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gerakan issues statement on paranjothy

December 23rd, 2007
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Following DAP Vice Chief Paranjothy's statement ( http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2007/12/21/gerakan-leader-paranjothy-attacks-umno/), Gerakan issues statement to disassociate itself from his statement. I think he would say that it was his personal opinions and not official party stand.

Gerakan Youth 'shocked' by Paranjothy's comments
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76335
Andrew Ong | Dec 22, 07 3:35pm

Gerakan Youth has disassociated itself from the scathing comments issued by the movement’s vice-chief S Paranjothy yesterday.

In a joint statement issued by Gerakan Youth deputy chief Lim Si Pin and party central committee member Kohilan Pillay, the duo said the Youth wing was “shocked” by Paranjothy’s statement.

blamed Umno for inciting racial sentiments among Malaysians for political mileage.

He also criticised the government for “marginalising, oppressing and ignoring” Indian community which resulted in them being “fourth-class citizens”.

Lim and Kohilan hinted that Paranjothy’s statement could have resulted from several Gerakan Youth discussions on the causes and implications of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally on Nov 25.

“(However) the (Youth wing) committee did not discuss about issuing such a statement. We strongly believe in the true spirit of BN in consensus building in resolving problems faced by all Malaysians,” they said.

Lim and Kohilan said issues raised by Paranjothy should be resolved internally or through “consultation” without having to attack others through the media.

Lets move on

On Paranjothy’s criticism of Umno’s acts of racial posturing, Lim and Kohilan said Gerakan Youth was fully committed BN Youth chairperson, and Umno Youth chief, Hishammuddin Hussien’s advice to let the past lie.

“It is not constructive to criticise again at this moment, utterances and actions of the past which has admittedly hurt the feelings of one another,” they added.

On Paranjothy’s comments regarding the plight of the Indian community, Lim and Kohilan said the best way to overcome such problems was through “consultation and working on concrete solutions” without having to point fingers through the media.

“Gerakan Youth wants to reiterate that we understand and symphatise with the grievances of segments of the Malaysian Indian community especially those from the lower income groups about their adverse economic and social situations,” added Lim and Kohilan.

) and Kohilan said the Indian community’s problems were a national problem and required the attention and actions of the government.

They added that the duo were responding to Paranjothy’s statement as Gerakan Youth chief Mah Siew Keong was presently overseas.

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mahathir on ISA

December 22nd, 2007
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TDM says if don't like ISA, don't vote for those who use them. So, asking people not to vote for BN?

Star, NST, and MK excerpts below:

The Star
On the Government using the Internal Security Act (ISA) against Hindraf leaders, Dr Mahathir said he himself had used the ISA before. 

"It is up to the government and the people to decide this. You see, we are a democratic country. 

"If the people selected to lead are the people who support the use of ISA, then they will use it. The choice is yours. I thought people approved the use of ISA when they supported me, so I implemented it." 

However, Dr Mahathir felt that problems felt by any community ought to be addressed in other ways and that public assemblies should only be used as a last resort.

NST
When asked on the government’s decision to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) on the group behind the activities which threatened public order and national security, Dr Mahathir said: “I used the ISA too.

“It is up to the government and the people to decide; as you know we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally the ISA will be there.

“If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours.”

According to Dr Mahathir, he was elected based on the fact that he supported the ISA.

“I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA, that’s why I implemented the ISA,” he said.

On claims of ethnic cleansing here, Dr Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

“I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that…I think that’s a bit absurd.”

On street demonstrations, he said the people were entitled to raise (issues) but there were other ways of doing it.

“Not unless they are prevented from making their presentation in other ways.

“If they don’t have a choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders to explain their problems. I think that should be their first choice,” he said.

MK
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today demonstrations should only be held as a last resort when other avenues of communicating grievances are unavailable.

Mahathir said that as long as the channels are still open for issues to be raised and conveyed to community leaders, he is against demonstrations.

“They are entitled to raise (the issues), but there are other ways of raising it,” Mahathir told a press conference at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya.

“If they have no other choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders, they can meet (and) they can explain their problems, I think that would be the first choice,” he added.

Mahathir – speaking after the launch of a book on ‘The Third World and International Law’ by legal expert Tungku Sofiah Jewa – was commenting on the spate of public gatherings organised recently, such as by polls watchdog coalition Bersih and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Also present at the press conference were Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Rais Yatim.

While Bersih rallied about 40,000 people into the streets on Nov 10 in support of a petition to the King for electoral reform, about 30,000 rallied on Nov 25 in support of a Hindraf petition to the British embassy protesting discrimination against and marginalisation of ethnic Indians.

Following the crackdowns by the police on the events, civil society groups and organisations have pressed for the government to give greater freedom for public assemblies and to abolish laws requiring a police permit before public gatherings are held.

