Archive for the ‘Indian’ category

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

MIC confident indians vote for BN

December 23rd, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


BN can count on Indian voters
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76334
Dec 22, 07 3:21pm

There is no risk of the Indian voters ditching the BN and running to vote for the opposition in the coming general election, said MIC deputy president G Palanivel today.

"Loyalty is not a one-way process. It's a two-way process. BN voters will remain loyal to us because we have served our constituencies and have cultivated our relationship with our people," said Palanivel.

Bernama reported the Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development as saying that the voters would know the volume of work done by MIC for the community.

"On the ground situation, especially during a general election, would be such that our voters will evaluate the volumes of work the MIC has done under the leadership of Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu,” he said.

He was commenting on suggestions by Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang yesterday that there has been a political awakening among Indian voters in the country recently. Lim had said that the Indian voters could use their voting powers to be kingmakers in determining who should represent them.

However Palanivel said: "This will not happen".

He added that Lim was only referring to the voice of a splinter group, adding that the majority of the Indian voters knew that voting for the opposition would not be a solution to some of their unresolved woes.

Palanivel however admitted that BN’s elected representatives must continue to work hard in their constituencies and keep their voters informed of the opposition's ploy to fish in troubled waters.

Opposition exploitation

Palanivel’s comments today followed similar remarks made by the MIC Youth chief SA Vigneswaran yesterday that the opposition was exploiting the Indian voters.

Yesterday party president Samy Vellu also claimed that recent incidents have not dented MIC.

"I will continue to fight for the betterment of the (Indian) community,” he told Bernama in an interview.

Referring to recent street protests by some members of the Indian community and those from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), he said MIC's spirit and strength had not been weakened by those incidents.

"I have always stood by the MIC and will continue to stand by the party. I will continue to fight for the community to ensure that Indians in the country continue to rise socially and economically," he had said.

Lim however had said that Samy was out of touch with the wishes of the Indian community.

The opposition leader said that Samy has a "serious denial syndrome" when he claimed that the government has never neglected the Indians.

The kingmakers

Lim also predicted that the Indian voters, who for long have been loyal to the Barisan Nasional, will shift away from voting for the ruling coalition in the next general election.

The most recent electoral data shows that there are 50 parliamentary and 133 state assembly constituencies where Indian voters comprise more than 10 percent of the electorate and 21 parliamentary and 133 state assembly seats in Peninsular Malaysia where the Indian voters constitute more than 15 percent of the electorate.

Lim said that the Indian voters in these constituencies can make the difference in sending a message to the BN.

MIC and Samy Vellu have come under tremendous pressure in recent months after Hindraf had managed to gather 30,000 people in Kuala Lumpur as a sign of protest against the marginalisation of the community in this country.

The community, feeling helpless, has thrown its weight behind Hindraf in the calls made to the government to immediately look into the woes of the Indians here.

As a result of their hardline campaign, five Hindraf leaders have been detained under the Internal Security Act which provides for detention without trial.

To regain the losing support, Samy Vellu and the MIC have been embarking on a series of programmes to convince the community that only MIC can help them.

Comments Off on MIC confident indians vote for BN »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

samy vellu says oath prevents him

December 22nd, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Samy uses the OSA to cover up.  I also heard in the news tonight that 76 schools have been renovated 180+ schools out 522 were fully aided.

Samy promises new faces for GE
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76339
RK Anand | Dec 22, 07 6:54pm

MIC’s elected representatives who have reached the ‘fatigue stage’ would be dropped and replaced by new faces in the coming general election, said the party’s president S Samy Vellu today.

"Looking at the situation, I am going to do many changes. This is sure to happen," he said when interviewed in RTM's Tamil talkshow "Karuthu Kalam" or "Opinion Forum" aired over RTM2 today.

Samy spoke about wide-ranging issues from when he entered politics and the challenges being faced by the party and the Indian community.

"Normally, I introduce new faces in elections and I assign them special tasks.

