Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Evidence for racial discrimination against Ethnic Indians in Malaysia

This is a typical example of blatant racism and anti minority policies followed by the Malay dominant government of Malaysia.

Indian Areas Left Out In Malaysian City Map


'Indian' places missing from Shah Alam map
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76585
Yoges Palaniappan Jan 2, 08 4:24pm


The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) will have plenty of explaining to do to a resident who is upset that places of importance to Indian Malaysians have been left out of the council's street directory. N Nganasegaran from Taman Sri Muda has sent a letter of complaint to mayor Mazalan Mohd Noor, stating that MBSA has failed to provide such information "as required in a multiracial country" in its official map.

The letter was handed to a receptionist at MBSA this morning, as both the mayor and his secretary were not in the office, he said when contacted. He has sent copies to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (photo), Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, MIC president S Samy Vellu and PPP president M Kayveas. In the letter, he listed several other locations that should have been included in the street directory.

Among them is the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Section 7 which he claimed was built more than a decade ago. "The temple is not mentioned, but a newly-built market is listed... the directory also lists a fire station that has yet to be built," he said. "We're concerned because Hindu temples, which are (at the heart) of the Indian community, have been left out."

Other missing locations are the Sri Puvaneswary Amman temple in Section 16; SJK (T) Sungai Renggam in Section 18; and an Indian cemetery in Section 21. Cemetery gazetted? Nganasegaran claimed that many Indian Malaysians in Shah Alam are not aware of the existence of the Indian cemetery. "They go to cemeteries in nearby towns because they don't know about this cemetery. We also want to know whether this cemetery has been gazetted because there are no signboards indicating its location," he said. "Non-Muslim cemeteries are not indicated in the directory as has been done with the Muslim cemeteries." He added that a directory is the most basic guide to locations, regardless of its relation to any race or religion. "The question is whether the planning department of MBSA will give genuine and considerable attention to the matters raised," he said. The mayor could not be contacted for comment.

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