PKR’s false promises of land titles for landless Indian poor who have lived on the land for 50 over years.

Tens of applications has been made to the PKR Selangor State government but to no avail like their UMNO predecessors.
(See Sinarharian, 09/1/2011 at page S26)

Petition to H.R.H. the Malaysian King in conjunction with International day for the Elimination of racial discrimination to set up to royal commission to make recommendations to dismantle and end all UMNO Malaysia’s institutionalized racist policies.

RM 20 million, 48 classroom brand new Malay school. But most of 523 Tamil schools in cowshed like conditions.

See Starmetro, 11/1/2011 at page M4)

Interlok row more than just about 'pariah'

(Malaysiakini) Members from the education ministry's panel (below) to review the novel 'Interlok' say that apart from the passages referring to the term 'pariah' that have caused offence, they have found others that they claim to be “misleading” and “humiliating” to the Indian community.

According to the list of 67 recommended amendments to the novel tabled at the last meeting of the panel formed by the education ministry to review the novel's use as a Form 5 textbook, amongst these are passages touching on Hindu gods and rituals.

One example they cited was the depiction of the marriage ceremony between Manian and Malini (pages 227 and 228 of the student's edition) that described the bride and groom on a dais decorated with mango leaves, that the author described “to be linked to Kaman, the Hindu god of love”.

They cited another passage that they called culturally misleading, in the section describing a prayer to the god Palikai after the ritual of Ankurarppanam, that the author Abdullah Hussain had described as a worshipping ceremony performed with a ceramic urn filled with the shoots of nine different grains.

The panellists' annotation read, “(With regard to) Facts and culture. Avoid giving information that are misleading,” to explain why they recommended the names of the Hindu deities in the related passages to be removed.

However, the panellists' recommendations, that Malaysiakini acquired from an ethnic Indian panel member Uthaya Sankar, did not elaborate why they found those passages misleading.

'Bumiputera' term alien to 1910

It is understood that Uthaya and two other Indian panellist were invited to the panel as representatives of the Indian community, and tasked with rooting out elements that are sensitive to the Indians.

Their recommendations were among 100 that were proposed, some also touching on 'Book 1' and 'Book 2' of the novel that described how the Malays and Chinese lived in the times before independence.

The other Indian panellist were Aminuddin Baki Global Education Centre director NS Rajendran (right) and former education ministry officer G Krishnabahawan (below).

The trio also pointed out another passage that they claim to be “an embarrassing factual error”, in referring to the Indian cracker papadam as “papadom”, that they says is a British term.

Others parts of the novel singled out by the three are what they described as  attempts to make moral and religious assertions, such as the passage that reads “tuak (alcohol) is prohibited by the religion” and depictions of Maniam praying.

The 12-page proposed amendments also argued that it is improbable that the novel's character Maniam was from the pariah caste in India, as it is inconsistent with the character's life as depicted in the novel.

As an example, they point out that in the novel Maniam had travelled to Tanah Melayu out of his own volition, something they said a true member of the pariah caste at the time would not have had the freedom to do. 

Amongst the other recommendations are to:

• Replace the word 'bumiputera' with 'residents' as the concept did not yet exist in 1910, the year the novel is set in

• Remove the words 'Brahma caste' as it is an erroneous rendition of the term 'Brahmin'

• Remove the words “chew betel leaves like a cow”

• Remove the words “dark-skinned” as a reference to Indians in the novel

• Remove the words “anjing orang putih” (dog of the Englishmen) used in reference to an Indian character

In their conclusion the three ethnic Indian members reminded the panel, without going into specifics, that they have to ensure that the textbook blurb - about how the story contains "values of 1Malaysia" - remains "a dignified blurb and not a blatant political propaganda tool”.

PSM Indian Sungai Siput MP’s damage control for UMNO “ethnic cleansing” of Bukit Jalil Indian plantation village, hindu temple, hindu cemetery and Tamil school. Indian elite, P.R MP’s and Malaysian Civil Society endorsing UMNO racism against Indian poor

Last Tuesday (15/3/2011) the 150 year old Bukit Jalil Estate was slated for “ethnic cleansing” of the last Indian plantation village in Kuala Lumpur of their homes, Hindu Temple, Hindu Cemetery and their Tamil school by the racist UMNO Junta.

