Malaysiakini - Athi Veeranggan May 10, 09 5:46pm
PAS vice-president Mohamad Sabu supported P Uthayakumar stance not to thank the government for releasing him yesterday from ISA detention.
"Uthayakumar was right in not thanking the government for his release because firstly he should not have been detained under the ISA at all," said the Penang-born PAS leader, who was himself a former ISA detainee.
Mohamad, who is commonly known as Mat Sabu, said Uthayakumar, like other detainees, was not a criminal nor was he detained for any alleged infringement of the country's laws."He was detained without trial for political dissidence, not for crime, under a draconian law, which should be abolished."There was no necessity to arrest Uthayakumar and the others in the first place."Why should the detainees thank the government for violating human rights and individual liberties?"Uthayakumar was spot on not to thank the government," he told newsmen when opening the PAS Supporters Club, Penang branch convention in Sungai Dua on the mainland this afternoon.Also present were PAS national unity bureau chairperson and Parit Buntar parliamentarian Mujahid Yusof Rawa, the club national chairperson Hu Pang Chaw and Penang branch chairperson Dr Ooi Vellautham.
Uthayakumar and two other Hindraf men, lawyer and Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan and T Vasanthakumar were released together with 10 other detainees from the Kamunting Detention Camp yesterday afternoon.
ISA can be misused by government
Uthayakumar, the most famous Hindraf face, refused to thank the government for his release. Instead, he accused the government for taking away his liberty for 514 days.Hours after taking the reins in April, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had also ordered the release of two Hindraf leaders - V Ganabatirau and R Kengadharan, together with 10 other detainees.
Mat Sabu, who was twice held under ISA, each time for a two-year period between 1984 and 1986 and, 1987 and 1989, is for the abolition of ISA, pointing out that Malaysia aside, only Israel and Singapore were still enforcing the draconian law.He pointed out that all other countries, including the United States, have abolished their respective internal security laws, adding that it was timely to get rid of ISA, which can always become a current government's weapon to clamp down on political dissent."So long as ISA exists, the possibility is high for the government to misuse and abuse the law," he said, alleging that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had released all the Hindraf leaders not as a "genuine kind gesture", but a merely to avoid another by-election in Kota Alam Shah.Manoharan had threatened all week long to quit as state representative to allow Kota Alam Shah voters to vote someone who can better serve them."I don't think Najib can divert the public attention on the Perak crisis by releasing ISA detainees.
Umno wants to avoid another by-election
"He, Umno and Barisan Nasional don't want another by-election," he said, pointing out that BN was still undecided on whether to contest this month's Penanti by-election in Penang.On the Perak crisis, he said Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kader would have no choice but to dissolve the assembly and call for fresh state election."Perak and Malaysia can ill-afford another chaotic assembly session, which is sure to happen the next time," he stressed, adding that last week ugly incidents in Ipoh last Thursday had tarnished the country's image and undermined democracy. He likened the action by plainclothes policemen to haul out legitimate Perak Speaker Sivakumar as a disgrace and violation of the parliamentary democratic system and the rule of law.Mat Sabu was indeed arrested a day before while having breakfast with friends in Jalan Pahang in Kuala Lumpur apparently for inviting Muslims to join in the prayers seeking divine intervention to avert chaos in the Perak assembly sitting.He said the crisis had shaken investors' confidence and raised a big question mark on the legitimacy of BN Perak government."Investors want a legitimate and stable government, be it Pakatan or BN."The usurpation of power by BN has shook their confidence which can only be restored with a fresh state election," he said.
PAS Supporters Club has some 20,000 members across the country and the number is growing, which Mat Sabu said was a good sign that the party was being well-received by all Malaysians.He said the PAS top leadership was conducting a series of discussions now to upgrade and strengthen the role of club members within the party.He also brushed aside claims there was a conflict among the professionals and religious scholars (ulamas) in the party, blaming it on the Umno-owned media playing up the issue in the run-up to the PAS national election next month."It's not a surprise that the media play up this non-issue during each PAS election. PAS will accept any leader, whether professionals or ulamas so long as the person has the ability and capability to lead the party," said Mat Sabu.
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Monday, May 11, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Hindraf leaders Released from ISA related articles and news
Still defiant, Uthayakumar vows to carry on Hindraf cause
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Uthaya goes home to hero's welcome
Malaysiakini -Hafiz Yatim May 10, 09 1:48am
Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar returned to his mother's house in his hometown of Rasah, Seremban late tonight and received a hero’s welcome from a sea of thousands of orange-clad supporters.
The 47-year-old lawyer had earlier today refused to sign the conditional papers of release and travelled from Kamunting to Seremban - a six-hour journey across three states - in a convoy of 100 cars and motorcycles.Interestingly, one of the conditions for his release was not to set foot in Seremban.Along the way he stopped at several places - among them, Rawang, Sungai Buloh and Labu toll exit - to speak to his supporters who had came to see him.He arrived at the Labu toll plaza in Negri Sembilan at about 9.15pm where he was greeted with fireworks and drums and mobbed by a jubilant crowd.Later at his house, he hugged her mother and ate mutton curry, his favourite dish which he had longed for after 18 long months behind bars under the Internal Security Act.Uthayakumar, who remained defiant despite his ordeal, said he chose not to sign any conditional release letters as he felt he had done nothing wrong.“I did not sign the conditional release, in which one of the conditions was that I would not return to Seremban.“Following that, the Kamunting authorities decided to throw me out (of the camp),” said Uthayakumar, whose long hair and beard were sprinkled with confetti thrown by well-wishers.The Hindraf leader had refused to neither cut his hair nor shave his beard since he was arrested on Dec 13, 2007.Asked what his immediate plans were, Uthayakumar said he would consult his supporters first.“I feel Umno and Barisan Nasional have not changed despite a change in leadership,” he said.“I called on the leaders of the country to release the remaining 10 detainees who are still being detained in Kamunting. Some of them had been under detention for eight years,” he said, adding that detention without trial is unlawful.
To visit younger brother in London
Uthayakumar said he would rest for the next two days and would decide on when to go to London to meet with his younger brother, Waythamoorthy, the chairperson of the outlawed Hindraf movement.
Waythamoorthy has been in self-imposed exile in Britain since the ISA arrests in late 2007 where his brother and four others were detained.“I want to discuss with him the next course of action. I also want to visit him as he has this rare heart condition and I am very concerned for his health,” he said.“I will discuss with Waytha (about the future) and if the feelings are strong to form a party as demanded by the supporters, we would certainly seriously consider it.”But first, he said he had to look for his passport.He also laughed over the recent formation of another Indian-based party called Mindraf.“There is a joke that the Chinese want to form Chindraf and Jemaah Islamiah may form Jindraf - people are riding on Hindraf’s popularity,”
He also reminded his followers not to worship or idolised him, after some Hindraf supporters were seen trying to kneel before him and kiss his feet tonight.“No, they should not treat me in this way as I am an ordinary person,” he said.“But I could see many people are supporting the cause as we have been marginalised and I think we have a platform to seek for better welfare of the Indian community,” he said.Uthayakumar pledged that despite the adversities he is going to face, he would continue with the struggle and would not let the authorities to stop him``.
VIDEO 6 mins
Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar returned to his mother's house in his hometown of Rasah, Seremban late tonight and received a hero’s welcome from a sea of thousands of orange-clad supporters.
The 47-year-old lawyer had earlier today refused to sign the conditional papers of release and travelled from Kamunting to Seremban - a six-hour journey across three states - in a convoy of 100 cars and motorcycles.Interestingly, one of the conditions for his release was not to set foot in Seremban.Along the way he stopped at several places - among them, Rawang, Sungai Buloh and Labu toll exit - to speak to his supporters who had came to see him.He arrived at the Labu toll plaza in Negri Sembilan at about 9.15pm where he was greeted with fireworks and drums and mobbed by a jubilant crowd.Later at his house, he hugged her mother and ate mutton curry, his favourite dish which he had longed for after 18 long months behind bars under the Internal Security Act.Uthayakumar, who remained defiant despite his ordeal, said he chose not to sign any conditional release letters as he felt he had done nothing wrong.“I did not sign the conditional release, in which one of the conditions was that I would not return to Seremban.“Following that, the Kamunting authorities decided to throw me out (of the camp),” said Uthayakumar, whose long hair and beard were sprinkled with confetti thrown by well-wishers.The Hindraf leader had refused to neither cut his hair nor shave his beard since he was arrested on Dec 13, 2007.Asked what his immediate plans were, Uthayakumar said he would consult his supporters first.“I feel Umno and Barisan Nasional have not changed despite a change in leadership,” he said.“I called on the leaders of the country to release the remaining 10 detainees who are still being detained in Kamunting. Some of them had been under detention for eight years,” he said, adding that detention without trial is unlawful.
To visit younger brother in London
Uthayakumar said he would rest for the next two days and would decide on when to go to London to meet with his younger brother, Waythamoorthy, the chairperson of the outlawed Hindraf movement.
Waythamoorthy has been in self-imposed exile in Britain since the ISA arrests in late 2007 where his brother and four others were detained.“I want to discuss with him the next course of action. I also want to visit him as he has this rare heart condition and I am very concerned for his health,” he said.“I will discuss with Waytha (about the future) and if the feelings are strong to form a party as demanded by the supporters, we would certainly seriously consider it.”But first, he said he had to look for his passport.He also laughed over the recent formation of another Indian-based party called Mindraf.“There is a joke that the Chinese want to form Chindraf and Jemaah Islamiah may form Jindraf - people are riding on Hindraf’s popularity,”
He also reminded his followers not to worship or idolised him, after some Hindraf supporters were seen trying to kneel before him and kiss his feet tonight.“No, they should not treat me in this way as I am an ordinary person,” he said.“But I could see many people are supporting the cause as we have been marginalised and I think we have a platform to seek for better welfare of the Indian community,” he said.Uthayakumar pledged that despite the adversities he is going to face, he would continue with the struggle and would not let the authorities to stop him``.
VIDEO 6 mins
Friday, May 8, 2009
Voice of Hindraf - May 2009
Where is the construct plan for the Tamil Schools?
1. Prime Minister Najib Razak has asked the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to seek a comprehensive solution to the prickly toll rates increase issue (NST 18/4/2009 page 2). Voice of Hindraf. → But Prime Minister Najib would not order the EPU to convert all Tamil schools into fully aided schools and for it to be on par with the Malay schools. Instead Najib would give out bits and pieces of “peanuts” and “bread crumbs” to these Tamil schools on a piecemeal basis. Najib has no intention to solve the Tamil schools problem on a wholesome and permanent basis. But then Najib crows the “One Malaysia” concept. This is just another slogan by another UMNO Prime Minister to hoodwink the Indians. Don’t be fooled by Najib and UMNO anymore. They have cheated and manipulated the Indians for 52 long years. We now demand change. UMNO is not going to change. We have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections.
Why double standard in handling similiar cases?
2. On the Opposition’s (PAS Secretary General Kamaruddin Jaafar) statement that an anti government riot similar to that in Thailand might happen in Perak following the court’s decision that effectively lifts the suspension of the Perak Menteri Besar and six BN executive council members, Najib said Malaysians should respect the sanctity of the Constitution and the law (NST 18/4/2009 at page 2). Voice of Hindraf → But when Hindraf leader P.Uthayakumar said that he “does not rule out violence” in the aftermath of the 25th November 2007 Rally, meaning that Hindraf has the legal and democratic Options but the not very educated Indians may resort to violence as research has shown that the root cause of violence is poverty, inequality, suppression and oppression the four Hindraf lawyers were immediately arrested and detained under the ISA for 17 months now. Yet again the Indians are the soft targets and easy prey. The Indians are easily bullied. UMNO otherwise cannot play the fool with PAS, PKR or DAP because it will cause them votes.
Why no transparency in Police action and their corrupt ?
3. Home Minister Hishamuddin says the public safety would not be compromised by adding on 60,000 new policemen (UM 17/4/2009 at page 3) Voice of Hindraf → Akram detainee says that Bangladesh has a population of 170 million and are a poverty stricken society but their crime rate is very negligible compared to Malaysia’s 28 Million population. Main reason not quantity of policemen in Malaysia but quality corrupt policemen police partners in crime and the IGP and AG axis which covers up for police crime – latest example is the A. Kugan’s case.
Tamil schools need urgent attention !!
4. UNESCO and UNICEF recently found that Malaysia is one of the top 56 countries which has the highest Education Index. Malaysia also has the highest rate of registration and continuation to tertiary education and has schools with the best facilities says DPM Muhyiddin. He said the Education Ministry would help in expanding the Permata early education for children. He has also taken steps to ensure that preschool education between five to six years old are systematically included into the national education system (UM 17/4/2009 at page 2) Voice of Hindraf → UMNO gives so much emphasis to pre-schoolers with the backing of no less than the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife for children between 5 and 6 and below 5. But for most of the 523 Tamil schools the already poor and 90% low income group of Indians have to pull their resources to buy the Indian children one computer per school, chairs, tables and basic school necessities. To start of Najib’s UMNO even refuses to make all 523 Tamil primary schools fully aided government schools but they are moving and bending far backwards to bring pre-schoolers into the national mainstream education system.
5. Penang Tamil schools (28 schools) will continue to be developed says Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. The Prai Tamil school was granted RM48,460 and the Assad Tamil school RM24,170.00 by the Penang State Government (TN 16/4/2009 at page 5) Voice of Hindraf → Aid was not given to all 28 Tamil schools but a mere token sum is dished out in bits and pieces. Note: Penang is about the richest states in Malaysia. It has been over one year since PR/DAP took over the Penang State Government but zero steps have been taken to acquire the land these Tamil schools are sitting on in order for these schools to receive full financial assistance from the Federal Government. The Penang DAP government Prof Ramasamy says a Special Committee to look into Tamil schools in Penang has been set up and is headed by USM Lecturer Dr. K. Anbalagan. This Committee has reported that many tamil schools are on private land. But what is being done to solve the problem. By the stroke of the pen of the Chief Minister all these 28 Tamil school land can be acquired and they will instantly become fully aided Tamil schools. Even DAP like UMNO/Gerakan is beating around the bush.
Lack of merit for Indians even in civil sector !!
