Posts Tagged ‘Protest’

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Banggarma and Rani ask for divine intervention

August 24th, 2010
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These two ladies literally challenged the stated religion’s authorities. I wonder what the body snatchers are going to do now. Probably haul them to syariah court or order counseling? This will be considered as apostasy I guess, so may be fine, jail and rehabilitation.

We can see that most of the problems faced is due to their parents. I guess this gives an idea of the perils of converting due to marriage. I hope our makkal will think carefully before making the fateful decision, so that the chance of our children suffering will be reduced. No point making wrong decision and regret later.

Two women seen in the eyes of the law as Muslims but who consider themselves as Hindus took part in the Timithi Vizla (annual fire walking ceremony) at the Sri Muthu Mariamman Kovil temple in Parit Buntar last Friday.

NONEAccording to Parit Buntar district Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRP) chief M Sivakumar, S Banggarma (left), 28, (Muslim name Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah) had carried the milk pot for a kilometre from Muneesuarar temple to the Sri Muthu Mariamman temple praying for a swift solution to her conversion dilemma.

Rani @ Jamillah Abdul Kadir, 46, also attended the temple function asking for the same favour.

At the religious function, the HRP also went on a signature campaign to highlight the plight of four women trapped in a religious twilight zone.

Besides Banggarma and Rani, M Indira Gandhi and Regina Mohd Zaini, are also attempting to seek royal intervention to solve their conversion dilemmas.

They have exhausted their legal avenues including the religious departments, courts, registration departments and the police.

Their last resort is to appeal for royal intervention from the Sultans of Perak, Johor and the Agong who are heads of Islamic matters in the country.

NONETheir contention is that they have the right to freedom of religion as enshrined in Article 11 of the federal constitution.

Indira is from Ipoh and Banggarma is from Tanjong Piandang, while Rani is from Malacca and Regina from Johore.

According to Perak HRP chief P Ramesh, these four are members of his party, which has collected about 5,000 signatures in support of them.

HRP will present the first memorandum of appeal to Sultan Azlan Shah at Istana Kinta in Ipoh on Sunday at 11am.

They will then approach the Johor Sultan on the case of Regina, followed by the Agong for Rani as Malacca does not have a sultan.

Given away

According to HRP national information officer and Hindraf information chief S Jayathas, Rani’s parents, due to financial difficulties, had given her away to their Hindu neighbour by the name of Kandasamy.

NONEHer Muslim mother Aminnah Ahmadu had married her converted father Abdul Kadir @ Krishnan.

When Rani (right) was 16, she married her Hindu husband who was later forced to convert to Islam as Mustapha @ M Muniandy and they have four children – two daughters and two sons.

Their eldest daughter, 27, is named as Aishah bt Mustapha Muniandy in her birth certificate but the parents managed to change her name to Vijaya Letchumy A/P M Muniandy in her identity card.

However, the other three children, Abdul, 26, Hamzah, 24, and Citra Devi, 16, still carry their Muslim names in their identity cards.

According to Jayathas, Rani had made declarations before a commissioner of oaths that she wanted Abdul to be known by his Hindu name as Ganesan and Hamzah as Nagendran, but the registration department has allegedly refused to make the changes.

Application turned down 

As for Banggama’s conversion case, on Aug 4 the Penang High Court had turned down her application for a court order that would nullify her conversion to Islam when she was seven.

Judicial Commissioner Yaacob Sam had found that Banggama is a Muslim since her parents had converted to Islam in 1983 together with their children and said the civil court has no jurisdiction to hear a case involving conversion to Islam.

NONEBanggama is living in Tanjong Piandang with her fisherman husband, S Sockalingam and their two children Kanagaraj, eight, and Hisyanthini, two.

Banggama’s contention is that she has always been a Hindu and will die one even after the High Court ruled against her.

Banggarma claimed that she was unwittingly converted by the state Islamic religious authorities at the age of seven while she was staying in a welfare home in Kepala Batas, Penang.