But this Sungai Siput Indian MP like his 10 other fellow Indian P.R MP’s almost all the Indian elite are ever so over conscious in not wanting to be seen to be pro-Indian let alone risk being labelled an Indian racist. Instead they prefer to be identified as the so called “multi racial Indians”. Minority Complex Syndrome? Inferiority Complex Syndrome? To us while it may be their right as to what stand they take, they are in a state of denial which is made worse by PSM and the other PKR, DAP, and PAS Indian mandores trying to siphon off and erode further whatever little Indian support away from the serious Indian poor concerns to the “multi-racial” Orang Asli, Malay and Chinese concerns which in any event is getting more than their fair share of attention anyway. To the contrary direct there is almost zero effort by PSM and the other PKR, DAP and PAS to get Malay, Chinese and Indian elite support for the Indian poor concerns. What more when neither PKR, DAP or PAS have the sense of justice to seriously challenge UMNO racism against especially the Indian poor, who are by far the worst effected by UMNO racism.

That morning as always the PSM’s sole MP good doctor but in his typical state of denial and pseudo “multi racial Indian” mindset refused to call the racist UMNO spade an UMNO spade. This Indian MP, almost all the Indian elite, PSM, PKR, DAP, PAS, NGO’s etc will speak up on just about every other Malaysian communities concern except on UMNO’s gross act of racism targeted against the Indian poor by virtue of them being the softest targets and in UMNO preserving the Indian poor and creating the future Indian poor.

In his address at Bukit Jalil Estate this MP said that not only are the victims of the poor and homeless merely the Indians but also the Orang Asli who were only given a mere two(2) acre land and their ancestral land was taken away by the government. (Note: We have documented media reports of ten(10) acres of land granted to the Perak Orang Asli by the previous P.R Perak Government, 10 acre Felda Scheme land in Pulau Gaya for the Sabah natives etc and scores of other land ownership schemes for the poor Orang Asli, Kadazan,Iban and Malays). Pray tell us of one such land scheme for the Indian poor, Mr.Y.B. M.P. for Sungai Siput? So how are the Orang Asli worst off than the Indian poor? Going by this, this MP has refused to also champion that in the circumstances the 41 Bukit Jalil settlers should accordingly be granted 82 acres of land but the government has refused to grant them even the total four(4) acres plot that they are asking for to rebuild their homes.

Where is the PSM sense of justice ie four acres for the 41 Bukit Jalil Indian families and the denial of two acres of land to each and every Orang Asli family and the impression created that the Orang Asli are worse off. We have media reports of Indian poor being unable to even pay the RM 124.00 monthly rentals and water bills and are locked out of even their low cost flats and end up squatting in family and friends homes, becoming new squatters or thrown on to the streets. And this is what is most likely going to happen to Bukit Jalil ex plantation workers who are already in their golden years..

It did not come naturally. Only after our suggestion made through the Bukit Jalil villagers an Emergency Motion was filed in Parliament. To show sincerity why not a public forum or public protests on the “ethnic cleansing” of Bukit Jalil Estate their hindu temple, hindu cemetery and their Tamil school. Had it been an Orang Asli, Malay Village or a Chinese New Village, it would have taken a different dimension as it appeals to the 90% political gallery. The bottom line is political expediency, political power and what appeals to the 90% Malay, Natives and Chinese majority that matters. Where is the sense of Justice?

This “multiracial Indian” PSM MP said in his speech that there are also poor Malays and poor Chinese. We are tempted to add on that there are also poor Jews! This M.P. is quite fortunate as he is “not alone”. He like almost all the Indian elite and the Pakatan Rakyat MP’s by false pretences create the impression that for every Indian poor suffering there is an equal number of suffering poor Chinese, Malay, Orang Asli, Iban and Kadazan. This Indian elite “multiracial” mindset is designed to dilute and divert away from the very real day to day serious and critical Indian problems perpetuated under UMNO’s racist agenda against the Indian poor as is documented and reported on a day to day basis in www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com.

