An Analysis of the Indian Government's Diaspora Policy Toward Indian Migrants in Malaysia

After independence, the Indian government—taking into account historical, economic, and diplomatic factors—long neglected its diaspora work toward Indian migrants in Malaysia. However, following shifts in India’s economic, diplomatic, and political situation after the end of the Cold War, the government began to strengthen its diaspora policy toward Indian migrants in Malaysia. Through the active development of diaspora policies under the three successive Indian governments of Vajpayee, Manmohan Singh, and Modi, India gradually established a multi-tiered governance system for diaspora affairs and continuously refined its related policies. The Indian government’s enhanced attention to Malaysian Indians has served both domestic needs—such as political party competition and socio-economic development—and strategic considerations aimed at increasing India’s presence in Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, the relatively low holding rate of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards among Malaysia’s Indian community, the community’s disadvantaged socio-political position, and fluctuations in bilateral relations have constrained the deepening of India’s diaspora work in Malaysia.