NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin,
I have tried to explain this in the past but it has fallen on deaf ears. Some even think I may be seeing ghosts in the shadows. But I have attended enough Umno gatherings in my lifetime and have enough Umno friends in high places to know what I am talking about. Nevertheless, most of those who disagree with my views are those who comment from the comfort and safety of their homes and offices and would most likely not be at the Kelana Jaya stadium today. This means, basically, they do not really have their ears to the ground and comment without the benefit of having their fingers on the pulse.
Let me put this to you in plain words and as clearly as I can. Umno considers the government machinery as a Malay vehicle. The government machinery -- whether it be the Election Commission (SPR), police, the anti-corruption agency (MACC), the Information Ministry (that controls the mainstream media and radio and television stations), institutions of learning (from kindergartens right up to universities), etc. -- are there to serve Malay interests. And make no mistake about this.
There is a government propaganda outfit called Biro Tata Negara (BTN) whose job is to conduct courses and deliver lectures around the clock to government officers and students before and after they enter university. BTN’s main focus is to indoctrinate Malays with the idea that Malaysia is a Malay country. The Chinese, Indians and ‘others’ are immigrants. After allowing them citizenship status these Chinese, Indians and ‘others’ now demonstrate ingratitude and start demanding all sorts of unreasonable things such as equal rights -- forgetting that they are mere guests in this country and are therefore second-class and not first-class citizens.
The army is Malay. The police is Malay. The universities and all institutions of higher learning are Malay. In fact, you name it and it is Malay. There are no two ways about it. And if the Chinese, Indians and ‘others’ refuse to accept this then they should leave this country and go back to the country where they originally came from -- be it China, India, or wherever.
Okay, you may argue that today’s Chinese, Indians and ‘others’ were all born in Malaysia. None were born in China, India, or wherever. Their grandparents or great grandparents may have been born in China, India, or wherever. But almost all the Chinese, Indians and ‘others’ were born here in Malaysia. So that automatically makes them citizens and not immigrants although they may be descendants of immigrants.
I mean, every single US citizen (other than the native Indian) is a descendant of immigrants even if they themselves may have been born in the US and did not migrate to America. So, grandchildren or great grandchildren of immigrants are not called immigrants but are called US citizens. And all US citizens are regarded equal. No US citizen has more rights than another US citizens based on which country his or her forefathers came from.
But that is in the US. That does not apply to Malaysia. In Malaysia, the descendants of the immigrants who came from one of the Indonesian islands have more rights than the descendants of the immigrants who came from China, India or any territory that is not part of the Indonesian islands. That is how it works in Malaysia.
And the Malays are constantly reminded about this. And all those descendants of immigrants not from one of the Indonesian islands will also be constantly reminded that they are guests in this country, do not have equal rights, and are classified as second-class citizens akin to an immigrant.
And that is why Chinese, Indians and ‘others’ are treated more brutally when arrested or detained. They not only suffer verbal abuse and racial slurs but will be physically abused as well. And that is why the death under detention rate for those who are not descendants of immigrants from one of the Indonesian islands is very high. Most, however, die ‘sudden deaths’ or collapse and die for no apparent reason other than medically related ‘natural causes’.
Let me make it clear, again. The Malaysian government is a Malay government. The government’s job is to serve the Malays and protect Malay interests. Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister said so in case anyone may have forgotten this. And this will remain so as long as Barisan Nasional stays in office. Umno has promised the people this.
And any Malay who wants to change this arrangement is a traitor to his race. His or her citizenship should be withdrawn and he or she should be expelled from the country. This, Umno has made very clear more than once.
The descendants of immigrants from China, India or any territory not within the Indonesian islands have no problem with this though. They accept the fact that they are second-class citizens under the classification of pendatang. And that is why they are members of Barisan Nasional. And the job of these 13 non-Malay members of Barisan Nasional is to ensure that Umno stays in power although Umno has less than half the seats in Parliament. On its own Umno is out of office. With the 13 other non-Malay members giving Umno the mandate it can stay in office.