Banggarma’s birth certificate revealed that she was born a Hindu on Aug 13, 1982, in Keratong, Pahang, to plantation workers B Subramaniam and Latchumy Ramadu.

She has practised Hinduism even though her identity card stipulated she is a Muslim.

Meanwhile Regina’s father Mohd Zaini @ Krishnan, who had earlier married a Malay woman, had taken her Hindu mother as a second wife and they have three children – two daughters and a son.

The elder daughter was able to convert to Hinduism but not Regina and her younger brother who are still classified as Muslims.

The father died when Regina was four years old and her mother died about five years ago.

Regina had married a Hindu and her problem started when her son Thinas was born and she was unable to register his birth with the registration department.

As for Indira, she had obtained an Ipoh High Court order on March 11, for the custody of her third child Prasana Diksa but is unable to enforce the ruling on her converted husband Mohd Riduan Abdullah @ K Pathmanathan who is hiding in Kelantan with the child.

On July 31, Indira had lodged a police report against her husband for criminal intimidation over using abusive words against her during a phone conversation on July 29 and for refusing to surrender the child to her according to the court order of March 11.

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Storm in Sitiawan over land acquisition?

August 11th, 2010
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The article from Malaysiakini is at the end, but before that, I’m not clear on why the land was not properly developed for last 80 years. Minus the labratory built in 1964, there should be plenty of space to develop the place. Maybe Sitiawan was a sleepy town all this while, and only now things are picking up. Maybe.

According to the news, the land is partially occupied by the SK Simpang Empat (aka Gandhi school) established in 1934, the school’s field and the DR VRN Menon labratory(built 1964), and the Dindings Indian Association (DIA) club house (according to MP Kula’s website). You can see some pics here. The school has its own website at http://www.skses.edu.my/

Secondly, if the acquisition is for building a school, isn’t the place already partially occupied by a school now? So, maybe its an extension of the school? Then its for a good reason right? Its not like they are going to build a supermarket or highrise condominium there. However, if its to build another school, what’s going to happen to the existing school and the Gandhi Hall, and its history?

Having historical value is a good reason. But having historical and economical contribution to the community is even better reason. Maybe they can work something out. No point owning a piece of land, but not utilising it properly. Build a temple or give land to Tamil school or set up a community hall (get return via rentals), plenty of things can be done.

For 80 years, the Dindings Indian Association in Sitiawan, Perak, has been the steward of a two-hectare plot of land originally purchased with the contributions of rubber tappers.

Last week, the federal government issued notice that it will acquire the land to build a school – the formal hearing of acquisition is to be held on Aug 25 at the Manjung Land Office. 

The Perak DAP has now pitched in with an accusation that there is an ulterior motive behind the move.

State deputy chief M Kulasegaran said the site, located in the heart of town, is worth at least RM20 million now, and that it is the pride of the Indian Malaysian community which makes up 15 percent of the local population.

“Is it true as speculated that part of the prime land will be given to cronies of the people in power for commercial development?” he asked.

He said the plot was bought “with the blood, sweat and tears of the first generation of Indian settlers” who had cleared the jungle for rubber planting.

“Indian rubber-tappers from the 35 estates in Sitiawan had contributed two Straits Settlement dollars each per month for 18 months to purchase this piece of land,” he said.

“The idea of purchasing the land at the time was to build a school for the children of rubber tappers to study English in the afternoon, after attending Tamil school in the morning.”

Part of the site is now occupied the SK Simpang Empat (formerly the Simpang Empat English School), the school field and the VR Menon science laboratory built in 1964.

“There is no logical reason or justification for the government to acquire this piece of land. We are adamant that it should at all times remain in the hands of the Indian community,” Kulasegaran said.

He said that a large number of people will gather at the Manjung Land Office on Aug 25 to object to the proposal. 

Questions that arise

Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP, called on the Perak and federal governments to organise a roundtable conference to discuss the proposed acquisition and arrive at a win-win solution.

It is understood that both governments had carried out a feasability study a year ago, in preparation to acquire the site.