"Since I work long hours, I can't be monitoring them all the time. That will affect my job," he said.

He said he could tell them about their responsibilities during the MIC's monthly central working committee (CWC) meetings.

"Few are clear about their duties and carry out their responsibilities accordingly (but) some have reached the fatigue stage," he said.

At present MIC has nine members of Parliament and 19 state representatives.

Many would see the proposal to introduce new faces by the party in the coming general election as a way by Samy to recapture the trust of the Indian community.

The Indian community has been quite critical in the recent past over what is seen as the party’s and its leaders’ failures to uplift the community.

We have benefited

Samy also said that he entered politics in 1957 "with a view to change the condition of the Indian community".

"That was one of the main reasons for me to join politics. It was permanently in my mind. I kept thinking for ways and means to create a better situation to upgrade the condition of the community.

"When I became president of MIC in 1979, I realised that only by transforming the community into an educated community, we would be able to compete and be on par with others," he said.

He also said that he has not stopped fighting for the community in his 29 years of service as a minister. He is presently the works minister.

"I have talked everything. I can tell one thing to those who ask on what I've done. I can't reveal what I've talked, what I've fought in the cabinet.

"We have taken an oath of secrecy and we should not reveal anything that have been decided in the cabinet because those government documents are classified as official secrets," he said.

To a question, the MIC chief said not all the requests made by the MIC were put aside by the government.

"During the 29 years, when we request for 20, we get 10. So we have always benefited. We can't say we didn't get anything.

“I have records on what we have got. I know how the government has been channelling the assistance," he added.

Comments Off on samy vellu says oath prevents him »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

police claims hindraf activities involve secret service???

December 22nd, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


I read through the chronology and found no statement on links with secret societies etc.

Chronology of events

source

– 2007: Police investigations show that Hindraf was involved in numerous violent demonstrations, including employing the services of secret societies against local authorities legally demolishing temples.
[wonder why the above item is stated as 2007 only]

– July 2007: Hindraf leaders give speeches and distribute a seditious publication, 50 Years of Violation of the Federal Constitution by the Malaysian Government at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.
[does seditious mean telling lies, telling unconfirmed news/rumours, or telling the truth that may hurt, but still is the truth?]

– Aug 12: Hindraf leaders and followers gather illegally outside the prime minister's office, demanding that the prime minister personally collect a memorandum from them. Hindraf leaders speak and widely distribute pamphlets containing their memorandum which called for the end to Malay special rights and included other similar demands intended to cause racial tension.
[well, when there's no reply from various posted letters, i suppose it is only normal to personall handover the requests]

– Aug 30: Hindraf files class action suit against the British government for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years and thereafter failing to protect the Indian community's rights under the Federal Constitution when independence was granted. The sum sought was US$4 trillion (RM14 trillion) — or US$1 million for every Malaysian Indian.
[is this a crime? i thought this is a legal process. if not successful, so be it lah]

– October – December: SMSes alleging government conspiracies to demolish temples and completely marginalise the Indian community are circulated. In relation to the planned Hindraf rally, SMSes are sent stating that each Indian attending the rally would receive RM100,000.
– Nov 15: In a letter to the British prime minister, Hindraf alleges that the Malaysian government practises ethnic cleansing and the Islamic extremist backed government demolished Hindu temples.
[origin of the SMS? hopefully not from some 16 years old school girl's handphone!. I'm sure the letter to Gordon Brown contained more than "ethnic cleansing" and "islamic extremists". Anyway, what's the big deal? I'm sure that UK and Malaysia being good friends, UK have good idea and information on our country. The memo would not have impacted our country. Again, is this a crime?]

– Nov 16: Hindraf applies at Cheras police station for a permit to hold a gathering to submit a petition to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to fund (estimated by Hindraf to be RM5 million) their lawsuit against the British government.

– Nov 16: Hindraf's application for permit rejected by police as the planned gathering could potentially lead to trouble and public disorder as well as the fact that the application was made by an individual. Under Section 27 of the Police Act 1967, any application for a permit to assemble in a public place must be made by an organisation or jointly by three individuals.

