KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 — The Indian community in Malaysia should move beyond the caste system to embrace progress and development, says Makkal Sakti Party president Datuk R. S. Thanenthiran.

He said despite having lived in a multiracial society here for so long, the community was still entrenched in the caste system.

He stressed that the Indian community, be it in politics, economy or social aspects, should leave behind the caste system in order not to be left behind from the country’s mainstream development, and compete with others in the rapidly changing globalised world.

“In order to move forward, we must discard the outdated practice of the caste system in Malaysia. Even the prime minister in his speech at the MIC general assembly recently, emphasised on the need to fight caste politics.

“We should address the issue first and only then, unity among the Indians can be strengthened,” he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Dravidian Association’s 69th General Assembly here today.

The annual one-day assembly was held, among others to discuss the activities of the association and was attended by 120 delegates throughout the country.

Najib, when opening the MIC general assembly on November 6, among others said the new MIC leadership could not practise caste politics if it wanted to bring about real change in the party.

At today’s event, Thanenthiran also handed over a RM15,000 donation to the Malaysian Dravidian Association to enable the association to organise more youth development programmes.

“A lot of Indian youths today are drifting towards unhealthy activities like drugs and other vices. Some of them can’t even speak their mother tongue and our culture is gradually being forgotten by the younger generation,” he noted.

He said despite all the challenges, it was up to the Indians themselves to bring their youth back to their (Indian) roots.

“Right now, we are trying to bring free Tamil (language) class to our national schools nationwide and we need more volunteers to help us with the teaching,” he said. — Bernama