6. Chief Justice Zaki Azmi (Tan Sri) says the eight Judges elevated to the Federal Court and Court of Appeal were based on merit. (NST 16/4/2009 at page 10) Voice of Hindraf → What the elevation of Sri Ram to the Federal Court and just four months before his retirement and after 15 years in the Court. Court of Appeal is based on merits? Ghazali who was also allevated to the Federal Court was only a Judge of the Court of Appeal for seven years. The least UMNO could have done was to appoint Sri Ram as the President of the Court of Appeal and at the same time allevated him to the Federal Court. Of the five High Court Judges allevated to the Court of Appeal, none were Indians. Why? Indians in this country are known to be about the best legal brains in this country but are not appropriately given due Judicial appointments and just about everywhere else under the UMNO government regime.
7. Najib stressed that the new cabinet should meet the high expectations of the people who were now very critical of the government. “We have to open doors for discourse and dialogue with various groups so that the decisions made by the government are what the people want”. (NST 16/4/2009 at page 4). Responding to a question about the unhappiness regarding the representation of the Indian community in the cabinet with one minister and two deputy minister. “We released two Hindraf detainees. But as the same time we also released 11 others (non Indians). The MIC should also thank us for the release of the 11 others. He said the government was for all (NST 16/4/2009 at page 2) and people must break away from ethnic prison. Agencies from the abolished MECD will be absorbed into eight ministries. He said the move was to ensure that the main roles and functions played by the abolished ministry would continuously be given attention by the government, particularly efforts to create a Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial community. It is also aimed at expending and expediting Bumiputera involvement in the nation’s economic development, opening up new growth areas and strengthening cooperatives. Najib announced that under the new line up:-
♦ Franchise, Development and Promotion and Vendor Development Programmes had been transferred to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry;
♦ Cooperative Development, Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia and Cooperative College of Malaysia had also been placed under the (above) ministry’s jurisdiction;
♦ Development of the Bumiputera industrial and trade community, National Entrepreneur Institute and the SME Bank would come under the purview of the International Trade and Industry Ministry;
♦ Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board would report to the Prime Minister’s Department;
♦ Contractors Services Centre would be transferred to the Works Ministry;
♦ State Economic Department Corporations, Urban Development Authority, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad and Bank Rakyat would report to the Finance Ministry;
♦ Majlis Amanah Rakyat was re-assigned to the Rural and Regional Department Ministry;
♦ University Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia Japan University had been transferred to the Higher Education Ministry; and
♦ Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan Niaga (Tekun) would be under the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro based Industry Ministry. (NST 16/4/2009 at page 2).
Voice of Hindraf → On the one hand Prime Minister Najib tells Malaysians to break away from the ethnic prison. But when it comes to the implementation nine portfolios under the MECD which was dissolved was instead transferred to eight different Malay led Minister. The CVLB in particular is a very clear cut ministry which belongs to the Transport Ministry but was transferred to (a malay minister) under the Prime Ministers Department just because the Transport Minister is a Chinese. Before Samy Vellu we believe Government projects contracts and tenders were handled by the Works Minister which is in order but when Samy Vellu became the Works Minister, the Millions and Billions worth of projects, contracts and tenders were then moved to the Finance Ministry. Now that the Works Ministry is back to being headed by an UMNO Minister this projects, tenders and contracts is believed to have gone back to the Works Ministry. Similarly foreign workers approval which is supposed t be with the Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam has been moved to the Home Ministry because of the Big monies to be made by the UMNO linked companies and which has always been led by an UMNO Ministry. Further Prime Minister Najib talks about expending and expediting Bumiputera involvement in the nations economic development. Why can’t it be Malaysian including the Indian involvement as opposed to the Bumiputera involvement. But this is Prime Minister Najib’s One Malaysia. It is just another slogan by yet another UMNO Minister. Old wine in new bottles. Prime Minister Najib says one thing but practices another. UMNO will never change from its racist, religious extremist and supremacist plans policies and practices it has been practicing and implementing for over the last 52 years. Racism religions extremism and supremacy of UMNO race and religion is in their blood. UMNO will never change. We will have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections.
Need serious look into the poor and in die need Indian issues by PM
8. Prime Minister Najib has called on Malaysians to join him in his journey to break racial barriers in the country. He said all communities should move as one to be stronger. “We must break the race barrier”. We should not look at skin colour but as one Malaysia. If on needs help, he should be helped. “If we have that attitude we will move forward” he said in his Vasakthi speech at Tatt Khalsa Diwan in KL. Najib said he wanted to make it clear that the government stood for all Malaysians regardless of race and religion. I want to stress that I am the leader of all communities, religious and races. He said although the Sikh community was small numbering 100,000, their contributions were significant. We will be one team in Malaysia. Voice of Hindraf → We have heard this kind of statements from many Prime Ministers before. If Najib is serious about One Malaysia, he should amend the Federal Constitution and all laws at least that all Malaysians born after Independence in 1957 should automatically become bumiputeras, sons of the soil as the term means including the Indian and Chinese. Then and only then we are on as One Malaysia for a start with the implementation of all government plans, policies and practices applying to the Indians and Chinese as much as it applies to the Malays. But the ground reality is that even as late as last week an Indian student cannot sit for his UPSR exams because he had been denied his Birth Certificate and 13 Indian children in one family going to bed hungry because of poverty. Do you think Najib and the UMNO government really mean it when they keep repeating the One Malaysia concept? Or is it a mere propaganda?
Cultivate the religion education as well.
9. National service in Tanjung Malim had 50 students attended prayers at the Thandayathapani Hindu Temple. (TN 14/4/09 page 13) Voice of Hindraf → each and every National Service Centre must be supervised by a Hindu teacher/priest and arrangements made for them to go to the nearest hindu temple every Friday evening. The danger is a one way ticket in Malaysia if for some reason they convert to Islam without their parent’s knowledge.
Stop the mere talk ; show in action !!
10. Skills Training Opportunities for Indians, Selangor Exco Member assures MAYA Selangor Committee Members, Photo of Xavier with a garland and Ponadai and 11 members after a meeting at the Selangor State Secretariat Building in (TN 13/4/2009 at page 7). Voice of Hindraf → MIC style politics by Xavier. Kosong talk and meeting as the names of the Institutions was not outlined, the scholarships thereto not stated, no details an student and teaching staff intake to University Selangors. Most importantly no mechanism to get back to when the skills training places and scholarships are denied to the Indians ie where do they go from there?
11. Indians should not waste time on quarrelling over petty and unproductive issues (NST 14/4/2009 at page 15)
12. Second Finance Minister Datuk Husni congratulate UMNO for appointing this Goodman in the key second Finance Minister’s Najib Razak. This Minister when he was merely the MO for Tambun had stood up against the hindu temple demolishments at a crucial moment for Hindraf when even the top PKR, DAP and PAS leaders close to remain silent. He was reported to have said “Hindu temple issue disqualifies Khir Toyo, says Tambun UMNO Chief Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadziah.” “How can you demolish a temple? What if a mosque was demolished? What do you think will happen? Political leaders should not do this type of thing. He has done wrong. The Hindu community was very hurt (NST 30/6/2009 at page 10). If only many more UMNO Ministers are not racist and religious extremist like Datuk Husni Hanadziah Malaysia would be a very much more pleasant place to live in especially for the Malaysian Indians.
13. Gerakan leaders attend forum on Anti ISA by GMI Consultation forum “Internal Security Act: what next? here yesterday. The four present were state Gerakan Chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Party Youth Committee Member Dr. Thor Teong Lee. The forum was aimed at gathering public opinion on the abolishment of ISA. Dr Teng reiterated Gerakan’s strong stand against ISA, especially detention without trial, saying that it could be misused, citing the cases of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Sin Chew Daily Journalist Tan Hoon Cheng. Dr. Teng said Gerakan also believed that the country needed a new act to cope with the rising events of terrorism – An Anti Terrorism Act to deal with terrorists. In the transitional period before the new act is enacted ISA must be reviewed to allow judicial intervention and the review of all cases said Dr. Teng. GMI President Syed Ibrahim Syed Noah said both Selangor and Perak State governments had tabled and approved motions to abolish the ISA but Penang and Kedah had yet to make a decision. He added that as of this month, there were 27 (25) ISA detainees still at Kamunting detention centre but noted a reduction since 2007 when there were 70 detainees there, Syed Ibrahim also said that Prime Minister Najibs move to release 13 ISA detainees was a populist move (NST 13/4/2009 at page 15) Voice of Hindraf →Dr Teng (and GMI) only mentioned Raja Petra and Sin Chew Daily’s Tan. He completely left out the only other four political detainees ie the four Hindraf lawyers. Why? Because they are lawyers from a politically and economically insignificant community. My point here is that this again proves that we have to fight our own battle. Tan was released after merely 18 hours of detention, Teresa five days and Raja Petra 55 days because of the Malaysian NGO, Opposition Parties PKR, DAP and PAS and Civil Society’s very strong stand coupled with the MCA and Gerakan putting their foot down. But for the Hindraf lawyers who have been in detention for nearly 500 days new both BN and the PRK, DAP, PAS and the NGOs’ and Civil Society did not care.
14. Land (1 acre) adjoining the Sri Raja Mariaman Hindu temple is attempted to be taken away by some parties with political links. This new temple wants to put up a wedding Hall, says temple secretary shanmugam. In 1987 when the Sin Leong Plantation came up for development the plantation temple was allocated 12,742 sq feet of land. This estate crematorium was also given one acre of land. But this has now become someone else land. This has become a mystery. It has now been transferred to the Selangor Government. This land is intended to be used as the access road to the nearby factory. These people are trying to take over this land and also the temple land. There are no Wedding Halls in Sg Buloh and their Surrounding areas. This matter has been brought to the attention of Selangor EXCO Member Xavier Jayakumar and Subang Jaya M.P Sivarasa who had promised to look into this matter. There are 1,000 over Indian families in the area surrounding the temple. We will fight to build the Public Hall says Shanmugam. (MN 5/4/09 page 1 and 13) Voice of Hindraf →It has been over one year since the PKR Selangor State government had taken over from UMNO. But they are yet to grant the temple and the adjoining one acre of land. Similarly this PKR/P.R Selangor State government has yet to grant state land to the hundreds of such temples in Selangor. How is this PKR/P.R State government may different from the previous UMNO/BN Selangor State government. This PKR/P.R state `governments in Selangor and all the other 5 P.R ruled states have no interest in giving these hindu temples, tamil schools, crematoriums and Indian squatters a permanent solution to their problem. To the contrary the selangor and Perak State governments within one month of their coming to power granted RM 100 Million and 400 hectres pig project in Sepang (NST 11/4/08 and 26/8/08 page 3) similarly in Perak 60,000 (110,000) lots in 134 Chinese New Villagers in (UM 5/4/08 page 4) and 102,000 titles for 349 Rancangan Kampong Fersusun (mostly Malay) (UM 1/1/09 page 1), 3.3 hectres per orang asli land approved, 18,000 hectres has been gazetted as orang asli reserve and another 30,000 hectres more waiting to be gazetted says Nga koo Ham DAP Senior Perak EXCO Member (NST 20/9/08 at page 20) 1,000 hectres ( about 2,500 acres) of land to nine Chinese schools in Kampar, Manjung, and Taiping (NST 3/8/08) 101 hectres to the Premier International University with a possibility of an additional 20 hectres (NST 18/9/08 page 20) 3,000 illegal shrimp ponds in Mangrove forests near Manjong (chinese) to be legalised by giving them land titles says Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin (NST 28/12/08 page 26) land titles for 10,000 orang asli in Perak to help raise their socio economic status (NST 8/10/08 page 10). It is clear that just about every body else are granted state land ie the Malays, Chinese and the orang asli except the Indians. Even if it for the public purpose of Temples Crematoriums Tamil schools or Public Halls. How then these PKR, DAP and PAS governments different from the previous UMNO/ B.N state governments? This is the political reality we are facing today!
15 Wisma Putra a let down in Hema Latha’s death at the Mumbai terror attacks. Hema’s brother Ratna Raja in his letter to the editor had written- “When I was at the funeral parlour in Mumbai making arrangements to transport my sister’s body back to Malaysia , I called the consulate requesting assistance. There was none forthcoming. Instead a friend helped me. When the body arrived in Malaysia, we went through much red tape before Mas Kargo released the body. After my letter was published in the N.S.T (News Straits Times) , I had a call from the Mumbai consulate regarding my sister’s passport , My Kad, cash, credit cards etc. They told me they had couried the documents on February 12th. On February 26th a family member noticed a large white envelope placed on my gate. The envelope contained the very much awaited high security documents with the postage of RM 3.90. Who takes responsibility if they were lost or damaged? I am saddened and shocked at the indifference and attitude displayed by the one agency that I as a citizen could depend on in such trying times. At the end of the day, Wisma Putra spent RM 3.90 on my sister’s tragedy. [ Ratna Raja A.Kasi Pillai , Kuala Lumpur – News Straits Times (9/4/09) page 19] Voice of Hindraf →Will this set of happenings happen if the victim was a Malay Muslim ? Answer- No. Why? Because the victim is an Indian and UMNO’s 52 years of racist and religious extremist policies which has very well seeped in right up to the bottommost of the government machinery not only in this but in almost all matters concerning the Indians. We often read about young Malay muslin girls who “run away” to Indonesia being brought back to Malaysia by Putera UMNO with the help of Wisma Putra and the Malaysian Overseas Consulates. Even in an N.S.T newspaper report last week one Rani, a divorcee with young children who was stuck in a Pakistani jail after having been duped by a drug male. Wisma Putra washes their hands by saying that “they could not locate Rani’s family . The least they could do was to officially write to the President of Pakistan asking for a pardon and to bring Rani back to Malaysia. In 2006 one Selva Malar was stuck in a Belgian jail for accompanying some Sri Lankans from Malaysia who were deemed to be illegal asylum seekers. She was offered zero help. Even the Sri Lankan government who were at “war” with their ethnic minority Tamils do not treat the Sri Lankan Tamils any different from a Sighalese when they run into problems in Malaysia.
