Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Blogger temporarily arrested in Kuantan

December 26th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Got this from a forwarded email. The blogger's experience is available on his site: cucumatkilau.blogdrive.com

Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Cops nab blogger in Kuantan
 

Crackdown on Bloggers begins?
Cucumatkilau, a PKR-proposed candidate during the last general election, has claimed that police broke down the door of his home in Kuantan yesterday morning before cuffing him and taking him to the police station . He claimed that the cops did not produce any warrant for his arrest and did not say why he was being arrested.
Blogger Datuk Ron alerted me of the incident some hours ago and has since done two postings (here and here) on the arrest.
Now, even before the arrest of the Hindraf 5 there had been talk that several bloggers would be arrested under the ISA. Obviously I didn't give such talk much credence. Let's just say I was more concerned about the "chilling effect" that it could have on the blogging community. I am still not ready yet to believe that the Government would actually be so naive as to target bloggers, but that's what people are going to talk about until/unless the cops issue an official statement and explain its action on Cucumatkilau and respond to his claims.
Back to Cucumatkilau. The 36-year old former Umno member said the cops came to his house at about 10 a.m. yesterday and released him about 10 hours later at 8pm. After his ordeal, he wrote in his blog cucumatkilau.blogdrive.com what looks like a Part One of his own account on what happened.
He headlined it Terkini: Operasi Menahan Bloggers Bermula (Latest: Crackdown on Bloggers begins).
Was he arrested because of his blogging? Cucumatkilau hasn't said in his posting if the cops had told him so but they did confiscate three cellphones and a laptop belonging to him when they arrested him. We do not know if these items have been returned to him.
Looks like we'll have to wait for Part Two …
pic of Cucumatkilau with Pas' Mat Sabu, one of the politicians nabbed in a belated crackdown [here] by the cops on Dec 9 against the Yellow March organisers.
at 1:53 AM 
 
Rocky Bru

Comments Off on Blogger temporarily arrested in Kuantan »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Temple report task for MIC bad idea

December 25th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Star, NST, and MK all highlighted the task given to MIC by PM, no less, to:
– look into the status of all Hindu temples
– submit a report on these temples to the cabinet periodically
– continuously monitor all temple
– submit to PM a list of temple that may be demolished due to various reason

 MIC will:
– go around the country to prepare report on number of temples and their problems
– identify illegally built and check their status (this statement sounds very confusing. identify ILLEGAL temples and check their STATUS?)
– check if there are moves to demolish or relocate the temples
– organise meetings with temple committees
– verify temple land status
– secure land reservations in new housing development areas
– seek registration of all temples
– ensure suitable alternative site is allocated before demolishment
– ensure no temples are demolished in the future (meaning from today 24/12/2007), and if need to be demolished, to ensure proper alternative site is provided.
– make sure no temples, either legally or illegally built will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC

Abdullah had assured that the government would provide the necessary support in resolving any matters involving temples as has been the case before.

That seems to be a tall order.

My opinion is that such a task should not be handed over to a political party, especially a de facto one that is part of the ruling body. It should be driven by a government department or a newly appointed permanent committee that consists of various representatives from religious bodies, government departments, NGOs etc. The people seemed to have lost faith in MIC. to entrust MIC with such task may backfire on BN since the people may take this as the govt not listening to them. Should MIC be given a chance to redeem themselves? MIC, having a vested interest, may cover things up to save their hides.

Or this can be seen as a ploy by BN to push the ball back to MIC to handle it, rather than taking responsibility collectively. Since MIC is the one perceived to cause all this problem, let them solve it. If they can, good. If not, BN can still win without MIC. Its a zero sum game.

So, if any more problem happens, can we blame MIC 100% and by extension blame the cabinet as well?

MIC tasked with temple relocations, demolitions
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76374
Yoges Palaniappan | Dec 24, 07 5:05pm

MIC has been given the task to look into the status of all Hindu temples in the country and will submit a report on these temples to the cabinet.

In line with that, MIC president S Samy Vellu will travel nationwide to prepare the report on the number of Hindu temples and their problems.

This "new approach" follows a directive by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to MIC to continuously monitor all temples in the country and to submit a report on their status to the cabinet periodically.

Samy, in a media statement today, said that Abdullah had specifically wanted MIC to forward him the list of any temples that may have to be demolished for various reasons.

"As temples are sensitive matters, a new approach is necessary to resolve them and MIC will take over completely this task," said Samy, who is also the Works Minister.

"We will identify the illegally built temples first and check on their status. We want to see if there have been any moves to demolish or relocate them," he said.

He added that he had directed Federal Territory MIC chief M Saravanan and Selangor state executive councillor Kamala Ganapathy to organise meetings with temple heads in their respective states.

The long time MIC president said the meetings would have several objectives, namely to verify the status of the land where the temples were built, to secure land reservations in all new housing development areas and to seek the registration of all temples.

"What is more important is that suitable alternative sites will have to be allocated first before any temples are to be relocated," he said.

According to Samy, a meeting to be held soon in Kuala Lumpur would be attended by 780 temple heads, whereas 870 temple heads would participate in the second meeting to be held in Selangor.

Premier's assurance

He added that similar meetings would be held in other states; with the third meeting scheduled in Perak and that he would chair all the meetings.

