HINDRAF
Hindu Rights Action Force
No. 135-3-A, Jalan Toman 7,
Kemayan Square,
70200 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan
Malaysia. Tel : +606-7672995/6
Fax: +6-06-7672997
Email waytha@hotmail.com
Y.A.B.. DATO’ SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI
Prime Minister of Malaysia
Minister of Finance
Block Utama,
Bangunan Perdana Putra, Email: reduceredtape@pmo.gov.myPusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Email: abdullah@kdn.gov.my62502 Putrajaya
Tel: 03 8888 8000
Fax: 03 8888 3444
10/09/2008
Y.A.B,
Re: 1) Budget 2009 - no allocation for Indian poor, Tamil schools and to address
Hindraf’s 18 point demands.
2) Indians yet again excluded from the main stream development of Malaysia.
3) RM 51 Billion for Indians demand.
4) Prime Minister’s circular to all government departments not to exclude the
Indians from the main stream development.
Introduction
At about the same time last year we had submitted a memorandum to your goodselves in effect that the Indians have been excluded from the main stream development for 50 years. We hereby wish to record our protest that for the 51st year running the Indians have yet again been excluded from the main stream development.
(A) Allocation:
In the midterm review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan an amount of RM 230 Billion had been allocated for the various development plans, programmes and agendas. But there was zero allocation for especially 70% of the Indians who are in the lower income category, poor or hardcore poor. For the 2009 Budget that was unveiled on 29/08/08 another grand allocation of RM 207.9 Billion but again the Indians had been left out completely. We take note that for the 147,700 orang asli in Malaysia, RM 160 Million had been allocated for their education alone. We further note that for the RM 3 Million or so natives of Sabah a specific allocation of RM 3 Billion and a further RM 56 Billion to increase food production in Sabah. A specific allocation of RM 3.3 Billion was allocated for the Sarawak Natives. For the poor Malays in the Peninsula Malaysia they are to directly benefit from the lion’s share of the RM 207.9 Billion 2009 Budget. But for the poor Indians there has yet again been zero allocations and at the same time being excluded from benefiting from the RM 207.9 Billion Malaysian mainstream development allocation. The ground reality from the feed back that we gather is that almost all the times the Indians knock at the door of a particular mainstream development plan or programme they are told that the same is only for the Malay Muslims and that the Indians are excluded. And when we question, the UMNO controlled Malaysian government and their cohorts warn us not to question their special privileges which is enshrined in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution. Each time UMNO does not have an answer for their racist and religious extremist doings they either raise the keris or claim the Article 153 privileges which in any event is only a very general Article on a certain percentage of reservation for the Malays (and that too not quantified) in the civil service, scholarships, licenses, educational institutions etc. There is nowhere in Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which stipulates that the Indians are to be excluded from the mainstream development of Malaysia. Article 153 of the Federal Constitution can not be used as a carta blanca for UMNO’s racism and religious extremism in Malaysia. The Indians are protected by Article 153(1) and (7) of the Federal Constitution which provides that Article 153 shall not be at the expense of the other communities (especially the Indians). But just because UMNO has the absolute political power and have full control of especially the police force, army, Attorney General, Courts and the civil service the Indians right to an honest and decent living in Malaysia is trampled with impunity. Might becomes right and the law of the jungle prevails in Malaysia.
(B) Education:
A total of RM 31 Billion has been allocated for education but there has been zero allocation for Tamil schools. About 370 (75%) out of 523 Tamil schools in Malaysia not fully aided by the government and in dilapidated-conditions, infested by white ants, falling apart, catching fire because of the ancient wiring and electrical switch board and posing a danger to the said Tamil school children. In the Tamil school in Tampin Linggi, Port Dickson, the class room roof was simply blown away by strong wind, the class room caught fire and 40 pupils escaped death. (Tamil Nesan 18/06/08 at pg 5).
Out of this RM 1.6 Billion have been allocated for staff and new schools. But zero new Tamil schools has been built in the last 50 years. Tamil Nesan as late as 16/06/08 at page 15 that 1,400 Tamil School temporary teachers need training for the 150,000 Tamil School pupils in Malaysia. Of the 7,800 Tamil school teachers, fewer than 500 are trained to teach in English (NST 30/06/08 at page 24). There are 10,000 Indian families in Kg. Lindungan but the UMNO government has turned down the request for a Tamil school (NST 14/07/08 at page 13). The Seaport Tamil school in SS7, Petaling Jaya which is currently sitting on a 0.6 hectare land and overcrowded has been denied an additional 1.2 hectare land for expansion (NST 14/07/08at page 13). The biggest Tamil school in Malaysia, 104 year old Simpang Lima in Klang with 2,152 pupils and 97 teachers has been denied extra land space or for the school to be divided into two has been denied by the Deputy Education Minister. Also the request for additional teachers, assembly hall, fencing, computer room and part of the school building eaten up by white ants cannot be attended to, says the Deputy Education Minister (Tamil Nesan 14/07/08 page 6).. The Springhill Tamil School, Port Dickson was given a mere peanuts or breadcrumbs RM 25,000 to build three class rooms (Tamil Nesan 17/08/08 page 4). For the balance the Indians are expected to raise the money from the already poor Indian community. Why exclude these Tamil schools from mainstream development.
Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Right of the child provides for compulsory and free education for all children. Article 2 of the same convention provides for a child’s right to non discrimination. This convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in November 1989 and Malaysia signed and ratified this convention in 1995. But the ground reality is Tamil schools are excluded from the mainstream Malaysian development with impunity.
Tamil Nesan reported on 02/09/08 at page 18 that only 247 or mere 3.5% of the total 123,919 students who graduated from University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) were Indians. Our estimate is that about 99% of the deserving and qualified Indian students are denied places in public government universities and scholarships for local and foreign universities higher education. The 200,000 places at University UITM by 2010, currently there are 120,000 students [NST 13/08/08 pg 4], [NST 25/06/08 at page 13] are 100% excluded for Indian students. There are 21 Medical schools in Malaysia with some 1,500 students graduating each year [NST 23/03/08 page 20]. But 99% of the deserving and qualified Indian students are excluded from being given places in these Medical schools and also in all the public government universities. When they use their parents hard earned and life long savings, EPF savings or borrow to study at less expensive Universities in India, Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Indonesia the Health Ministry Secretary General Datuk Dr Ismail Merican under UMNO’s instructions throws sand into their rice bowl by de-recognizing most of their medical degrees. Renuvathy the sixth best student in the country with 13 A1s’ did not get a PSD scholarship [NST focus 22/06/08 page 33]. Kamini with10 A1s’ in SPM and all As’ in UPSR and SRP was denied a place to do medicine by way of a government JPA scholarship [Tamil Nesan front page 14/05/08].
57 years old ex-army staff N. Siva Sankaran’s 22 year old son who scored 10 A1s’ in SPM was not only denied a JPA scholarship but was also rejected by University Tenaga Nasional and University Petronas [NST 22/05/08 page 22] and bearing in mind that there are 30,757 University places for the 2008/2009 academic session for post SPM students, 2,000 PSD scholarships for overseas studies worth RM 1.7 Billion @ RM 850,000 per student and 10,000 PSD scholarships for post SPM students to study at the local Universities and the new intake for Degree Programmes this year is 40,000 students [NST 22/06/08 Page 15]. Felda has succeeded in creating 10,000 professionals, doctors, engineers and accountants. But Felda has not created even one professional, doctor, engineer and accountant from among the Indian plantation workers who like the Felda children are also children of plantation workers. [Utusan 22/06/08 pg 3]. 4,970 students studying in the Pusat Pembelajaran Sains fully residential schools majoring in Pure Science, Maths, Additional Maths and English [Utusan 22/06/08 page 3]. Also 30,000 Diploma and another 30,000 in polytechnics, matriculation, Sabah community colleges etc. [Utusan 22/06/08 page 12]. But 99.9% of the deserving, needing and qualified Indians are being excluded. RM 53 Million per year is given out for higher education by Tenaga Nasional Berhad. RM 523 Million together with Yayasan Tenaga Nasional since 1993. Since 1993, 6,800 students have been given scholarships and loans by Yayasan Tenaga Nasional. Currently 2,182 students are being sponsored by Yayasan Tenaga Nasional who are studying in local and foreign Universities. [Utusan 25/06/08 page 16]. But almost all deserving Indians students especially the children of the thousands of Tenaga Nasional staff have been excluded from these upward mobility opportunities [Utusan 25/06/08 page 16]. Kolej Matrikulasi Perak, Gopeng has 2,000 students (but there are zero Indian students) [Utusan 15/07/08, page 25]. RM 3 Billion in study loans for 180,000 students in the private and public higher educational institutions but 99% of the deserving Indians are excluded. Government PTPTN study loans are not offered to hundreds of Indian students studying medicine in Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Indonesia and India [NST 30/07/08]. For Dentistry graduates from University of Malaya there were zero Indian graduates. There are also zero Indians in the Malay college Kuala Kangsar, Institute Aminuddin Baki, Kolej Tunku Kursiah, Sultan Abdul Hamid College. Our estimate is only 1% of the Maktab Rendah Sains Mara College places are given to Indians although the UMNO government claims 10% are allocated to non Malay Muslims. UMNO has allocated RM 615 Million for maintaining schools and residential schools to ensure that all schools are clean and safe. But to UMNO never mind the hundreds of white ants infested Tamil schools that are falling apart and endangering Tamil school pupils and teachers lives.
(C) Agriculture and Agro based Industries:
RM 56 Billion has been allocated to increase food production in Sabah alone. RM 5.5 Billion allocation for food security for 2008 to 2010. RM 180 Million in cost of living allowance for fishermen, RM 120 Million incentives for fish landing, RM 475 Million for fertilizers for rice farmers, RM 33.8 Billion total payments for subsidies, RM 1.6 Billion for padi related subsidies.
The allocations of Billions are specifically designed to benefit the majority community. The scores of Agricultural projects facilitated and coordinated by Mardi, Fama, Risda, Felda, Felcra, Agropolitan and various other state and federal land schemes, the Vetinary Services Department, Agriculture Department specifically excludes 99% of the deserving, needy and poor Indians.
To start off with 99% of even the pre-existing plantation workers families from during the colonial era were excluded from thousands of hectares of major land ownership schemes like Felda, Felcra, Risda, MADA and KADA. Why? The Indians too like the then Malay Muslims were the landless poor. This policy of excluding the landless Indian poor is still continued under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the 2009 Budget for example in the latest Felda like Agropolitan land ownership scheme in Gahai, Pahang and Pulau Banggi in Sabah and Air Ganda in Perak.
Similarly thousands of hectares of agriculture land for high end and high quality live stock farming like boer and Jamnapari goats, deer, cows, rabbits, ikan keli, talapia, patin etc. have been awarded to many rich Malay Muslims and other Malay Muslims but excluded to again 99% of the poor and landless Indians. In addition to land these livestock farmers are also given low interest loans from especially Bank Pertanian and full back up from the Vetinary Services Department to the exclusion of 99% of the deserving and needy Indians.
The UMNO controlled Malaysian Government is embarked on thousands of hectares and Billions of Ringgit Malaysia worth of high impact projects to increase the household income of the hardcore poor from below RM 400.00 to up to RM 5000.00 in a Felda scheme as acknowledged by Deputy Prime Minister and Felda boss Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak.
UMNO controlled Sime Darby about the biggest plantation company in Malaysia makes a profit of RM 5.2 Billion [NTV 7 news at 1.00 pm on 27/08/08]. But the Indian labourers in these plantations die as poppers not having given land ownership schemes like Felda, Felcra, Risda etc. To start off with these plantation workers have never been given a monthly salary until 2006 when their monthly salary was fixed at RM 425.00 or so to be just above the hardcore poor live of RM 400.00 per month. Neither were bonuses paid to these Indian workers or any form of incentive and bonus shares in this company offered to these Indian workers. UMNO’s intention is very plain and obvious to exclude these plantation Indians from the mainstream development of Malaysia if not to turn them (877,833) into the Wawasan Indian slaves in 2020
(D) Poverty Safety Net and Welfare Assistance:
Every community in Malaysia except the Indians have a poverty safety net. The poor Malay Muslims have the traditional villages (Kampongs), the poor orang asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak have their ancestral land while the Chinese have their Chinese New Villages. To the poor Malays, Orang asli and the Natives of Sabah and Sarawak, the sky is the limit for them to open up agricultural land and to work on the same. But this option is not available to an Indian poor. Even if he tries opening up new agricultural land, he would at lighting speed be evicted and ejected from the land. Even in existing TOL, TNB Reserve, River Reserve and other state land they are occupying, they are evicted with a mere one A4 sheet of one weeks notice with no alternative land offered.
The 2009 Budget increases the state welfare assistance from RM 400.00 per month per household to RM 720.00 per month for the Peninsula. However in practice, the Welfare Department appear to have unofficial instructions from UMNO to exclude or minimize welfare help to about 90% of the Indians. To cite the latest example is the case of two brothers K. Arumugam (65) and K. Krishnan (62) who have been living in a ramshackle for over 10 years near Jalan Bukit Ubi Muslim cemetery, Kuantan [NST 3/09/08 page 21]. If not for Siva the Mill owner who owns the land, both these brothers would be on the streets. How did these two brothers escape the poverty safety net and welfare assistance for at least ten long years if not longer.
