Racist teacher transferred out of state while police is powerless

/* August 24th, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 15 comments »
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Earlier, we had the community fuming at the lackadaisical attitude shown by those responsible in punishing the teacher who insulted the Indian community. Only a warning letter was issued But today, the Star reported Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong saying that the teacher will be transferred out of Selangor next week (when school reopens).

He clarified that this was past of the disciplinary measures decided upon completion of the investigation. One then has to wonder why this punishment was not revealed earlier together with the warning letter.

The teacher, who is currently suspended from school and doing
clerical work in the Selangor Education Department, has been undergoing
two-week counselling. She has been reprimanded and given a stern warning. The teacher has promised that the incident will not recur.

Not sure if this the “we will do it our way” outcome of MIC.

Meanwhile, the police admitted that they cannot act against teachers like Ms Rusitah who go about insulting the Indian community, unless they physically harmed the students.

District criminal investigations department chief Deputy Superintendent
Roslan Ibrahim said no action could be taken against a teacher accused
of verbal abuse.

“When such cases (verbal abuse) are reported, we can only forward it to the Education Department for further action,” he said.

On racial slurs, Roslan said it could be categorised as mental abuse.

“However it would be difficult to charge a teacher suspected of
racially abusing a student unless there is strong supporting evidence
and witnesses who are willing to testify in court,” he said.

Hindraf coordinators arrested as PM visits prayer event

/* August 23rd, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 41 comments »
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Hindraf is rocked by more arrests and revelation by its leader Waytha that 3 of its main personalities are recruited by Special Branch.

The email from Waytha as below:

HINDRAF
135-3 JALAN TOMAN 7
KEMAYAN SQUARE
70200 SEREMBAN

BRIEF PRESS STATEMENT 23RD AUGUST 2008-08
RE: ISA DETAINEE VASANTHAKUMAR A SPECIAL BRANCH PLANT
RAMACHANDRAN MEYAPPAN & V.K.REGU HAVE BEEN RECRUITED AS GOVERNMENT AGENTS TO BETRAY HINDRAF CAUSE.

ISA detainee Vasanthakumar had volunteered to join HINDRAF in September 2007 and according to him at that time he was waiting for someone to do something drastic and the fact that I had filed an action against the UK Government attracted him to join HINDRAF. He had then served as a volunteer and I offered him to undertake the post of pro tem treasurer.

It came to my attention in January 2008 that Vasanthakumar has been planted by the Police Special Branch to infiltrate HINDRAF and upon further investigations the fact became apparent.

In March 2008 I was informed by two top Government officers on separate occasions confirming Vasanthakumar was assigned to break up HINDRAF lawyers in detention and the organisation from his detention. He had since met with various people from within HINDRAF to break the organization.

V.K.Regu though was a Pro tem Secretary of HINDRAF but was removed personally by me in October 2008 for undertaking activities against the interests of HINDRAF.

Upon the arrest of the 5 I had appointed a 10 member interim committee of which Tanendran was made the National Co-ordinator and Ramachandran Meyappan alias Ramaji was made the Spiritual Advisor of HINDRAF.

Recent events have shown that Ramaji and Regu had made frequent visits to KEMTA prison to meet Vasanthakumar secretly and they had colluded to break up HINDRAF and take over the registration of HINDRAFas an organization.

Ramaji and Regu had various secret and unauthorised meetings with the Prime Ministers Department, the PM’s Private Secretary and top MIC leaders over the last 5 months and I have evidence of this. It is now clear that all their activities thus far is to break up HINDRAF and take over the leadership of HINDRAF together with Vasanthakumar upon his release from ISA.

It wouldn’t be a surprise that the Government would approve the registration of HINDRAF as a legitimate organisation but the approval would be handed over to Regu Ramaji and Vasanthakumar and other MIC proxies so that the unity and power that HINDRAF has displayed under the MAKKAL SAKTI would be permanently be damaged and shattered.

I apologize to all HINDRAF supporters for concealing these crucial facts all these while. I did this solely to protect the unity and integrity of HINDRAF and to avoid the breakup of HINDRAF. I sincerely believed that the release of the 5 including Vasanthakumar is of utmost importance for the sake of HINDRAF’S struggle.

