in government flats. He explained that the decision was made to rent out the units for five to six years, rather than sell them immediately to the occupants, to prevent those eligible for the homes selling for a quick gain. After that, a decision will be made as to whether the occupants can buy the unit.

Commenting on the convention, he said Malaysians could learn a lot about entrepreneurship from the Chettiar community, as they are known to be business savvy. The chairman of the Law Commission of India Dr Justice A.R. Lakshmanan and Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia Ashok Kantha also attended the opening of the convention.

THE STAR: Malaysian Indians have achieved much, more needed

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Indians have achieved progress in various fields over the last 50 years, although more needs to be done to make them competitive in the face of globalised realities, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said here. 

He said more than 80% of them were concentrated in urban areas compared to 60% that previously lived and worked in the estates. “This migration has provided better incomes for the Indian families,” he said in a statement Sunday. 

He said 847,900 Indians were in the workforce currently, 11.5% of them professionals and managers, 19.4% associated professors, lecturers and nurses, 22.9% in sales, 4.9% in agriculture, 9.4% in craft and trade, 20.1% of them machine operators and 16.3% elementary workers. 

Samy Vellu said about 2.9% of Indian households were below the poverty line but the mean monthly household income of Indian families was RM3,456, compared to the national figure of RM3,022. 

He said 46,054 Indians were employed in the public sector with another 3,642 in the police force. 

On the participation of Indians in the economy, Samy Vellu said there was a slow increase in the present 1.2% ownership of share capital of limited companies because many Indians believed in investing in property and not in the share market. “Investing in property is also a good move as the price of property will appreciate,” he said. 

He said MIC obtained micro-credit business loans for 4,000 Indian businessmen over the past few years through Bank Negara and financial institutions. “We have also assisted in getting business licences for Indian businessmen,” he said. Samy Vellu said the Government provided business-training programs to Indian youths through the National Entrepreneur Skills institute while RM3mil has been allocated for business loans for Indians through the Tekun foundation. 

On education, he said 2,447 Indians were offered places in public universities in the 2007 intake.

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empire strikes back?

December 2nd, 2007
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empire strikes back or return of the jedi? Articles from Star and NST carries PM's angry response on HINDRAF's "ethnic cleansing" accusation and use of words like "extremist government" etc. So, looks like HINDRAF's proposal to meet PM will not materialise.
 
PM  "pledged to look after the interests and the well-being of the Indian community" as quoted by Star. So, perhaps we can start by revising the 3% national wealth distribution target to 10%? 30% for bumiputra, 10% for indian, 20% for chinese, and balance (40%) left to open market?  Naturally, to push up the current 1.5% to 10%, many immediate actions have to be taken in 9th and 10 Malaysia plan. The current policies will not be sufficient to boost the percentage. We can see that for the bumiputras, it is taking decades to move few percentages, but some claim their percentages is actually above 40% (due to use of differing methodologies).
 
 

Abdullah slams Hindraf over allegations

source

MALACCA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tore into the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) yesterday, saying that it is spreading blatant lies with the intention of arousing hatred among multiracial Malaysians and sparking racial clashes.  Singling out Hindraf's accusation that the Government was carrying out ethnic cleansing of the Indians in Malaysia, the Prime Minister fumed: "I'm really angry, I rarely get angry but this blatant lie cannot be tolerated at all."  Abdullah even offered to resign if there was proof that the Government was involved in ethnic cleansing.  He said he did not want the people, especially the Indians, to be misled by Hindraf's unfounded claims and allegations, hoping that other races would not show sympathy towards the Indian activist group. 

However, despite his anger during the 20-minute press conference where he dealt mostly with the Hindraf issue, Abdullah pledged to look after the interests and the well-being of the Indian community.  "The social problems faced by the Indian community are clear. I have never said no. We support the Indians but there are some quarters instigating them and making them feel unhappy with the Government," he said..  

