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PM praised Murugiah

November 12th, 2008
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Even though he was called a school boy, and being investigated by his own party president, Murugiah still maintain his cool. I guess he thinks that Kayveas’ days are numbered.

Murugiah also checkmates future attacking moves by announcing that PM Badawi himself praised him. So Kayveas, Saravanan, Syed Hamid etc. can keep their less-than-smart and annoying comments to themselves. Only that there’s a small matter of getting endorsement from PM-in-waiting.

Deputy Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Senator T. Murugiah,
whose aggressiveness in overseeing the Public Complaints Bureau has
landed him in trouble with his party boss, claims he has been praised
by the Prime Minister.Murugiah, who is the PPP Youth chief,
said he recently received a call from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
to see him in Parliament.

“I was on medical leave then. When I
met him, he praised me and said I was doing a good job (with the
bureau). What more do you want?” he told reporters after chairing a
meeting between residents in Kg Pandan and City Hall authorities at his
office yesterday.

Adding
that he had “no issue” with Kayveas, Murugiah said he had met the
latter on Monday and that “he had then said nothing about the letter”
to him.

“I have my job to do and I don’t have a choice about
this. He (Kayveas) is my boss and mentor, and he groomed me. I am
always grateful to him,” he said.

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Run Makkal Run

November 12th, 2008
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Odinan, odinan, ellaiyai thandiye odinan (He ran, he ran, until over the boundary he ran) – a well-known dialogue in Tamil comes to my mind.

Well, DAP is taking the fight/campaign to free HINDRAF 5 ISa detainees to a different level. Its organising a Run for Freedom activity which involves a distance of 350km! Yup, all the way from Klang to the gates of Kamunting detention center. Many Pakatan Rakyat MPs and ADUNs will be running in order to get some airtime and publicity as well. It will be like the Olympic torch run, where only one person will be running at a time and will pass the “torch” (in this case a special flag) to the next runner.

I Wonder how the police going to stop this activity. Easiest is to claim “no permit”.

The organisers are looking for 5000 people to participate. So, those who are concerned about the HINDRAF 5 and oppose ISA can show their support by taking part in the run.

DAP Selangor has found a novel way to increase awareness on the continued detention of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders and to add pressure on the government to free them.

The party is organising a run – dubbed the ‘Makkal Sakhti 5 Freedom Run’ – over the weekend (Nov15-16).

Organising chairperson Dr Wong Ang Peng said he expects some 5,000 people to participate in the 350km run, which will kick off in Klang and end at the gates of the Kamunting Detention Centre in Perak.

He said there will also be a ‘special flag’ which will be passed from one runner to another during the entire journey. The last runner will hand the flag as well as ‘three larger banners’ to Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming in Kamunting.

DAP Selangor will also canvass for signatures from the public in support of the cause.

Later in the night, an anti-ISA candlelight vigil will be held to call for the release of the five and protest against the Internal Security Act.

Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai will be the first runner when things get off the ground at 8am on Saturday in Klang. The run will be suspended at 7pm in Sabak Bernam and will resume the next morning.

Meanwhile, various Pakatan Rakyat leaders are expected to take part in the run. PKR’s Manikavasagam will run through his Kapar parliamentary constituency as will PAS’ Dzulkefly Ahmad through his Kuala Selangor seat.

Also figuring in the run will be DAP Selangor chairperson and Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah, Puchong MP Gobind Singh, Selangor exco Ronnie Liu, Klang MP Charles Santiago and Selangor state speaker Teng Chang Khim.

Controversial blogger and just released ISA detainee Raja Petra Kamaruddin will be present at the start of the run in Klang.

The freedom run will pass through Kapar, Kuala Selangor, Sekinchan, Sg Besar, Hutan Melintang, Setiawan, Pantai Remis, Simpang and Taiping before reaching Kamunting.

“Traffic will not be obstructed as there will only be one runner at a time on the road,” explained Wong.

Those interested in participating can contact Dr Wong at 012-6644432.

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Muthupalaniappan to go for it

November 12th, 2008
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muthupalaniappan

Barely a day after saying he is “considering” going for MIC president post, Muthupalaniappan confirms his intention. That’s a very speedy decision indeed, considering he had to consult with party veterans. He was even advised to announce his decision in two or three weeks time, but I guess things changed overnight.

“I am receiving overwhelming support and good words from MIC and the Indian community regarding this,” he told Malaysiakini.

According to Muthupalaniappan, he decided to contest after taking into consideration the interest of the party and the socio-economic condition of the Indian community in this country.