But to PSM, Indian elite, P.R and the Malaysian Civil Society they rather play to their 90% majoritarian Malay, Natives and Chinese political gallery which is of the utmost and paramount importance to them. Their not acting in the public interest, irrespective of the gravity and level of seriousness of the Indian poor concerns if not for their selfish political survival which is plain and obvious. And never mind the at least 70% Indians who are poor and hardcore poor “kena nyaya” on a day to day basis by the racist UMNO junta. And despite the backdrop of our estimate of a mere 1% of the Chinese being poor and the 99% of the remaining 4% (Malays) still living of in poverty (NST 16/7/10 at page 22) whose problems are being aggressively addressed by the racist UMNO and almost always at the expense of the Indian poor. And despite the fact that there is a whole Department with a multi-million Ringgit budget to address the Orang Asli poor concerns. And despite the fact that the Kadazan poor having 25 Members of Parliament and the whole Sabah State Government to care for their interests and the Iban poor having 31 Members of Parliament and the whole Sarawak State Government to care for them. And despite the fact that the Malay Muslim poor having the UMNO controlled Malaysian government to address their concerns. But who speaks for the Indian poor? PKR? DAP? PAS? PSM? NGO’s? BAR COUNCIL? Malaysian Civil Society? Anwar Ibrahim? Karpal Singh? Lim Kit Siang? Hadi Awang? Certainly not UMNO, MIC or BN!

And this PSM MP refuses to concede that the poor Indians are poorer then the poor Orang Asli, Malay, Kadazan, Iban and Chinese who all at least have their traditional villages and their ancestral land and their community support as their social safety net. Even the poor Chinese have their 507 Chinese New Villages nationwide. Why? Even the poor Indian worker from Tamil Nadu, Myanmar or Bangladesh has a village to go back to when he goes back to his country at the end of the day. To the contrary, almost all Indians in Malaysia do not have a village as their social safety net. We may have odd village named Kampong Muniandy, Kampong Kasipillai etc, but almost all of them are deemed squatters as the titles were never issued to them unlike for the Malay, Chinese Orang asli, Iban and Kadazan villages.

A poor Orang Asli, or poor Malay, Kadazan or Iban can open up as much forest or jungle land as he wants to engage in agriculture, livestock breeding, fish farming etc for upward mobility opportunities but which option is segregated and excluded to the Indian poor. It does not matter to this Sungai Siput MP, Indian elite, P.R MP’s or the Malaysian Civil Society that the only way out of misery for almost all of these Indian poor is to contemplate if not actually commit suicide out of sheer hopelessness. So much so that the Indian suicide rate arising out of poverty is 600% higher than in the Malay community. But for the Indian elite the so called “multi racialism” prevails and when you point to this level of UMNO racism specifically targeted against the Indian poor who happen to be the softest target, even Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim accuses Hindraf and HRP as being racist. Which to us is a very shrewd political strategy in diluting and diverting away from a very real and serious issue of UMNO’s state sponsored racism against the Indian poor to preserve the Indian poor and to create the future Indian poor. But otherwise they preach multi-racialism.

This elite “multi racial” Indian mindset P.R, NGO’s and the race biased print and electronic media has today definitely contributed to the current critical state of the Indian poor mostly by omission, notwithstanding the fact that UMNO is the real culprit and the real perpetrator by commission.

And the previously genuine activist turned Indian politician mandore Secretary General of PSM while addressing the Indian poor at Bukit Jalil Estate said that not only hindu temples are being demolished but also suraus, citing the Kampong Berembang surau demolished some five years ago or so. He too is doing damage control for the racist and religious supremacist UMNO by giving the false impression that for every hindu temple demolished there is an equal number of suraus and masjids demolished. This is far from the truth. But this PSM Indian Mandore has refused to reveal that by official statistics revealed by the Selangor Menteri Besar in 2008, in every ten days one hindu temple is being demolished in Selangor alone or one hindu temple being demolished every week nationwide in Malaysia. This was revealed at the Selangor State Assembly where PSM also happens to have a state Assemblyman representative. But he would not mention that the last surau demolished was some five years ago or so. And he refused to reveal the whole truth that this surau was actually replaced with a far bigger, more beautiful and fully equipped surau which was fully funded by the UMNO government. Pseudo “Multi racialism” gets to be the order of the day in the a la Malay-sian civil society, but where the Indian poor are segregated and excluded.

Unlike in the Western Civil Societies where the Whiteman Christians bend backwards to champion and protect the interests of the minority blacks, Asians, Indians, Hispanics etc. Even the 85% Hindu majority India has a sense of justice for their 12% Muslim minority. But in Malaysia the majority Malays, the economically powerful Chinese and the Indian elite all bend backwards to largely champion the Malay Natives and Chinese majoratirian interest vis a vis the 90% political gallery.