 

Allegations of ethnic cleansing are all lies, says PM

source

By A. LETCHUMANAN

MALACCA: A visibly angry Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has hit out at the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for their baseless allegations that the Government carried out ethnic cleansing of Indians.  "The allegations are all lies to deceive the Indians that they are an exploited race. Malaysians will not believe this. Even the Malaysian Indians will not believe this.   "Ethnic cleansing is something which was done in Bosnia. We do not do it in this country.  "I'm really angry; I rarely get angry but this blatant lie cannot be tolerated at all," he told reporters after opening Kampung Hadhari in Tanjung Bidara. 

Abdullah said that he was prepared to resign if there was proof that there was ethnic cleansing in the country.  "Tell me, do you believe there is ethnic cleansing in Malaysia? Is there ethnic cleansing, tell me? If I allow this, I would resign.  "Tell me, you are an Indian and so are you (looking at Indian media personnel), have we been doing it for the past 50 years or even for that matter one week, have we done this?" he asked. 

Abdullah said the Government had never marginalised the Indians in the mainstream development of the nation.  "I've helped them, I've helped them in many ways. They want money to repair their temples, I help because we respect other religions and they are not our enemies, they have cooperated very well with us, this is what has happened," he said. 

Abdullah said the Government had always given attention to the various requests made by MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to improve the socio-economic status of the Indian community.  "Be it to appoint senators or elected representatives, we give attention to and support all the requests," he said. 

Abdullah said the nation had enjoyed 50 years of Independence without any uneasiness among the Indian community.  "The Indians have played their role. They have given strong support to the Government and Barisan Nasional. They know we are just and fair.  "But sadly, some have been influenced by Hindraf and I hope they will evaluate Hindraf's statements carefully," he added.   Abdullah said there was no truth to the claims in the Hindraf memorandum that a Government-backed extremist group had destroyed a temple in Kampung Jawa, Klang, on Nov 15. 

"This is a lie created by certain groups to create hatred among the Indians towards the Government."   He said lies like this could cause racial conflict between the Malays and the Indians.  "Is this what we are seeking in Malaysia, where there has been no problems between Muslims and Indians or Islam and Hinduism?" 

The Prime Minister said holding street protests, including by a group calling themselves "Bersih" on Nov 10, purportedly to bring about reforms in the country's electoral system for a fair and open elections, was not the right way.  Abdullah said the Election Commission had decided to use the indelible ink and transparent ballot boxes in the next general election. "With the transparent ballot box, everybody will know the ballots are inside when the boxes are taken (to the tallying centre). It's the same with postal votes; others can come and see what is happening during postal voting," he said. 

Abdullah added that the latest economic figures showed the Malaysian economy has improved by 6.7 percentage points, all indicators are pointing towards progress, and the economy is showing positive growth signs.   He said that he was not prepared to let the country be destroyed by the actions of these groups.  "I do not want our country which is growing steadily and attracting foreign investors to be destroyed. We do not want the country to be in chaos by their actions," he said. 

 

Rights of minorities are protected, says Abdullah

source

ALOR GAJAH: The prime minister yesterday gave the assurance that minority races in the country are protected under the law and continue to enjoy the fruits of development.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said this was because Islam required Muslims to be fair and that representatives of all the races were in the government. He said the minorities in the country — whether Indians, Chinese or people of other races — would have a place in the nation as guaranteed in the Constitution.  "The minorities will get protection under the law, enjoy the development that the nation experiences and continue to progress. We are a country which practises the sharing of power and in the government, there are representatives from all races. We sit down together and decide what is best for the country and the people. "We do not sideline any race or religion. There is no such thing as ethnic cleansing… this is for sure."  Abdullah said the government would continue to help the Indian community by providing education, equal opportunities and other benefits.

"I have to be fair to all and this is something which is a must in Islam. One day, I will die and according to Islam, Allah will judge me.
"Allah will evaluate me and question me if I have been just and fair. Have you done this or not? I cannot lie. Allah knows if I lie. As a Muslim, I cannot be enemies with others, I cannot hate any race, I cannot hate any group."

