KUALA LUMPUR: The leaders of some 40 Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Sunday called on the Prime Minister's Department to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department to solve issues confronting the non-Muslims, not only Hindus but people of other religions as well.

Malaysian Indian Youth Council President, A. Rajaratnam, said the decision was arrived at unanimously at a closed-door meeting of the coalition of the Indian-based organisations, here, Sunday.

"Since we have achieved 50 years of nation-building, it's now an ideal time for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department.

"There is already a Muslim Affairs Department under the Prime Minister's Department and we would like to have a Non-Muslim Affairs Department," he told reporters after having chaired the one-hour meeting.

Among the NGOs which attended the meeting were the Malaysian Hindu Council, the Malaysian Indian Youth Council, the Malaysian Hindu Dharma Mamandram (MHDM), the Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisations, the Malaysian Silambam Association, the Malaysian Indian Civic Association, the Malaysian Tamil Writers' Association and the Malaysian Tamil School Headmasters Association.

Rajaratnam, who is also the acting secretary of the coalition, said the meeting was "very fruitful" and the coalition also unanimously agreed to set up a committee to prepare a memorandum containing issues confronting the Indians for the Prime Minister, which is scheduled to be completed in a month's time.

"We have appointed the President of MHDM, Prof N.S. Rajendran, to spearhead the special task force. Upon completion (of the memorandum), we will use the proper channel, by approaching MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, to hand over the memorandum for us to the Prime Minister," he said. Rajaratnam also said the NGOs wanted to have a private discussion with the Prime Minister at least every six months to raise the grievances of the Indian community.

"If possible, we want Samy Vellu to coordinate the meeting for us with the Prime Minister. It will be enough if the Prime Minister can spare at least two to three hours to listen to us," said Rajaratnam.

On the detention of five people under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on Thursday for their involvement in organising an illegal rally here on Nov 25 and actions seen as threatening national security, Rajaratnam said the coalition appealed to the Prime Minister to charge the detainees in court.

"If they are charged in a civil court, at least they (the detainees) will have a chance to defend themselves," he said.

The NGOs also expressed the hope that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail would consider the appeals of the 31 people, held for participating in an illegal demonstration in Batu Caves last month, to drop the attempted murder charge against them.

On Tamil school issues, Rajaratnam said the NGOs urge the Government to convert partially aided Tamil schools to fully aided schools.

"We have more than 160 fully aided schools from about 530 Tamil schools in the country," he said.

Source - Bernama - December 17, 2007