More pics on 25 Nov Prayers in Bt Caves

Hi all,

More pics in the slide below.
Thx for the supporters for the contribution.
Pls do email the pics or clips taken in your event at your place to admin.hindraf@gmail.com or waytha@hotmail.com.
If you wanted to upload in youtube.com, pls use label as Hindraf and name the file with prefix "Hindraf_eventname" for easy search by browsers.


Thx
Admin MS

Slides from Putrajaya Release Pics - 25 Nov 08

All the 10 people whom were held under remand for 4 days before last Deepavali for submitting Deepavali greeting top PM last 23 Oct 2008 at PM Office were released today without any charges.
They were released on police bail last month a day before Deepavali and called to report to Putrajaya Police Station on 25 Nov 2008. About 10.30 am ASP Rejali informed to all that police decide to drop all the charges against the 10 and let the free.
The family members and supporters whom waited outside cheered all the released with Vaalge Makkal Sakthi slogan.
Mr Jayathas, Police Watch Coordinator whom also one of the released condemned the police act a month ago for the unnecessary arrest. He said that Makkal Sakthi never impose any danger to anyone.
The day also marked a year of Hindraf mammoth peace gathering in KLCC and the released were happy that it was another gift for the struggle and hope the same would happen to those detained under ISA for championing the real issues.

Report from Admin MS

http://www.slide.com/r/gwZXe2eX4j_2Ig-V61b4KwpDxtVP2Wxj?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

HINDRAF
243 Hanworth Road
Hounslow Middxnews
England.

The Honorable President Bill Clinton
William J. Clinton Foundation
55 West 125th Street
New York NY 10027
United States of America

20th November 2008


Dear Mr. Clinton

Clinton Lecture in Malaysia on 6/12/2008

Ethnic Minority Indians segregated and excluded from National mainstream development of Malaysia

This is root cause of slavery and poverty
Appointment to meet your good self in Malaysia


We refer to the above matter and to the public lecture your good self is to present in Malaysia on the 6th day of December 2008.

Malaysia has successfully projected itself as a modern and progressive country with the tallest twin towers. However the mere 8% ethnic minority Indian community have been segregated and excluded from the mainstream national development and causing about 70% of them to be mired in poverty and remaining in the low income group and 90% being in the daily and monthly wage earning group (New Straits Times 25/11/08 at page 14).

May we seek your kind indulgence to also consider addressing some of the critical Indian problems in your lecture which would help draw attention to their day to day pain and suffering.

Article 8 of Malaysia’s Federal Constitution provides for equality before the law while Article 153 provides for a reasonable proportion of the civil service jobs, land, permits, scholarships, places in institutions of higher education etc to be reserved for the Malay Muslims. However the UMNO controlled Malaysian government which has been ruling continuously for the last 51 years since independence in 1957, in the name of Article 153 implements and practices an institutionalised racism, religious extremism and racial and religious extremism and racial and religious extremism and racial and religious supremacy to the brim resulting in the following consequences to the said Indian Community as follows: -

1. Slavery among the Indians who are made to toil from dawn to dusk with no salary and workers benefits sometimes having to go on one meal per day of watered down rice and in instances women and children have been made sex slaves. Children who do not work are beaten up so badly before the helpless mother until one boy almost died. These enslaved children are not allowed to attend school (New Straits Times 15/9/2008) at pages 12 and 13).

2. Birth Certificates and Identity Cards are denied to 50,000 (Editorial New Straits Times 23/10/08 at page 23)(our estimate is 150,000) mostly Malaysian born Indians which in turn denies them admission even into Primary Schools and to receive medical treatment in government hospitals, are denied jobs, upward mobility opportunities, driving licences, bank account and face problems in almost every aspect of life. They are made to become stateless.

3. Equal educational opportunities right from the Kemas Kindergarten (New Straits Times 14/10/08 at page 8) to fully residential, elite technical schools and science \junior colleges are almost 99.0% excluded to the Indians simply by reason of their not being a Malay Muslim.

4. For show only about 1% of the Indians are admitted to the civil service (New Straits Times 13/6/08 at page 14) 1.7% Indians granted scholarships to study overseas (New Straits Times 16/5/08 at page 6) Merely 1% admitted to Public Universities

5. 370 out of the 523 about 70% (New Straits Times 11/6/08 at page 24) Tamil (ethnic Indian) primary schools are not fully government aided schools and most looking like cow sheds. Of the 7,800 teachers (New Straits Times 30/6/08 page 24 teaching about 150,000 primary school children, 1400 (Tamil Nesan 16/6/08 at page 15) are untrained teachers and are refused formal Diploma level training let alone being graduate teachers as in the Malay Muslim schools. The per student allocation for Tamil schools is a mere RM10.55 but for the Malay Muslim
schools it is about 300% higher at RM33.31 (Sempurithi Magazine August 2008 at page 47.)

6. In the government linked companies, corporate, commercial, banking and the private sector the top Executive and \upper \management level jobs are excluded to about 99% of the deserving Indians.

7. In the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the 2009 National Budget despite a whopping allocation of RM230 Billion (New Straits Times 27/6/08 at headlines) and RM207.9 Billion (New Straits Times 29/8/08 headlines respectively there has been zero allocation for especially the poor and under privileged Indians.

8. To compound matters even the opposition parties, NGOS, civil society and the media chose to abandon the Indians as they draw very little political mileage, have almost zero economic clout and draw almost zero foreign funding or help.

9. The Indians become so vulnerable that in one day alone six Indians whom the police deem ‘suspects’ are shot dead in broad daylight (New Straits Times 3/9/08 at page 12, Utusan Malaysia 3/9/08 at page 5 and TV3 News bulletin at 8.00 pm on 3/9/08.)

10. Over the past twenty-five years a new “Indian criminal class” has been created by the system as a result of no or very little upward mobility opportunities even though they are prepared to work hard. 60% of the prisoners in police lock ups and prisons are of ethnic Indian. One Indian could end up killing another Indian friend when he had refused to pay back a debt of a mere RM50.00 (USD 13.00) such is the pressure of life for the many Indians.

11. The weakest among them end up committing suicide. In just one day alone six Indians committed suicide (New Straits Times 14/4/08) due to largely poverty and poverty related problems.

We have raised the aforesaid problems on very strong terms after having written hundreds of letters, Memorandums, Protest Notes etc to the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Attorney General, Inspector General of Police etc and running into thousands of pages. For raising the same four of our Hindraf lawyers have been arrested and detained without trial under the draconian Internal Security Act for almost one year now since the 13th day of December 2007. Our chairman Mr P Waytha Moorthy was forced to seek asylum and is now living in exile in London. Hundreds of mere peaceful assemblers were arrested, detained and prosecuted for unlawful assembly and even a false charge of attempted murder.

Finally on 15/10/2008 our very NGO i.e. HINDRAF was declared unlawful and outlawed for good. Even the Sessions Court Judge who had dismissed the sedition charges against three HINDRAF lawyers was removed arbitrarily and in turn prosecuted for some trumped up criminal charges.

HINDRAF civil rights lawyer of sixteen years standing and frontline campaigner P. Uthayakumar in trying to draw the Commonwealth Heads of Governments attention wrote to the British Prime Minister exposing the “ethnic cleansing” of Kampung Medan from the 8th day of March 2001 for fifteen days in a row where the Indians were specifically targeted and five Indians were killed and one hundred over suffered grevious bodily injuries.