Kulasegaran said the Perak government’s Indian Affairs adviser S Veerasingam (left) had reportedly said that “a settlement will be reached” after discussion with Mentri Besar Zamry Abd Kadir, who is currently abroad. 

He demanded answers from Veerasingam on these questions:

1. Was he aware of the feasibility study? Was the Perak government consulted before the decision on acquisition was made? 

2. Why was there no prior consultation with the local Indian community? 

3. Why did he say a settlement would be reached after the notice of acquisition was issued? 

4. What are the details of the settlement formula? 

Kulasegaran, who was born in Sitiawan, said the Indian community is angered because the move is “most insensitive, unfair and unjustifiable”. 

The community also cannot understand the need for this plot when there is vacant land in many other areas where a new school can be built, he added.

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Who can solve Bukit Jalil estate workers problems?

August 3rd, 2010
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Its a pity that we have to read this problem every few months. You can search just in this blog and find that Bukit Jalil estate workers issue already started in 2007 itself. 3 years of ding-dong. MPs came and went. DPM came and went. One MP even shed tears. MIC came and went. HRP came and went. DBKL came and talk and talk and talk. Opposition also came and went.

And surely you remember the school to be located into cemetery vicinity? Yeap, the same area. Malaysia Boleh!

Somewhere in April this year, FT Ministry gave out compensation to some of the workers:

ONLY two former Ladang Bukit Jalil Estate workers have come forward to claim compensation from the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry.

The two workers — P. Malliga, 47, and her mother, D. Thanabakkiam, 64, are among the 93 workers from the estate near Jalan Puchong. The estate was taken over by the government in 1980s and operations ceased in 1992, forcing the workers to lose their jobs.

The remaining 91 workers could not attend the cheque-presentation ceremony at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters on April 22 due to unforeseen circumstances.

Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said RM734,160 had been put aside for these workers but only 29 would receive the money during the first phase.

“These 29 workers have proper documentation to successfully claim the compensation but I urge the remaining workers to come forth and claim their money,” he added.

The workers are advised to visit the DBKL headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut next Thursday to speed up the process.

“The rest of the workers will be given the compensation as soon as the documents and statutory declarations are complete,” Saravanan added.

Workers with the estate for seven and a half years are entitled to RM6,370 while those with 15 years of service and more will be given RM11,620.

Development work on the land have not begun as some 40 families are still residing on the grounds of the former estate.

Thanabakkiam and her daughter are among the few who shifted into PPR Muhibbah five years ago. Thanabakkiam said the estate was also home to dangerous wild animals.

“Once I felt something on my feet and, thinking it was my pet cat, I shook it off only to see a cobra slithering away. We use to have wild boars and monkeys wreaking havoc in our homes as well,” said Thanabakkiam, who served at the estate for 40 years.

Malliga added that flash floods were very common and their homes were in a terrible state. She also said the move was a blessing in disguise for them.

And as recent as June, DBKL said no eviction until discussion by FT Ministry and HR Ministry (MIC folks). Then, on July 20, the residents received eviction notice. Means what? Discussion over?

THE 41 families from Bukit Jalil Estate feel cheated by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) over a promise made to them that they would not be evicted until their housing matter is resolved through a discussion.

On June 8, the residents received a letter from DBKL stating the city council would postpone demolition of the houses at the estate.

It also stated DBKL had received orders from the Federal Territories and Urban WellBeing Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan that the next course of action would only be taken after a discussion between Federal Territories and Urban WellBeing and the Human Resource ministers.

However, the residents received a final eviction order on July 20 asking them to evacuate their houses by tomorrow.

Resident S. Thiagarajah said the families felt that the letters were contradictory and it seemed like DBKL was not keeping their word.

“Now we are to move out by tomorrow and failure to do so will not stop DBKL from demolishing our homes. What about the promise made to us in the June 8 letter?” he said at a press conference yesterday following DBKL’s announcement on July 30 that the land would be converted into a cemetery.

Kajang councillor S. Arutchelvan said a local authority had the right to enter a piece of land and evict squatters after giving them notice under the Clearance of Squatters Regulations 1969.

