KUALA LUMPUR (AP) - A minor political party of Malaysian Indian Muslims wants the government to recognise them as Malays - the country's main ethnic group, which enjoys privileges under an affirmative action programme - a senior official said Monday.
The Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress submitted a memorandum to the government over the weekend, asking that more than 400,000 Indian Muslims born in the country be given Malay status, said party deputy president Syed Ibrahim Kader.
The government has not yet responded to the request.
Malays, who are Muslims and make up about 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people, receive preferential treatment in business, education, government jobs and other fields under a programme launched in 1970 to improve their economic lot.
Syed Ibrahim said a Muslim who can speak the Malay language and practise the Malay culture is regarded as a Malay under the federal constitution.
"Indian Muslims adopt all three elements. We speak the Malay language and we follow all Malay customs. We want the government to give us Malay status so we can enjoy the privileges," Syed Ibrahim said.
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