Kuala Lumpur: Meritorious Malaysian Indian students who score 9As and above in the higher secondary schools will be given scholarships from this year to pursue their studies in state run universities.

Also covered are four local private institutions - Monash, Swinburne, Curtin and Nottingham universities, Human Resource Minister S. Subramaniam said.

Under study is a request from the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) to include the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology.

"Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has agreed in terms of policy and we are now in the process of formalising it," the Indian origin minister who represents the MIC in the government, was quoted on Monday by the New Straits Times.

He said the decision was made July 1 at the first meeting of the special committee for Indian-related affairs, formed under the directive of the cabinet and chaired by Najib.

Others in the committee are MIC president S. Samy Vellu, Subramaniam, MIC deputy ministers, finance and education ministers, public service department director-general, representatives from ministries related to problems faced by the Indian community and multi-agency committees.

Subramaniam said of the 16,000 Indians who applied for government jobs last year, only 1,500 were offered postings.

"It's not true that non-Malays are not applying for civil service posts," he said, adding that the percentage of Indians in the civil service should be increased from the present five to eight percent.

"We want Indians not only in lower-category jobs but also in higher categories," said Subramaniam, who is also MIC secretary-general.

Efforts are also being made to get businesses licenses for Indians.

Subramaniam said MIC was also working hard to improve Indian equity in the capital market from 1.1 percent to 1.5 percent within the next three years. IANS