However, former estate workers are not squatters, he said.

“Squatters are illegal as they build houses on private or government land, but former estate workers were given houses built by a company with the full knowledge of the Government,” he said.

Arutchelvan said although the workers were asked to move into the public housing scheme at PPR Muhibbah in Puchong and given the option to buy, it was not a permanent solution to the problem.

He said they should be given permanent homes.

He cited Ladang Braemar in Kajang, Ladang Bukit Tinggi and Ladang Sungai Rasa in Klang and Brooklands Estate in Banting as examples where workers were given permanent homes and compensation.

Federal Territories and Selangor Community Association (Permas) president and Subang Jaya councillor Tan Jo Hann urged both the Federal Territories and Urban WellBeing and the Human Resource ministers to sit down with DBKL and the former estate workers to discuss the matter.

“Right now both ministries and DBKL are passing the buck to one another and the workers are the victims. This mixed development is not well thought out and the authorities should not use eviction notices on these people,” he said.

The issue of the estate workers also garnered interests from neighbouring housing areas, as residents feel converting the estate land into a cemetery was not a suitable option.

Alam Putra Residents Asso-ciation chairman R.S. Maniam said a cemetery in the area was not wise planning, and according to local agenda 21, the local authorities should get neighbouring residents’ input before a plan was carried out.

“We have the right to have a say but we were not consulted,” he said.

No wonder people from Kampung Baru to rumah panjang Subang to Kampung Jinjang Selatan Tambahan don’t trust these people in DBKL. Got black and white also no point, everything can be changed. (Not to mention, own minister word also worthless :-) ).

It gets worse here. The resident said Mayor PROMISED to postpone eviction:

THE Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is standing by its decision to evict the former estate workers from Ladang Bukit Jalil today despite the residents’ appeal to postpone the deadline.

The workers were told the eviction order dated July 20 was valid and they have to move out by today, as demolition works could be carried out any time after the deadline expires.

In a brief meeting between the residents and DBKL deputy director (services) Datuk Amin Nordin Abdul Aziz yesterday, Bandar Tun Razak MP Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s special representative Azman Abidin said he was informed the eviction order was valid, although a letter dated June 8 stated the local authority would postpone demolition of the houses at the estate.

The letter also stated DBKL had received orders from the Federal Territories and Urban WellBeing Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan that the next course of action would only be taken after a discussion between the ministers for the Federal Territories and Urban WellBeing Ministry and the Human Resource Ministry.

“The ministers have not delivered what they have promised and until then, it is unfair to evict the residents because they are not squatters, they are former estate workers,” said Azman.

He said the ministers should address the issues in the area, which also involved a Tamil school and temple.

“These issues should be resolved first before the workers are evicted. I was told by Amin to ask Khalid to convince the residents to move out to the nearby PPR Muhibbah, but the residents do not want that,” he said.

Resident S. Thiakarajah said City Hall was labelling the former estate workers as squatters and wanted them to take up the PPR housing scheme.

“Once we take it, we will be given RM1,000 and automatically we will lose our rights as former estate workers,” he said.

He added that the residents were disappointed with DBKL and the ministries, as there were no follow-ups or meetings after the June 8 letter.

“All of a sudden we receive an eviction order on July 20, although two days later, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail promised Khalid to postpone the eviction order during a meeting with the MPs,” he said.

If protest, kena from police or labelled troublemakers or pro-opposition. If keep quiet, then lose out.

So, who can help the estate workers? Don’t tell this problem also need PM Najib to interfere. Others do what then?

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Coalfields Estate problem never ending

August 3rd, 2010
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Then (2007):

Workers get option to buy houses:

Workers of three estates belonging to Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) Bhd will be able to own single-storey terrace houses after KLK implements the housing schemes.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the company had already agreed to implement the scheme after obtaining the approval from the relevant authorities.

“The workers in Tuan Mee, Caledonia and Coalfield estates will be the main beneficiaries,” he told voters at a community centre.

