Government failure to ensure that working-class Indian Malaysians move with the times has resulted in their displacement and maginalisation, said MIC social arm Yayasan Strategik Social (YSS).

Executive director Dr Denison Jayasooria said this has reinforced the segregation of the community from the middle and upper classes, which began during British colonial rule.

This displacement along with breakdown in social support systems are manifested in deviate, anti-social behaviour, low academic and business achievement and increasing crime rates committed, he said.

While self-help initiatives have been organised by the community, Denison argued that such efforts are grossly inadequate.

"Therefore, an aggressive state intervention together with building the capacity of the community to 'plug in' is imperative to ensure that displaced sections have equal opportunities in modern Malaysia," he said.

Denison was responding to Gerakan Youth vice-chief S Paranjothy's statement last Friday, calling for an independent body to probe the marginalisation of the community.

The comments surfaced during an outcry against Singaporean Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who alleged that Indonesia and Malaysia have systematically marginalised their Chinese communities.

Compounding matters, said Denison, was that the recently-tabled Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), does not emphasise the resolution of urban poverty, which is a central problem affecting the community.

According to 9MP figures, 80 percent of the community live in urban areas while 49.7 percent work in elementary occupations. There is also a noticeable lack of balance in income distribution compared to the national average.

He urged relevant government agencies to monitor and redress the problems to ensure that all layers of society have access to services.