'Every day, we have 20 to 40 people coming to us regarding their birth certificate or identity card problems.'

The MIC claims to speak for the two-million Indian origin population.

Razak last week granted a five-fold increase in the funds meant for promoting entrepreneurship among the Indian community.

Vellu did not mention it, but Razak's gesture on the first day in office was to release two detainees of the banned Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf). He later released the remaining three Hindraf detainees.

Held under the serious charge of sedition, the five -- M. Manoharan, S. Kengadharan, Ganabatirau, Vasanth Kumar and P. Uthaya Kumar -- were serving two-year jail terms under the stringent Internal Security Act (ISA).