Teoh Beng Hock and Aminulrasyid being the latest and classical examples. Hundreds of Muniandys, Kuppusamys and Ramasamys had been killed by police shooting and in police lockups which we have recorded in last 20 years. But just because their names were not Teoh Beng Hock or Aminulrasyid they did not get the level of attention media coverage, Parliamentary Emergency Motions, Royal Commission of Enquiry or justice the Malay and Chinese victims got. P.Gunasegaran was killed at the Sentul Police Station on the very same day Teoh Beng Hock was. But almost all of the Malaysian “civil society” has never heard of him. Why? A la Malay-sian civil society! Well this is Malaysia’s brand of civil society, fairness and sense of justice.

To this MP and the Indian elite, we quote a Tamil proverb that if you cannot help (in the Indian cause of the poor) for any reason you should do no harm. Please do not further dilute, divert, harm or damage the cause of the Indian poor. They are already about at their lowest ebb and “scrapping the barrel” so to speak. Thus our Race against Racism.

P.Uthayakumar

Pembentangan kepada Presiden MIC

By Uthaya Shankar,

Pada jam 10:30 pagi, 18 Mac 2011, Uthaya Sankar SB dan G Krishnabahawan memenuhi undangan untuk bertemu Presiden MIC di ibu pejabat MIC dan membentangkan apa yang sebenarnya berlaku semasa perjumpaan di Aras 3, Menara Parlimen pada 16 Mac 2011.

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Pertemuan ini adalah untuk “membentangkan” apa yang berlaku pada 16 Mac 2011 dan tidak ada apa-apa kaitan dengan sebarang usaha “memujuk” atau “kekal dalam Panel Bebas”.

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Butir lengkap berkaitan apa-apa yang dibentangkan boleh dibaca DI SINI.

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Tiada sebarang perubahan pada pendirian Dr Rajendran, Krishnabahawan dan Uthaya Sankar SB selepas apa yang berlaku pada 16 Mac 2011.

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Kami bertiga berpegang pada keputusan pindaan yang telah diperakukan secara konsensus oleh Panel Bebas pada 4 Mac 2011. Sekiranya pindaan tidak dilakukan seperti diperakukan, maka novel Interlok edisi murid perlu dikeluarkan terus; seperti yang sudah dinyatakan bersama-sama senarai pindaan yang sudah diperakukan itu.

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Perkembangan dan kenyataan rasmi akan dimuatkan di blog ini dari semasa ke semasa mengikut keperluan.

http://uthayasb.blogspot.com/?zx=29b468b8d6cbe218

Hindraf human chain blocking police arrest @ Simpang ampat, Penang 20/2/2011.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC STATEMENT: Malaysia’s crackdown on anti-racism protesters flouts freedom of association

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

PUBLIC STATEMENT
AI Index: ASA 28/001/2011
18 March 2011
Malaysia’s crackdown on anti-racism protesters flouts freedom of association
The Malaysian government’s prosecution of 54 anti-racism protestors violates freedom of association and peaceful assembly, Amnesty International said today.
On 4 April, hearings begin for participants in a peaceful rally against racial discrimination, held by Hindraf Makkal Sakthi and its affiliated Human Rights Party in Kuala Lumpur on 27 February.
Hindraf, a nongovernmental organization which advocates for equal rights for Malaysians of Indian origin, was banned as an “unlawful society” in 2008 under the Societies Act.
P. Ramesh, the national secretary of Hindraf, and five others are scheduled to appear in magistrates’ court in Ipoh. They have been charged with being members of an “unlawful society” under Section 43 of the Societies Act. If convicted, they face up to three years in prison and a fine of 5,000 ringgit (US$1,600).
The 1966 Societies Act gives the Home Minister broad powers to declare an organization illegal. It also requires that all organizations register with the authorities, which subordinates freedom of association to government consent. This infringes the right to freedom of association, enshrined in Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The authorities have also charged P. Ramesh under Section 47 of the Societies Act for possessing banners and documents furthering the cause of an outlawed organization. If convicted on this charge, he could face a penalty of two years in prison and a 5,000 ringgit fine. Amnesty International is concerned that this broad provision infringes freedom of expression.
Amnesty International urged the Malaysian Parliament to amend the Societies Act to bring it in line with international human rights standards on freedom of association.
ENDS/
Public Document
International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW, UKwww.amnesty.org

Segregation of 40 Tamil school students denied place in Malay Muslim majority nearby Secondary school.

