Hindus in Malaysia staged an unprecedented show of resentment against their government by staging a huge rally in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The protest, which was banned in advance by the Malaysian authorities, is variously estimated to have had up a 100,000 turnout.

Organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), the rally took place on Saturday 24th November. It was in protest against the economic and social marginalization of ethnic Indians in Malaysia, as well as the disrespect of Hinduism shown by the authorities in the past five years. Still, many of the protestors carried the Malaysian flag, as a show of their overall loyalty towards their country. They also carried effigies of Mahatma Gandhi to show that theirs was a peaceful but resolute protest. The rally was also aimed at Britain, and actually arranged to take place outside the British High Commission. This is because it was Britain which brought the Hindus to Malaysia as indentured labourers, but apparently failed to safeguard their position at the time of the Independence of Malaysia in 1957.

The Malaysian authorities claimed that the protest posed a threat to national security, and threatened strong action against anybody who turned up. However despite being warned not to go ahead with the protest, the resentment and disaffection of Hindus in Malaysia was such that a very large number were not willing to forego a chance to protest, even with the threat of punishment.

Immediately the Malaysian authorities tried to disperse the protestors using tear gas and water cannons laced with chemicals designed to sting the eyes and skin. The protestors tried to continue unabated, and some retaliated by throwing stones. The result was a conflagration which lasted for several hours.

The Hindus of Malaysia, who make up about 9% of the population, were brought to the country by Britain as ‘indentured labourers’. Indentured labour was used by Britain as a substitute for the loss of slaves, after formal slavery was abolished in 1833. Indians in Malaysia were therefore economically and politically disadvantaged right from their beginnings. Traditionally a very quiet community, this is the first time they have asserted themselves in the political arena. Their resentment stems from their poor socio-economic position as well as increasing encroachment on their religious freedom.

When Malaysia achieved freedom from British rule in 1957, the majority Malay ethnic group established an Islamic state, and also a constitution which put them in a privileged position. For example, Article 89 of the Malaysian constitution enables a system of reservations for the Malays. Thus, all schools, colleges, universities, public and private sector companies guarantee a certain proportion of places for Malays. Even non-Malays who create residential developments have to reserve 20% of the new homes for Malays and that too at a discounted price compared with that which they offer to non-Malays. As a result Indians have fallen increasingly behind economically, and despite their every efforts to progress, they are thwarted at every stage by constitutionally enshrined discrimination.

As far as religion was concerned, totally separate Islamic Courts and Civil Courts governed the affairs of Muslims and non-Muslims respectively, so for the most part Hindus and other faiths could live their religious lives free from harassment.

Unfortunately in recent times Hindus have found that their religious freedoms have been increasingly encroached upon by the Islamic (Sharia) courts. Furthermore, a large number of Hindu temples which were built in the British era have been destroyed recently, with the rationale that they did not have proper planning permission. Hindus argue that this has never occurred with mosques that did not have planning permission, and that no effort to compensate or relocate the loss of temples has ever been made by authorities.

The future of the Hindus of Malaysia is uncertain. But two thing are for sure - firstly that the Hindu community has arisen from a political slumber and now is in the mood to be in control of its own destiny – and secondly that the Malaysian government is not in a mood to listen or discuss the subject. These two factors promise volatility in the months and years ahead.

Editorial & Analysis on the Malaysian situation, by Sandeep Sharma

Interview of P. Waytha Moorthy, Malaysian Hindu rights activist