The Chinese call these people running dogs. I would not call them that though. I think it is not right to call them running dogs. I love dogs. I think dogs are lovely creatures. Why should we honour these 13 non-Malay members of Barisan Nasional by calling them running dogs?
Monday, July 20, 2009
Uthayakumar forms Human Rights Party - Malaysiakini
Uthayakumar launching his new party
Part 1
Part 2
Part 2
Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar today announced the formation of a multiracial party called the Human Rights Party (HRP).
"We will fight our own cause... we can't count on others to do so for us," he said, adding that Pakatan Rakyat, like Barisan Nasional, is not addressing the needs of marginalised groups.
"But now the time has come for us to move forward with the Hindraf people's Makkal Sakthi wave," the pro-tem secretary general told some 2,000 supporters in Klang.
HRP will continue to champion Hindraf's 18 point-demand.
"I have identified 15 parliamentary and 38 state assembly seats... with about 20 percent to 46.2 percent Indian voters in about nine states," Uthayakumar said.
Nevertheless, he affirmed that Hindraf would remain apolitical and would be led by his brother Waythamoorthy, who is in self-exile in London.
Launches book penned in detention
Besides announcing the advent of the new party, Uthayakumar, who is a lawyer, also launched his book titled 'Malaysian Indian Political Empowerment Strategy: The Way Forward'.
According to him, the book was conceived during his 514 days in detention under the Internal Security Act.
Uthayakumar and four other Hindraf leaders were detained under the ISA in 2007 shortly after staging a mammoth street protest which drew tens of thousands of disgruntled Indian Malaysians to the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
Addressing his supporters, Uthayakumar said: "I don't want to be known as a politician. I would rather be known as a political activist."
"Our main thrust is to be the focus group in putting the Indians in Malaysia back on the mainstream development of Malaysia after 52 years of having been left out," he added.
Although the party's struggle focuses on the upliftment of the Indian community, Uthayakumar however stressed that it would not shut its doors to the plight of other communities.
Despite submitting their application to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on June 18, HRP has yet to receive the green light.
This, according to Uthayakumar, is in stark contradiction to the Makkal Sakthi party which was registered within two weeks.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Uthayakumar sets out to create Indian clout with new party
Uthayakumar (front, third from left) is mobbed by his supporters during today’s launch of the latest Indian-based party, Human Rights Party Malaysia. – Picture by Baradan Kuppusamy
KLANG, July 19 — P. Uthayakumar today launched his Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRP) before 3,000 cheering hardcore supporters by lambasting Umno for sidelining Indians for 52 years, while also training his guns on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) for winning on Indian votes but failing to help the community.
He said the cavalier attitude of Umno and PR towards Indians was because the community lacked political clout, and he is now offering a unique scheme where marginalised Indians could create this clout as well as pressure for public resources to uplift the community.
Under the scheme, Indians in certain states should re-register as voters in select constituencies where there are about 20 to 30 per cent Indian votes, he said.
“By doing this they would create Indian majority parliamentary and state seats in the country and can, if united, win the seats easily,” he said.
“We will use the clout created by controlling these seats to bargain for the community,” Uthayakumar said.
“We will no longer be political beggars,” he said to a standing ovation from supporters, who arrived from across the country, many of whom wore Hindraf’s saffron-coloured T-shirts. Uthayakumar, who wore a similar T-shirt with his fiancée, was mobbed by his supporters.
Uthayakumar, who is secretary general of the party, announced the names of state leaders at the function and vowed to fight on until the “last drop of my blood.”
“I will not betray you, I will not sell you for some crumbs and I will never give up the struggle,” he said to huge applause.
Elaborating on his scheme, he said DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and party secretary general Lim Guan Eng were classic examples of politicians who have “migrated” from their hometowns to fight and win and hold office in other states.
“We should be like them. We must create Indian power centres in all states, re-register ourselves in those constituencies and elect our own representatives to parliament,” he said.
“Only in that way can we create clout,” he said, adding that currently Indians were members in numerous political parties. “Our votes are split and we are dismissed as non-entities.”
He said the new party can win 15 parliamentary and 38 states seats if this scheme was implemented successfully.