Answer- the UMNO controlled Welfare Services Department has unofficial instructions to exclude as many Indians as possible. Thousands of other Indians have similarly been excluded. To the contrary a poor Malay Muslim is some how taken care of. The latest example is the case “Ibu tunggal rayu bantuan” [Utusan 2/8/08] and “Penderitaan Che Su dapat perhatian”. Beberapa pegawai dan anggota Jabatan kebajikan Malaysia yang datang melawat meminta buku akaun dibuka untuk dimasukkan wang bantuan kebajikan Pusat Urus Zakat Pulau Penang juga hulurkan bantuan. This story was published with a full colour picture of the family and a big write up in Utusan 2/9/08 at page 27. But the earlier two elderly Indian brothers do not have an address to start off with!
(E) 40,000 Malaysian born Indian children denied Birth Certificates in Selangor
alone:
One of the demands in the 18 points demands made by Hindraf to Prime Minister Badawi dated 12/08/08 is for all Malaysian born children to be issued with Birth Certificates and Identity cards with Malaysian citizenship accordingly and not mere permanent residents. As was widely reported in the local media in 2007 and which has been brought to the attention of the Malaysian Prime Minister that 40,000 Indian children in the state of Selangor alone have been denied their birth certificates though they were born in Malaysia. We estimate about 150,000 Indian children in Peninsula Malaysia alone to have been denied birth certificates. We have been informed that there is a colony of one thousand over Indian plantation workers in Sabah who have similarly been denied birth certificates and identity cards. These stateless children can not enroll in primary schools to start off with and making them live at the mercy of others and with no freedom in Malaysia that has already been independent for 51 years.
Despite the fact that 40,000 Indian children born in Malaysia have been denied birth certificates in the State of Selangor alone the UMNO controlled Malaysian Government in it’s 2009 Budget did not make any allocations to resolve this very serious issue. To the contrary when UMNO is determined on any policy they go all out. For example UMNO directed it’s entire 3,526 front line Agriculture Department Staff to fully utilize an additional RM 3 Million allocation for food production under the Ninth Malaysia Plan [NST 27/08/08]. Similarly UMNO could have utilized some 3,526 officers and staff of the Home Ministry and the National Registration Department with an RM 51 Million allocation and resolve once and for all the issue of 150,000 Malaysian born Indians nationwide who have been denied birth certificates and identity cards. Thousands of these young boys and girls are denied into primary schools to start off with. Some Tamil schools headmasters take the risk and out of pity admit these children into Tamil schools. But then they are denied entry into any secondary schools as there are almost nil secondary school Indian Head Masters to take pity on these children. UMNO threw sand directly into their rice bowl by sending out a circular in 2007 to all Tamil schools not to admit these Indian children. In the Tamil Nesan on 14/06/08 reported that Ten Tamil School students were sacked from the Kapar Tamil School because they had no birth certificates. The Tamil Nesan also reported on 27/07/08 at page 4, of a 27 year old mentally challenged youth with no birth certificate was found crying as a child as his poor parents had abandoned him. The Tamil Nesan on 16/08/08 at page 16 reported that Mogana Sangari who scored 5As and 2Bs in UPSR still can’t get into secondary school. Despite a letter from the Education Minister from Putrajaya the state Education Department refuses to admit her. Had Mogana Sangari been a Malay Muslim she would have been taken into one of the elite residential school. Despite an Indian Deputy Minister’s interference, Mogana was still denied entry into a secondary school. This Indian “mandore” of UMNO does not even have the power to pick up the phone and instruct the State Education Department to take in this high achieving student. But this Indian Deputy Minister is supposed to be sharing power in the UMNO controlled Malaysian Government. Many of these technically “stateless” children are somehow pushed into the world of crime for their survival. They can not open a bank account, can not get a car driving license, can not buy a house, can not get a decent job, can not get a license to do business and have to live at the mercy of other people. Out of no or very little choice and almost no upward mobility opportunities. Some of the young girls are easily forced into prostitution and other vice activities. The young men end up becoming gangsters, robbers, hijackers and take up other high risk criminal activities as they do not have much to lose anyway. Others live a life of misery all through their lives and end up in the streets or some ramshackle hut next to Muslim cemetery in Kuantan for at least 10 years as happened to two Malaysian born brothers K. Arumugam (65) and K. Krishnan (62) who have only been issued with a Permanent Residence card. These two brothers may have suffered all their lives without a Birth Certificate and are going to die in misery in a few years time which are supposed to be their golden years. Perhaps UMNO intends it this way otherwise they would have put up an allocation of RM 51 Million and got this problem sorted out and solved once and for all within six months.
What is puzzling is since independence Two Million (mostly Malay Muslim) foreigners have been given citizenship [NST 15/04/08 Page 6]. Bur 150,000 local born Indians are being denied birth certificates and identity cards!
(F) URBAN and RURAL POOR:
UMNO has allocated RM 100 Million for the urban poor. RM 330 Million for low cost housing and RM 500 Million to include urban poor and to include those earning up to RM 1,500 so that borrowers will be able to get out of poverty within five years of getting the loan which is for a maximum of up to RM 50,000.00. Also RM 6.27 Billion for rural, urban, hardcore poor, disabled, single mothers, senior citizens and orang asli. AIM increased its members from 3,220 in 1990 to 190,900 as at June 2008. RM 2.6 Billion disbursed as micro credit loans to business, agriculture, manufacturing, livestock and services repair and renovation of houses and purchase of consumer durables to improve lives.
RM 100 Million in AIM’s Programme Micro Bandar, RM 893 Million in Tekun Micro loans to 147,546 enterprises since 1999 through 193 branches at 4% interest. As of July 2008 a financial enterprise of six banks and three DFI gives micro financing to micro enterprises and self employed with an average financing of RM 9,800.00 per person.
RM 220 million for 13,300 households to increase their income and skills training under Skim Pembangunan Kesejahteraan Rakyat. From 2006 to 2008, 3,500 new houses built and 2,000 houses repaired under Programme Bantuan Rumah for the hardcore poor. For 2009, RM 50 million to build 1,400 new houses and repair 1,000 houses. Since established in 1987, RM 2.5 billion given by AIM to 180,000 households. Since 2004 to 2008, 100,000 low cost houses have been built. For 2009, RM 330 million has been allocated to Jabatan Perumahan Negara to complete 4.400 units of Program Permohan Rakyat (PPR) for rentals 1,500 units PPR bersepadu and 660 PPR to be owned. Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd would build 33,000 low cost houses, RM 50 Million for skim Jaminan Kredit Perumahan (SJKP) (Guaranteed Housing Credit Scheme) for non fixed income earners from Bank Islam and Bank Simpanan Nasional for purchase of low and medium cost houses. Injected with a further RM 100 Million SKJP can give out loans to 40,000 borrowers worth RM 2Billion. RM 50 Million to repair dilapidated houses of the poor under Programme Amal Jarriah. Up to now 4,600 houses have been repaired with a cost of RM 24 Million. For 2008, 8,400 houses expected to be built and 30,000 houses expected to be repaired under this programme.
Here again 99% the poor Indians and Indians from the lower income group have been excluded from the Millions and Billions of allocation. Indians having their houses repaired under these various schemes are unheard of. 90% of the deserving and needy Indians have been denied low cost housing. We have evidence of 100% of applications for micro credit AIM loans have been rejected as per the latest news report in the New Straits Times dated 01/09/08 at page 16. It has been reported that AIM has not given loans to any of the 200 people it had recommended this year says Malaysian Indian Business Association President Mr. P. Sivakumar who confirmed so vide his nationwide micro financing survey. In direct contrast up to 2006 Tekun Nasional has given out 134,000 loans to about 80,000 bumiputera borrowers (Utusan Malaysia 24/08/08 page 5). Another latest example in this area was reported in Tamil Nesan on 24/08/08 at page 5 that homeless Indian family living in abandoned shop house with no water and electricity in Kluang including a pregnant lady and school going children. The welfare officer who visited them did not even help put them in a home. In fact the local Kluang MIC had to arrange to send the school going children to nearby Tamil school. The Welfare Department however promised a sum of RM 100.00 per month which is 1,500 times below the mark set by the government for the lower income group. That too if this RM 100.00 is approved by the Welfare Department. Edisi siasat screened on NTV 7 at 6.30pm on 23/08/08 showed the family of Nagammal (31) with seven children and has been working as a cleaner lady at Sime Darby building for the past 10 years.. Her husband is in jail for a poverty related crime. Knowing that she and her seven children have no or very little opportunities to benefit from the Millions and Billions in the UMNO controlled Malaysian Government development plans some of which are also outlined in the Ninth Malaysia Plan hereinabove Nagammal tried giving poison to her children and when she failed, she just killed herself. To Nagammal and about 70% of the Indians in Malaysia there is no or hardly any opportunities for upward mobility. This programme then highlights another two families in the hardcore poor group earning RM 300.00 and RM 600.00 per month respectively. One family is forced to stop from school and send their 17 year old son to work at a coconut water stall. Finance Minister Noor Mohamad Yaakob states that there are 18,000 school dropouts according to the midterm review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan we estimate that 70% of these 18,000 school dropouts are Indians. The Lukut Tamil school is shoved upstairs a shop house. Standard 5 school child Papathy says that her class-room is congested with no playing field, no school assembly. Also screened were the living conditions and the houses of the plantation workers which has hardly seen any change since British colonial days and that of other labourers lorry drivers and general workers. This programme ended up with the (100,00 over) Hindraf rally on the 25th day of November 2007 having championed these causes. And finally the four Hindraf Lawyers being arrested and sentenced to two years jail without trial in an open court of law. During the Permatang Pauh by elections, MIC President Samy Vellu who had served as a minister for 30 years inadvertently admitted that the Indians in Kampong Bagan Serai and Seberang, Kuari, Permatang Pasir are living in worst conditions than in Africa. In other parts Indians are living in pathetic conditions in slumps [TV 3 news at 8.00pm on 22/08/08]. Despite all these pre-existing poor and poverty riddled Indian community, there was no policy statement by the Prime Minister not to exclude the Indians from the mainstream development.
(G) Human Development Capital:
The 2009 Budget allocates RM 47.7 Billion or 23% of the total Budget proposal to develop quality Human Development Capital, RM 2.4 Billion for Program Latihan dan Kemahiran. To achieve this RM 150 Million allocated to upgrade 13 polytechnics and 15 community colleges with an enrolment of 112,000 students. RM 200 Million allocated for Institute of Industrial Training and High Technology Training Centre. RM 360 Million for Institute Kemahiran Mara, Institute Kemahiran Tinggi Mara, Kolej Pelajaran Mara and Giat Mara. RM 70 Million to train 5,600 nurses in Nurses Training College by Ministry of Health. RM 30 Million to create Pusat latihan Jururawat in Wilayah Koridor Ekonomi Utara. Construction Industry Development Board will train 100,000 in the construction Industry, Technical, Ironworks, Management and Safety. RM 627 Million for polytechnics and community colleges.
Despite these Billions and Millions, a mere RM450,920 was spent on training 4,627 Indian students at RM95.00 per Indian student from 2006 to 2007 (Utusan Malaysia 27/06/08 Pg 7) Why should the Indians be pushed to the sidestream development by a mere allocation of RM95.00 per Indian student when there is a Budget allocation of RM47.7 Billion. Why can’t the Indian students be part of this RM47.7 Billion budget?
Another very glaring example is as was reported in Tamil Nesan on 12/08/08 at Pg 10 where Thayani Saravanan’s application to join a Government Nursing College was rejected. The Lunas MIC brought the matter to MIC President and after his intervention Thayani now gets the place. Thayani’s mother is a single parent and from the lower income group. Why should it take an Ex-Minister of 30 years standing to intervene for Thayani to secure a place for training when the overall training budget is for RM 47.7 Billion or 23% of the overall 2009 Budget?
Conclusion
It is plain and obvious from the above narration that the Indians have intentionally been excluded from the RM 207.93 Billion Budget and the mainstream development of Malaysia.. The example cited above where the Indians have been deliberately excluded from the mainstream development are merely the tip of the iceberg and are not isolated cases. Thousands of similar real examples happening on a day to day basis in Malaysia can be viewed in www.policewatchmalaysia.com and www.hindraf.org.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly said that in the mainstream development of Malaysia, no community should be left behind. But this over and over again, over the years seems merely a “political rhetoric” and merely in theory. In reality and at the ground level the sufferings and misery of the Indians are so punishing under UMNO controlled Malaysian Government’s racist and religious extremist policies in especially excluding the Indians from the mainstream development. Thus the Prime Minister’s wish for poverty to be eradicated by 2020 (NST 24/08/08 at Pg10) we suppose does not apply to the Indians.
We hereby demand that the 9th Malaysia Plan is reviewed not to exclude 99% of the Indians from the mainstream development of Malaysia and for UMNO to halt all its racist and religious extremist policies. We have heard enough of the policies were good but it was the implementation that went wrong excuse.
UMNO is now dealing with the 3rd and 4th generation Indians and no more our grandfathers and great grandfathers.
We hereby demand that the Prime Minister forthwith issues a circular to all the government authorities not to exclude 99% of the Indians from the mainstream development plans outlined in the Ninth Malaysia Plan and for all practices of racism and religious extremism to be stopped immediately.
We hereby demand the immediate formation of the Race Relations Commission and the Equal Opportunities Commission to deal with all complains of racism, religious extremism and the exclusion of 99% of the Indians from the mainstream development of Malaysia. On a wholesome basis and not on a piecemeal basis as currently assigned to a political party.
We want a permanent and genuine solution to the long standing misery of the Indians.
Thank You.
