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Malaysian files RM14 trillion suit against Britain

September 10th, 2007
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WASHINGTON: A Malaysian human rights lawyer has filed a four trillion dollar lawsuit against Britain for alleged atrocities suffered by Indians whose forefathers were brought as indentured laborers to Malaysia during colonial rule.

Seeking £1 million (RM7 million) compensation for each of the currently estimated two million Indian Malaysians, the suit was filed in London last week, Ponnusamy Waytha Moorthy told reporters in Washington on a trip to brief the US Congress and rights groups on the issue.

”The colossal suit reflects the years of pain, suffering, humiliation, discrimination and continuous colonialisation under the current Malaysian government,’’ he said.

”It is also to highlight the negligence and failure of the British in not entrenching the rights of the minority Indians in the constitution when they granted Malaysia independence,’’ he said.

Many Indians were brought to Malaysia from southern India as indentured labor by the British, but their future generations ”were left high and dry’’ when the colonial power left the country, Waytha Moorthy said.

”There has been segregation, discrimination, marginalisation and other abuses of Indian Malaysians,’’ he said.

Ethnic Indians and Chinese are minority groups in Malaysia, whose 26 million population is predominantly Malay. The resource-rich country, which won independence in 1957 from Britain, has blossomed into one of Southeast Asia’s top economies. But Waytha Moorthy said 70% of Indian Malaysians were poor, with many in the middle and upper classes of the community migrating overseas.

Waytha Moorthy is also asking British courts to declare the Malaysian constitution null and void.

He said he had three months to serve notice of the court action on the named defendant, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and added that at least one British law firm was considering handling his case on a pro bono basis.

T. Kumar, Amnesty International’s Washington-based Asia-Pacific advocacy director, refused to comment on the legal suit but noted that the British colonial power had taken tens of thousands of Indians as indentured laborers to various parts of the globe. – AFP

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Aguna makes it to uni after serious accident

September 7th, 2007
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Accident victim makes it to varsity

By WANI MUTHIAH

TWO years ago M. Aguna Vinothmikha’s life came crashing down when she was seriously injured in a horrific accident, which also claimed the lives of her three friends. 

However, even though her bones were broken, Aguna’s willpower remained strong and helped her achieve her ultimate dream of enrolling into a public university. 

The 22-year-old is currently a first year chemical engineering undergraduate at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in Scudai, Johor. 

A survivor: Aguna with her mother Muniam Narayanasamy.

“I fought very hard to get back on my feet as well as to preserve my sanity amid the physical and emotional pain,” said Aguna. 

She added that what annoyed her most was when people inquired if her brain and memory were still all right. 

“There’s so much prejudice levelled against accident survivors,” said Aguna, adding that it was these queries which also prompted her to push herself hard. 

The tragedy occurred in Aug 2005 when Aguna and four friends, all of whom were from SM Tunku Besar, Tampin, were on their way to attend tuition in Sikamat in preparation for the STPM when their car collided with a lorry.  

Her best friend M. Subashini as well as two others S. Kalai Selvi and R. Sangeeta died while another girl, V. Jeevatha escaped with injuries to her face and head. 

Aguna, who is from Bahau, Negri Sembilan, sustained head and eye injuries, a broken pelvis and four broken ribs, which punctured one of her lungs.  

Her jawbones were broken and four of her front teeth were knocked out. She also suffered from minor fractures in her arm and leg. 

“I was literally dead but I think the will to live helped me scrape through,” said Aguna who spent four months in hospital and another seven months recuperating at home. 

She went back to school in August last year but managed to attend class for only 20 days as pain prevented her from sitting down for long hours. 

Not wanting to waste any more time Aguna sat for the STPM and managed to score four Bs. 

In spite of the suffering that she had undergone, she says she was lucky to get a second chance. 

“I could have ended-up being a vegetable or emotionally unstable to continue with my dreams of becoming a professional,” said Aguna who had scored straight As for both her PMR and SPM examinations. 

She added that her only regret was that Subhashini did not make it through the ordeal. 

“Subashini and I planned to get all As for the STPM in order to do medicine in one of the public universities here.  

“I am sad that our dream died with her in that accident. I really miss her a lot,” said Aguna who had undergone four major surgeries. 

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Thirumurai fest at Batu Caves

September 4th, 2007
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THE Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) is holding the 30th anniversary of the two-day Thirumurai festival at Batu Caves on Sept 8 to enhance the growth of the ancient old verses in Malaysia. 

The festival includes a Thirumulai Lifestyle Concert themed Thirumurai…..Challenges of The Ear, presented by 60 artistes on Sept 8 and the Thirumurai National Competition the next day. 

The aim of the festival is to change the mindset of the people about Thirumurai, to infuse Thirumurai into their lifestyle, to bring new ideas into the Thirumurai while retaining its originality and form and to attract youngsters to appreciate, learn and incorporate values of the Thirumurai into their daily lives. 

MHS president Datuk V.T. Lingam said the Thirumurai verses were recited by great saints of Tamil Nadu, India, who are responsible for creating them. 

“Over the years we have celebrated this festival. A total of 160,000 youths and children have taken part and recited the verses. We are happy to continue this tradition of bringing this ancient verses to the new generation,”  

“We have lined up many cultural performances and the highlight of the festival will be the Thirumurai Teachers' Parade, where 27 people will be dressed as the 27 Thirumurai authors of the verses,” he said. 

