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“All of them received the explanation well, with the exception of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. He has already made up his mind that whatever Hindraf said was right,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here Wednesday.

Read more on samy vellu at the Parvasi Bharathi Divas at:

http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2008/01/08/samy-vellu-at-the-pravasi-bharatiya-divas-india/

M’sia-India ties not affected by Hindraf, says Samy

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By A. LETCHUMANAN

NEW DELHI: The bilateral relationship between Malaysia and India will not be affected by allegations made by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in November last year. Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said this was based on the positive response of various Indian leaders to his explanation on Hindraf’s allegations.

“All of them received the explanation well, with the exception of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. He has already made up his mind that whatever Hindraf said was right,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here Wednesday. Samy Vellu, who made three attempts for an appointment to see the Tamil Nadu chief minister, said he was unhappy with Karunanidhi’s attitude.

“I believe he felt slighted that I did not defend him when Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz told him off and asked him not to interfere in the internal affairs of Malaysia in the aftermath of Hindraf’s illegal demonstration,” he said. Samy Vellu said he was not present to defend at the time and what Nazri said was to safeguard the good name of the country.

He said Hindraf had planted many sensitive issues in the minds of the Indian people with the intention to poison Malaysia’s name. “I have been explaining over and over again but the Indian press seems to have made up its mind that there is an unrest amongst the Indian community in the country,” Samy Vellu said.

He said that a member of the Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) has been giving interviews to the Indian and international media, giving credence to the allegations made by Hindraf. “The statement by the PPP member as well as the wire agency story on the freeze on Indian workers in Malaysia has created a big wave in the media here,” he said.

He said more Malaysian ministers must make trips to India to provide explanations, and to explore the vast opportunities for investment from India as well as for Malaysian investments in India.

He added that he would explain the situation to Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee when he meets them separately later. Samy Vellu said he would submit a detailed report to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi upon his return on Saturday.

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KLANG: A large crowd gathered at a Hindu temple here to pray for peace, unity and for those detained following the Nov 25 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally. 

The special two-hour prayer also gave devotees a chance to voice their grievances via prayers.  

The prayers were organised by a coalition of 30 non-governmental organisations and the Indian community here.  

Six pigeons were also released yesterday as part of the prayers – five were for the five Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees and one for the 25 Hindraf supporters charged for participating in an illegal assembly. Similar prayer sessions were also being held in various temples nationwide. 

The coalition called for the unconditional release of the five detainees – M. Manoharan, V. Ganabatirau, K. Vasantha Kumar, P. Uthayakumar and R. Kengadharan – and said they should be given a fair trial.  

Coalition spokesman L. Segaran said they would be sending a statement to the Prime Minister on their prayers and the release of the five. 

Guest speaker K. Arumugam expressed hope that the Government would look into the community's plight. 

Meanwhile, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said in Chennai, India, he would meet Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to explain the real situation concerning the Indian community in Malaysia. 

He is leading a 70-member delegation to the Pravasi Barathiya Divas conference in New Delhi starting on Jan 7. 

Samy Vellu said he would undertake a similar effort with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S. Karunanidhi. – Bernama  

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Samy Vellu to meet India’s leaders to explain situation of Indians in Malaysia

BERNAMA

CHENNAI, SUN:

Malaysian Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu will meet Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to explain the real situation concerning the Indian community in Malaysia.

Samy Vellu, who is also MIC president, said he would undertake a similar effort with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister S. Karunanidhi.

He said that in view of negative publicity arising from the Nov 25 illegal street demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur involving a group of Indian Malaysians, he would explain to the two leaders the actual position of the Indian community in Malaysia.

Samy Vellu was speaking to Indian journalists after launching a book here today. He is on a stopover here en route to New Delhi to attend the three-day Pravasi Barathiya Divas 2008 conference beginning Jan 7.

Samy Vellu is leading a 70-member delegation comprising MIC leaders and Indian-based non-governmental organisations to the annual gathering of people of Indian origin from all over the world.

“I hope to meet the Indian prime minister on the sidelines of the Pravasi conference and meet the Tamil Nadu chief minister here within the next few days,” he said.

Samy Vellu said it was not true that Indians in Malaysia were deprived of so many things and that many Hindu temples had been demolished arbitrarily.

“Some of the temples were demolished because of court orders as they were built illegally,” he said, adding that many of the temples were relocated to alternative sites.

He also said that the Malaysian government had created many opportunities for Indian Malaysians and many were doing well in various fields.

Samy Vellu expressed hope that his explanation to the Indian government would clear up any misunderstanding over the issue.

Relations between Malaysia and India are strong “and nothing will affect this cordial relationship”, he added.

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