Interlok row and BN´s sinister motives

While the burning of the novel 'Interlok' is heavily debated, PAS' Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud shown her empathy for those against the book, even while she also does not condone the book-burning.

Not only does she put Indians at ease with PAS but also brings into questions the role played by self-proclaimed custodians of various races, the BN, and the PM and DPM's role in engineering our society into the future.

Anwar Ibrahim meanwhile has lost an excellent opportunity to appease and sympathise with the Indians in dismissing the novel as not racist. He clearly misses the mark here. Hence he will become fodder for bashing as being anti-Indian and strengthen the belief that Pakatan is no better than BN.

Without touching on the 'P' word and circumstances surrounding the controversy, let us analyse the motive behind making the book compulsory for SPM students.

The Interlok issue speaks volumes on BN's motive in indoctrinating our nation into the 1Malaysia frenzy. Looking back, the 1Malaysia prime minister and his 'Malay first' deputy are both responsible for the overzealous fake application of 1Malaysia while stressing that pendatangs should not question the status quo. Let's see what has been implemented since March 8, 2008.

The abolition of teaching maths and science in English in all schools amidst protests by many NGOs is one. Results have shown that Tamil school students had improved since implementation of English as the teaching medium, but the so called 'Indian leaders' just toed the line without any clue. What seems to be important is that BN gets its brownie points from the Malay voters.

And attacking non-Malays has been sub-contracted to other groups, yet does this absolve the blame from BN?

Next we see the overzealous implementation of 1Malaysia camps amongst which has resulted in a tragedy and death of students.

And we have the education minister declaring he is a Malay first. This proves the failure of 1Malaysia, that really says we are equal when we really are not.

Another policy that was bulldozed into implementation was the compulsory pass in history for SPM students, while the subject itself is being scrutinised for being a BN propaganda tool. Is the syllabus historically accurate or just the viewpoint of one party? For example where is mention of past heroes such as Youth Corps P Veerasenan and 'Malaya' Ganabathy who died fighting the British insurgency? There are many more heroes and incidents that the current history schoolbooks choose to ignore, this is being tolerated by BN component parties who share the blame.

After 50 years of successful brainwashing and propaganda from young to believe the only eligible government to rule our country is BN, the Indians will never forget the gifts of tear gas canisters and chemical rain the government of the day gave us in 2007.

The torture, blame, and hardships we continue to endure in the last 50 years have created an awareness amongst us. Since that day in 2007, the Indian community has become sensitive and alert. It has now become a volatile community suspicious of every move by any political party.

With pressure groups ready to strike at anyone, each issue is being suspiciously looked upon. Both BN and Pakatan has to be on their toes, as benefit of the doubt is given to neither. Issues of Kugan, Kg Buah Pala, demolitions of temples and now 'Interlok' are all looked upon as being an attack by the ruling party and discriminatory to Indians.

So why does 'Interlok' matter? Because it could have been any other novel with a 1Malaysia recipe. So why now? Why not another novel?

The story's premise is in 1910s at a time when the pendatangs came to Malaysia. Perkasa would surely have loved this notion of telling things as it is - the Indians and Chinese as pendatangs.

Without doubt Perkasa has celebrated the author. Utusan Malaysia carried front page headlines with a large photo of the author in tears. Knowing the role of Utusan Malaysia, we should get an idea of the direction all this is heading.

From an Indian viewpoint it's very simple: why put our children in a lower pedestal of self esteem to others? Do we need to be told to feel grateful to be in this country? That we are pendatangs whose ancestors were glad to be here as socially, Malaya was a viable country compared to India?

Taking it further and generalising most Indians as coming from the lowest caste is indeed mischievous. Are African American students made to watch 'Roots' and read about Kunta Kinte as literature?

To look back at how our ancestors arrived and the struggles they endured has to be seen accurately and in a positive light. When the African Americans read about Kunta Kinte they will also read about Martin Luther King and in the future about Barrack Obama.

So does our history books have many positive Indian figures who were part of our nation building? Are our children taught about them? It's a myth if someone thinks there are only four castes in India, as there are many castes according to profession and hundreds of sub caste from different regions.

So how does the sentence 'most people from Dravida south are of lower caste' sound to readers? Does it mean false statements such as 'the colour of the skin determines the caste' should be accepted? Is calling Indians 'keling' not enough to insult us? Do we need more insults?

