(AFP) Malaysia in the past 10 years has rejected citizenship applications from more than 1,800 Indian nationals, a top official said today.

Abu Zahar Isnin, parliamentary secretary of the Home Affairs Ministry, said a total 1,813 applications had been rejected from 4,409 received from Indian nationals living here for eight or more years.

Citizenship was denied as applicants did not meet certain criteria, such as good behaviour, proficiency in the Malay language and an understanding of the local culture, Abu Zahar told parliament.

Several applicants were rejected as they maintained ties with their country of origin, either through marriage or other means, and wanted to enjoy citizenship privileges of two countries, he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Some seven percent of Malaysia's population of 23 million are ethnic Indians.

The country is also home to 789,120 registered foreign workers on temporary permits, mainly from Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Pakistan and Thailand. Only a small percentage are from India.