KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, March 15, 2011: A small ethnic Indian community Chitty — that arrived in Malacca from Tamil Nadu for trade much prior to the Europeans and the Chinese in the 16th century — has demanded the Malaysian government to designate them as ‘bumiputra’ – sons of the soil.
In the Malacca state, there are about 1,500 families of Chitty community, which is pressing for their demand of bumiputra status just like the Portuguese settlers who came here for trade centuries ago.
‘We are appealing for bumiputra status as a way to preserve our identity as a community which existed here since ancient times,’ Malacca Chitty Association secretary K. Nadarajan Raja said as he claimed the Chitty came to the nation during the reign of founder Parameswara, long before the Europeans. Bumiputra status is enjoyed by all the Malays who form the majority in this multi-ethnic country. The status allows them extra privileges with the government.