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The following appeared in Malaysiakini:

A public forum to discuss the Penang Hindu Endowments Board (PHEB) on Saturday night was marred by not one but two separate incidents.A speaker at the forum was allegedly punched by an irate ex-MIC politician after the event in Butterworth had ended. Last night, a police report was lodged in Jalan Patani police state alleging R Arunasalam of assaulting retired civil servant, K Balakrishnan, 62. The incident allegedly happened at the Sri Mariamman Hall when Balakrishnan was talking with a few friends after the forum.

The former MIC politician, who did not attend the forum, had stormed into the hall at about 11pm and hit Balakrishnan twice at the back of his neck, and accused the forum speaker of criticising him in his speech.

According to witnesses, Balakrishnan, a diabetic patient and currently undergoing dialysis treatment for kidney failure, nearly fainted from the assault. The furious MIC politician, who had to be escorted out from the hall, allegedly hurled verbal abuses against Balakrishnan before leaving.

It is learnt that the politician, a staunch supporter of former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam, has been short-listed for appointment as a chairperson in one of the five Hindu temples under the jurisdiction of PHEB, a statutory board of trustees.

Earlier, Balakrishnan had raised his reservations over the purported appointment, and criticised the DAP-dominated PHEB for attempting to appoint the politician on grounds that “he had on numerous previous occasions called for the government to abolish the board”.

Police told Malaysiakini that the case would be investigated immediately for it involved a ‘VIP’.

The United Hindu Religious Council and Penang Makkal Sakti Welfare Association (Pemaswa) jointly organise the forum, which was officiated by Padang Serai member of parliament N Gobalakrishnan.

Earlier, during the forum’s question-and-answer session, a youth criticised the forum as irrelevant and lambasted Pemaswa leadership of “misusing and abusing” the spirit of Makkal Sakti (people’s power), a popular tagline for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Identifying himself only as Satish from Hindraf, the youth in his early 20s, hurled abuses at the organisers and abruptly demanded a ‘vote of no-confidence’ on the forum’s organisers. He also called on about 200 people at the forum to stage a walkout, but no one heeded him as he left the hall.

When contacted, Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran denied that the youth was a Hindraf supporter and said the movement would never allow its supporters to behave in such a manner at a public forum. “Hindraf condemned such unruly behaviour,” he told Malaysiakini.

Organisers later told Malaysiakini the youth was ‘an agent’ deliberately sent to cause disruptions to the forum, and criticised the tactic as a “shameful cowardice act ala MIC.”

Several PHEB commissioners and DAP assemblypersons are said to have used unethical methods to halt the forum since Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, a Bagan MP, have declined the invitation to officiate it. Even though Lim has earlier indicated his desire to attend the forum, he spurned the offer citing an overload of work. Similarly Bagan Jermal state assemblyperson Lim Hock Seng also declined when he was invited instead. Both politicians are said to be influenced by certain quarters not to go to the forum.

This has apparently infuriated many Bagan’s Indian constituents, who have backed the DAP in the recent general election.

The forum organisers, an influential group among the Indian community in Penang mainland, warned that this controversy would be a major problem for the DAP-led state government if left unresolved.

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Two months ago, there were rumours that Kulasegaran will be nominated as Ipoh Mayor, which received mostly negative feedback from the public and other parties/organisations.

He was instead appointed as a councillor, an action that still received flak from certain groups:

Ipoh Ratepayers Association (Irata) vice-president Victor Sankey expressed concern whether Kulasegaran could spare the time from his tight schedule as a parliamentarian to attend to local issues. “No doubt, his credentials qualify him as a councillor but he has enough on his plate as a parliamentarian,” he said Tuesday. Pointing out that local councils were the third tier of government and closest to the people, Victor said ratepayers had high expectations. He added that people were already annoyed that only 30% of the councillors’ posts were allotted to non-governmental organisations.

Teja assemblyman Chang Lih Kang was also sceptical if Kulasegaran could handle the appointment. He added that the Ipoh Barat MP’s appointment had also set a bad precedent.”A politician should not be given excessive power. Kulasegaran’s appointment is a form of monopoly.  “As there were other candidates applying to become councillors, it should not be monopolised by politicians,” he said.

Perak MCA organising secretary Dr Mah Hang Soon questioned whether Kulasegaran could carry out his duties as a councillor as he would be away in Parliament for more than 100 days a year.  “Being a councillor, he needs to be regularly available to the people,” he said.

Kula still insists that he can serve his community well, and will be quitting his legal profession:

Kulasegaran, however, said he would not face problems in carrying out his duties as both MP and councillor. “As I have vast knowledge on local council affairs, I am expected to play a pivotal role in Ipoh City Council,” he said. He added that he would quit as a lawyer soon to concentrate on his dual role.

As for me, I still believe another person should have been given a chance. Definitely there are equally or better qualified people in Ipoh? Kulasegaran can still provide input and assistance via his position as MP. The intentions may be good, but the perception of the public will be negative. Bad move for Pakatan.

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Summary: Keshvinder (lawyer by training) wants to focus on land issues and activities for youths.

BTW, Malim Nawar had developed a lot compared to 20 years ago. The railway station had been closed since double-tracking project started. I still remember taking train from KL station years ago.

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Know your state rep: Squatters depending on him to secure land titles
By : Jaspal Singh
MALIM NAWAR: The odds may have been against Keshvinder Singh in the general election but he proved his detractors wrong by winning the Malim Nawar state seat.  The 37-year-old father of two who joined DAP in April 2005 was seen as a political greenhorn with little chance of taking over the seat from the Barisan Nasional.

“Many, including friends and relatives, did not expect me to win as they considered me a greenhorn but that did not dampen my resolve to do my best to win the seat,” he told the New Straits Times. However, Keshvinder, who defeated Barisan Nasional’s Chai Song Poh with a majority of 1,362 votes, acknowledged that the next four or five years before the next polls will not be easy for him.

Just two months into his new job, he has already received close to 1,000 appeals from constituents to help them to either get new land titles or renew old ones.   Many of them have been squatting on state land for two generations or more and, so far, have failed in their attempts to apply for land titles.  Some of those whose titles have expired have been trying to get them renewed for more than 20 years. Continue Reading »

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