Tuan Mee’s senior manager Chuan Chong Meng, National Union of Plantation Workers general secretary Datuk G. Sankaran, MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel and other MIC leaders were present.

Samy Vellu said the estate workers had put forward a proposal for the houses two days ago.

“This is how the Barisan Nasional Government works. We discuss and got the approvals within a short time for the benefit of the estate people,” he said.

Samy Vellu said estate workers who wanted to upgrade their houses or even own bungalows could do so after discussions with the company, which is constructing the houses.

He said that there would also be other infrastructure like schools, temples and a playing field that would help to upgrade the standard of living of the people.

Officials said the estate workers would be given priority to buy the houses at RM35,000 while others would have to pay RM42,000 for the two-room houses. [still got two room houses ah???]

Samy Vellu also added:

KL Kepong Berhad will be asked to allocate land for housing and agriculture for workers in the Tuan Mee, Caledonia and Coalfield estates, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.

He said this came under the Selangor government’s regulations requiring estate owners to provide housing schemes for the workers.

Samy Vellu said this following a request for land by Tuan Mee Estate MIC branch chairman K. Ramavellu at a meet-the-people session at the estate last Sunday.

“I will have discussions with KL Kepong, which owns the estates, on the matter. We will urge them to allocate land for housing for the more than 200 workers in the three estates.

“We will also ask for agriculture land so that the people can farm and cultivate vegetables to raise their income,” he added.
He said that more than 56 housing schemes for estate workers had been implemented by the various estates in the country, with the first scheme in Dovenby Estate in Sungai Siput.

Earlier in his speech, Samy Vellu said the estate workers in the country were being paid a monthly wage because of his relentless efforts in compiling a working paper for the Cabinet.

He claimed that when opposition candidate Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was at the helm in Guthrie, he had opposed housing schemes for estate workers.

“He (Khalid) was the one who insisted in putting the estate workers in low-cost apartments. If he had the interest of the estate workers in mind, he should have approved the housing schemes for them.

in 2009, Xavier said this:

Xavier said one of the conditions imposed by the state government concerning land status conversion was that approval for estates larger than 40ha would only be sanctioned if the landowners agreed to provide housing for the displaced estate workers.

“The luckiest lot come from the Bukit Raja Estate in Klang where they recently signed the S&P with Sime Darby for terrace houses costing RM70,000 each but valued at RM150,000,” he said, adding that Coalfield Estate workers in Subang also successfully fought for their cause.

In late 2009, there were attempts to relocate workers to other estates. Also, workers couldn’t afford to buy the houses allocated to them due to inability to obtain loans.

Now:

July 2010 saw Palanivel visiting the estate:

A 15-year dispute between workers and palm oil estate owners over their residence and job has yet to be solved, although numerous promises.

The 30 families of Coalfield estate are hoping for terrace houses and better facilities where they are now, instead of forcing them to a new housing area – located across the road from the estate.

Yesterday, when Datuk G. Pala­nivel visited the estate, they told the Plantations, Industries and Commo­dities deputy minister that they were tired of the empty promises made to them since 1995.

“We were living without water and electricity supply since December,” said Coalfield estate action committee chairman Lobat Rajoo.

“But yesterday (Thursday), the utilities were restored.”

He said their woes began after a change in ownership of the estate in 1995.

Lobat said that in 2009, the previous owner, claiming to be their current employer, had told them to vacate their quarters at Coalfield Estate by June 30, last year.

“They wanted us to move to Desa Coalfield by purchasing houses there but not all of us can afford a RM35,000 house with our RM21 pay a day,” he said after handing a booklet documenting their plight to Palanivel.

The minister, who met the estate management, said: “I have told them not to be harsh on the workers but adopt a give-and-take attitude.

“Their (the workers) requests are simple and they are poor.” [so what? you think these companies care about this?]

As of yesterday, the school also asked to be moved:

MALAYSIA Nanban reported that parents of students in Ladang Coalfield Tamil School in Sungei Buloh will stage a protest against the plantation owner and housing developer.