– Nov 16: Hindraf leaders alleged to have given seditious speeches in Tamil at a restaurant in Kuala Selangor.
[alleged? hahahaha!]

– Nov 22: Court issues an order to Hindraf leaders prohibiting them from participating in the planned Nov 25 illegal gathering. This order means, that if the gathering goes on, the respondents will not only be held liable for illegal assembly, but can also be cited for contempt of court.
[hmmm…if indeed the leaders came at 1.15pm, can still charge under contempt of court? why ISA or this dillydallying?]

– Nov 23: Three Hindraf leaders are arrested and charged with sedition. Two are released on bail while the third refuses bail and threatens to go on a hunger strike.

– Nov 23: Scuffle breaks out between Hindraf supporters and FRU. A 2,000-strong Hindraf procession gathers behind Klang district police headquarters where released Hindraf leaders give speeches.

– Nov 25: Hindraf supporters damage vehicles and temple in Batu Caves, KL, as well as cause grievous bodily hurt to policemen present.
[proof that supporters did it? can be any tom, dick and harry right? i can be anti-hindraf, attend the gathering and throw stones everywhere 🙂 ]

– Nov 25: In defiance of a court order and police warnings, Hindraf leaders vow to proceed with the illegal gathering and urge all Indians to attend. Police were ready to negotiate with Hindraf leaders to allow them to hand over the memorandum but they were missing from the rally and only attended at 1.15pm, more than 5 hours after the crowds had gathered.
[this depends on who you ask. attendees said the organisers were there around 8am itself.]

– Nov 26: Hindraf leaders are granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal at the Klang Sessions Court.
[of course la. always "allege" only. how to win?]

– Nov 28: British High Commissioner denies receiving Hindraf memorandum. Hindraf claims it was faxed.
[hindraf claims it faxed "something" and high comm acknowledges it received "something"].

– December: Hindraf leaders systematically engage in a planned campaign spreading falsehoods to foreign governments and politicians. They claim that the Malaysian government carries out ethnic cleansing and widespread indiscriminate destruction of Hindu temples.
[ haiyaa…repeating old story only. what's the big deal? if left alone, i think will die a natural death. but looks like the govt is helping to promote and encourage hindraf?]

– Dec 01: A Hindraf leader, in an interview with the Indian Express (India), warned that Malaysia could become another Sri Lanka.
[so what? anyone can say many things, but if its not true, no big deal].

– Dec 04: A Hindraf leader, in an interview with the New Paper (Singapore), said that Hindraf could not rule out violence.
[incomplete statement. a search in the internet will show the full text of the interview and what the leader actually said]

– Dec 06: IGP reveals that Hindraf has links with terrorists and local gangster groups.
[reveals? sorry, i didn't see any proof]

– Dec 07: Attorney-General informs the court of documents alleging links between Hindraf and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
[ alleges again? like this i also can be AG :)]

– Dec 11: Hindraf leaders are arrested and charged with sedition. A crowd gathers near Pudu Jail and begins shouting for the leader's release. The police and the Federal Reserve Unit take up positions as the crowd begins to swell.

– Dec 12: Police raid the offices of two Hindraf leaders at Menara Mutiara Bangsar in KL and in Seremban and seize computers and documents.

– Dec 13: Five Hindraf leaders are picked up from Petaling Jaya, Brickfields, Bangsar and Seremban under the Internal Security Act and send to the Kamunting Detention Centre where they will be held for two years. Hindraf supporters gather in two groups — one outside the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman and the other outside Menara Mutiara Bangsar. They condemn the arrests and vow to carry on with their struggle.
[well, they certainly have the spirit of malaysia boleh!]

1 comment »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

paranjothy talks on Kerling incident in june 2006

December 22nd, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


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.

1 comment »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian

Tags:

another death while in police custody

December 21st, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


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

Comments Off on another death while in police custody »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian

Tags: