Kampung Buah Pala returns to haunt

A banner put up during the Thaipusam festival has irked nine former residents, who claim to have been shortchanged by the state government.

GEORGE TOWN: Some issues just refuse to die, and the now extinct Kampung Buah Pala is one such case.
Despite the Pakatan Rakyat state government’s attempts to lay the ghost to rest, the demolition of the Indian village two years ago continues to haunt Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s administration.

A political banner put up during last week’s Thaipusam festival claiming that Lim had delivered his promise to the village folk had irked nine ex-residents.

Kampung Buah Pala Residents Association chairman M Sugumaran called it a misrepresentation of facts.
“The banner implied that all affected residents have been compensated. Regretfully, nine more families are still waiting for compensation,” he told reporters.

The nine included two cowherds who were also seeking alternative land to breed their cattle.

“Our ranches were demolished ruthlessly by the developer two years ago. But until today, the state government refuses to give us alternative land to rear our cows, which are sacred to us,” said cowherd K Sivanantham, 41.

He said the state land office once offered a swamp-like waterlogged land near the Kuala Sungai Pinang coastal area in the Southwest district.

“Any cowherd will know that one cannot breed cows in a wet area. It has to be dry land,” he said.
Sugumaran blasted the state government for still refusing to compensate the nine “merely because they stood
up to defend their  rights”.

“Where are the houses for the nine? Why are we not compensated?” he asked.

Court hearing next week


The banner presumably was put up by former villagers thanking the Pakatan government for compensating them with double-storey houses.

It featured portraits of Lim, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, and photographs of the ongoing construction of the posh Oasis condominium project on the land.
The banner was put up near the DAP thaneer panthal (refeshment shed), located outside party national chairman and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh’s house in Jalan Utama, Waterfall.

The 200-year-old Kampung Buah Pala was demolished in September 2009 to make way for the Oasis, undertaken by landowner Penang Civil Servant Cooperative Society and developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd.

The 6.5-acre plot was sold to the cooperative for only RM3.21 million.

The village was once known to the locals, especially Indians, as the Tamil High Chaparral due to its high population of Indian cowherds and livestock as well as unique cultural features and festivities.

Originally, some 33 families lived in the village when the Oasis project was hatched by the previous Barisan Nasional state administration some six years ago.


However, the Gerakan-led state government inserted a clause to compel the developers to settle the compensation issue with the villagers first before the land title could be transferred.

Nine families moved out from the village some six years ago after agreeing to the original compensation package offered by Nusmetro.

The package was either a RM75,000 worth 800 sq ft low medium flat unit in the Oasis or cash.
But 24 others stayed put to fight for the land, which they claimed was given to their ancestors under trust by their colonial plantation master, the Brown Family.

When the village was demolished, the Pakatan government agreed to compensate the families with a double-storey house each, to be built on a 1.5-acre plot of land at the project site.

However, nine out of the 24 families did not get the house.

The houses were instead given to villagers who had already left after agreeing with the original compensation package.

According to the official version, the nine families failed to ink the documents for the houses in time.
However, the deprived nine pinned the blame on Lim and his personal vendetta.

The nine families had already initiated court action seeking a full trial over the Kampung Buah Pala land status.
They argued that since the land was under a federal trust, the state government had no right to transfer the land to a private developer.

Moreover, there had been no documented evidence to show that the federal government had ever transferred the land title to the Penang government, read the affidavit.

The case is up for hearing at the High Court next Monday.

A.G. Tan Sri Gani Patail and Malay-sian police have started bullying young 14 year old boy. 6 months & not ready with prosecution documents so court sends back 14 year old poor child Mughilan back to jail to continue with 2 ½ months jail before even being found guilty.

Arising out of a swimming pool misunderstanding where Mughilan (14) was alleged to have at worst  accidently touched a young girl while swimming. The policeman slapped Mughilan 3 times on the cheek, handcuffed him to his motorcycle and brought him to the police station. Mughilan started sobbing and repeated that he had not done any wrong.