Despite this tragedy being Malaysia’s worst human rights tragedy, and despite our scores of written requests the Government had refused to hold a Royal Commission of Inquiry, refused to present a White paper in Parliament. The Chief Justice had refused to initiate Inquests into the death of the five Indians and the Attorney General had refused to seriously prosecute for the five murders and the one hundred over cases of causing grevious bodily harm. In short there was a whole scale cover up.

In the same letter to Mr Gordon Brown Mr P Uthayakumar had also highlighted that in every three weeks one Hindu temple was ruthlessly demolished in Malaysia.

For exposing these and other atrocities Mr P Uthayakumar was in turn arrested on his way to his legal office, prosecuted for a second charge of sedition and was released on RM50,000-00 court bail, rearrested right outside court, again detained overnight. Upon release P. Uthayakumar was again arrested from his legal firm on 13/12/2007 and for about one year now has been detained without trial under the draconian Internal Security Act on false and politically motivated charges. The courts have rejected four applications for his release vide habeas corpus applications. This is the classical workings of law, order and the administration of justice in Malaysia.

During your visit to Malaysia we would also be grateful if your good self could make time to meet us.

Thank you for your kind attention in this matter.


Yours faithfully


…………………………………
P. Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
Currently in London

25 Nov 2008-1st Anniversary of Msian Indian Awakening Day prayers update

Hi vanakam,

A year have sailed through since 25th November 2007. Malaysian Indians have never seen such a mammoth gathering and unity to voice the true marginalization of the community in the last 50 years. Thousands of those participated in the peaceful gathering of last year 25th November wont never forget that historical event where thousand of tear gas canisters and thousand litres of chemical laced water FAILED to fade the unity and arising of Malaysian Indians rights.

That event opens the eyes of the world towards the real suffering, oppression, depression and systematically marginalized community in this "truly Asia" nation.

Though series of the oppression continues till todate towards those whom championed the matter to the community and global but Malaysian in large knew the cause of Hindraf was real and spirit never fade in struggle.

To remember this historical day and to seek the bless from Almighty GOD there were more than 1 million people gathered and prayed on this day in the temples throughout the nation on 25th November 2008 for the betterment of Malaysian Indians and the return and release of Makkal Sakthi leaders whom been self exile and some held under draconian law ISA.

Though in many parts of nation they were showered with rain in the evening (many believed it is the bless) but it doesnt stop the determination of the people to gather in unity and peace to get bless for the divide intervention. Neither does the presence and road blocks by police and special branch unit able to fear away people to gather for prayers on the day stop the people.

Thousand of people came to main temples prayer such as in Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Butterworth and Batu Caves Murugan temple.

In Penang , the Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, Prof Ramasamy and Mr Thanethiran the National Coordinator of Makkal Sakthi were leading the "agal lights" walk for a kilometre towards the Butterworth Mariamman temple followed by thousands well wishers.

Whereas in Batu Caves Murugan Temple, Parliament Members of Pakatan Rakyat YB Manikavasagam and YB Manogaran together with PR ADUN, YB Ravi and other Makkal Sakthi leaders like Mr Jayathas and Mr Selvam leads the walk to the top with 18 big "agal vilaku" significant of 18 demand point submitted by Hindraf to the Malaysian Prime Minister last year August. Many Indian NGO leaders are also seen there to show support and unity on this significant day. Thousands of people walked with chanting and shouting "Vaalge Makkal Sakthi" (Long Live People's Power) and Long Live Makkal Sakthi leaders while they walked the 272 stairs to seek bless from Lord Murugan there.

Similar prayers conducted in nationwide temples conjunction of this day where it also falls on an auspicios day of "Prothosam" ( a blessed day in Hindu calender ) where it drew almost a million of people to temples.

It clearly shows the success for the call made by Mr Waythamoothy, Hindraf Chairman in his Press Statement dated 25th November 2008 where he called upon all Malaysian to join hands with their Indian brothers and sister to commensurate the 1st year anniversary of HINDRAF mass rally that highlighted the suppression and oppression of the Malaysian Indians for the last 51 years.

He also said that HINDRAF is not dampened by the attempts of the government agents and warn the authorities not to behave in unruly and assert violence on peaceful supporters who gather to offer prayers for what is the truth and reality. "We are committed to our continued struggle to achieve a fair and just treatment through change of policies so that everyone can be treated equally and fairly", explained by Waythamoorthy.

He also stressed that Malaysian Indians must remind , that November 25, 2007 brought all in UNITY and the same UNITY is needed for HINDRAF to continue its struggle and achieve the goals for the Malaysian Indians.

"The UNITY can only further increase if we continue to defuse ourselves with antipathy against another human being and work together in UNITY. HINDRAF implores you to walk in a manner worthy of all humility, gentleness, patience and tolerance for one another to preserve the UNITY of HINDRAF in the spirit of peace and humanity. When there is UNITY, there is always victory for the people", said Mr Waythamoorthy.

Attached are some of the pics taken during the special prayer on the 1st year Anniversary of Malaysian Indian Awakening Day on 25th Nov 2008. There are more pictures and clips that would be shared later.

Vaalge Makkal Sakthi

Vaalge Malaysia India Samudhayam

Nandri,

Admin Makkal Sakthi

See more news from

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/392427/1/.html

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/93745

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/93700

http://anilnetto.com/development-issues/prayers-at-hindu-temples-to-mark-peoples-awakening/

ps from WMP- Uthaya deinied right to visit his hospitalized Mother

MEDIA STATEMENT 20/11/2008

RE: UTHAYA DENIED RIGHT TO VISIT HIS HOSPITALIZED MOTHER and POLICE HARRASMENT OF UTHAYA'S MOTHER IN HOSPITAL

The oppression and suppression carried out by the UMNO led government tools ie Home Office and the PDRM towards HINDRAF never seem to cease.
P.Uthayakumar’s mother, Madam Kalaivaniy was admitted in the hospital for eight days from 12th Nov 2008 to 19th Nov 2008 due to hypertension, high blood sugar level as well as to treat her gall bladder. Repeated requests were made to Kamunting Detention Centre upon her admission to inform her son and request for permission for Uthaya to visit his mother but to no avail. UTHAYAKUMAR was not even made known of his mother being hospitalized until this Sunday on 16th Nov 2008 when his fiancée visited him.
In addition to this, four Special Branch officers from the Malaysian Royal Force had visited Uthaya's mother in the hospital on 18th and 19th Nov 2008 to ascertain whether it was really Uthaya's mother and further interviewed those nurses attended to her and asked them if they were aware that this is Uthaya's mother. Even the bedridden Uthaya's mother was not spared by this callous government agents as she was questioned and asked whether she would want her son to visit her.
The Malaysian police force has taken intimidation and harassment to new heights in questioning and interrogating Uthaya's hospitalized mother as well as enquiring the nurses on their awareness of whether she being Uthaya's mother. What is the relevant of this? If this is not intimidation and harassment, then I really don't know what this is.
Besides, does it take four Special Branch officers to verify the admission by personally visiting, questioning and interrogating hospital personnel and his mother? What a waste of public funds or is this merely another act of intimidation and harassment towards those who seek what is fair and just.
We urge the Prison authority at least in compassion and humanity grounds allow Uthaya Kumar to visit his mother in her residence as she is recovering from her illness and is unable to travel and was not fit to travel for the recent Deepavali visit.
Thank you

P. Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF

Do not confront the poor Indians in a harsh manner

Mkini Letter- Dr Mana Nov 14, 08 4:27pm

The perception now is that the Indians in the country are being hounded, teased and condemned mercilessly. This was what was expressed to me by a few Britons I met in Bali the other day. Apparently, they had nothing positive to talk about Malaysia. This is just unfortunate.