“This is what we are going to do for the next two years …to get Indians to re-register in selected constituencies to create Indian community power centres,” Uthayakumar said.
Among the areas he identified are Padang Serai in Kedah; Ipoh Barat, Sungei Siput and Bagan Datuk constituencies in Perak and Ulu Selangor; along with Kota Raja and Klang in Selangor.
Uthayakumar spoke for nearly two hours, listing out all the grievances the Indian community suffers from – poverty, neglect, and marginalisation – and laid the blame at the feet of Umno.
“It is Umno that rules the country, it is Umno that decides who gets what and how much, not Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said. “Umno is the enemy but it is a very smart enemy and we have to watch out for it.”
Also present were DAP Teluk Kemang MP M. Manoharan, human rights lawyer N. Surendran and PR supporter David Balla who is the key financier of the new party.
Manoharan said he was there as counsel for Uthayakumar and added he takes the criticism of PR in his stride.
He urged party supporters to beware of Umno, which will work with the Special Branch to sow disorder, confusion and splits within the party.
Uthayakumar also lambasted the DAP for failing to resolve the woes of the villagers of Kampung Buah Pala in Penang.
About 30 Buah Pala residents were also in the audience cheering him on.
“Guan Eng can, with one just signature, settle the Buah Pala issue but he has refused to do so giving all kinds of excuses,” Uthayakumar said. “The reason is we are politically weak.”
He cited as example the sole DAP representative who could bring the PAS-led Kedah PR government to its knees by pulling out of the coalition over an abattoir to slaughter pigs.
“Just one man can do that…imagine 15 or 20 MPs (of our party) walking out. How much we can achieve,” he said.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
ANNOUNCEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY (HRP), MALAYSIA
The official announcement of the Human Rights Party (HRP),
Date: 19 July 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 9.30 am
Venue: Hokkien Hall, Klang (Off
HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY (HRP) is a multi racial party that would carry on with the Hindraf Makkal Sakthi’s 18 point demands dated 12/08/2007 and in particular Article 8 (Equality before the law) Article 12 (1) (b) (no discrimination) and Article 153(1) (legitimate interests of other communities) of the Federal Constitution. Our main thrust is to be the focus group in putting the Malaysian Indians back onto the National mainstream development of
We are not going to be the typical political party ‘playing politics’ and working towards one’s own personal and selfish interest. For us Human Rights, Social Justice, People and Public Interest, comes first above all else. We are more of political activists and political workers rather than politicians who only care about winning electorate seats and forming Governments at the expense of the People and their Rights. We would be moving on to use this political platform vide the Human Rights Party (HRP) to further our 18 years struggle in championing and upholding fundamental Human Rights in Malaysia.
Much has been written especially in the mainstream media that the field for an Indian based political party is crowded for a community of a mere two million Malaysian Indian. But the fact remains that we are the first and only Indian based multi racial political party which is in the opposition and which is not aligned to UMNO/BN.
A book titled ‘Malaysian Indian political empowerment strategy- the way forward’ written by P. Uthayakumar during his 514 days of imprisonment under the ISA without charge, trial or conviction in an open court of law would also be released on 19/07/2009.
Our official letter dated 18/06/2009 to the Registrar of Societies was duly acknowledged receipt also on 18/06/2009 with their official rubber stamp. Vide this said letter we had applied for the registration of this our Human Rights Party (HRP),
Hindraf Makkal Sakthi would remain apolitical and would continue to be a forceful and vocal NGO which would continue to speak without fear or favour under the leadership of it’s Chairman Mr. P. Waytha Moorthy.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
(P. Uthayakumar )
Secretary General (pro tem)
Human Rights Party (HRP),
Tel no: 03-22825622, 03-22825241 Fax: 03-22825245
Note 1: Reporters from Utusan
Note 2: Our media liasion officer Mr. S. Jayathas could be reached at
Friday, July 17, 2009
HINDRAF – IS MACC another PDRM in making?
HINDRAF is appalled at the death of the young Malaysian Teoh Beng Hock while being in custody of the MACC.