Do they take us to be fools who are naïve an unable to see that behind the friendly handshake the hand at the back approves religious conversion, body snatching, little Napoleans, discriminating policies, insincere promises, lack of equal opportunities for education, ongoing marginalisation, fourth class treatment, subtle polarisation ... I could go on.

Spending millions to upgrade Batu Caves and doing some cosmetic changes and colourful paintings with ugly fat dancing statues in Brickfields and hanging a board called Little India there does not solve even a single grouse of the Indian community.

These are smokescreens to keep BN with their 1Malaysia rhetoric in power.

What the Indians need is acknowledgement of marginalisation, sincere efforts to eradicate our problems, amendment of discriminating laws and policies, keeping the little Napoleans in check, reigning back overzealous officers, sincere willingness to listen and to come up with an royal commission of inquiry on various problems among the community.

With its wealth of resources BN only needs to start implementation with discipline and a heart with a willpower to do what is right. MIC is definitely not what the Indians need. They are clueless people, as they are part of BN.

Has the government attempted to solve 53 years of grievances that was highlighted by 30,000 people in the streets of KL? More activist groups will rise if these issues are not solved. What is going to stop another demonstration?

It is no wonder Indians are seeking other countries that offer them equality and unity in diversity. What more when disunity and racial hatred is being sown in front of our eyes!        

Hindraf Activists to hand over memo to UN on racism – Article from www.malaysiakini.com

Susan Loone
Feb 8, 11
3:28pm
Hindu rights activists are planning to hand over a memorandum on the inclusion of controversial novel Interlok into the Malaysian high school curriculum to the United Nations.
The group, led by the Human Rights Party, would hand in the memorandum to the UN office in Damansara this Friday.
According to Human Rights Party advisor N Ganesan (left), the memorandum is specifically about the inclusion of the novel which stereotypes minority Indians in very negative images into the the school curriculum.
“It is also generally about the anachronistic, subtle, pervasive racist system of the Malaysian government – very much like the Apartheid system,” he told Malaysiakini.
“In that memo we plan to elaborate on how this inclusion of Interlok into the school curriculum is not an isolated move on the part of the government but is actually the tip of the iceberg of a system that systematically excludes the minorities of the country – the Indian poor being the most impacted,” he added.
Ganesan said the group was hopeful that by raising the issue with the UN, Malaysia will be called to account by the international community for its blatant racist policies and practices.
He added that the the world needed to know what was really happening in Malaysia.
“In South Africa the Apartheid system was an overt system of control by the minority over the majority. However, in contrast here in Malaysia it is a subtle and I daresay covert system of control by the majority over the minority,” he said.
“It is probably the only country in the world with such an arrangement still. The world needs to know nevertheless,” he added.
The issue first surfaced at the end of last year when Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T Murugiah registered his protest after his ministry discussed the novel with Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Several rallies for and against the novel and the Education Ministry move have taken place, with the latest being more than 100 NGOs under the Malay Consultative Council coalition vowing not to support any ethnic Indian leader from any political party in the general elections.
On Jan 27, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the novel will remain as the textbook for the literature component of the Bahasa Melayu subject for Form Five, but with amendments to those parts deemed offensive by the Indian community.
Solidarity march on Feb 27
However, Hindu activists are still unsatisfied with the remedy and are planning a rally dubbed the ‘People’s March in Solidarity Against Umno’s Racism’ on Feb 27 in Kuala Lumpur.
Ganesan said the plan to hold the march was triggered by the decision by the Malaysian government to include the novel into the curriculum despite loud opposition from the entire Indian community .
He added that the objective of the march is to say in “clear and unequivocal terms that the time has come for the racist regime of Malaysia to be be dismantled”.
“The constant utterances by the muftis, educators at various levels, Perkasa the Umno outsource, mainstream media, by reminders wherever you turn in Malaysia, the reinforced concrete structure of racist control, the constant harassment, the constant threats of prosecution for sedition are all nothing but sheer manifestations of this pervasive system,” he said.
“This system has to be met head-on”.
Ganesan extended an invitation to participate in the march to all political parties, NGOs and civil society organisations who wish to see an end to a racist system.
He also called on PKR and PAS supporters, who recently demonstrated in solidarity with the people of Egypt, to participate in the rally.
Simultaneous demonstrations are also planned in London in Trafalgar Square and in New York, presumably in front of the UN, on the same date, said Ganesan.