Yours faithfully,
……………………………
P.Waytha Moorthy
(Chairman)
..
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Antara pendatang dan penumpang.. good article from kudaranggi.blog
Pada mulanya saya agak keberatan nak ulas kekecohan yang berpunca ekoran daripada kenyataan ketua UMNO bahagian Bukit Bendera, Pulau Pinang bernama Ahmad bin Ismail. Sama ada benar atau tidak apa yang didakwa dikatakan olehnya mengenai rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina bukan persoalannya kerana isu tersebut sudahpun merebak dan mengapi-apikan keadaan.Jika tidak ditangani dengan cermat, teliti dan bijak, isu itu boleh ditangguk dalam air yang keruh oleh anasir-anasir yang ingin melihat negara ini hancur serta mengundang campur tangan kuasa asing.
Dalam zaman dunia tanpa sempadan dan liputan meluas dan segera oleh media elektronik antarabangsa, apa yang berlaku di sesebuah negara itu tidak dapat disembunyi atau dinafikan.Isu pokok yang dibangkitkan oleh Ahmad Ismail membabitkan persoalan "menumpang" iaitu rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina adalah penumpang di negara ini. Beliau menjelaskan bahawa ia merujuk kepada zaman pra-Merdeka.
Bagaimanapun, sensitiviti rakyat Malaysia keturunan Cina telah terguris.Saya tidak mengenali secara peribadi Ahmad Ismail, tetapi kenal agak rapat dengan Allahyarham abangnya, Abdul Rahim Ismail, pemilik Syarikat Pembinaan Rahim yang pada satu ketika dahulu agak terkenal sebagai sebuah firma pembinaan Bumiputera yang unggul di Pulau Pinang. Saya tidak tahu apa dah jadi dengan syarikat itu selepas Abdul Rahim meninggal dunia.Secara peribadi, saya tidak setuju dengan apa yang didakwa dikata oleh Ahmad Ismail atas beberapa sebab.
Bagi saya, hampir 90 peratus rakyat Malaysia, khususnya di Semenanjung, adalah pendatang dan kita semua sebenarnya menumpang hidup di bumi Allah. Kita bukan pemilik kekal tetapi hanya menumpang.Sebagai contoh, saya sendiri adalah keturunan pendatang yang menumpang hidup di bumi bertuah ini.
Datuk nenek di sebelah bapa saya berhijrah dari Makkah dan dari Brunei ke sini manakala di sebelah ibu pula dari Hadhramut, Yaman. Kami adalah pendatang dan penumpang sama seperti hampir semua penduduk negara ini khususnya di Pulau Pinang.Bagi Ahmad Ismail, dia juga datang dari keluarga pendatang dan menumpang hidup di negara ini. Ahmad Ismail tidak boleh menafikan hakikat bahawa datuk neneknya adalah pendatang dari India untuk menerokai penghidupan yang lebih baik dan selesa di bumi bertuah ini.
Perdana Menteri Abdullah bin Ahmad juga tergolong dalam kategori yang sama. Datuknya di sebelah ibu adalah pendatang dari wilayah Guandong, China. Pendek kata, datuk Pak Lah iaitu bapa Allahyarhamah Kailan bernama Hassan Salleh atau Hah Su Chiang adalah seorang pendatang. Beliau berhijrah ke Tanah Melayu dari wilayah Guandong (Kwantung) pada pertengahan abad ke-19 dan menetap di Bayan Lepas sebagai pekebun getah, pesawah padi dan kemudian saudagar intan berlian.
Najib Tun Razak, Timbalan PM juga berasal daripada keluarga pendatang iaitu dari Sulawesi, Indonesia atau lebih senang disebut orang Bugis manakala sepupunya Hishamudin Hussein tidak terlepas daripada darah keturunan Turki.
Datuk nenek mantan PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad juga pendatang dari Kerala, India manakala ibu Almarhum Tunku Abul Rahman berasal dari negeri Siam (Thailand).
Kesultanan Melayu Melaka pun dibuka oleh orang pendatang dari Sumatra bernama Parameswara, seorang anak raja atau bangsawan beragama Hindu.Dalam sejarah kesultanan Melayu, kita dapati ada yang ditubuh oleh pendatang dari Bugis dan ada pula dari Hadhramut selain dari Minangkabau.Hampir semua orang Melayu di sini berasal dari luar Tanah Melayu tetapi diiktiraf sebagai "bangsa Melayu" oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan.
Kita adalah "Melayu mengikut takrifan Perlembagaan" iaitu beragama Islam, mengamalkan adat resam Melayu dan bertutur dalam bahasa Melayu. Malangnya, bahasa Melayu nampaknya dimatikan oleh orang Melayu (UMNO) sendiri apabila dinamakan sebagai bahasa Malaysia.
Oleh itu, orang Arab seperti Syed Hamid Albar dan saya, orang Aceh seperti Sanusi Junid, orang India seperti Kader Sheikh Fadzir dan Nor Mohamed Yakcop, orang Bugis seperti Najib, orang Minang seperti Rais Yatim, orang Jawa seperti Mohamad Rahmat dan yang lain seperti dari Madura, Pulau Boyan, Siam, Burma, Yunnan (China) dan selatan Filipina dengan mudah boleh diiktirf sebagai "Melayu".
Mereka diterima sebagai orang Melayu tidak kira sama ada mereka bertutur bahasa Melayu atau tidak di rumah umpamanya si Arab berbahasa Arab, si Jawa berbahasa Jawa dan si Minang berbahasa Minang atupun si Mamak berbahasa Tamil.
Bahasa-bahasa yang disebut itu bukan bahasa Melayu dan jika dilihat dari sudut Perlembagaan Persekutuan, tidak boleh diterima atau diiktiraf sebagai bangsa Melayu. Walau bagaimanapun, atas kepentingan dan faktor politik, semuanya diterima sebagai Melayu dan Bumiputera.Oleh itu, adalah tidak adil untuk menuding jari kepada orang Cina yang juga kaum pendatang sama seperti orang Arab, India, Aceh, Minang, Batak, Mandailing, Jawa, Madura mahupun Bugis, sebagai menumpang di negeri ini.
Kita tidak boleh menafikan bahawa sebilangan besar datuk nenek orang Cina telah berhijrah ke negeri ini semasa Kesultanan Melayu Melaka, bahkan kesultanan-kesultanan terdahulu di Kedah mahupun Terengganu dan Kelantan serta semasa Francis Light berjaya menipu Sultan Kedah untuk menduduki Pulau Pinang pada 1786.
Kita adalah kaum pendatang yang menumpang hidup di negeri ini. Golongan yang boleh diiktiraf sebagai orang asal atau anak bumi tulen adalah mereka yang kita kenali sebagai Negrito, Jakun, Semang, Jahut, Orang Laut, Orang Darat, Senoi dan suku kaum masyarakat
Asli lain yang masih menjadi penghuni belantara.Kita tidak harus lupa akan sumbangan dan pengorbanan semua kaum dan suku kaum untuk membangunkan Malaysia sama ada dari sudut ekonomi, kemasyarakatan, keselamatan dan yang paling penting kesepakatan dan perpaduan. Semua orang yang kena dan seharusnya membayar cukai, berbuat demikian tanpa mengira kaum atau asal keturunan, sama ada pendatang atau penumpang.
Kita semua adalah rakyat Malaysia.
Posted by Syed Imran at Monday, September 08, 2008
Labels: General
Posted by Syed Imran at Monday, September 08, 2008
Labels: General
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Also taken some comments on the above article from various blogs, read and analyse.
tzarina said...
Saya tak paham logik orang "Melayu" seperti Salman Madani di blog ini.Dari sudut sejarah (bukan sejarah UMNO), orang Melayu asalnya keturunan Austronesian. Orang Austronesian asalnya dari TAIWAN, pada 10 000 - 60 000 BC. Dari Taiwan, mereka berhijrah ke Filipina, Sulawesi, Borneo, Jawa, Madagascar dan Maluku. Selepas beberapa generasi setelah bercampur dengan puak asal Maluku, mereka berhijrah ke sampai ke Vietnam (Champa) dan Tanah Melayu. Tanah Melayu ketika itu telah pun diduduki oleh masyarakat pribumi yang lebih awal (eg Negrito). Kalau nak cari bumi yang tidak pernah didiami sebelum orang Austronesian bertapak, kunjungilah Polynesia (1000BC). Dalam lingkungan 1000AD, orang Austronesian sudahpun mula berdagang dengan orang dari India dan China. Pengaruh agama dan prinsip-prinsip kerajaan India yang dibawa oleh orang Tamil India menyebabkan kerajaan Melayu Hindu yang pertama bertapak di Tanah Melayu. Jadi dimanakah sempadan yang patut digunakan untuk mengasingkan "bumiputera" dan "pendatang"? 60 000BC? 1000AD? 1957AD? 2008AD?Sudah tentunya "Melayu" sekarang terdiri dari kacukan dari pelbagai ras manusia - orang Negrito, India, China, Arab, etc etc...Apakah maksud sejarah orang Melayu keturunan Austronesian yang asalnya dari Taiwan, dan setelah bermilenia berkacuk dengan pelbagai puak manusia lain, dalam konteks 2008 AD? Atau tiadakah logik "bumiputera" lagi jika dilihat dari sudut sejarah dunia?Mungkinkah pada zaman 2008AD, kita cuma perlu melukis garis yang bersempadankan miskin vs middle class vs kaya, supaya semua orang diberi kepentingan sama sebagai rakyat Malaysia, tetapi golongan yang tidak berada dibantu lebih sedikit, tak kira kaum pribumi, Austronesian atau "pedatang", asalkan rakyat Malaysia!
10:56 PM
Saya tak paham logik orang "Melayu" seperti Salman Madani di blog ini.Dari sudut sejarah (bukan sejarah UMNO), orang Melayu asalnya keturunan Austronesian. Orang Austronesian asalnya dari TAIWAN, pada 10 000 - 60 000 BC. Dari Taiwan, mereka berhijrah ke Filipina, Sulawesi, Borneo, Jawa, Madagascar dan Maluku. Selepas beberapa generasi setelah bercampur dengan puak asal Maluku, mereka berhijrah ke sampai ke Vietnam (Champa) dan Tanah Melayu. Tanah Melayu ketika itu telah pun diduduki oleh masyarakat pribumi yang lebih awal (eg Negrito). Kalau nak cari bumi yang tidak pernah didiami sebelum orang Austronesian bertapak, kunjungilah Polynesia (1000BC). Dalam lingkungan 1000AD, orang Austronesian sudahpun mula berdagang dengan orang dari India dan China. Pengaruh agama dan prinsip-prinsip kerajaan India yang dibawa oleh orang Tamil India menyebabkan kerajaan Melayu Hindu yang pertama bertapak di Tanah Melayu. Jadi dimanakah sempadan yang patut digunakan untuk mengasingkan "bumiputera" dan "pendatang"? 60 000BC? 1000AD? 1957AD? 2008AD?Sudah tentunya "Melayu" sekarang terdiri dari kacukan dari pelbagai ras manusia - orang Negrito, India, China, Arab, etc etc...Apakah maksud sejarah orang Melayu keturunan Austronesian yang asalnya dari Taiwan, dan setelah bermilenia berkacuk dengan pelbagai puak manusia lain, dalam konteks 2008 AD? Atau tiadakah logik "bumiputera" lagi jika dilihat dari sudut sejarah dunia?Mungkinkah pada zaman 2008AD, kita cuma perlu melukis garis yang bersempadankan miskin vs middle class vs kaya, supaya semua orang diberi kepentingan sama sebagai rakyat Malaysia, tetapi golongan yang tidak berada dibantu lebih sedikit, tak kira kaum pribumi, Austronesian atau "pedatang", asalkan rakyat Malaysia!
10:56 PM
Anonymous said...
Setuju dengan Pak Syed, Wan Suhaimy dan Harith Iskandar!Tak kira Melayu, Cina atau India, kita semua lahir di bumi yang sama ini.Bumi yang sama ini menghembuskan nafas dan bagi kita makan.Maka kita semua anak-anak tanahair Malaysia!Kenapa mahu diungkit-ungkit asal-usul???Mari kita bersama-sama majukan Malaysia!Jangan pandang rendah atau serong mengikut bangsa atau kaum! Sama-sama kita hormati apa yang baik pada orang Melayu, Cina dan India. Di akhirnya, kita semua manusia, dan ada hati dan rasa sayang, serta akal fikiran yang baik dan mahukan keadilan, benaran dan kebaikan.Mari kita pupuk yang ini. Usah main ungkit-ungkit lagi dari mana datangnya kita.Mari kita lupakan pertelingkahan atau salahfaham yang lepas!Kalau kita nak orang Cina hormat kita, kita tak boleh layan mereka seperti rakyat kelas kedua atau layan mereka dengan rasa syak wasangka. Sebab itulah bangsa lain boleh berselisih dengan kita.Jangan! Mari kita kikis perasaan cam ni!Mari kita berbalik cam zaman P. Ramlee dulu... Melayu, Cina dan India sama-sama duk dengar musik di kelab dan menari tarian joget atau cha-cha.Kenapa sikap persaudaraan ini sudah hilang di Malaysia semenjak mulanya 1980an?????