Is it rather unorthodox and unbecoming that a witness needs to be interrogated from 5pm to 3.45 am. He is only a witness not a suspect. UMNO led BN seems to have added another public institution ie the MACC as the public’s tormentor along side the PDRM. The sole responsible of the Anti Corruption agency is to investigate and procure evidence, not to act as the executor.
HINDRAF condemns MACC for its ruthlessness towards innocent Malaysian citizens under the protection of the Machiavellian UMNO led government to protect their own nepotism, cronyism and corrupt practice against public interest and benefit.
MACC was wholly responsible for the safety of the late Teoh Beng Hock as he was in their custody. HINDRAF holds them solely responsible for his death similar to what happened to Kugan & Gnanapragasam who died in police custody recently.
MACC has such wide unwritten power to hold the public at ransom similar to what PDRM has been practicing under the UMNO led BN regime. This has to stop as HINDRAF does not want the government to create another monster against public interest in the form of the MACC.
HINDRAF urges the public to unite irrespective of race, religion or colour and pressure the government to run a full fledge independent investigation on MACC for the ill-fated death of Teoh Beng Hock.
HINDRAF will extend its support to ensure that justice is served in unraveling the truth behind the suspicious death of Teoh Beng Hock. We call upon the AG to immediately order an inquest to be held to preserve crucial and relevant evidences before a cover up by both the MACC and PDRM whom the public has lost confidence in.
Lastly, HINDRAF would like to extend our condolences to the family of Teoh Beng Hock as we mourn together on the tragedy that has befallen to a fellow Malaysian.
P.Waythamoorthy
HINDRAF – Chairman
Lawyer lodges police report against Guan Eng
The Sun
by Bernard Cheah
“Lim has insulted hundreds of Chinese, Indians and other converts who retain their pre-conversion names for social and personal reasons. He is hitting below the belt,” he said in a report lodged George Town District Police Headquarters today.
“He is trying to separate the Kampung Buah Pala residents who are mostly Hindus from me. This is diabolical,” he said, adding that Lim is “not fit to be the Chief Minister for many other reasons too.”
Darshan has called on the police to investigate the case under Section 4(1) and Section 298(a) Sedition Act 1948 and Section 298 Penal Code for turning the issue into a racial and religious one.
“He and others of his ilk had in the past begun a campaign against Islam with slogans like ‘No to Islam State’, and ‘Islam over my dead body’,” he added.
Darshan has called on PAS and DAP to take disciplinary action against Lim who is DAP Secretary-General.
by Bernard Cheah
GEORGE TOWN (July 16, 2009) : A lawyer has lodged a police report against Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for allegedly denigrating and insulting him and his religion, Islam.
Darshan Singh a/l Joginder Singh, who is the legal adviser of the Kampung Buah Pala Residents’ Association, said that Lim’s statement, which was reported recently in Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh (on July11) and theSun (on July15) were personal attacks on him and was ‘kurang ajar’ (rude).
Darshan Singh a/l Joginder Singh, who is the legal adviser of the Kampung Buah Pala Residents’ Association, said that Lim’s statement, which was reported recently in Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh (on July11) and theSun (on July15) were personal attacks on him and was ‘kurang ajar’ (rude).
“Lim has insulted hundreds of Chinese, Indians and other converts who retain their pre-conversion names for social and personal reasons. He is hitting below the belt,” he said in a report lodged George Town District Police Headquarters today.
“He is trying to separate the Kampung Buah Pala residents who are mostly Hindus from me. This is diabolical,” he said, adding that Lim is “not fit to be the Chief Minister for many other reasons too.”
Darshan has called on the police to investigate the case under Section 4(1) and Section 298(a) Sedition Act 1948 and Section 298 Penal Code for turning the issue into a racial and religious one.
“He and others of his ilk had in the past begun a campaign against Islam with slogans like ‘No to Islam State’, and ‘Islam over my dead body’,” he added.
Darshan has called on PAS and DAP to take disciplinary action against Lim who is DAP Secretary-General.
