Date:03/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/03/stories/2007120359791300.htm

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Hindu group’s charges are lies, says Badawi

Kuala Lumpur: Outraged by a local Hindu group’s allegations of mistreatment of ethnic Indians by authorities here, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has described them as lies intended to divide the races in the country and offered to step down if proved wrong.

“I rarely get angry but this time I am very angry and this is something I cannot accept,” Mr. Badawi was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.

He was reacting to allegations made by the Hindu Indian Rights Front (Hindraf), which had called for a rally, declared illegal by the government last Sunday, to protest against the alleged marginalisation of Indians here.

The Hindraf was making “baseless allegations” and wanted the U.K. to move an emergency U.N. resolution condemning ethnic cleansing in Malaysia, he said.

“Tell me do you believe there is ethnic cleansing in Malaysia? Is there ethnic cleansing, tell me? If this happened I will resign,” the paper quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

“Malaysians would not believe it and even the Indians who were Hindus did not believe it.”

Malaysia, with 27 million population, is a multi-ethnic country — 60 per cent Malays who are Muslims, 25 per cent Chinese and 8 per cent Indians, mostly Hindus. — PTI