But the UMNO Education Ministry tells them to go 10 km away. And this has been going on for over the last 6 years under UMNO’s racist and religious extremist policies.

(See Sinar Harian, 06/12/2010 at page S4)

Small or not, Interlok errors should be corrected

'Muhyiddin claims that they were minor. Who should know better how to spell words on Indian ceremonial matters - non-Indians or Indians?'

DPM: Interlok walkout due to misunderstanding

Kit P: When authorities say a problem such as the Interlok issue is to be handled by an 'independent panel', there is a reasonable expectation that the panel will be allowed to do its job without undue interference, and its recommendations will be accepted even if Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin may not really agree with it.

Otherwise don't call it an independent panel - that amounts to a public relations fraud or a whitewash.

Wira: I remember the 'Malay' entry in Encyclopaedia Britannica drew frenzied protests from the community because they were stereotyped as lazy. I don't understand why a novel published locally which insulted the sensitivity of the Indians be allowed to be used in our schools. Have our educators lost their common sense?

Jimmy Ng: Muhyiddin claims that they were minor issues? Who does he think he is to decide whether they were minor? Why not leave it to the committee to iron out and decide whether they were minor or not?

Who should know better how to spell correctly words on Indian ceremonial matters - non-Indians or Indians? My bet is that he is putting political considerations first and foremost above other things.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: The solution is very simple - withdraw 'Interlok' and replace it with another text by some other Malay writer. Why can't it be done?

What is wrong with amending minor words and phrases since the entire book is under review? If there are spelling mistakes, grammatical and contextual errors, shouldn't these be corrected? Or is the review only confined to the word 'pariah'?

'Interlok' is not a suitable book to be made compulsory reading in schools. It contains many factual and cultural errors, racial profiling and stereotypes, and derogatory terms to refer to Indians and Chinese and even the Malays. So why keep such a controversial and divisive book as a compulsory text?

Teacher: I agree. It is a good novel but it is not suitable for schools. Will the teacher who has to teach it be able to handle it with all the negative publicity it has received? Students will tease each other and this will not create unity in class. It may be a cause for a fight outside the class.

Please withdraw the book. Don't create more problems for teachers.

53 Hindraf M.S. prosecuted: Urgent appeal for contributions for bail!

To date RM 111,000 bail has been imposed on 53 Hindraf Makkal Sakthi supporters at the Kuala Lumpur, Selayang, Ipoh and Seremban magistrates court todate (14/3/11), and we have received RM 18,870 in contributions from the grateful concerned public. We need to cover the expected shortfall of approximately RM 200,000!

Contributions for bail can be made to:
Trustees: Certified Public Accountants, Chartered Accountants.
Pathmarajah & Co
Maybank Account No: 514075011112