Vote wisely

Mahathir also denied that the Indian community had been refused opportunities to make their grievances known.

On claims of ethnic cleansing here as alleged by Hindraf,  Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

"I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that….I think that's a bit absurd."

  Speaking on the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against five Hindraf leaders, Mahathir said if people were against the ISA – which provides for detention without trial – they should not vote to power a party whose politicians are in support of the act.

“As you know, we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally, the ISA will be there. If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours,” he said.

“I was elected despite the fact that I supported the ISA. I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA. That’s why I implemented the ISA,” he added.

Many quarters have criticised the government’s detention of the ‘Hindraf 5' under the ISA as an act of ‘desperation‘.

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paranjothy talks on Kerling incident in june 2006

December 22nd, 2007
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Gerakan Youth slams temple demolitions
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/52340
Jun 10, 06 9:12pm
The wanton destruction of Hindu temples by local councils in several states must now stop as it could fan religious and racial animosity among Malaysians, Gerakan Youth warned today.

“We strongly believe that the local authorities have blatant disrespect for other religions in this country and for violating the Federal Constitution by their disrespectful manner in which places of worship have been demolished,” its  deputy chief S Paranjothy said in a strongly worded statement.

Article 11 of the Federal Constitution guarantees freedom of religion while laws such as Section 295 of the Penal Code describes defiling religious buildings as a criminal offence.

Paranjothy’s criticism comes hot on the heels of a heated parliamentary roundtable on temple demolitions last Sunday attended by more than 160 temple caretakers, all decrying the recent trend.

The latest incident revolved around the Muniswaran Alayam temple in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur which was destroyed by DBKL on Thursday.

Remember ‘Kerling incident’

“We hereby issue a stern warning to all local councils to stop demolishing temples and to avoid the repeat of another 'Kerling incident' because of their (local governments) insensitivities of the right of minority groups,” added Paranjothy.

In 1977, five Muslim Malays, accused of being involved in a series of temple desecration, were killed after being ambushed near the vicinity of a Hindu temple by several Indian Hindus in Kerling, near Kuala Selangor.

The incident drew a storm of controversy and the assailants were all given jail sentences. They were then represented by former MIC secretary-general DP Vijandran.

Paranjothy argued that most of such temples have been long in existence and the local authorities should show sensitivity by relocating them to appropriate places.

MIC has failed

Paranjothy also took a swipe at fellow Barisan Nasional component party MIC over their failure to protect these temples.

“We regret that the MIC who claims to represent and champion the cause of the Indian community in this country has failed to safeguard and protect these temples from being demolished,” he added.

He also called on the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, an MIC initiated religious body, to be more proactive in protecting Hindu temples and not take a “passive stand”.

Next on Paranjothy’s firing-line was the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which he claimed has yet to take any action on police reports made against local councils in regards to temple demolitions.

“We sincerely hope that the AG’s Chambers is not biased towards the majority by discriminating the minority of their rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution. In this instance, silence is not golden,” he stressed.

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Gerakan leader Paranjothy attacks UMNO

December 21st, 2007
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I read with amazement the report below. Is Paranjothy committing political suicide or is this a case of "miscommunication" between him and the journalist?

Gerakan rep: Umno incites racial sentiments
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76305
Dec 21, 07 6:23pm

In an audacious move, a notable Gerakan politician has taken Barisan Nasional coalition leader Umno to task for inciting racial sentiments among Malays to gain political mileage. 

“They incite racial sentiments among their community in a petty attempt to further their political career,” Gerakan Youth vice-chief S Paranjothy alleged today.

Such attempts, he said, include taking potshots at other BN component parties which draw their support from non-Malay communities. 

“Umno leaders are very found of picking on component parties and use them as their punching bag or stepping-stone to gain popularity in their community,” Paranjothy said in a hard-hitting four-page statement entitled ‘Discrimination from Womb to Tomb’.

and his deputy Khairy Jamaluddin’s claim that non-Malays would take advantage of a weak Umno leadership, as prime examples of racial posturing. 
 
He also cited Khairy’s speech at the Umno general assembly last month, during which he blamed newspaper vendors for not wanting to work on Deepavali day. He made a pointed reference to the fact that the sector is predominated by Indian Malaysians. 

(Each year, the print media takes a break during the major festivals. This year, Deepavali fell during the week of the Umno general assembly, and there was no publication on the day following the delivery of the presidential address.)

“Umno is fond of playing up sensitive issues among Malaysians. Statements and decisions made by Umno politicians have been (discriminatory) and contain a lot of racial slurs. So who is playing racial politics in Malaysia?… So who is causing racial disunity?” asked Paranjothy.

He warned that national unity would be elusive as long as political parties and politicians continue their communal approach towards politics.

