BLATANT DISCRIMINATION OF MALAYSIAN INDIAN DESCENDANTS IN PURSUING EDUCATION

HINDRAF (HINDU RIGHTS ACTION FORCE) is a non governmental civil movement in Malaysia that have been pursuing an objective to end discrimination against the Malaysian Indians who have been unfairly, unjustly and systematically marginalized and discriminated by the Malaysian government institutions and its agents in their agenda to deprive this community its fair and equal share of the socio –economic development of the nation.

Although being a member of the United Nation and a recently re-elected Council member with the United Nations Human Rights Council, and in violation of its own Constitution, its practice in general on human rights issues and human rights abuses against Malaysian Indian descendants in specific, continues to be in stark contrast to the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

Numerous deserving Malaysian Indian High School Graduates throughout the country who have achieved excellent results in the Qualifying Exam have been totally denied any form of Government sponsorship for furtherance of their education.

Provision of such assistance is part of the intellectual development program of the country. But this is specifically denied to these Malaysian Indian students. The provisions include Government scholarships, admission to the preferred Pre-University Matriculation Programs and University places in courses of their choice.

This denial is directly due to the fact they are of Indian origin.

The Convention against Discrimination for Education was initiated and adopted by the General Conference at the 11th session in Paris Dec 14, 1960. Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts the principle of non- discrimination and proclaims that every person has the right to education. Recognizing that, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, while respecting the diversity of national educational systems, has the duty not only to proscribe any form of discrimination in education but also to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for all in education.

The present government in Malaysia and its agency through public authorities in contrast promulgate and institute such marginalizing and discriminating policies in particularly towards Malaysian who are of Indian descent even if they are more than capable of contributing to the future of Malaysia and for the betterment and enhancement of the human race.

The practice of the Malaysian government and its agencies in abrogating the constitution and various UN human rights charters and chapters is against all universal law and human rights issue for any rational society.

The international community who are members of the United Nation and its related agencies need to understand that they cannot sit quietly and continue to observe such flagrant basic human rights abuses of Malaysian Indians who continues to be oppressed and suppressed in every aspect in Malaysia.

Malaysian Indians most humbly urge Malaysian Government to immediately cease this discriminatory policy and treat all students irrespective of race EQUALLY and all be accorded their due right to equal education.

14/08/10