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Hindraf sends complaint to Pak Lah

August 4th, 2007
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Hindraf: Stop the bullying, Pak Lah!
Jul 31, 07 10:43am
The demolition of a Hindu temple yesterday in Malacca has triggered an immediate complaint to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also accused of reneging on a pledge to Malaysians.
Condemning the action in a letter to the premier, Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser P Uthayakumar described it as an act of ‘bullying’ by the Umno-controlled government.

This was partly a reference to objections raised by the Umno branch in Tambak Paya village, where the 16-year-old Sri Periyachi Amman temple was located.

“Malaysia once again has violated Article 11 of the Federal Constitution with impunity,” he said in the letter, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini.

A city council team pulled down the temple, despite claims by the landowner to have shown the officers a ‘stay order’ he had obtained from Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam and Mayor Zaini Mohd Noor earlier that morning.

Caretakers had been given until July 15 to tear down the renovated portion of the building, on grounds that the expansion was not welcome in a Malay village. 

Local Umno Youth members had shown displeasure by putting up two banners in the vicinity that read: 'Don’t test our patience' and ‘Tear down this unlawful temple’.

‘Application submitted’

During the demolition exercise, Malacca PKT vice-president A Jayathas was arrested by the police for ‘interfering’ with their duties.

Uthayakumar described the arrest as a direct violation of the Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, which calls for equity before law.

“He was arrested when he stood in front of the bulldozer demanding to see the court order (for demolition) of the temple which is on the private land. (He also asked) why similar buildings without approval were not demolished,” Uthayakumar said.

“In any event this temple had, vide their application, filed the necessary forms and documents formally applying for building permission, and (this was) supported with the signatures and endorsements of their devotees.”

Uthayakumar said the government’s position that the temple is in the middle of a Malay village runs contrary to its own call for national unity, integration, racial and religious co-existence, as well as the premier’s declaration upon taking office in November 2003 that ‘Malaysia is for all ethnic communities’.

He urged Abdullah, at the next cabinet meeting (tomorrow), to issue a firm and unconditional directive to all relevant authorities to stop the demolition of Hindu temples.

Over the past year, Hindraf has recorded 76 cases of demolition of such structures, which it has described as illegal.

Uthayakumar, saying he represents two million Hindus nationwide, has initiated a public interest suit against 10 government bodies to stop temple demolitions nationwide.
Legislation needed

Meanwhile the Malaysia Hindu Sangam said that the temple demolition only showed that the state government has arbitrarily taken action against a Hindu temple without any regards to the sensitivities of the Hindu devotees.

“Given that many other structures throughout Malaysia are still standing even though they too were built without local authority permission, it is particularly disturbing to Hindus that a place of worship is targetted in this manner,” Malaysin Hindu Sangam president A Vaithilingam in a statement today.

He added that any demolition of a place of worship must be based on a court order and should only be carried out after the devotees of the place of worship have been given a meaningful opportunity to be heard.

“We urge all state governments to carry out this practice, and for legislation to be enacted to recognize and protect the special status of places of worship,” he added.
 
 

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Tunku – Real Reason of May 13th, 1969

August 4th, 2007
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The May 13 incident as personally related by
Tunku Abdul Rahman, the First Prime Minister of
Malaya/Malaysia and Bapa Merdeka

At his residence in Penang, 1972

“It was clear to me as well as the police that in
the highly charged political atmosphere after the
police were forced to kill a Chinese political
party worker on May 4th, 1969, something was
bound to happen to threaten law and order because
of the resentment towards the Government by the
KL Chinese on the eve of the general election.
This was confirmed at this man’s funeral on the
9th May when the government faced the most
hostile crowd it had ever seen.

Therefore, when the opposition parties applied
for a police permit for a procession to celebrate
their success in the results of the general
election, I was adamant against it because the
police were convinced that this would lead to
trouble. I informed Tun Razak about this and he
seemed to agree.

Now, without my knowledge and actually “behind my
back”, there were certain political leaders in
high positions who were working to force me to
step down as a PM. I don’t want to go into
details but if they had come to me and said so I
would gladly have retired gracefully.

Unfortunately, they were apparently scheming and
trying to decide on the best way to force me to
resign. The occasion came when the question of
the police permit was to be approved.