Speaking at the launch of the Hadhari Village in Kampung Tanjung Bidara, Abdullah, who was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, said the implementation of Islam Hadhari or "civilisational Islam" was aimed at enhancing the quality of life of Malaysians, regardless of race and religion.  Abdullah said if approached honestly and sincerely, Islam Hadhari's 10 principles could be a guide to progress for all Malaysians. He said Islam Hadhari was a comprehensive approach to ensuring development, peace and stability.

"For us Muslims, sometimes we argue about what we are doing in the name of Islam and we face numerous hurdles to understand this. As for the non-Muslims, they are monitoring what we do and looking if the things we are doing in the name of Islam cause them any hardship, or if it is something which is against the teachings of their religion. "They (non-Muslims) are given the freedom of religion under the constitution." He said Islam Hadhari was not a new sect, nor was it something new.  "It is the manhaj or approach of Islam. It is based on what is best for the nation and takes into account the multiracial and multireligious people. "All Malaysians want development and the 10 principles of Islam Hadhari are being used as guidelines for the development of the nation." He said nine of the 10 principles of Islam Hadhari stressed the importance of gaining knowledge as only knowledge could empower the people to build a better nation.

 
 
Government doing its best for Indians, says PM

V. Vasudevan and Jason Gerald John

 

ALOR GAJAH: An outraged Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday blasted Hindraf's claims of the mistreatment of Malaysian Indians as lies intended to divide the races and destroy the country's peace.

"I rarely get angry but this time I am very angry and this is something I cannot accept,"he said. The prime minister took grave exception to a memorandum asking the British government to lead an international condemnation of Malaysia 's "atrocities" against Indians. "Hindraf is making baseless allegations and wants the United Kingdom to move an emergency United Nations resolution condemning ethnic cleansing in Malaysia.

"Tell me, do you believe there is ethnic cleansing in Malaysia? Is there ethnic cleansing, tell me? If this happened, I will resign," Abdullah said at a press conference after launching Kampung Tanjung Bidara as the country's second Islam Hadhari village. "Tell me, you are an Indian and so are you (referring to Indian reporters), have we been doing it for the past 50 years, have we done this?"he asked. "Malaysians would not believe it. Even the Indians who are Hindus do not believe it. Ethnic cleansing was perpetrated in Bosnia where the Serbs attacked the Bosnians to chase them out and make them non-existent. It was backed by the state. We do not do this here," he said.

Hindraf legal adviser P. Uthayakumar has resorted to the British before. In May 2004, he went to London to apply for asylum alleging police harassment in relation to a death-in-custody case he had taken up. He returned to Malaysia about a month later after Tan Sri Musa Hassan, then the federal CID director and now inspector-general of police, advised him to substantiate his allegations.

Abdullah also slammed Hindraf's charge that "government backed armed Islamic extremists" had destroyed a temple in Klang. "There is no such thing. This a lie conjured by certain groups to create hatred among the Indians for the government." In its memorandum, Hindraf also appealed to the British government to refer Malaysia to the World Court and the International Criminal Court for "crimes against ethnic minority Indians".

Describing the Indian community as "innocent and good people", Abdullah said it had contributed to nation- building. "They have done their part and supported the government. They are strong supporters of the Barisan Nasional and they surely do so because they believe we are fair to all." Abdullah said the government was doing its best for the Indians and cited his experience in helping the community in his parliamentary constituency of Kepala Batas. "There are many Indians in Kepala Batas and I help them.

Funds are provided to repair their temples as we respect their religion. "They are not our enemy but we sit together and muafakat (co-operate).

" Abdullah said MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was constantly bringing the community's requests to him. "Samy makes requests to me for the Indian community and I approve and give them grants. I have never said no. We support the Indians but there are some quarters inciting them and making them unhappy with the government." The prime minister called on Malaysians, especially the Indians, to carefully evaluate the Hindraf memorandum and statements.

