KUALA LUMPUR: Leaders of some 40 Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) yesterday called on the Prime Minister's Department to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department to solve issues confronting the non-Muslims.

Malaysian Indian Youth Council president A. Rajaratnam said the decision was arrived at unanimously at a closed-door meeting of the organisations here yesterday.

"Since we have achieved 50 years of nation-building, now is an ideal time for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department.

"There is already a Muslim Affairs Department under the Prime Minister's Department and we would like to have a Non-Muslim Affairs Department."

Among the NGOs that attended the meeting were the Malaysian Hindu Council, the Malaysian Indian Youth Council, the Malaysian Hindu Dharma Mamandram (MHDM), the Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisations, the Malaysian Silambam Association, the Malaysian Indian Civic Association, the Malaysian Tamil Writers' Association and the Malaysian Tamil School Headmasters Association.

Rajaratnam said the meeting was "very fruitful" and the coalition also agreed to set up a committee to prepare a memorandum containing issues confronting the Indians for the prime minister.

"We have appointed the president of MHDM, Prof N.S. Rajendran, to spearhead the task force.

"Upon completion (of the memorandum), we will use the proper channel by approaching MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to hand over the memorandum to the prime minister."

He also said the NGOs wanted to have a private discussion with the prime minister at least every six months to raise the grievances of the Indian community.

"If possible, we want Samy Vellu to co-ordinate the meeting.

" It will be enough if the prime minister can spare at least two to three hours to listen to us," said Rajaratnam.

Source: Bernama - December 17, 2007