MIC demands rights for ethnic Indians in Malaysia

{image-ethnic indians1_03022008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Singapore, Feb 3: The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) has called on the government to immediately act on seven critical issues relating to the recent ''uneasiness'' among the ethnic Indian community. MIC President and Works Minister S Samy Vellu said Malaysia's Indian community has demanded equal rights in the socio-economic development, at par with other communities.

The other six issues are to ensure that a high number of Indians have educational opportunities in public universities, especially in critical courses, provide greater employment and promotional opportunities in the public sector, increase the number of government scholarships, greater access to entrepreneurship training and micro-credit loans, Mr Vellu said at the MIC special convention for branch chairmen ahead of the upcoming general elections expected next month.

Malaysian media reports said the convention was opened by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and attended by 3,700 MIC branch chairmen.

Mr Vellu urged the government to set up a special purpose company for ethnic Indians to participate in the local stock and share market to help attain the three per cent equity target by 2020.

The minister said MIC was also confident of retaining nine parliamentary and 19 state seats in the general elections despite the recent unhappiness among the ethnic Indian community.

UNI