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Indian businesses against street protests in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, July 01, 2011
 

The Indian business community in Malaysia has said it is strongly against the holding of street demonstrations.

The 12 Indian chambers of commerce and 13 trade associations under the umbrella of the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) resolved that the political parties Bersih, Umno Youth and Perkasa should not take to the streets for a rally scheduled for July 9, the Star Online reported.

MAICCI president K.K. Eswaran said the chambers' decision on the rally was unanimous.

"Bersih wants fair elections, but it was already proven in the 2008 general election that Malaysia is a truly democratic society," he said.

He said Bersih chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan - as a practising lawyer and former bar council chairman - should know it is important to adhere to the law.

"Ambiga must practise what she preaches by abiding to lawful conduct," he said.

Eswaran urged police to take action against those who break the law.

The Malaysian Indian Youth Development Foundation (MIYDF) - with a membership of 18,000 people - said it would take to the streets opposing the July 9 rally.

MIYDF chairman S.A. Vigneswaran said everyone should be treated equally.

"If one group is allowed to rally, others should be allowed to do the same. I will advise people not to join Bersih or any other gathering. But if Bersih goes on, we will have no choice," he said after launching the MIYDF anti-Bersih campaign.

Vigneswaran, a former Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) youth wing chief, said the foundation would go on a nationwide drive against Bersih.

There were about 1.9 million people of Indian origin in Malaysia in 2010, according to the Department of Statistics.    

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