Why must foreign perception towards Malaysia be at an all-time low now? There can be a few reasons to this. One obvious concern is the Hindraf issue. It seems like most foreigners I have met sympathise with the Indians in this country as there is a lot of publicity over this issue overseas. This kind of understanding does not augur well for a small country like Malaysia. To the foreigners, it seems like the country is not politically stable and there are citizens here who are victimised.

When their business community perceives the same, they would not hesitate to leave Malaysia for some other economic hub. It is thus predictable that many investors are now venturing more into other Southeast Asian countries despite all the rhetoric by politicians that Malaysia is a safe place to invest. Malaysia is losing in many ways just because of a simple issue involving a minority ethnic group has been hyped by the media to give a picture that this community is a threat to the nation. Implicating Hindraf as a dangerous group has given bad publicity to the country. There was a time when this group was said to be associated with a `terrorist group' outside the country even when there was no evidence to the accusation. This was another mere rhetoric for local political consumption and politicians realised little that it would warp the general perception of the country. This move, as envisaged, has alarmed many potential investors.Living in this country, one would be able to assess the whole scenario with much more rationality.

There are undeniably many poor and displaced Indians in the country. Many were displaced when the rubber estates they were living in were taken away for development. Among those living in some of these existing rural estates, many were still poor and are uneducated. Their general mindset, sadly, had not changed much compared with that of their predecessors living in estates since they were brought in as indented labour by the British about 100 years ago. When they were later forced to leave their long time `habitat' many - with nothing in their possession - left for the urban areas and now make up about 40 percent of the urban hardcore poor in major cities. Their Tamil education has not helped them much to seek employment. Unfortunately, MIC politicians still insist that these schools should be retained. Many are without important documents due to their parents' ignorance and illiteracy. Many are also involved in crime to earn a living. With poor self- esteem, many of these displaced chain of population is have been affected by alcoholism and drugs. Political parties representing the ethnic Indians in the country have strived hard to help the Indians have a share of the economic pie in the country but the majority of the poor Indians have not achieved much in this process. Indian leaders have apparently failed this group of hardcore poor and many others who looked up upon their leaders for help the way poor ethnic Malays are being helped by their leaders. The inherent differences among ethnic Indians based on class, language, religion and place of origin of their ancestors have further alienated the Tamils who compose the majority of the poor among this ethnic community. These are the Tamils who descended from a generation of indented estate labourers brought in by the British to toil this land for the sole purpose of enriching the latter. They were made to work hard in British-owned rubber plantations with low wages, socially confined to only their workplace, living in shabby conditions and made to forget their miseries with cheap liquor. It was to a certain level a life of slavery for these labourers. Thousands died due to illnesses. For the past 100 years they have been systematically alienated from the mainstream culture.

The Hindraf movement is the result of this predicament faced by the downtrodden Indians. Hindraf is seeking help and awareness to uplift the economic status of these poor and that's all what they demand. Alienating the disgruntled poor Indians (or for that matter any other ethnic race) is not going to bode well for the country. Being harsh on them is not going to solve the inherent problem faced by these poor. Neither threats nor bad publicity is going to resolve the social and economic problems faced by the poor Indians; at worst, this will only tarnish the image of the country.These poor Indians had all throughout the history of this nation been loyal to the country, MIC, the Alliance party of post-independence and later the Barisan Nasional was looked upon as their saviour even when they got nothing much in return. Such was for their patronage. Poor or rich, the Indians had always been loyal to the incumbent government until the recent general election. These are the Indians in the country – a very loyal breed of people indeed. Their loyalty to the Barisan Nasional was never questioned until the last general election.

Over 95 percent of the Indians would without fail vote for Barisan Nasional came election time. When the Malays and Chinese were split through their political affiliations to PAS, DAP and Gerakan, the Indians were there to give full support to the government. Umno politicians should not forget this. The Indians were akin to `dogs venerating their masters' (the Alliance Party and later Barisan Nasional and their leaders) even when most of the poor and not well-connected did not get much help in return. These were the Indians at one time. Things have changed now, though.

There is a palpable shift in their mindset.Thus, the government now should not confront the Indians in a rough and ready manner. Belittling their significance in the country and locking horns with this disgruntled group calling themselves as the Hindraf movement is not going to help build a good image for the country. What should best be done is to immediately stop politicising the whole issue by branding this group of people as a threat to Umno or the nation. Engage them to sort out their grievances. There are so many poor Indians - the displaced Indians from all quarters who need help. Seek amicable solutions on how to overcome this predicament.By approaching the disgruntled Indians in a confrontational manner, BN will lose more. Their hope to get support from ethnic Malays through this move may not work in their favour. Political sentiments are hard to define.

Despite the onslaught by the government-controll ed media against this movement, the poor Indians are now getting more sympathy of not only from most of the Indians but also from the Malays, Chinese and others. Some newspapers are not highlighting the plight of the Indians but are painting them as nuisance and a threat to the nation. Has any Indian carried arms against the government? No. These are peaceful gatherers who are seeking social and economic `indemnity' the non-violent way.

They may have gone overboard at times, especially when provoked, but this does not mean that the present leaders could not engage them in useful dialogues. They cannot be equated with Al Arqam as the Indians in this country are peace-loving people. The pictures of Ghandi carried by some during their street protests only signify non-violence, not disloyalty to this country. Ghandi's principle of non-violence belongs to the whole world as he was a spiritual leader who advocated peaceful means of attaining justice. Ghandi never in his life time promoted aggression. He would not even kill an ant that bit him, for that matter.The focus now has to be that the poor Indians genuinely need help. That's their humble request.

They are just humans like you and me living in this transient world. They are not here to grab power, but history has fated them to be born and bred in this country. Their humble needs are only to live a decent life and have a decent three meals a day, with proper shelter, education and employment. Indians in general have contributed immensely to the progress of this nation and nobody can deny this fact. Just stop portraying them negatively for some cheap political mileage as this will not help the country in the long run.Engage the Indians in fruitful dialogues and not confront them with negativism. The Indians in this country have their shares of success and failures, just like the other ethnic groups. Indians being the minority and a big number of them still living in poverty need help - not unkind treatment from some self-seeking politicians.

http://www.malaysia kini.com/ letters/93101

25-11: REMEMBERING MALAYSIAN UNITY DAY NOVEMBER 25TH

HINDRAF calls for nationwide prayers to be organised to commemorate the 1st year anniversary of UNITY amongst the marginalized, oppressed and suppressed Malaysian Indians over the last 51 years.

November 25th is a day no ethnic Indian in Malaysia would ever choose to forget for it reminds them of the struggle of these marginalized community against the state which came hard to suppress the legitimate voice of democracy.