Ex-US envoy launches broadside at M'sia's racism

Former United States ambassador to Malaysia John Malott has lambasted Prime Minister Najib Razak's hypocrisy over his 1Malaysia slogan in a scathing article published today in the Asian Wall Street Journal.

Malott (left), a frequent critic of the government since ending his three-year tenure as US ambassador in 1998, told Najib to take “a long look in the mirror” if he was serious about achieving his 1Malaysia goal.

“Despite the government's new catchphrase, racial and religious tensions are higher today than when Najib took office in 2009.

“Indeed, they are worse than at any time since 1969, when at least 200 people died in racial clashes between the majority Malay and minority Chinese communities,” said Malott in his AWSJ commentary. 

He blamed the recent escalation of tensions on the government for “tolerating, and in some cases provoking, ethnic factionalism through words and actions”.

Malott cited a number of examples, including the incident where a top Najib aide, Hardev Kaur, had suggested thatno crucifixes be displayed during the premier's Christmas Day open house visit at the residence of the Catholic archbishop of Kuala Lumpur.

“Ms Kaur later insisted that she 'had made it clear that it was a request and not an instruction', as if any Malaysian could say no to a request from the prime minister's office,” lamented Malott.

Other examples of insensitivities, said Malott, included Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussiendefending the actions of a group of residents who paraded a cow's head to protest the relocation of a Hindu temple to their neighbourhood, and Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi questioning the“lack of patriotism” of ethnic Chinese and Indian Malaysians.

Malott also slammed Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia for stoking racial hatred by regularly attacking “Chinese Malaysian politicians, and even suggested that one of them, parliamentarian Teresa Kok,should be killed”.

As a result of the growing racism, as many as 500,000 Malaysians left the country between 2007 and 2009, more than doubling the number of Malaysian professionals who live overseas, decried Malott.

The economic price tag of racism

He also said Najib is enamoured to right-wing groups such as Perkasa, which are against economic reforms in the name of 'Malay rights'.

“But stalling reform will mean a further loss in competitiveness and slower growth. It also means that the cronyism and no-bid contracts that favour the well-connected will continue.” 

Malott said that while Najib may not actually believe the rhetoric emanating from his party and his government's officers, he allows it because he needs to shore up Malay votes.
“It's politically convenient at a time when his party faces its most serious opposition challenge in recent memory - and especially when the opposition is challenging the government on ethnic policy and its economic consequences.” 

The steady erosion of tolerance, warned Malott, had become an economic problem as well.
“To meet its much-vaunted goal of becoming a developed nation by 2020, Malaysia needs to grow by 8 percent per year during this decade. 

“That level of growth will require major private investments from both domestic and foreign sources, upgraded human skills and significant economic reform. Worsening racial and religious tensions stand in the way.”

The former US ambassador argued that while the government might find it politically expedient to stir the racial and religious pot, such opportunism comes with an economic price tag. 

“Its citizens will continue to vote with their feet and take their money and talents with them. And foreign investors, concerned about racial instability and the absence of meaningful economic reform, will continue to look elsewhere to do business.”

Anti-Indian Interlok campaign will backfire

Plans by two NGOs to campaign against Indian reps in the coming polls will cost Barisan Nasional dear, says Klang MP Charles Santiago.

KUALA LUMPUR: If the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) and National Writers Association (Pena) go ahead with their plan to campaign against Indian candidates in the 13th general election, then it will be Barisan Nasional which will suffer.

According to DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiago, since MPM and Pena were aligned to BN, the coalition’s Indian-based parties would receive the worst brunt of the campaign.

“It is the Indian BN parliamentarians who would be more affected, especially the MIC. MIC would suffer more.

“It is the first time that organised groups within BN are going against its framework.

“In the recent by-election, the Malays did not vote Pakatan Rakyat Indian leaders because of the Interlok controversy,” he told FMT.

Santiago was commenting on MPM and Pena’s statements vowing not to support any Indian candidates in the upcoming election.

Their assertions were part of two memorandums which were handed over, albiet separately, to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Both MPM and Pena had reportedly felt that Indian leaders had successfully manipulated and convinced the government to bow to the demands of the Indian community over the Interlok book.

Respect decision

Meanwhile, Hulu Selangor parliamentarian P Kamalanathan, who could not be reached, wrote in his blog that he stood by the government’s decision on the Interlok issue although “it did not please everyone”.

