Hi Ismail, Truth hurts. The leader of the Malaysian Indian Muslim organisation has no business to request the Government to use ISA on the peaceful demonstrators who were exercising their democratic rights under the constitution. If he wants to deny his racial origin for the sake of the "Handouts" so be it but but do not try to oppress others when they exercise their democratic rigts. I am not a racist that is why I am suggesting that all Malaysians be given the same privileges and there is no need for anyone to deny their ancestrol origin.

Micky, CAIRNS, Australia

Umno (ruling party) vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam has rebuked Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders for their “outrageous actions” and urged the Government to revoke their citizenship.

He said Hindraf’s claim that the country was involved in ethnic cleansing was slanderous and very serious.

“There is no such thing. They should be in jail for saying that,” he said at the launch of the Federation of Malay Economic Bodies (Gabem) southern region and Federal Territory here yesterday.

Mohd Ali said he would fully support it if the Internal Security Act was used against those who organised the illegal Hindraf gathering.

“They are going to send their memorandum to India, Britain and even the United Nations. These people are betraying their own country,” he added.

lee yin yin, taipei, taiwan

Why the virulent attacks on Indian Mamaks ?. They are the most hardworking, generous, honest and apolitical Malaysians. They are of no threat to anyone. Are you not racist, Mickey ?. Leave them alone. Malaysian government would not have to carry out affirmitive actions if the chinese are willing to share their wealth with all Malaysians. They would only employ chinese, requiring all applicants to be able to speak Mandarin. Almost the staff in KTAR and UTAR are chinese. It forces the government to help the Malays. Unfortunately, the poor Indians are left out of the equation. And the rich Indians are also not bothered to help them, because, I guess, the caste system. It shows how difficult to govern a multi-racial country like Malaysia. Be grateful, despite the odds, Malaysia is still, by and large, a peaceful and prosperous country, by any standards.

ismail, Shah Alam,

This list is a common knowledge to a lot of Malaysians, especially those non-malays (Chinese, Ibans, Kadazans, Orang Asli, Tamils, etc) who were being racially discriminated.

Figures in this list are estimates only and please take it as a guide only. Government of Malaysia has the most correct figures. Is government of Malaysia too ashamed to publish their racist acts by publishing racial statistics?

This list cover a period of about 50 years since independence (1957).

List of racial discriminations (Malaysia):

(1) Out of all the 5 major banks, only one bank is multi-racial, the rest are controlled by malays

(2) 99% of Petronas directors are malays

(3) 3% of Petronas employees are Chinese

(4) 99% of 2000 Petronas gasoline stations are owned by malays

(5) 100% all contractors working under Petronas projects must be bumi-status

(6) 0% of non-malay staff is legally required in muslim-owned companies. But there must be 30% malay staff in non-malay companies

lee yin yin, taipei, taiwan

Jai Sakti, Perak, Malaysia.

Our deputy Prime Minister knows that malaysian indians are loyal supporters of the present ruling coalition goverment better known as BN for the past 50 years. Great! Well, he said if there was discrimination and marginalisation on indians, then they won't have voted for the present goverment all this while. BUT our DPM failed to understand that we indians were patient and tolerant to the discriminations and marginalisation imposed on us for the past 50 years! There wasn't a hero to voice out our greivances till Hindraf championed our frustrations. The jocker Mahathir(ex PM) made university entrance free of quota but by having two major exams. Non malays(ethnic indians and chinese) must do STPM(Higher School Certificate) and for the so called bumiputras, the goverment protects them with matriculation courses and they are given 1st choice to enter university and to do medicine! So what is the meaning of meritocracy? Make one common exam for all!

siva sakti, ipoh, perak, Malaysia

Sharmini, I must confess that my history is not very good. I was forced to do science stream because of NEP, despite of my atristic inclinations, which causes a lot of distress to me until now. I was taught that the Malays originated from Yunnan, South China. But recent DNA tests among Malays found that they were closer to the Indians than the Chinese. Therefore, you could be right. If you look at the features of
Malaysian Malays (not Indonesians), some of them look like Indians and some look like Chinese. I guess it is a 'mongrel' race. To bind them together, it is important to define the race, hence, the bumiputera concept. It is rather vague. How come then Mahathir (half Indian) and Musa Hitam (half chinese) could be classified as bumiputra ? However, Malays and Indonesians are of the same race. It is an imiginary division concocted by the British and the Dutch. If you exclude those originated from Indonesia, then very few bumiputra left. I prefer to call all of us Malaysians.

