Klang (Malaysia), April 27 (IANS) Malaysia’s banned outfit Hindu rights action force (Hindraf) has said it is ready to talk about the problems of the ethnic Indian community with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy, who is in self-exile in London, has said he was prepared to meet Razak to talk about the problems that pushed Hindraf to mobilise members of the Indian community to hold a protest rally Nov 25, 2007.

“It is timely for the prime minister and the government of the day to engage Hindraf and the Makkal Sakthi movement in a dialogue to discuss ways and means to tackle the various problems afflicting the Indian community in Malaysia,” Waythamoorthy was quoted as saying by The Star Monday.

He added that Hindraf and the Makkal Sakthi movement had always been open to initiating an open and honest discussion with the relevant authorities to help solve the socio-economic ills plaguing the Indian community.

“Given that Najib is propagating his 1Malaysia philosophy, solving the Malaysian Indian problem must be made a top priority,” said Waythamoorthy who is recovering from heart surgery.

Razak released two of five Hindraf leaders - Ganabatirau and S. Kengadharan - from jail “in a spirit of reconciliation” April 3, the day he took office as the prime minister.

Waythamoorthy said that he was keen to put forward to Razak the movement’s 18-point demand including the need for all Tamil schools in the country to be made fully-aided entities.

Currently, Tamil schools are only partially-aided and this has resulted in students having to make do with ramshackle structures for classrooms.

“We are willing to work with the current government to ensure that the interests of the Indian community are taken care off,” said Waythamoorthy.

Waythamoorthy, who spearheaded the movement with his elder brother Uthayakumar, recently reshaped Hindraf into a non-governmental organisation to tackle the various socio-economic problems faced by Indians.