By IANS
Kuala Lumpur : Denying charges that the government was engaged in any “ethnic cleansing” in Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Najid Razak has promised the country’s citizens of Indian origin that their problems would be “tackled quickly”.
Razak told a convention of ethnic Indians Sunday that it was “a mistake” to have demolished a Hindu temple close to the Deepavali festival last year, a repeat of what the government has said earlier.
The controversial demolition of the temple in Padang Jawa, Shah Alam took place a week before Deepavali.
“They waited three years. Why couldn’t they wait for a few more weeks before starting the demolition work?” The New Straits Monday quoted Razak as saying.
“But I have to say that the deities in the temple were not desecrated as claimed by certain quarters.
“But we have to admit our mistake if we have committed a wrong and, if need be, apologise,” he said.
Razak was addressing a convention of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), the country’s largest party of two million-plus ethnic Indians, on Sunday, a day after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi addressed it.
Following up Badawi’s promise to the community made a day earlier, Razak said: “We have to address their grievances as fast as possible, just as much as we have to address the grievances of the other communities.”
Razak, however, did not elaborate on what more would be done, stressing that he was not making this pledge because the general election was near, the newspaper noted.
The temple demolition and a protest rally held last November by Hindu Rights Action force (Hindraf), a body that claims to speak for Malaysia’s two million Tamil Hindus, has caused turmoil in the community, that forms eight percent of the country’s 27 million population.
Razak’s assurance came after MIC president S. Samy Vellu told the convention earlier that the government should address major issues pertaining to the Indian community.
He listed the following seven issues: greater employment and promotional opportunities in the civil service; better educational opportunities in public universities, especially in critical courses; more scholarships; greater access to entrepreneurship training and micro-credit loans; equitable participation in the share market; an effective urban poverty eradication programme; and a dedicated mechanism to monitor public delivery services.
Razak said although there had been positive developments and progress among Malaysian Indians since independence in 1957, it must also be acknowledged that there were legitimate grievances.
“We are going to do something more for the Indian community. The mechanism on how we are going to do this will be discussed at the cabinet. I cannot divulge what happens at cabinet meetings but a lot of time is spent discussing Indian issues,” he said to a standing ovation from the crowd of an estimated 3,900 party delegates.
The MIC is part of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition since independence. The coalition may seek a fresh mandate, ahead of the end of Badawi’s five-year term, media reports have said.
Razak also recorded his appreciation for the MIC that, he said, had never failed to deliver in the previous 11 general elections.
“We have to recognise that the Indian community has always been with the BN and it has been a sincere and a loyal partner of BN.”
But Razak added a rider.
He said MIC had to ensure that it was still relevant. “Just because MIC has delivered the Indian votes in the past, it cannot guarantee it can continue to do so.
“MIC has to go through the process of strengthening the leadership at all levels and get the confidence of the Indians and then I will be convinced that (the) MIC is the only relevant party representing the Indians,” he said.
“Let me assure you that if there are legitimate, relevant and genuine issues in the Indian community, both the prime minister and I are ever willing to consider those requests.
“I truly believe in power-sharing. I believe in a multi-racial Malaysia and we all should live harmoniously,” he said.