The Indian community has lived in Malaysia for the last two centuries and has made immense contributions and efforts for the development of the country especially in infrastructural development, plantations and the public sector.

The country would not have been what it is today if not for the untiring efforts of these pioneer Indians who braved dangerous, harsh and unforgiving conditions for the progress of the nation.

However, a large number of Malaysians especially from the other ethnic groups have little knowledge of the pioneers and their efforts and hardship. It is time now therefore for the Indian community, the NGOs, historians and others to initiate an Indian Heritage Hall (IHH) that will relate and illustrate the Indian Malaysian Story.

In the IHH can be displayed relevant items and information that highlights the community contributions in the form of photographs, documents, pictorial depictions, books and other relevant materials dating back to the last two centuries. Anything of interest or significance to Indian Malaysians should be featured in the IHH.

A large number of relevant and interesting memorabilia are with the older generation, historians and collectors and these can be loaned or donated to the IHH for safekeeping or display. It will be a rewarding flashback of centuries and decades gone by, and the efforts of the community in developing Malaysia to the present status. The IHH can be located in Brickfields ,which has become an Indian Malaysian cultural and commercial centre.

I hope that Indian Malaysian community leaders will look positively at this suggestion and help realise the project with the cooperation of the government, politicians NGOs, philantrophists, well-wishers and others.

Indian Malaysians, though a minority, have in the past occupied top positions in every sector of the community including commerce. These prominent personalities and their history and efforts need to be remembered ,and what better way than through an IHH.

More than anything this will lead to intense efforts and searches by the community to gather whatever information and materials concerning Indians in the country. Hitherto there has been no collective effort by the community in this direction. The IHH will surely become a tourist attraction for both locals and foreigners.

The IHH when realised after much effort, expense ,enterprise and cooperation will be the pride of the Indian Malaysian community. The past is fading away fast as the country changes and transforms at a rapid pace. The history and contributions of the Indian Malaysians could be forgotten by the coming generations if not preserved well for the future.

In the various museums, archives and other institutions there are few or no materials, records or photos or documents on public display about the Indian Malaysian contribution to nation building and as such the IHH becomes a major necessity to fill this gap. The Indian Malaysian community is very much discontented that its contribution has been overlooked in the present, and even in the history books the Indian Malaysian community efforts in nation building have been watered down and reduced to mere footnotes.

The Indian, British and Japanese governments will have plenty of materials that have significance and relevance to Indian Malaysians and in this regard the help of historians, academics, researchers, archivists and others will be crucial to make the IHH the focal point where Indian Malaysian history comes alive.

The image of the Indian Malaysian community will be enhanced through this noble effort of bringing to the fore the Indian Narrative in the development of Malaysia.