Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Hindraf did not and will not ever insult our Malay Brethren – we are all one – Anak Bangsa Malaysia.
Two similar occasions, one was the PWTC Open House hosted by our PM, the other Hari Raya Open House hosted by Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim and yet how different the treatment…
The very same 6years old Vwaishnavi, daughter of Hindraf chairman P.Waythamoorthy with the almost similar home made, Hari Raya greeting card carrying the same message accompanied by a teddy bear. The same Hindraf supporters of approximately 200 members, in their now familiar, orange Tee shirts. The very same occasion of Hari Raya open house but only this time hosted by the opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur on 12th October 2008.
As the supporters began to gather outside Sultan Sulaiman Club, our Muslim brothers who were passing by smiled and waved at us. In return Hindraf supporters wished them “Selamat Hari Raya bang”. Police officers on duty too were greeted Selamat Hari Raya by the Hindraf supporters, some of them wished us back while some just smiled and waved. What a contrast from the reception we got from the policemen on duty at PWTC? Were these officers the same ones who stopped and bullied us at PWTC? On whose orders?
Similar to our attendance at PWTC on the 1st of October 2008, Vwaishnnavi and her mother Mrs.Shanti took the lead into the club together with the Kapar MP YB Manikavasagam. The moment we stepped into the compound YB Zuraida Kamaruddin, the Ampang MP welcomed us . There was an announcement made to mark our presence and thousands of our Malaysian Muslim brothers cheered, clapped and welcomed us into the hall. Among the MPs who welcomed us were YB Tian Chua , YB Sivarasah ,YB Nurul Izzah and I might have missed some of the other hospitable YB’s. Minta Maaf.
YB Anwar Ibrahim and Datin Wan Azizah who came in after prayers welcomed the hundreds of the Hindraf supporters with a welcoming smile .They shook hands with each and every one of us. We greeted them “Selamat Hari Raya, Release all ISA detainees and Abolish ISA”. Datuk Seri confidently said “sure I will” to me and I believe to the rest as well. To digress a bit, no body says “Makkal Shakti” with so much conviction, encouragement and yet these powerful words of “Peoples’Power” is expressed with gentleness by Kak Wan – truly a woman of substance!! They accepted the same home made card and the teddy bear from little Vwaishnnavi.
Yet what a difference on how we were received by the two hosts and how it was reported by media, Hindraf had been demonized for attending the PWTC open house on 1st October 2008.
Frankly, we never anticipated the shameful way we were treated during the Hari Raya Open House hosted by none other than the PM of Malaysia and his cabinet ministers at PWTC.
Malaysians were fully aware of intentions of getting our Hindraf leaders out before Deepavali so that they may celebrate this auspicious occasion with their family. We are also serious about getting our brother RPK and other ISA detainees released. All of which was turned, twisted , manipulated and propagated by the powers that be.
Hindraf was accused as “Biadap” , “Kurang Ajar” “Pengacau” and the most heart breaking “Insulting Islam and Muslims of this country”. This was further compounded with 4 Hindraf supporters being summoned to the Dang Wangi Police station for merely attending the open house of the Prime Minister.
They were charged for illegal gathering?? and trespassing?? at PM’s Open House. By the way, we even informed Senior Officers in Putra Jaya on 22nd Sept 2008, that Vwaishnnavi and some of us Hindraf supporters would be at the Open House, PM’s secretary assured us that we would be welcome at the open house. Additionally, wasn’t the PM’s invitation to the open house extended to all Malaysians?So then why PM Sir, were we consistently provoked ever since we stepped into PWTC premises? You yourself saw how the hand made Hari Raya card by six years old Vwaishnnavi was torn by your officials? This wasn’t a petition or a memo. A simple self made Hari Raya Greeting card offered to you by a Malaysian Child was taken over by dozens of police officers who stormed in to confiscate and rip it apart, what an insult to the Indian children and the entire Malaysian community!!