16 School bus driver claims trial to dangerous driving injuring 35 pupils R. Marathandavan (40) was granted bail of RM 2000.00 N.S.T - 9/4/09 PAGE 13) Voice of Hindraf → All school buses, factory buses, private buses and tourist buses must be given to individual owner drivers to operate and make a living . Similarly, individual lorry owners must be given the permits to operate their lorries as a business. Also all taxi drivers must be granted their own permits to drive, manage and operate their own taxis. The poor , underprivileged and unskilled drivers of these buses , lorries and taxis in particular the Indians drivers should be able to become small time business men instead of labouring their blood , sweat and tears for almost always me some UMNO linked companies. Thousands of especially Indians bus, lorry and taxi drivers labour and suffer on a day to day basis working for UMNO and their cronies. By granting these drivers the permits and arranging low interest loans for them to buy and own their buses , lorries and taxis, they would have a sense of belonging and more committed and dedicated to their jobs. As this would be sole rice bowls, they would concentrate and take their driving jobs more seriously. Thus less road accidents, less injuries , less fatal accidents, less hospital operation cost, more productive working hours for the economy, less court prosecutions etc. These Indians drivers would achieve and enjoy higher quality of life and self dignity and happier families. They would be discouraged from indulging in crime which is on the rise among Indians. But UMNO does not like to see the Indians prosper by their own hard work. UMNO is selfish, greedy and does not mean well for the Indians. Otherwise they would have given these Indian drivers their permits)
17. Parti Bersatu Sabah wants the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as Bumiputera Sabah and not as “other races” in the Federal Government’s affairs and forums. PBS’s Chief Information Officer Johnny Mositun said this was in line with the “One Malaysia” concept introduced by Najib Razak which stressed fair and impartial treatment of all ethnic groups. “It is high time Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak were recognized as major races in Malaysia (NST 9/4/09 page 12). Voice of Hindraf → One Malaysia is yet another puppet shadow play “wayang kulit” by Prime Minister Najib Razak and UMNO. They don’t mean it. Otherwise Najib and UMNO would have given details as to this One Malaysia concept. For a start Prime Minister Najib could have announced the end of Malay Supremacy and Malay Special Privileges as is currently practiced under this One Malaysia concept. And then Najib could start by ordering a via a Prime Minister’s circular Directive to start from the lowest Chief Executive level of District Officers and Presidents of local Councils to also have Indians and Chinese appointed to these positions. And then move up to Managers Head s of Departments Director Generals, Secretaries Generals and the Chief Secretary to the Government to also be taken from among the Indians and Chinese. Then the One Malaysia concept would make sense. UMNO and Malaysia are obsolete as at a time when the world’s most powerful country in the world the USA has elected a black “muslim” President Barack Obama. Whereas in Malaysia an Indian or Chinese cannot even dream to become a District Officer, ie the lowest level government head of department. Just look at Najib’s cabinet appointment today. Even the key Ministers position of Home Affairs, Defence, Foreign Education International Trade and Industry, Finance Entrepreneur and Co-operative, Agriculture and Agro based Industries, Rural and Regional Development has and never been given to a non malay muslim in Malaysia’s 52 year old history since independence and right up to Najib Razak’s cabinet announcement today (TV1 at 3.00 pm 9/4/2009). The exception being the Finance Minister up to 1969 that was held that too by a Chinese and never an Indian. Do you think Najib Razak really means it when he announced the One Malaysia concept?
18. Kugan’s family wants specimens returned. They want the police to return postmortem specimens of the deceased which were taken away when they raided the office of Dr. Prashant at the UMMC on Monday and seized the specimens. The family also rejected the findings of the Independent committee of the Health Ministry and questioned the validity of their findings says lawyer N.Surendran. The findings were announced by Tan Sri Ismail Merican, the Director General of the Health Ministry. Surendran said Dr. Prashant had photographs of Kugan’s internal organs which clearly showed they were damaged. “How can the committee come to a conclusion on the reports when they did not even conduct a postmortem on the victim” asked N.Surendran. He said the family wants the specimens, photographs and other material so that the pathologist Dr. S.Prasant can complete the toxicology test. “If the items are not returned, the second post mortem cannot be completed” said Surendren, adding that the family was making plans to send Kugan’s specimens to Australia. Surendran said the family would take the police to court if they didn’t return Kugan’s post mortem specimens (NST 9/4/2009 at page 9). Voice of Hindraf → Yet again the police are using high handed tactics and abusing their powers in doing a full scale cover up. They are trying to get away with cold blooded murder and to protect and save the 12 policemen from facing murder charges. Has this crime not involved policemen, the said 12 policemen would have been immediately remanded and charged for murder and denied bail as there is no bail for murder. But why a different set of rules for policemen who are cold blooded murderers. Why should policemen be above the law. Even in Sri Lanka where the country is at war with the LTTE, there has never been a single killing of a detainee in a police lock up. But in Malaysia we have statistics of one Indian detainee being killed in police lock ups in every two weeks and in every week an Indian mere suspect being shot dead by the police. The good side to this unwanted events is it will definitely lead to UMNO’s downfall in the 2012/2013 general elections. UMNO will never change. We have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections.
19. RM10 Million for Tamil schools in Johor says MIC Johor Chairman Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan at the Skudai Tamil schools 33rd AGM opening ceremony. From the RM80 Million for Tamil schools nationwide (announced by PM Najib Razak) RM87,000.00are for Tamil schools in Johor. From this RM100,000.00 allocated to Tun Aminah Tamil school school which needs an extension building for its 2,100 students which MIC plans to build (TN 8/4/2009 at page 7). Voice of Hindraf → Wayang Kulit by MIC – it is the duty of the UMNO government to provide free education for all including the Tamil schools. UMNO is not doing us a favour by building Tamil school extension buildings or upgrading these schools. It is their duty to do so. UMNO cannot be giving Tamil schools bits and pieces of funds. They should build and upgrade all 523 Tamil schools in the country within six months and make them on par with the Malay National schools. Thereafter these 523 Tamil schools should be granted equal funding facilities and status like any other Malay National schools. The obsolete politics of using the “mandore” MIC to dish out “peanuts” and “breadcrumbs” on a piecemeal basis must come to an end not only for Tamil schools but for all Indian problems especially the critical Indian problems. After 52 years of independence, we need a wholesome solution to our problems as done for the Malay muslims and not one off piecemeal solutions let alone the wayang kulit empty promises by the MIC like this.
20. Lost both parents and lost right leg in an accident, Pravinkumar (18) and his brothers Saranyan (15) and Thanes Kumar (11) gets welfare help. They live in Taman Intan, Kluang. Johor Exco S. Asojan and Kahang Adun ER Vityananthan gave them (token cash) donations. Asohan called the Welfare Officer Dr. Jose Jacob for help. These three brothers would get RM450.00 at RM150.00 each. MIC would make efforts that their studies do continue. Pravin scored 8A’s in PMR last year. He earlier studied at a Tamil school and scored 7As’. His brother Saranayan (15) is in form two and Thanesh Kumar (11) in standard 5. Their father C. Perumal died 2 years ago while their mother died in February 2008. They are being looked over by their close relatives. The MIC Kluang Division has made arrangements with the Kluang Catholic Church for prostesis (false leg) costing RM5,500.00 to be given to him (TN 8/4/2009 at page 4) Voice of Hindraf → Under the UMNO governments social safety net, these 3 brothers should be allocated a free council house until they finish their studies and RM500.00 per person per month for their monthly expenses by the Welfare department. Had Pravin Kumar with 8As in UPSR been a malay muslim he would have been taken into some Mara Junior Science College fully Residential or some other residential school also for his other two brothers. His prostesis (false leg) must have been organized by the welfare department and not the local MIC and the church. MIC – Wayang kulit because RM450.00 not in writing.
Vaalge Hindraf Makkal Sakthi
1. Prime Minister Najib Razak has asked the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to seek a comprehensive solution to the prickly toll rates increase issue (NST 18/4/2009 page 2). Voice of Hindraf. → But Prime Minister Najib would not order the EPU to convert all Tamil schools into fully aided schools and for it to be on par with the Malay schools. Instead Najib would give out bits and pieces of “peanuts” and “bread crumbs” to these Tamil schools on a piecemeal basis. Najib has no intention to solve the Tamil schools problem on a wholesome and permanent basis. But then Najib crows the “One Malaysia” concept. This is just another slogan by another UMNO Prime Minister to hoodwink the Indians. Don’t be fooled by Najib and UMNO anymore. They have cheated and manipulated the Indians for 52 long years. We now demand change. UMNO is not going to change. We have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections.
Why double standard in handling similiar cases?
2. On the Opposition’s (PAS Secretary General Kamaruddin Jaafar) statement that an anti government riot similar to that in Thailand might happen in Perak following the court’s decision that effectively lifts the suspension of the Perak Menteri Besar and six BN executive council members, Najib said Malaysians should respect the sanctity of the Constitution and the law (NST 18/4/2009 at page 2). Voice of Hindraf → But when Hindraf leader P.Uthayakumar said that he “does not rule out violence” in the aftermath of the 25th November 2007 Rally, meaning that Hindraf has the legal and democratic Options but the not very educated Indians may resort to violence as research has shown that the root cause of violence is poverty, inequality, suppression and oppression the four Hindraf lawyers were immediately arrested and detained under the ISA for 17 months now. Yet again the Indians are the soft targets and easy prey. The Indians are easily bullied. UMNO otherwise cannot play the fool with PAS, PKR or DAP because it will cause them votes.
Why no transparency in Police action and their corrupt ?
3. Home Minister Hishamuddin says the public safety would not be compromised by adding on 60,000 new policemen (UM 17/4/2009 at page 3) Voice of Hindraf → Akram detainee says that Bangladesh has a population of 170 million and are a poverty stricken society but their crime rate is very negligible compared to Malaysia’s 28 Million population. Main reason not quantity of policemen in Malaysia but quality corrupt policemen police partners in crime and the IGP and AG axis which covers up for police crime – latest example is the A. Kugan’s case.
Tamil schools need urgent attention !!
4. UNESCO and UNICEF recently found that Malaysia is one of the top 56 countries which has the highest Education Index. Malaysia also has the highest rate of registration and continuation to tertiary education and has schools with the best facilities says DPM Muhyiddin. He said the Education Ministry would help in expanding the Permata early education for children. He has also taken steps to ensure that preschool education between five to six years old are systematically included into the national education system (UM 17/4/2009 at page 2) Voice of Hindraf → UMNO gives so much emphasis to pre-schoolers with the backing of no less than the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife for children between 5 and 6 and below 5. But for most of the 523 Tamil schools the already poor and 90% low income group of Indians have to pull their resources to buy the Indian children one computer per school, chairs, tables and basic school necessities. To start of Najib’s UMNO even refuses to make all 523 Tamil primary schools fully aided government schools but they are moving and bending far backwards to bring pre-schoolers into the national mainstream education system.
5. Penang Tamil schools (28 schools) will continue to be developed says Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. The Prai Tamil school was granted RM48,460 and the Assad Tamil school RM24,170.00 by the Penang State Government (TN 16/4/2009 at page 5) Voice of Hindraf → Aid was not given to all 28 Tamil schools but a mere token sum is dished out in bits and pieces. Note: Penang is about the richest states in Malaysia. It has been over one year since PR/DAP took over the Penang State Government but zero steps have been taken to acquire the land these Tamil schools are sitting on in order for these schools to receive full financial assistance from the Federal Government. The Penang DAP government Prof Ramasamy says a Special Committee to look into Tamil schools in Penang has been set up and is headed by USM Lecturer Dr. K. Anbalagan. This Committee has reported that many tamil schools are on private land. But what is being done to solve the problem. By the stroke of the pen of the Chief Minister all these 28 Tamil school land can be acquired and they will instantly become fully aided Tamil schools. Even DAP like UMNO/Gerakan is beating around the bush.
Lack of merit for Indians even in civil sector !!
6. Chief Justice Zaki Azmi (Tan Sri) says the eight Judges elevated to the Federal Court and Court of Appeal were based on merit. (NST 16/4/2009 at page 10) Voice of Hindraf → What the elevation of Sri Ram to the Federal Court and just four months before his retirement and after 15 years in the Court. Court of Appeal is based on merits? Ghazali who was also allevated to the Federal Court was only a Judge of the Court of Appeal for seven years. The least UMNO could have done was to appoint Sri Ram as the President of the Court of Appeal and at the same time allevated him to the Federal Court. Of the five High Court Judges allevated to the Court of Appeal, none were Indians. Why? Indians in this country are known to be about the best legal brains in this country but are not appropriately given due Judicial appointments and just about everywhere else under the UMNO government regime.
7. Najib stressed that the new cabinet should meet the high expectations of the people who were now very critical of the government. “We have to open doors for discourse and dialogue with various groups so that the decisions made by the government are what the people want”. (NST 16/4/2009 at page 4). Responding to a question about the unhappiness regarding the representation of the Indian community in the cabinet with one minister and two deputy minister. “We released two Hindraf detainees. But as the same time we also released 11 others (non Indians). The MIC should also thank us for the release of the 11 others. He said the government was for all (NST 16/4/2009 at page 2) and people must break away from ethnic prison. Agencies from the abolished MECD will be absorbed into eight ministries. He said the move was to ensure that the main roles and functions played by the abolished ministry would continuously be given attention by the government, particularly efforts to create a Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial community. It is also aimed at expending and expediting Bumiputera involvement in the nation’s economic development, opening up new growth areas and strengthening cooperatives. Najib announced that under the new line up:-
♦ Franchise, Development and Promotion and Vendor Development Programmes had been transferred to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry;
♦ Cooperative Development, Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia and Cooperative College of Malaysia had also been placed under the (above) ministry’s jurisdiction;
♦ Development of the Bumiputera industrial and trade community, National Entrepreneur Institute and the SME Bank would come under the purview of the International Trade and Industry Ministry;
♦ Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board would report to the Prime Minister’s Department;
♦ Contractors Services Centre would be transferred to the Works Ministry;
♦ State Economic Department Corporations, Urban Development Authority, Perbadanan Nasional Berhad and Bank Rakyat would report to the Finance Ministry;
♦ Majlis Amanah Rakyat was re-assigned to the Rural and Regional Department Ministry;
♦ University Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia Japan University had been transferred to the Higher Education Ministry; and
♦ Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan Niaga (Tekun) would be under the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro based Industry Ministry. (NST 16/4/2009 at page 2).
Voice of Hindraf → On the one hand Prime Minister Najib tells Malaysians to break away from the ethnic prison. But when it comes to the implementation nine portfolios under the MECD which was dissolved was instead transferred to eight different Malay led Minister. The CVLB in particular is a very clear cut ministry which belongs to the Transport Ministry but was transferred to (a malay minister) under the Prime Ministers Department just because the Transport Minister is a Chinese. Before Samy Vellu we believe Government projects contracts and tenders were handled by the Works Minister which is in order but when Samy Vellu became the Works Minister, the Millions and Billions worth of projects, contracts and tenders were then moved to the Finance Ministry. Now that the Works Ministry is back to being headed by an UMNO Minister this projects, tenders and contracts is believed to have gone back to the Works Ministry. Similarly foreign workers approval which is supposed t be with the Human Resources Minister S. Subramaniam has been moved to the Home Ministry because of the Big monies to be made by the UMNO linked companies and which has always been led by an UMNO Ministry. Further Prime Minister Najib talks about expending and expediting Bumiputera involvement in the nations economic development. Why can’t it be Malaysian including the Indian involvement as opposed to the Bumiputera involvement. But this is Prime Minister Najib’s One Malaysia. It is just another slogan by yet another UMNO Minister. Old wine in new bottles. Prime Minister Najib says one thing but practices another. UMNO will never change from its racist, religious extremist and supremacist plans policies and practices it has been practicing and implementing for over the last 52 years. Racism religions extremism and supremacy of UMNO race and religion is in their blood. UMNO will never change. We will have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections.
