British expert mulls study on displaced Indians

An expert in conflict and security wants to research the issues of displaced Indians in Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: A foreign scholar is considering conducting a study on the displacement of the Indian community in Malaysia.

“This visit is a start of a project. It is a question of meeting people and speaking to them. I have just arrived here for 20 hours and I will definitely come again if invited,” said Chris Smith.

Smith, who is a scholar specialising in the field of conflict and security from University of London, had visited the Bukit Jalil estate.

This morning, he attended a presentation by a local social activist on the the plight of the ex- Bukit Jalil estate workers.

“I am concerned that the state is ignoring the basic and material support for the people in favour of development.

“Based on the presentation, there is a lack of information on what is going on in Bukit Jalil. There is a need for more transparency,” said Smith.

Smith was invited by Hindraf to study the 800,000 displaced Indian estate workers over a five-day period.

Aside from the Bukit Jalil estate, Smith would be visiting the Byran Estate in Penang, demolished temple sites and temples that were at risk of being demolished by the authorities.

Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy told FMT that the study to be conducted by Brown would be an independent one that would be used for lobbying purposes.

“Currently there is only one study on the 800,000 displaced Indians. The case here is unique because the Indians are not displaced due to war or conflict,” he said.