Tiny ethnic Indian community in Malaysia demands bumiputra status

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.

Nadarajan said the conception that the Chittys were brought by the British to serve as government officers and estate workers are wrong, and added that the community should not be confused with 'Chettiars' who are a moneylenders.

"We are also known as Chitty Melaka or Malacca Straits-born Hindus or Indian Peranakan (descendants of late 15th and 16th-century immigrants)," he said adding that they are the descendants of traders from the Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu.

"Our forefathers assimilated with the Malacca population by marrying Orang Laut, Malays, Chinese, Javanese and Bataks, creating a unique new culture," he explained. Nadarajan said based on Portuguese explorers' records, there were 300 to 400 Chitty people living in the Malacca Sultanate while Naina Chattu, a Chitty leader, was a Bendahara - a position equivalent to prime minister. He also believes many others held key positions as ministers and top government officials during the Malacca Sultanate.

"Most of these stories are anecdotes as we lack documents to prove them," he said, adding, the association is raising funds to enable its members to visit the Lisbon Library in Portugal where records on the period are kept.

Nadarajan said community leaders also plan to meet Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam to request bumiputra status. The Chittys , who came to Malacca during the days of the spice trade, have adopted many local customs and created their unique culture. Many married local women embraced local cultures and languages, but retained their Hindu religion.

Today the majority live in Kampung Tujung in the Gajah Berang district northwest of Malacca city. The community consists of 19 homes and three temples. Nadarajan said although the Chittys are ethnic Indians, most adopted the Malay language and spoke very little Tamil. However, they celebrate all three days of pongal, the Tamil harvest festival in January, and Deepavali on a grand scale.