Who is the black sheep?

/* October 23rd, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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According to Lim Kit Siang (in Malaysiakini), one BN MP signed the petition to debate on ISA. But no names were mentioned. Can you guess who it is? 76 BN MPs were approached, but only one signed. But if we go by the rhetorics last two weeks, Gerakan and MCA, and even some in UMNO were talking about revisiting the ISA. Empty vessel makes most noise comes to my mind. But then, Gerakan only has one rep, MCA a sprinkling, while UMNO – well, they are having elections soon. MP Batu Gajah, Fong Po Kuan said 23 of the 76 BN folks personally agreed to the debate but dare not put down their name.

The Star reported that the sole BN MP signatory is a backbencher. Could it be a person from East Malaysia? Or perhaps someone from MIC or MCA?

Who is it?

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Tamil Language and Hinduism Classes at PJ

/* October 22nd, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 8 comments »
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From Shantan Menon:

A simple question to all,how many of us Indians (Tamils) and or Hindus know how to speak,read and write our own mother tongue?How many of us stand proud telling that we are Indians or Hindus?How many of us when we meet our fellow Indian friends,say Vanakam,or even converse in tamil or any other Indian languages?IF your answer is
a ‘YES’,then you should be proud of yourself that you have not lost your identity.Look at our fellow Malay and Chinese friends,they are so fluent with their respective mother tougues,and they are proud speaking their languages.On the other hand,we Indian are lacking on this.

Why am I saying this?Well,the reason is simply because I would like to contribute towards improving awareness amongst our Indian community.I have volunteered to conduct Tamil Language and Hinduism classes.Knowledge gained,adds value whilst knowledge shared multiplies value.Gone are the days whereby the non Brahmins are prohibited to learn the Vedas,in this modern world,we are all equal,we all have equal opportunities.

The Tamil language class(to speak, read and write) would be for about 3 months.Upon completion of the Tamil Langauge class,I would start with the Hinduism classes which comprise lessons on Saiva Sidthantham, the Thirumurai(Tamil devotional songs,such as Thevaram,Thiruvasagam, etc) and Thirumarai(the interpretation of the
4 Vedas,the stories behind them and the Baghvad Gita).These classes are continuous.All classes would be conducted in Tamil(mostly) and English.

Some points to be highlighted to our members. On a few occasions,I have been invited to houses to recite devotional songs(mostly funerals and anthiyesthi ceremonies). It is quite dissapointing to know that many of the deceased family members can’t even recite a simple song of the thirumurai.It is the greatest bliss for the deceased when his/her family members recite these songs for they souls rather than a third party reciting it on behalf of the family members.It is time that we all Indians realise this point and lets start learning a bit about our beautiful language and religion.Lets
all together prove to the world that our language and religion is not fading off.Lets prove that it’s ever glowing in our hearts and souls.

Classes are conducted at the Malaysian Hindu Sangam Building, PJS 1.
Time: Every Sunday-6.00pm to 8.00pm (Initially)
Fees: RM40.00 per month.

Those who are interested kindly email me at shanthan.penta@gmail.com or contact me @ 0123016607. Any persons(adults and children)are most welcomed to join these classes.
Be proud to be an Indian,be proud of our language and religion.

‘Loga Samastha Suginoo Bavandhu’
‘Sarve Jenaha Sugino Bavandhu’

NOTE: MHS’s address is:
67, Jalan PJS1/48,
Taman Petaling Utama 7,
46150 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-7784-4668 / 7784-4669

Map to the MHS building is HERE.

According to Shantan, classes will begin on 2nd November (after Deepavali).  Please contact him for more details.

A foreign worker sends back the amount a poor family earns

/* October 22nd, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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On average, foreign workers send back RM720 per month, the total being Rm9.12 billion up to June 2008. According to Deputy PM Najib, its expected to reach RM18.1 billion by year end. The number of foreign workers up to July 31 is 2.1 million (which in Bolehland means it can easily be double of that!).

Imagine a foreigner sending back RM720 per month (yeah, I know, on AVERAGE). If his/her cost of living is about RM500, that would mean a take-home pay of RM1200. I doubt this includes expatriates as they are in different category.

Do you know that RM720 is the newly revised household income value criteria used by Welfare Department to provide welfare assistance in Peninsular Malaysia?

The Government empathises with the difficulties faced by the lower income group, arising from the higher cost of living. In this regard, the Government has raised the eligibility criteria for welfare assistance under the Welfare Department, from a monthly household income of RM400 to RM720 for Peninsular Malaysia, RM830 for Sarawak and RM960 for Sabah. With this increase, the number of eligible recipients is expected to double from 54,000 households to 110,000. This includes an increase in the number of eligible senior citizens from 14,000 to 40,000. For this purpose, an additional RM500 million is allocated.