Ismail , Shah Alam, Malaysia

The word bumipetra, a borrowed Indian word , is being used to get privileges from the UMNO government. While it applied to the Malays, how did the Mamak Indians such as MAHATHIR become a Bumi? If religion is the reason, is it not an international offence to discrimminate on the basis of Religion? The Malaysian Mamaks because of the privileges do not wish to identify themselves as of Indian origin and involve in disputes to support the Government and even rquesting the Governmenmt to use the ISA on the Indian Demonstrators. For a start, the Government should treat all Malaysians equally and the Indian Mamaks should not be accorded any special status. Mahathir who was rightly expelled by the UMNO, returned to power to segregate the races. The Malaysian father of Independence, respected Tuanku Abdul Rahman, was in tears when he saw what had happened to his dreams of multicultural Malaysia whichis increasingly becoming aparthied and intolerant to other religions.

Micky, CAIRNS, Australia

Well , the rich will get richer and powerful while the poor are all doomed after 50 years of independence. The current political climate is more about the Arabnisation of Malaysia based on Saudi's Wahhabis Islam to replace civil law with Sharia to unify Muslims for all states which currently differs. Note how Sister's in Islam opposed the famlily laws but failed due to male dominance!. So where do non-muslims stand when influx of Muslims from Indonesians & Phillipines with PR status to replace the labour force while from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh in professional arena? . History was rewritten to profess that Malays were the son of the soil, though the truth is they too were immigrants. There is no such race called Malay but Indonesian who were Hindus. Look at teh culture and language mix. So thank an Indian like Mahathir to rewrite history to settle the Malay delima. Suggest you read "Malaysia and the Club of Doom by Syed Akbar Ali. What goes around comes around.

Aljay , Petaling Jaya, Malaysia

Sorry Ismail. Can't concur with you there. How did the malays become hindus at the first place ? How did the kingdoms of majapahit/srivijaya/sailendra come into being ? These are by and large extensions of the Indian-Hindu kingdoms of the Cheran/Cholan/Pandyan empires of South India.
Over time, the exclusive Indianess of these kingdoms were watered down by mixed marriages with the local populace, presumably to make the rulers more legitimate & closer to the populace.
So, Parameswara was not a Malay, but of Indian descent.
But, going by your logic (even though I can't agree), and Parameswara was Malay, & that makes me inelligible for the Bumiputra status. Ok, I can accept that.
But, how come Khir Toyo, who's parent's are Indonesians, born in Indonesia, gets to be a bumiputra ? My family's been here at least 6 generations, and I can prove it. We've been living in the same kampung, I even have MCL land.....
So, can I call myself bumiputra now ? Or do I have to migrate to Indonesia ?

JSharmini, Malacca, Malaysia

Pls Indian all over the world pls pray for the wealthness of Malaysia Indian. We never ask for anything new but only our equal right.

SIVA, PENANG, MALAYSIA

The recent European Union Ambasador to Malaysia said that Malaysia is a one party Islamic state serving the interests of the Malays only. The Government inevitably uses ISA to threaten and suppress any form of criticism and claims to be a peaceful country. The minorities live in fear and the Government has endorsed dustruction of Hindu Temples and is telling the World not to interfere. The World Community has the moral responsibility to protect the minorities and the vulnerable. It is now time for ACTION. It is time to give an ultimatum to give equal opportunities to all Malaysians or face ISOLATION. The Malaysian Government should release all the arrested HINDRAF members. We do not want to hear lectures from you and stop fooling the WORLD. In the current world of Globalisation, we are interdependant and have respect for all human beings irrespective of race, colour or creed. We have enough of Political Animals thirsting for Power and Greed in this world. God is WATCHING.

