Malaysia’s two million Indians make up less than 8% of the population today nut have been the victims of the NEP policy since 1971. Once traditionally staunch supporters of the ruling Barisan National, the majority now have switched camp after years of grassroots agitation having been built up under the NEP.

This included the demolition of historical temples and some sensitive religious issues. We thank the government - after the outlawed Hindu Action Force (Hindraf) took to the streets with unexpected turnout of some 30,000 Indians in November 2007- for immediately halting Hindu temple demolitions and for the positive attention given to our religious rights.

Nearly 85% of Indian Malaysians are Tamils and about 70% of them are descendants from plantation workers. Of the 8% of Malaysians who are Indians, 80% of them are Hindus, 15% Muslim and the rest are Christians or Sikhs. Tamil or Malayalee Muslims have mostly wangled their way into the bumiputera preserve.

Today after 51 years of independence, the definition for ‘Indian’ has become a metaphor for backwardness. Even though the median family income of Indian Malaysians according to official statistics is higher than that of Malays, certain segments of the Indian Malaysians population live in with hardcore poverty and form part of the lowest strata in terms of economic ownership.

The official statistics show that the national wealth owned by Indians is only 1.2% of traded equity since 1971. And according to Hindraf, 15% of Malaysian juvenile delinquents are Indian while 50 % of all convicts in prison since 2004 and. 41% of beggars in 2003 were Indians.

The percentage of Indians in the civil service fell from 40% in 1957 to less than 2% in 2005. According to official records, 30 to 35 Indians per100,000 commit or attempt to commit suicide annually as compared to 10 to 12 Malaysians per 100,000 in 2006. In education, the Indians make up less than 5% of the university intake of over 45,000 annually.

The current agitation in Malaysia by Indian are against discrimination and their violation of human rights is that apart from economic hardships, they have specific grievances. Their immediate concern is to be treated equally and offered business opportunities and government jobs.

This is where their expectations are high in the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled states. The now outlawed Hindraf contributed the above serious data and hard facts that have even baffled the 60-year-old Indian political party, the MIC. These data and facts were used to awaken a segment of the Indian ethnic minority in Malaysia.

Many are of the opinion that but for the actions of Hindraf, Indian minority issues would not have received national and international attention. This due to the approach of the MIC which for 60 years of MIC was to depend on the charity of BN leadership.

The Indians in the country are seeking equality after 51 years of independence and what Malaysia needs now is a sacrifice of the rich and super-rich of all races in staying clear of the NEP to allow the poor of all races to move up and progress.

This is what Pakatan supremo Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to the Indians and he won their support perhaps quite permanently. The BN may argue that the Indians are not a force when it comes to voting in any constituency. However the Indians are the deciding force in at least 40 to 50 seats in the next general elections based on assumptions from the last general elections

Thus Miba does not see a desertion of Indian Malaysian from Pakatan unless BN comes up with the same ‘carrot’ ie, one of equal partnership rather than handouts

The Hindraf 5, too, must be released unconditionally and they should be allowed to form a public policy think-tank aimed at influencing the formulation of a strong and progressive Indian community and national policies with a more balanced and inclusive approach when addressing Indian grievances.

Its only proper for Malaysia to seriously consider a Malaysian national identity as a major tool to unite the people of Malaysia in all universality under the Malaysian sun. Malaysia, being a founding member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) signed the Asean charter on November 21, 2007.

Under the Asean Charter and also as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Malaysia has pledged to promote and protect human rights.

As such, Miba humbly request the prime minister of Malaysia to release all under the ISA or try them in an open court of law to honour its pledge of upholding its human rights obligations.

The writer is president, Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba).