Malaysia softens stand on Indians

In the first sign of softening of its stand, Malaysia today dropped attempted murder charges against 31 ethnic Indians who took part in a massive anti-government protest against alleged marginalisation, with Premier Abdullah Badawi assuring the community saying, "I will not fail you."

Attorney-General Gani Patail dropped all charges against five students and brought lesser charges against 26 others who took part in the November 25 protest by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), amid cheers from relatives and friends of the detainees.

The charges of causing mischief and illegal assembly remain against 26 of the protesters, all of whom pleaded guilty at the Klang sessions court this morning, and were freed on bail. They will go on trial on December 27.

"I could be very strict, but I don't think this is the time to be that strict," Patail said. He added that freeing the students would be the "best course of action" in public and national interest.

"I will not fail you," Abdullah told a group of ethnic Indians last evening at his constituency of Kepala Batas and stressed on the need to maintain harmonious relations between all races in the predominantly Muslim country.

The so-called 'Hindraf 31' were slapped with the attempted murder charge, punishable by 20 years in jail, for allegedly injuring a policeman during the rally outside Batu Caves, which houses the temple of Lord Murugan.

However, five Hindraf leaders are still under detention under the controversial Internal Security Act that allows the authorities to hold them indefinitely without trial.

"The government will do whatever it can, but to do my job, the country needs to be peaceful and safe. That is why I had to take action recently," the premier said referring to the arrest of the five Hindraf leaders.

The Prime Minister also said he continues to respect all races and would not treat the Indians as his "enemy."

Nearly 60 per cent of Malaysia's 27 million people are Malay Muslims, 25 per cent Chinese and 7.8 per cent ethnic Indians, mostly Hindus from Tamil Nadu.

"Problems will be there but we work at overcoming them. Give us a chance to develop this country. What needs to be done, I will do, but it will take time. That is the nature of my work. I will strive to ensure that no race will lag behind in any field. I will not fail you," he said.

Abdullah added that there had never been a clash between the Malays and Indians. "I will continue to respect all races, I will not treat the Indians as my enemy."

Hindraf had given the call for the rally, declared as "illegal" by the government, which saw over 20,000 ethnic Indians assemble in front of the iconic Petronas twin towers and outside the Batu Caves last month to protest alleged marginalisation of the community in the multi-racial country.

Rights groups protested outside the government's National Human Rights Commission yesterday, calling on the body to appeal for abolishing the ISA. Hundreds of ethnic Indians also converged near a detention centre where the five leaders were held and prayed for their release.