The government will look into the request to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department under the Prime Minister's Department.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the PM's Department does not have such a department because other religions are not the official religion of the country.

"We have the Islamic Affairs Department in the PM's Department because Islam is our official religion," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

He was responding to the request by a coalition of Indian NGOs for the government to set up a Non-Muslim Affairs Department to handle sensitive issues such as conversions and temple demolitions.

However, Najib stressed that the government is "very concerned" with the Indian community's plight especially issues pertaining to places of worship.

'Second wave'

In an unrelated development, Najib urged corporate bodies to assist flood victims in the country.

Explaining that DRB Hicom has contributed a substantial amount for flood victims, he said: "For private companies that wish to contribute, they can channel their contribution to the government agencies in affected states."

"Please do not channel the funds directly to the victims because we do not want to face problems in distributing the assistance to all victims," he said.

Najib said the government is prepared for a second wave of floods that may strike the country.

"We have increased the number of police and army personnel, and government machineries will be mobilised (when floods strike)," he said.