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Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Abdullah slams Hindraf over allegations
MALACCA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tore into the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) yesterday, saying that it is spreading blatant lies with the intention of arousing hatred among multiracial Malaysians and sparking racial clashes. Singling out Hindraf's accusation that the Government was carrying out ethnic cleansing of the Indians in Malaysia, the Prime Minister fumed: "I'm really angry, I rarely get angry but this blatant lie cannot be tolerated at all." Abdullah even offered to resign if there was proof that the Government was involved in ethnic cleansing. He said he did not want the people, especially the Indians, to be misled by Hindraf's unfounded claims and allegations, hoping that other races would not show sympathy towards the Indian activist group.
However, despite his anger during the 20-minute press conference where he dealt mostly with the Hindraf issue, Abdullah pledged to look after the interests and the well-being of the Indian community. "The social problems faced by the Indian community are clear. I have never said no. We support the Indians but there are some quarters instigating them and making them feel unhappy with the Government," he said..
Allegations of ethnic cleansing are all lies, says PM
By A. LETCHUMANAN
MALACCA: A visibly angry Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has hit out at the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for their baseless allegations that the Government carried out ethnic cleansing of Indians. "The allegations are all lies to deceive the Indians that they are an exploited race. Malaysians will not believe this. Even the Malaysian Indians will not believe this. "Ethnic cleansing is something which was done in Bosnia. We do not do it in this country. "I'm really angry; I rarely get angry but this blatant lie cannot be tolerated at all," he told reporters after opening Kampung Hadhari in Tanjung Bidara.
Abdullah said that he was prepared to resign if there was proof that there was ethnic cleansing in the country. "Tell me, do you believe there is ethnic cleansing in Malaysia? Is there ethnic cleansing, tell me? If I allow this, I would resign. "Tell me, you are an Indian and so are you (looking at Indian media personnel), have we been doing it for the past 50 years or even for that matter one week, have we done this?" he asked.
Abdullah said the Government had never marginalised the Indians in the mainstream development of the nation. "I've helped them, I've helped them in many ways. They want money to repair their temples, I help because we respect other religions and they are not our enemies, they have cooperated very well with us, this is what has happened," he said.
Abdullah said the Government had always given attention to the various requests made by MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to improve the socio-economic status of the Indian community. "Be it to appoint senators or elected representatives, we give attention to and support all the requests," he said.
Abdullah said the nation had enjoyed 50 years of Independence without any uneasiness among the Indian community. "The Indians have played their role. They have given strong support to the Government and Barisan Nasional. They know we are just and fair. "But sadly, some have been influenced by Hindraf and I hope they will evaluate Hindraf's statements carefully," he added. Abdullah said there was no truth to the claims in the Hindraf memorandum that a Government-backed extremist group had destroyed a temple in Kampung Jawa, Klang, on Nov 15.
"This is a lie created by certain groups to create hatred among the Indians towards the Government." He said lies like this could cause racial conflict between the Malays and the Indians. "Is this what we are seeking in Malaysia, where there has been no problems between Muslims and Indians or Islam and Hinduism?"
The Prime Minister said holding street protests, including by a group calling themselves "Bersih" on Nov 10, purportedly to bring about reforms in the country's electoral system for a fair and open elections, was not the right way. Abdullah said the Election Commission had decided to use the indelible ink and transparent ballot boxes in the next general election. "With the transparent ballot box, everybody will know the ballots are inside when the boxes are taken (to the tallying centre). It's the same with postal votes; others can come and see what is happening during postal voting," he said.
Abdullah added that the latest economic figures showed the Malaysian economy has improved by 6.7 percentage points, all indicators are pointing towards progress, and the economy is showing positive growth signs. He said that he was not prepared to let the country be destroyed by the actions of these groups. "I do not want our country which is growing steadily and attracting foreign investors to be destroyed. We do not want the country to be in chaos by their actions," he said.
Rights of minorities are protected, says Abdullah
ALOR GAJAH: The prime minister yesterday gave the assurance that minority races in the country are protected under the law and continue to enjoy the fruits of development.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said this was because Islam required Muslims to be fair and that representatives of all the races were in the government. He said the minorities in the country — whether Indians, Chinese or people of other races — would have a place in the nation as guaranteed in the Constitution. "The minorities will get protection under the law, enjoy the development that the nation experiences and continue to progress. We are a country which practises the sharing of power and in the government, there are representatives from all races. We sit down together and decide what is best for the country and the people. "We do not sideline any race or religion. There is no such thing as ethnic cleansing… this is for sure." Abdullah said the government would continue to help the Indian community by providing education, equal opportunities and other benefits.
"I have to be fair to all and this is something which is a must in Islam. One day, I will die and according to Islam, Allah will judge me.
"Allah will evaluate me and question me if I have been just and fair. Have you done this or not? I cannot lie. Allah knows if I lie. As a Muslim, I cannot be enemies with others, I cannot hate any race, I cannot hate any group."
Speaking at the launch of the Hadhari Village in Kampung Tanjung Bidara, Abdullah, who was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, said the implementation of Islam Hadhari or "civilisational Islam" was aimed at enhancing the quality of life of Malaysians, regardless of race and religion. Abdullah said if approached honestly and sincerely, Islam Hadhari's 10 principles could be a guide to progress for all Malaysians. He said Islam Hadhari was a comprehensive approach to ensuring development, peace and stability.