Micky, CAIRNS, Australia

Clearly there are many strong and lucid views. If Malaysians could stop looking at issues against the bias of their own race, solutions would be more visible. Hindraf has destroyed nothing. It is born out of desperation. Murthy's wife still does not know on what basis her husband's body was taken away. If Hindraf appear sectarian, perhaps they have taken a leaf out of UMNO leaders books. Even the fact that news vendors are primarily Indian has not been left uncommented upon. Please stop this cheap sabre rattling and adopt a more inclusive approach o powerful ones. And please stop using Ananda Krishnan as a measure - one AK does not a community make. Open your eyes all of you and see what s happening. And if you still cannot, please read Farish Noor's articles! There is no glory in oppressing the defenceless.

Rabia, Kuala Lumpur., Malaysia

One cannot deny that Malaysia practices double standard. The Hindraf rally for fair treatment of ethnic Indians are called violent. The police denied permit for the rally on the ground that it would congest the road, affect businesses and speculated riots to happen. Political leaders such as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nazri Aziz have condemned the rally and have said that street protest are not part of Malaysia's culture. However, no police permit was needed when Khairy Jamaluddin from the ruling party (UMNO youth deputy chief and son in law of PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) and his party members held street gathering near KLCC, couple of years back (to submit memorandum to Condoleeza Rice during her visit here). No tear gas used, no water canon and no force whatsoever. This shows sheer hypocrisy of the government in calling street protests are always adverse in effect.

vick, kuala lumpur, malaysia

Hi William, just to tell you that eventhough I am a law abiding citizen and a Malay, I had also to pay fines as well. The local authority (MBSA) once threatended to send my name to CITOS, for not paying the fines, despite having some repectful titles, infront and after my name. It is a shame, that you look at everything in terms of race.If all Malays are allowed to commit crime, without police taking actions, Malaysia would not become one of the most peaceful country in the World. Now the Hindraf want to destroy it. Many priveledges have been taken away from the Malays, despite the social contract. Things are changing, albeit slowly. But it can only change more thorugh consultations and negotiations, not through violent protests and damaging public properties. By the way, I thought it was Datuk Ananda Krishnan, the wealtiest person in Malaysia. if not, it is Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, then (or Tan Sri Goh Chok Tong)

Ismail , Shah Alam, Malaysia

Sharmimi, it is true that Parameswara was a Hindu prince, as all Malays were, but he was a Malay. Sri Vijaya Empire, was a Malay -Hindu empire, not an Indian one. So cannot call yourself a Bumiputera, sorry. We are grateful than the Indians, more or less gave us a language, Malay, which is sanskrit-based. The Indians (perhaps, not Tamils) must be grateful too that the Moghuls contributed a lot to make Hindustani the most beautiful language in the world. They gave India the most beautiful human creation, Taj Mahal. Without Taj Mahal you see poverty, caste-ridden,religious bigots an chaotic riots India. We must not look at differences, but see similarities. We must be thankful that we contribute to each other culture. That what Malaysia peaceful for so long. Do not destroy it. I want to see a fair Malaysia and sometimes embarassed at the special privelidges given to my race. But then, only the Malays are willing to die for Malaysia. The Hindraf (Hindu riff raff) still loyal to the Queen

Ismail , Shah Alam, Malaysia

In India, muslims have been Presidents, Home ministers et al. One of the richest man in India is a muslim (Wipro chairman).

This incident was an eye opener for the world. Not long before, Malays' reputation will match that of their islamic brothers in Pakistan Sudan etc.

yash, London, UK

The govt need not deprive any minority to uplift the Malay Muslim (and minority includes the indigenous 'orang asli' -the original bumiputras-). Especially when in malaysia, there is enough for all! But the govt does deprive blatantly. Whether an irreverent rap to the national anthem by a Chinese youth, or BERSIH or HINDRAF supporters taking to the streeets, would it not be easier for the govt to acknowledge the legitimacy of grievances with a listening ear rather than waste tax payers money on tear gas etc and expose the Police to international ignominy and then get the political party controlled press to misrepresent facts. Malaysians know that the truth is available on the net! And they seek it avidly! Indians cleared jungles, built roads and railways. They are working citizens of this country. In 2007 how do we justify a govt policy which does not recognise citizenship rights ... Grow up guys.