No Indian would forget the fact that a peaceful gathering correctly exercised under Article 10 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution and Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 was met by state violence and aggression.

We call upon all Malaysian Indians to organise prayers in their respective Temples and light up 18 Ghee Lamps each to signify the 18 demands submitted to the Prime Minister on 12th August 2007.

The purpose of this exercise is lessen the evils that is partaking in the current scenario in Malaysia and gain faith and confidence from the almighty to overcome these evils and move forward for the goodwill of the Malaysian people in fairness to all irrespective of their color, race, religion, creed or following.

The burning of these lamps is similar to a candlelight practiced throughout ancient time and it is not sacrilegious to anyone as it seeks the omnipresent power of the almighty to strengthen and boost our faith and confidence for the spiritual and moral path that we have embarked and overcome turbulence time to lessen the evils that are prevailing for the Malaysian society.

Kindly take note that mass prayers would be organised at the
Batu Caves Temple for the southern region and

Butterworth Mariamman Temple for the Northern Region on the 25th November 2008.

We invite all those who are unable to attend these temples to organise prayers at their respective temples.

Though HINDRAF has been unlawfully declared illegal there is nothing the UMNO regime could do to stop us from organising prayers. We welcome our fellow brothers from other faiths to organise similar prayers at their respective places of worships and seek the divine blessings for the continued struggle and success in our endeavour.

Let us unite on this day and show our oppressors we are UNITED MALAYSIAN INDIANS.

We invite all our supporters to send SMS’s to their friends to attend these prayers and be united on this day by wearing orange clothing as a mark of our unity.


P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
14th November 2008

Jayathas & Thanethiran were called to Sentul Police Stn - Another set of harrassment by Police

13/11/08. BALAI POLIS SENTUL
No report ; SENTUL/13812/ 08

We were call under Section 111 to investigate regarding Section 48(1) Societies Act
the question they ask ;-

1)Were you at Parlimen on 22/10
2)What was purpose of coming to Parlimen
3)Was there a press statement
4)How you know there's a press statement
5)Who did the press statement
6)What are the statement done
7)Are you a member of any society
8)Who are the reporters present
9)What is the position in that society
10)What's the puspose of the society
11)Is the society registered with Suruhanjaya
12)How long was the press statement
13)How many supporters came
14)How many people attended the press statement
15)Was there Q&A
16) Did you distribute any articles
17)What are the contends of the articles
18)What was the situation of the press statement
19)Do you know who is HINDRAF leader
20)What's the purpose of HINDRAF
21)How did you came to the Parliment
22)Did you get financial aid to come here
23)Do you represent any society
24)Do you know your suppoters names
25)Did you know HINDRAF been banned.

We only answered the first question.
The rest of the Question we invoked Section 112(2)- our fundamental right to remain silent.

This action by the Royal Police Force of Malaysia is nothing but harassment and intimidation of our right as citizens of Malaysia. We as Malaysian citizens have a right to go to Parliment. What is so wrong in going to Parliament to provide evidence of the lies by the Malaysian Home Minister. Malaysia is degenerating into the darkness of Political Autocracy.
SHAME ON THE UMNO REGIME THAT PREVENTS ITS CITIZENS TO GO TO PARLIAMENT.
THE POLICE ARE USED AS UMNO's TOOL TO SUPPRESS DEMOCRACY.


S.JAYATHAS
POLICE WATCH & HUMAN RIGHTS COMITTEE

Valga Makkal SAKTHI
Valga Uthaya SAKTHI

HINDRAF welcomes “Freedom Run” for abolishment of ISA

The gesture of DAP Selangor to organize this human relay for 350km from Klang to Kamunting Detention Centre is a spirited act to create awareness amongst the public against the draconian law of ISA.

It is a bipartisan support by DAP Selangor for the common goal in unshackling the Malaysian public from the repressive and oppressive ISA.

HINDRAF urges upon all Malaysians irrespective of race, religion, creed and following to participate in this “ISA freedom run” to make it a meaningful and effective event to reflect to the government that the will of the Malaysian public is against such laws that takes away the liberty of a human without a right to be heard.

Those who are interested in participating, please contact Wong at 012-6644432.

Thank you.


HINDRAF – Chairman

P. Waytha Moorthy

Nationwide Prayers for P.Uthayakumar's 47th Birthday

Dear All,

7/11/08, Friday is our beloved P.Uthayakumar's 47th birthday.

There will be a special prayers at in various temples nationwide.

Invitation is extended to every Makkal Sakthi supporters and well wishers throughout the world to take part in the prayers by lighting up 47 'agal villaku' marking his 47th birthday, seeking the blessing of Almighty to bless him, who bravely faught for our Malaysian Indian society. May God bless him long healthy live and released from ISA.

Please pass this invitation to all well wishers and supporters.

Below are few temples that had confirmed prayers/achanai/annathanam at their location.

On the Friday , 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm as below;

1. Bt. Caves Murugan Temple around 7.30pm on 7th Nov

2. Puchong Batu 12 Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Selangor

(famously known for the entry of King Cobra, beside Rakan Muda Stadium )

- Prayers and food offering to "Anbu Illam" kids and devotees

3. Butterworth Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

4. Ipoh Taman Risah , Arulmigu Nagammal Temple on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

5. Jasin Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Malacca on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

6. Bkt Katong Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Malacca on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

7. Bemban Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Malacca on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

8. Mantin Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, S'ban on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

9. Rinching Sri Mariamman Temple, Kajang on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

10. Chaah Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Johor on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

11. Kluang Mariamman Temple, Johor on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

12. Kerling Sri Murugan Temple, Selangor on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

13. Sungai Petani, Bakar Arang- Arulmigu Shurgagiri Sri Maha Mariamman Temple on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

14. Paya Besar Sri Karu Mariamman Temple on 7th Nov @ 7.30 pm

and many more temples, pls do contact the your area coordinators for further details or you can conduct a prayers/achanai for Uthayakumar and light up 47 agal vilakku and later conduct a mediation for the betterment of Malaysian Indians in general.

Do email to admin.hindraf@gmail.com if you want to conduct the prayers with the details.

On Sat 8th Nov 2008

1. Ipoh, Kanthan Kallumalai Temple on 8th Nov (Sat) @ 6 am till 9th Nov, 6 am (Sun)

- Conducting 24 hours Mahamirtiunjaya Japa Yajna and also special Sankalpa for the release of all ISA detainees. All are welcome and compulsory of wearing Indian traditional clothings.

Vaalge Uthayakumar !!

Valgae Namathu Poorattam !!!

Valgae Namathu Samuthayam !!!

Peace Protest in London on Uthaya's Birthday on 8th Nov 2008

Hi all,

This 7th Nov 2008,Friday marks as 47th birthday to our Makkal Sakthi lawyer and human right activist, Lawyer P.Uthayakumar.

Inconjunction of this as rememberance of the sacrification by him towards the Malaysian Indians community in Malaysia and as a sign of protest for the continous oppression and marginalization, there will be a peaceful protest as below :-

Venue : Malaysian Tourism Office, Trafalgar Square,London

Date : 8th Nov 2008, 10.45 am (London time)

This peaceful protest is to call for the abolishment of draconian ISA and to remember the 47th birthday of Makkal Sakthi lawyer Uthayakumar.