5:58 PM
Setuju dengan Pak Syed, Wan Suhaimy dan Harith Iskandar!Tak kira Melayu, Cina atau India, kita semua lahir di bumi yang sama ini.Bumi yang sama ini menghembuskan nafas dan bagi kita makan.Maka kita semua anak-anak tanahair Malaysia!Kenapa mahu diungkit-ungkit asal-usul???Mari kita bersama-sama majukan Malaysia!Jangan pandang rendah atau serong mengikut bangsa atau kaum! Sama-sama kita hormati apa yang baik pada orang Melayu, Cina dan India. Di akhirnya, kita semua manusia, dan ada hati dan rasa sayang, serta akal fikiran yang baik dan mahukan keadilan, benaran dan kebaikan.Mari kita pupuk yang ini. Usah main ungkit-ungkit lagi dari mana datangnya kita.Mari kita lupakan pertelingkahan atau salahfaham yang lepas!Kalau kita nak orang Cina hormat kita, kita tak boleh layan mereka seperti rakyat kelas kedua atau layan mereka dengan rasa syak wasangka. Sebab itulah bangsa lain boleh berselisih dengan kita.Jangan! Mari kita kikis perasaan cam ni!Mari kita berbalik cam zaman P. Ramlee dulu... Melayu, Cina dan India sama-sama duk dengar musik di kelab dan menari tarian joget atau cha-cha.Kenapa sikap persaudaraan ini sudah hilang di Malaysia semenjak mulanya 1980an?????
5:58 PM
Monday, September 8, 2008
Hindraf 24 hours Yaagam in Mantin on Merdeka Day
Mantin-31 Aug 2008.
While the nation is celebrating its 51 years of Independence Day on the eve of 31st Aug. 2008, Hindraf Makkal Sakthi had another way to welcome the day.
They conducted a 24 hours yaagam (fire ritual) for the betterment of Malaysia. It is the first in kind conducted by a NGO to get the divide intervention for the betterment of Malaysia especially the marginalized Malaysian Indians and also the be blessed freedom for the Hindraf leaders and supporters.
The prayers started at 8 am on 30th August 2008 at Devi Sri Maha Mariamman, Jalan Besar Mantin, Ng Sembilan which is about 15km away from Seremban where current Hindraf office located. More than 500 people took part in the round the clock prayers. Many offered various type of pooja items like ghee, oil, husk, flowers, fruits and others. Most of them came all overall the nation to be the participant of this significant and divine event.
This 30th August 2008 is also the mark of one year of the Hindraf class suit against UK government with amounting USD 4 trillion for the neglect of its government during the Malaysia independence for the Indians whom were brought by British to Malaysia during its colonial.
In the Mantin temple, some of the supporters also participate with hunger strike for a whole day starts at 8 am of 30 Aug 2008 and involve in the yaagam as well. The 24 hours Yaagam was an divine event where almost all who came to the temple took part in the offering. Each of them took several minutes in conducting the offering and chant the mantra to be bless by GOD.
The Yaagam and prayers conducted till the next day 12pm of 31 Aug 2008. All the supporters were all still energized though involved in prayers over the whole night. Later after the Maha Poojai to get the divine intervention and bless from the God, at around 1 pm "Anathanam" (Food) were offered to all the devotees who came to the temple.
The whole event were conducted in a very divine and peacefully which reflects the Hindraf's ahimsa way.
Many coordinators took part in the event said it was successful one though it fall in a long weekend. Mr Thanethiran, Hindraf National Coordinator also joined the event on the 31st August early morning after finishing an event in Butterworth on the eve of National Day and travel the whole night to ensure he don't missed this divine event. He stressed that HINDRAF will have more divine events nationwide and foster unity among Malaysian Indians.
Mr Sambulingam, one of the National Coordinator thanked all the supporters and the temple management for the support and involvement. He is happy that Hindraf starts another way to welcome Merdeka.
Vaalge Hindraf Makkal Sakthi.
Report from Admin Hindraf
..\\__
While the nation is celebrating its 51 years of Independence Day on the eve of 31st Aug. 2008, Hindraf Makkal Sakthi had another way to welcome the day.
They conducted a 24 hours yaagam (fire ritual) for the betterment of Malaysia. It is the first in kind conducted by a NGO to get the divide intervention for the betterment of Malaysia especially the marginalized Malaysian Indians and also the be blessed freedom for the Hindraf leaders and supporters.
The prayers started at 8 am on 30th August 2008 at Devi Sri Maha Mariamman, Jalan Besar Mantin, Ng Sembilan which is about 15km away from Seremban where current Hindraf office located. More than 500 people took part in the round the clock prayers. Many offered various type of pooja items like ghee, oil, husk, flowers, fruits and others. Most of them came all overall the nation to be the participant of this significant and divine event.
This 30th August 2008 is also the mark of one year of the Hindraf class suit against UK government with amounting USD 4 trillion for the neglect of its government during the Malaysia independence for the Indians whom were brought by British to Malaysia during its colonial.
In the Mantin temple, some of the supporters also participate with hunger strike for a whole day starts at 8 am of 30 Aug 2008 and involve in the yaagam as well. The 24 hours Yaagam was an divine event where almost all who came to the temple took part in the offering. Each of them took several minutes in conducting the offering and chant the mantra to be bless by GOD.
The Yaagam and prayers conducted till the next day 12pm of 31 Aug 2008. All the supporters were all still energized though involved in prayers over the whole night. Later after the Maha Poojai to get the divine intervention and bless from the God, at around 1 pm "Anathanam" (Food) were offered to all the devotees who came to the temple.
The whole event were conducted in a very divine and peacefully which reflects the Hindraf's ahimsa way.
Many coordinators took part in the event said it was successful one though it fall in a long weekend. Mr Thanethiran, Hindraf National Coordinator also joined the event on the 31st August early morning after finishing an event in Butterworth on the eve of National Day and travel the whole night to ensure he don't missed this divine event. He stressed that HINDRAF will have more divine events nationwide and foster unity among Malaysian Indians.
Mr Sambulingam, one of the National Coordinator thanked all the supporters and the temple management for the support and involvement. He is happy that Hindraf starts another way to welcome Merdeka.
Vaalge Hindraf Makkal Sakthi.
Report from Admin Hindraf
..\\__
Friday, September 5, 2008
From Waytha - The truth of how Hindraf struggles start
From WMP - AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL HINDRAF SUPPORTERS
HINDRAF
135-3 KEMAYAN SQUARE
70200 SEREMBAN
NEGERI SEMBILAN.
26 April 2008
Re: Today's Press Release by various quarters.
I refer to the various press releases issued by various quarters today in all 3 Tamil Dailies on the saga affecting HINDRAF.
For many Malaysians HINDRAF only gives an impression of a struggle on November 25th and the power of people's Makkal Sakti displayed on the day. It was a proud day for all Malaysian Indians as for once Indians in Malaysia were united for a single cause ie to make their plight known to the world.
But what people did not know that HINDRAF was initiated on a serious issue affecting the rights of non-muslims as a result of the M.Moorthy case in December 2005.
I myself was not directly involved in public life or on the forefront of defending Human Rights though Uthayakumar was well known then. At the most I was involved on the background in helping Uthayakumar in his cases particularly in the death in Police custody and the shoot to kill policy. I was a member of a social organization called Vivekananda Youth Movement in Seremban.
But the way the M.Moorthy issue was handled by NGO's in Malaysia including the MCCBHS was appalling that I decided that I was not going to let this pass like any other issues that went unnoticed and swept under the carpet. That was when with the help of Ramaji about 30 organisation representatives gathered at P.Uthayakumar's office and HINDRAF was formed as a coalition but unfortunately most of these organisations left within 2 weeks and I was left in the lurch without a committee. Despite this, single handedly I campaigned on the rights of non Muslims to practise their religion at the International level when I went on an international campaign in January 2006.
I was the first person in Malaysia to raise these serious violations of Human Rights particularly religious freedom at the International Forum i.e. at the US State Department, US Foreign Relations Committee, US Human Rights Caucus, various Senators and Congressman, Human Rights Watch (the most powerful human rights organisation in USA). From there I came to London to lobby support from the Amnesty International which had its International Headquarters in London, UK Parliament and met various MP's. I made sure all these campaigns were published in the Malaysian media but because religion was a sensitive issue in Malaysia only malaysiakini carried the news.
All these I did at the expense of scarifying my legal practice for more than a month, and at my own expenses with the help of an individual who was kind enough to understand my financial burden.
Most Indians never knew what and how I single handedly struggled during these times and the risk of being arrested under ISA for raising the matter at International level.
In March 2006 just after I returned I was approached by a small temple in Bangsar which was more than 100 years old which was demolished on 26th March 2006. Upon receiving call I attended to this temple and worked on the issue for more than 20 hours non stop and made sure this small poor working class temple demolition should not be swept under the carpet as usual and it became international news when wire agencies throughout the world picked up the news.
It was after this that Uthayakumar offered to help me and together we raise issues of thousands of Hindu temples being demolished in Malaysia. At the height of this I did a second International lobby for the issue. I and Uthayakumar can prove that we had written hundreds of letters/appeals/memorandums to the Agong, Sultans, PM, Attorney General,IGP, and world organisations. All these were done at our own expense which went into thousands of Ringgit. No one came forward to help us then. Demonstrations and protests were then pathetic with a handful of people beginning with about 20 people including me uthayakumar and my family members which included my only daughter who was only about 3 years old then. Demonstrations and protests were at its infancy stage.
Demonstrations in front of Bukit Aman were unthinkable. Demonstrations in the office building of the Attorney General (not outside) must have taken a lot of guts and to convince the handful of people to do it was a greater challenge. I can go on with the feats at Istana, sultans palace parliaments ect. Standing in front of the bulldozers at demolition of temple sites and getting manhandled by police and arrested was a norm then and we had good sympathisers like Manickavasagam and Jayathas who were equally roughed up. Where was the man who has been claiming he was the FOUNDER of Hindraf and where was the so called Secretary. I have evidence of photographs and video of these protests. On one occasion they attended, one was standing at the end of the crowd and another claimed he had headache and was sitting on the ground. It is only fair to say that while all these new kind of challenge was thrown at the Malaysian Government both Uthayakumar and myself had the genuine sympathy of two great personalities M.Manoharan and R.Kengadharan who had offered their legal services as their contribution to the cause.
We were relieved that one big burden was taken off our shoulders by these 2 lawyers and we could concentrate on the main issues.
But the point is most Malaysians never knew this history of HINDRAF. November 25th never came on its own. It came after I had decided to gamble all within myself to file a class action against the UK Government. Road shows we conducted throughout the country attended by thousands of curious supporters who wanted to know what the suit was about. The thousands who attended were impressed that we had a plan and vision for the Indian community. I had maintained that HINDRAF never had any political intentions, however we had political friends like Manoharan, Manickam, Jayathas and. It was during this time when suddenly Uthayakumar said we have the services of 2 new personalities Ganapathi Rao and Vasanthakumar. They joined us from September 2007 onwards (before we started the Roadshows) enthusiastically and we believed their sincerity. Ganapathi Rao being a lawyer was given opportunities to speak at our road shows on Malaysian Budget. Vasanthakumar had helped to organise
printing and other ground work. Upon his suggestion I later appointed him (upon my honest trust) as the pro tem Treasurer after which he opened a bank account under HINDRAF ENTERPRISE.
So in total the contributions of these 2 personalities were for 2 ½ months prior to their arrests under the ISA. They were not even there at the forum which adopted the 18 points demand that were to be submitted to the PM on 12th August 2007.
If their contributions are more than this then they should put it in writing for all to see what they had actually contributed.
This doesn't mean I do not appreciate their contributions. They have no doubt done their part. Though in January 2008 I discovered Vasanthakumar was planted by Police special branch to infiltrate HINDRAF I still took it upon me to campaign for his release as well for I appreciated whatever he had done during this short period. I had concealed the fact to protect the integrity of the new freedom movement which found genuine support from the masses who had placed their hope on this organisation to advocate their rights.
The two great personalities Manoharan and Kengadharan merely acted as Counsels and lawyers for Uthayakumar, I and the hundreds others who were later arrested on November 2007. For this there had to pay a high price i.e. arrest under the ISA. These were the information I had given to all my International lobby including the International Bar Association i.e. that Lawyers are detained for performing their duties.
HINDRAF's struggle is noble. I have always maintained my personal belief that this is a dharmic war and if it is indeed a dharmic war we would win eventually albeit all the backstabbing and badmouthing.
From September 2007 (road shows) thousands of well wishers had approached me for membership forms. I had always told them that if they were a true believer in the 18 point demands that we had submitted to the PM on 12th August 2008 and are willing to fight for their rights without fear or personal gain then they were members and there was no need for a registration form and subscription.
Though I left the country upon my release on 28th November 2008 I had done and am still doing all within my strength and capability to seek the release of the 5 detained. I had used my personal funds to travel throughout India UK Europe Geneva. The issue of the 5 HINDRAF leaders has been raised in the Tamil Nadu Parliament immediately upon my arrival in India thereafter in Parliament In New Delhi, Indian PM and Foreign Minister, Leaders of the opposition House of Parliament, Madam jayalalitha, Vaico, The Dalai Lama, UK Parliament, British MP's, House of Lords, The Parliament at Scotland,The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Amnesty International., Human Rights Trusts UK, Minority Rights International, International Bar Association, UK Bar Association, Law Society for England and Wales, World Organisation against Torture based in Geneva, United Nations Human Rights Council, International Red Cross, FIDH in France, Human Rights Commission in Brussels, Human Rights Commission in Holland, European Parliament to name some of the work I have done.