Why then did you say we did not greet you? You and your advisors, the police insulted us Indians, every step of our way in the Open House. Are we not correct to assume that the Hari Raya Open House was paid by us Malaysian Tax payers? So then, why were we so badly treated at our own Malaysian open house? Mr PM, don’t you consider us Hindraf supporters as Malaysians?
Is it wrong for us to ask you to release our Hindraf leaders, RPK and other ISA detainees, who are in prison, without you giving us any valid reasons for their imprisonment? So many Malaysians of all races concur with us that the draconian ISA law should be abolished, even members of your own cabinet voiced it out, so what’s so wrong about us voicing our democratic right at our own Malaysian Open House??
Then again, why didn’t Datuk Seri Anwar , Datin Wan Azizah , rest of the YBs and VIPs present at Sultan Sulaiman Club think that Hindraf as Biadap , Kurang Ajar , pengacau. Our Malay brothers there never commented or felt that Hindraf had insulted theMuslims, by attending this open house in our orange colored Tee shirts with a simple home made Raya greeting card and a teddy bear?? By the way we still asked that ISA be abolished and detainees released, yet what a contrast in treatment we received at PWTC ?
The Main stream media especially the Malay newspapers under your control has blamed and accused us for unruly behavior, labeled our women and children as trouble makers and said Hindraf supporters never respected Hari Raya. The Almighty God knows the truth and you too should let all Malaysians know the truth, that we conducted ourselves with decorum, even though we were initially stopped and not allowed to meet you.
You all with your propaganda had Hindraf demonized, some of you even wanted the society deregistered, do you think you can kill the spirit of Hindraf?? Sorry, we are not just a society, we are a united in spirit, not just Indians, but every Anak Bangsa Malaysia, and this spirit can never die, it will continue until we are accorded due respect as Malaysian citizens.
One may ask why we chose the Hari Raya Open House, our answer Mr Prime Minister is that you have just avoided all our calls to meet you in your office or elsewhere. We have no other choice but to state our request at this open house, we wanted you to look us in the eyes so that we can directly tell you to release our leaders, RPK and other detainees. That’s all. So cut out the condemnation and lies about our behaviour.
Many guests who were at the PWTC open house did not even know that we were present. Categorically we did not create any ruckus or commotion, full familes came in support. We are the ones who feel insulted that you did not treat us Malaysian citizens with due respect of a courteous host, especially as one would expect from a person of your stature.
I might not be a scholar on religion, but I can definitely say what the Prime Minister , the deputy prime minister, the home minister , the information minister, the tourism minister, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister and rest of the ministers have said against Hindraf on and after the 1st of October 2008 Hari Raya Open House at PWTC – untruths, insincerity and lies are never condoned and unacceptable by any religion!!
Sambulingam Wisvalingam
Hindraf National Co-ordination team
14th October 2008.
Well, what do you expect? One group is dead set against you, so how to welcome you inside? If you went in plain clothes, they won’t mind. But you were representing an ideology which threatens their position.They have to maintain their stance in front of their supporters. So, when HINDRAF turned up at PWTC, they were left shell-shocked and embarrassed.
As one of those who withstood tear gas with even my children in tow during the rally, I dare say that if Hindraf national event coordinator Kannan Ramasamy wants to join the BN when all the Hindraf proposals are met, then let him and his followers join, who cares! Even if RPK is released from ISA, we Indians with ‘maanam’ and ‘suyamariyaathai’ will never forget our humiliation at the hands of the BN this past 50 years, we’d rather eat shit than join BN.
Vaenggaiyaa , dun worry …. many of us share the same feeling … even those whom unable to be part of the rally actually sent a relative to represent..
umno will never change hence BN wont ….. as i always point out other then changing federal there’s no other alternate .
Vaenggaiyaa
If you strongly feel you have been mistreated, I would suggest you buy a one ticket and return to India and live happily ever after.