Need serious look into the poor and in die need Indian issues by PM
8. Prime Minister Najib has called on Malaysians to join him in his journey to break racial barriers in the country. He said all communities should move as one to be stronger. “We must break the race barrier”. We should not look at skin colour but as one Malaysia. If on needs help, he should be helped. “If we have that attitude we will move forward” he said in his Vasakthi speech at Tatt Khalsa Diwan in KL. Najib said he wanted to make it clear that the government stood for all Malaysians regardless of race and religion. I want to stress that I am the leader of all communities, religious and races. He said although the Sikh community was small numbering 100,000, their contributions were significant. We will be one team in Malaysia. Voice of Hindraf → We have heard this kind of statements from many Prime Ministers before. If Najib is serious about One Malaysia, he should amend the Federal Constitution and all laws at least that all Malaysians born after Independence in 1957 should automatically become bumiputeras, sons of the soil as the term means including the Indian and Chinese. Then and only then we are on as One Malaysia for a start with the implementation of all government plans, policies and practices applying to the Indians and Chinese as much as it applies to the Malays. But the ground reality is that even as late as last week an Indian student cannot sit for his UPSR exams because he had been denied his Birth Certificate and 13 Indian children in one family going to bed hungry because of poverty. Do you think Najib and the UMNO government really mean it when they keep repeating the One Malaysia concept? Or is it a mere propaganda?
Cultivate the religion education as well.
9. National service in Tanjung Malim had 50 students attended prayers at the Thandayathapani Hindu Temple. (TN 14/4/09 page 13) Voice of Hindraf → each and every National Service Centre must be supervised by a Hindu teacher/priest and arrangements made for them to go to the nearest hindu temple every Friday evening. The danger is a one way ticket in Malaysia if for some reason they convert to Islam without their parent’s knowledge.
Stop the mere talk ; show in action !!
10. Skills Training Opportunities for Indians, Selangor Exco Member assures MAYA Selangor Committee Members, Photo of Xavier with a garland and Ponadai and 11 members after a meeting at the Selangor State Secretariat Building in (TN 13/4/2009 at page 7). Voice of Hindraf → MIC style politics by Xavier. Kosong talk and meeting as the names of the Institutions was not outlined, the scholarships thereto not stated, no details an student and teaching staff intake to University Selangors. Most importantly no mechanism to get back to when the skills training places and scholarships are denied to the Indians ie where do they go from there?
11. Indians should not waste time on quarrelling over petty and unproductive issues (NST 14/4/2009 at page 15)
12. Second Finance Minister Datuk Husni congratulate UMNO for appointing this Goodman in the key second Finance Minister’s Najib Razak. This Minister when he was merely the MO for Tambun had stood up against the hindu temple demolishments at a crucial moment for Hindraf when even the top PKR, DAP and PAS leaders close to remain silent. He was reported to have said “Hindu temple issue disqualifies Khir Toyo, says Tambun UMNO Chief Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadziah.” “How can you demolish a temple? What if a mosque was demolished? What do you think will happen? Political leaders should not do this type of thing. He has done wrong. The Hindu community was very hurt (NST 30/6/2009 at page 10). If only many more UMNO Ministers are not racist and religious extremist like Datuk Husni Hanadziah Malaysia would be a very much more pleasant place to live in especially for the Malaysian Indians.
13. Gerakan leaders attend forum on Anti ISA by GMI Consultation forum “Internal Security Act: what next? here yesterday. The four present were state Gerakan Chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Party Youth Committee Member Dr. Thor Teong Lee. The forum was aimed at gathering public opinion on the abolishment of ISA. Dr Teng reiterated Gerakan’s strong stand against ISA, especially detention without trial, saying that it could be misused, citing the cases of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and Sin Chew Daily Journalist Tan Hoon Cheng. Dr. Teng said Gerakan also believed that the country needed a new act to cope with the rising events of terrorism – An Anti Terrorism Act to deal with terrorists. In the transitional period before the new act is enacted ISA must be reviewed to allow judicial intervention and the review of all cases said Dr. Teng. GMI President Syed Ibrahim Syed Noah said both Selangor and Perak State governments had tabled and approved motions to abolish the ISA but Penang and Kedah had yet to make a decision. He added that as of this month, there were 27 (25) ISA detainees still at Kamunting detention centre but noted a reduction since 2007 when there were 70 detainees there, Syed Ibrahim also said that Prime Minister Najibs move to release 13 ISA detainees was a populist move (NST 13/4/2009 at page 15) Voice of Hindraf →Dr Teng (and GMI) only mentioned Raja Petra and Sin Chew Daily’s Tan. He completely left out the only other four political detainees ie the four Hindraf lawyers. Why? Because they are lawyers from a politically and economically insignificant community. My point here is that this again proves that we have to fight our own battle. Tan was released after merely 18 hours of detention, Teresa five days and Raja Petra 55 days because of the Malaysian NGO, Opposition Parties PKR, DAP and PAS and Civil Society’s very strong stand coupled with the MCA and Gerakan putting their foot down. But for the Hindraf lawyers who have been in detention for nearly 500 days new both BN and the PRK, DAP, PAS and the NGOs’ and Civil Society did not care.
14. Land (1 acre) adjoining the Sri Raja Mariaman Hindu temple is attempted to be taken away by some parties with political links. This new temple wants to put up a wedding Hall, says temple secretary shanmugam. In 1987 when the Sin Leong Plantation came up for development the plantation temple was allocated 12,742 sq feet of land. This estate crematorium was also given one acre of land. But this has now become someone else land. This has become a mystery. It has now been transferred to the Selangor Government. This land is intended to be used as the access road to the nearby factory. These people are trying to take over this land and also the temple land. There are no Wedding Halls in Sg Buloh and their Surrounding areas. This matter has been brought to the attention of Selangor EXCO Member Xavier Jayakumar and Subang Jaya M.P Sivarasa who had promised to look into this matter. There are 1,000 over Indian families in the area surrounding the temple. We will fight to build the Public Hall says Shanmugam. (MN 5/4/09 page 1 and 13) Voice of Hindraf →It has been over one year since the PKR Selangor State government had taken over from UMNO. But they are yet to grant the temple and the adjoining one acre of land. Similarly this PKR/P.R Selangor State government has yet to grant state land to the hundreds of such temples in Selangor. How is this PKR/P.R State government may different from the previous UMNO/BN Selangor State government. This PKR/P.R state `governments in Selangor and all the other 5 P.R ruled states have no interest in giving these hindu temples, tamil schools, crematoriums and Indian squatters a permanent solution to their problem. To the contrary the selangor and Perak State governments within one month of their coming to power granted RM 100 Million and 400 hectres pig project in Sepang (NST 11/4/08 and 26/8/08 page 3) similarly in Perak 60,000 (110,000) lots in 134 Chinese New Villagers in (UM 5/4/08 page 4) and 102,000 titles for 349 Rancangan Kampong Fersusun (mostly Malay) (UM 1/1/09 page 1), 3.3 hectres per orang asli land approved, 18,000 hectres has been gazetted as orang asli reserve and another 30,000 hectres more waiting to be gazetted says Nga koo Ham DAP Senior Perak EXCO Member (NST 20/9/08 at page 20) 1,000 hectres ( about 2,500 acres) of land to nine Chinese schools in Kampar, Manjung, and Taiping (NST 3/8/08) 101 hectres to the Premier International University with a possibility of an additional 20 hectres (NST 18/9/08 page 20) 3,000 illegal shrimp ponds in Mangrove forests near Manjong (chinese) to be legalised by giving them land titles says Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin (NST 28/12/08 page 26) land titles for 10,000 orang asli in Perak to help raise their socio economic status (NST 8/10/08 page 10). It is clear that just about every body else are granted state land ie the Malays, Chinese and the orang asli except the Indians. Even if it for the public purpose of Temples Crematoriums Tamil schools or Public Halls. How then these PKR, DAP and PAS governments different from the previous UMNO/ B.N state governments? This is the political reality we are facing today!
15 Wisma Putra a let down in Hema Latha’s death at the Mumbai terror attacks. Hema’s brother Ratna Raja in his letter to the editor had written- “When I was at the funeral parlour in Mumbai making arrangements to transport my sister’s body back to Malaysia , I called the consulate requesting assistance. There was none forthcoming. Instead a friend helped me. When the body arrived in Malaysia, we went through much red tape before Mas Kargo released the body. After my letter was published in the N.S.T (News Straits Times) , I had a call from the Mumbai consulate regarding my sister’s passport , My Kad, cash, credit cards etc. They told me they had couried the documents on February 12th. On February 26th a family member noticed a large white envelope placed on my gate. The envelope contained the very much awaited high security documents with the postage of RM 3.90. Who takes responsibility if they were lost or damaged? I am saddened and shocked at the indifference and attitude displayed by the one agency that I as a citizen could depend on in such trying times. At the end of the day, Wisma Putra spent RM 3.90 on my sister’s tragedy. [ Ratna Raja A.Kasi Pillai , Kuala Lumpur – News Straits Times (9/4/09) page 19] Voice of Hindraf →Will this set of happenings happen if the victim was a Malay Muslim ? Answer- No. Why? Because the victim is an Indian and UMNO’s 52 years of racist and religious extremist policies which has very well seeped in right up to the bottommost of the government machinery not only in this but in almost all matters concerning the Indians. We often read about young Malay muslin girls who “run away” to Indonesia being brought back to Malaysia by Putera UMNO with the help of Wisma Putra and the Malaysian Overseas Consulates. Even in an N.S.T newspaper report last week one Rani, a divorcee with young children who was stuck in a Pakistani jail after having been duped by a drug male. Wisma Putra washes their hands by saying that “they could not locate Rani’s family . The least they could do was to officially write to the President of Pakistan asking for a pardon and to bring Rani back to Malaysia. In 2006 one Selva Malar was stuck in a Belgian jail for accompanying some Sri Lankans from Malaysia who were deemed to be illegal asylum seekers. She was offered zero help. Even the Sri Lankan government who were at “war” with their ethnic minority Tamils do not treat the Sri Lankan Tamils any different from a Sighalese when they run into problems in Malaysia.
16 School bus driver claims trial to dangerous driving injuring 35 pupils R. Marathandavan (40) was granted bail of RM 2000.00 N.S.T - 9/4/09 PAGE 13) Voice of Hindraf → All school buses, factory buses, private buses and tourist buses must be given to individual owner drivers to operate and make a living . Similarly, individual lorry owners must be given the permits to operate their lorries as a business. Also all taxi drivers must be granted their own permits to drive, manage and operate their own taxis. The poor , underprivileged and unskilled drivers of these buses , lorries and taxis in particular the Indians drivers should be able to become small time business men instead of labouring their blood , sweat and tears for almost always me some UMNO linked companies. Thousands of especially Indians bus, lorry and taxi drivers labour and suffer on a day to day basis working for UMNO and their cronies. By granting these drivers the permits and arranging low interest loans for them to buy and own their buses , lorries and taxis, they would have a sense of belonging and more committed and dedicated to their jobs. As this would be sole rice bowls, they would concentrate and take their driving jobs more seriously. Thus less road accidents, less injuries , less fatal accidents, less hospital operation cost, more productive working hours for the economy, less court prosecutions etc. These Indians drivers would achieve and enjoy higher quality of life and self dignity and happier families. They would be discouraged from indulging in crime which is on the rise among Indians. But UMNO does not like to see the Indians prosper by their own hard work. UMNO is selfish, greedy and does not mean well for the Indians. Otherwise they would have given these Indian drivers their permits)
17. Parti Bersatu Sabah wants the ethnic races of Sabah to be known as Bumiputera Sabah and not as “other races” in the Federal Government’s affairs and forums. PBS’s Chief Information Officer Johnny Mositun said this was in line with the “One Malaysia” concept introduced by Najib Razak which stressed fair and impartial treatment of all ethnic groups. “It is high time Bumiputeras in Sabah and Sarawak were recognized as major races in Malaysia (NST 9/4/09 page 12). Voice of Hindraf → One Malaysia is yet another puppet shadow play “wayang kulit” by Prime Minister Najib Razak and UMNO. They don’t mean it. Otherwise Najib and UMNO would have given details as to this One Malaysia concept. For a start Prime Minister Najib could have announced the end of Malay Supremacy and Malay Special Privileges as is currently practiced under this One Malaysia concept. And then Najib could start by ordering a via a Prime Minister’s circular Directive to start from the lowest Chief Executive level of District Officers and Presidents of local Councils to also have Indians and Chinese appointed to these positions. And then move up to Managers Head s of Departments Director Generals, Secretaries Generals and the Chief Secretary to the Government to also be taken from among the Indians and Chinese. Then the One Malaysia concept would make sense. UMNO and Malaysia are obsolete as at a time when the world’s most powerful country in the world the USA has elected a black “muslim” President Barack Obama. Whereas in Malaysia an Indian or Chinese cannot even dream to become a District Officer, ie the lowest level government head of department. Just look at Najib’s cabinet appointment today. Even the key Ministers position of Home Affairs, Defence, Foreign Education International Trade and Industry, Finance Entrepreneur and Co-operative, Agriculture and Agro based Industries, Rural and Regional Development has and never been given to a non malay muslim in Malaysia’s 52 year old history since independence and right up to Najib Razak’s cabinet announcement today (TV1 at 3.00 pm 9/4/2009). The exception being the Finance Minister up to 1969 that was held that too by a Chinese and never an Indian. Do you think Najib Razak really means it when he announced the One Malaysia concept?