“It is imperative that the leadership makes a decision that is firm, fair and addressed the fundamental role of the government to uphold peace and unity in the nation at all times.

“We are all aware that no decision will please everybody but we must respect and believe in the wisdom of our leaders chosen in a democratic process,” said the MIC man.

Kamalanathan also pledged to serve his constituents “without any bias on their religious, political or social standings”.

Selangor state councillor Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, meanwhile, has called for the issue to be looked at from a Malaysian perspective.

He said it was the responsibility of all races to maintain harmony in the country.

Warning groups not to “play the racial game”, the Selangor state exco member said Indians were not challenging the free will of the author Abdullah Hussein.

Instead the community merely wanted the Form Five book replaced with another one that promoted racial harmony.

The Interlok book has been shrouded by controversy over the usage of the term “pariah”, which is considered deragatory to the Indian community.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had on Jan 27, announced that an independent panel would be set up to amend the book.

Ex-Hindraf leaders declare Bukit Gasing temple 'open'

(Malaysiakini) The Sivan Temple atop Bukit Gasing in Petaling Jaya is now open to the public. So declared two former leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) who had once been detained under the Internal Security Act.

The duo - DAP's Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan and Human Rights Party secretary-general P Uthayakumar - called on all Hindu devotees and everyone to come back to the temple.

"It is safe... the landslide more than two years was not caused by the temple," Uthayakumar said at the temple compound yesterday.

In April 2008, the Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya city halls ordered the closure of the Sivan Temple after extension work on the temple was deemed to have caused a landslide on the Petaling Jaya side.

Uthayakumar claimed that it was not a landslide but erosion of the topsoil. 

There were more dangerous construction projects and high-rise buildings in much steeper areas of Bukit Gasing that could easily trigger landslides, he said, claiming that the 'unsafe' excuse was used to permanently close down the temple.

'Constitutional right to religion'

"No mosque, surau, church or Chinese or Buddhist temple was ever closed down in Malaysia. Why does this happen only to Hindu temples?" he asked, describing the action on the temple as contravention of freedom of religion as guaranteed under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.

Uthayakumar (right) also called on the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government to alienate the land the temple was sited on to the temple trustees within 30 days and to gazette it accordingly, instead of resorting to temporary solutions provided all along by the former BN state government.

Manoharan said the Sivan Temple has been very close to his heart since his student days in University Malaya more than 20 years ago.

A pioneer volunteer at the temple, M Maharathan, said no one should be deprived of their rights in religion.

"I do not care about politicians or about politics. I just do not want to be deprived of my religious practice. No one has the right to shut down temples... I have been coming here for many years," he said.

Some 30 people gathered at the temple about noon yesterday to show their support for its re-opening.

Uthaya and Manoharan: We declare Bukit Gasing Sivan temple open to public from today

WikiLeaks: Waytha may seek legal redress

GEORGETOWN: Hindraf Makkal Sakti chairman P Waythamoorthy has declined to elaborate on details of his meeting with American officials that was leaked by whistleblower WikiLeaks last week.

He, however, confirmed that the meeting was held on June 25, 2008 over his application seeking a temporary political asylum in the United Kingdom.

“But it would be better for me not to go into details of the meeting,” the London-based Hindaf supremo told FMT.

It’s learnt that he is now seeking legal advice on his next step to deal with the issue.

Details of his meeting with American officials from political and intelligence units in the US Embassy in London were leaked via the London WikiLeaks cables.

The details which were cabled from the embassy to the US State Department in Washington DC were leaked to UK’s newspaper, The Telegraph.

It was revealed that Waythamoorthy had raised suspicion to US officials that his temporary asylum application could have been stalled due to a pending arms deal between London and Putrajaya.

The Telegraph in its online portal article on Saturday revealed that Waythamoorthy had speculated that the London Home Office may not want to aggravate the Malaysian government by granting him even temporary asylum.

He had cited the high volume of trade, including a lucrative pending arms sale between the two countries, for his fear.

The US officers, however, expressed doubt over his accusation that the UK was dragging its foot over his temporary asylum application.

Political asylum

The officers reported that it was too early to determine the accuracy of Waythamoorthy’s suspicion that the UK government was stonewalling the asylum application.

They said that the UK Home Office, which would determine matters of political asylum, would move very slowly as a “general rule”.