The government of Malaysia have contiously oppressed ethnic Malaysian Indians :-

• Hari Raya (Eid) visit and presentation of greeting card by Hindraf supporter deemed insult to Islam and a threat to National security.
• Sending invitation to the PM to visit Hindraf open house deemed a threat to National security.
• HINDRAF which is the voice of voiceless ethnic Malaysian Indians declared as unlawful organization
• 6 years old girl and 11 sympathies of Hindraf whom appeared at PM office with greeting card were arrested and remanded in police custody for 4 days.
• HINDRAF lawyers whom spoke the truth permanently incarcerated without trail
• PRK ( Raja Petra Kamaruddin ) who spoke truth permanently incarcerated without trail.
• More than 60 others detained permanently and some up 7 years without trail under the draconian InternalSecurity Act (ISA).
• Malaysia degenerating into the dark era of lawlessness.
  

Mkini-Hindraf accepts PAS' offer, urges others to speak up

Nov 4, 08 2:48pm

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) welcomes the offer by PAS to initiate reconciliation between the banned movement and the government, said Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy.

However, the self-exiled leader who is currently in London also called for veteran politicians like Umno deputy president Musa Hitam, former MCA president Ong Ka Ting and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) chief Joseph Pairin Kitingan to speak up against the ban of Hindraf. "We would like to invite matured and seasoned politicians… to participate together to act as mediators for Hindraf, in all fairness as we trust they are able understand the problems faced by the Malaysian Indians as a minority and maybe able to reach out to the Umno-led government in lifting the ban on Hindraf," said Waythamoorthy in a statement.

"The aspiration of Hindraf has always been to address the grievances of the ethnic Malaysian Indians who are continuously marginalised and discriminated in every aspect of socio-economic in Malaysia," he added.

The movement was made illegal on Oct 15 shortly after some 200 Hindraf supporters visited the prime minister's 'open house' during the Hari Raya celebration on Oct 1 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). On Oct 23, 11 others were arrested for gathering at the Prime Minister Department's in Putrajaya to submit a letter for the release of the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Among those who were held but released the next day were Waythamoorthy’s wife K Shanti and the couple’s six-year-old daughter Vwashnnavi.

Several days later, PAS vice-president Husam Musa led a delegation to the Putrajaya district police headquarters to reconcile matters."PAS and other political groups as well as non partisan groups have voiced their dissent against the government's stance in declaring Hindraf illegal as they truly understand that in reality, the Malaysian Indians are subjected to socio-economic imbalance due to unfair and unjust policies thus creating a new underclass society," said Waythamoorthy.

He added that the rights of the Indian minority were never raised until Hindraf voiced their grievances "to be treated equally and fairly.""If the government fails to engage through these mediators, it clearly shows that the Umno-led government is least interested in addressing the Malaysian Indians dilemma but rather continue their obstinate methods in further alienating the Indians in every aspect of socio-economic development in (the country)," he said.

Front Line voices concern

In a related development, Dublin-based human rights organisation Front Line, had also come to the defence of Hindraf and voiced concern over the predicament of the 10 people who were arrested on Oct 23 for illegal gathering.

"Front Line believes that the… persons (who) have been arrested and detained solely on account of their legitimate human rights activities calling for the release of P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, V Ganapathy Rao, T Vasanthakumar and R Kengatharan," said the organisation’s director Mary Lawlor in a letter addressed to the King."

In addition Front Line believes that the five members of Hindraf were targeted as a result of their work defending the rights of the ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia.” The organisation also expressed concern for the "physical and psychological integrity" of members of the Hindraf movement and urged the authorities to release the five detained under the ISA for their "legitimate human rights activities.""Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Malaysia are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment," Lawlor said citing the United Nation's declaration on human rights.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/92406

PS from WMP - Welcome the talk mediate by PAS and urge others to join

MEDIA STATEMENT

04/11/2008

The UMNO led Malaysian Government in its attempt to silent the voice of HINDRAF had made this people's Civil Rights Movement an illegal movement. The aspiration of HINDRAF has always been to address the grievances of the ethnic Malaysian Indians who are continuously marginalized and discriminated in every aspect of socio-economic in Malaysia.

PAS and other political groups as well as non partisan groups have voiced their dissent against the government's stance in declaring HINDRAF illegal as they truly understand that in reality, the Malaysian Indians are subjected to socio-economic imbalance due to unfair and unjust policies thus creating a new underclass society in Malaysia.

The voice of the underclass Malaysian Indians being a minority have never been heard before until HINDRAF came along to address the genuine grievances of this mass to be treated equally and fairly. The UMNO led government instead of engaging us to listen to the public's grievances rather chose to silence us by fear and intimidation by unjust operation of law.

This only creates further animosity amongst the Malaysian Indians toward the ruling government.

We welcome PAS's intention to act as mediator and negotiate on behalf of HINDRAF to lift the ban on HINDRAF. Along with PAS, we would like to invite matured and seasoned politicians like Tun Musa Hitam, Dato Seri On Ka Ting and Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan to participate together to act as mediator for HINDRAF in all fairness as we trust they are able understand the problems faced by the Malaysian Indians as a minority and maybe able to reach out to the UMNO led government in lifting the ban on HINDRAF.

If the government fails to engage HINDRAF through these mediators, it clearly shows that the UMNO led government is least interested in addressing the Malaysian Indians dilemma but rather continue their obstinate methods in further alienating the Malaysian Indian in every aspect of socio-economic development in Malaysia.

Thank you.

P. Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

Despite ban, Hindraf continues to attack government

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 - The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) continues to speak up against the government, this time scoffing at Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's statement that the plight of Malaysian Indians is being looked into by a special Cabinet committee chaired by him.
Despite its recent banning, its chairman P. Waytha Moorthy called the statement made at the government's Deepavali open house yesterday "empty talk" and mere "eyewash" and insisted that authorities must state the initiatives "in dollars and cents."
"The DPM, who is also the Finance Minister, should make a concrete announcement of an allocation of funds to uplift the socio-economic condition of Indians in the country. Enough of setting up special Cabinet committees and all the years of empty promises," he said in a statement to the press.
"Malaysian Indians have woken up and can no longer be cheated with mere promises. The government of the day has to be serious and come up with a concrete plan of how to address the issue instead of giving piecemeal solutions and empty promises," Waytha demanded.
He added that these promises were made every "Deepavali" and "MIC annual general assemblies," where Indians are made to believe that "their plight is being looked into" and "help is just around the corner".
"We have been hearing this for the past 51 years and no Malaysian Indian would believe this apart from the MIC cronies who live and thrive on the 'biscuits' thrown at them by Umno.
"The DPM must have thought the Indians could be fooled as usual. Perhaps he would have received a thunderous applause for his goodie announcements, which no doubt must have come from all the planted MIC cronies."
Hindraf was declared illegal on Oct 15 in the aftermath of its controversial presence at the Cabinet Hari Raya open house, but it continues to lobby over issues related to the Indian community here, although not necessarily under its own name.
Just prior to Deepavali, leaders of the group, insisting they were there as ordinary citizens, were arrested as they attempted to submit a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi demanding the release of five Hindraf leaders currently held under the Internal Security Act.
The Other Press

PS from WMP - On DPM Deepavali Open house pledge, another eyewash

MEDIA STATEMENT 03.11.2008

DPM NAJIB’S OPEN HOUSE PLEDGE ANOTHER EYEWASH

DPM SHOULD INSTEAD ANNOUNCE A SPECIAL ALLOCATION AND CONCRETE PLAN TO UPLIFT THE INDIAN SOCIO ECONOMIC STATUS

We refer to DPM Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak’s Statement that a “the Indian community's plight was also being seriously looked into by a special cabinet committee, which he chairs, to ensure that it had participation in the national economy and equity”.