"I do not want Indians to be duped by them." Abdullah said many had gone to Hindraf's illegal rally to hear what it had to say about the oppression of and crimes against the Indian community by the government. "These are all lies that can cause racial conflict in the country, especially between the Indians and Malays. Is this what we want? In Malaysia, there has been no conflict between the Muslims and Indians or Islam and Hinduism. It has never happened,"he said. Abdullah felt Hindraf's bigger motive was to cause chaos and disturb the peace. "This country has rules and laws. We have a constitution and we are successful today as we abide by it and hold firmly to the Rukun Negara." Asked for his views on other planned street demonstrations, Abdullah said he had instructed the police to deal with them and take the appropriate measures.

This month, the Bar Council is staging its annual walk for human rights while Bersih is planning a demonstration outside Parliament House on Dec 11 to protest a constitutional amendment allowing election commissioners to serve until the age of 66. A third demonstration is being planned by the opposition and non-governmental organisations to protest road toll increases due next year.

"I have asked the police to talk to them and do what is appropriate. In fact, this should not happen. Why must street demonstrations be chosen to bring change and present demands?"he asked. As an example, he said many of the proposals of the Bersih demonstration on Nov 10 had already been fulfilled. The Election Commission had introduced the use of indelible ink and transparent ballot boxes. In addition, the names of the dead had been erased under an exercise to clean up the electoral roll. Abdullah said the Election Commission had worked out arrangements for party representatives to be present when postal votes were cast.

"But despite this, they do not believe us but think only they (the opposition) are right. If we are a rotten government, we would have been removed as the people are not stupid and cannot be cheated." Abdullah said the BN had governed for 50 years and had brought development. "I admit there are weaknesses and there is still work to be done. There is no country in the world or any leader who can say he has done everything and there are no more poor people in his country." He pointed out that development was a process that did not end. "There are still poor people (in the country) and we still need to bring them out of poverty. We have to strengthen ties between the races and religions." Abdullah said he was not prepared to leave the country hostage to irresponsible groups. "I do not want our country, which is growing steadily and attracting investors, to be destroyed. I do not want the country to be in disarray as a result of the action of an irresponsible few."

 

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india PM Manmohan concerned

December 1st, 2007
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probably the pressure from tamil nadu MPs  and other political parties caused this reply. anyway, can't see our govt sending a delegation since nazri already set the tone – "don't meddle". India does have the upper hand though, they can use economy/trade as a tool to pressure or negotiate something, if they want to.
 
 
India says Hindraf crackdown a 'source of concern'
Dec 1, 07 11:39am

India has voiced its concerns about a crackdown by baton-wielding Malaysian police on ethnic Indians in Kuala Lumpur.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said New Delhi was disturbed by reports about the use of force against the protesters in the multicultural Islamic country.

"This is a matter which does concern us," Singh told a joint news conference with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in New Delhi.

"Whenever Indian citizens abroad or people of Indian origin living abroad run into difficulties, that obviously is a source of concern to us," he added.

The prime minister's comments came as a cabinet minister said New Delhi was taking up the issue with Kuala Lampur.

"The matter is being taken up through diplomatic channels," junior parliamentary affairs minister Suresh Pachouri told India's Parliament, where MPs have accused Malaysia of mistreating ethnic Indians.

A distant third

At least 30,000 protesters including women and young people massed last Sunday near Kuala Lumpur's iconic Petronas Towers – meeting stiff resistance from police, who beat them with batons and used tear gas and water cannon.

The rally was officially in support of a multi-trillion dollar lawsuit accusing former colonial ruler Britain of being at the root of Indians' economic problems by bringing their ancestors here as indentured labourers in the 1800s.

But it was more squarely aimed at the ruling Umno, which stands for Malay interests and has ruled the nation since independence a half-century ago.

While Malays control the political scene and the Chinese population is strong in business, Indians complain they run a distant third in terms of wealth, education and opportunities.

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