18. Kugan’s family wants specimens returned. They want the police to return postmortem specimens of the deceased which were taken away when they raided the office of Dr. Prashant at the UMMC on Monday and seized the specimens. The family also rejected the findings of the Independent committee of the Health Ministry and questioned the validity of their findings says lawyer N.Surendran. The findings were announced by Tan Sri Ismail Merican, the Director General of the Health Ministry. Surendran said Dr. Prashant had photographs of Kugan’s internal organs which clearly showed they were damaged. “How can the committee come to a conclusion on the reports when they did not even conduct a postmortem on the victim” asked N.Surendran. He said the family wants the specimens, photographs and other material so that the pathologist Dr. S.Prasant can complete the toxicology test. “If the items are not returned, the second post mortem cannot be completed” said Surendren, adding that the family was making plans to send Kugan’s specimens to Australia. Surendran said the family would take the police to court if they didn’t return Kugan’s post mortem specimens (NST 9/4/2009 at page 9). Voice of Hindraf → Yet again the police are using high handed tactics and abusing their powers in doing a full scale cover up. They are trying to get away with cold blooded murder and to protect and save the 12 policemen from facing murder charges. Has this crime not involved policemen, the said 12 policemen would have been immediately remanded and charged for murder and denied bail as there is no bail for murder. But why a different set of rules for policemen who are cold blooded murderers. Why should policemen be above the law. Even in Sri Lanka where the country is at war with the LTTE, there has never been a single killing of a detainee in a police lock up. But in Malaysia we have statistics of one Indian detainee being killed in police lock ups in every two weeks and in every week an Indian mere suspect being shot dead by the police. The good side to this unwanted events is it will definitely lead to UMNO’s downfall in the 2012/2013 general elections. UMNO will never change. We have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections.
19. RM10 Million for Tamil schools in Johor says MIC Johor Chairman Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan at the Skudai Tamil schools 33rd AGM opening ceremony. From the RM80 Million for Tamil schools nationwide (announced by PM Najib Razak) RM87,000.00are for Tamil schools in Johor. From this RM100,000.00 allocated to Tun Aminah Tamil school school which needs an extension building for its 2,100 students which MIC plans to build (TN 8/4/2009 at page 7). Voice of Hindraf → Wayang Kulit by MIC – it is the duty of the UMNO government to provide free education for all including the Tamil schools. UMNO is not doing us a favour by building Tamil school extension buildings or upgrading these schools. It is their duty to do so. UMNO cannot be giving Tamil schools bits and pieces of funds. They should build and upgrade all 523 Tamil schools in the country within six months and make them on par with the Malay National schools. Thereafter these 523 Tamil schools should be granted equal funding facilities and status like any other Malay National schools. The obsolete politics of using the “mandore” MIC to dish out “peanuts” and “breadcrumbs” on a piecemeal basis must come to an end not only for Tamil schools but for all Indian problems especially the critical Indian problems. After 52 years of independence, we need a wholesome solution to our problems as done for the Malay muslims and not one off piecemeal solutions let alone the wayang kulit empty promises by the MIC like this.
20. Lost both parents and lost right leg in an accident, Pravinkumar (18) and his brothers Saranyan (15) and Thanes Kumar (11) gets welfare help. They live in Taman Intan, Kluang. Johor Exco S. Asojan and Kahang Adun ER Vityananthan gave them (token cash) donations. Asohan called the Welfare Officer Dr. Jose Jacob for help. These three brothers would get RM450.00 at RM150.00 each. MIC would make efforts that their studies do continue. Pravin scored 8A’s in PMR last year. He earlier studied at a Tamil school and scored 7As’. His brother Saranayan (15) is in form two and Thanesh Kumar (11) in standard 5. Their father C. Perumal died 2 years ago while their mother died in February 2008. They are being looked over by their close relatives. The MIC Kluang Division has made arrangements with the Kluang Catholic Church for prostesis (false leg) costing RM5,500.00 to be given to him (TN 8/4/2009 at page 4) Voice of Hindraf → Under the UMNO governments social safety net, these 3 brothers should be allocated a free council house until they finish their studies and RM500.00 per person per month for their monthly expenses by the Welfare department. Had Pravin Kumar with 8As in UPSR been a malay muslim he would have been taken into some Mara Junior Science College fully Residential or some other residential school also for his other two brothers. His prostesis (false leg) must have been organized by the welfare department and not the local MIC and the church. MIC – Wayang kulit because RM450.00 not in writing.
Vaalge Hindraf Makkal Sakthi
Gov't to free Hindraf trio and 10 others
May 8, 09 12:38pm
The government will release another 13 Internal Security Act detainees, including three of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.
MCPX
This was announced by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at a press conference in Putrajaya.
In the specially arranged press conference, Hishammuddin said that they would be released in the next "two or three days".
"I will be signing the (release) papers now," he said.
He did not give the reasons for the release of the 13 but added that they "no longer needed to be held".
Of the 13 to be released, six are Malaysians, two Indonesians and the remaining five are Filipinos.
After taking over the reins in April, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ordered the release of 13 ISA detainees, including Hindraf leaders V Ganabatirau and R Kengadharan.
The three Hindraf leaders still in detention are P Uthayakumar, T Vasanthakumar and M Manoharan.
Manoharan is also the state representative for Kota Alam Shah in Selangor. He won the seat from behind bars in the last general election.
The five were detained in December 2007 after mounting a massive street protest which saw tens of thousands of Indian Malaysians taking to the streets.
[More to follow]
Monday, May 4, 2009
PS from WMP - YB Manoharan should NOT resign
PRESS STATEMENT 4TH MAY 2009.
RE : MANOHARAN SHOULD NOT RESIGN.
We refer to the recent reports on the intention of ISA detainee M.Manoharan to resign his Kota Alam Shah state seat due to concerns of not being able to serve his constituents. We appeal to Manoharan to reconsider his decision. People of Kota Alam Shah knew what they were voting for when they voted for Manoharan to be elected as their state representative. The savvy Kota Alam Shah voters were aware of the predicament of the nation under the UMNO led government and choose Manoharan to initiate the change in the political scene that took place on March 8.
HINDRAF is of the opinion that the voters of Kota Alam Shah were ready to deal with and face with an eventuality that their representative may not be able to serve them physically while being imprisoned as a prisoner of conscience. Since the voters are 100% behind their representative, Manoharan should not resign and continue to be their state representative. HINDRAF through its effort had campaigned and lobbied in the local and international scene for the release of the HINDRAF 5 and all others held under the ISA and shall continue to do so until all of them are released.
In so far as to Pakatan coalition, HINDRAF is disappointed that except for occasional press releases and statements, no positive and constructive actions had been initiated to seek Manogaran’s release or easing his burden in serving his constituents. Further, bearing the absence of Manogaran, his wife had been solely burdened with responsibility of the constituency when the Pakatan coalition could have easily appointed responsible elected representatives/ party members on a rotation basis to oversee and manage the constituents’ needs as oppose to burdening his housewife who is already overloaded with responsibilities of taking care of his legal firm and their family.
The Pakatan coalition partners need to display their responsibility seriously to live up to the confidence bestowed to them by taking pro active actions and continuous campaign in unison to seek the release of Manoharan as well as all the other ISA detainees. We urge the Pakatan coalition to urgently file a motion to debate the inability of a democratically elected representative to serve his constituents and (at least) stage a walkout should their motion to debate be refused.
P.Waythamoorthy
Hindraf- Chairman
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Uthaya's sedition trial can proceed without him !!
Malaysiakini - S Pathmawathy Apr 30, 09 12:14pm
An application by the lawyers for Hindraf's ISA-detained legal advisor P Uthayakumar today failed in their bid to have him present during his sedition trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Justice Sabariah Othman ruled that it was not necessary for Uthayakumar to be brought from the Kamunting detention centre for the case.
She said that his lawyers could proceed with the case on his behalf.
Earlier his lawyers, led by N Surendran , asked for a postponement so that Uthayakumar could be present in the trial.
He also asked the court to ensure that Uthayakumar was brought to the court by the prison authorities and not the police special branch.
Surendran also submitted on their preliminary objection against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail signing the prosecution order against Uthayakumar.
He claimed that Abdul Gani could have acted with bias in preferring the charge against Uthayakumar.
Sabariah fixed May 7 to decide on the objection. Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran appeared for the prosecution.
Charged over letter to UK
Uthayakumar, 46, is charged with publishing a letter with seditious contents on the Police Watch Malaysia website at http:// policewatchmalaysia.com at Menara Mutiara Bangsar, Bangsar between Nov 15 and Dec 8 last year.
The letter dated Nov 15 last year was from Hindraf and addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at No. 10 Downing Street, London.
The charge under the Sedition Act carries a maximum RM5,000 or three years jail, or both, on conviction, with five years jail for a subsequent offence.
Uthayakumar was detained under the ISA on Dec 13, 2007 for his role in Hindraf.
,,....(()))).......
An application by the lawyers for Hindraf's ISA-detained legal advisor P Uthayakumar today failed in their bid to have him present during his sedition trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Justice Sabariah Othman ruled that it was not necessary for Uthayakumar to be brought from the Kamunting detention centre for the case.
She said that his lawyers could proceed with the case on his behalf.
Earlier his lawyers, led by N Surendran , asked for a postponement so that Uthayakumar could be present in the trial.
He also asked the court to ensure that Uthayakumar was brought to the court by the prison authorities and not the police special branch.
Surendran also submitted on their preliminary objection against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail signing the prosecution order against Uthayakumar.
He claimed that Abdul Gani could have acted with bias in preferring the charge against Uthayakumar.
Sabariah fixed May 7 to decide on the objection. Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran appeared for the prosecution.
Charged over letter to UK
Uthayakumar, 46, is charged with publishing a letter with seditious contents on the Police Watch Malaysia website at http:// policewatchmalaysia.com at Menara Mutiara Bangsar, Bangsar between Nov 15 and Dec 8 last year.
The letter dated Nov 15 last year was from Hindraf and addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at No. 10 Downing Street, London.
The charge under the Sedition Act carries a maximum RM5,000 or three years jail, or both, on conviction, with five years jail for a subsequent offence.
Uthayakumar was detained under the ISA on Dec 13, 2007 for his role in Hindraf.
,,....(()))).......
Uthaya's sedition trial can proceed without him !!
Malaysiakini - S Pathmawathy Apr 30, 09 12:14pm
An application by the lawyers for Hindraf's ISA-detained legal advisor P Uthayakumar today failed in their bid to have him present during his sedition trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Justice Sabariah Othman ruled that it was not necessary for Uthayakumar to be brought from the Kamunting detention centre for the case.
She said that his lawyers could proceed with the case on his behalf.
Earlier his lawyers, led by N Surendran , asked for a postponement so that Uthayakumar could be present in the trial.
He also asked the court to ensure that Uthayakumar was brought to the court by the prison authorities and not the police special branch.
Surendran also submitted on their preliminary objection against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail signing the prosecution order against Uthayakumar.
He claimed that Abdul Gani could have acted with bias in preferring the charge against Uthayakumar.
Sabariah fixed May 7 to decide on the objection. Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran appeared for the prosecution.
Charged over letter to UK
Uthayakumar, 46, is charged with publishing a letter with seditious contents on the Police Watch Malaysia website at http:// policewatchmalaysia.com at Menara Mutiara Bangsar, Bangsar between Nov 15 and Dec 8 last year.
The letter dated Nov 15 last year was from Hindraf and addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at No. 10 Downing Street, London.
The charge under the Sedition Act carries a maximum RM5,000 or three years jail, or both, on conviction, with five years jail for a subsequent offence.
Uthayakumar was detained under the ISA on Dec 13, 2007 for his role in Hindraf.
,,....(()))).......
An application by the lawyers for Hindraf's ISA-detained legal advisor P Uthayakumar today failed in their bid to have him present during his sedition trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Justice Sabariah Othman ruled that it was not necessary for Uthayakumar to be brought from the Kamunting detention centre for the case.
She said that his lawyers could proceed with the case on his behalf.
Earlier his lawyers, led by N Surendran , asked for a postponement so that Uthayakumar could be present in the trial.
He also asked the court to ensure that Uthayakumar was brought to the court by the prison authorities and not the police special branch.
Surendran also submitted on their preliminary objection against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail signing the prosecution order against Uthayakumar.
He claimed that Abdul Gani could have acted with bias in preferring the charge against Uthayakumar.
Sabariah fixed May 7 to decide on the objection. Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran appeared for the prosecution.
Charged over letter to UK
Uthayakumar, 46, is charged with publishing a letter with seditious contents on the Police Watch Malaysia website at http:// policewatchmalaysia.com at Menara Mutiara Bangsar, Bangsar between Nov 15 and Dec 8 last year.
The letter dated Nov 15 last year was from Hindraf and addressed to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at No. 10 Downing Street, London.
The charge under the Sedition Act carries a maximum RM5,000 or three years jail, or both, on conviction, with five years jail for a subsequent offence.
Uthayakumar was detained under the ISA on Dec 13, 2007 for his role in Hindraf.
,,....(()))).......
Voice of Hindraf - Apr 2009
1. RM 2 million for new Bukit Jalil Tamil School. The condition of the school was shocking but Deputy Prime Minister (and Education Minister) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was most impressed with the teachers and students. “I feel sad that they have to put up with this old and rundown school which has been around for 75 years. Despite the aid provided by the government, the infrastructure is not that good.” The building could pose a threat to the safety of the students and teachers it’s stuffy and uncomfortable. I am sympathetic to their plight, “Muhyiddin said after visiting SJKT Ladang Bukit Jalil, near Puchong here. The school does not have a field and it’s class rooms are cramped. Muhyiddin announced an immediate allocation of Rm 2 million for the school’s new building to be built on an adjacent 0.3 ha plot of land belonging to Kuala Lumpur city hall. He said the new classrooms and authorities would be able to cater for about 200 students when completed next year. The school now accommodates 90 students. Muhyiddin also said the school would be fully aided. Muhyiddin later visited SMK Setapak Indah. He was joined by works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor (here) to check on the condition of the school would be relocated and would be made fully aided. But it is going to be back to square one as only Rm 2 Million is allocated to build the new school to cater for the new Parit Mara Junior college (MSRM) UMNO announces Rm 80 Million why this discrimination ? so this UMNO Deputy Prime Minister wants the already poor Indian community to go around and begging for funds to rebuild the new Tamil school like what UMNO has been doing for the last 52 years. How come the SMK Setapak Indah does not get piece meal allocations to build their school but get the full budget to build the school how many million ever it may cost. But the DPRA has the check to announce Rm 2 Million but that the school is fully aided. The DPRA still thinks that the Indians are stupid and would not question UMNO out of fear. That may have been the position before the 100,000 people Hindraf Rally on 25/11/07. On the one hand the DPRA acknowledges that the existing school does not have a school field and says the school meant for 200 students would be rebuilt on a 0.3 hectre piece of land. But doesn’t the DPM know that on a 0.3 hectre piece of land there cannot be a school field in addition to the school building. The DPM says that the classrooms in the present school are cramped. But it is not going to be very much different in the new plot of 0.3 hectre land and to cater for 200 students. We suggest the following:-
· This school is relocated to a nearby meaning within one kilometer radius ten acre land for the new school to be rebuilt, a football field, to cater for future expension and future influx of students. In this new school compound a multi purpose community hall catering for 5,000 people is to be built. This hall will be the school assembly hall cum wedding and community functions hall. The proceeds of this hall rentals can go to the Parent Teachers Association and which is to be used for the students welfare. Also a school hostel to cater for 200 pupils is built in this new school building to cater for the poor and also high achieving Tamil schools students making this the first fully Residential Tamil School in Malaysia. The present school building with its unique rubber smoke house like structure and on arch is to be preserved as the heritage and symbol of the contribution of the plantation workers in this country. It can be preserved as the first Tamil school museum in Malaysia. The above is very pertinent especially to undo the injustices to the Malaysian Indian community especially the rubber tapper and palm oil plantation Indian community in Malaysia. On a similar note all Tamil schools in Malaysia should be developed along the lines of this our proposed new Bukit Jalil Tamil School with equal status, funding, facilities, teacher and staff support. Then and only then are we on the way to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s One Malaysia come on UMNO. 52 years of bullying and cheating the Indians is enough stop all these peanuts and bread crumbs politics. The Indians want to be in the national mainstream development of Malaysia. In any event you (UMNO) are dealing with the fifth and sixth Malaysian born Indians now and no more our grand parents and great grandparents who would be frightened of UMNO, their threat of ISA, May 13 or Kampong Medan racial attacks specifically targetted at the Indians by people from outside Kampung Medan and believed to be UMNO sponsored.
