RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 242
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.02.2008

SHRI JESUDASU SEELAM:
SHRI GIREESH KUMAR SANGHI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether facing un-precedent protest against alleged marginalization of ethnic Indians, Malaysian Prime Minister assured the community that he would look into their grievance and address them accordingly;
(b) if so, whether India has also taken up this issue with the Malaysian Government where large number of Indians had to face problems in that country and had to flow to other countries for safety; and
(c) if so, the outcome of the discussion held with the Malaysian Government and the assurance given to Government of India and that Indians in Malaysia could be properly looked?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS(SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)

(a) Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia had a meeting with representatives of several Indian NGOs on 14 December 2007 to discuss issues affecting the Indian community in Malaysia, particularly its socio-economic standing in the country. Media reports have quoted a spokesman of the Prime Minister’s Office as saying that Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi briefed the representatives of the participating NGOs about the steps taken by the Government to uplift the economic and social standing of the Indian community in Malaysia. He also explained the Government’s stand on the HINDRAF issue. According to the spokesman of the Malaysian Government, those who attended the meeting pledged to work with the Government for the betterment of the Malaysian Indian community.
(b) & (c) In a suo motu statement made in Parliament on 30 November 2007, the Minister of External Affairs referred to the concerns expressed by Hon’ble Members of Parliament regarding the alleged harassment of participants of the rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007 and subsequent related matters. The Minister of External Affairs stated that Government remain deeply solicitous for the welfare of people of Indian origin living abroad and noted that there is a large community of people of Indian origin in Malaysia who are citizens of that country. He added that we have friendly relations with Malaysia and we are in touch with the Malaysian authorities in the related matter. During our interactions with Malaysian authorities, concerns expressed in India, including in the Parliament, regarding the developments pertaining to the Indian community in Malaysia have been suitably conveyed.