MINDRAP PLEDGES SUPPORT TO M'SIAN GOVERNMENT POLICIES

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia India Democratic Action
Party (Mindrap) has pledged its support to the government policies on improving
the well-being of the Indian community.

Its president, Manuel Lopez said the party, which was set up in 2005, would
play a meaningful role in raising the problems of the community.

"We know that some of the demands made by the community went unfulfilled
maybe because they were not pursued correctly.

"We should not blame the government. What is important, the struggle to
advance the interest of the Indian community must go unabated," he told a news
conference here Sunday.

Lopez said the formation of the party was not to compete against the
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) or the People's Progressive Party but to
intensify the struggle for the community.

MIC is a Malaysian political party and is one of the founding members of
the ruling coalition, National Front (Barisan Nasional) that has been in power
since the country achieved independence in 1957.


"I formed the party with the aim of improving the well-being of the Indian
community. From our study, the community is still lagging behind and saddled
with many problems such as the identify card, education and unemployment," he
said.

Claiming that Mindrap has about 3,000 members nationwide, he said the
party
was formed due to unhappiness over the leadership of the other Indian based
parties.

Asked whether Mindrap would apply to join National Front (Barisan Nasional),
Lopez said, "We are an independent party and we will support whoever fights for
the interest of the community."

-- BERNAMA