By using my base in England I managed to get a briefing organised for the first time at the US Congress on 8th April 2008 which was attended by Senators and Congressman, Civil and Human Rights organisations in US and the Malaysian embassy which was severally embarrassed. This was seen as an act of betrayal by the UMNO Government and hence they revoked my passport immediately. I am now a stateless person for doing what I felt right for Malaysian
Indians.
While doing all the above I also manage HINDRAF from London and wherever I travelled. I plan the campaigns in Malaysia for the release of the 5 and for the basic rights of Malaysian Indians as per the 18 point demands submitted. I not only plan but execute the campaign in Malaysia from where I am. For this I have thousands of well wishers on the ground who take instructions from me and my 10 member interim committee which I formed in February 2008.
Today we have been stabbed by many within us. To cover himself Vasanthakumar has made accusations via his wife attacking me as a coward who ran away from problems and Raidu who had accused me of using children.
I sympathise for Mrs Vasanthakumar and her family for the naive hope and belief that has been placed before the truth by sinister. I offer my apologies to her for having to expose her husband at this stage.
As for Raidu he is not worth my effort to respond as his statements are sheer evil and ominous statements. He was a boy sitting in the front row of every road shows and enthusiastically clapping hands whenever each speaker made their points as if he was enlightened for the first time.
I urge all genuine HINDRAF supporters to remain calm, focussed and let us maintain our phase to seek our democratic rights. I maintain HINDRAF is not a membership seeking organisation nor is it keen to mislead the people.
We are here to advocate our basic rights even if it means permanent incarceration.
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
Currently in London
HINDRAF
135-3 KEMAYAN SQUARE
70200 SEREMBAN
NEGERI SEMBILAN.
26 April 2008
Re: Today's Press Release by various quarters.
I refer to the various press releases issued by various quarters today in all 3 Tamil Dailies on the saga affecting HINDRAF.
For many Malaysians HINDRAF only gives an impression of a struggle on November 25th and the power of people's Makkal Sakti displayed on the day. It was a proud day for all Malaysian Indians as for once Indians in Malaysia were united for a single cause ie to make their plight known to the world.
But what people did not know that HINDRAF was initiated on a serious issue affecting the rights of non-muslims as a result of the M.Moorthy case in December 2005.
I myself was not directly involved in public life or on the forefront of defending Human Rights though Uthayakumar was well known then. At the most I was involved on the background in helping Uthayakumar in his cases particularly in the death in Police custody and the shoot to kill policy. I was a member of a social organization called Vivekananda Youth Movement in Seremban.
But the way the M.Moorthy issue was handled by NGO's in Malaysia including the MCCBHS was appalling that I decided that I was not going to let this pass like any other issues that went unnoticed and swept under the carpet. That was when with the help of Ramaji about 30 organisation representatives gathered at P.Uthayakumar's office and HINDRAF was formed as a coalition but unfortunately most of these organisations left within 2 weeks and I was left in the lurch without a committee. Despite this, single handedly I campaigned on the rights of non Muslims to practise their religion at the International level when I went on an international campaign in January 2006.
I was the first person in Malaysia to raise these serious violations of Human Rights particularly religious freedom at the International Forum i.e. at the US State Department, US Foreign Relations Committee, US Human Rights Caucus, various Senators and Congressman, Human Rights Watch (the most powerful human rights organisation in USA). From there I came to London to lobby support from the Amnesty International which had its International Headquarters in London, UK Parliament and met various MP's. I made sure all these campaigns were published in the Malaysian media but because religion was a sensitive issue in Malaysia only malaysiakini carried the news.
All these I did at the expense of scarifying my legal practice for more than a month, and at my own expenses with the help of an individual who was kind enough to understand my financial burden.
Most Indians never knew what and how I single handedly struggled during these times and the risk of being arrested under ISA for raising the matter at International level.
In March 2006 just after I returned I was approached by a small temple in Bangsar which was more than 100 years old which was demolished on 26th March 2006. Upon receiving call I attended to this temple and worked on the issue for more than 20 hours non stop and made sure this small poor working class temple demolition should not be swept under the carpet as usual and it became international news when wire agencies throughout the world picked up the news.
It was after this that Uthayakumar offered to help me and together we raise issues of thousands of Hindu temples being demolished in Malaysia. At the height of this I did a second International lobby for the issue. I and Uthayakumar can prove that we had written hundreds of letters/appeals/memorandums to the Agong, Sultans, PM, Attorney General,IGP, and world organisations. All these were done at our own expense which went into thousands of Ringgit. No one came forward to help us then. Demonstrations and protests were then pathetic with a handful of people beginning with about 20 people including me uthayakumar and my family members which included my only daughter who was only about 3 years old then. Demonstrations and protests were at its infancy stage.
Demonstrations in front of Bukit Aman were unthinkable. Demonstrations in the office building of the Attorney General (not outside) must have taken a lot of guts and to convince the handful of people to do it was a greater challenge. I can go on with the feats at Istana, sultans palace parliaments ect. Standing in front of the bulldozers at demolition of temple sites and getting manhandled by police and arrested was a norm then and we had good sympathisers like Manickavasagam and Jayathas who were equally roughed up. Where was the man who has been claiming he was the FOUNDER of Hindraf and where was the so called Secretary. I have evidence of photographs and video of these protests. On one occasion they attended, one was standing at the end of the crowd and another claimed he had headache and was sitting on the ground. It is only fair to say that while all these new kind of challenge was thrown at the Malaysian Government both Uthayakumar and myself had the genuine sympathy of two great personalities M.Manoharan and R.Kengadharan who had offered their legal services as their contribution to the cause.
We were relieved that one big burden was taken off our shoulders by these 2 lawyers and we could concentrate on the main issues.
But the point is most Malaysians never knew this history of HINDRAF. November 25th never came on its own. It came after I had decided to gamble all within myself to file a class action against the UK Government. Road shows we conducted throughout the country attended by thousands of curious supporters who wanted to know what the suit was about. The thousands who attended were impressed that we had a plan and vision for the Indian community. I had maintained that HINDRAF never had any political intentions, however we had political friends like Manoharan, Manickam, Jayathas and. It was during this time when suddenly Uthayakumar said we have the services of 2 new personalities Ganapathi Rao and Vasanthakumar. They joined us from September 2007 onwards (before we started the Roadshows) enthusiastically and we believed their sincerity. Ganapathi Rao being a lawyer was given opportunities to speak at our road shows on Malaysian Budget. Vasanthakumar had helped to organise
printing and other ground work. Upon his suggestion I later appointed him (upon my honest trust) as the pro tem Treasurer after which he opened a bank account under HINDRAF ENTERPRISE.
So in total the contributions of these 2 personalities were for 2 ½ months prior to their arrests under the ISA. They were not even there at the forum which adopted the 18 points demand that were to be submitted to the PM on 12th August 2007.
If their contributions are more than this then they should put it in writing for all to see what they had actually contributed.
This doesn't mean I do not appreciate their contributions. They have no doubt done their part. Though in January 2008 I discovered Vasanthakumar was planted by Police special branch to infiltrate HINDRAF I still took it upon me to campaign for his release as well for I appreciated whatever he had done during this short period. I had concealed the fact to protect the integrity of the new freedom movement which found genuine support from the masses who had placed their hope on this organisation to advocate their rights.
The two great personalities Manoharan and Kengadharan merely acted as Counsels and lawyers for Uthayakumar, I and the hundreds others who were later arrested on November 2007. For this there had to pay a high price i.e. arrest under the ISA. These were the information I had given to all my International lobby including the International Bar Association i.e. that Lawyers are detained for performing their duties.
HINDRAF's struggle is noble. I have always maintained my personal belief that this is a dharmic war and if it is indeed a dharmic war we would win eventually albeit all the backstabbing and badmouthing.
From September 2007 (road shows) thousands of well wishers had approached me for membership forms. I had always told them that if they were a true believer in the 18 point demands that we had submitted to the PM on 12th August 2008 and are willing to fight for their rights without fear or personal gain then they were members and there was no need for a registration form and subscription.
Though I left the country upon my release on 28th November 2008 I had done and am still doing all within my strength and capability to seek the release of the 5 detained. I had used my personal funds to travel throughout India UK Europe Geneva. The issue of the 5 HINDRAF leaders has been raised in the Tamil Nadu Parliament immediately upon my arrival in India thereafter in Parliament In New Delhi, Indian PM and Foreign Minister, Leaders of the opposition House of Parliament, Madam jayalalitha, Vaico, The Dalai Lama, UK Parliament, British MP's, House of Lords, The Parliament at Scotland,The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Commonwealth Secretariat, Amnesty International., Human Rights Trusts UK, Minority Rights International, International Bar Association, UK Bar Association, Law Society for England and Wales, World Organisation against Torture based in Geneva, United Nations Human Rights Council, International Red Cross, FIDH in France, Human Rights Commission in Brussels, Human Rights Commission in Holland, European Parliament to name some of the work I have done.
By using my base in England I managed to get a briefing organised for the first time at the US Congress on 8th April 2008 which was attended by Senators and Congressman, Civil and Human Rights organisations in US and the Malaysian embassy which was severally embarrassed. This was seen as an act of betrayal by the UMNO Government and hence they revoked my passport immediately. I am now a stateless person for doing what I felt right for Malaysian
Indians.
While doing all the above I also manage HINDRAF from London and wherever I travelled. I plan the campaigns in Malaysia for the release of the 5 and for the basic rights of Malaysian Indians as per the 18 point demands submitted. I not only plan but execute the campaign in Malaysia from where I am. For this I have thousands of well wishers on the ground who take instructions from me and my 10 member interim committee which I formed in February 2008.
Today we have been stabbed by many within us. To cover himself Vasanthakumar has made accusations via his wife attacking me as a coward who ran away from problems and Raidu who had accused me of using children.
I sympathise for Mrs Vasanthakumar and her family for the naive hope and belief that has been placed before the truth by sinister. I offer my apologies to her for having to expose her husband at this stage.
As for Raidu he is not worth my effort to respond as his statements are sheer evil and ominous statements. He was a boy sitting in the front row of every road shows and enthusiastically clapping hands whenever each speaker made their points as if he was enlightened for the first time.
I urge all genuine HINDRAF supporters to remain calm, focussed and let us maintain our phase to seek our democratic rights. I maintain HINDRAF is not a membership seeking organisation nor is it keen to mislead the people.
We are here to advocate our basic rights even if it means permanent incarceration.
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
Currently in London
Amnesty International Statement : Malaysia- ISA used to punish human rights activists
Malaysia: Internal Security Act used to punish human rights activists
4 September 2008
New information about the arbitrary detention of five Malaysian government critics obtained by Amnesty International researchers highlights the need for the Malaysian parliament to immediately abolish the country's Internal Security Act, Amnesty International said today.
A recent Amnesty International mission to Malaysia researching the human rights situation there established that the sole reason for the detention of five members of Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), a group dedicated to defending the rights of Malaysia's ethnic South Asians, was for expressing concerns about the marginalization of ethnic South Asians within Malaysian society and specifically for organizing rallies.
"The detentions illustrate exactly what is wrong with the Internal Security Act," said Donna Guest, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Deputy Director. "These men are being treated like criminals, but they have never been charged, much less convicted, of a crime. They should be released immediately."
The government has accused the five of being "leaders and legal advisers of an organization which affects national security of Malaysia through having illegal assemblies, sending of memorandum, forums whose activities incite racial sentiment and hatred towards government among Indians".
HINDRAF had organized a series of meetings and rallies, culminating in a protest demonstration of some 20,000 people in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007. The five men, Ganabathirau Veraman, Kenghadharan Ramasamy, Manoharan Malayalam, Uthayakumar Ponnusamy and Vasantha Kumar Krishnan, are currently being held at Kamunting Detention Centre, Perak State.
"If the Malaysian opposition parties are serious about reforming the country's political system, they need to start the process to abolish this draconian legislation," Donna Guest said. "The ISA has been used for too long to stamp out legitimate criticism of the government."
Background Information
In 2007, the government demolished a number of Hindu temples to make way for development projects, despite petitions by local Hindu communities. HINDRAF organized series of meetings and rallies, culminating in the protest demonstration of some 20,000 people in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007.
In October 2007, local authorities destroyed an 80-year old Hindu temple in Taman Karuppiah, Shah Alam on the eve of the Hindu Deepavali festival. Police shot at devotees trying to stop the demolition, injuring several of them, and arrested at least 14. When lawyers Ganabathirau, Manoharan, Uthayakumar and HINDRAF leader Waytha Moorthy came to the Police Station to seek bail for the 14 in detention, the police also arrested them. They were released the next day.
Two days before a planned demonstration in the Batu Caves Hindu temple, Uthayakumar, Ganabathirau and Waytha Moorthy were arrested and detained for sedition. They were subsequently released. When the Hindu devotees gathered in the temple, in the early hours of 25 November, police dispersed them using chemically laced water and tear gas. Police then arrested a number of the devotees, most of whom have subsequently been released.
On 11 December, Uthayakumar was arrested for sedition and fined 50,000 Malaysian Ringgits (£7,400) despite the maximum bail for sedition being at 5,000 Malaysian Ringgits (£740). He posted bail but was immediately re-arrested. He was released the next day. On 13 December, police arrested Ganabathirau, Kenghadharan, Manoharan, Uthayakumar and Vasantha Kumar. Waytha Moorthy, who was in the United Kingdom at the time of arrests, is seeking asylum there.
Lawyers of the HINDRAF detainees filed a writ of Habeas Corpus, but this was dismissed by the Federal Court on 15 May 2008. Based on a different set of grounds, their lawyers filed another Habeas Corpus on 4 August. A decision is expected by the Ipoh High Court on 8 September.