Tun Razak and Harun Idris, the MB of the state of
Selangor, now felt that permission should be
given knowing fully well that there was a
likelihood of trouble. I suppose they felt that
when this happened they could then demand my
resignation.

To this day I find it very hard to believe that
Razak, whom I had known for so many years, would
agree to work against me in this way. Actually,
he was in my house as I was preparing to return
to Kedah and I overhead him speaking to Harun
over the phone saying that he would be willing to
approve the permit when I left. I really could
not believe what I was hearing and preferred to
think it was about some other permit. In any
case, as the Deputy Prime Minister in my absence
from KL, he would be the Acting PM and would
override my objection. Accordingly, when I was in
my home in Kedah, I heard over the radio that the
permit had been approved.

It seems as though the expected trouble was
anticipated and planned for by Harun and his UMNO
Youth. After the humiliating insults hurled by
the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, and after
the seeming loss of Malay political power to
them, they were clearly ready for some
retaliatory action. After meeting in large
numbers at Harun’s official residence in Jalan
Raja Muda near Kampong Bahru and hearing
inflammatory speeches by Harun and other leaders,
they prepared themselves by tying ribbon strips
on their foreheads and set out to kill Chinese.
The first hapless victims were two of them in a
van opposite Harun’s house who were innocently
watching the large gathering. Little did they
know that they would be killed on the spot.

The rest is history. I am sorry but I must end
this discussion now because it really pains me as
the Father of Merdeka to have to relive those
terrible moments. I have often wondered why God
made me live long enough to have witnessed my
beloved Malays and Chinese citizens killing each other.”

 
source: unknown

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Residents report harassment by gangsters and inaction by cops

August 3rd, 2007
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By DHARMENDER SINGH and CHRISTINA TAN

newsdesk@thestar.com.my 

SHAH ALAM: A large group of residents from Taman Perumahan Tennamaram in Batang Berjuntai travelled 90km in a school bus and several cars here to get the attention of the state police over alleged harassment by gangsters in their area. 

The group of about 80 people, who included senior citizens, women and children, also came to voice their unhappiness with the Kuala Selangor police over its alleged failure to stop the gangsters. 

They arrived at the Selangor police headquarters in Section 9 here at about 4.30pm yesterday. 

However, only five representatives of the group, headed by spokesman M. Devaraju, were allowed into the compound to meet state deputy CID chief, Asst Comm Chee Cheng Wan. 

The others, as well as the media, were barred from entering the place. 

The residents' representatives handed to ACP Chee copies of police reports they had lodged with the Kuala Selangor police on the alleged bullying by the gangsters. 

Over the past 10 years, they claimed, the gangsters had threatened, beaten and slashed people in their community of 110 homes as well as those in another 100 homes in a neighbouring housing estate. 

Devaraju said the gangsters had broken into cars and houses, and they have also set homes on fire.  

He said the residents had lodged countless reports at the district police station over the last 10 years, only to see the gang members unleashing their anger against the complainants. 

“The gang members seemed to know we had lodged a report, even before we reach home. 

“The complainants are threatened and then beaten up,” added Devaraju, whose father was beaten up several years ago. 

He claimed raising the matter with local leaders too made little difference as the menace just continued. 

Devaraju said all they wanted was to be able to live in their homes peacefully, without fearing when they would become a target of the gangsters. 

“The gangs are mostly youths in their 20s, have also approached youths in our area to join them. Refusal means facing their wrath,” he said. 

Factory operator S. Mageswari, 33, claimed her 12-year-old son had been a target of the gangsters over the past three years. 

“They want someone from my family to join them. Since my husband had died years ago, my only son has become their target. 

“These people become more violent each day. They even attacked a school bus, with my son and other kids on board,” she said, adding that fortunately none of the children were hurt. 

ACP Chee, assured the residents the state police would look into the reasons why the district police had failed to act against the gangs. 

He also advised victims of the gang disturbances, who had not lodged reports with the police yet, to do so as soon as possible.  

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Kavyeas hits back

July 31st, 2007
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"I would never issue such threats. A threat is waving a keris and asking when you are going to draw blood," he said.
– Ouch!
 
He said Malacca can "award 200 Datukships to people without positions or even addresses in Malaysia, but he (Ali) could not recommend one to our state chairman of 15 years who is a senator". "He campaigned for Umno and Ali Rustam in the rain and sun. What did he get in return?"
 