Consequently, they thought that Waythamoorthy might attribute the UK action as “bureaucratic inertia”.

Waythamoorthy applied for political asylum vis-à-vis the Geneva Convention to the British government after his Malaysian passport was revoked by the Malaysian government in 2008.

The WikiLeaks details revealed that the human rights lawyer was concerned that his application for temporary asylum status had been put on hold, leaving him without documentation to travel.

It was leaked that he had requested financial assistance for his human rights work, claiming that his international lobby was focused on minority rights for the non-Muslim communities in Malaysia.

He had claimed that Malaysia was increasingly relying on Islamic syariah law either alongside or in place of Malaysian common law, and that “Hindraf was the only Malaysian group working to combat such changes to the legal system”.

He stressed that he did not want permanent asylum in UK as he wanted to return to Malaysia, citing his family and his stalled law practice as reasons.

However, he had insisted that he would return only after the other imprisoned Hindraf leaders have been released.

Waythamoorthy has also complained that his Malaysian passport was revoked by Putrajaya to prevent him from travelling to the US to further the Hindraf cause.

Human rights violation

He believes that it was Putrajaya’s tactic to force him to eventually be deported back to Malaysia where he fears arrest.

The WikiLeaks revealed that Waythamoorthy had then enquired whether the US government can issue a travel document so that he could travel to the US or Canada to pursue his advocacy works on a temporary basis.

He had told American officials that he planned to set up a mission to monitor and document human rights violations in Malaysia.

He had apparently also told the officials that the mission was also to train Malaysian citizens in the investigation of human rights abuses.

Waythamoorthy was also compelled to clarify Hindraf’s non-political position when the American officials told him that the US government would not back politically-partisan organisations.

He explained that although Hindraf remained a predominantly Hindu advocacy group, it was focused on the expansion of democratic rights for all Malaysians.

He also clarified that Hindraf was particularly involved in the advocacy of freedom of religion, educational equality, and equal rights for minorities.

The officers then told Waythamoorthy that they were not in position to offer assistance or determine whether Hindraf was a partisan organisation or provide a travel document.

But they assured him they would convey an account of his status and Hindraf’s objectives to Washington and the American embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

The officials have explained that they were unaware of the existence of such a travel document, and that they were doubtful that Waythamoorthy could be accommodated.

No passport

Waythamoorthy then clarified that he did not want a permanent asylum, either in the UK or US.

He left the country during a police clampdown on Hindraf activities in the aftermath of its landmark Nov 25 anti-government rally in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) in 2007.

His elder brother Uthayakumar, three lawyers and another person were detained without trial on Dec 13 under the draconian Internal Security Act.

The five have been released in early 2009.

According to Waythamoorthy, until today, the Malaysian government does not want him to return home and had refused to return his passport, which had been handed over to the Malaysian embassy in London.

Malay NGOs to withhold support for Indian leaders

(Malaysiakini)More than 100 NGOs under the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) coalition have vowed not to support any ethnic Indian leader from any political party in general elections after this.

This is because, according to the coalition, Indian leaders and activists have distorted and influenced the government into bowing to threats and pressures over the 'Interlok' novel controversy. 

“This is our first step in spreading awareness of this movement so that Malays do not give their support to any ethnic Indian leader, whether in the BN or the opposition, starting this general election,” said the coalition in a memorandum they submitted yesterday to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Yesterday, MPM and National Writers' Association (Pena) submitted by hand a memorandum each to Najib in Kuala Lumpur in protest against the government's decision to direct that certain parts of the novel, by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, be amended following objections by MIC and Indian NGOs.

Among those present when the memorandum was submitted were Pena president Mohamad Saleeh Rahamad and two steering committee members of MPM, Kamaruddin Kachar and Helmi Ismail.

In the memorandum, the coalition of 138 NGOs - made up, among others, of artists, intellectuals, businessmen, students and teachers - also said it believes following the pressure affected on the government that it would from now on be swayed by all manners of threats and influence.

“This shows how weak the government is, that it has overly compromised with these people to the point of setting aside rational analysis in order to blunt their threats and demands,” said the seven-page memorandum.

However, the coalition insisted, their's is not an incitement to racial hatred but an expression of disappointment with the weakness of the government in cowing to blackmail.

