India again tells Malaysia to stay out of its internal affairs

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 21 Dec 2019 7:25AM · 7 Comments

INDIA’S External Affairs Ministry has taken exception to the Malaysian prime minister’s “factually inaccurate” remarks on the republic’s new citizenship law, urging him to refrain from repeatedly commenting on its internal affairs, the Times of India reports.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is “a matter entirely internal to India”, the ministry said yesterday in a statement in response to Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s comments on the same day.

“According to media reports, Malaysia’s Prime Minister has yet again remarked on a matter that is entirely internal to India. CAA provides for citizenship through naturalisation to be fast-tracked for non-citizens who are persecuted minorities from three countries,” the MEA said in a statement.

“The CAA doesn’t impact the status of any Indian citizen or deprive any Indian of any faith of her/his citizenship. Malaysian PM’s remark is factually inaccurate. We call upon Malaysia to refrain from commenting on internal developments in India, without the right understanding of facts.”

Dr Mahathir had questioned the “necessity” of India’s newly enacted Citizenship Act, which he said discriminated against Muslims.  

“I am sorry to see that India, which claims to be a secular state, is now taking action to deprive some Muslims of their citizenship,” Dr Mahathir said.

“If we do that here, I do not know what will happen. There will be chaos and instability, and everybody will suffer.”

This is not the first time the prime minister has provoked the ire of India with his comments. His view that India had “invaded and occupied” Kashmir in October had also struck a nerve with the Indian government and people, resulting in calls to boycott Malaysian palm oil.

A major Indian vegetable oil trade body had called on its nearly 900 members to stop buying palm oil from Malaysia. This had led to a rush on Malaysia’s part to mend ties with India, which is the Muslim nation’s third-biggest market for palm oil and palm oil products. – December 21, 2019.

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Comments

  • India has every right to tell Malaysia to shut up. It is a case of the Pot calling the Kettle black. How many thousands of Indians ( Hindus, Christian and Buddhists) waited and STILL waiting to become citizens of Malaysia. This has gone on for more than 60 years. Many of my friends had RED IC s for years.This %^&* Malaysian government has caused enormous pain and suffering to millions of indians born in this country. But Muslims from Singapore, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh and all over are welcomed with open arms. What HYPOCRISY. Malaysia should be ashamed of itself. Indian is learning from Malaysia to become another pariah nation not accepting all races, and religions embraced by their citizens.

    Posted 6 years ago by Nyaz Yussoff · Reply

  • Indian and Chinese origin Malaysians didnt come here as refugees. Some have not being given citizenship

    Posted 6 years ago by Aplanaidu Pathanaidu · Reply

  • Mr PM, sure u r qualified to comment India? Look at your indoor problem of Indian citizenship problem before u comment on others. I trust u believe in leadership by example as u advocated decades back.

    Posted 6 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Someone who proudly proclaimed to the United Nations that Malaysia would ratify ICERD, but immediately after returning home, showed his true racist and religious bigoted credentials, by reversing his stance and reneging on that promise - Thats TDM for you.

    He has no moral standing to comment on the affairs of other countries when he has been the architect of institutionalized racism and religious bigotry in this country. He has trampled on the rights of minorities in this country in pursuit of his 'ketuanan' agenda, has blatantly lied to the electorate on false promises in order to get himself elected to wreak havoc on the nation once again - That's TDM for you.

    Many are just waiting for a certain bucket to be kicked.

    Posted 6 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Indian n Chinese Citizens are RESPECTED CITIZENS OF MALAYSIA. We work hard n Earn a Living . Not like some Citizens of Malaysia of ROB MALAYSIA WEALTH FOR THEMSELVES N FOR THEIR FAMILIES

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • TDM TIME N KARMA IS VERY POWERFULL. What U SOW so Shall U REAP.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Mahathir needs to get his FACTS right...then he being 94 n nothing to lose may wish to interfere in the affairs of another country. But we will lose and the senile man does not care.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lipdah Lia · Reply