Malaysian first, Tamils later, says Malaysian

(December, 01, Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka Guardian) A member of a Malaysian trade delegation visiting India Friday sought to dismiss protests by ethnic Indians in his country saying Tamils there considered themselves Malaysians first.

'We are not interested in ethnic origins. We are Malaysians first and the issues will be dealt at the political level,' said R. Karunakaran, general director of the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority.

He was responding to a question whether Malaysia was likely to become another Sri Lanka with festering ethnic problems.

Other members of the trade delegation said the protests by Malaysian Tamils of Indian origin that have triggered angry reactions in Tamil Nadu would not affect trade ties between New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur.

'The richest Malaysian is a Tamil, Ananda Krishnan,' one of them pointed out. 'It is only people who do not understand the Malaysian political structure issue statements.'

The trade delegation comprises Malaysian MPs, government officials and industry representatives led by Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia's minister of international trade and industry.

Norlin Othman, acting high commissioner of Malaysia in India, read out Aziz's speech: 'Bilateral relations between India and Malaysia are growing at a healthy pace.

'India is the largest trade partner for Malaysia in this region with bilateral trade totalling $6.45 billion in 2006. India is the ninth largest export destination for Malaysia.

'Chennai accounts for nearly 10 percent of the Malaysian trade with India,' she said in the speech.

Malaysia has invited Indian investments in IT, telecom, biotechnology, bio-fuel, bio-pharmacy, food and bio-informatics.

M.F. Farooqui, industry secretary of Tamil Nadu, said: India has plans to invest around $50 billion for highway development and it is an opportunity for the Malaysian industry to participate in that.'

Speaking about the changes in visa regulations for Chennai residents, Othman said: 'We have observed that people from Chennai tend to overstay in Malaysia. In order to curb that, we have changed our visa regulations.'

Indians travelling to Malaysia from other cities can obtain visa on their arrival in Malaysia, but Chennai residents have to get visas from the consulate general of Malaysia in the city.