Unfortunately, no action has been taken against those that had burned copies of the Interlok novel and pictures of its author, which they said suggested of sedition, the memorandum read.

Mohamad Saleeh, meanwhile, was reported to have said their requests expressed the "voice of the Malays” and is not ill-motivated or a threat against the government.

“We are only upholding the interests and dignity of the Malays as a sovereign people (pemilik ketuanan), and (the dignity) of this country and land of ours,” Berita Harian quoted him as saying.

Waytha's meeting with US officials in WikiLeaks

(Malaysiakini) Details of Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy's meeting with American officials from the London embassy has been leaked by whistleblower website WikiLeaks today.

The information, contained in a cable from the United States embassy in London to the US State Department in Washington DC, was released by WikiLeaks through the British newspaper,The Telegraph.

According to the secret cable, Waythamoorthy did not intend to seek political asylum in the US, but was seeking “temporary” asylum in the UK.

“(Waytha) Moorthy also requested financial assistance for his human rights work, which, he claims, focuses on minority rights for the non-Muslim communities in Malaysia,” said the cable.

“He said that his work is especially important today, as Malaysia increasingly relies on Islamic shariah law either alongside or in place of Malaysian common law, and that Hindraf is the only Malaysian group working to combat such changes to the legal system.”

The cable summarised what took place at a June 25, 2008 meeting between Waythamoorthy, who was in self-imposed exile in London, and political officers from the US embassy.

He had stressed that he did not want permanent asylum as he wanted to return to Malaysia.

“He said that he hopes to return to Malaysia as soon as possible, as his family and law practice remain there, but will only return after the other imprisoned Hindraf leaders have been released,” said the cable.

The final three of five Hindraf leaders who were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act, including elder brother Uthayakumar, were freed two years ago.

According to the cable, he requested financial support to enable him to continue advocating Malaysian minority rights while abroad.

He also planned to set up a mission “to monitor and document human rights violations in Malaysia and to train her citizens in the investigation of human rights abuses”.

At the meeting, Waythamoorthy complained that his Malaysian passport was revoked by Kuala Lumpur, preventing him from travelling to the US. 

“Moorthy believes that the Malaysian government revoked his passport to prevent him from furthering his and Hindraf's cause, and so that he would eventually be deported back to Malaysia.

“He asked whether the US would issue a travel document so that he may travel to the US (or Canada) to pursue his advocacy work on a temporary basis.”

US not in a position to offer help

He also claimed that London was slow in processing his asylum application so as not to upset the Malaysian government.

Wathamoorthy took pains to clarify Hindraf's position when the American officials told him that the US government did not support “politically-partisan organisations”.

“He ... explained that although Hindraf remains a predominantly Hindu advocacy group, it focuses on the expansion of democratic rights for all Malaysians, and is particularly involved in the advocacy of freedom of religion, educational equality, and equal rights for minorities.”

“Poloffs (political officers) explained that they were not in a position to offer assistance, determine whether Hindraf was a partisan organisation, or provide a travel document, but pledged to convey Moorthy's account of his status and the purpose of Hindraf to Washington and American embassy, Kuala Lumpur.”

The political officers who met Waythamoorthy also expressed doubt about his accusation that the UK was dragging its foot over his asylum application.

“It is too early to determine the accuracy of Moorthy's suspicion that HMG (Her Majesty's Government) is stonewalling his political asylum application. 

“The (UK) Home Office (which determines matters of political asylum) moves very slowly as a general rule. Consequently, what Moorthy might view as a 'decision not to decide' may simply be bureaucratic inertia.”

WKILEAKS: MALAYSIA'S HINDRAF LEADER SEEKS POLITICAL ASYLUM IN BRITAIN

Passed to the Telegraph by WikiLeaks

Ref ID: 08LONDON1746

Date: 7/1/2008 13:17

Origin: Embassy London

Classification: CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN

Destination: 08STATE65565

Header: VZCZCXYZ0001RR RUEHWEBDE RUEHLO #1746/01 1831317ZNY CCCCC ZZHR 011317Z JUL 08FM AMEMBASSY LONDONTO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9065INFO RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0182RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0783

Tags: PREL,PHUM,MY,UK

C O N F I D E N T I A L LONDON 001746 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2018 TAGS: PREL, PHUM, MY, UK SUBJECT: MALAYSIA'S HINDRAF LEADER SEEKS POLITICAL ASYLUM IN BRITAIN REF: STATE 65565 Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR MAURA CONNELLY FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D)

