UMNO stirring the racial pot in Seksyen 23 – Shah Alam

HINDRAF condemns the latest incident involving the act of placing a severed cow’s head outside the gates of the state secretariat building in Selangor.

HINDRAF believes UMNO and their cohorts…

More ► More ▼

HINDRAF condemns the latest incident involving the act of placing a severed cow’s head outside the gates of the state secretariat building in Selangor.

HINDRAF believes UMNO and their cohorts in the Royal Police Force (PDRM) organized this act that is inflammatory with an intention to incite and create racial hatred and feelings between the Muslims and Hindus.

These perpetrators were able to walk over 300 metres in open public and conduct their seditious speeches calling openly for bloodshed, and racial chaos without any interference from the police force. So far nothing has been done by the PDRM or the AG’s department other than issuing lip service statements.

Selangor Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar states “If a report is lodged, we will definitely take the necessary action,". Here we are talking about an outright and outrageous act in fanning racial hatred that could threaten the public security and he claims he needs a police report before an action can be taken.

The police had on many previous occasions brutally arrested and questioned peaceful protesters without any reasons for fear of public security, but they would need a report before they can take any action for those inciting violence and parading in the public with a severed cow’s head to undermine the sensitivity of the Hindus. This is absurd and nonsensical.

Who else could practice such double standard other the UMNO led government and its stooges and that is why HINDRAF believes that this is the work of the UMNO government to create unrest in Selangor.

There is no distinction between a muslim dominated area and non muslim dominated area as Malaysia is one multiracial and multicultural society living together side by side in co-existence in respect of each other’s race, religious practice and beliefs.

Instead of promoting harmony amongst Malaysians, UMNO is fast becoming the public threat by protecting such devious and extremist acts.

UMNO should curtail such irresponsible acts rather than seeding and sowing hatred, bullying extremist elements and fascist mindset amongst the fanatical Muslims for their own political survival.

PM Najib has to immediately issue a statement and make a firm stand on the subject and not delegate this paramount duty to his “mandores” and eventually hoping for the whole issue to be swept under the carpet.

If the AG’s department fails to charge these perpetrators, HINDRAF would proceed to formally lodge complaints with the UN Human Rights Council, European Parliament, UK Foreign affairs select committee and the Global Human Rights Defence based in The Hague.

In solidarity for a harmonious Malaysia Hindraf calls upon all peaceful citizens who respect and cherish Religious Freedom and the right to co-exist to join us on a peaceful candle vigil at Dataran Merdeka on 5thSeptember 2009 at 6.45pm

Thank you.

P. Waytha Moorthy

Chairman
HINDRAF

Temple demo: Residents march with cow's head - Malaysiakini

Some 50 residents enraged with the proposed relocation of a Hindu temple to their area staged a noisy protest with a severed cow's head this afternoon.

The residents - from…

More ► More ▼

Some 50 residents enraged with the proposed relocation of a Hindu temple to their area staged a noisy protest with a severed cow's head this afternoon.

The residents - from Section 23 in Shah Alam - who gathered after the Friday prayers, placed the head outside the gates of the state secretariat building for a short period before removing it.

"Where is Xavier? This head is for him," shouted one of the protesters in reference to Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar.

Jeyakumar is one of those in charge of non-Muslim affairs in the state.

Earlier, the protesters had marched some 300m from the state mosque to the state secretariat building.

The protesters also condemned Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, exco member Rodziah Ismail (as the area falls under her state constituency) and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.

Before dispersing, several protesters spat and stomped on the cow's head. The cow is considered sacred among Hindus.

Addressing the crowd, Section 23 action committee deputy chair Ibrahim Sabri said: "If there is blood, you (the state government) will be responsible if you are adamant about building the temple."

"This is a warning. Relocate the temple to Section 22. This cow is a present to the state government. This is a gift from us," he added.

The protesters also carried several banners which among others read 'Take Beer' (mocking PAS' rallying cry of 'Takbir') and 'Illegal temples are very small, but once relocated, they are as big as Putrajaya'.

The crowd gathered for about 15 minutes at the main entrance of the state secretariat building under the watch of more than a dozen police personnel.

'We'll not budge an inch'

Speaking to reporters later, Action Committee chair Mahyuddin Manaf warned that the state government must give in or the residents would retaliate.

"We will not budge one inch, even if lives are lost or blood is made to flow. We will still defend Section 23 from having a temple built there," he said.

He added that a protest memorandum was forwarded to the state government two months ago but there has been no response.

Contacted later, Mahyuddin distanced his organisation from the act of bringing the cow head to the protest.

"It is not our intention. We were surprised," he said, denying that the act was intended to insult Hindus.

He said that the cow head was likely brought by angry residents.

"Maybe, they meant it (as a symbol of) stupidity. In Malay culture, the cow is a symbol of stupidity, or leaders that are stupid," he said.

On Aug 11, the state government announced that the relocation of the temple from Section 19 to Section 23 was final and will be situated 200m from the nearest house and 400m from a surau.

The temple will face an industrial lot and will be separated from the houses by a playground and a multi-purpose hall.

However, some residents felt that it was not appropriate to build a temple in a Muslim-majority area.

The Pakatan Rakyat state government accused rivals Umno of instigating the crowd to protest the relocation.

Jeyakumar to lodge police report

In an immediate reaction, a furious Jeyakumar described the protest as "unwarranted, unacceptable and without sensitivity towards other religions."

He also said that he will lodge a police report on the matter soon.

"These people should have ethics. They are inciting racial and religious hatred. I am going to lodge a police report against these people," he told Malaysiakini.

He also expressed disappointment towards the police personnel at the scene for not taking any action against the protesters.

"The police didn't stop anybody. The police should have arrested them and charged them for inciting hatred," he said, adding that he could tolerate with "ethical" demonstrations.

Jeyakumar is slated to meet Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar and other police officers over the matter tomorrow.