2 Last year the charges for TOL for two acres of land was only RM200.00. This year it has increased to rm800.00. Says Pahang DAP Vice Chairman J. Simathiri (TN23/4/2009 page 7). With the price of vegetables having dropped, this increase of TOL rates to the government is burden some.
3. RM80 Million to built MSRM Parit. Says the ADUN Blanja Datuk Mohd Zaim Abu Hasan (UM 23/4/2009 at page 26) (Voice of Hindraf)→ But newly minted UMNO Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak immediately upon assuming the Prime Minister’s office makes a grand announcement of RM80 million for the 523 Tamil schools as opposed to UMNO’s RM80 Million for just one MSRM Mara College which is exclusively for the malay muslims only. Part of this RM80 million appears to be a repeat of an earlier RM30 million “grand announcement” by Samy Vellu about a couple of months ago. Then whether this RM80 million actually filters down is another matter all together. Tamil school headmasters, Parent Teacher Associations of Tamil schools, MIC then have to go around begging for this RM80 Million “grand announcement”. There was an occasion last year when Negeri Sembilan Exco MemberV.S. Mohan had to come out with his own money to put up electricity connection to an estate Tamil school in the outskirts of Bahau as was reported in Tamil Nesan. Still then no time limit has been imposed to ensure that his RM80 Million actually filters down to the Tamil schools as is done for the Malay schools and other Malay muslim projects. A time limit of six months must be targetted for this RM80 million to filter down (in the interim). But all this atrocities can only happen under UMNO Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s One Malaysia policy. In any event we are no longer interested in bits and pieces but Millions of allocations for Tamil schools which are peanuts and bread crumbs as you could only built one toilet with this RM80 Million if divided into all the 523 Tamil schools in Malaysia. This “Million of grand” announcement is an obsolete style of UMNO politics which may have stuck with our grandfathers and great grandfathers. UMNO must realise that they are dealing with the current fifth and six generation Malaysian born Indians and in era when the world’s most powerful nation the USA has a black and “muslim” Barack Hussein Obama as their President. When RM80 Million is approved for on MSRM Mara College, then there should be no reason why RM80 Million cannot be approved for each and every Tamil school. Education being a basic necessity and especially with former Education Minister having been appointed as a UNESCO Council Member all 523 Tamil schools should be made fully aided Tamil schools with equal facilities, financial allocation, teacher and support staff strength like any other Malay schools. After all this is in line with UMNO Prime Minister’s One Malaysia Policy. Or is it not?
4 Hope floats for 9A student Desmond Raju from Datuk Anthony Ratos, Director of Yayasan Kesenian Orang Asli and two others make offers of held or suggestions (NST 23/4/2009 at page 10) (Voice of Hindraf). But the point is it is the UMNO government’s responsibility and not the individuals who may or may not keep up their promises of help. By this news report UMNO has closed the case of Raju deserving a scholarship as of right. UMNO has also closed the cases on thousands of other bright and deserving students who ought to have been given scholarships this year.
5. Tamil news reverted to old time at 7.30 pm daily with effect from 1/5/2009 but now on TV2 instead of the earlier TV1 Information Channell says Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim after bowing to pressure from MIC and PPP. Last Saturday MIC Minister wrote to Rais expressing the community’s displeasure as they would still be traveling home from work (NST 23/4/2009 at page 2, TN 23/4/2009 head lines) (Voice of Hindraf). Classics of a political game played by UMNO for the last 52 years ie they claim credit out of nothing and think they are scoring political points by playing yo-yo with the Indians. The tamil news was originally at 7.30 pm. It was moved to 6.00 pm as soon as Rais Yatim took over as the new Information Minister after the first Cabinet Meeting. AT this first Cabinet Meeting, the MIC Minister Dr. Subra had no power to put his foot down and say it should remain at 7.30 pm. Or this MIC “mandore” Minister agreed with UMNO at the Cabinet Meeting to do a Wayang Kulit ie to change the news slot to 6.00 pm and then MIC will protest and at the end of the day UMNO bows to and reverts the said slot back to 7.30 pm. And the Indians are supposed to be thankful and grateful to UMNO. This is after having created anxiety and giving room to the MIC “mandore” to be seen to be “fighting” for the Indians. Any way it was a good show UMNO! But let us get to the point especially with the Billions announced early this year to convert RTM’s broadcasting to digital which could accommodate scores of TV Channels at least one free TV Channel could be dedicated for the poor and under privileged Indian peoples entertainment with Tamil programmes and at the same time upgrading their quality of life. The Indian Plantation worker who earns RM325.00 of basic salary a month cannot afford to pay RM80.00 per month for Astro. TV1, TV2, TV3 and 9TV caters largerly about 80% to Malay and Indonesia foreigners viewers. NTV7 and 8TV caters to with about 70% Chinese Programmes. Why not one Tamil TV station on a similar note for the poor Indians. Similarly an additional Tamil old songs Radio Channell for the poor Indians in their golden years. This would then be in line with the One Malaysia Policy which Prime Minister Najib Razak has announced. And not playing yo-yo by moving the Tamil news forward and backward as is being done by UMNO’s Rais Yatim. UMNO is still playing the obsolete politics thinking that they can fool and pull wool over the Indian eyes. No more though after the 25th November 2007 Hindraf Makkal Sakthi People Power movement and thereafter.
6. S.Karupanan (73) had his RM200.00 welfare aid cut when he was temporarily staying in a house which had Astro service. For K.Shanmugam (51) who applied for welfare assistance in 2005 on becoming paralysed, it has been a string of no’s form the department for aid. His mistake he believes was his honest reply that he had a TV set and Astro at home. The former crane driver was earning RM2,000.00 in Singapore. When a motorcycle accident left him paralysed four years ago. A relative pays his Astro bills and he only had Astro to keep him company when his children are out . The only pleasure in his life now is Astro. Another case is that of a 40 years old paralysed from the neck downwards (Indian lady) who lives with her partly paralysed mother. She decided against applying for an Astro after being warded by the Welfare Officer that they would cut aid to them is she did so. Astro was the only company she and her mother could have at home. “We cannot leave our house and we live on donations and welfare aid. What’s wrong if some people who sympathise want to get us an Astro connection? Welfare Director General Datuk Mewe Zainal Rashid could not be reached for comment (NST 22/4/2009 at page 6). Voice of Hindraf. This has been happening to thousands of Indians who either were never given welfare aid though they were qualified or their aid delayed deliberately or stopped at the smallest excuse just because they are all Indians. This has gone on for 52 years and is now continuing under the latest UMNO Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malaysia Policy. Ask Najib and he has to tell you that this is among the things he had in mind when he outlined his One Malaysia Policy!
7. 9As and 1B and nowhere to go for studies for Desmond Dominic Raju Petaling Jaya in his letter to the Editor – 1 sat for the SPM exam last year. My father died in 2002 when I was in year five. Since then my mother and I have been living off my mother’s Socso payments. My father always encouraged me to study hard to achieve my dreams and I did. As a result I got 5As in UPSR, 7As in PMR and 9As and 1B in SPM. I have always believed that the world is a fair and just place to live in. I applied for a number of scholarships – Yayasan TM, Yayasan TNB, Khazanah scholarship, Bank Negara scholarship and UEB scholarships. I also applied to matriculation and IPTA. To my disappointment, I was turned down by all of them. I learnt that I did not get into matriculation on my birthday. I have applied for a Public Service Department scholarship and I hope I get it for the course I applied for so that I can pursue my studies. I hope that somebody out there has the heart to give me the kind of assistance I need to make it in life by becoming a psychologist (NST 21/4/2009 at page 18). Voice of Hindraf. This is the height and the kind of UMNO’s racism and religious extremism Hindraf has been fighting against. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands more every year are denied educational and scholarship opportunities just because they are Indians. If this top student is not given the opportunities, can you imagine the thousands of other average Indian students getting nowhere. But this would never happen to a malay muslim student. For a malay muslim student, the sky is the limit for him. There are no obstacles as has happened to Raju here. But all these are happening in Prime Minister Najin Tun Razak’s One Malaysia Policy! – but two systems. One for the malay muslims and another for especially the Indians. It is no wonder why the PSD Director General this year reversed PSD’s decision last year that all students scoring 9As and above will automatically get a scholarship to study overseas or locally. But this year UMNO has directed that this policy be reversed so as to create an ambiguity confusion and to exclude Indian students like Raju, UMNO will never change. We will have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections.
8. Conversion to Islam of three children by their converted father without their mother M. Indra Ghandi’s knowledge or consent case will take a while to solve says MIC Minister Dr. S Subramaniam after a meeting with two other members of the committee (formed by Prime Minister Najib’s cabinet to solve this problem) (NST 21/4/2009 at page 10). Voice of Hindraf. This is the classical delay tactic which will eventually be forgotten and never to see the light of the day strategy which UMNO has successfully employed through their “mandores” the MIC. But this poor mother will continuously live in the fear of not knowing when her three children aged between 1 to 12 will be forcibly to be taken away from her by UMNO’s Islamic Religious Department. This pain and suffering only this mother will be able to feel while the rest of the Indians can only watch helplessly. This is Prime Minister Najib’s One Malaysia Policy and no where else in any other part of thee civilized world. UMNO will never change. We will have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections. This is the one and only way forward.
9. (PKR’s) Selangor Menteri Besar presented RM2 million to 25 Chinese schools throughout the state @ about RM100,000.00 per Chinese school (NST 21/4/2009 at page 6). Voice of Hindraf. But for the 97 Tamil schools in the state of Selangor there is no history of this Tan Sri Khalid as the Menteri Besar of Selangor giving out this kind of RM100,000.00 allocation. In fact these Tamil schools need 10 times more allocation than the Chinese schools because of its 52 years of neglect by the UMNO Federal and Selangor state governments, it’s dilapidated conditions and the poor and underprivileged Indian community not being able to afford to chip into build extend and maintain their Tamil schools. The Chinese schools are backed up by the far economically superior Chinese business, entrepreneur and Industralised community. To the converse, the Selangor PKR,PR State government like the previous UMNO Selangor State government send their PKR Indian Exco “mandore” to dish out peanuts and breadcrumbs of RM20,000.00 or so per Tamil school and providing piped water, electricity and school bus fares to the poor Indian estate workers and their children. These peanut promises and promises of better housing from their existing one bedroom estate lives after 52 years of independence! And this PKR/PR state government is supposed to be our state government who would not have come to power if not for the Indian votes. How much different is this PKR/PR Selangor State government from the previous UMNO government? If after about 1 year and two months of ruling the Selangor state and they being unable to grant even a one acre land for the Taman Karupiah, Taman Rimba Jaya, Padang Jawa, hindu temple that was unlawfully demolished by the former Khir Toyo government on 8/11/2007 then do you think they are going to grant state land to all the other hindu temples, tamil schools, crematoriums, graveyards and Indian squatters in Selangor? Res Ipsa Loquiteour!
10. Prime Minister Najib says that 15% of the ASW 2020 and ASM shares up to 20,000 shares (@RM1.00 each) are reserved for Indians. ASM units reserved for any race that remain unsold after July 20th will be open for sale to others. It is however unlikely that the units won’t be snapped up especially for the non bumiputera units as these had always been sold within a day or two (NST 21/4/2009 at page 2). Voice of Hindraf. This is the very same political game UMNO and Prime Minister Najib have been collectively playing for the last 52 years ie. lumping the about 70% poor hardcore poor Indians and 90% mere daily wage and monthly wage earners together with the almost all rich and for economically superior Chinese. By doing this UMNO and Najib think they have solved also the Indian problem. At the last count the Indian equity had actually decreased from 1.5% to 1.2%. We believe this Indian equity figure is a mere 0.5% of the country’s equity and this too held by the likes of Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan and Tony Fernendez and some MIC cronies. Our estimates is 99% of the Two Million Indian population in Malaysia do not have the spare cash to buy up shares or similar investments. This has been made possible with courtesy of UMNO’s inequality and inequality policy in governing Malaysia for over the last 52 years. Thank you UMNO. We love you! Thank you Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. We love you too!.