Children are naturally naughty and should be protected and not punished under any legal system in any part of the world. Just because two police reports were lodged by Mughilan against the police, he was slapped with a charge under Section 354 of the Penal Code for outraging modesty and criminal force in outraging modesty which carries a ten year jail term whipping and a fine.
How could a 14 year old boy use force on an 8 year old girl in a public area swimming pool at 6.15 p.m which is peak time with scores of other swimmers? Yang Arif Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail and the Malay-sian Polis Raja Di Malay-sia will now applying Malay-sian standards of justice.
P. Uthayakumar appeared before the KL Malay-sian Juvenile Courts Magistret Puan Suhaily binti Samsudin this morning, 26/1/11, applying that Mughilan be released after advising (if necessary) further to Section 93 (1) (9) or (b) of the Child Act 2001.
The DPP objected when the DPP wanted another mention date as the documents under section 51A of the Evidence Act for purposes of the trial were not ready. Uthayakumar urged the Court to dismiss the charge on the grounds of it being groundless further to Section 173 (g) of the Criminal procedure Code and mala fide especially so when Mughilan has already served 2 ½ months jail without even being found guilty.
Uthayakumar also submitted that Mughilan was denied his Birth Certificate and Identity Card and given it only last year. So he could not attend secondary school (The Tamil school headmaster admitted him to school off the record). But the secondary school Malay-sian headmaster refused to admit Mughilan  to school (like thousands of other Indian poor). Mughilan, his parents and grandparents are all born in Malaysia but have been made stateless together with an estimated 450,000 other even 4th, 5th and 6th generation Indians.
The racist and biased Magistret Puan Suhaily Samsudin turned down Uthayakumar’s application.
Uthayakumar repeated that Mughilan’s mother, a cleaner who only earns RM 450 per month could not afford the RM 1,700 bail despite 2 ½ months now since Mughilan’s imprisonment. Uthayakumar took out his wallet and appealed that he had RM 300 to help out and asked for the bail to be reduced to RM 300 so that Mughilan could go home with his mother.
The Malay-sian Magistret yet again turned down Uthayakumar’s appeal and sent Mughilan back to jail upholding the racist malay-sian standards of justice.
Would the Malay-sian Magistret have done the same had Mughilan’s name been Mohamed bin Abdullah?
Both Mughilan and his mother were in tears as Mughilan was taken back to jail. No bail money and no legal fees, no justice, and long jail sentences to thousands of Indians in One Malay-sia. Uthayakumar is attending to Mughilan’s case on a pro bono basis.
Uthayakumar is preparing a Revision (Appeal) to the High Court.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

Final Malay-sian Court nail on Hindu Corporal Moorthy’s coffin who lived as a Hindu but buried as a Muslim against his wife and family’s wishes.

(See The Sun , 26/1/2010 at page 10 and NST, 26/1/2010 at page 22)
  

Krishnan's family does not accept 2nd autopsy result

(Malaysiakini) The preliminary report on the second autopsy on electrician M Krishnan, who died in police custody on Jan 7, concurs with an earlier finding that he died from stomach ulcer.

Lawyer Gurmit Singh Hullon (left), who is representing Krishnan's family, said his clients could not accept the finding of the second autopsy. 

“We are not happy with the result and we do not accept it because it is conflicts with evidence provided that Krishnan was assaulted, beaten and left to die, without medical attention, for five days,” he Gurmit said.

The second post-mortemm performed at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) by pathologist Dr K Mathiharen, carried out after the family refused to accept the outcome of the first autopsy. 

Krishnan's wife P Revathi, 37, told reporters she did not accept the UMMC preliminary post-mortem report, insisting that her husband died from assault by the police. 

“I will fight this in court, no matter how long it takes. I will wait for the official first and and second post-mortem results,” she said, fighting to hold back her tears. 

“We have two eyewitnesses, who saw everything, and there are photographs of his bruises.”

First report still not out

Gurmit said Mathiharen told him that there were several contusions on Krishnan's body but this was not reflected in the autopsy result. 

The lawyer said the family would wait for both the official documents on the first and second post-mortem findings before considering further action. 

Mathiharen is expected to release his report on Feb 7. 

Krishnan, 37, was arrested on Jan 3 for what police said was a drug related offence. He was remanded for four days.

