Singapore: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has assured that his government would not allow any race to be marginalised in its efforts to develop the country.

He re-emphasised Malaysia's second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein's pledge during the formulation of the New Economic Policy that no one will be left behind or marginalised as Malaysia develops.

Speaking at the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI) dinner last night, Abdullah said he will make sure no community is left out, and his government would continue to look into the Malaysian ethnic Indian community's issues.

Abdullah, leading the predominantly muslim United Malays National Organsation in the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional, is about to call for general elections, largely expected in March.

But the Malaysian government has been under pressure to correct the issues relating to ethnic Indian community in the country, some 20,000 members of which staged a protest rally last November 25 for having been marginalised and left out of the Malaysian prosperity.

Source : UNI