Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 4: The grievances of Malay Indians will be addressed and attempts will be made by the government to resolve them soon, Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has pledged.

Addressing some 3,900 delegates at the Malaysian Indian Congress's (MIC) one-day special convention at the Putra World Trade Centre here on Sunday, the New Strait Times quoted Razak as saying: "We have to address their grievances as fast as possible, just as much as we have to address the grievances of the other communities."

Najib, however, did not elaborate on what more would be done.

"We are going to do something more for the Indian community. The mechanism on how we are going to do this will be discussed at the cabinet. I cannot divulge what happens at cabinet meetings, but a lot of time is spent discussing Indian issues," he said to a standing ovation from the crowd.

The deputy prime minister's assurance came after MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had told the convention earlier that the government should address seven major issues pertaining to the Indian community:

The deputy prime minister emphasised he was not making this pledge because the general election was near.

Najib also recorded his appreciation for the MIC which had never failed to deliver in the previous 11 general elections.

"Let me assure you that if there are legitimate, relevant and genuine issues in the Indian community, both the prime minister and I are ever willing to consider those requests," he said. (ANI)