Malaysian Indians’ protest movement likely to die soon, says leader

Ultimately, only the Government - not the people - can bring about real change by giving concessions to ethnic Indians, said P Waytha Moorthy, chairman of Hindu Rights Action Force group leading the Indian movement.

“We are fighting a losing battle, we know We try our level best but if we don’t succeed, we have to call it a day, isn’t it?” Moorthy said in an interview in the London suburb of Hounslow, where he is living in self-imposed exile.

Ethnic Indians form about 8 percent of Malaysia’s 27 million people, and complain that the government denies them opportunities in jobs, education and business.

The Government denies this and says all Malaysians have benefited from the spectacular progress of the export-driven economy since independence in 1957.

“I don’t understand why the government is not conceding? We are not asking for super rights, we are asking for basic rights.”

Malaysia’s majority Malay Muslims, who are 60 percent of the population, control the Government, while the ethnic

Chinese - who are a quarter of the population - dominate business. The Indian frustrations took public shape for the first time when Hindraf organized a massive rally on November 25, 2007 where 30,000 people gathered in defiance of a government ban.

Moorthy fled the country fearing arrest but five other Hindraf leaders were subsequently detained under the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite jail without trial. They are accused of being a threat to national security but no charges have been filed.

However, the Indian leader does not regret starting the movement. “I will never regret but I feel sorry for those detained and frustrated with the system, the government.”

He said he plans to stay in London for now and continue lobbying internationally with Hindraf donations. “I would prefer to keep pushing, keep the people’s spirit high and the safest thing to do is to conduct prayers.”