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Malaysian PM says he values multi-ethnicity

Malaysian Premier Abdullah Badawi has signalled further softening of his stance by saying that he values multi-ethnicity in the Muslim-dominated nation.

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KUALA LUMPUR:Under fire from rights groups over the crackdown on ethnic Indians, Malaysian Premier Abdullah Badawi has signalled further softening of his stance by saying that he values multi-ethnicity in the Muslim-dominated nation.
    
"I value the relationship among Malaysians. I value the multi-ethnicity in the country. This is what gives hope for the future of the country," said Abdullah, who was instrumental in dropping of murder attempt charges against 31 ethnic Indians on Monday following their participation in an anti-government protest against their alleged marginalisation.
    
Seeking full support of the countrymen, he said their backing gives him a greater sense of responsibility to strive hard to ensure prosperity, harmony and development without leaving out any group.
    
Abdullah's statement came as the US-based Human Rights Watch asked the Malaysian government to immediately release the five ethnic Indian leaders of the non-governmental Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) detained under the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA).
    
Malaysian Attorney General Gani Patail, meanwhile, indicated that the 31 ethnic Indians, against whom the attempted murder charges have been dropped, would now be charged with taking part in an illegal assembly and not for being followers of Hindraf.
    
"The charge is in accordance with the law. All 31 individuals involved had written to me deploring Hindraf and claimed that they were not Hindraf members. They promised not to take part in any future illegal assembly," he was quoted by state-run Bernama news agency as saying.
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