On Jan 6, he was sent to hospital after developing stomach complications, and was pronounced dead the next day. 

The first post-mortem, conducted at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, concluded that Krishnan died from stomach ulcer. 

On Jan 19, both the police and Attorney-General's Chambers gave the family the green light to seek a second post-mortem following an application filed in court.

Media Event 2: 26/1/2011 @ 9.00am, 14 year Mughilan in jail 3 months now because can not afford RM 1,700 bail & lawyer. Vindictive police prosecuted him because he lodge police report against bully police for beating him up. P.Uthayakumar & M.Manoharan to press KL Magistrate Court to release him tommorow.

Media Event 2: 26/1/2011 @ 9.00am, 
14 year Mughilan in jail 3 months now because can not afford RM 1,700 bail & lawyer. Vindictive police prosecuted him because he lodge police report against bully police for beating him up. 
P.Uthayakumar & M.Manoharan to press KL Magistrate Court to release him tommorow.
For more information contact: 012–6362287
S.JAYATHAS
Information Chief

Krishnan's family cannot accept 2nd autopsy results

Interlok: Thousand ready to sue government

GEORGE TOWN: At least 1,000 people will file a joint civil action against the federal government if the controversial Interlok novel is not withdrawn from the Form Five syllabus by this week.

Breaking his silence over the issue, Hindraf Makkal Sakti supremo P Waythamoorthy issued the stern ultimatum to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“Withdraw the fictitious and seditious Interlok from the education curriculum immediately or face a people’s civil action,” he said.

Waythamoorthy said Hindraf had some 1,000 people ready to file the suit to seek the withdrawal of the novel written by national laureate Abdullah Hussain.

He said the civil action would also seek a court declaration condemning the novel for allegedly sowing the seeds of racial hatred.

In view of this, Waythamoorthy said the Cabinet must make a decision, during its weekly meeting tomorrow, to revoke the book.

He warned that Hindraf would carry out a cohesive campaign to mobilise thousands of its supporters, both here and abroad, to force the issue if the Cabinet decided against the withdrawal.

He also claimed that the government’s sanction of a flawed, fictional and racially slanted novel as a compulsory study material underlined Umno’s “racist” agenda.

Why is Pakatan silent?

Waythamoorthy pointed out that no rational government would sanction a novel containing demeaning and degrading elements about a certain community for study in schools.

“The novel will only create disunity and misunderstanding among students but will also plant seeds of hatred, contempt, mistrust, ill will and hostility among students,” he said.

He also chided the government for dragging its feet even though there had been an uproar against the novel.

“Yet all the Umno government does is hold endless dialogue sessions with its Indian mandores and suggest various assuaging formulas, instead of making a straightforward decision to withdraw the novel. It’s a typical Umno delay tactic,” he said.

In the interim, he said, students would be compelled to read this racially tainted book for exam while Umno hoped to ultimately sweep the issue under the carpet.

He reminded the government that a curriculum philosophy was to contribute to an individual’s holistic development of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual growth by imparting knowledge and skills, fostering healthy attitudes and instilling accepted moral values.

“But, in contrary, this fictitious and seditious Interlok novel will contribute to producing bigoted attitudes among the young,” added the London-based activist.

Waythamoorthy also took a swipe at Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders over the issue.

He said Hindraf was equally disappointed and upset with Anwar for claiming that Interlok did not contain any racial elements.

He also questioned other “multiracial” Pakatan leaders for being absolutely mute over the issue.

“Their deafening silence over such an important issue does not augur well for our multiracial nation and ethnic Indian community,” he said. - Free Malaysia Today

Anwar Ibrahim plays to Malay muslim gallery, supports Interlok and use of word pariah against Malaysian Indians.

As was reported in December 2010 in Malaysiakini and Freemalaysiatoday that he thinks that there is nothing wrong with Interlok.

In today’s MN 24/1/11 at page 3 the ex 16 year UMNO up to No. 2 skirts around the issue refuses to condemn Interlok and the use of the word Pariah for fear of losing the 60% Malay muslim votes but pushing the buck to the Education Ministry.