Rabia, Kuala Lumpur., Malaysia

hi there ismail.obviously you do not know what the hack is happening in malaysia dude. who is the richest man in malaysia? it' is not an indian. it is a chinese for your information. why do you make such a fuss over such complimency? why do malays fail miserably in getting to the top spots being richest in the nation? it is because you malays do not make the effort to work hard enough for your living as chinese n indians do. in this case, you have NO RIGHT to complain n make all these fuss.
and for your info, there are only a few indians in the political side of our country. besides that, who the hack told you that indians are doing very well in malaysia? majority of the indians are nt doing well at all.
temples that are built anywhere in free lots will be demolished by our "beloved" government.during friday prayers, do malays get fined over cars parked anywhere along the street? will they get summoned for not wearing helmet when they are riding motorbike?no.what is this?it's unfair!

William, kuala lumpur, malaysia

It would have been a peaceful rally but the Government's own insincerity, insecurity, intentions and actions turned it violent.

R Shanker, Penang,

In Malaysia, the government has an affirmative action policy, which favors ONE race, while discriminating against all others.
THAT is the problem. When a rich Malay buys a house of RM300k with a 10% discount, and a poor Indian can't even afford at low-cost RM40k house (of course without the 10% dicsount); something is very wrong.....
If you're really Malaysian, you'll know that there is only 1 Indian minister in the cabinet, and he's been there for over 25yrs. He's getting fatter & richer, while we Indians languish at near poverty levels.
So what if the richest man in Malaysia is an Indian ? One of the richest man in the word in Laxmi Mittal, does that mean all Indians in the world are rich ? What kind of twisted logic is that ?
Not all Tamil schools are government aided, unlike Malay schools. Most are not aided or only partially aided. I can name you Tamil schools in dilapidated state. Can you please name me the Tamil school which has more teacher's than students ?

J Sharmini, Malacca, Malaysia

malabari origin mahathir did so much for the malays in malaysia.
how much is enought,time to treat all malaysian as one race..
unite as one ...enough racial and religious divisions.
lets have one nation...

ravindran, seremban, malaysia

It is very sad to see that many Malaysians do not see the point of this rally. It was amplified over and over again, that it is merely a peaceful rally. That were aimed to stop the discrimination the Ethnic Indians were facing in Malaysia. It is undeniable, really. Everyone in Malaysia, know this by heart, and racial discrimination were most, if not all, aimed at the Ethnic Indians.

We do not hate other races or religion. We are not saying that there are no poverty for other races. What we are merely trying to say is that, despite all odds, the Ethnic Indians of Malaysia was marginalized from the very beginning. 50 years of Independence, and only now has the Indians in Malaysia took the courage to stand up. Government needs to realize at some point that when they mistreat the minorities, even the minorities will stand up and make a difference...

Mikee Hong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The moguls invaders have a colorful history of persecuting Hindus in their own land. So, don't talk about demolishing mosques....
The moguls have destroyed thousands temples & built mosques on top of the demolished temples. Desecrating non-islamic places of worship, is a must for all muslims..
It is our right to restore our temples, in our land.
Malaysia doesn't belong to the malays. The land now known as malaysia, belonged to the indigenous people of Malaysia. Then came the Indian empires. So essentially, we Indians were here first. You malays came much later, from Indonesia. Don't forget that Parameswara was a Hindu prince.
So, henceforth, I shall call myself a "bumiputra" (which incidentally is Sanskrit for "son of the soil")

J Sharmini, Malacca, Malaysia

In a multi-racial countries like Malaysia, all races feel discriminated. The Malays have their grouses too. Though they are the majority, the economic wealth is in the hands of the Chinese. Not a single Malay is in the top ten of the Wealtiest Malaysians. In fact, the most wealthy person in Malaysia is an Indian. Not a single parlimentary constituency in Malaysia has an Indian majority and yet there are many Indian ministers in the cabinet. despite being the minority, the Indians has the right to have their own schools. The government pays for them eventhough, in some cases, the number of teachers are more than the number of pupils. Malaysia, is polarised, because every race insists to have their own way, sticking to their own culture. Malays are too tolerant. The Indians could build their temples everwhere without getting permissions, Compared to the muslims in India, whose mosques are demolished wantonly (remember Babri mosque ?), the Indians are doing very well in Malaysia.