What transpired today at Butterworth is a blatant insult to the intelligence of all HINDRAF supporters. Ramaji and Regu had placed various advertisements and news in the local tamil daily over the last few days about gathering 20 000 people for a Yaagam for the release of the 5 HINDRAF and for the promotion of the 18 demands submitted by HINDRAF in August 2007 under their organisations ie HSS (Hindu Sevai Sangam) and an organisation loosely named Makkal Sakti. This event that was organised deliberately in the Permatang Pauh Constituency where there the Ex deputy Prime Minister is contesting in a by-election next Tuesday. By using the name Makkal sakti both ramaji and Regu had expected a huge crowd to bolster their grip on HINDRAF by the Prime Minister personally attending their Maha Yagam which was organised in a Chinese Temple (1st time of its kind) and entertained by a local famous pop band group.

I urge all HINDRAF supporters to remain calm during this crucial moment and urge all look out for news in our website www.hindraf.org and www.hindraf.co.uk for the latest news.

As the Chairman of this organisation I take full responsibility for the damage caused to the divine struggle of this organisation and extend my sincere apologies to all our supporters. Let us all unite to fight the betrayers within us who are up for selfish gain and to break the unity that never was seen prior to this within our community over the last 51 years. May the blessings of the almighty be showered upon us on this crucial period and I seek his guidance to take me in the right path.

P.Waytha Moorthy
HINDRAF
Currently in London

Looks like HINDRAF is in getting into a mess with many wanna-be splinters coming up.

The incident he was talking about is the yagam (prayer) organised by a Makkal Sakthi group in a Chinese temple in Penang. The event was attended by Prime Minister Badawi which itself is an impossible feat since he had declared that he will never meet any HINDRAF leaders (“who are they” comes to mind). Thus, its clear that another group had organised this yagam.

The Hindraf coordinators led by Thanenthiran protested outside the temple, and subsequently the police arrested them. 8 leaders arrested including two ladies. Report from Malaysiakini:

Eight Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders, including national co-ordinator TS Thanenthiran, were arrested this evening after staging a protest against a splinter group outside a Chinese temple in Seberang Jaya, Penang.

The protest began around 2pm, swelling to about 200 people by the time the arrests were made. The splinter group, which also claims to represent Hindraf, was carrying out a bonfire prayer at the temple.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in town to help campaign for his coalition in the Permatang Pauh by-election, dropped by to visit the temple around 5.30pm. He chatted briefly with members of the splinter group and shook hands with some of them before leaving.

Soon after that, the demonstration got out of hand and the arrests were made around 6.30pm.

Police said the eight people, including two women, were arrested for illegal demonstration.

Hindraf chief P Waythamoorthy called Malaysiakini from London, saying that the splinter group did not represent Hindraf and the prayer ceremony was not sanctioned by the Indian rights group.

Bonfire organisers VK Regu had told reporters earlier that the event was organised by the Makkal Sakhti movement, which is sometimes used interchangeably with Hindraf, in collaboration with an NGO.

We want to seek divine intervention to secure the release of the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act, he said, adding that the event was also to urge Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat to fulfil Hindraf’s 18-point memorandum on Indian affairs submitted to Abdullah last year.

Shortly after, Regu was confronted by the 10 Hindraf activists and a shouting match erupted between the two groups before the protest began.

The Hindraf activist claimed that the bonfire organisers were out to confuse Indian voters in Permatang Pauh by engaging Abdullah at the event.

The demonstration began immediately after Abdullah left the event with protesters shouting reformasi and long live Anwar before they were dispersed by the police.

Petrol price down 15 sen as inflations hits 8.5 percent

/* August 23rd, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 7 comments »
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Came back and saw this on Malaysiakini: Gov’t slashes petrol price by 15 sen

Guess what, I just filled my tank with RM70++ worth of petrol 🙁 So stupid of me to trust the statement that said “no reduction in petrol price until 1st Sept”. If I just waited till tomorrow morning, could have saved a few dollars.

Anyway, I should have learned a lesson from the parliament dissolution fiasco months ago. This time, its seems the “The cabinet decided to bring forward the enforcement date for adjustment of the new petrol price,”.

Well, at least its a good news. Now, would ICI reduce their paint price in a month or two’s time. Their new price for paints was released on 18th August. What about other industries? Right, fat chance!

With inflation at an 27 year high (8.5%) in July 2008, this comes as a bit of good news, but not sure if the impact will trickle down. We never heard of prices of goods being reduced all this while. Will there be a difference this time?

Dept of Statistics said that :

…cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 11.2 percent in July compared to a year ago.

Among the contributing factors for (July’s inflation) were the substantial rise in the electricity tariff announced by the government… and the knock-on effect from the price increase of petrol and diesel,” it said in a statement.