B31, 3rd Floor, Podium, Plaza Pekeliling,
Jalan Tun Razak.
50400 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: Sudha 40427042/Vijay 013-3407197/Dr.Paraman-0192358284
email: pathma@siddha.com.my
We, FRIENDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS, are appalled by this act of targeting key leaders and their well wishers in the hope that this democratic movement could be clamped forever. We feel sorry for those persons who were detained and some who suffered injuries. We also understand this is an act to prevent Hindraf/HRP leaders from contesting in the next elections, in the vain hope that should they contest the charge will be activated a la Tian Chua and force a by-election.
A group of friends and well wishers have stepped forward as Friends of Human Rights Defenders, to raise funds and post bail and related expenses for those 100 odd persons who have been prosecuted or expected to be charged.
The money collected will be placed in a bank account operated by independent accountants as ‘clients account’ and will be disbursed solely for bail, legal fees and allowances for those prosecuted for those who stand up for human rights.
We shall administer these funds in the most professional manner, account for the funds disbursed and make it public by placing the details of collections in the Human Rights party website  http://www.hrp-my.org/.
We urge all Malaysians, including Chinese and Malays to show their support and contribute as approximately is require for bail, for legal fees and allowances for those prosecuted for standing up. For human rights concerns all, not just the Indians. Fighting for human rights is fighting for all. In first world civil societies, the majority bends backwards to stand up and protect the minorities. That would be the definition of a civil society!
Thanking you.
Friends of Hindraf Makkal Sakthi and Human Rights Party
MEDIA STATEMENT 28th January 2010 HINDRAF DISCLOSES ITS ACCOUNTS TO PUBLIC
Amidst the various unfounded and malicious allegations, HINDRAF is publishing its accounts to the public for their scrutiny.
Hindraf was formed in December 2005 and it only came to limelight in August 2007 after I had filed a class action against the UK Government on Malaysia’s 50th Anniversary independence celebration on August 30th 2007 in pursuit of the systematic marginalized state of the Malaysian Indians.
The accounts prepared by an independent Public Accounting firm regulated in Malaysia for the funds that were collected is attached herewith The full accounts are also available at our website at www.hindraf.org , www.makkal.org , www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com and www.hindraf4you.blogspot.com.
A brief run down on the accounts are as follows -
a) Total funds received from Hindraf Enterprise and subsequently placed in the care of trusted individuals is RM 119,814.20
b) A further sum of RM110, 000.00 was cash collected through personal donations, which was initially placed in the hands of Paparaidu a/l Veeraman has been placed in interest bearing clients account of Messrs Kumar Hashimah & Co.
c) A sum of RM35,000.00 was banked into my credit card account by ASP Vasanthakumar whilst I was away from the country on 8th December 2007which is now placed in the hands of the accountancy firm.
d) Total fines paid for Hindraf supporters charged in court and for their travelling allowances, accommodation etc., is RM 111,706.60
e) A sum of RM 50,000.00 that was collected from members of the public to bail P.Uthayakumar was handed over to Ganapathi Rao a/l Veeraman, one of the ISA detainees who had nominated his brother Paparaidu a/l Veeraman to stand as bailor and deposit the said RM50,000.00 in court under the name of Paparaidu a/l Veeraman. Paparaidu and/or Ganapathi Rao had refused to return to HINDRAF the said bail sum of RM50, 000.00 vide his lawyer’s letter dated 14.12.2009.
f) The total amount collected by Hindraf from the account of Hindraf Enterprise is reflected in our accounts. This is only the sum that we are aware of the portion of the money that came into our possession to our trusted HINDRAF allies by the transfers made by ASP Vasanthakumar.
g) The total amount collected for and on behalf of Hindraf by Hindraf Enterprise has to be made public and accounted for by ASP Vasanthakumar. We are only accounting for that portion of the money that came into our possession by the transfers made by ASP Vasanthakumar.
h) The funds collected were for the purpose of dealing with the costs of the cases arising from the various arrests of HINDRAF activists. The funds were specifically never collected for the purpose of the civil suit filed in the British Court as some have alleged.
In summary therefore, the total amount that we have to account for is RM451,617.51. The expenses we have incurred so far is RM163,278.05. The balance is RM 288,339.46 which includes RM 82,182.28 nationwide fund raising dinners organised in 2008 to collect for Hindraf activities less RM61,090.00 receivables i.e. the sum of 227,249.46 is entrusted with the Public Accountant as of 31st December 2009.
I now wish to comment on the collected funds and on the various allegations on the misappropriation of the funds.
From the summary of the accounts above, one can see that none of the money received from the public by Hindraf has been used to finance any purpose other than what it had been collected for, least of all my stay here in the UK. These accounts show the lie, mala fide and mischief in their allegations.
When ASP Vasanthakumar first came to our attention about 3 months before the ISA detentions on 13th Dec 2007, he claimed he was a Bank Officer. We allowed him to handle all the Hindraf funds. He had sole responsibility for the funds before the detention. He collected the funds into HINDRAF Enterprise, a stationary business he registered in his personal name and made himself a Director.
Based on the sums received from ASP Vasantha Kumar and that he was in control of , it creates an irrationality amongst HINDRAF supporters as to why ASP Vasanthakumar would lodge a police report against Uthayakumar on 7th January 2008 ie 3 weeks after his “ISA arrest” claiming that Uthayakumar and his family members had collected large sums of money which may total RM700,000.
The same ASP Vasanthakumar and his cohorts have over the last 6 months continuously defamed me although he was responsible for collected funds which he alleges totals up to RM700,000.00 and this sum was further inflated to Millions by Ganapathi Rao. At the material time I was not in the country nor had any access to the alleged funds as the signatory for the HINDRAF ENTERPRISE account is solely within the control of ASP Vasantha Kumar.
In the first week of January 2008 i.e. 3 weeks after the arrest of the Hindraf lawyers, I had issued media statements urging the public not to donate any money to any middlemen and to channel the funds directly to the affected families and my statements were carried by all the major mainstream Tamil papers and Malaysiakini. It was also posted in the official blog of Hindraf and many other independent Blogs.
As such, it defies logic and rationality as to why I am now subjected to continuous serious allegations of funds collection and misappropriation other than to seed unwarranted suspicion and doubts by ASP Vasantha Kumar as part of the government’s “operasi padam HINDRAF” conducted by the Police Special branch to permanently erase Hindraf and its struggle from the minds of the people and to cause confusion and mistrust.
HINDRAF is a movement of conscience and humanity to uplift the systematically marginalized Malaysian community in Malaysia. It only seeks to show up the truth and the reality that is faced by the deprived lot daily.
It is unfortunate that certain DAP leaders have fallen prey to the Special Branch ploy and had repeated the malicious allegations in their pursuit to defend their own political agenda based on hearsay and for their political benefits as opposed to the voice and need of the marginalized community.
HINDRAF’s enemy is the oppressive system led by UMNO. UMNO for its part seeks to permanently erase HINDRAF from the annals of Malaysia, using these and various other treacherous tactics. No matter how hard they try, we will try harder. Truth and justice is on our side. We are well equipped morally for this struggle.
Hindraf well-wishers must be prepared for the truth as the truth always prevails as we continue to be defiant for a humane and moral cause.
Thank you.
P. Waytha Moorthy.
Chairman
HINDRAF
 

