In another clear signal to Kuala Lumpur of its strong resentment over the ill-treatment of Indian IT professionals by Malaysian authorities, New Delhi has apparently expressed inability to host Malaysian Health Minister Chua Jin Meng towards March-end saying that the proposed dates were inconvenient.Scheduled to hold talks with the Indian leadership including his counterpart Sushma Swaraj here, Meng’s visit was a routine affair till the incident in Kuala Lumpur early this week. The decision to not host Meng this month, sources said, is indicative of the hardening of New Delhi’s posture towards Kuala Lumpur. Indian IT pros quitting Kuala Lumpur: Around 30 Indian software professionals have left Malaysia, saying they were illtreated during a police raid, Malaysia’s Opposition leader and the Indian ambassador said on Thursday. Lim Kit Siang, leader of the Opposition Democratic Action Party, lodged a report slamming the police, along with rights body Sukaham, and met several of the Indians involved. ‘‘They feel they are not safe (in Malaysia) after the harrowing experience,’’ Lim said. — Reuters The brewing dissent with Kuala Lumpur was reflected when the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Navtej Sarna made it clear on Wednesday that the incident had undoubtedly ‘‘cast a shadow’’ over bilateral relations. As it transpires, the shadow is longer and in the process has created a cloud of suspicion.The harassment of Indians in Kuala Lumpur has offset a debate in South Block over whether the incident was merely sporadic as Malaysians might want to suggest or whether it is part of a thought-out plan. Officials are busy looking at the Malaysian bid to increase it influence among Islamic states like Pakistan.Malaysian PM Mahatir Mohammed’s growing affinity towards these countries has been watched with concern by Asian powers like India for sometime now. Coupled with this, some of Malaysia’s uncalled for remarks on Kashmir and roots of terrorism in international and regional forums has often been gulped by New Delhi with pinch of salt.In November, Malaysia will take over as the Chairman of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit and how this might impact Kuala Lumpur’s outlook in the days ahead is another question being discussed threadbare by South Block officials.Alongside this entire debate, officials have now also begun to rethink ways of adding instruments in bilateral treaties that would provide New Delhi with extra leverage.Some of the existing bilateral arrangements like the one in the civil aviation sector has turned out to be loaded more in favour Malaysia. Moreover, New Delhi has moved faster than expected on several aspects of this treaty to facilitate Kuala Lumpur.Similarly, India has been more than ‘‘accomodating’’ on several trade related concessions with Malaysia. In fact, Malaysian exporters have been promoted in several sectors. Many of their companies have been bagging several contracts related to highway construction and other such mega infrastructure projects in India. Delhi has been welcoming Malaysian investment worth millions of dollars in the IT sector too.But now this growing partnership has come under a cloud. Reassessments, re-examinations and reconsiderations are the order of the day as New Delhi wants to look afresh at its approach towards Kuala Lumpur.
