ID :
28300
Tue, 11/04/2008 - 14:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/28300
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Malaysia: Spl committee to look into plight of ethnic Indians
Jaishree Balasubramanian
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 3 (PTI) Malaysian government has said that the plight of the minority ethnic Indians in the country was being seriously looked into by a special cabinet committee to ensure that the community had participation in the national economy and equity.
The Indian community's plight was being seriously
looked into by a committee chaired by me, Malaysia's Deputy
Prime Minister Najib Razak, who won the presidency of the
ruling United Malay National Organisation (U.M.N.O.) party
unopposed, said.
"Tamil schools, for instance, will be progressively
nationalised so that they get better facilities and aid.
Micro-credit facilities will be extended to small-scale
businesses," he said.
Ethnic Indian, mostly Hindu Tamils, form eight percent
of Malaysia's population of 27 million and have been in this
southeast Asian country for several generations now. Their
ancestors came as indentured labourers brought in by the
British to build railways and help out at rubber plantations.
Najib, who got 164 nominations to become president of
the United Malay National Organisation (U.M.N.O.) - the main
party in the coalition Barisan Nasional party, said the
technical training for Indian youths will be enhanced as they
transform themselves from the estate environment to skilled
professional workers.
Several hundred ethnic Indians still work at palm oil
estates and have a poor standard of living in this multi-
ethnic country where Muslim Malays are in majority with 60
percent population while ethnic Chinese comprise 25 percent.
The deputy premier, whose name came up for presidency
of the U.M.N.O. party after premier Abdullah Badawi announced
his decision to step down in March next year, said Barisan
Nasional party had always "looked into the legitimate needs
and grievances of each community, although some of it may be
unique to a particular group."
The Barisan Nasional comprises the U.M.N.O., the
Malaysian Indian Congress (M.I.C.) and the Malaysian Chinese
Association (M.C.A.).
Najib, who was attending 'Malaysia Deepavali Open
House 2008' at Kuala lumpur's little India area called
Brickfields yesterday, said M.I.C. chief Samy Vellu had asked
him to refer to Indians cutting hair as hairstylists and not
barbers and Indian cooks as Chefs.
He said the government would soon look into the plight
of 30,000 Indians born in the country who did not have the
Malaysian identity card MyKad or birth certificates.
"We want to ensure a future for all Malaysians and
stakeholders, irrespective of race, so that they can live
harmoniously.
"We have to appreciate the values, practices and trust
among the various communities. If, for the Indians we have the
bharatanatyam, the Malays have the zapin and the Chinese the
fan dance, which are enjoyed by all."
In Malaysian politics, usually the president of the
U.M.N.O. also becomes the prime minister. PTI JB
PMR
Kuala Lumpur, Nov 3 (PTI) Malaysian government has said that the plight of the minority ethnic Indians in the country was being seriously looked into by a special cabinet committee to ensure that the community had participation in the national economy and equity.
The Indian community's plight was being seriously
looked into by a committee chaired by me, Malaysia's Deputy
Prime Minister Najib Razak, who won the presidency of the
ruling United Malay National Organisation (U.M.N.O.) party
unopposed, said.
"Tamil schools, for instance, will be progressively
nationalised so that they get better facilities and aid.
Micro-credit facilities will be extended to small-scale
businesses," he said.
Ethnic Indian, mostly Hindu Tamils, form eight percent
of Malaysia's population of 27 million and have been in this
southeast Asian country for several generations now. Their
ancestors came as indentured labourers brought in by the
British to build railways and help out at rubber plantations.
Najib, who got 164 nominations to become president of
the United Malay National Organisation (U.M.N.O.) - the main
party in the coalition Barisan Nasional party, said the
technical training for Indian youths will be enhanced as they
transform themselves from the estate environment to skilled
professional workers.
Several hundred ethnic Indians still work at palm oil
estates and have a poor standard of living in this multi-
ethnic country where Muslim Malays are in majority with 60
percent population while ethnic Chinese comprise 25 percent.
The deputy premier, whose name came up for presidency
of the U.M.N.O. party after premier Abdullah Badawi announced
his decision to step down in March next year, said Barisan
Nasional party had always "looked into the legitimate needs
and grievances of each community, although some of it may be
unique to a particular group."
The Barisan Nasional comprises the U.M.N.O., the
Malaysian Indian Congress (M.I.C.) and the Malaysian Chinese
Association (M.C.A.).
Najib, who was attending 'Malaysia Deepavali Open
House 2008' at Kuala lumpur's little India area called
Brickfields yesterday, said M.I.C. chief Samy Vellu had asked
him to refer to Indians cutting hair as hairstylists and not
barbers and Indian cooks as Chefs.
He said the government would soon look into the plight
of 30,000 Indians born in the country who did not have the
Malaysian identity card MyKad or birth certificates.
"We want to ensure a future for all Malaysians and
stakeholders, irrespective of race, so that they can live
harmoniously.
"We have to appreciate the values, practices and trust
among the various communities. If, for the Indians we have the
bharatanatyam, the Malays have the zapin and the Chinese the
fan dance, which are enjoyed by all."
In Malaysian politics, usually the president of the
U.M.N.O. also becomes the prime minister. PTI JB
PMR
