Five more ethnic Indians Wednesday were charged with the attempted murder of a policeman during last month's anti-discrimination protests.

This brings to 31 the number of Indians who are facing an attempted murder charge over an attack on Dadi Abdul Rani during the protest at Batu Caves, the site of an important Hindu temple, on the eve of a mass rally in the capital.

"The message this charge sends to people is that if you gather in a place of worship and in the course of worship an incident happens, someone is injured, there is a likelihood you can be charged for murder," defence lawyer G.K. Ganesan told the Shah Alam Sessions Court Wednesday morning.

"This is the first time in the history of Malaysia people participating in an unlawful assembly have been charged with attempted murder," he said.

"This is not a good thing," he added, as he attempted to have the charges dropped.

The previous accused were at the court when the five others were charged.

Chief prosecutor in the Attorney General's Chambers, Yusof Zainal Abiden, told the court: "They were there to demonstrate."

"There is nothing to do with selective persecution," he added.

At least 3,000 people gathered in the temple grounds on November 24 ahead of the street rally. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd and 69 people were arrested, although 43 were let off with a warning.

More than 8,000 people gathered the following day to protest against discrimination by Muslim Malays, who dominate the multicultural nation's population, and again faced tear gas and water cannons.

Family members of the accused, who had been detained in a jail in downtown Kuala Lumpur, turned up bearing food and drinks for their incarcerated relatives.

All the accused were led into the court handcuffed, including a Kidney patient, relatives said.

Housewife Uma Devi Kandiah, 50, who participated in the rally, described the charges as harassment.

"The charge is very unfair and discriminatory," she said.

"The national front government is harassing us as the people went there to pray in conjunction with an Indian festival," she added.

"Indians are very angry with this development."

Construction worker R. Sativel, 23, who was charged with attempted murder, said he was only passing by when he was nabbed by police.

"I was passing by the temple and...I left my bike to see what was happening," he said.

"When I came to collect my bike I was arrested by police. This is a joke. How can they charge me with attempted murder?"

Lawyers say the hearing on the validity of the charges will continue for the rest of Wednesday.

While Malays control the nation's political scene and the ethnic Chinese population is dominant in business, Indians complain they run a distant third in terms of wealth, education and opportunities.

Malaysia experienced deadly race riots in May 1969 between Malays and Chinese, during which hundreds were killed.