HINDRAF wishes to reiterate that the Indian community had heard enough promises for the last 51 years that would last them the next 3 generations of the Government’s promises that it cared for the plight of the Indian community and that they “would look into it”. The statement of the DPM is yet another eyewash during the festive Deepavali period to pacify and mislead the Malaysian Indian community as usual.

Every Deepavali open houses and MIC annual general assemblies the Indians are made to believe and given the assurances that their “plight are being looked into” and “help is just around the corner”. We have been hearing this for the past 51 years now and no Malaysian Indian would believe this apart from the MIC cronies who live and thrive on the “biscuits” thrown at them by UMNO.

The DPM must have thought the Indians could be fooled as usual and perhaps he would have received a “thunderous applause” for his “goodie announcements” which no doubt must have come from all the planted MIC cronies. The DPM who is also the Finance Minister should stop the “empty talk” and instead make a concrete announcement of an allocation of funds to uplift the socio economic condition of Indians in the country.

We want to know how serious the Government is in solving the woes of the Indian community in dollars and cents. Enough of setting up Special Cabinet committees and all the years of empty promises. The Malaysian Indians have woken up and can no longer be cheated with mere bare promises. The Government of the day has to be serious and solemn, come up with a concrete plan of how to address the issue instead of giving piecemeal solutions and empty promises.

P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN
HINDRAF

Letter from FL to Malaysian King on recent Hindraf ban

Mizan Zainal Abidin ibni al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud
Supreme Head of State (Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
Office of the Head of State
Istana Negara
50500 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

23 October 2008

Re: Family members of detained HINDRAF human rights lawyers arrested

Your Excellency,

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that family members of detained Hindu Rights
Action Force (HINDRAF) lawyers were amongst 11 persons who were arrested on 23 October
2008, including the 6-year old daughter of HINDRAF Chairperson P. Waythamoorthy, as they
attempted to submit a letter to the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya.
On 23 October 2008, at approximately 3.15 pm, P. Vwaishhnnavi, daughter of P. Waythamoorthy
and niece of HINDRAF leader P. Uthayakumar, approached the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya together with her mother K. Shanti, S. Jayathas, P. Taramaraju, P. Waytha Nayagi, Poobalan, R. Kannan, Mary Shanti, Bala, Rajasekaran and Ravi Sundaram. They were there to accompany P. Vwaishhnnavi as she submitted a Deepavali card to the Prime Minister in which she called for the release of all those falsely imprisoned under the Internal Security Act (ISA), including five human rights defenders from HINDRAF and also invited the Prime Minister to her home for an open house to celebrate the festival. The 11 detained persons are currently being held at the Putrajaya district police headquarters.
Police Chief Abd Razak Abd Majid declined to comment on the arrests but reports indicate that the child, the two women and eight men are being held under either the Societies Act, for participating in an unlawful society, or the Police Act, for illegal
assembly.

On 15 October 2008 the Home Ministry officially declared the HINDRAF organisation illegal, as a result of investigations by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) which reportedly found that 'the
organisation’s activities contravened the Societies Act 1966 and if left unchecked, the organisation could pose a threat to public order, peace, security and morality in Malaysia'.
Messrs P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, V. Ganapathy Rao, T. Vasanthakumar and
R. Kengatharan were arrested on 13 December 2007 and charged under the Internal Security Act (ISA) of Malaysia on the grounds of threatening national security by organising a peaceful
demonstration. All five human rights defenders had taken up and worked on, on a pro bono basis, many cases of death in police custody and police violence. They had filed many cases against the Malaysian Government and authorities. Chairperson P. Waythamoorthy remains in self-exile in the United Kingdom.

Front Line believes that the above-mentioned persons have been arrested and detained solely on account of their legitimate human rights activities calling for the release of Messrs P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, V. Ganapathy Rao, T. Vasanthakumar and R. Kengatharan. In addition Front Line believes that the five members of HINDRAF were targeted as a result of their work defending the rights of the ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of all of the aforementioned human rights defenders.

Front Line urges the Malaysian authorities to:

1. Immediately release the above-mentioned persons who were arrested on 23 October 2008,
as well as Messrs P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, V. Ganapathy Rao, T. Vasanthakumar
and R. Kengatharan as it is believed that they are being detained solely on account of their
legitimate human rights activities;
2. Immediately repeal the decision to ban HINDRAF;
3. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological security and
integrity of the aforementioned human rights defenders and their family members;
4. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Malaysia are able to carry
out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all
restrictions including judicial harassment.

Front Line respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and
Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally
Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN
General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals.
We would particularly draw attention to Article 5 “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels: (a) To meet or assemble peacefully”; and to Article 12 (2): “The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present declaration.”

Yours sincerely,
Mary Lawlor
Director

Doom, gloom and Deepavali

Mkini-Dean Johns Oct 29, 08 10:09am

Here’s wishing everybody - and especially my Hindu friends and colleagues - a happy and holy Deepavali.

With all the doom and gloom around right now, it’s the perfect time to hope and pray for what this ancient festival represents: the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.Not that I’m all that depressed about the economic meltdown, crunch, tsunami or whatever you choose to call the financial crisis currently sweeping the world.My personal economy has been in recession ever since I forsook a fat salary in advertising for the thin financial rewards but far greater fulfilment of freelance journalism, and so I find it comforting in a way to see the global situation catching up with my own.I take no responsibility for causing the recession to go global, however.

All credit for that must go to the bankers, traders and speculators who, emboldened by years of apparently limitless profiteering, stratospheric salaries and megabuck bonuses, upgraded their mantra from ‘Greed is good’ to ‘Greed is God’.And I have to say I feel very little sympathy for all these high-flying ‘victims’ now they’ve been panicked into crying poor and begging for taxpayer-funded rescue packages. In fact I’m with the US congressman I saw on the news one night declaring that the wizards of Wall Street and elsewhere should “suck up their own mess”.But not a chance.

Now banks and other financial institutions are sucking up untold billions of dollars in bailouts everywhere from the US to the UK, Iceland to India, Belarus to Brazil, Japan to Pakistan, and Russia to Argentina.Australia hasn’t seen the worst of it yet, but share prices have plummeted and the local currency has plunged from around US97 cents three months ago to around 62 cents today. Meanwhile Malaysia, so the Barisan Nasional government smugly assures us, is as safe as can be. Not that I personally believe a word the government says. And even if the nation is safe from economic recession, it’s still clearly in the grip of the usual BN-led ethical and institutional depression. How depressing it’s been in the past few weeks to see that, despite the prime minister’s repeated promises of reform, things keep going from bad to worse.