High Chaparral: Kampung Buah Pala: Residents' Applications Dismissed With Costs
PENANG, July 16 (Bernama) -- The High Court here dismissed with costs an application by five Kampung Buah Pala residents to set aside a writ granting the ownership of a piece of land in the area to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaaan Negeri Pulau Pinang Bhd.
The court also dismissed with costs the residents' application for a stay of execution of the writ.
High Court Registrar Ahmad Hidayat Md Nor read out the verdict in chamber.
The residents' lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira told reporters later that he would file an appeal on Monday against the eviction order on the 23 families in the village.
Karin Lim Ai Ching, who represented the cooperative and developer Nusmetro Ventures (P) Sdn Bhd, said bailiffs would enforce the eviction order on Aug 3.
Earlier, Darshan filed a summons on behalf of six residents seeking to declare any agreement and transfer of ownership of the land among eight parties null and void.
The eight parties are the personal representative of David Brown and Helen Margaret Brown's estate, the state government, federal land commissioner, Malaysian government, Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaaan Negeri Pulau Pinang Bhd, Nusmetro Ventures, Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer and Deputy Chief Minister P. Ramasamy.
The villagers have named them as defendants in the suit.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Guan Eng on Buah Pala and Bukit Cina - see any difference
Politicians will always be politicians. They can say anything that suits their purpose for the moment and then switch wily nily when the tables turn. See what Guan had to say about the Bukit Cina and compare with what he is doing with Kampung Buah Pala. This was in a speech titled:
‘Vision 2020 Of Malaysia Being A Developed Nation Will Be Not Succeed If There Is No Clean Government, No Balanced Growth, No Human Resource Development And No Equitable Distribution Of Economic Benefits’
At The Save Bukit Cina 20th Anniversary Dinner on Nov 28, 2004
He said “…..(Malacca, Sunday): DAP’s success in saving Bukit China from being demolished by the then BN and MCA in 1984 shows the importance of preserving important cultural and historical heritage over development projects for the sake of private gain. Both BN and MCA saw only ringgit signs when they proposed leveling the oldest Chinese cemetery in Malaysia to build houses, shophouses and shopping complexes.”
Our comment: See the hypocricy in his words. What we are now saying about Kampong Buah Pala and about the move to level the only remaining Indian Heritage Village in Penang is that it is a heritage location and must remain so for all of posterity . But does he care. He seems to be more interested in pleasing his investor benefactors all in the name of the ringgit signs he talks about..
He continues “…..Unlike BN and MCA may see ringgit signs in the largest piece of available land in the centre of Melaka town, DAP and the people of Melaka saw 3 important links in preserving Bukit China namely:
· cultural and historical heritage not only for the Chinese community but also as an important mark of friendship between Chinese and Malays when Princess Hang Li Po married the Melaka Sultan;
· environment heritage in providing a green lung that made Melaka a more natural and livable area for resident apart from helping to maintaine its historical atmosphere; and
· an important tourist site that attracted foreign tourists and revenue helping Melaka’s economy.
Our comment : So is Penang different from Melaka that the logic does not apply, or is it because it is Indian heritage and the logic does not apply because the Indians are too powerless to matter, or it is because he is now Chief minister and the logic does not apply any more. Everything of what he said about Bukit Cina applies to Kampung Buah Pala but that does not matter anymore.
In that same speech he goes on to say “…It is indeed shocking how UMNO Kota Melaka can be allowed to owe quit rent for 25 years of RM 83,701.15 and UMNO Jasin allowed to owe cukai pintu for 18 years of RM 83,701.15 without any action taken. In contrast there have been cases where private landowners who owe only 2 years in quit rent have their land confiscated by the state government. UMNO and MCA should be ashamed for not respecting the law even though they are the government..”
Our comment: We are saying that there is fraud involved in the sale of land not owned by Penang State to a private developer. But he chooses to totally ignore this point as it will instantly make the sale null and void. This will turn the whole picture around – something he is showing clearly he does not want to do now. Which bigwig is he trying to protect like UMNO in Melaka? Guan Eng should be ashamed for not respecting the law even though he is the government, by not taking action on such fraudulent activity within his Government.There seems to be a very clever and silent conspiracy involved in this multimillion ringgit deal - between some bigwig developer, The State administrators through their cooperative and guan Eng.