Kayveas said the seat allocation to the PPP would be discussed in September among the four main BN component parties – Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan. "PPP is not part of this and there are two parties that will not be happy if seats are given to PPP."

– is he sure the other TWO parties will be happy if PPP gets seats?
 
In Kelantan, he said, 5,000 Malays, including Umno members, have joined the party.

– Sure or not?

 
 
Kayveas: No threats, PPP members will decide future
source
Terence Fernandez
PETALING JAYA (July 30, 2007): People's Progressive Party (PPP) president Datuk M. Kayveas today denied threatening to pull out of Barisan Nasional (BN) and issued veiled references against senior Umno leaders.

"I would never issue such threats. A threat is waving a keris and asking when you are going to draw blood," he said.

"I just said we would have to think about our future in the BN if we are not going anywhere. I don't think that is an ultimatum. Come on, we are in no position to give ultimatums to anyone."

He also took to task Umno vice-president and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam for saying the PPP can join other political parties, which will just mean more seats for other BN member parties.

He said Malacca can "award 200 Datukships to people without positions or even addresses in Malaysia, but he (Ali) could not recommend one to our state chairman of 15 years who is a senator".

"He campaigned for Umno and Ali Rustam in the rain and sun. What did he get in return?"

Stressing that PPP's future presence in BN will be dictated by its members, Kayveas said: "While I would prefer the party to remain in the ruling coalition, I also cannot ignore the voices of our 500,000 party members.

"I'd rather work from within than from outside, but at the end of the day, if the majority of PPP members decide we have to rethink our strategy, and if we are strong enough to do so, then I will have to respect the voices of the majority."

Kayveas, who holds the PPP's sole seat as Taiping MP, said Sunday (yesterday)'s reports that he issued an ultimatum to the BN that PPP would leave the coalition if its demand for more seats and positions were not fulfilled, were untrue.

He said he did make the request for four parliamentary seats, 12 state seats, 79 local council seats and the position of Ipoh mayor at the party's 54th anniversary celebrations in Johor Baru on Friday (July 27).

"These are seats and positions that were already in PPP's hand before it joined the BN in 1972," he said.

"When you speak to party members, of course you need to tell them what they want to hear. They want to know where the party is headed and it is my responsibility to tell them but I never issued any ultimatum although I did voice my dissapointment at not being given due recognition."

Kayveas said the seat allocation to the PPP would be discussed in September among the four main BN component parties Ð Umno, MCA, MIC and Gerakan..

"PPP is not part of this and there are two parties that will not be happy if seats are given to PPP."

Kayveas, who is a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said he did not request a full ministership because it was inappropriate for him to do so as the position would ultimately go to him as party president.

Yesterday, Kayveas was taken to task by senior BN component party leaders, including Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, Ali Rustam, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, and MCA vice-president and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Kayveas said: "Ali Rustam doesn't know history. It was our strength, not weakness that prompted (then prime minister) Tun Abdul Razak to invite us to join the coalition.

"PPP is worse off now after joining the BN. If we are outside, we could be a formidable opposition. This, again, is not a threat. I'm just stating facts."

Accusing Mohd Ali of not recognising the PPP's contributions, he said: "In 1996, he asked for the PPP's single senate allocation to be given to Umno. I acceded to his request, and when I asked for the seat to be returned, he refused. It was only through the prime minister's intervention that we got our senatorship back."

Kayveas also said the party is on an membership drive.

In Kelantan, he said, 5,000 Malays, including Umno members, have joined the party.

"Eventually, we want at least a 40% Malay membership in the PPP," he said.

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kavyeas – statement misinterpreted

July 30th, 2007
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In Taiping, Kayveas said he had not issued any ultimatum to anybody “let alone to the Barisan Nasional” on the allocation of seats.  

He said his statement was “misinterpreted and misunderstood.”  

“I know when to speak my mind and when to mind my speech and I don’t simply give statements and ultimatums.  

“I think we are not in the position to give any ultimatum to anybody but I must say that it is just a struggle for PPP which has been a very strong party and which has been in the opposition.  

“We were close to forming a government in Perak before we joined the Barisan in the early 1970s. 

“We are a founder member, a very senior member in Barisan Nasional,” he said after handing over financial aid to needy students yesterday.

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