At least 65 people are being held at Kamunting Detention Centre under the administrative detention provisions of the ISA. The Internal Security Act allows the police to arrest individuals they believe have acted, or are "about to" or "likely to" act in a way that would threaten Malaysian security, "essential services" or "economic life" (Article 73 (1)b).
Detainees can be held for up to 60 days for investigation by the police, after which time the Home Minister can issue a two year detention order under the ISA. The two year detention can be renewed indefinitely without the detainee ever being charged with a crime or tried in a court of law. As such the ISA is contrary to fundamental principles of international law, including the right to liberty of the person, to freedom from arbitrary arrest, the presumption of innocence, and the right to fair and open trial in a court of law.
New information about the arbitrary detention of five Malaysian government critics obtained by Amnesty International researchers highlights the need for the Malaysian parliament to immediately abolish the country's Internal Security Act, Amnesty International said today.
A recent Amnesty International mission to Malaysia researching the human rights situation there established that the sole reason for the detention of five members of Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), a group dedicated to defending the rights of Malaysia's ethnic South Asians, was for expressing concerns about the marginalization of ethnic South Asians within Malaysian society and specifically for organizing rallies.
"The detentions illustrate exactly what is wrong with the Internal Security Act," said Donna Guest, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Deputy Director. "These men are being treated like criminals, but they have never been charged, much less convicted, of a crime. They should be released immediately."
The government has accused the five of being "leaders and legal advisers of an organization which affects national security of Malaysia through having illegal assemblies, sending of memorandum, forums whose activities incite racial sentiment and hatred towards government among Indians".
HINDRAF had organized a series of meetings and rallies, culminating in a protest demonstration of some 20,000 people in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007. The five men, Ganabathirau Veraman, Kenghadharan Ramasamy, Manoharan Malayalam, Uthayakumar Ponnusamy and Vasantha Kumar Krishnan, are currently being held at Kamunting Detention Centre, Perak State.
"If the Malaysian opposition parties are serious about reforming the country's political system, they need to start the process to abolish this draconian legislation," Donna Guest said. "The ISA has been used for too long to stamp out legitimate criticism of the government."
Background Information
In 2007, the government demolished a number of Hindu temples to make way for development projects, despite petitions by local Hindu communities. HINDRAF organized series of meetings and rallies, culminating in the protest demonstration of some 20,000 people in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007.
In October 2007, local authorities destroyed an 80-year old Hindu temple in Taman Karuppiah, Shah Alam on the eve of the Hindu Deepavali festival. Police shot at devotees trying to stop the demolition, injuring several of them, and arrested at least 14. When lawyers Ganabathirau, Manoharan, Uthayakumar and HINDRAF leader Waytha Moorthy came to the Police Station to seek bail for the 14 in detention, the police also arrested them. They were released the next day.
Two days before a planned demonstration in the Batu Caves Hindu temple, Uthayakumar, Ganabathirau and Waytha Moorthy were arrested and detained for sedition. They were subsequently released. When the Hindu devotees gathered in the temple, in the early hours of 25 November, police dispersed them using chemically laced water and tear gas. Police then arrested a number of the devotees, most of whom have subsequently been released.
On 11 December, Uthayakumar was arrested for sedition and fined 50,000 Malaysian Ringgits (£7,400) despite the maximum bail for sedition being at 5,000 Malaysian Ringgits (£740). He posted bail but was immediately re-arrested. He was released the next day. On 13 December, police arrested Ganabathirau, Kenghadharan, Manoharan, Uthayakumar and Vasantha Kumar. Waytha Moorthy, who was in the United Kingdom at the time of arrests, is seeking asylum there.
Lawyers of the HINDRAF detainees filed a writ of Habeas Corpus, but this was dismissed by the Federal Court on 15 May 2008. Based on a different set of grounds, their lawyers filed another Habeas Corpus on 4 August. A decision is expected by the Ipoh High Court on 8 September.
At least 65 people are being held at Kamunting Detention Centre under the administrative detention provisions of the ISA. The Internal Security Act allows the police to arrest individuals they believe have acted, or are "about to" or "likely to" act in a way that would threaten Malaysian security, "essential services" or "economic life" (Article 73 (1)b).
Detainees can be held for up to 60 days for investigation by the police, after which time the Home Minister can issue a two year detention order under the ISA. The two year detention can be renewed indefinitely without the detainee ever being charged with a crime or tried in a court of law. As such the ISA is contrary to fundamental principles of international law, including the right to liberty of the person, to freedom from arbitrary arrest, the presumption of innocence, and the right to fair and open trial in a court of law.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Letter from WMP to AG to drop all charges against Hindraf supporters.
HINDRAF
135-3 KEMAYAN SQUARE
70200 SEREMBAN
NEGERI SEMBILAN.
PRESS STATEMENT 3rd SEPT 2008.
RE: ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD DROP ALL CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HINDRAF SUPPORTERS
CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HINDRAF SUPPORTERS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
ATTORNEY GENERAL PROMOTING HATRED AGAINST THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY VIOLATING ARTICLE 8 OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
HINDRAF calls on the Attorney General to drop all criminal charges against HINDRAF supporters arrested and charged for attending the peaceful gathering last November 25th.
Public confidence on the administration of justice in this country is seriously eroded with the selective arrest and prosecution of HINDRAF supporters.
The Attorney General is vested the highest prosecutorial power in the land by the DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agong under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and it is incumbent upon him to exercise his duties judiciously without fear or favour and in the best interest of the Country.
HINDRAF questions the motive of the Attorney General in the selective arrest and prosecutions especially when it involved the ethnic Indian community. The recent Muslim mob, which confronted and disrupted the Bar Council forum, was aided and abetted by the Royal Police Force and the aggressive protesters were given full protection by the Police. None were arrested nor was there any criminal investigations instituted. It was obvious the Royal Police Force were acting against the spirits of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution for the simple reason that these protesters were Muslims.
Justice system should work in tandem with the democratic need of the rakyat (people) but if the rakyat began to lose hope and despise the system , the country would be lead in the dark alleys of anarchy.
The Malaysian public has not forgotten the sins of the Attorney General in vindictively charging 31 peaceful devotees of Batu Caves with attempted murder for the alleged assault on one policeman, linking them with terrorist organisations, and objecting bail on grounds of National Security. Finally when his thirst was quenched with the arrest of the 4 HINDRAF lawyers all that he could say was “it was only the fairest thing to do” to drop the attempted murder charge.
The Malaysian Indians had enough and do not let them despise you (Mr.AG) and the Justice system of this country.
It is now time to decide what is the fairest thing to do and it would be to withdraw all criminal charges against these more than 100 innocent people who have been made scapegoats by the political system of this country. They have suffered enough and do not oppress them any further.
HINDRAF calls you to exercise your utmost discretion and powers conferred upon you by the DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agong under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution to immediately withdraw all criminal charges against the more than 100 charged with various offences related to the November 25th peaceful assembly.
P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN
135-3 KEMAYAN SQUARE
70200 SEREMBAN
NEGERI SEMBILAN.
PRESS STATEMENT 3rd SEPT 2008.
RE: ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD DROP ALL CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HINDRAF SUPPORTERS
CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST HINDRAF SUPPORTERS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
ATTORNEY GENERAL PROMOTING HATRED AGAINST THE JUSTICE SYSTEM BY VIOLATING ARTICLE 8 OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
HINDRAF calls on the Attorney General to drop all criminal charges against HINDRAF supporters arrested and charged for attending the peaceful gathering last November 25th.
Public confidence on the administration of justice in this country is seriously eroded with the selective arrest and prosecution of HINDRAF supporters.
The Attorney General is vested the highest prosecutorial power in the land by the DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agong under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution and it is incumbent upon him to exercise his duties judiciously without fear or favour and in the best interest of the Country.
HINDRAF questions the motive of the Attorney General in the selective arrest and prosecutions especially when it involved the ethnic Indian community. The recent Muslim mob, which confronted and disrupted the Bar Council forum, was aided and abetted by the Royal Police Force and the aggressive protesters were given full protection by the Police. None were arrested nor was there any criminal investigations instituted. It was obvious the Royal Police Force were acting against the spirits of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution for the simple reason that these protesters were Muslims.
Justice system should work in tandem with the democratic need of the rakyat (people) but if the rakyat began to lose hope and despise the system , the country would be lead in the dark alleys of anarchy.
The Malaysian public has not forgotten the sins of the Attorney General in vindictively charging 31 peaceful devotees of Batu Caves with attempted murder for the alleged assault on one policeman, linking them with terrorist organisations, and objecting bail on grounds of National Security. Finally when his thirst was quenched with the arrest of the 4 HINDRAF lawyers all that he could say was “it was only the fairest thing to do” to drop the attempted murder charge.
The Malaysian Indians had enough and do not let them despise you (Mr.AG) and the Justice system of this country.
It is now time to decide what is the fairest thing to do and it would be to withdraw all criminal charges against these more than 100 innocent people who have been made scapegoats by the political system of this country. They have suffered enough and do not oppress them any further.
HINDRAF calls you to exercise your utmost discretion and powers conferred upon you by the DYMM Yang Dipertuan Agong under Article 145 of the Federal Constitution to immediately withdraw all criminal charges against the more than 100 charged with various offences related to the November 25th peaceful assembly.
P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Changing Malaysia: Hindraf leader reminisces
Changing Malaysia: Hindraf leader reminisces
SundayStar- Sunday August 31, 2008
Of hurdles and help
By WANI MUTHIAH
One man is driven to work for others in the Indian community because he has not forgotten his roots.
HE may be doing well these days but memories of the hardship faced as a child living in a oil palm estate in Teluk Intan still haunts R. Kannan.
“I grew up seeing my parents having to report for work at 5.30am daily.
“They worked seven days a week but their joint take-home pay never exceeded RM300 a month,” said the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) national events coordinator.
Today, the 37-year-old is a project manager with a multinational firm, living comfortably in Shah Alam with his parents, wife, two children and his sister.
Good memories: Kannan looking through some old photos of his school days. He wants to see Indian youths getting a solid education.
But Kannan reckons his own difficult formative years as well as the pain faced by other Indian families in the estate have led him to join the Hindraf struggle.
“I initially came to know of Hindraf from e-mails. Their activities and efforts to highlight the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia attracted me as I have first-hand experience of what they were talking about.”
He believes the Government should give the welfare of the Indian community more priority and also feels Indians in the plantation sector have been victimised under the pretext of development.
“Many have been thrown out of their homes in the plantations without being given alternative housing and have ended up collecting old planks to build shanty homes on the outskirts of towns.
“It's as if they've been pushed out from mainstream society to live as destitutes.”
Going back to his early days, Kannan says his parents, who had five children to feed, took on odd jobs after finishing their regular work at the estate.
He vividly remembers how he and his four sisters would be left at the estate crèche daily while their parents toiled to make ends meet.
“But during the school holidays, my elder sister and I would accompany them to earn a few extra ringgit,” he says.
Getting a decent education posed another challenge.
Since the estate was 2km from the main road and some 28km from Teluk Intan town, most of the children there attended the dilapidated Tamil primary school on site, as did his elder sister.
However, his parents decided to send him and his three younger sisters to a national school in the town so they could get the schooling needed to break free from the shackles of poverty.
“The journey to and from school took almost two hours each way and we had to wake up at 4.30am to get there on time,” Kannan recalls.
It was not easy but his parents persevered, even sending him to live with an aunt while he was in secondary school.
“When I managed to complete my Form Six and entered university, they tirelessly sourced for funds for my studies,” said the business management degree holder.
Having crossed his own hurdles, Kannan wants to ensure that his children and others will have a better life and more opportunities.
“And I know that I can achieve this by playing a role in Hindraf and propagating our 18-point memorandum, which addresses many issues faced by Indians and also suggests equitable solutions to their current plight,” he says.
Of the demands stated in the document, the two closest to his heart are the call for all Tamil schools to be fully aided and the request for business allocations for Indians.
“Education and business opportunities will play very positive roles in improving the lot of the Indian community,” he notes.
On whether he is afraid of being detained under the Internal Security Act for his Hindraf-linked activities, Kannan says: “Why should I be afraid when I am not doing anything wrong?”
Hindraf, he adds, is doing nothing more than highlighting the plight of the Indian community, which has long been neglected.
“The public must understand that we are first and foremost Malaysians, and what we are doing is desperately fighting against sinking into oblivion and becoming the country’s weakest link.”
Also view the clip of interview from the Star Online tv at :-
http://thestaronline.tv/default.aspx?vid=1966
Changing Malaysia: Hindraf leader reminisces
The Star's Merdeka Special focuses on Hindraf national event coordinator Kannan Ramasamy.
He recalls his childhood days of living in an oil palm estate.
..\\__
SundayStar- Sunday August 31, 2008
Of hurdles and help
By WANI MUTHIAH
One man is driven to work for others in the Indian community because he has not forgotten his roots.
HE may be doing well these days but memories of the hardship faced as a child living in a oil palm estate in Teluk Intan still haunts R. Kannan.
“I grew up seeing my parents having to report for work at 5.30am daily.
“They worked seven days a week but their joint take-home pay never exceeded RM300 a month,” said the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) national events coordinator.
Today, the 37-year-old is a project manager with a multinational firm, living comfortably in Shah Alam with his parents, wife, two children and his sister.
Good memories: Kannan looking through some old photos of his school days. He wants to see Indian youths getting a solid education.
