Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has endorsed the six demands raised by Hindu-rights pressure group Hindraf, in its five-year blueprint for the uplifting of the Indian community in Malaysia.
The blueprint was unveiled by Hindraf at its anniversary celebrations in November last year.
"PSM is against any policy which discriminates based on race. We call for affirmative action to be taken irrespective of race and religion, to uplift the poor and marginalised in the country,"said central committee member Dr D Jeyakumar in a letter dated January 1, addressed to Hindraf chief P Waythamoorthy (left).
The demands raised by Hindraf that the socialist party supports are:
"We agree with Hindraf that institutional racism exists in our society and that it needs to be identified and addressed in a conscious and concerted fashion. Institutionalised racism will not disappear just because there is a change in government," continued Jeyakumar in the letter.
Hindraf had openly said that it would put its support on the market for any political party willing to endorse its blueprint.
Pakatan Rakyat had already expressed tacit support of the Hindraf demands but stopped short of a full endorsement.
The current administration which recently overturned its decision to declare Hindraf illegal, is also being sought by the group, although there is no response as yet from Premier Najib Abdul Razak to Waythamoorthy's request to meet with him on the matter.
The blueprint was unveiled by Hindraf at its anniversary celebrations in November last year."PSM is against any policy which discriminates based on race. We call for affirmative action to be taken irrespective of race and religion, to uplift the poor and marginalised in the country,"said central committee member Dr D Jeyakumar in a letter dated January 1, addressed to Hindraf chief P Waythamoorthy (left).
The demands raised by Hindraf that the socialist party supports are:
- Upgrade the life and prospects of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced estate workers;
- Resolve the situation of tens of thousands of Indians who remain stateless despite having resided in Malaysia all their lives;
- Stop the denial of adequate and equal educational opportunities;
- Stop unequal employment and business opportunities;
- The impunity of the police should be done away with;
- Enforce human rights.
"We agree with Hindraf that institutional racism exists in our society and that it needs to be identified and addressed in a conscious and concerted fashion. Institutionalised racism will not disappear just because there is a change in government," continued Jeyakumar in the letter.
Hindraf had openly said that it would put its support on the market for any political party willing to endorse its blueprint.
Pakatan Rakyat had already expressed tacit support of the Hindraf demands but stopped short of a full endorsement.
The current administration which recently overturned its decision to declare Hindraf illegal, is also being sought by the group, although there is no response as yet from Premier Najib Abdul Razak to Waythamoorthy's request to meet with him on the matter.
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