Note the row of his PKR Indian cari makan mandores a la MIC he prefers to do wayang kulit with, in the photo below.

Res Ipsa Loquiteour – the facts speak for itself.
(see Malaysian nanban 24/1/2011 at page 3)
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice.

PKR, DAP & PAS excludes HRP in seat negotiation. Even evil UMNO gives MIC 9 parliament & 20 state seats. HRP & Hindraf to go on solo with Project 15/38 irrespective.

Without even lifting a finger or even opening their mouth even the evil  UMNO grants at least 9 Parliament  and 20 state seats to the MIC mandores.  And P.R. are having their seat distribution  meeting among PKR, DAP and PAS, and is not prepared to make way for HRP and Hindraf  (see BH 24/1/11 at page 9).
PKR, DAP & PAS P.R fairer to the Indians than UMNO/BN?
Just because HRP and Hindraf are not prepared  to assume the PR Indian mandores  role, PKR, DAP and PAS has even refused to talk to HRP and Hindraf. Our official letters asking to meet Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang have never been replied to.
HRP and Hindraf has even written in and asked PKR, DAP and PAS to make way in HRP’s targeted 15/38 Parliament and State seats to make way for a straight fight between HRP and BN and so as not to split the Opposition votes and to end our common enemy UMNO/BN’s 53 year rule without a break of the chain of Putrajaya. We are even prepared to get Indians to support PKR, DAP and PAS/PR in the rest of the 207 Parliament and 538 state seats as is the arrangements between UMNO/BN and MIC. Also to support PR form the next Federal government in Putrajaya and even for Anwar Ibrahim to become the next Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Yet, PKR, DAP and PAS as it stands appear even more evil cruel and greedy than UMNO/BN.
Irrespective, pushed to the wall and out of no other choice, HRP and Hindraf would proceed with it’s Project 15/38. And if BN wins as a result of a three concerned fight and a split in the opposition votes and BN gets to continue to rule Putrajaya by just a slim majority of these 15 seats, then PKR, DAP and PAS’ responsibility for the continued injustices by the evil UMNO/BN is going to continue to be meted out to in particular the Indian poor.
Note:     1)    That Julia Gillard party is now ruling Australia by a two seat majority.

    2)    PR got to rule Perak in the March 2008 General elections also by a two seat majority.

    3)    In the March 2008 General Elections the popular votes was 51%  for BN and 49% for the Opposition.

    4)    PKR, DAP and PAS are again accepting for free Indian votes as what swept them to power in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor (and Wilayah Persekutuan K.L) and denying  UMNO/BN their two thirds majority all for the first time in the history of Malaysia because of Hindraf’s political directions to vote en block for PKR, DAP and PAS. But this time around in the General Elections 13, PKR, DAP and PAS are no longer going to get the free Indian votes.

If they don’t make way for HRP in its Project 15/38 HRP, then Hindraf’s political directions would be to abstain from voting PR or BN in the rest of the said 207 Parliament  and 538 state seats!
The ball is in PKR, DAP and PAS’ court on ending the evil UMNO/BN regime’s rule of Putrajaya.
P. Uthayakumar

Std One pupil slapped for not lining up

KUALA LUMPUR : A parent of a seven-year-old pupil in SRK Sri Delima in Jalan Ipoh has lodged a report against a teacher who beat her daughter for not lining up in the correct row after recess.

L Savatharaja, a journalist from Tamil daily, Malaysian Nanban, said his daughter Shanya had come home last Wednesday crying after a teacher known as Virda, hit her on the head, pinched her ears and slapped her hands.

“The incident frightened my daughter. Now she is too scared to go to school and is crying everyday,” he said, adding that he decided to lodge a police report against the teacher and the school authorties after failing to get a proper explanation from the school.

Recalling his visit to the school to inquire about what happened, Sarvantharaja said: “On Friday, I went to school to find out what had happened. But when I approached the teacher, I was shocked by her action.

“She told me off with ‘kalau encik tidak suka anak belajar disini, tukar sahajalah! Encik hendak pergi polis atau media, tiada masalah. Lebih baik tukar sahaja ke sekolah lain!’ (If you don’t like your child studying here then change lah! You can go to the police or the media, no problem. Better you change school.”)