Aggressive UMNO racism – the new emerging reality

Quote from Malaysiakini of 17th March 2011, ”Denying that he had rejected the 100 amendments to the novel suggested by the committee, Muhyiddin claimed that he had in fact called for a review of the amendments as he believed that they were "minute" issues which ran away from the "isu pokok (main concern)".

Muhyiddin is proving to be a clown the way he is dealing with the Interlok novel issue He sets up an independent panel to review and suggest changes to the Interlok novel. Then he just about overrules all their suggestion. This results in a disgusted walkout by the Indian panel members. Then he denies rejecting the 100 suggested amendments saying what he looking for was more substantial than the nitpicking the panel had done.

Is he not a clown. That substantial thing he is looking for is a withdrawal the book altogether from the curriculum – is right there in front of his eyes. A child could come up with that. He chooses to nit pick instead and thenturns around and accuses the review panel of nitpicking. He is a natural joker isn’t he. A clown. That is how he so easily appears to us.

The whole UMNO government is proving to be a failure over and over again over all the contentious issues they have to deal with in running the country. One of the manifestation of this failure is the increasing polarization among the people in the country. The elite within UMNO in their selfish desire to keep a tight handle on the controls of the resources of the country need the Malay Muslim vote. They play up issues like Interlok, saying the minorities are being unreasonable and demanding in spite of the good nature of the Tuans. The book authored by a National Laureate and celebrated Malay writer can do no wrong. It is the minorities who are becoming demanding encouraged by the fact that the Malay people are split. So, the argument goes. The only way we can keep the minorities in their place is for the Malays to unite. This logic repeated over and over again by Perkasa outside and by the various internal propaganda organs inside UMNO is enough to make the ordinary average Malay citizen become a victim to this lie. The elite within UMNO are enjoying the security of the false race consciousness among the Malay people, oblivious or careless about the net effect on the nation as a whole.

This path only takes them further down, as the Malay citizens who buy this lie will then extend the race logic in their little realms all over the country as you see increasingly happening now . As time passes , the trajectory for racism in the country moves further and further upwards. What has been subtly happening for 54 years now bursts out into the open and operates openly, no need for the subtlety of the past. It becomes aggressive racism. This is a new reality emerging in the country.

Can you see it?

Interlok: Time to make a stand

Why are all the villains and nasty characters in Interlok Chinese and Indians?