MHS national chairman (arts & culture), Dr. M. Bala said the festival continues to feed the cultural and art scene. 

“This verses have been around for 1,500 years and they have retained their style, essence, rhythm and tune. We want the next generation to know how they can use these verses in their daily lives and how they can infuse them into their daily activities.” 

“We are expecting about 800 to 2,000 people and we are also providing shelter and food for them. There will also be a cultural exhibition about our organisation.” 

The festival will feature the Thirumurai Nadaswaram, vocal recital, dance performances, instrumental presentations, drama and lifestyle forum.  

The festival will be held at Batu Caves Hall from 7pm to 10pm and admission is free.  

MHS also seeks support and sponsorship for the growth of Thirumurai. For more information on the festival and to contribute, please contact Dr Bala at 019-212 7003 or Aravinthan at 016-612 0587.

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Sikh community joins in Merdeka celebrations

September 4th, 2007
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THE Gurdwara Sahib Bandar Sunway came alive on Aug 31, as some 500 people from the Sikh community gathered to celebrate Merdeka. Inside the premises, a large candy-like cake bearing the Malaysian flag was displayed. The huge cake was made from 700 coconuts.  President Jaswant Singh said it took about three days to cook the ingredients and make the cake. 

Sweet celebration: Visitors marvelling at the giant candy-like cake.

According to Jaswant, prayers would also be held for 245 days from Aug 14 to April 14 next year. “The prayers are held around-the-clock, with five different priests taking turns. “We are doing this to raise funds for our Gurdwara Sahib. The holy book takes three days to read, so this would mean 121 sets of prayers. “With every set of prayers, we would have sponsors coming in to make pledges,” said Jaswant. During this period, halal vegetarian food are will also be served around-the-clock for free. “Four meals are cooked and served daily by our volunteers. It’s definitely no easy task to ensure 24-hour service until next April, especially since this is the first time this will be done. He added that the prayer recitation was also meant as a blessing service for the country’s prosperity. 

Kelana Jaya MP Loh Seng Kok, who was guest-of-honour, wore a bandana-like headgear as a mark of respect for the Sikh customary tradition. “Irrespective of what religion we are, everyone just wants to bless the country and see that it progresses,” said Loh. “I can see people from all walks of life rejoicing in Merdeka celebrations without needing to be persuaded or forced, and this is what the essence of Merdeka is. “The younger generation, especially, should learn to understand the different religious practices cultures that make Malaysia unique,” he said. 

The crowd later indulged in a spread of vegetarian food sponsored by Kohinoor Catering Sunway and visited booths selling a variety of Punjabi sweets. Mugs bearing the Merdeka logo and words were also distributed out to young children.  

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Together as a couple for 50 years

September 3rd, 2007
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By STUART MICHAEL

Photos by LOW LAY PHON and courtesy of K. Parameswaran Nair 

TO K. Parameswaran Nair and his wife Priyamvada M.K Pillai, their golden wedding anniversary is a very special occasion, and making the event even more memorable is the fact that it coincides with the 50th anniversary of Merdeka. 

The 80-year-old Parameswaran recalls vividly the day he married Priyamvada at Subramaniam Temple in Seremban. It was Sept 5 1957, just days after Merdeka.  

“I was an Indian national working in Kuala Pilah and married Priyamvada, who was a Malayan, in an arranged marriage. At that time, many people discouraged me from applying to be a Malayan citizen but I went ahead, anyway.  

Recalling the days of yore: Parameswaran (left) and Priyamvada sharing a light moment as they look though an album of old photographs in their house in Petaling Jaya.

“It was not too difficult to apply for citizenship in 1957. People used to gather in groups and the authorities would process their applications and issue them citizenship if they met the requirements.  

“I never turned back after I obtained citizenship, and to this day, I am glad to be a Malaysian. Most of us were very much focused on working and leading a happy life,” said Parameswaran, who now lives in SS3, Petaling Jaya. 

Parameswaran and Priyamvada, 72, are set to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary on a big scale at their home on Sept 5, and they have invited many family friends and relatives for this auspicious occasion. 

“Our three children are well off and have families of their own. Our daughter Deepa Kumari, the eldest in the family, is a senior lecturer in Inti College Subang Jaya. 

“Our elder son Dinesh Kumar is a director of operations in British Plaster Boards while our other son Rajesh Kumar is a senior lecturer in the Open University of Malaysia. They are very happy and so are we,” he said, as he interacted with grandchildren Divya, 11, and Dashana, seven.  

Just married: Parameswaran (left) and Priyamvada just after they had tied the knot at Subramaniam Temple in Seremban.

Parameswaran was among the founder members of the Malayalee Association of Negri Sembilan, which was formed in 1957. 

“We used to organise sketches and act in plays to raise funds for the Malayalee Association of Negri Sembilan building. By 1962, we managed to raise enough money and bought the Malayalee Association of Negri Sembilan building in Seremban for RM32,000. 

Parameswaran, who had started work in Dunlop Rubber Research as an assistant clerk, retired from Guthrie Research as a supervisor in 1984. 

During those days, Parameswaran remembers, the easiest food to get was bread and milk. It was difficult to get any other food as there were no small towns near the estates where he worked.  

In 1988, Parameswaran and Priyamvada shifted to SS3 in Petaling Jaya as Parameswaran is a dialysis patient and goes for regular check-ups.  

As his health does not permit him to walk, the couple decided to celebrate their anniversary by hosting a dinner for family and friends at home.  

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