1.(C/NF) Summary: Waytha Moorthy, director of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF), told us on June 25 that he is NOT seeking asylum in the U.S., but is seeking asylum in the UK. He said that his application process is currently stalled, however, and he speculated that HMG may not grant him asylum so as not to upset the Malaysian government. He also expressed concerns that the Malaysian government rescinded his passport in order that he be deported back to Malaysia, where he fears arrest. Moorthy asked whether the USG could issue him travel documents to allow him to carry out his human rights work in the U.S. Moorthy also requested financial assistance for his human rights work, which, he claims, focuses on minority rights for the non-Muslim communities in Malaysia. He said that his work is especially important today, as Malaysia increasingly relies on Islamic Sharia law either alongside or in place of Malaysian common law, and that HINDRAF is the only Malaysian group working to combat such changes to the legal system. End Summary.

2.(C/NF) Per Department's request, poloff contacted Waytha Moorthy June 20 to deliver reftel points. In response, Moorthy said:

-- HINDRAF as an organization has always been misunderstood. It is not an Indian political institution, but a organization concerned with the protection of minority rights, as provided for by the UN Convention on Minority Rights. Malaysia itself does not understand the concept of minority rights;

-- He has not made a request for political asylum in the U.S.; and

-- He had wanted to meet with a U.S. Embassy (Political Affairs) representative at Embassy Kuala Lumpur. June 25 meeting with Moorthy ----------------------------

3.(C/NF) In a subsequent meeting June 25 with poloffs, Moorthy sought to clarify his asylum status and describe his work. He reaffirmed that he has not sought political asylum in the U.S. and is instead currently seeking asylum in the UK.

4.(C/NF) Moorthy said that he fled Malaysia after being arrested and then released by Malaysian government authorities in November 2007, and is fearful that he will be re-imprisoned if he returns. He traveled to India, Europe, and the United States, before settling in London, where he currently resides. During his travels, Moorthy met with a number of NGOs and government officials, including Congressional staff in the U.S. in April. He had planned to go back to the U.S. in May, but the Malaysian government revoked his passport, preventing him from traveling. Moorthy subsequently applied for political asylum in the U.K., where his claim is currently being processed. He said that, at one point his application was fast-tracked, but that no actions have since been taken; he suspects that HMG has decided to take no action or move slowly. Moorthy speculates that HMG does not wish to aggravate the Malaysian government by granting him asylum, citing the high volume of trade (including a pending arms sale) between the two countries.

5.(C/NF) Moorthy believes that the Malaysian government revoked his passport to prevent him from furthering his and HINDRAF,s cause, and so that he would eventually be deported back to Malaysia. He explained that several other HINDRAFF leaders were arrested in December 2007 and are still being held without trial.

6.(C/NF) Poloff reiterated the reftel point that the USG does not support politically-partisan organizations. According to Moorthy, however, HINDRAF is a nonpartisan organization that advocates for minority rights in Malaysia. He founded the organization in response to what he saw as an increasingly influential Islamic presence in Malaysia,s government, and as an attempt to counterbalance the rise of Sharia law, which he claims is now often being used alongside or in place of traditional Malaysian constitutional law. He is particularly concerned with a 1988 law ) Article 121(1)(a) ) that established governmentally-sanctioned Sharia courts. Moorthy said that HINDRAF is the first organization to come out strongly against these changes to Malaysian law. He further explained that, although HINDRAF remains a predominantly Hindu advocacy group, it focuses on the expansion of democratic rights for all Malaysians, and is particularly involved in the advocacy of freedom of religion, educational equality, and equal rights for minorities. While HINDRAF has sought to coordinate its efforts with other minority groups, it has had little success in such efforts. It has, however, managed to make it presence known and stage large protests against the government; Moorthy claims that a November 25, 2007 HINDRAF-organized protest in Kuala Lumpur attracted nearly 100,000 people. What Moorthy Wants ------------------

7.(C/NF) Moorthy is concerned that his application for asylum status in the U.K. has been put on hold leaving him without documentation to travel. He asked whether the U.S. would issue a travel document so that he may travel to the U.S. (or Canada) to pursue his advocacy work on a temporary basis. Poloffs explained that they were unaware of the existence of such a travel document, and that they were doubtful that Moorthy could be accommodated. Moorthy then said that he does NOT want permanent asylum, either in the U.K. or U.S. He said that he hopes to return to Malaysia as soon as possible, as his family and law practice remain there, but will only return after the other imprisoned HINDRAF leaders have been released.