As the drama over the Interlok textbook issue continues to unfold, it is important for Malaysians to understand the context and the stakes involved, and to make a stand.

There are some defenders of the book who have argued that withdrawing or even just editing it will rob Malaysian writers of their artistic freedom and integrity. To these people, I would like to say “hello, where have you been” – Interlok has already been edited twice, in 2005 for Edisi Pelajar and in 2010 for Edisi Murid.

Its literary integrity was already compromised by the shedding of some 85 pages even before this latest controversy.

In fact, copyright for the edition distributed free to schools no longer belongs even to Abdullah Hussain but to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Hence Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s statement that his ministry “will ensure that any amendments made will not affect the storyline of the novel and the noble message that the author wants to convey” is nothing short of whitewash.

According to reports, Muhyiddin is not permitting anything beyond deletion of the word ‘pariah’.

This concession is like slicing off one tentacle from a hundred-headed hydra – a totally pointless exercise.

Make no mistake; Interlok is a work that must not be permitted into the nation’s class rooms as a compulsory literature text. Anything less is a vital failure to grasp the gravity of the threat it poses.

The quarrel is not merely with vocabulary or spelling (for example, of ‘tali’ vs ‘thali’) but the overall suitability of the novel with its overt and covert racial messages as a school text.

Starting ‘em young and younger

Concern by many Malaysians that Interlok has been intentionally selected by the authorities to fulfill the Umno/Biro Tata Negara objective of indoctrinating young minds with a warped worldview and national view is hardly misplaced.

Before these concerns are dismissed as imaginary or overwrought, let us not forget that education has long been and continues to be the most politicized sector of the country.

Far from being neutral institutions, many of our public sector colleges and universities consciously and consistently promote a narrow nationalism.

It is in the educational sector where proponents of the Ketuanan Melayu dogma have sought to impose their will and polarize our communities.

Their missionary zeal focuses on use of race-based criteria at all levels and in all aspects. It is no surprise therefore that the propagation of the ideology of super-ordination and subordination has now been extended to the schools, and to the curriculum and text books.

As has been pointed out by those who have analysed the Interlok content, why are all the villains and nasty characters Chinese and Indians?

One of the key plots turns on the rapacious Chinese merchant swindling the easily duped Malay of his inheritance.

Touted as a ‘historical novel’, Interlok is constructing a version of BTN history and racial stereotypes to influence young minds.

Drawing line in the sand

Its government-mandated and authorities-supported dissemination and circulation appears to further a carefully thought-out agenda to fan racial animosity.

Because Interlok is the first round battle (in tandem with the History curriculum revamp), it is important for conscientious objectors to send a strong signal to the Education Minister and his bureaucratic and academic cronies that Malaysians will not be cowed into acquiescence.

We must exercise our right to openly discuss, criticize and protest on this crucial matter.

To remain mute will only embolden the apologist wolves wrapped in their sheep clothing of educational good intention and defence of literary freedom.

Lim Teck Ghee is the director of Centre for Policy Initiatives

Photos : HRP VP K. Tamil Selvam’s house burnt down by Police Special Branch under Ops Padam Hindraf.

 

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Remove Interlok, remove Muhyiddin

In a collective stand, Pakatan MPs call for the revocation of the controversial book and for Najib to replace his deputy in the deliberation process.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat MPs today made a collective stand, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the Interlok novel.

They also wanted Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to be removed from the deliberation process based on the three Indian representatives quitting the independent panel, tasked with amending the book.

“Muhyiddin should be taken out and (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) should replace him,” DAP MP Charles Santiago told reporters in Parliament.

PKR MP Johari Abdul urged the government to take heed of the people’s voice. “If the people say it is sensitive, accept it lah.”

Johari also took a swipe at the government’s decision to edit the book after a firestorm of protest, especially from the Indian community.

The book, penned by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, courted controversy when it was introduced as a component for the Malay literature subject for Form Five students this year.

“This is the work of a national laureate, how are you going to edit the gist of the work (without violating the author’s right)?” asked the PKR MP.

DAP’s Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran said the matter must be resolved quickly as the students would sit for their SPM examination in November.

He urged the government to apologise and immediately retract the book from the syllabus.

The press conference was also attended by MP Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor), M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) and R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang).

The three panellists had walked out complaining that 100 suggested amendments were shot down, but Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said this was because it concerned “minute” details.