“Politicians always feel (they) must fight for (their) own party. Since we have mostly ethnic parties, they are fighting for their ethnic group. It is difficult to achieve any kind of consensus.”

He stressed that the 14 BN component parties must consolidate into a single party in order to “end racial manipulation in politics”.

“In a multiracial party, if a politician wants to succeed, he would need to prove his ability and win support from all races, not just his own,” he explained.

‘Fourth-class citizens’

Commenting on the Nov 25 Hindraf rally, Paranjothy said the 30,000 Indians took part to express their “frustrations and anger” because the community has been “marginalised, oppressed and ignored”. 
 
Paranjothy said Indians form the most neglected group in economic terms, as shown by key performance indicators such as tertiary education.

“(They) are treated as fourth-class citizens. Where the Indians predominate over their fellow Malaysians is mostly in prison, violent crimes, gangsterism, suicide and social ills. Government policies have failed to improve (their situation).”

On the government’s hardline stance against public demonstrations, Paranjothy said the government has practised double-standards in the issuance of police permits.

“I have participated in street demonstrations and rallies organised by Barisan Nasional Youth, spearheaded by Umno Youth, to handover a memorandum… over certain issues that had taken place (abroad) which I believe would not have benefitted Malaysia.

“Did BN Youth obtained a permit to hold the rallies or demonstrations?… Looks like the government is one-sided when it came to the issuance of permits for public gatherings. BN started this culture of street demonstrations and now others have emulated it.”

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another death while in police custody

December 21st, 2007
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Another custodial death, questions abound
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76306
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Dec 21, 07 6:36pm

How many more deaths in custody will it take before the authorities set up a credible and effective mechanism to look into claims of – and punish – misconduct by police personnel?

This was the question raised by the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee (Police Watch) in response to the death of 30-year old palm oil worker K Letchumanan last Tuesday. 

Police Watch coordinator B Chandran said “nothing less than” an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) – or its credible equivalent – can reduce the abuses and discipline the police or other enforcement personnel. 

“There’s nothing better than the IPCMC, because the police really need to be disciplined,” he said when contacted today.

He called for an immediate inquest to be held into Letchumanan’s death.

Police Watch legal advisor N Surendran said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Musa Hassan has to order an immediate investigation into Letchumanan’s death and charge those responsible.

“While the government and the police say there is no need for an IPCMC, assaults and other abuses are continuing at the ground level,” he said.

Chandran and Surendran were speaking on the heels of reports that Letchumanan, a father of six from Gali estate near Raub, Pahang, died in his cell on Dec 18.

‘Hanged himself with a blanket’

Letchumanan was arrested last Friday and detained together with his friend, M Kanniyappan, 38, for suspected involvement in the theft of grass-cutting machines. Kanniyappan was released four days later.

According to the police, Letchumanan died by hanging himself with a blanket. The police claimed that the post-mortem report revealed the same.

Letchumanan’s family members claimed that they were not informed of his arrest and only knew of his death when police officers told them Friday evening.

“They are not satisfied with the explanation of the police. Letchumanan had six children to take care of. How could he have suddenly taken his own life like that?” said the family’s neighbour B Subramaniam, 45, when contacted.

Letchumanan’s sister Sarasvathy Thevi, 32, lodged a police report on Wednesday and requested the state police chief to investigate the circumstances surrounding her brother’s death.

The family is waiting for the findings of a second post-mortem report after they rejected the first.

Adding to the questions, Surendran claimed that the Raub police station has closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

“Leaving aside the allegation Letchumanan was assaulted to death, there’s a CCTV system in the lock-up. What were the police doing while Letchumanan was said to have hanged himself?” asked the lawyer.

“At the least, there was gross negligence on the part of the police for allowing this to happen,” he said.

Friend: He was ‘threatened’

Strengthening the family’s suspicions of foul play, Letchumanan’s friend Kanniyappan also lodged a police report alleging he had witnessed Letchumanan being threatened by police officers on the day he died.

According to Kanniyappan, both he and Letchumanan were taken by the police to Gali estate in search of the stolen grass-cutting machines.

Having failed to recover the items, Letchumanan was allegedly verbally abused and warned that he would be “beaten until half-dead”, said Kanniyappan in the police report lodged yesterday.

“I do not believe that Letchumanan killed himself as claimed by the police,” he said further.

Kanniyappan alleged that he was also assaulted during his four-day detention. “I was kicked four times on the chest and stomach and slapped on the cheek.”

Contacted later, Raub district police chief Wan Mohd Shamsuddin Wan Osman declined to comment.

“I cannot comment on the case right now. Investigations are ongoing. If I say anything, it may jeopardise everything,” he said.

DAP leader Ronnie Liu, who met with Wan Mohd earlier this week, has vowed to bring the ma

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