“It was a irresponsible response to my question which was why she hit my daughter.

“I was angry and tried to take her photograph. But she covered her face and ran a few steps before stopping to turn back and say ‘janganlah ambil gambar saya belum solek lagi! bawa cermin dulu.(do not take my picture yet. I have no make-up. Bring me a mirror first!)

“I then went to see the afternoon session supervisor Rohizan Ibrahim. She promised to look into the matter. But there has been no reply from the school,” he said.

He pointed out that teachers handling Standard One pupils should be more understanding of the situation as the children were barely out of kindergarden.

“This is not a racial issue… it is not about a Malay teacher hitting an Indian student. This is about a teacher’s lack of patience and understanding of the situation. How can you beat a child who is just two weeks into her first school year? What kind of training are these teachers getting?” he asked.

As for his daughter, Sarvantharaj said the family had decided to find her another school with hopefully better teachers.

“Interlok” hapless compulsory literature unlocking the true agenda of UMNO and pseudoism in PAKATAN

Not only that it is insulting but proofs such a free hand that UMNO along with its toothless mandores in executing the executive duties through its agencies without a lift or flick of the eye based on what is conscious or what is the real history when the Melayus’ sat in their kampong fishing and farming, while their royalties wined and dined with colonist and sold their souls whereas the Indians toiled and ensured the bourgaise British and the royalties earned their luxury for monetary gains. Did you know that the sultanate was not ready to embark into independence in 1957 as they did not want to lose their privileges? Yes this is yet to unfold but in time it will be revealed. 

Today, UMNO is doing the same shit as the colonist along with their mandores will play to the tune.

Let’s look at some of the comments in Interlok with my interlocutory observation 

(a) Maniam seperti orang India yang lain, tidak pernah khuatir tentang keselamatan isterinya. (Page 218). (I don’t know the relevance of this, such an insult to Indian women) 

(b) Mereka yang dari arah ke utara sedikit bercakap bahasa Malayalam atau Telugu, tetapi hampir semuanya tahu bahasa Tamil. Malayalam dan Telugu pun berasal dari satu rumpun bahasa Dravidia. Satu perkara besar yang membuatkan mereka senang berkaul adalah kerana mereka tergolong dalam satu kasta Paria. (page 211) (This guy is so messed up, he does not know the difference oif north or south India since the proto -Dravidian language has about 85 branches that is in the south including that is used by the Brahui community in Pakistan, Afgan & Iran. Yes the civilization of Indus Valley civilization. 

(c) Mereka tidak perlu takut akan mengotori sesiapa kalau bersentuhan.(page 211). Derogatory when you don’t know the culture. 

(d) Mereka berasak-asak seperti kambing. (page 211) Contradictory to the above

(e)Disini,pekerjaan yang membezakan kasta tidak ada. (page 216) Self serving to justify, the kerja to ensure the Melayu can continued to be spoon fed. 

(f)Kuli-kuli Cina itulah yang lebih banyak mendapat kesempatan. Maniam mengakui bahawa mereka lebih pantas bekerja dan sedikit bicara. (page 218). Chinese are opportunist and that is a known fact. How is this reflected on the caste issue. 

(g) Dia gembira hidup di negeri ini kerana untuk pertama kali dalam hidupnya dia berasa dirinya sebagai manusia seperti orang lain. (page 218). What manusia, go and look at the statistic of Indians who did well before the 80’s and how they are treated as 2nd class after that. UMNO propaganda with their toothless mandores. 

(h) Disini dia tidak sahaja bebas bercampur gaul dengan orang lain sama sebangsanya, malah dia tidak takut dengan pantang larang yang terdapat di negaranya apabila seorang India daripada kasta rendah menyentuh orang India daripada kasta tinggi. (page 218 & 219). Are you talking about UMNO and their kuncu-kuncu ? 

(j) Dia tidak sahaja dimaki hamun dengan kata-kata yang kesat, malah disisihkan daripada masyarakat sehingga dirinya dan orang-orang yang sekasta dengannya menjadi lebih hina daripada. (page 219). Are you talking about UMNO and their kuncu-kuncu?