All his arguments that he cannot do anything other than pay compensation to the Villagers do not hold water as he is nowhere near exhausting all the options available. He has held his position steadfastly reiterating like a parrot that he could not do anything against a federal court order, as if that was what we are asking him to do. He is playing very dumb here. This is a very well disguised dumbness for all I care.
His argument that this sale will affect investor confidence is utter nonsense as the instability that will be caused by any move to raze the village is much much more and he full well knows that, which is why he is in such a hurry to sweep the problem away, by teasing the Villagers and offering the Villagers compensation for their land.
His argument about the precedence this will create is just more rubbish – this is the kind of precedence any government will want to set, which touts Competency, Transparency and Accountability as its operating philosophy.
He says this will create precedence for other people who have been cheated off their land to lay legitimate claim of ownership to the land and cause trouble for developers and investors in the process. In the first place he won the Chief Ministership on the promise that he will champion the people's cause against such treachery. But what do we get, more old wine in new bottles.
In summary, Guan Eng should stop his antics ,should stop trying to fool the people and come clean and save the village or he and his DAP will face the same ignominous doom as UMNO. He is failing the people miserably with these antics. we expected a more erudite democrat when we elected him, but what we have is just more of the same crap that we tried to replace in the last elections.
The people will ultimately triumph.
Read the full text of his speech here:
http://www.dapmalaysia.org/
High (Rashid) Chaparral
A video clip from Citizen Journalist Chan Li Lian (5x Mom):
Source: YouTube
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
NOW SUARA KEADILAN SPINS LIKE UMNO IN KG BUAH PALA ISSUE
By Tan Mei Ling - reported in Malaysia today
I am a Malaysian from a middle class family. I have been following this issue on Kg Buah Pala and see the injustice that has happened to them.
I didn’t even know about the existence of Kg Buah Pala and the trouble they were in until HINDRAF highlighted the whole issue and I am sure many Malaysians too. Thereafter, I have been following various sites and blogs to uncover what actually happened to this fellow Malaysians of ours.
There are many write ups by people from different parts of the society and when I see the comments written by Malaysians, I am actually shocked. Here, until about two weeks ago many did not even have an opinion until the whole thing was brought to light by HINDRAF and today everyone is a loyar buruk.
Some of the comments are so pathetic that it runs down on racial lines and condemns HINDRAF and even those residents of Kg Buah Pala of being selfish, arrogant and hostile against the state government.
For them it is either viewing HINDRAF as racist or jumping boat or the Kg Buah Pala people are so insignificant but never the fault of the beloved DAP government although the truth is the state government screwed up in this matter.
I fail to see why our views are so narrow and side tracked, when you all know that DAP had screwed themselves so badly in this Kg Bala issue. Everything about Kg Buah Pala is revolved with an obsession that the state government never faulted in handling this matter but it is HINDRAF and Kg Buah Pala residents who are at fault for their own benefits and of course the previous government.
I wonder how liberated is our mind in Malaysia when obsession with half truth overrides the truth and the inaction on the part of the government for the spin created by the Penang state government to sweep it under the carpet. Isn’t this the same thing that BN has been doing for the last 52 years and it appears the role has reversed itself in Penang with DAP?
Nobody seems to take the trouble to understand the truth but continue to make assumption that this must be because Lim Guan Eng says so. Lim Guan Eng must be the Mahathir of Penang, because for 22 years, nobody did anything about him nor questioned him and even if you were to do that you will be totally squashed or his spin masters will do the job for him.
The latest spin by Suara Keadilan is a classic tale of the forgotten truth but a spin that is so biased and self reflective of the similar mold that resembles our very own BN. Sadly our Malaysians will continue to fall prey to this tactics when the truth is highlighted by HINDRAF on the plight of the Kg Buah Pala residents, they would rather blindly run into a conclusion without a thought for the truth but how rightful the mighty state government have been in playing the spinmaster’s role. I guess we deserve the government that we chose.