The judiciary appears more compromised than ever, with the appointment of the new chief justice, unresolved allegations of evidence-tampering by the current attorney-general, and the endless dragging-out of the Altantuya murder amidst suspicions of involvement by higher-profile figures [which they have denied] than those currently on trial.Also on the top-level corruption front, there’s been no proper investigation of alleged irregularities in the purchases of Sorkoi fighters and Scorpene submarines, yet now there’s a new scandal surrounding the agreed RM1.7 billion purchase price of 12 Eurocopter EC725 Cougars.As I’ve seen on Lim Kit Siang’s blog, similar questions surround Maybank’s recent acquisition of Bank International Indonesia for RM5 billion, or an astonishing five times its book value, and the awarding of a RM11.3 billion contract to TM Bhd for a proposed high-speed broadband network.

New wave of outrage

But an even more blatant new example of crony capitalism than these is the government’s recent decision to use RM5 billion of EPF funds to help some shadowy government-linked entity called ValueCap prop-up the prices of stocks on the KL stock exchange.This move has triggered a wave of outrage, on the grounds that, as Malaysian Trade Union Congress president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud reportedly declared, “the provident fund is the custodian of the workers’ money and not some automated teller machine for the government”.Of course, the EPF management has denied any impropriety in this ‘investment’ and disclaimed any involvement in attempts to shore-up the stock market.But given the total lack of transparency in the government’s murky financial dealings, a great many people find such bland assurances increasingly difficult to accept.In fact BN’s credibility appears to be sinking even faster than the prices of crony companies on the KLSE.

And no wonder, considering all the lies the prime minister has told, the empty promises he’s made, and the culture of secrecy and dissembling at every level of the administration.And I’m reminded that in the past the BN regime has presided over financial fiascos including the RM600 million Maminco tin-market scandal, the EPF-Makuwasa affair involving the illegal misuse of pension funds to recoup stock market losses, the RM2.5 billion BMF scandal, and the RM30 billion losses in a Bank Negara forex trading fiasco overseen by Nor Mohamed Yakcop, who has since, amazingly, been promoted to the post of second finance minister.But it’s not only money management - or mismanagement - that’s becoming more depressing than ever under the auspices of BN.

The nation is losing more freedoms than ever too, sinking to its lowest place ever on the latest Press Freedom Index following the growing harassment of dissenting voices on the Net and the incarceration of Raja Petra Kamarudin and the Hindraf 5 under the ISA, and the declaration of Hindraf itself as an illegal organisation.Never mind that Hindraf has always acted openly and peacefully in its efforts to draw the government’s and the world’s attention to the marginalisation and outright victimisation of Indian Malaysian citizens, in what to me reflects the true spirit of Deepavali.

Victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance are precisely what not only millions of Malaysians, but billions of people around the world have been crying-out for forever.Let’s hope that the global recession will hurt the needy less than the greedy, and help empower repressed citizens everywhere in their struggle to rid themselves of depressing ruling regimes.

Indian marginalisation clear-and-present

H Lee Oct 29, 08 12:06pm

So Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar – in a decision, as he puts it, of self-sacrifice for the sake of protecting society – has banned Hindraf.

Similar home ministerial valour must have been present when he chose to detain Raja Petra, Teresa Kok, Tan Hoon Cheng and hundreds of others under the ISA.

Many Malaysians have expressed their outrage at the latest cruel and callous act of repression against a civil group which has highlighted the continuing plight of marginalised Malaysian Indians.

I would like to examine an aspect: the assertion that Malaysian Indians are not marginalised and are actually doing better than Bumiputera Malaysians, and thus, they have no grounds to feel aggrieved, let alone angry. This is a cynical and specious claim.
We should first take note of the often ignored fact that the Malaysian Indian community is diverse, stratified and complex. Like any other.
Some are rich, some are part of the middle class, some are poor; some are posited in the mainstream, some are at the margins – and some are beyond the margins, trapped in urban squalor. The imperative question is whether the concerns of the Indian poor are being addressed by our government's attitudes and policies.

But the ruling regime would rather treat groups as monolithic blobs, then go about brandishing statistics to preempt debate - and stamp the lowly back into their place.
And so, in dismissing Hindraf's cause, Syed Hamid invoked the reality of high proportions of Indians among registered legal professionals (21.4 percent) and among doctors (18.4 percent), and the ratio of Indian to Bumiputera household incomes, of… 1.20. That's right, according to 2007 household income survey data, Indian households on average have 20 percent more income than Bumiputera households.

Is there something wrong with these figures? Why has the message of Hindraf resonated when official data paint opposing images of social mobility and nice averages?
There is no need to question the numbers, but every need to handle them responsibly, within context and in recognition of their limited scope. These bits of information provide no basis to conclude that all of the community is doing well and should therefore shut up and get on with their happy lives.

In fact, we do have evidence that Malaysians Indians are struggling as much as others to earn a decent living.

Averaging numbers

Of course there are many Indian lawyers and doctors – who's not cognisant of that? But there are far more Indian labourers, factory workers, and others at the low reaches of the labour market.

It is highly probable that the household income of the Indian community is propped up by the high earnings of professionals and managers.
Meagre family incomes of displaced agricultural workers and urban elementary workers get shrouded in the process of averaging the incomes of all Indian families.
Consider some changes that have taken place in the past decade or so.
In 1995, 17.7 percent of employed Indians worked as agricultural labor, while 8.7 percent were in professional and technical occupations.

By 2005, only 4.9 percent of employed Indians were agricultural workers, but 20.1 percent worked as professionals and technicians.
Albeit rather cursorily, we gain some impression here of developments at two ends of the socio-economic hierarchy: the continuous urbanisation of a low-skilled former plantation workforce; a steadily growing presence in highly qualified jobs providing middle class living standards.

In what sort of jobs are most Indians working? Within communities, Indians registered the highest proportion of persons classified as production workers.

In 2005, 45.8 percent of employed Indians fell in this category, compared to 33.8 percent Chinese and 34.1 percent Bumiputera.

Due to the unfree state of information in this land, the most we can do with officially disclosed statistics is make deductions and inferences such as these.

We are still left with a knowledge gap.

However, a study by Branko Milanovic, a World Bank researcher and renowned scholar of global inequality, helps fill the void¹.
He analysed Malaysia's household income data of 1997. This is from the national survey that the Statistics Department conducts twice in five years, from which all the inequality measurements we know are calculated.

One difference with the official accounts is that Milanovic focussed on individual earnings (wages, salaries and bonuses) instead of household income (the sum of household members' earnings, property income and remittances) . His findings are therefore more reflective of the earnings capacity of Malaysians in the labour market.

The housewife factor

The study analyses inequality more generally, but in the process finds something very striking: in 1997, the ratio of Indian to Bumiputera individual earnings was 0.98.
The official figure for Indian: Bumiputera household income was 1.41. In other words, the average earnings of individual Indians was basically the same as the average earnings of individual Bumiputera, even though average household incomes were quite unequal.
How might this be possible?

In terms of the gap between individual earnings inequality and household income inequality, we could postulate that combined earnings of Indians, especially in households with both spouses in professional jobs, raised their income to levels significantly higher than Bumiputera households.
This is a guess, and that's as far as we can go with available data.
What's not a guess is this objective report that average individual earnings of Indians and Bumiputeras were equal in 1997.