(k) Di negeri ini, orang daripada keturunan kasta tinggi, kasta Brahma memakai punul yang melintang di tubuh, tetapi dia tidak takut menyentuh orang itu. (page 219) Are you talking about UMNO and their kuncu-kuncu?

(L) Dia boleh membeli barang daripada penjaja dengan memberikan wang dari tangan ke tangan; tidak seperti seperti di negaranya, dia mesti meletakkan wang itu di suatu tempat dan penjaja itu akan menyiram wang itu dengan air sebelum diambil dan dimasukkan ke dalam petinya.(page 219) ) Are you talking about UMNO and their kuncu-kuncu? I wonder why we have gloved half passed six doctors within the Muslim community. 

(m) Apatah pula lembu ialah binatang suci bagi orang Hindu; dan kalau binatang itu mati, seperti ibunya sendiri yang mati. (page 220). So what is so wrong with it? Yes, the cow is the the ultimate source of life, yet the Muslims will slaughter it. 

(n) Tidak makan tengah hari tidak mendatangkan masalah, asalkan dia dapat mengunyah sirihnya seperti lembu atau kambing memamah biak. (page 224). Aah!!!! Sarcasm? Did you know sirih is actually an aphrodisiac? This day they call it Paan in Amrica and it is a booming business. 

(o) Dia gertak sahaja, orang kulit hitam ini tentu takut kecut. (page 253). I like the part of orang hitam that speaks well how Malay literature has progressed. 

(p) Suppiah menerpa ke hadapan dan sujud di kaki orang putih Lantas, dia menendang Suppiah. Suppiah terjungkir. (page 256) & Dia berasa bangga kerana anjing orang putih itu jinak dengannya. (Page 276). Thank you at least with orang Putih we knew what and how to deal with, but farcical Malay laurerate like who will sell your soul to ensure to maintain the UMNO hegemony is a bigger snake. 

I must thank the ungrateful PAKATAN with their silence on this issue who like UMNO have learned to play to the tune as they are only interested on the vote count as for them Malaysian Indians is the ball to be kicked around as and when it is pleasing to maintain their own status quo not one that is based on humanity.

Either way since the Malaysian Indians are going to be kicked around, then with UMNO and now with PAKATAN, why don’t they just unite and stand steadfast under HINDRAF as they seem to be the only one who have not swayed from their agenda nor their goal to ensure humanity prevails.

R. Shan (Human Being)

Krishan, the final journey

Saravanan"s sudden visit one day before deadline

Marginalised minorities to form power bloc

(Malaysiakini) Smarting under the yoke of what they claimed to be the 53-year tyranny of BN's "majority rule" and whetted by the tsunami of 2008, minority groups have banded together, hoping to create a new power bloc in Malaysian politics.

What they are trying to recreate, though on a much grander scale, is the flashpoint ignited by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and the free and fair elections advocacy group Bersih, which many believed swayed the last general election.

Both NGOs were responsible for galvanising the groundswell of public support that was said to have helped reverse BN's once hegemonic hold on the two-thirds majority in Parliament and as well as wrest control of five states.

The 2008 experience has proven that small dedicated groups of minorities can cause a lot of waves if they work together.

It is towards this government-influencing, if not government changing critical mass that a collage of self-described "marginalised minorities" has decided to embark upon.

"We have suffered from the centrifugal force which continues to victimise us. We need a change," said moderator N Ganesan (left) at the National Human Rights Conference on The Future of Marginalised Communities in Malaysia at the KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall today.

Hailing from the length and breadth of the Borneo isle and the peninsula, the panel for today's discussion included representatives of groups contending that they have been disenfranchised - the Indians, Dayaks, Orang Aslis and the disabled.

However, this time, they have decided not to peg their hopes on any political party but will look more to their own interests, aiming to hold whoever is contesting at ransom, their votes for solutions to their concerns.

'We need change'
"After 2008, we were hoping that Pakatan would improve things for us. But to be honest, Pakatan did nothing for the disabled. We need change, we need good leaders who can deliver," lamented Independent Living Training Center coordinator Francis Siva in his speech to the 150-strong audience.

