'Indians in civil service, GLCs decimated under BN'

National Indian Rights Action Team (Niat) has blasted the government for decimating the numbers of Indians in the civil service and government-linked companies (GLCs) over the years, claiming systematic discrimination.

Addressing a 1,000-strong crowd during the Indian Rights Action Force (Indraf) 2.0 rally today, Niat president Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim said that the population of Indian civil servants in Johor has nosedived to a mere four percent from its original 17 percent in 25 years.

In addition, only two percent of Negri Sembilan’s civil servants are Indian.

“This is in stark contrast to the Pakatan-led states, that have appointed Indians to be a deputy chief minister and a (Dewan) speaker,” he said.

Speaking toMalaysiakini later, Thasleem (second from left) said that he has sent a letter requesting the ethnicity breakdown of government staff to all 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia, 12 GLCs and the three Pakatan coalition parties.

Of all the states, only the Johor and Negeri Sembilan governments have so far replied, while the Pakatan-led states have kept him posted on their progress.

The GLCs on the other hand have either kept mum or replied that the information was “confidential”, except Indah Water Konsortium Sdn Bhd, he said.

Thasleem claimed the problem has spiralled to the stage where a lot of Indians perceive the civil service as a ‘dream’ job they will never get.

“The Indian percentage (in the civil service) used to hover around 14 to 15 percent. We want BN to explain why (the present dismal situation) has happened,” he said.

The activist, who came to prominence for his vocal stance against the use of the novel Interlok in schools, said a healthy mixed-race composition in the public sector would harness the competitiveness of all ethnicities.

“If you look at multinational companies, they will never employ (just) one single race,” he said.

‘A Pakatan top priority'

Organised by a coalition of Pakatan-friendly groups, the three-hour-long rally saw a relay of speeches from Pakatan leaders and a repeat call for the Indian community to support the opposition pact to take over Putrajaya. 

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in his speech promised to make resolving the stateless Indians issue among the Pakatan government’s top priorities if the coalition is voted into power.

He said the aspiration of those who were locally born and raised to obtain citizenship is a “legitimate expectation”.

He repeated his statement earlier today in Klang that this is “anational problem” and required the government to utilise its machinery to tackle it.

“(If we ever come to power), I will ask the National Registration Department (NRD) to go to the estates in Sungai Siput, don’t wait the people to come to your office,” he told a cheering crowd.

The Permatang Pauh MP also said that Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevaasan has been receiving racial insults in the recent weeks in BN’s bid to water down the demand for clean and fair elections. 

“So just because she’s doing this (campaigning for electoral reforms), a group of people come and show their butts.

“If the prime minister is firm, do you think these people would get away with something like this?” he asked.

He added that his stance is that no Malaysian, regardless of gender, should ever be insulted or abused in this land.