Sure, go ahead, I must be from the other side trying to stir the pot, being paid off, offered a position, maybe a Datukship, all for money even if I were to tell you that I am just a normal, average person who sees the truth. Malaysians “Mah”. So sure, so real, so correct always, never wrong, always just and fair just like Lim Guan Eng with the Kg Buah Pala residents.
High Chaparral: Gerakan bears more of the blame - Malaysiakini
I refer to Malaysiakini report 'Hindraf hails revelation but questions remain'.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should be commended for revealing events leading to the sale of Kampung Buah Pala but I am puzzled by the fact that he endorsed the sale three weeks after he came to office.
He has a lot to explain to the public why didn't he used his new found power to block the sale. It is very disturbing in view of the fact that he is a strong advocate of a clean governance with utmost care to transparency in whatever dealings. I am sure this is disappointing not only to Hindraf but most of DAP supporters.
At the same time, leaders of previous government cannot be absolved from this blunder. In fact Koh Tsu Koon and his officers should bear a bigger portion of the blame.
Thus, if he truly wants to help solve the problem, he should come back to Penang to help out. He should not be shouting from Putrajaya telling Lim to make good his election promise knowing that the problem is an offshoot from his administration.
Now that the dealings had been laid bare for all to see, let us hope that Lim can solved the problem to the satisfaction of the villagers
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should be commended for revealing events leading to the sale of Kampung Buah Pala but I am puzzled by the fact that he endorsed the sale three weeks after he came to office.
He has a lot to explain to the public why didn't he used his new found power to block the sale. It is very disturbing in view of the fact that he is a strong advocate of a clean governance with utmost care to transparency in whatever dealings. I am sure this is disappointing not only to Hindraf but most of DAP supporters.
At the same time, leaders of previous government cannot be absolved from this blunder. In fact Koh Tsu Koon and his officers should bear a bigger portion of the blame.
Thus, if he truly wants to help solve the problem, he should come back to Penang to help out. He should not be shouting from Putrajaya telling Lim to make good his election promise knowing that the problem is an offshoot from his administration.
Now that the dealings had been laid bare for all to see, let us hope that Lim can solved the problem to the satisfaction of the villagers
Why is Lim Guan Eng resorting to these treacherous antics?
Dengan segala hormatnya.jpg
Tan Kok Ping's Statement.jpg
Tan Kok Ping's Statement page 2.jpg
Guan Eng is calling for a "heart-to-heart" talk with the Kampung Buah Pala Villagers using this unsigned note of invitation. What is happening????.
Is there any sincerity in all of this or is it just another ploy to cheat the simple people of Kampung Buah Pala..
This is totally unbecoming of a Chief Minister , let alone a Pakatan Chief Minister. Guan Eng is no different than the UMNO/BN types.
On top of that see what Tan Kok Ping a leading Developer in Penang is saying in his press statement - everything that Guan Eng has been saying including the lie about the RM 200,000 offer. What is Tan Kok Ping's interest in all of this? Is Guan Eng in cahoots with Tan Kok Ping - Guan Eng's game is clear, he is no friend of the people, he is a friend of the developers and all the other moneybags in Penang. He only needs the votes - then it is bye bye like all the other politicians - no difference.No difference at all.
This is getting to be truly exasperating.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Guan Eng to meet Kg Buah Pala residents on July 16
Guan Eng with Sugumaran (R) at DEwan Sri Pinang yesterday. - Bernama pic
The meeting came about after the residents, comprising 23 cowherd families in what is dubbed Penang’s High Chapparal, apologised to Guan Eng for misunderstandings in their effort to stop their eviction.
Kampung Buah Pala Residents Association chairman M. Sugumaran extended the apology to Guan Eng in a brief meeting at the Dewan Sri Pinang.
“On behalf of the residents of Kampung Lorong Buah Pala, I wish to extend our apologies to the Chief Minister for what had transpired in recent times and we hope the Chief Minister will accept our apologies,” Sugumaran said.
