The Hindu : Front Page : Discussions on ethnic issue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Discussions on ethnic issue

P. S. Suryanarayana

KUALA LUMPUR: India and Malaysia on Monday discussed the situation concerning Indian origin people in this country. No specifics were revealed by either side. Talks were held between Defence Minister A. K. Antony and Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mohd Najib Tun Razak.

Mr. Antony, here on a three-day visit for stepping up defence cooperation, later met Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar. He will call on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday.

Mr. Najib said: “I think the Minister [Mr. Antony] is aware of the political developments in Malaysia. We just leave it at that.”

Mr. Antony, the first senior Indian Minister to visit Kuala Lumpur after the Hindu Rights Action Force organised a rally to focus international attention on alleged “marginalisation” of Malaysian Indians, declined to give details. Malaysia has taken a firm line that the issues relating to ethnic Indians fell squarely within its sovereign jurisdiction.

Taking note of these “sensitivities,” Mr. Antony remained tight-lipped about the talks with his Malaysian interlocutors.

Unrelated to the issue, Malaysia renewed its invitation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to pay a visit here.

Talking to Indian journalists, Mr. Antony said “a stable Pakistan, a peaceful Pakistan is in our interest, [in] the region’s interest.”

He said: “We want normality to be established at the earliest in Pakistan. We hope so. That is our priority.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page