Najib to Manmohan: Perceived discrimination "purely domestic"

Najib and a much-less smiley Manmohan

PUTRAJAYA — India is confident of the Malaysian system over its ability to tackle any problem involving the Indian community in this country, said its prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.

He said Malaysia, being a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic entity, and a democratic country, respected the fundamental human rights of its citizens.

Manmohan said he was confident the Malaysian system had the ability and flexibility to tackle any problem pertaining to the Indian community in Malaysia.

He said this when asked by the Indian press to comment on what was perceived to be a sense of discrimination of the Malaysian Indian community in Malaysia.

The Indian prime minister was speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak here today.

Manmohan, accompanied by wife Gursharan Kaur, is on a three-day official visit to this country, beginning yesterday.

His visit is aimed at reciprocating Najib’s visit to India in January.

On the same issue of perceived discrimination, Najib said it was purely a domestic matter for Malaysia to handle, and that the government was handling it in a very positive way.

He said he need not delve into it and it was certainly not a matter that was discussed between the two countries.

“This is purely domestic (matter). As much as we respect whatever happens in India, India respects whatever we do in this country,” added Najib. — Bernama