The July data showed escalating prices in most categories, including transport which jumped 22.7 percent, and restaurants and hotels which rose 6.7 percent.

more students racial abuse cases as MIC uses its way

/* August 22nd, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 7 comments »
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More cases of teachers of racially and physically abusing Indian students are being revealed. If you know of any such cases, please make a police report, and/or try to contact Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George (maybe can get the contact info from The Star). The Star reported below:

More cases of teachers picking on Indian students here have emerged.

Several parents of children attending a primary school here have lodged police reports since November last year alleging that five teachers in the school had physically and verbally abused Indian students.

R. Sathasnam, 52, said he and another parent had complained to the school’s administration repeatedly but the abuses continued.

He alleged that these five teachers regularly hit the students and told them to transfer out of the school, as they (the teachers) were “fed-up of seeing their faces”.

“One of the teachers called some Indian students derogatory names ,” alleged Sathasnam.

He alleged that many Indian students were slapped, kicked, punched and caned by these teachers for misdemeanours such as talking while lining-up to enter the classroom.

“My 10-year-old son was lifted-up by the ears by a male teacher and slapped and kicked for talking before entering the classroom after recess in February,” alleged Sathasnam.

He claimed his son’s ears turned blue-black and his cheeks swelled after the beating. When he rushed his son to the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital, the doctor there advised him to file a police report.

Another parent R. Viganaspary, 40, said her son was repeatedly hit on the head with a rolled-up newspaper and caned on the legs for not having a particular exercise book.

Meanwhile, Coalition of Malaysian Indian NGOs secretary Gunaraj George, who met Sathasnam and Viganaspary recently, said the coalition would present a memorandum on the matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi soon.

“These are young impressionable children and the alleged incidents will only teach them to hate,” said Gunaraj.

When contacted, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator T. Murugiah said he would speak to the principal next week when school reopens.

Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong said he would comment only after he had seen copies of the police reports.

Meanwhile, MIC's Saravanan says:

"We are working on it, as I have earlier said that we would get the bottom of the issue and send a clear message to the powers that be. This is despite, my own community saying whatever they like about me and the MIC over the handling of the issue. I know some people wanted me to be more vocal on this race based issue but I choose to handle it my way. This is just the start. We in the MIC are not going to take this lying down. We have our way of dealing with these issues. We are not in the opposition to just say whatever we like, throwing words etc.

Pretty big words, but if nothing comes out in the end of it, MIC will be seen as an utter failure, a weakling who is not able to flex its muscles at the Education Ministry. Secondly, people want fast, immediate response and action, not a delayed action after a year or so. Third, all this "we have our own way" secrecy is dinosaur-age now. People don't trust "discussion behind closed door" stories anymore.

First hand experience of taking LRT and Komuter

/* August 22nd, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
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The Prime Minister took a ride in Komuter (Serdang to Kl Sentral) and then LRT (KL Sentral to Masjid Jamek) during peak hour (8.15am to 9.15am) and realises how the public suffer. Wait till he takes RapidKL 🙂

Anyway, the responses from the providers indicate that changes will be seen in stages as procurement takes time. New Komuter coaches are due in 2010 as reported below.

On the KTM commuter services, which is under the Transport Ministry, Ong said the Government had allocated RM200mil to procure 10 sets of electric multiple units (EMU) expected to arrive in 2010.

Also, five electric train sets would be procured to facilitate the KL Sentral-Ipoh fast train services, he said, adding that these were expected to arrive in 2010.

As for LRT, it will new coaches will arrive between 2009 and 2011:

RapidKL general manager (communications) Ebi Azly Abdullah said SPNB would deliver 22 sets of new four-car trains between 2009 and 2011

“This will double the Kelana Jaya line's current passenger capacity of 160,000 passengers daily to more than 300,000 daily,” he said.

A KTM spokesman said the critical shortage was due to a major overhaul exercise being conducted in stages on 50 train sets since last year but passenger capacity would increase by 10% once the overhaul was done.

So, I can't really see what immediate measures can be done here. Surely the ministers (Finance Minister especially) already know about this procurement and financial issues since these providers are GLCs. So, one now have to ask if was it necessary to to take the public transport or was things hidden from PM's knowledge until he has to see things for himself? Both questions are worrying, so I hope some one can tell a different reason.

Perhaps PM could have just got his officers to bring articles from the newspapers where people complain nearly everyday about public transport problem. Its of course good in terms of PR campaign as the public can complain directly to him.

BTW, it seems safe for politicians to walk about in public freely, so perhaps we can do away with those outriders, security guards, and other followers? 🙂