11. The ASW 2020 introduced in 1996 had proven the government wants equal participation from the people irrespective of race or religion. The overwhelming response to ASW 2020 had brought about the introduction of ASM in 2020, PM Najib (NST 21/4/2009 at page 1 & 2). RM3.3 Billion units offer in Amanah Saham Malaysia and 2 Billion units offer for Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020. More than RM5 Billion have flowed into the funds over the past several months and RM10 Billion for last year. Voice of Hindraf. But this 5.3 Billion new units of ASM and ASW 2020 and the RM5 Billion investments have hardly benefited the Indians. Even as late as two weeks ago the Tamil Nesan reported that 13 Indian children aged between 4 and 14 years of age are forced to go to bed hungry because of poverty. And this can only happen in Prime Minister Najib’s One Malaysia (but two systems) government policy. This Indian family’s state of poverty is only the tip of the iceberg. About 70% of the two million Indians Malaysia under 52 years of UMNO rule have been kept/reduced into the poor and hardcore poor group. About 90% of the Indians are merely monthly and daily wage earners. How and where are these Indians supposed to come out with RM20,000.00 to buy the ASM and ASW 2020 shares. They are struggling even for their day to day living and are living from hand to month. In the event of an emergency serious medical situation they do not have the money to even treat their loved ones. Many are left with no choice but to let their loved ones die as they cannot afford the medical bill. You can say but there is the National Welfare and Medical State Funds. But these funds are seen to it by UMNO that it does not reach the Indians under UMNO’s racist and religious extremist policies. It would have been more credible if Najib had also announced an automatic bank loan of RM20,000.00 to each and every Indian to but these ASM and ASW 2020 shares as is done for almost each and every malay muslim. The lowest dividend PNB, ASW2020 or ASM has announced is 7% where as the current Bank interest rate s are only about 4.0%. So there is no way an individual would lose out by buying these ASW and ASM shares. Further the money invested in the most secure, blue chip and guaranteed returns company which has the full backing of the government like Perodua, CCM, Sime Darby, Island and Peninsula, May Bank, UMW, MIDF, Prolintas MMC etc. Over the last 30 years PNB by this method has redistributed wealth to about Nine Million mostly poor and underprivileged malay muslims but the Indians are specifically excluded. The least Prime Minister Najib can do now is to announce and direct at least Maybank which is controlled by PNB to in addition to the malay muslims also grant loans to all the Indians to buy these ASW 2020 and ASM shares. A list of the Indians who were able to buy these shares must be made public in the PNB Website. The Indians must be able to complain to our proposed Anti Race Discrimination and Equal Opportunities Commissions also having members form UN, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and Hindraf. Then and only then are we on Najib’s One Malaysia Policy. Anything short of this will be merely political rhetoric or in the layman’s words Najib’s cakap kosong for the Indians. There cannot be One Malaysia Policy but two systems being implemented by UMNO’s Prime Minister Najib under the Malay muslim Supremacy policy which has been in place for over the last 52 years.
12. PM Najib Razak → For example when we talk about helping the poor we must be helping the poor of all communities. And I think the poor of all communities deserve to be helped. “So our programmes, our financial allocations must reflect the need to tackle the problems of the poor across all racial and ethnic lives”. “I think every Malaysian should be able to accomplish the maximum in terms of his or her self development Najib said current systems such as the education system, scholarships, financial assistance and opportunities should reflect this and there were no limits. “The limits are not set because of your ethnic background. The limits are set because of your own personal ability” Voice of Hindraf. → Another set of profound statements never meant to be implemented or practiced by yet another UMNO Prime Minister (NST 20/4/2009 at page 2).
13. Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said has cancelled a trip to Russia and Ukraine beginning today to witness a Memorandum of Understanding signing between the state government and several higher learning institutions there. (NST 20.4.2009 at page 2). Voice of Hindraf. This Menteri Besar and the other 13 (presumably) are going out of their way to ensure malay muslim students get to study medicine and technology courses. But to the contrary zero has been done to also include the Indian students wanting to study in Russia and Ukraine even at their own parents hard earned money. Again to the contrary the aforesaid malay muslim students are granted full government scholarships Entrepreneur Minister Noh Omar did same trip. The tip of the iceberg of the malicious intent of UMNO of stopping the Indian students from graduating and practicing as medical doctors in Malaysia is when the Director General of the Health Ministry Dr. Ismail Merican saw to it that many Universities and Medical Colleges with almost all Indian students were derecognized in Russia, Ukraine, Romania, India, Indonesia etc. The foremost University was the Crimea State Medical University of Ukraine in 2004 where its medical degree was derecognized as it had almost all Malaysian Indian students. But since 2004 what has this Dr. Ismail Merican, Menteri Besar Ismail said or the Entrepreneur Minister Datuk Noh Omar done to facilitate at least these private medical students wanting to study medicine at these overseas Universities. These UMNO leaders and their agents have destroyed thousands of Indian students future and lives. But what have they built?
14. 85% literacy rate among Malaysians says DPM Muhyiddin Yassin (UM 19/4/2009 at page 18). Voice of Hindraf → An estimated 70% of the Malaysian Indian population cannot write a letter of complaint to a government department on their own in malay. Voice of Hindraf → This is the Malaysian education system for what we have under Prime Minister Najib’s One Malaysia concept. One Malaysia but two seats of standards when it comes to access to higher education especially for the Malaysian Indians.
15. Stop raising racial sentiments says UMNO leader for Penang Arif Shah Omar Shah (UM 19/4/2009 at page 19). Voice of Hindraf → The day UMNO stops their racist and religious extremist plans, policies and the implementation of the same, there would exist no room for raising “racial sentiments” in the first place. In any event opposing racial and religious discrimination, inequality and inequal opportunities especially on the Indians cannot amount to raising racial sentiments which UMNO conveniently says standing up for racial and religious equality, anti racial and religious, inequality and inequal opportunities can be “raising racial sentiments” nowhere else in the world but only in Malaysia and only under Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s One Malaysia concept.
16. Tamil news change of time from 7.30 pm to 6.00 pm, please review decision, MIC Minister Dr. Subra appeals (TM19/4/2009 at page 1).Voice of Hindraf → Just three days before on the Wednesday Cabinet Meeting this decision must have been made to take off the Tamil news from the prime time, TV slot. But it is so plain and obvious that this Minister like his boss and the worlds longest standing Minister Samy Vellu have/had no or very little say in the cabinet despite supposedly representing the Two Million Indians in Malaysia. That is why this minister is making his appeal through the Tamil media. This is Prime Minster Najib Tun Razak’s One Malaysia Concept. Another slogan by yet another UMNO Prime Minister.
17. Snatching away Tamil School land MIC would not stand by and just watch the show. Says Deputy Minister S.K.Devamany. With reference to the private developers sending an application to the Land office saying they want to take part of the school field. MIC will continue fighting. The Gombak MIC Chief has brought this up with the Gombak Land Office and the Education Department. Not knowing the outcome they are waiting for the Works Ministry’s and the Education Ministry’s Development’s further action says Devamany. He then moved on to say that in February 2008 Samy Vellu announced RM30 Million for Tamil Schools. Then in the first stimulas package and second economic package a sum of RM50 million was announced by Prime Minister Najib. One big photo with Devamany on the school field. With the PTA Members and another big photo at the school meeting in (TN 18/4/2009 at page 3). Voice of Hindraf → This Deputy Minister never solved the problem. He creates confusion and no clarify as he is pointing to the Gombak Land office, education ministry and the Works Ministry and at the same time diverts the Indian minds to the RM30 Million plus RM50 million plus RM50 million in terms of Tamil school budget which in any event is not sure of all filtering down to the Tamil Schools. UMNO has created another ambiguity by not setting a time frame for this money to be utilized and for example a monthly report on the Prime Ministers and the Education Minister’s website on the progress of this RM180 Million. Any way this Deputy Minister can only make statements that MIC will not stand by and merely watch. He is powerless to solve the real problem as the MIC has been for the last 52 years so he plays politics. Anyway we cannot take aim at MIC as they are merely the “mandores” of UMNO. UMNO is the real culprit. We have to go for UMNO who has put the Indians with the critical problems they are facing now. Under Najib’s One Malasyia concept even a Tamil Schools field problem cannot be solved. Do you think Najib is going to seriously solve the scores of critical Indian problems?
18. Small and Medium scale Entrepreneurs can get loans from banks easily say the Housing and Local Government Minister. They can get RM50,000.00 for small businesses and with a lower interest rate (TN 18/4/2009 at page 2). Voice of Hindraf → But almost all Indians who apply for these loans have their loans rejected. Last year the Malaysian Indian Business Association President P. Sivakumar had said that all 200 of his members applications for business loans had been rejected! So where do we go from here. We have repeatedly proposed on Equal Opportunities Commission and an Anti Racial and Religious Discrimination Commission to also be empanelled by at least half from the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Hindraf. This is the only way forward. But will UMNO agree to this. The answer is no. UMNO will never change. We will have to change UMNO in the 2012/2013 general elections. The One Malaysia concept by Prime Minister Najib is just another slogan by another UMNO Prime Minister.
Friday, April 24, 2009
'Thanenthiran free to form own political party'
Malaysiakini - Athi Veeranggan Apr 23, 09 4:21pm
Hindu Rights Action Force's former national coordinator RS Thanenthiran is free to establish a political party to spearhead the struggle of marginalised Indian Malaysian community, said the movement exiled leader P Waythamoorthy.
However, London-based Waythamoorthy insisted that Hindraf would remain as a apolitical pressure group in the country's political landscape, championing the cause of marginalised Indians and other communities.
He said it was within Thanenthiran's constitutional rights to form the party and others shall not criticise him for his action.
"Thanenthiran's decision must have been based on overwhelming grassroots sentiments," said Waythamoorthy in a press statement today.
He was responding to a news local Tamil daily Makkal Osai which quoted him as saying that Thanenthiran should leave Hindraf if he wanted to form a political party.
Waythamoorthy denied issuing such a statement and insisted that he would not stop any Hindraf leaders from forming a political party to spearhead the Indian political struggle in the country.
"Just because they want to form a political party does not mean they have to withdraw from Hindraf. We will remain as a pressure group fighting for freedom, justice, equality and peace but it will continue to forge close ties with political friends," he said.
"I once again reiterate and stress that I would not be forming any political party nor would I convert Hindraf into a political party. However Hindraf supporters are free to form, join or support any political party they choose," he added.
Malaysiakini quoted Waythamoorthy in a report yesterday in which he said former coordinators and other Hindraf leaders who were interested in forming a political party would be advised to temporarily detach themselves from Hindraf.
"This is to protect Hindraf from allegations that it is converting into a political party. However we will accept them as ‘political friends' within Hindraf," he had added.
Meeting in India
Last week Waythamoorthy announced he was replacing the 10-man coordinating committee with a three-man interim committee to administer the human rights movement.
He then named two opposition parliamentarians as the movement's advisors.
The suspended 10 coordinators were appointed at the end of 2007 after Waythamoorthy left the country to seek international lobby in the face of government arrests.
The movement's public face P Uthayakumar was detained under the Internal Security Act along with four other Hindraf leaders on December of 2007.
Since then Thanenthiran and the other nine coordinators have been keeping the Hindraf movement alive and relevant, including successfully turning the Indian voters to support Pakatan Rakyat candidates in the 2008 general election.
Waythamoorthy's restructuring plan drew heavy criticisms from local Hindraf leaders, many whom felt it was timely for the movement to spearhead its struggle on political platform.
They want to form a political party while maintaining Hindraf as a human rights movement. Both however, will be interlinked.
Waythamoorthy is expected to meet Thanenthiran in India in two weeks time to deliberate and resolve many outstanding issues affecting Hindraf.
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Hindu Rights Action Force's former national coordinator RS Thanenthiran is free to establish a political party to spearhead the struggle of marginalised Indian Malaysian community, said the movement exiled leader P Waythamoorthy.
However, London-based Waythamoorthy insisted that Hindraf would remain as a apolitical pressure group in the country's political landscape, championing the cause of marginalised Indians and other communities.
He said it was within Thanenthiran's constitutional rights to form the party and others shall not criticise him for his action.
"Thanenthiran's decision must have been based on overwhelming grassroots sentiments," said Waythamoorthy in a press statement today.
He was responding to a news local Tamil daily Makkal Osai which quoted him as saying that Thanenthiran should leave Hindraf if he wanted to form a political party.
Waythamoorthy denied issuing such a statement and insisted that he would not stop any Hindraf leaders from forming a political party to spearhead the Indian political struggle in the country.
"Just because they want to form a political party does not mean they have to withdraw from Hindraf. We will remain as a pressure group fighting for freedom, justice, equality and peace but it will continue to forge close ties with political friends," he said.
"I once again reiterate and stress that I would not be forming any political party nor would I convert Hindraf into a political party. However Hindraf supporters are free to form, join or support any political party they choose," he added.
Malaysiakini quoted Waythamoorthy in a report yesterday in which he said former coordinators and other Hindraf leaders who were interested in forming a political party would be advised to temporarily detach themselves from Hindraf.
"This is to protect Hindraf from allegations that it is converting into a political party. However we will accept them as ‘political friends' within Hindraf," he had added.
Meeting in India
Last week Waythamoorthy announced he was replacing the 10-man coordinating committee with a three-man interim committee to administer the human rights movement.
He then named two opposition parliamentarians as the movement's advisors.
The suspended 10 coordinators were appointed at the end of 2007 after Waythamoorthy left the country to seek international lobby in the face of government arrests.
The movement's public face P Uthayakumar was detained under the Internal Security Act along with four other Hindraf leaders on December of 2007.
Since then Thanenthiran and the other nine coordinators have been keeping the Hindraf movement alive and relevant, including successfully turning the Indian voters to support Pakatan Rakyat candidates in the 2008 general election.
Waythamoorthy's restructuring plan drew heavy criticisms from local Hindraf leaders, many whom felt it was timely for the movement to spearhead its struggle on political platform.
They want to form a political party while maintaining Hindraf as a human rights movement. Both however, will be interlinked.
Waythamoorthy is expected to meet Thanenthiran in India in two weeks time to deliberate and resolve many outstanding issues affecting Hindraf.
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
Government rules out children's conversions
KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — The government moved today to soothe uneasiness over Islamic conversion of minors when it decided that children should be raised in the faith of their parents while they were married even if one spouse becomes a Muslim.
The Cabinet decided this yesterday amid simmering tension over a case of three Indian children converted to Islam by their father without the mother’s consent.
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz said Muslim converts still had to meet their marriage commitments in raising their children in their common religion at the time of their marriage.
“Religion should not be used as a tool to escape marital responsibilities. Conversion is not a ground for automatic dissolution of a marriage either,” he added.
K. Patmanathan, 40, now known as Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, had converted to Islam without the knowledge of his wife, Indira Ghandi, who claimed her husband also converted their children — aged one, 11 and 12 years — without her consent.
Indira said she was now living in fear of losing her children as her husband was seeking custody through the Syariah Court.
There has been an increase in the number of cases in which Islamic conversions have been used as a tool to gain custody of children in divorces among non-Muslims couples.
The Cabinet decided yesterday that the Attorney-General will have to look at which laws need to be amended in line with the decision to stop conversions of minors without the consent of both parents.
Nazri said that Islamic enactments may also need amendments and the matter will be discussed with state Rulers.
“Civil marriages have to be resolved according to civil laws. The conversion takes effect on the day of conversion and is not retrospective.