"For us Muslims, sometimes we argue about what we are doing in the name of Islam and we face numerous hurdles to understand this. As for the non-Muslims, they are monitoring what we do and looking if the things we are doing in the name of Islam cause them any hardship, or if it is something which is against the teachings of their religion. "They (non-Muslims) are given the freedom of religion under the constitution." He said Islam Hadhari was not a new sect, nor was it something new. "It is the manhaj or approach of Islam. It is based on what is best for the nation and takes into account the multiracial and multireligious people. "All Malaysians want development and the 10 principles of Islam Hadhari are being used as guidelines for the development of the nation." He said nine of the 10 principles of Islam Hadhari stressed the importance of gaining knowledge as only knowledge could empower the people to build a better nation.
Government doing its best for Indians, says PM
V. Vasudevan and Jason Gerald John
ALOR GAJAH: An outraged Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday blasted Hindraf's claims of the mistreatment of Malaysian Indians as lies intended to divide the races and destroy the country's peace.
"I rarely get angry but this time I am very angry and this is something I cannot accept,"he said. The prime minister took grave exception to a memorandum asking the British government to lead an international condemnation of Malaysia 's "atrocities" against Indians. "Hindraf is making baseless allegations and wants the United Kingdom to move an emergency United Nations resolution condemning ethnic cleansing in Malaysia.
"Tell me, do you believe there is ethnic cleansing in Malaysia? Is there ethnic cleansing, tell me? If this happened, I will resign," Abdullah said at a press conference after launching Kampung Tanjung Bidara as the country's second Islam Hadhari village. "Tell me, you are an Indian and so are you (referring to Indian reporters), have we been doing it for the past 50 years, have we done this?"he asked. "Malaysians would not believe it. Even the Indians who are Hindus do not believe it. Ethnic cleansing was perpetrated in Bosnia where the Serbs attacked the Bosnians to chase them out and make them non-existent. It was backed by the state. We do not do this here," he said.
Hindraf legal adviser P. Uthayakumar has resorted to the British before. In May 2004, he went to London to apply for asylum alleging police harassment in relation to a death-in-custody case he had taken up. He returned to Malaysia about a month later after Tan Sri Musa Hassan, then the federal CID director and now inspector-general of police, advised him to substantiate his allegations.
Abdullah also slammed Hindraf's charge that "government backed armed Islamic extremists" had destroyed a temple in Klang. "There is no such thing. This a lie conjured by certain groups to create hatred among the Indians for the government." In its memorandum, Hindraf also appealed to the British government to refer Malaysia to the World Court and the International Criminal Court for "crimes against ethnic minority Indians".
Describing the Indian community as "innocent and good people", Abdullah said it had contributed to nation- building. "They have done their part and supported the government. They are strong supporters of the Barisan Nasional and they surely do so because they believe we are fair to all." Abdullah said the government was doing its best for the Indians and cited his experience in helping the community in his parliamentary constituency of Kepala Batas. "There are many Indians in Kepala Batas and I help them.
Funds are provided to repair their temples as we respect their religion. "They are not our enemy but we sit together and muafakat (co-operate).
" Abdullah said MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was constantly bringing the community's requests to him. "Samy makes requests to me for the Indian community and I approve and give them grants. I have never said no. We support the Indians but there are some quarters inciting them and making them unhappy with the government." The prime minister called on Malaysians, especially the Indians, to carefully evaluate the Hindraf memorandum and statements.
"I do not want Indians to be duped by them." Abdullah said many had gone to Hindraf's illegal rally to hear what it had to say about the oppression of and crimes against the Indian community by the government. "These are all lies that can cause racial conflict in the country, especially between the Indians and Malays. Is this what we want? In Malaysia, there has been no conflict between the Muslims and Indians or Islam and Hinduism. It has never happened,"he said. Abdullah felt Hindraf's bigger motive was to cause chaos and disturb the peace. "This country has rules and laws. We have a constitution and we are successful today as we abide by it and hold firmly to the Rukun Negara." Asked for his views on other planned street demonstrations, Abdullah said he had instructed the police to deal with them and take the appropriate measures.
This month, the Bar Council is staging its annual walk for human rights while Bersih is planning a demonstration outside Parliament House on Dec 11 to protest a constitutional amendment allowing election commissioners to serve until the age of 66. A third demonstration is being planned by the opposition and non-governmental organisations to protest road toll increases due next year.
"I have asked the police to talk to them and do what is appropriate. In fact, this should not happen. Why must street demonstrations be chosen to bring change and present demands?"he asked. As an example, he said many of the proposals of the Bersih demonstration on Nov 10 had already been fulfilled. The Election Commission had introduced the use of indelible ink and transparent ballot boxes. In addition, the names of the dead had been erased under an exercise to clean up the electoral roll. Abdullah said the Election Commission had worked out arrangements for party representatives to be present when postal votes were cast.
"But despite this, they do not believe us but think only they (the opposition) are right. If we are a rotten government, we would have been removed as the people are not stupid and cannot be cheated." Abdullah said the BN had governed for 50 years and had brought development. "I admit there are weaknesses and there is still work to be done. There is no country in the world or any leader who can say he has done everything and there are no more poor people in his country." He pointed out that development was a process that did not end. "There are still poor people (in the country) and we still need to bring them out of poverty. We have to strengthen ties between the races and religions." Abdullah said he was not prepared to leave the country hostage to irresponsible groups. "I do not want our country, which is growing steadily and attracting investors, to be destroyed. I do not want the country to be in disarray as a result of the action of an irresponsible few."
"I think that even with the parameters shifting at this particular juncture, it is extremely difficult for the opposition to break the barrier of the two thirds. Period," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asian expert at John Hopkins University. 
But Welsh predicted Abdullah's Umno, BN's lynchpin, could lose up to 15 parliamentary seats in upcoming polls and its senior coalition partner MCA could drop about six seats. 
The ethnic Indians are also discontented. At least 30,000 of them defied police warnings and held rare protests in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week against what they see as racial discrimination. 
