THEY have featured heavily in Malay and Malaysian history through the days of the Malaccan empire, but the Indian-Muslim community remains on the periphery of the country’s dominant race.

They share the same Islamic faith as Malays but have a sharper nose, one that is attuned to enterprises and businesses that few in the Malay community take up, such as grocery shops and kiosks, restaurants, money-changing outlets and anything related to publishing, be it printing or distributing books.

And in politics and the civil service, too.

It can also perhaps explain Umno’s – and to a certain extent, Malays’ – love-hate relations with Indian Muslims, whether they are from Tamil Nadu or Kerala.

They may abhor or dislike Indian Muslims, but the simple fact is that Umno and the government cannot function without the community. Look at the roster of those with Indian-Muslim lineage in the government.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Ali Hamsa, Reezal Merican Naina Merican and Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim are just a sprinkling of this influential community. Even Treasury Secretary-General Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah is a Muslim convert with Indian parentage.

One of Bank Negara Malaysia’s governors was an Indian Muslim, too.

And, how about home-grown supermarket chain Mydin Group, which Putrajaya tasked with running Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M)? As Indian Muslim as the corner mamak shop.

There is grudging respect for what this community has achieved, but that respect is also wrapped up with envy and jealousy that Indian Muslims have gotten rich in the country despite having come over with nothing but a shared faith.

That was, perhaps, the sentiment Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was hoping to tap when he attacked Dr Mahathir’s ancestry.

He put it as succinctly as possible: that a man with Indian ancestry had joined Umno and made use of it in all the years he was in power.

Not for Malays, but for himself.

And in not so many words, that no one except a Malay can be trusted by the community. Because they are a simple race that can be easily manipulated by others, even co-religionists.

Of course, this comes just weeks after Prime Minister Najib Razak courted the key community with talk of giving it the coveted Bumiputera status, which allows for housing discounts, and preferential unit trusts and share issues.

Will that offer also be construed as Indian Muslims taking advantage of Malays? One can only wonder.

And wonder how a small community of co-religionists of another race could be seen as enemies when it is inconvenient, and friends when it is otherwise.

The reality is that most Indian Muslims in Malaysia have always been in Umno’s corner, but envy, jealousy and spite have made Umno a fair-weather friend to the community that quietly works to keep the party in power. – August 4, 2017.