– From PM’s Budget 2009 Speech (here).

Obviously for a foreign worker, there are less “side” expenses. Most things are free – provided by the employers.

What do you make out of this – the amount a foreign workers sends home is same as the amount a poor family earns (following Welfare Department criteria)?

What happened to Ampang temple demolition report

/* October 22nd, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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from: Poobalan
to: TERESAKOK@selangor.gov.my,
DRXAVIER@selangor.gov.my,
RONNIELIU@selangor.gov.my
cc: KHALID@selangor.gov.my,
Y B Manikavasagam Sundaram ,

date: Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:08 PM
subject: Status of Investigation by 3-man committee over demolition of Ampang Mahakaliamman Temple
mailed-by gmail.com

Dear Sir/Madam,It has been nearly a month since the 3-man non-Muslim religious affairs committee was supposed to investigate the demolition of Ampang Mahakaliamman Temple. According to Mr Ronnie Liu’s statement in the Star:

“We are expecting the investigation results by Monday and we will look into the next course of action after that,” he said when contacted yesterday.
ref: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/30/nation/2150967&sec=nation
I would like to know the status of the investigation and how to obtain a copy of the investigation report. i hope it is not classified as official secret.

Regards,
M Poobalan

“SAY NO TO ALCOHOL”

Q1:  How long would it take to get a reply from anyone of the recipients?

Q2: Would the reply be meaningful?

Let’s wait and see. Countdown starts now…tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock…

HINDRAF supporters meet Uthaya at court room

/* October 21st, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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Saw the news on TV3 yesterday night. Buletin Utama started by saying “HINDRAF buat kecoh lagi”, but unfortunately, the video clip did not show any negative actions. There were crowd of about 50-60 people who wanted to enter the court room Of course, knowing TV3, you can’t take their news seriously. The news did not mention why people were crowding to enter nor the pre-and post-happenings after the video clip.

Malaysiakini covers it here.

A small commotion in the courtroom preceded today’s hearing when the case was moved to another court, but before the same judge.

Hindraf supporters were unhappy when they were not allowed into the new courtroom. A shouting match ensued between the supporters and the police, with Uthayakumar – wearing a white shirt and tattered blue pants – joining in.

Kapar MP S Manikavasagam was among those shouting, insisting that the police should stop “harrassing the supporters”.

A woman fainted in the ensuing disorder and was taken to a hospital in an ambulance. Surendran claimed she had been “elbowed” by a police officer.

However, the commotion died down after 20 minutes, when more supporters were allowed to enter the courtroom where they sat on the floor.

More than 100 Hindraf supporters – clad in orange T-shirts with slogans like ‘Abolish ISA’, ‘Keep walking’ and ‘Makkal sakthi’ – had gathered at the court complex since early this morning.

The Star covers the “commotion” here:

A commotion broke out at the entrance of the Criminal Sessions Court here when police barred Uthayakumar’s supporters from attending his sedition trial.

Earlier, when the hearing began at the Civil Sessions Court at 9am, the room was packed with 70 well-behaved supporters. How-ever, when the courtroom was changed to the Criminal Sessions Court just before 11am, police prevented the supporters from entering the court and a shouting match ensued.

A police officer had told the supporters that they needed to be registered to enter the courtroom but the latter countered they had the right to enter an open court.

NST said that it was a circus:

It was a circus on the first day of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P. Uthayakumar’s sedition trial yesterday. A woman fainted in the courtroom after she was allegedly roughed up while a pen was thrown at a police officer’s head.

The commotion began about 11am when proceedings stood down.

The proceedings were supposed to be heard in Civil Sessions 6, but the venue was changed to Sessions 6 Criminal.

Both are on the third floor. About 100 supporters squeezed their way into the courtroom.
As they were waiting for hearing to resume in the second courtroom, Uthayakumar’s counsel, N. Surendran, alleged that a police officer had grabbed a woman by the neck during a scuffle, causing her to faint.

The woman was taken to a room and an ambulance called. She was sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Soon after, riled-up supporters began chanting and calling out Uthayakumar’s name.

A police officer tried to calm them down but a pen was thrown at him. The officer remained calm and told them to respect the court.

Uthayakumar, who was in the dock, also tried to calm his supporters. The 47-year-old lawyer, who was wearing a white shirt, torn blue pants and a pair of flip-flops, looked unkempt with his thick beard.

Despite looking like a “vagrant”, he was in a cheery mood.

The case of Uthaya alleged to published a seditious letter to British PM is postponed till next year February.
Photos of the events at the court is over here.