Ismail , Shah Alam, Malaysia

During the past few years Malaysian government has been heavily promoting, in the world media, the concept that Malaysia is a secular country where citizens of all ackgrounds enjoy equal rights and live in peace and harmony. The reality is quite the opposite.

G Bhan

G Bhan, Oldham, U.K.

This is the result of a policy to systematically benefiting etnic Malay. The minorities Indian and Chinese can never accept the government excuses of providing ALL malay (including those top and rich businessmen, politicians, Datuk, Tun, whaever they may call) are granted with all kind of benefits, grants, perks, priviledges and while the poors from Indians, Chinese are left to struggle for their own existance in Malaysia. For example: a rich Malay businessman entitles to 10% discount when buying a property but not a poor Indian/Chinese farmer. The government choose to hang on to the system that benefiting Malay (regardless their economic strata) than a system that benefiting the poor (regarless of their race).

Sakri, Singapore, Singapore

The Malaysian government says there are other avenues available for the Indian minority to express their grievances, other than taking to the street protects. The Indians have been putting across their points of discontent for years now, through their elected community leaders. All these were unheeded because the Indians do not have the numbers to provide sufficient pressure on the government for change. Malaysia is perhaps the only country in the world to have affirmative action for the majority Malay population, contrary to world norms.

E.G. Sekaran, Klang, Malaysia

I just can't believe this that this is happening in Malaysia
the so called " Truly Asia "

Please don't talk abt destruction of Mosques in India

Please Muslims in India have drenched themselves in the blood of innocent Hindus over centuries

Islam may be peaceful but it's followers have wrecked havoc in India .

Well point is simple the day by day the problems of genuine people is being seen as America is no saint :D :D

They are the Mother of all Problems [ the American Politician's , not the people ]

Well whatever the best way to solve the problem is through
Dialogue if there is a violent protest then we must understnad that there must be some genuine reason well that' s my point of View.

As they say " learn to listen and 60% problems will be solved "

Thank You , Hare Ram

Shrinidhi A M , Mumbai , India

Dear Fellow Malaysian

If you talk malay I dont mind but if you talk against muslim it hurt deep in the all muslim heart, because all negative view in the news all over the world against muslim. look in India muslim suffer first, what ever trouble happen muslim first accused. Plillipine? no better.all in arab world muslim subjected to puppet government allied to US. destruction of places of worship why you hindu selfist talk about your self only .mosque and surau also destroy. some how hindu temple built all around at what ever place on earth as long as tree beside road, river. privet land, near junction, where according hindu teaching there is temple where there is people to worship, but all these place are far away from population.

abu yamin, kerling, selangor malaysia

Discrimination of indians in Malaysia increased during the administration of Dr. Mahathir. Under the present malay leadership things turned ugly when religious authorities snatched a dead malaysian indian soldier, a hindu all his life and burried him as a Muslim.

As a result of this many indians here in Malaysia lost their trust in the government and Hindraf was formed to champion the discriminated indians.

Manggal, Little India, Malaysia

after 37 years of SPECIAL PRIVILEDGES given to the malays at the expense of the others, the ruling class is very happy to mould their race into perpetual parasites !!

jimmy lam, kuala lumpur, malaysia

The implemantation by the Malaysian govt of Bumiputera preferential rights policies is criminal also because the bumpiputra has been encouraged to believe that he can receive all manner of beneifts solelly by virtue of birth! Not a commendable state in a globalised commercial environment. In parallel the minorities are not given recognition in govt service or in general opportunities available. Apartheid true. The education system is a tool of politics and Malaysian children have suffered the consequences for 30 years. The list of grievances against the Malaysian admin, is long. Malaysian govt should stop playing the race card. ...Sad that HINDRAF protest is under the banner of religion, but this may be a beacon for other minorities.However bitter, the pill has to be swallowed for the nation and her peoples to grow.