“I shall and will bring change to MIC and to the community,” he pledged.

Stressing on the importance of consolidating ranks and bringing the community together, the 68-year-old Seremban-based lawyer said: “Unity is the key to success.”

Muthupalaniappan also vowed to re-admit expelled MIC leaders and members as well as to reinstate all the closed branches.

This is the meaning of a re-branding exercise, he said, adding that he would be able to bring the different camps together.

“We also cannot rule out younger leaders in the ranks. They are essential to pull in the younger generation’s support. “I would not name any because they might then fall out of favour with Samy Vellu just because I named them… I do not want to disrupt their chances,” Muthupalaniappan was quoted as saying in this article.

Muthu did not waste his time and already started his promises:

  • He has promised to activate some 1,000 defunct MIC branches and woo back expelled members.
  • He also promised to settle the Maika Holdings issue, which has been haunting Samy Vellu for years.

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KIMMA refutes PPP statement

November 11th, 2008
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I was wondering when KIMMA will issue a response over PPP’s statement that 3000 ex-KIMMA members have joined PPP. Two of them were even given supreme council seats.

KIMMA says only a fraction of 1 percent of its members jumped ship. Well, if KIMMA has 80,000 members as claimed, THAT WOULD MEAN 3.75 PERCENT, not fraction of 1percent.

KIMMA president says the party has not disbanded or merged with others:

“These statements and reports are rejected outright as being unfounded, misleading and baseless. They were obviously (made) with ulterior motives,” said its president Mohd Ali Naina Mohd.

“Kimma has not been disbanded, dissolved or dismembered, nor has it compromised the priciples laid down by its founders by merging with any other political party,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

He clarified that an insignificant number of former Kimma members had decided to join a political party but the number did not represent a fraction of one percent of the total membership of Kimma.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ali said Kimma accepted and respected the ex-members’ decision to join another political entity as any democratic party should.

However, he added that the party regarded as mischievous the assumption that its membership could be used to bolster the sagging political influence of certain parties.

Either one or the other is lying. Why is it nowadays we see more leaders lying? Bad upbringing or circumstances?

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Muthupalaniappan to challenge for MIC president post

November 10th, 2008
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Well, less said the better. Muthu may not last the race – either not enough nomination, or decides not to challenge, or unable to compete due to various reasons (technical, health, safety, etc). But, really, to even think of challenging Samy Vellu?

Veteran MIC leader Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan is considering challenging Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for the post of MIC president.

Speaking to Bernama, the former MIC vice-president said over the past two weeks, he met members and grassroots leaders and their “feedback has been encouraging”. “I would not be making any official confirmation on the matter now. My supporters and branch leaders feel that if I announce my intention now, then they would have to face the wrath of Samy Vellu who may choose to expel those who support me.

“I also feel that Samy Vellu should be challenged in the interest of MIC, the Barisan Nasional and the Malaysian Indian community,” Muthupalaniappan said today.

Come March, the largest Indian party in the country would hold its presidential election, while the election of deputy president, three vice-president and 23 central working committee (CWC) seats would be held in September.

Samy Vellu has announced that he would defend the party top post and was initially, speculated to win the post uncontested.

However, Muthupalaniappan bid for the top post would see him throw a spanner in the works, if he manages to garner nominations from 50 branches.

The party constitution requires a presidential candidate to obtain at least 50 nominations from branches before he/she is allowed to contest for the top post.

Each nomination must be proposed by a branch office-bearer and seconded by five other branch office-bearers.

The branch office-bearers would cast their ballots to pick the MIC president, unlike for other national positions which would be decided by some 1,500 delegates to the party’s general assembly.

“There is also apprehension among branch leaders that the president might use his influence to discourage them from nominating me for the top post. I have been advised to make an official stand only in two or three weeks.

“In the meantime, I would be consulting senior party leaders on my intention,” said Muthupalaniappan who is known as Muthu in the party’s inner circles.

The 68-year-old Seremban-based Muthupalaniappan, who is a lawyer by profession, was first elected to the MIC central working committee in 1979. The same year, he was appointed Negeri
Sembilan MIC chief, and party Youth head.

He was made senator in 1980, and two years later, won the Si Rusa state assembly seat and
was appointed to the Negeri Sembilan state executive council.

He contested the party vice-presidency in 1987 and 1991 but lost both bids.

Muthupalaniappan eventually landed a veep seat in 1997 but failed to retain the post at the party’s 2000 and 2006 elections.

What do you think? Should Muthu go for it? Would Samy consider him as a serious challenger?

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