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Rejecting claims that ethnic Indians are being marginalised, a Malaysian minister on Friday alleged that 'some' organisation from India and local opposition parties in Malaysia were behind the high-profile protests launched by the community in the Muslim-dominated nation.
"Someone is behind them from India to create civil disobedience, some organisation. They have their own objective and they succeeded in their first attempt when the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), a non-governmental organisation, called for the demonstration in November," Samy Vellu, the Indian-origin minister for works, said.
Vellu, however, refused to elaborate or name the organisation, but alleged that the demonstrators were lured by money.
He also alleged that the Hindraf was supported by the opposition, including former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, and noted that another opposition group, the Democratic Action Party, had supported the outfit on the first day of the demonstration.
A police crackdown on a protest in Kuala Lumpur on November 25 against alleged discrimination faced by the ethnic Indian community in Malaysia had sparked an uproar, with India summoning the Malaysian envoy.
The minister dismissed allegations by Hindraf that ethnic Indians were being discriminated against and said those without jobs were "either choosy or lazy." He claimed the outfit had sullied the image of Hindus in the country.
"Discrimination is used to discredit any person or a government. There has been no discrimination," he said.
On the state of Indians in Malaysia, Vellu, also the president of the Malaysia Indian Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition, noted, "I will not say they are 100 per cent on top, but then no one is".
Indians form 7.8 per cent of Malaysia's multi-ethnic population of 27 million people. The rate of unemployment among Indians is 3.1 per cent. "This is not because they don't get a job, but because some are choosy and some are lazy. There are 8,47,900 Indians in the work force," Vellu said.
He said the average income per annum for Indians was 3,215 ringgit (Rs 38,101), while the national figure was 3,022 ringgit (Rs 35,807).
Employment in civil service is 5.12 per cent and according to the Ninth Malaysia development Plan, the Indian representation in civil service was much lower compared to the Indian population ratio. The report said the government wanted to encourage more Malaysian Indians to apply.
Since a majority of the Indians in Malaysia are Tamils, there are a total of 522 Tamil schools across the country.
The minister dismissed allegations that large numbers of Hindu temples were being indiscriminately demolished. "There were 17,760 temples in 1980 and today there are more than 20,000 temples in the country," he said.
He said Hindus who wanted to build temples, had to seek approval. Earlier, when the Indians had arrived in this country 200 years ago, they built temples wherever they worked or lived. Some of the temples today stand in private properties.
"The builders today have to follow local government laws", he said, adding that about 150 small illegally-built temples had been pulled down. He said that land was also allocated to relocate the temples.
Vellu said the demonstration, which had been banned by the government, and its organisers had a 'political motive'. "They (Hindraf) have created a very bad name for the Hindus in this country," he said.
Asked why thousands of people had participated in the demonstration to protest against alleged marginalisation of Indians here, the minister said, "If one million dollars per head is promised, it is easy to get a crowd".
He said the population was not stimulated and it was only a group of people. "There are seven lawyers; they are the organisation. They think they are the government," he said, apparently referring to the Hindraf.
He was confident that the demonstration would have no impact on the elections to be held soon in the country. "We will stimulate our machinery and tell the truth. There should be no misunderstanding among the races here," he said, adding, "Our strength is our unity".
The Malaysian Indian Congress party has 6,40,000 members. The total number of Indians eligible to vote are 8,20,000.
Hindraf has filed a suit against Britain, holding it responsible for their current woes as the country had brought their ancestors to work as indentured labourers to the then Malaya 200 years ago.