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Kuala
Lumpur: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has formally
admitted the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) as an
associate member of the ruling United Malays National Organisation
(UMNO), saying it will make the party "more inclusive".
UMNO would be a stronger party by being more inclusive, Najib said
at a dinner attended by 7,000 members of the Indian Muslim NGOs
Monday. He heads the party of majority Malays.
There were benefits in joining forces with other groups, New
Straits Times quoted Najib as saying.
"The party will become stronger and more stable. We will be able
to help and contribute to one another that will benefit both
sides," he said.
Indian Muslims, estimated to be about 1.1 million, mostly from
south India, settled here during the British era.
On Aug 27, Najib had announced that Kimma was an associate member
of UMNO and would enjoy observer status at its general assemblies
and division meetings.
The Indian community here is engaged in businesses like currency
exchange and restaurants, among others.
However, Najib said they would need to go through the process of
evolving from their traditional businesses to more progressive
ones that suit the current times.
"If we are not brave to change, we might lose out to those who are
able to adapt to the changing times."
He said the government was looking for solutions to problems faced
by the community, including in the money-changing business and
issue of foreign workers.
A section of Malaysian Indian Muslims wants to be recognised as
Malays and be accorded the privileges of "bumiputeras" (the sons
of the soil).
In 2008, members of the Malaysian Indian Muslim Youth Movement (Gepima)
said they wanted to be known as Malays and not Indians since the
country's constitution states that an Indian is a Malay "if he
professes the Muslim religion, habitually speaks Malay and
conforms to Malay custom".
A senior minister in Najib's government, however, expressed a
different view in June this year.
"Requests by Indian Muslims to be recognised as 'Bumiputras' is a
good thing but at the same time, it goes against our efforts to
ensure the community retains its identity," said Nazri Aziz, a
minister in the prime minister's department.
"People regard them as Malays and I feel they will eventually
become Malays over the years," the minister noted, adding that
they would be assimilated.
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