You might have maanam and suyamariyaathai but no “suya putti”…
Well, I know HINDRAF and their leaders are stupid but it seems their IQ has plunged even further, reading their recent blog enteries (like this one).
Would DSAI welcome HINDRAF with open arms had they went in and presented a memo on demanding on why PR failed to support them in getting the HINDRAF 5 released as PR did in the case of Teresa and Tan ?
I am sure, not just they would have been criticised but DSAI’s rowdy and thuggish supporters would have bashed them up. Even reporters covering DSAI had been complaining the rough treatment of his supporters, so had HINDRAF even tried anything funny, they would have been cloberred.
At the end of the day, HINDRAF leaders need to ask themselves what would all these hare-brained schemes going to achieve. Other than making enemies and fool of themselves and perhaps some coverage in the papers and blogs, nothing is going to change.
It would be better off if they take a more concilliary approach by being a bonafide NGO and tone down their extremist agenda and start to work on being a real pressure group with some brains than yet another thuggish group of Indians. By being extreme in their approach they only end up being demonised by their enemies and easily dismissed by the govt as seen in the Open house fiasco.
I have some ideas on how they could be useful but I ain’t sharing it, for the obvious reasons.
BTW, did you notice the presence of Mani the Kapar MP in the Open House ? What would the Malays of Kapar and Selangor think of his involvement in HINDRAF ? It goes to reinforce what I posted about him yesterday.
Hi Killer,
Here is another blog which has the attributes of forward thinking and positive critical thinking which most of Hindraf supporters lack.
http://balankumarpremakumaran.blogspot.com/
regards
Hi Killer,
I totally agree with you… I have read your comments and I find positive attributes in your comments and forward thinking… I just wish our indian communities be more rational and go back to the root of the problem…
But Hindraf has blinded them and now instigating the people to fight for an agenda that is non-existent.
This is what happens when people who wants power and be in the leadership mislead the general public and this type of so-called selfish leaders exists in every race of our country.
I am glad Hindraf is banned. Just wish someone could bring an open debate to expose their lies and deceptions.
We have the MIC and the Hindu Sangam to look after our indians. We do not need an extremist organisation like Hindraf to be the champions.
to VJ and Vaenggaiyaa,
Are u starving ?? Have u been chased out while shopping or told that u could not sit here or sit there ?? Are u working ?? or not allowed to work ??
what is your problem.. ?? why are u not helping the poor indians who really need help ?? since u are fighting for the rights of POOR indian, please give me your address and contact becos i can refer those who need help to both you??? Its easier to bark than to do good work. Anyone one can bark and make noise but who is doing the real work. So far, Hindraf has barked like a dog, but its the MIC who has done their job.
All u have to do is some simple mathematics calculations and you will know how lucky you are to be here…
Even world leaders have not voiced their support for HIndraf, with exception to India which has a poor track record when its comes to human rights of minorities..
“An eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind”
Thanks bro, and I thank God that I’m not one of you! My parents and me have been done in by MIC many times and I think enough is enough. If you were surprised by my comment , Poobalan, I don’t blame you, I’m not hindraf and will never be and I don’t need MIC too but given a chance, Me and my kind will vote MIC out, while supporting BN and that’s what I did in the last election. My deceased father still calls out from his grave for his Maika money! And that’s how angry I am! Contradictory?? There are many like me.
truemalaysian57 uh …. seems like we’ve a hardcore mic supporter/member together with a new baby Balan . welcome ! Killer is all alone here so pls pls give him a hand .
Not only VJ’s address, you need to collect add from all over the states . Probably you yourself realized that you guys doing crap so need vocal people like MS to help the needy. ya ya understand buddy .
your party is an old horse , cant use for races . Just forget about it and focus on bigger need like new federal govt .
i’m seeing chinese blogs pushing mca/gr to get out of BN . Whr are you dungus compared to those daring parties with so many brains .