But Kannan reckons his own difficult formative years as well as the pain faced by other Indian families in the estate have led him to join the Hindraf struggle.
“I initially came to know of Hindraf from e-mails. Their activities and efforts to highlight the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia attracted me as I have first-hand experience of what they were talking about.”
He believes the Government should give the welfare of the Indian community more priority and also feels Indians in the plantation sector have been victimised under the pretext of development.
“Many have been thrown out of their homes in the plantations without being given alternative housing and have ended up collecting old planks to build shanty homes on the outskirts of towns.
“It's as if they've been pushed out from mainstream society to live as destitutes.”
Going back to his early days, Kannan says his parents, who had five children to feed, took on odd jobs after finishing their regular work at the estate.
He vividly remembers how he and his four sisters would be left at the estate crèche daily while their parents toiled to make ends meet.
“But during the school holidays, my elder sister and I would accompany them to earn a few extra ringgit,” he says.
Getting a decent education posed another challenge.
Since the estate was 2km from the main road and some 28km from Teluk Intan town, most of the children there attended the dilapidated Tamil primary school on site, as did his elder sister.
However, his parents decided to send him and his three younger sisters to a national school in the town so they could get the schooling needed to break free from the shackles of poverty.
“The journey to and from school took almost two hours each way and we had to wake up at 4.30am to get there on time,” Kannan recalls.
It was not easy but his parents persevered, even sending him to live with an aunt while he was in secondary school.
“When I managed to complete my Form Six and entered university, they tirelessly sourced for funds for my studies,” said the business management degree holder.
Having crossed his own hurdles, Kannan wants to ensure that his children and others will have a better life and more opportunities.
“And I know that I can achieve this by playing a role in Hindraf and propagating our 18-point memorandum, which addresses many issues faced by Indians and also suggests equitable solutions to their current plight,” he says.
Of the demands stated in the document, the two closest to his heart are the call for all Tamil schools to be fully aided and the request for business allocations for Indians.
“Education and business opportunities will play very positive roles in improving the lot of the Indian community,” he notes.
On whether he is afraid of being detained under the Internal Security Act for his Hindraf-linked activities, Kannan says: “Why should I be afraid when I am not doing anything wrong?”
Hindraf, he adds, is doing nothing more than highlighting the plight of the Indian community, which has long been neglected.
“The public must understand that we are first and foremost Malaysians, and what we are doing is desperately fighting against sinking into oblivion and becoming the country’s weakest link.”
Also view the clip of interview from the Star Online tv at :-
http://thestaronline.tv/default.aspx?vid=1966
Changing Malaysia: Hindraf leader reminisces
The Star's Merdeka Special focuses on Hindraf national event coordinator Kannan Ramasamy.
He recalls his childhood days of living in an oil palm estate.
..\\__
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Mkini news- HINDRAF ISA detainee,Vasanthakumar is a SB Agent
Hindraf chief's bombshell: ISA detainee a SB agent
Mkini-Athi Veeranggan Aug 29, 08 4:36pm
Detained Hindraf leader T Vasanthakumar is allegedly a government agent planted by the police Special Branch to infiltrate and disintegrate the Hindu rights movement.
In a shocking disclosure, Hindraf self-exiled leader P Waythamoorthy also accused the organisation’s former spiritual advisor M Ramachandran, also known as Ramaji, and ex-secretary VK Regu of collaborating with Vasanthakumar.“Their mission is to split Hindraf, then pick up the pieces, re-brand and re-launch it under their leadership, which would be subservient to the establishment,” said Waythamoorthy in a statement to Malaysiakini.The London-based Hindraf leader, who left the country a few days before the government’s crackdown on the movement last Dec 13, was convinced about the hidden truth behind the trio after probing on information received from top government officials.“Vasanthakumar is the main man behind the government plot, with Ramaji and Regu as assistants. They have betrayed Hindraf.“Undoubtedly the trio are collaborating with police intelligence, government officers and certain political leaders to break up Hindraf and dilute its struggle,” he alleged.
In an immediate response, Regu demanded the self-exiled leader to produce evidence to substantiate his claims."I am not a traitor," he told Malaysiakini.Vasanthakumar (photo, right), when brought from the Kamunting Detention Camp to Taiping Hospital for his monthly check-ups on Wednesday, denied links with the police intelligence unit.The Hindraf chairperson apparently came to know about Vasanthakumar in January and the others later, but opted to keep it a secret to prevent a split and loss of confidence among the movement’s leaders and supporters.However, following the Hindu prayers organised by a group led by Regu and the saffron-clad Ramaji in a Chinese temple in Seberang Jaya, Penang, during the recent Permatang Pauh by-election, which saw nine local Hindraf activists being detained, Waythamoorthy decided to come out in the open.
Waythamoorthy insisted that he has evidence to prove that Ramaji and Regu have had various secret meetings with officials from the Prime Minister’s Department and top MIC leaders over the last five months.Regu has claimed that he was the Hindraf founder secretary and this was stated in the application submitted on Oct 23 to the Registrar of Companies when Hindraf was registered as a enterprise.He also claimed to have accompanied Waythamoorthy to submit the 18-point memorandum on Hindu rights and interests to the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya last year.
Waythamoorthy confirmed both the claims, but said Regu was removed from the group immediately after the application was submitted for "acting against its interests."
Asked whether Regu’s expulsion was recorded in the minutes of any Hindraf meetings, Waythamoorthy’s reply was in the negative, saying: "As an informal organisation solely managed by him, meetings were never held."
Asked whether Regu’s expulsion was recorded in the minutes of any Hindraf meetings, Waythamoorthy’s reply was in the negative, saying: "As an informal organisation solely managed by him, meetings were never held."
Remain united
Hindraf started off briefly as an umbrella grouping for 38 Indian-based organisation, but it broke up when others disassociated themselves from Waythamoorthy after he took a bold move to submit a memorandum to the King early last year demanding a halt to the demolition of Hindu temples in the country."I was practically doing everything on my own," said the leader, whose disclosure is sure to send shockwaves among the Indian rights group’s activists across the country, who have been campaigning for the release of the five Hindraf leaders detained in Kamunting under the Internal Security Act 1960.
Hindraf started off briefly as an umbrella grouping for 38 Indian-based organisation, but it broke up when others disassociated themselves from Waythamoorthy after he took a bold move to submit a memorandum to the King early last year demanding a halt to the demolition of Hindu temples in the country."I was practically doing everything on my own," said the leader, whose disclosure is sure to send shockwaves among the Indian rights group’s activists across the country, who have been campaigning for the release of the five Hindraf leaders detained in Kamunting under the Internal Security Act 1960.
Vasanthakumar, who volunteered to join Hindraf last September, was detained alongside Hindraf legal advisor and Waythamoorthy’s brother Uthayakumar, and lawyers M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau.They were picked up in a swoop during the police crackdown on Hindraf leaders and activists in the aftermath of the human rights group mammoth rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25.
Regu and Ramaji were the main organisers of the by-election prayers, which was protested by Hindraf activists from Penang and neighbouring Perak and Kedah.The prayers upset Hindraf loyalists because firstly, the Hindu rite was conducted in a Chinese temple allegedly booked by a local Barisan Nasional leader; the visit by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi; and police protection for the organisers, something that would never happen for Hindraf activities.
Waythamoorthy also said that he would not be surprised if the government approves the registration of Hindraf under Vasanthakumar, Regu and Ramaji’s leadership with the inclusion of certain BN proxies.“Hindraf leaders and supporters should remain united and fight against the infiltration by these traitors,” he said.
Currently Penang-based R Thanenthiran heads a 10-member interim committee appointed by Waythamoorthy a few months ago, to spearhead the movement, which has developed a strong influence among the Indian community.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Letter from WMP to DSAI on allocation for Indian.. repost after DSAI wins P44
Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Adviser
National Justice Party
17, Jalan 16/2,
Petaling Jaya
46350, Selangor, Tel: 03-7956 6444
Malaysia Fax: 03-7956 5444
Dear Sir,
Re: Indian poor : RM 20 billion Motion in all five PKR, DAP and PAS State Assemblies.
We refer to the Motion passed at the Penang State Assembly that the UMNO controlled Federal Malaysian Government either continues with the monorail ,PORR and expansion of the Mengkuang damp or pay the Penang State Government RM 4.7 billion in compensation (NST 31/07/08, Pg 26).
In view of the very serious and critical issues faced by the Malaysian Indian community under 50 years of the neo colonialist UMNO rule, we hereby demand that all the five PKR,DAP and PAS controlled state governments of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan pass a motion endorsing Hindraf’s 18 point demands to Prime Minister Badawi dated 12/08/07 and demanding that the UMNO controlled Federal Government fulfils the wishes and aspirations of the almost two (2) million especially poor and under privileged Indians contained in this 18 point demands in particular but not limited to the RM20 billion per year allocation for this community. We enclose herewith our said 18 Point Demands dated 12/08/07 once again for your easy reference.
May we bring to your kind attention that within a period of the one crucial month RM 34.57 Billion (Utusan Malaysia 26/06/08, Pg. 8 and NST 20/06/08, Pg. 4 and Utusan 30/06/08, Pg.8 ) had been allocated for Sabah alone which also has about 2 million people like the about 2 million Indian population in Peninsula Malaysia. The difference is there has been zero allocation for the poor and underprivileged Indians. After all the Indians are only asking for RM 20 billion which is less than the allocation for Sabah (34.57 billion).
This your goodselves motion would go a long way in helping to alleviate the very serious and long standing critical Indian issues faced by the Indian community in Malaysia.
Your kind indulgence in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Yours faithfully,
……………………………..
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
Currently in London
Adviser
National Justice Party
17, Jalan 16/2,
Petaling Jaya
46350, Selangor, Tel: 03-7956 6444
Malaysia Fax: 03-7956 5444
Dear Sir,
Re: Indian poor : RM 20 billion Motion in all five PKR, DAP and PAS State Assemblies.
We refer to the Motion passed at the Penang State Assembly that the UMNO controlled Federal Malaysian Government either continues with the monorail ,PORR and expansion of the Mengkuang damp or pay the Penang State Government RM 4.7 billion in compensation (NST 31/07/08, Pg 26).
In view of the very serious and critical issues faced by the Malaysian Indian community under 50 years of the neo colonialist UMNO rule, we hereby demand that all the five PKR,DAP and PAS controlled state governments of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan pass a motion endorsing Hindraf’s 18 point demands to Prime Minister Badawi dated 12/08/07 and demanding that the UMNO controlled Federal Government fulfils the wishes and aspirations of the almost two (2) million especially poor and under privileged Indians contained in this 18 point demands in particular but not limited to the RM20 billion per year allocation for this community. We enclose herewith our said 18 Point Demands dated 12/08/07 once again for your easy reference.
May we bring to your kind attention that within a period of the one crucial month RM 34.57 Billion (Utusan Malaysia 26/06/08, Pg. 8 and NST 20/06/08, Pg. 4 and Utusan 30/06/08, Pg.8 ) had been allocated for Sabah alone which also has about 2 million people like the about 2 million Indian population in Peninsula Malaysia. The difference is there has been zero allocation for the poor and underprivileged Indians. After all the Indians are only asking for RM 20 billion which is less than the allocation for Sabah (34.57 billion).
This your goodselves motion would go a long way in helping to alleviate the very serious and long standing critical Indian issues faced by the Indian community in Malaysia.
Your kind indulgence in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Yours faithfully,
……………………………..
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
Currently in London
Comments from Worldwide on Hindraf Betrayed Within
Dear Waytha,
I am not surprised by these events. There will always be SB sponsored activities in any political organisation. The aim would be to create internal dissension. You have to be on your guard at all times. The golden rule is to manage information to the extent of need to know basis. Keep strategies, future plans and hardcore information close to your chest. Never even trust your own mother in this struggle.
God bless you.
Rrgds/ .........P.S. How do you think we defeated the Malayan Communist Party?
.......................................................................................................................................................
Dear Mr.Waythamoorthy, Honorable Chairman
Vankkam _/\_ sir
I would like to express my disappointment and anger at the Seberang jaya Penang Indian community for not being united in the quest for Indian struggle in this country. What took place on Permatang Pauh area was totally disgrace and disgusted for Indian community in this country. We Indians here by must admit this humiliation as for it does confuse Indian voters in Permatang Pauh in many reason.
If there were to be tactful plot by the Yang Tidak Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Bodowi and Umno to make the Indians in this country go disarray in splinter group, at the same is also disappointing to watch our Indians play along their tune and overall fell in their trap. Gwaddd!!!!
When are we Indians going to learn to be tolerant and act smart to solve issue in hyper tense situation? There is saying goes by Swami Vivekananda Indians are not problem seeker... But they are known to be problem solvers. I seriously condemn such act to have taken place in the first place and strongly slam such act as embarrassment for us all.
God bless Malaysia
Yours Sincerely,
Deewagar Baskaran
I am not surprised by these events. There will always be SB sponsored activities in any political organisation. The aim would be to create internal dissension. You have to be on your guard at all times. The golden rule is to manage information to the extent of need to know basis. Keep strategies, future plans and hardcore information close to your chest. Never even trust your own mother in this struggle.
God bless you.
Rrgds/ .........P.S. How do you think we defeated the Malayan Communist Party?
.......................................................................................................................................................
Dear Mr.Waythamoorthy, Honorable Chairman
Vankkam _/\_ sir
I would like to express my disappointment and anger at the Seberang jaya Penang Indian community for not being united in the quest for Indian struggle in this country. What took place on Permatang Pauh area was totally disgrace and disgusted for Indian community in this country. We Indians here by must admit this humiliation as for it does confuse Indian voters in Permatang Pauh in many reason.