His main grouse, something which he said is shared by the disabled community, is the indifference with which the authorities, even in Pakatan states, treat their requests and concerns.

On the other hand are there are the Dayaks and the Orang Asli whose main grouses are centred on their relationship with their customs, the land and surrounding forest.

They claim this is being denied to them by a federal government keen on developing and extracting natural resources, so much so that it saw no wrong in stealing land owned by the Orang Asli and Dayaks.

"Timber is extracted and nature's treasures destroyed," accused Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenanjung Malaysia Pahang chapter chairperson Yusri Jahut.

The government's hunger for land and resources, they said, is threatening their livelihood, and poised to sever the ties to those things they hold so dear.

"We are being treated like the Red Indians of America, about a hundred years ago," lamented John Ryan Anthony of the Sarawak Dayak National Union.

He was joined by Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingan who criticised government policies of the NEP and 'ketuanan Melayu' which he said continue to cow the Indians, warning against a possible 'Tunisia' style popular uprising.

Memo to PM

The conference came up with a list of resolutions which they will compile into a memorandum that will be sent to the PM in a month's time.

The memorandum is but a starting point as the groups all agree to move forward into a collective response to encroachments into their basic rights.

"If you tell me to go to war, then we go to war. We just lack expertise, if you provide the expertise, we will provide the muscle," said Anthony displaying his commitment to the new alliance.

Former Sabah PKR leader Jeffrey Kitingan (right) joined the panel though he did not gave a speech. He was joined by another former PKR leader Zaid Ibrahim who made a cameo appearance, but just sat quietly in the audience.

"I am here just to listen," said Zaid when asked to join the panel.

The conference was organised by the Hindraf, jointly with Human Rights Foundation, Borneo Resource Institute (BRI), Common Interest Group of Sabah and Sarawak (Cigma), Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Sadia) and several other NGOs.

Hindraf shocks Sabah, S’wak reps

KUALA LUMPUR: Indigenous delegates from Sabah and Sarawak attending the National Human Rights Conference on the Future of Marginalised and Minority Communities in Malaysia were stunned when told of the conditions of the majority of Indians in Peninsular Malaysia.

Reacting to a paper presented by Hindraf national coordinator, W Sambulingam, one delegate from Sabah who declined to be named, told FMT: “I almost forget about my our own crippling conditions in Sabah.”

In his presentation, Sambulingam had described in detail, along with facts and figures, the striking conditions of the Indians in Malaysia.

He revealed that so depressed were their lives that suicide rates among the Indians were the highest at 21.1 suicides in every 100,000 Indians.

He also said that more than 30% of Indians do not own a house, compared to 25% Malays and 18% Chinese.

“Because of extremely depressed conditions, the suicide rate among Indians is also very high, that is 21.1 suicides in every 100,000 Indians, compared to 8.6 per 100,000 Chinese and 2.6 per 100,000 Malays.

“There are many Indians who live in destitution in urban squatter colonies. There are thousands of stateless Indian children and adults. We have a very low performance in life due to the systematic denial of opportunities in the areas of education, employment and business,” he said.

Indian youths in crime

But most worrying, he pointed out, was the fact that 40% of the Indian youths are involved in crime and more than 60% of inmates in detentions camps are Indians.

In addition, more than 95% of police custodial deaths are also Indians, he said.

“This is a burgeoning problem… Indians today are stereotyped and vulnerable to be linked to crimes. They are being relegated to all the low end jobs in society, very small involvement in development programmes in the country.

“Complete landlessness is overwhelming the community. The entire Tamil School primary system needs to be revamped. Land for Tamil schools, Hindu temples, and burial grounds need to be addressed but who is listening to our plight?” he asked.

He said the government must provide equal opportunities based on merit and reaffirm Article 153 and Article 8 of the Federal Constitution that guarantees equal rights for all.

Among those in attendance at the one-day conference here were Kita party pesident, Zaid Ibrahim, CigMa chief Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, well known Sabah social activist Patrick Sindu, and scores of social justice advocates. Also attending were 200 participants from various communities.