SEEING IS BELIEVING

BAGAN DATOH, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- The Information Ministry is inviting Indian journalists to Malaysia to see for themselves the quality of life enjoyed by the Indian community in the country and to provide a clearer and accurate picture to the Indian government.

Deputy Minister of Information Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move was to ward off accusations by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) that Indians are being marginalised in Malaysia.

"The people of India and the Indian community in Malaysia have a strong family and friendly ties but the villain is the Hindraf.

"We cannot blame the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi because he doesn't know. He believes that whatever stated in the Hindraf memorandum he had received is the whole truth.

"We are inviting him to Malaysia to see for himself how Indians are living in this country.

Malaysia-India bilateral relations now were at its best and in fact, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was a close friend of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he told reporters after opening the Bagan Datoh Umno youth co-operative meeting here today.

The "Hindu Times" reported that Karunanidhi had urged Manmohan Singh to take immediate action to "end the sufferings" of Malaysian Indians.

Ahmad Zahid also highlighted the differences in opinion among DAP leaders on Hindraf.

He said while DAP chairman Karpal Singh criticised Hindraf's actions and accusations, its adviser Lim Kit Siang supported the Indian activist group.

"I am praising Karpal for being rational in opposing Hindraf's actions and allegations while Kit Siang is being unreasonable.

"Despite Karpal's opposition to the government, he was open-minded in Hindraf's issue unlike Kit Siang who is still strong with his chauvinistic sentiments," he said.

Kit Siang had supported Hindraf in Parliament while Karpal had criticised the group over its accusation that the government was carrying out ethnic cleansing on the Indian community in the country.