If there were to be tactful plot by the Yang Tidak Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Bodowi and Umno to make the Indians in this country go disarray in splinter group, at the same is also disappointing to watch our Indians play along their tune and overall fell in their trap. Gwaddd!!!!
When are we Indians going to learn to be tolerant and act smart to solve issue in hyper tense situation? There is saying goes by Swami Vivekananda Indians are not problem seeker... But they are known to be problem solvers. I seriously condemn such act to have taken place in the first place and strongly slam such act as embarrassment for us all.
God bless Malaysia
Yours Sincerely,
Deewagar Baskaran
Monday, August 25, 2008
Police double Standard towards Hindraf.. letter from bloggers
The arrest of the 8 is unwarranted; similarly, they did not arrest those who barge into the bar council forum recently on the spot, why arrest only when it involves Indians, after all the protest was among Indians not involving other races, means that the police on the instruction of the ruling govt have a hidden hand behind the scene. The sleepy head PM's suspicious stop at the temple to receive a memo on the 18 points demand is evident to BN's interference and the plot the to crush Hindraf.
. Out of the thousands of letters sent to the PM/BN govt. non was acknowledged; why only now the PM showing interest? Samy Velu the liar is behind the scene too. Hindraf should not give in to such demands and fight for their rights. PKR MP's should take this double standard matter to the parliament. This is total disregard to the rule of law and playing with fire by the govt. and the police. The police and the govt is trying to instill fear among the Indian communityin this country.
The Indians must therefore stand brave and fight all odds. I appeal to all Indians in P/Pauh to stand united to defeat BN and crush them. We have to put a full stop to all these nonsence and political hegemony by race based BN. We have to unite under one banner and sent the corrupt govt to hell. Pass this message to all Indians and Hindraf members...
Eight held over Hindraf protest at Chinese templePolice intervening in the dispute between Hindrafsupporters and Hindus carrying out special prayers at a Chinese templein Butterworth yesterday.
BUTTERWORTH: A shouting match arose when supporters of the Hindu RightsAction Force (Hindraf) confronted a group of Hindus praying at aChinese temple in Seberang Jaya yesterday. Police detained eight Hindraf supporters, including two women.The group of about 50 supporters had gathered outside the Kuan Yintemple in Jalan Todak here to protest the event organised by Hin-duSevai Sangam.
Trouble started when the group, led by HindrafPenang coordinator M.N. Anbalagan, gate crashed a press conference inthe temple about 4pm.
The press conference was being held byformer Hindraf secretary V.K. Regu, who is now with Sewai Sangam, toexplain the purpose of the prayers at the temple.
Anbalagan had scolded Regu for holding a Hindu event at a Chinese temple and questioned Regu's authority to do so. A shouting match took place between the two and worsened when a PartiKeadilan Rakyat leader, K. Kalaivanar from Sungai Petani, advised thecrowd not to fight.Police stepped in to calm things and theevent, led by Swami Bramanandha Saraswathi from Ku-lim, continued.
However, the quarrel did not end there.Anbalagan and Hindrafsupporters protested outside the Chinese temple for another half anhour, causing a jam in Jalan Todak. They demanded that Regu and organisers of the event vacate the Chinese temple immediately. Some supporters lodged a police report at the Seberang Jaya stationagainst the organisers of the event.
Police appealed to the group todisperse but later light strike force personnel detained eight people.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had earlier stopped at the temple for a visit.
Superintendent Hamzah Ismail, the supervisor for the election zone,said police picked up the eight to defuse the situation and wouldrelease them after recording their details.
. Out of the thousands of letters sent to the PM/BN govt. non was acknowledged; why only now the PM showing interest? Samy Velu the liar is behind the scene too. Hindraf should not give in to such demands and fight for their rights. PKR MP's should take this double standard matter to the parliament. This is total disregard to the rule of law and playing with fire by the govt. and the police. The police and the govt is trying to instill fear among the Indian communityin this country.
The Indians must therefore stand brave and fight all odds. I appeal to all Indians in P/Pauh to stand united to defeat BN and crush them. We have to put a full stop to all these nonsence and political hegemony by race based BN. We have to unite under one banner and sent the corrupt govt to hell. Pass this message to all Indians and Hindraf members...
Eight held over Hindraf protest at Chinese templePolice intervening in the dispute between Hindrafsupporters and Hindus carrying out special prayers at a Chinese templein Butterworth yesterday.
BUTTERWORTH: A shouting match arose when supporters of the Hindu RightsAction Force (Hindraf) confronted a group of Hindus praying at aChinese temple in Seberang Jaya yesterday. Police detained eight Hindraf supporters, including two women.The group of about 50 supporters had gathered outside the Kuan Yintemple in Jalan Todak here to protest the event organised by Hin-duSevai Sangam.
Trouble started when the group, led by HindrafPenang coordinator M.N. Anbalagan, gate crashed a press conference inthe temple about 4pm.
The press conference was being held byformer Hindraf secretary V.K. Regu, who is now with Sewai Sangam, toexplain the purpose of the prayers at the temple.
Anbalagan had scolded Regu for holding a Hindu event at a Chinese temple and questioned Regu's authority to do so. A shouting match took place between the two and worsened when a PartiKeadilan Rakyat leader, K. Kalaivanar from Sungai Petani, advised thecrowd not to fight.Police stepped in to calm things and theevent, led by Swami Bramanandha Saraswathi from Ku-lim, continued.
However, the quarrel did not end there.Anbalagan and Hindrafsupporters protested outside the Chinese temple for another half anhour, causing a jam in Jalan Todak. They demanded that Regu and organisers of the event vacate the Chinese temple immediately. Some supporters lodged a police report at the Seberang Jaya stationagainst the organisers of the event.
Police appealed to the group todisperse but later light strike force personnel detained eight people.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had earlier stopped at the temple for a visit.
Superintendent Hamzah Ismail, the supervisor for the election zone,said police picked up the eight to defuse the situation and wouldrelease them after recording their details.
A report of what happened in Karu Mariamman Temple in Seb Jaya
How Permatang Pauh is spilling over on to all of us - a report of what happened at the Karu Mariamman Temple in Butterworth
Sun, 24/08/2008 - 10:40 — naragan
Permatang Pauh is spilling all over in Penang.
First, the Prime Minister wanted to create a sort of a coup by upstaging Hindraf in appearing at one of their functions impromptu in Butterworth yesterday.
Just, what we did not know yesterday, but do know today is that this is another one of those staged events. The event was organised by two renegade Indians who go by the names of Ramaji and Regu. Ramaji was a founding member of HINDRAF but who has since strayed into treacherous territory. It looks like these two have been in contact with the PM on this matter before the event. Even though this is a bit of speculation on my part, events do definitely suggest it.
But boy, was the PM in for a surprise. The people who were there at the place gave Pak Lah a treatment he is not going to easily forget. Remember what Samy Vellu got just prior to the general elections in March.
I was not personally there but I did see two clips on the phone camera on a friends phone, which we will try to upload soon. The crowd that had gathered there quickly polarised on Pk Lah's entrance to the scene. The people immediately who felt violated by Pak lah's presence began a spontaneous protest . Pak Lah was booed. This was what was captured in the video clip. Quite some booing I must say. Pak Lah left soon afterwards after receiveing this rather unwelcome treatment.
Video: PM's unwelcome:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzml_rp-Ywc
Then a little later, after further protestation by the group, as the crowd was dispersing the National Hindraf Coordinator, the Penang State Hindraf Coordinator and several other Hindraf activists and supporters were arrested by the police.
While all this was happening there was a Jalur Gemilang launching event going on in the Island by Hindraf. The participants of that event were notified and many of them headed for the Bandar Perda Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah on the mainland. There were already many supporters gathered at the Police station by about 10 pm when they were joined from those on the Island. There were around 200-250 supporters outside the police station. Some senior PKR politicians were there - at least 4 of them. The press was abundantly present too, the people were milling about outside the police station, waiting for word about the release of those remanded. Finally at around 3.00 am word came out definitively that they could at best be released the following day. The group made a decision to disperse and reconvene at 10.am today to continue to show support for those remanded.
All of this is just the personal side of the how the system in our contry really operates.The people are increasingly become aware of the reality of the system. All these days the people have been cheated and lied to and made to feel as if the problems they faced were all of their own making. The reality is that a coterie has taken hold of the reins of power in our country and through treachery want to continue their control with brazen acts of power.
The people at times like this are directly confronted with the truth and awareness is growing. The Indian people of Penang are awakening with every such event to a better understanding of what this system really is like. The people of Permatang Pauh are recently getting a strong dose of this reality too daily, which spills over to all the rest of us in incidents like what happened at the KaruMariamman temple in Butterworth yesterday
But the people will ultimately and surely prevail.United we standUnited we act.
Update:Video : 2 Out of 9 Hindraf member remanded were released at BM police station at 2.00pm 24th Aug - .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGfpVmdCU04
..\\__
Hindraf claims ISA detainee a government plant
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 -
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P. Waytha Moorthy last night accused ISA detainee T. Vasanthakumar and two others of being government plants after several movement members met the prime minister in the Permatang Pauh by-election.
The London-based Waytha Moorthy claimed the trio were trying to break up the movement and turn it into a pro-Barisan Nasional outfit."It came to my attention in January 2008 that Vasanthakumar has been planted by the Police Special Branch to infiltrate Hindraf," said Waytha Moorthy in a statement, adding two top government officials had confirmed it.
Vasanthakumar is one of five Hindraf leaders being detained at the Kamunting camp in Perak after the movement held a mammoth protest claiming the government had sidelined Indians. Their arrests and detentions swung the traditional Indian vote to the opposition and helped deny BN's customary two-thirds parliamentary majority.
The latest claims could split the group further as it remains leaderless locally with Waytha Moorthy's self-imposed exile and detention of the other leaders.
Waytha Moorthy named the other two collaborators as V.K. Regu and Ramachandran Meyappan @ Ramaji who is Hindraf spiritual advisor."V.K.Regu though was a pro tem secretary of Hindraf but was removed personally by me in October 2008 for undertaking activities against the interests of Hindraf," Waytha Moorthy said.
He added Ramaji was made spiritual advisor after the five were detained under the Internal Security Act but recent events had shown that both Ramaji and Regu have met Vasanthakumar secretly in the detention camp."
They had colluded to break up HINDRAF and take over the registration of Hindraf as anorganisation.He also alleged that Ramaji and Regu had various secret and unauthorised meetings with thePrime Ministers Department, the PM's private secretary and top MICleaders over the last five months."
Today's events now clear that all their activities thus far is to break up Hindraf and take over the leadership of Hindraf together withVasanthakumar upon his release from ISA.He said he would not be surprised if the authorities approve the movement but it would be led by the trio and MIC proxies "so that the unity and power that Hindraf has displayed under the Makkal Sakti would be permanently be damaged and shattered"."
As the Chairman of this organisation I take full responsibility for the damage caused to the divine struggle of this organisation and extend my sincere apologies to all our supporters," Waytha Moorthy said.
He also called the gathering in Seberang Jaya an insult, saying the the splinter group planned it in a Chinese temple without authorisationPolice arrested eight Hindraf leaders who staged a protest against the a splinter group which had attracted some 200 people for a bonfire prayer.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi met the members briefly and shook their hands as he was in the vicinity for the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign.
Latest news on Seberang Jaya's arrest of Hindraf leaders and supporters
Two female Hindraf activists released
Athi Veeranggan Aug 24, 08 6:05pm
Two women, who were among the nine Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) activists detained in yesterday’s protest in Seberang Jaya, were released at 2pm today after being held in police custody for nearly 20 hours.
The remaining seven, including Hindraf national coordinator TS Thanenthiran, have been shifted from the Central Seberang Perai district police headquarters to the North Seberang Perai district police headquarters this morning.
KR Santhi, 30, and K Saratha, 34, were released on police bail after Hindraf Perak coordinator A Vethamurthy signed the documents as their guarantor.
When contacted, Santhi said the police recorded statements from all nine activists following their arrest over a protest against a splinter group, which also claimed to represent Hindraf, outside a Chinese temple.
She said the nine were questioned for nearly 12 hours before the women were locked up in a cell until their release.
The activists led by Thanenthiran protested against the splinter group, led by VK Regu and the saffron-clad M. Ramachandran, also known as Ramaji, for organising a Hindu religious prayer under Hindraf’s name at a Chinese temple in Seberang Jaya, which is under the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.
Regu said the event was organised by a Makkal Sakthi movement in collaboration with an NGO to seek divine intervention to secure the release of the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act.
It was also done to urge Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to fulfil Hindraf’s 18-point memorandum on Indian affairs submitted to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last year.
Candlelight vigil
Hindraf’s self-exiled chairperson P Waythamoorthy told Malaysiakini via telephone that Regu and Ramaji were no longer involved in Hindraf activities for working against the minority rights group interests.
Hindraf legal advisor P Uthayakumar, T Vasantha Kumar and lawyers M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau have been detained for two years under the ISA.
During the protest, the activists called on Regu and Ramaji not to use Hindraf for their own interests.
Meanwhile, some 50 activists held a candlelight vigil against the arrest outside the SPT police headquarters in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam for nearly eight hours.
PKR parliamentarians Sivarasa Rasiah, Tian Chua and N. Gobalakrishnan, and Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar were present to give support.
They said that the arrest was uncalled for and could have been avoided.
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