In 2007, with an Indian-to-Bumiputer a household income ratio of 1.20, what might the inter-group earnings ratio look like? We don't know, but it is more than likely that the ratio is less than 1.20.

It is possible that earnings are on average close to equal, or that Indian earnings are less than Bumiputera earnings.

Consider recent data on the distribution of employed persons by occupation.
In 2005, with 45.8 percent of the total employed Indians engaged as production workers and 4.9 percent as agricultural workers, it is plausible that average individual earnings are on par with the average among employed Bumiputera, of whom 34.1 percent are production workers and 15.2 percent are agricultural workers.

These two low-paying occupational groups account for about 50 percent of employed persons of both race groups.
Again, we won't have a clear picture unless we have access to data and can engage in constructive discussion.

Hindraf has grounds

We have a clear enough picture, however, to affirm the plight of marginalised Indian households, whose tough circumstances in labour markets and poor living conditions are a shameful reality that cannot be garbed in middle-class statistics.
Hindraf has grounds for grievance – yes, even in the official data, if only we would take a more balanced and critical look.

And we could better understand this whole inequality thing, and devise fairer and more effective policies, if the ruling regime would release more information to our - um - knowledge society.
Resistance towards extending the same policies to members of the Indian community as currently provided to Bumiputera is partly predicated on official household income statistics.
But they give us an oversimplified and selective glimpse to a complex of problems.
It is high time to reevaluate the way we assess income and earnings and to aim assistance at the people who need or merit it most.

¹ Branko Milanovic (2006) "Inequality and Determinants of Earnings in Malaysia, 1984-97", in the Asian Economic Journal, 20(2).
H LEE is a postgraduate student in economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Hindraf's Review Adjourned, Federal Court Ordered To Write JudgmentBy

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The hearing of an application for a judicial review by five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders detained under the Internal Security Act was adjourned today because there was no written judgment by the Federal Court.
Federal Court judge Datuk Nik Hashim Nik Abdul Rahman, who presided over the hearing, ordered the previous Federal Court panel which made the decision to write the judgment as the court could not proceed without the grounds of judgment.Justice Nik Hashim, who sat with justices Datuk S. Augustine Paul and Datuk Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, then adjourned the hearing until the written grounds of judgment are ready.

Earlier, counsel for the five men, Karpal Singh, informed the court that today's hearing was for a judicial review of the Federal Court's rejection of their habeas corpus appeal to be freed but the grounds of judgment had yet to be written.On May 14 2008, a three-member panel of the Federal Court headed by Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Alauddin Mohd Sheriff (now Court of Appeal President) dismissed their appeal after ruling that the order for their detention at the ISA camp in Kamunting, Taiping, by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who was also the Internal Security Minister then, was lawfully executed.

The five are lawyers M. Manoharan, 46, who is also the state assemblyman for Kota Alam Shah, P. Uthayakumar, 46, V. Ganabatirau, 40, R. Kenghadharan, 40, and former bank officer K. Vasantha Kumar, 36.They were held under the ISA on Dec 13 after being involved in street demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 and issuing slanderous statements against the government.They took the case to the Federal Court after failing to get the High Court to release them.-- BERNAMA

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=367653

Bernama-Will The Govt Be Able To Lift Gloom Off Malaysian Indians?

By S. Retna

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- Last Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak visited Brickfields, an area inhabited mostly by Malaysians of Indian descent, to launch the Deepavali carnival organised by the Ministry of Federal Territories.The opening event attracted some 2,000 people and it seemed like a normal affair but Najib, who has been picked to succeed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March next year, seized the opportunity to assure the 1.9 million Malaysian Indians in the country that their woes would receive due attention from the government.

Najib also announced the setting up of a committee to look into the issue of the "paperless" segment of the community, who neither have a birth certificate nor a Malaysian identity card or MyKad.He also promised that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government would look into issues affecting the Indian community.

While his speech was greeted by loud applause from the crowd, an event of a different nature was unfolding in front of the Prime Minister's Office complex in Putrajaya, the federal administrative capital.Ten people, who had called themselves "Concerned Indians", were arrested when they wanted to hand over a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office seeking the release of five leaders from the so-called Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), a loose coalition of people which has been declared an unlawful organisation. The 10 were arrested under Section 48 of the Societies Act for acting on behalf of an unlawful society.News of the arrest only reached most of the Indian community the next day through newspapers and the efforts of Najib to seek their backing of the BN the previous day seemed to have gone to waste although the mainstream media gave prominence to what he had promised in their front pages.

Over the last 18 months, the Indian community has been rather vociferous in asking for more action by the government in terms of improving its delivery system, more Indians to be recruited into the government service, more business opportunities, an increase in their equity participation so that Malaysian Indians can be on par with the other races in the country.

The community, including the Malaysian Indian Congress or MIC, which is the Indian communitys representative party in the BN, has also asked the government to release the five Hindraf leaders held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) after the quintet had organised a massive rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 26 last year to demand the rights of minority Indians although some of their demands seemed outrageous.Although Hindraf had, since its inception, done little to assist Malaysian Indians in the real sense, one cannot deny the fact that its voicing out of the concerns of the Indian community proved to be the trigger for it to receive such huge support from like-minded Malaysian Indians.

This support played a pivotal role in diverting the majority of Indian votes, which had traditionally gone to the ruling coalition, to the Opposition in the March 8 general election.In the elections, the BN lost its two-third majority in Parliament besides losing four other states -- Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor -- to add to Kelantan which was already in the hands of the Opposition.The government finally banned Hindraf on Oct 15, just 12 days before Malaysian Hindus celebrated Deepavali.Home Minister

Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, in declaring the organisation illegal, said his ministry was satisfied with facts and evidence that showed that Hindraf had been and was being used for unlawful purposes and posed a threat to public order.Some see the move as the government's retaliation against some Hindraf hardliners, numbering about 200, who had gone to the Muslim Cabinet ministers Hari Raya open house at the Putra World Trade Centre on Oct 1 and created a ruckus there.But some also see the decision to ban the movement as counter-productive as banning such a movement would force the sympathisers to go underground and operate under the guise of other organisations.

Security experts have said that banning such movements would only increase the security threat, especially when the movement comprises many factions and one group might just take things a step further by linking with terrorist groups abroad.Against this backdrop, how is the government, especially Najib, going to entice the Indian community to support the BN? Many are watching with great interest.

Although MIC leaders had openly wanted the government to implement policies and set up funds to boost Malaysian Indians economically, there is a school of thought that any action will never take root unless the core issues of Hindrafs more practical demands are resolved.An MIC leader, who declined to be named, feels that any government action taken against Hindraf may be construed as "an action against the community".

"Whenever they (the government) take drastic action against this group, the more the community moves away from us (MIC). The government should adopt a more consultative approach instead of the confrontational stance. No matter what, we need Indians and they should not be sidelined," he said.So, where can the government start to prove to Indians that it has their interests and welfare at heart?

For starters, a top MIC leader said, it would be a good gesture on the part of the government to free the Hindraf Five -- P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and T. Vasantha Kumar -- now languishing in the Kamunting Detention Camp in Perak.

There was speculation that they would be released before Deepavali, but that has not happened.However, it is still not too late for the government to make the aftermath of this years Festival of Lights even brighter for Malaysian Indians in this auspicious Hindu month of Kartika.-- BERNAMA

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