The estate workers, who defied an order to vacate their homes, have now been asked to move the school.

A spokesperson for the parents, Lobat Raj, slammed the management and developer KL-Kepong Sdn Bhd, for using various tactics to shift the school and two places of worship, a church and a temple. The oil palm estate has been earmarked for a housing project.

He said that the developer and the management are more interested in making profits rather than considering the welfare of the estate workers.

He said that the estate workers want the school to be located near their houses instead of the present location which is about 4km away.

About 400 people, comprising parents and locals planned to gather at the school field yesterday.

Lobat said that no state government representatives have been invited because the parents have no faith in the exco in charge of Indian affairs, PKR’s Dr Xavier Jeyakumar.

Firstly, these folks should ensure they are registered voters. Then talk to politicians. Who can solve this problem within 2 months, gets their votes in next election. If nobody helps, then you realise that you are indeed worth less in their eyes.

Anyways, 4KM is still OK as long as the school is not in middle of cemetery, next to electric cables/sewerage pond/industrial plots or other unimaginable places (which seems to happen to Tamil schools). Probably the parents can try negotiate for a school bus or two vans as well to ferry some of the poor children.

As for housing loan, there are schemes to help people with low or fluctuating income to obtain loans. They should be guided on this procedures. Who will do it? MIC or HRP or DAP/PKR? Who will help the folks from A-to-Z of getting their houses?

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cow head protestors sentence

July 27th, 2010
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I was surprised to read that the cow head protestors pleaded guilty. Thought that these guys had “bertaubat” (repented)….until I read that the charges had been amended to illegal assembly instead of seditious act. Two of them were found guilty under Sedition Act and fined RM3000, and one of them have to serve 1 week jail sentence as well. The others paid RM1000 each as fine.

The 12 cow-head protesters, who pleaded guilty earlier Tuesday to a charge of illegal assembly, were fined RM1,000 each or a month’s jail in default by the Sessions Court here.

Two of the men were also fined RM3,000 each for a sedition charge, one of whom was sentenced to a week in jail as well.

Four others on the same sedition charge were given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

Judge Hasbi Hasan fined the 12 men after they pleaded guilty to committing the offence at the State Secretariat building on Aug 28 last year.

The 12 were Ahmad Mahayuddin Abd Manaf, 36, Ibrahim Sabri, 43, Eyzva Ezhar Ramly, 31, Mohd Azmir Mohd Zain, 35, Ahmad Suhairy Zakaria, 30, Mohd Hilmi Ni, 40,Jainuddin @ Zainuddin Md Yusuff, 67, Mohd Jurit Ramli, 39, Mohamad Nordin Zakaria, 46, Jamil Mohamad Isa, 40, Rahimuddin Md Harun, 39, and Azhari Shaari, 39.

Eyzva Ezhar and Mohd Azmir Mohd Zain were each also fined RM3,000 or three months’ jail on the sedition charge. Eyzva Ezhar was also sentenced to a week in jail.

Eyzva Ezhar was ordered to serve his week in jail after he completes his current jail time. He is currently serving time in a prison in Jelebu for a previous drug conviction that will end on Aug 4.

Four – Ahmad Suhairy, Mohd Hilmi, Ibrahim and Ahmad Mahayuddin Abd Manaf – were granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal after the other two pleaded guilty to sedition charge.

The 12 were part of group – which brought a cow’s head to the gate of the State Secretariat building – protesting the relocation of a 150-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu temple from Section 19 to their neighbourhood in Section 23. They were all earlier charged under the Sedition Act 1948.

For me, it looks much lighter than a slap on the wrist. MHS says its warning for other possible protestors:

Hindu Sangam president Mohan Shanmugam described the fines imposed on the cow-head protestors today as “minimal” but still served as a warning to groups looking to stoke religious tension.

… “We welcome the justice,” he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted. “Although the charges are very minimal but it shows that everyone charged will be brought to justice. This is a warning for everybody.”

What do you think? Should the punishment be more harsh to show the seriousness of the issue?

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