The first-term Penang chief minister accepted the apology, telling The Malaysian Insider that he would meet the residents as it is the residents’ right if they want to meet with him, as he is also their state leader.
“What is important now is how we can work together to resolve this whole situation. Sugumaran has agreed to arrange a heart-to-heart talk between us and the affected families this Thursday at 8pm,” he said, adding each family can send a representative for the meeting.
The Kampung Lorong Buah Pala residents are hoping to stay on in the village despite the Federal Court judgment that they have no rights to the land and ordering them to vacate it without getting compensation.
They want the Penang government to solve the issue by acquiring the land, which the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government sold for RM3 million to the state officers’ cooperative.
They claim Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have promised to save the village in last year’s election campaign, attracting the outlawed Hindraf to demand the village be saved or the opposition coalition will lose Indian support and George Town its Unesco’s heritage city status.
Penang has since de-classified the minutes of all state executive council meetings held by the previous state government that are related to the transfer of the land ownership to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang Bhd and developer Nusmetro., which is promoting a RM150 million project on the site.
The residents had wanted to meet Guan Eng previously but he had refused if lawyers or Hindraf leaders joined the delegation. - The Malaysian Insider
Darshan's our only legal rep, say High Chaparral residents - Malaysiakini
Kampung Buah Pala residents overwhelmingly decided that their representatives would be accompanied by lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira when attending Thursday's meeting with the Penang Chief Minister.
Sugumaran's about turn may not go down well with state government legislators. The DAP-dominated government has been against the presence of Darshan ever since the villagers appointed him as their legal representative earlier this month.
After the meeting with villagers, Sugumaran made the retraction and claimed that his earlier statement was made under duress. He said he was overwhelmed by the presence of government leaders at the brief meeting with Lim (right).
A proposed similar meeting last Wednesday was aborted when the state government refused to allow Darshan (left) to accompany the villagers.
Kampung Buah Pala villagers face eviction after Aug 3 to pave way for a lucrative condominium project called Oasis.
In announcing this on Monday night, M Sugumaran (below), the Kampung Buah Pala residents association chief, effectively retracted a statement made hours earlier, in which he said Darshan Singh was not the villagers' legal representative.
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Apart from Darshan and Sugumaran, four other committee members - vice chairperson N Arumugam secretary Stephen J Draviam, assistant secretary C Tharmaraj Sugumaran and assistant treasurer M Pasu - will now represent the villagers at the meeting.
After a fiery one-hour meeting on Monday night, the villagers also chose three non-committee members to attend the meeting as observers. Thursday's meeting will be held at 8pm at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's office at Level 28, Komtar.
Statement made under duress
Sugumaran came under fire from the villagers for meeting Lim earlier on Monday afternoon, apparently arranged by Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer.
Sugumaran explained he went to meet Lim at Dewan Sri Pinang at 1.30pm to fix an appointment for the Chief Minister to have a heart-to-heart talk with villagers to resolve the 'High Chaparral' crisis.
He told the villagers that he had gone to meet Lim because he wanted to erase public notion that the villagers were arrogant enough not to meet the Chief Minister until now.
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"I have to admit I had made the statement under pressure. I have made a mistake by saying that Darshan Singh was not the villagers' legal counsel. Darshan Singh is the villagers' sole lawyer," he said.
Sugumaran has earlier given his word to Lim that the villagers would not bring their lawyer, Darshan Singh to Thursday's meeting.
Darshan our man at all meetings
He also apparently broke a gag order imposed by the association's committee members on themselves that "no villager should meet state government leaders without the committee's prior consent or knowledge."
The committee had also decided that they will always bring along their legal adviser Darshan Singh to any meeting with the state government officials.
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Kampung Buah Pala villagers face eviction after Aug 3 to pave way for a lucrative condominium project called Oasis.
The developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd issued a notice of eviction on July 2.
Kampung Buah is also fondly addressed by locals as 'Tamil High Chaparral' for its populace of cowherds, cattle, goats, other livestocks and lively Tamil cultural features.
It's the last remaining Indian traditional village in the state, which many civil societies and even politicians want preserved as a state heritage.
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