“The convert would have to fulfil his or her marriage responsibilities according to civil laws prior to the conversion,” he said.
Hindu Sangam president A. Vaithilingam described the decision as "an excellent one" and believes this could be a new beginning for Muslim and non-Muslim relations.
"But of course the government must also look into a long-term solution to this matter but I believe this decision can make the much needed dialogue on the matter an amicable one," he told The Malaysian Insider.
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The Cabinet decided this yesterday amid simmering tension over a case of three Indian children converted to Islam by their father without the mother’s consent.
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz said Muslim converts still had to meet their marriage commitments in raising their children in their common religion at the time of their marriage.
“Religion should not be used as a tool to escape marital responsibilities. Conversion is not a ground for automatic dissolution of a marriage either,” he added.
K. Patmanathan, 40, now known as Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, had converted to Islam without the knowledge of his wife, Indira Ghandi, who claimed her husband also converted their children — aged one, 11 and 12 years — without her consent.
Indira said she was now living in fear of losing her children as her husband was seeking custody through the Syariah Court.
There has been an increase in the number of cases in which Islamic conversions have been used as a tool to gain custody of children in divorces among non-Muslims couples.
The Cabinet decided yesterday that the Attorney-General will have to look at which laws need to be amended in line with the decision to stop conversions of minors without the consent of both parents.
Nazri said that Islamic enactments may also need amendments and the matter will be discussed with state Rulers.
“Civil marriages have to be resolved according to civil laws. The conversion takes effect on the day of conversion and is not retrospective.
“The convert would have to fulfil his or her marriage responsibilities according to civil laws prior to the conversion,” he said.
Hindu Sangam president A. Vaithilingam described the decision as "an excellent one" and believes this could be a new beginning for Muslim and non-Muslim relations.
"But of course the government must also look into a long-term solution to this matter but I believe this decision can make the much needed dialogue on the matter an amicable one," he told The Malaysian Insider.
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Monday, April 20, 2009
PS from WMP - Govt should STOP the Nonsense and Unlawful Conversion
PRESS STATEMENT 18.04.2009
RE : GOVERNMENT SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP THE NONSENSE OF FORCED AND UNLAWFUL CONVERSION.LATEST RELIGIOUS FIASCO – 3 CHILDREN AGED 12 , 11 AND 1 FORCEFULLY CONVERTED TO ISLAM
HINDRAF expresses its shock and utter disgust at the conduct of JAIS in allowing a forceful and unlawful conversion of three children who were born and brought up as Hindus. The father of those children has every right to convert to whatever religion he chooses but he does not have any right to forcibly convert his children who are minors to the Islamic faith unilaterally without the consent of his estranged wife.
The Federal constitution was drafted for everyone in a civil society that consist of a multi racial society but today Syariah laws practiced by fanatical JAIS with assistance from the government and sanction from the Federal Court (which has abdicated its powers) is infringing the basic right of a Malaysian citizen as it seems to supersede the desire of the multi racial society and the true spirit of the constitution.
We are totally sickened with the conduct and manner in which JAIS officers seem to have been colluding with K.Pathmanathan (now Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah) in serving “a syariah court order” on the Hindu wife. Every time a religious controversy arises it is the relevant Islamic religious bodies which colludes and protects the converting party without any regards to the civil society. JAIS continues to strain the social fabric of a multi racial nation with their “CULTURE OF ARROGANCE IN CONVERSION”.
The provisions of the Federal Constitution with regards to religious freedom are crystal clear. It is time the converting party and the Islamic authorities follow the correct logical procedure ie obtaining the necessary court order in a civil court first before attempting to convert the children. What they are doing is definitely a “backdoor method through Syariah law” to conversion and an attempt to bully the mother of those children and non muslims into submission to a syariah court order.
Malaysia is a multi racial country with a Federal constitution and religious zealots cannot usurp its function. There should be respect for universal principles of human rights and religious freedom. HINDRAF urges all democratic minded citizens, NGO’s and lawmakers to condemn this appalling act by the father, Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah and the Islamic authorities in converting the children.
Hindu Sangam which claims to represent the Malaysian Hindu community should act proactively to mount the pressure rather than putting their “faith” and “pray” on promises of setting up committees and “we will look into it” answers given by UMNO government. Many committees have come and gone but there has never been a solution to this pertinent controversial issue relating to conversion as the government continues to defy the very concept of the Federal constitution.
The 2007, Federal court judgment, that the consent of one parent is sufficient to convert a child in the case of R.Subashini is gravely flawed as it always favours the party converting to the Islamic faith rather than upholding the spirit of the constitution. What if the other non Muslim parent then initiates a civil action and provides consent to reconvert the child to its original faith-would that be sufficient consent then and will the Federal court then sanction it or the Syariah court would then declare that the minor could face criminal prosecution for apostasy.
This is a deadlock that the government and the Federal Court need to address for the well being of the multi racial society rather than being intimidated by religious zealots. Hindraf maintains the Federal Court judgment in Subhashini’s case is gravely flawed and the Federal Court should not abdicate its duties and independence to protect every litigant equally and in fairness without fear or favour.
P.Waytha Moorthy
HINDRAF CHAIRMAN
Waytha moves to quell rift in Hindraf
Malaysiakini - K Kabilan Apr 19, 09 12:59pm
Barely 48 hours after suspending all Hindraf coordinators, the outlawed movement's exiled leader P Waythamoorthy has now been forced to defend his decision.His move to clarify the suspension came about following a deepening rift between London-based Waythamoorthy and the movement's grassroots leaders and supporters who were fighting for the cause here.It is also learnt that Waythamoorthy's clarification was as much as to assuage the bruised egos of the suspended coordinators, which included some opposition parliamentarians and well-known rights activists."A complete revamp and restructure is needed to face the new challenges (for Hindraf)," Waythamoorthy told Malaysiakini today in explaining his decision to suspend the coordinators.
He said that his original intention to suspend the coordinators has been "misinterpreted and misunderstood by certain segment of the public"."They read it as though we are replacing our coordinators. This is not the case as it is merely a restructuring exercise," he added.And he went on to further explain the need for such an exercise.
Changes needed to remain relevant
He said that the original 10-member committee was set up towards the end of 2007 to oversee the movement's campaign in fighting for the rights of the Indian community and to demand for the release of Hindraf leaders held under the Internal Security Act in December 2007.By then Waythamoorthy had also left the country to spearhead the movement from London.
However, he added, those appointed to the position of coordinators have now moved on to undertake other key responsibilities which were far more challenging with the increased needs of the society.He gave the examples of M Manoharan (Teluk Intan) and S Manikavasagam (Kapar) (right) who have since become parliamentarians for the opposition.
He said that another coordinator N Surendran had been forced to take up all legal matters involving Hindraf as all other Hindraf legal advisors were under the ISA detention.And as for the movement's national coordinator RS Thanenthiran, Waythamoorthy said the former has since indicated that he was serious about forming his own political party."As chairperson of Hindraf, I can state that the valuable and sound advice, support and contribution from the aforesaid politicians, members of parliament and legal advisor have been vital in spearheading our struggle."
The continuous support from them would only strengthen the movement's direction in fulfilling the demands of the Indian community," he added.However, he said that the expectations and aspirations of the Indian community were beyond the original demands and Hindraf needed to keep up with the needs and changes to be relevant."In these circumstances, a complete revamp and restructuring is needed to face the new challenges.
The new structure would be announced in the next few days," he said.
Grumble in the ground
On Friday, Waythamoorthy dropped a bombshell by announcing the suspension of the movement's 10 state and national coordinators with immediate effect. He replaced them with a three-person interim committee.Among those dropped from the line-up included the movement's top coordinator Thanenthiran (left) who had been helming the group locally while Waythamoorthy was in self-imposed exile.
Waythamoorthy also placed a gag order on the dropped coordinators.The coordinators, while publicly have stated that they accepted Waythamoorthy's decision, have privately expressed their disappointment with the move.It is learnt that some of them were caught unaware by their suspension, leaving them embarrassed in having to explain the situation to their supporters.
These coordinators have played a pivotal role in keeping the Hindraf movement alive and relevant, including successfully turning the Indian voters to support the opposition in the 2008 general election.However, there have been complaints recently that the movement and some of its coordinators have become politically ambitious.
<<>>..<<>>
Barely 48 hours after suspending all Hindraf coordinators, the outlawed movement's exiled leader P Waythamoorthy has now been forced to defend his decision.His move to clarify the suspension came about following a deepening rift between London-based Waythamoorthy and the movement's grassroots leaders and supporters who were fighting for the cause here.It is also learnt that Waythamoorthy's clarification was as much as to assuage the bruised egos of the suspended coordinators, which included some opposition parliamentarians and well-known rights activists."A complete revamp and restructure is needed to face the new challenges (for Hindraf)," Waythamoorthy told Malaysiakini today in explaining his decision to suspend the coordinators.
He said that his original intention to suspend the coordinators has been "misinterpreted and misunderstood by certain segment of the public"."They read it as though we are replacing our coordinators. This is not the case as it is merely a restructuring exercise," he added.And he went on to further explain the need for such an exercise.
Changes needed to remain relevant
He said that the original 10-member committee was set up towards the end of 2007 to oversee the movement's campaign in fighting for the rights of the Indian community and to demand for the release of Hindraf leaders held under the Internal Security Act in December 2007.By then Waythamoorthy had also left the country to spearhead the movement from London.
However, he added, those appointed to the position of coordinators have now moved on to undertake other key responsibilities which were far more challenging with the increased needs of the society.He gave the examples of M Manoharan (Teluk Intan) and S Manikavasagam (Kapar) (right) who have since become parliamentarians for the opposition.
He said that another coordinator N Surendran had been forced to take up all legal matters involving Hindraf as all other Hindraf legal advisors were under the ISA detention.And as for the movement's national coordinator RS Thanenthiran, Waythamoorthy said the former has since indicated that he was serious about forming his own political party."As chairperson of Hindraf, I can state that the valuable and sound advice, support and contribution from the aforesaid politicians, members of parliament and legal advisor have been vital in spearheading our struggle."
The continuous support from them would only strengthen the movement's direction in fulfilling the demands of the Indian community," he added.However, he said that the expectations and aspirations of the Indian community were beyond the original demands and Hindraf needed to keep up with the needs and changes to be relevant."In these circumstances, a complete revamp and restructuring is needed to face the new challenges.
The new structure would be announced in the next few days," he said.
Grumble in the ground
On Friday, Waythamoorthy dropped a bombshell by announcing the suspension of the movement's 10 state and national coordinators with immediate effect. He replaced them with a three-person interim committee.Among those dropped from the line-up included the movement's top coordinator Thanenthiran (left) who had been helming the group locally while Waythamoorthy was in self-imposed exile.
Waythamoorthy also placed a gag order on the dropped coordinators.The coordinators, while publicly have stated that they accepted Waythamoorthy's decision, have privately expressed their disappointment with the move.It is learnt that some of them were caught unaware by their suspension, leaving them embarrassed in having to explain the situation to their supporters.
These coordinators have played a pivotal role in keeping the Hindraf movement alive and relevant, including successfully turning the Indian voters to support the opposition in the 2008 general election.However, there have been complaints recently that the movement and some of its coordinators have become politically ambitious.
<<>>..<<>>
PS from WMP - Hindraf rescructuring need
PRESS STATEMENT 190409
On the 17th April I had released a statement on the urgent need to restructure HINDRAF and the setting up of a New Committee and Working Groups. This statement has been misinterpreted and misunderstood by certain segment of the public which read it as though we are replacing our coordinators. This is not the case as it merely a restructuring exercise.
The original 10 member committee was set up to oversee the campaign and demands for the release of HINDRAF leaders and since then those appointed to the position of coordinators have moved on to undertake other key responsibilities which is far more challenging with the increased need of the society.
Manoharan and Manickavasagam have since been elected members of Parliament, which requires them to positively contribute to the country and their constituents. Surendran solely has been mounted with the uphill task of handling the burden of all legal matters which was previously handled by 3 of the HINDRAF Lawyers (Uthaya, Manoharan and Genga).
Tanendran has since indicated that he is serious about forming his own political party. With the recent change of the country’s leadership earlier this month, I am of the opinion HINDRAF have to “cave in” for a longer period to struggle for the society to pressure the Government to meet our demands as well as working together in co-operation with all opposition parties to prepare for the next General Election.
As chairman of HINDRAF, I can state that the valuable and sound advice, support and contribution from the aforesaid Politicians, Members of Parliament and Legal advisor has been vital in spearheading HINDRAF in its struggle.
The continuous support from them would only strengthen the movement’s direction in fulfilling the demands of the Indian community The expectations and aspirations of the Indian community are beyond the original demands and HINDRAF needs to keep up with the needs and changes to be relevant and “a player” in the field of Human Rights in Malaysia. In these circumstances a complete revamp and restructure is needed to face the new challenges. The new structure would be announced within the next few days.
P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN HINDRAF
On the 17th April I had released a statement on the urgent need to restructure HINDRAF and the setting up of a New Committee and Working Groups. This statement has been misinterpreted and misunderstood by certain segment of the public which read it as though we are replacing our coordinators. This is not the case as it merely a restructuring exercise.
The original 10 member committee was set up to oversee the campaign and demands for the release of HINDRAF leaders and since then those appointed to the position of coordinators have moved on to undertake other key responsibilities which is far more challenging with the increased need of the society.
Manoharan and Manickavasagam have since been elected members of Parliament, which requires them to positively contribute to the country and their constituents. Surendran solely has been mounted with the uphill task of handling the burden of all legal matters which was previously handled by 3 of the HINDRAF Lawyers (Uthaya, Manoharan and Genga).
Tanendran has since indicated that he is serious about forming his own political party. With the recent change of the country’s leadership earlier this month, I am of the opinion HINDRAF have to “cave in” for a longer period to struggle for the society to pressure the Government to meet our demands as well as working together in co-operation with all opposition parties to prepare for the next General Election.
As chairman of HINDRAF, I can state that the valuable and sound advice, support and contribution from the aforesaid Politicians, Members of Parliament and Legal advisor has been vital in spearheading HINDRAF in its struggle.
The continuous support from them would only strengthen the movement’s direction in fulfilling the demands of the Indian community The expectations and aspirations of the Indian community are beyond the original demands and HINDRAF needs to keep up with the needs and changes to be relevant and “a player” in the field of Human Rights in Malaysia. In these circumstances a complete revamp and restructure is needed to face the new challenges. The new structure would be announced within the next few days.
P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN HINDRAF
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