Shivani, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia is much more an 'apartheid state' compared to the lefties' favourite target of opprobium. Israel.


Half a century of race and religion based discrimination has marginalised and disenfranchised not only the ethnic Indians, but also the Chinese and the Orang asli, the indigenous tribes. Nothing new there, except for the fact that muslim immigration ( much of it 'unofficial') , from Indonesia ,Philippines, Bangladesh and even Pakistan has over the last two decades seen a further displacement of the poorest non-muslim minorities.

Creeping islamisation and the wanton destruction of places of worship (over 70 hindu, a few buddhist/Daoist and also a few churches of the orang asli people) by the overwhelmingly malay muslim authorities has sent tempers boiling and has been the final straw . Now a new genie - hinduism as a motivating force for an oppressed people- has been released as the inevitable blowback to islamist policies. It portends bad news for all .

M Pathy, singapore, singapore

The myth is not of multiculturalism as the people in themselves can get along . Unfortunately, the Malaysian government inter alia, practises a divide and rule policy which has left indians, as the poorest community in all aspects, consistently marginalised and selected people in govt and their friends, wealthy. Fear of government backed reprisals by police and govt agencies has kept Indians by and large silent but government has not responded adequately to indian grievances which relate to very basic rights relating to education, religion and general opportunities to work and home ownership. In a strange paradox multi-culturalism still flourishes in Malaysia and can progress provided the govt opens its eyes and grows up. Or the people take a position, which they are now.

Shivani, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia has always given more priviledges to the Bumi Putera (native Malays). Though Malaysia goverment claimed 'Equality' and 'Ethics Stability' but in actual fact, it is far from truth. The news and evidences of discrimination are always suppressed and hidden from the eyes of the world. It's time Malaysia government do what they preached.

Bernard, Singapore,

Just exposes the fallacy behind the doctrine of multicultralism the left and Labour have tried to impose in the UK. It also illustrates the dangers of open door immigration that this Government has allowed. British society, especlally England is divided along religious and ethnic lines and faces the same divisions and conflicts that you find all over the world. From the Balkans, Iraq, Africa, the list is endless. History has proven that race and religion has never mixed on mass, yet we are repetedly told by the left and this Labour Government what a wonderful asset multricultralism is and the benefits that it brings. I personally can not think of one benefit, unless religous fundamentalism is counted as an assert. I am afraid the evidence borne out by yet again by the current events in Malaysia exposes the myth of multicultralism and the dangers now faced by this country.

chris, woodbridge, suffolk

Very unfortunate that in 21st century that people undergo racial and religious discrimination. Malaysia should be a leader country for Muslims to show what democracy means. Instead they suppress the voice of the minorities by not taking up their case and suppressing their voices. True color of Malaysia is emerging.

Siva, Muthuswamy, USA

Street protests are rare in Malaysia due to the fact that any protest organized by any party other than UMNO (the malay ruling party) is usually declared illegal by the police. If a protest is against western countries like the US, then it is tacitly allowed to proceed. Violence usually occurs in these protests only after the police use teargas and baton charges against the protesters as Malaysians are a generally peaceful lot.

HA Yeap, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

Everyone will come out of their point of view on this kind of rally. I don't know if there's is any other intentions behind this point-to-make protest as it's been claimed by some political parties. But for 1 thing for sure is FINALLY some people have come out from their 'safe ground' to speak out of the misery and discrimination that have been faced by this minority ethnic group. It's not some political or phychologically natured protest as anyone who visits the nation will soon get to know the reality of whats being faced by this people. The world attention has been diverted into this beautiful and peaceful nation as it has been one of the intentions (my point of view ONLY) of the rally. WELLDONE MATES! but then now, there's many innocent souls looking up to YOU to guide them, what will you wanna do for them? will you lead them? or just try to nature them into maturity.. will you walk the talk my friend.... ~ Jai Ram

Sebastian Costi, Birmingham, U.K