8.(C/NF) Moorthy also requested financial support and training for his organization. He desires funds so that he can continue advocating for Malaysian minority rights while he is abroad, and for the establishment of a mission both to monitor and document human rights violations in Malaysia and to train Malaysian citizens in the investigation of human rights abuses.

9.(C/NF) Poloff asked, and Moorthy confirmed, that he is not seeking status as a refugee. He was aware of the UNHCR-led process to gain refugee status. He also understood that a travel document could be issued if he acquired refugee status.

10.(C/NF) Poloffs explained that they were not in a position to offer assistance, determine whether HINDRAF was a partisan organization, or provide a travel document, but pledged to convey Moorthy's account of his status and the purpose of HINDRAF to Washington and American Embassy Kuala Lumpur.

11.(C/NF) As instructed in reftel, Poloff informed HMG (the FCO) that she had made contact with Moorthy.

12.(C/NF) COMMENT: It is too early to determine the accuracy of Moorthy's suspicion that HMG is stonewalling his political asylum application. The Home Office (which determines matters of political asylum) moves very slowly as a general rule. Consequently, what Moorthy might view as a "decision not to decide" may simply be bureaucratic inertia. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX TUTTLE

Go solo, MCLM and HRP told

A pact with Pakatan to contest in the next polls is 'unnecessary', says an observer.


GEORGE TOWN: Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) and Human Rights Party (HRP) should believe in their own respective merits and strengths to contest in the next general election.

Malaysian Election Observers Network national coordinator Ong Boon Keong dismissed the groups’ plan to establish an electoral pact with Pakatan Rakyat as “unnecessary”.

He instead suggested that both groups finalise the right candidates, earmark the seats for contest, intensify the ground work and campaign on their own from now on to face the next polls.

He said both groups and others should not fear the people’s rejection if they went solo in their election debut because “it was untested political ground”.

If MCLM and HRP can build up and develop strong grassroots rapport and carry out social works in earmarked constituencies, he said both groups can give Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan a run for their money.

“Many voters are fence-sitters who remain unconvinced by Pakatan and BN.

“You never know,” Ong told FMT today.

MCLM has revealed recently that it would choose some candidates and submit their names for Pakatan’s perusal and approval for the electoral contest.

Although HRP has announced that it would contest 15 parliamentary and 38 state seats in the next polls, it is still seeking an alliance with Pakatan.

HRP pro-tem secretary-general and Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar has called on Pakatan not to be spoilers, but to make way to HRP to contest in the earmarked seats.

Both MCLM and HRP have certain common features.

Both are headed by lawyers – Harris Ibrahim (MCLM) and Uthayakumar (HRP) – and advocate reforms in civil liberties, equal rights and good governance.

Ong said that Uthayakumar, for instance, has the political stature and influence to secure a large vote bank for him and his party on his own.

“I am sure if Uthayakumar and his party members were to contest and campaign by applying the correct electoral formula, he and his party can triumph,” he said.

Electoral pact

He criticised MCLM and HRP political approach to forge an electoral pact with Pakatan for the next

polls when the groups were actually capable of scoring upset wins on their own.

He said both groups have fair chances of winning seats against BN and Pakatan by formulating and applying correct and effective strategies.

He cited the US, Britain, India and Australia, among other countries, where candidates from regional and non-aligned smaller parties, and even independent social grassroots movements, have triumphed in elections against all odds.

He said MCLM and HRP’s desire to forge political link with Pakatan could be influenced by the popular myth that “only political pacts can bring about political change in the country”.

“Undercurrent sentiments are generally engulfed by the myth that the current two-party system is the best.

“Therefore groups that want to replace BN at the centre wrongly believe that only a pact with Pakatan can bring about the change.

“But a two-party system has never been adequate to ensure that democracy flourishes,” Ong said.

He cited Pakistan and Bangladesh as two-tiered democracies where competing parties try to outdo each other on bad rather than good governance.

He said democracy has flourished in many countries including in Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan due to the existence of strong grassroots social movements and multi-party systems.

“MCLM and HRP don’t need to seek consent from or beg to Pakatan to contest.

“They should go solo,” he said.