The High Court has said the use of a perceived racial slur in a Malay-language dictionary, Dewan Kamus, to describe the country's minority Indians is permissible.

The High Court allowed the use of the word 'keling', generally considered offensive by ethnic Indians, dismissing an appeal by an Indian Muslim group that had sued the government's language institute over its inclusion in their dictionary, the Star newspaper said.

The group had sought to remove the word from the dictionary and wanted it dropped from the names of buildings and roads, arguing that 'keling' was insulting and degrading to the Indian Muslim community, the paper reported.

The judge said language institute Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka was only carrying out its statutory duty by including the word in the dictionary and that the constitutional right to non-discrimination referred to individuals rather than institutions.

Considered a derogatory word

The word 'keling' was originally used by locals to describe Indian migrants in the 19th century and was used on signs and as place names by British colonial authorities.

However, it is resented by some in Malaysia because it has long been used in a derogatory manner to refer to Indians.

Issues related to religion, language and race are sensitive matters in Malaysia.

Ethnic Indians - many of whom are descendants of labourers brought over by British colonial rulers in the 1800s - complain they are marginalised in terms of education, wealth and opportunities.