"I will scrutinise all matters concerning temples with a view to ensure that no temples are demolished in the future and if they have to be demolished, suitable alternative sites must be allocated so that Hindus can continue to worship," he said.

"No temples, either legally or illegally built will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC," he said, adding that Abdullah had assured that the government would provide the necessary support in resolving any matters involving temples as has been the case before.

In recent years a high number of Hindu temples have been demolished on the account of them being illegally built, causing much anger among the Indian community.

The Hindu Rights Action Force has played a vital role in defending these temples, culminating in a Nov 25 rally in Kuala Lumpur over the apparent marginalisation of the Indian community.

Since then, five leaders of the group have been detained for two years under the dreaded Internal Security Act.

Hindraf's popularity among the community in fighting for the Indian cause has come at the expense of MIC, which has for long been held as the sole Indian voice in the government.

Many segments of the community have blamed MIC for being inactive in protecting Hindu temples from being demolished.

The new approach outlined by the government for MIC to have 'powers' to protect temples now is seen as being aimed to win over the support of the community for the party.

NST:

Samy Vellu to give report on temples

KUALA LUMPUR: The prime minister has asked MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to monitor all Hindu temples and submit a report on their status periodically.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also wanted the MIC to forward to him and the cabinet a list of temples that might have to be demolished for various reasons.

"As the issue of temples is a sensitive matter, a new approach is necessary to resolve it and the MIC will completely take over the task," said Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, in a press statement.

He would travel to all states soon to prepare a report on the number of temples and their problems. "We will identify the illegally-built temples first and check on their status."

Meetings with the heads of temples in each state would be organised. The Federal Territory and Selangor meetings would be attended by 780 and 870 temple heads, respectively. It was to verify the status of the land where the temples were located, to secure land for them in all new housing areas and to seek registration for all temples.

"I will scrutinise all matters to ensure that no temples are demolished in the future or suitable alternative sites are allocated to temples that have to be demolished so that Hindus can continue to worship. "No temples, either legal or illegally built, will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC," Samy Vellu said.

Comments Off on Temple report task for MIC bad idea »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

Mega Stars Nite a flop?

December 24th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


I was wondering why there's no news on the Mega Stars Nite which was held on 21st night in Shah Alam. No photos in THR website while searching the Internet returned some photos at Galatta.com's site

There were many calls to boycott the show as a respect for HINDRAF and also to condemn the deafening silence by the Tamil Cinema industry on the 25/11 rally. The organisers had to promote in on Astro Vaanavil Bernama news last week. The organiser Maras said that profit from the show is to be used to start a center to nurture budding local artistes. However, the Indian artistes seem to think that money is for their new building and help needy artistes.

The tickets were priced from RM60 to RM300.

It has been three days and no news yet. Not sure about Tamil papers. But my source says that the only about 1300 people attended, out of which 700 were on free tickets (THR and other corporate sponsors). Also, it seems the Tamil papers boycotted covering the event as well.

Anyone attended the concert?

2 comments »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

samy got booed

December 24th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


I wrote about watching Samy Vellu being booed during the Attam 100 Vagai finals, beamed live to other countries as well. Since I saw it on TV, I wasn't sure of the situation.

Mahendran's site has links to youtube videos as well. Visit http://www.bmahendran.com/?p=275

Finally, even Saudara Lim Kit Siang took note of the boos received by SV. Read it at:
http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2007/12/24/malaysian-indian-political-awakening-must-not-fall-into-trap-of-being-tarred-anti-malay/

Anyhow, I came across article from Anil Netto's site, which I reproduce below:

http://anilnetto.com/2007/12/23/samy-vellu-booed-on-live-tv-his-days-are-numbered/

Samy Vellu booed on “live” TV; are his political days numbered?

MIC president Samy Vellu was booed and publicly humiliated when he turned up to officiate at the Aattam 100 Vagai 3 (100 types of dance) performance at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) last night.

Sources tell me the crowd of 2,000-3,000 shouted obscenities at him including “po-dah” (the rude version of “get lost”) and he didn’t get a chance to complete his speech. One source told me he was surprised to hear that the women in the audience appeared more aggressive in admonishing Samy.

Bear in mind, this was a cultural event and not a political forum, so it would have been attended by a diverse crowd of Indian Malaysians – who have now become politically awakened as never before.

The event was supposed to be telecast “live” by Astro Vaanavil (Channel 201) and beamed to India, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Apart from Astro, the media partners supporting the dance show were Sri Lanka Rupavhini (TV) Corporation, Jaya TV India, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation and Media-Corp TV12 Singapore Pte. Ltd. So Samy’s image in the region would have suffered more than a little dent.

Earlier yesterday, Samy Vellu was huddled  with Penang MIC division heads in a closed-door meeting at the Equatorial Hotel near Pisa, probably discussing the Hindraf developments. I gather that 40-50 outsiders, probably Hindraf supporters, were prevented from nearing the hotel during the day.

Such is the anger on the ground among Indian Malaysians that Samy Vellu’s political days could well be numbered. In fact, I would say he has become a major political liability for the BN – but then who else have they got in the MIC? Then again, it’s not any single individual that Indian Malaysians are upset about (though Samy is probably the focal point of their frustration in view of scandals such as the Maika fiasco) – it’s the whole system they are railing against: the sense of being economically marginalised and disempowered for so long (in the same way that many other Malaysians of other ethnic groups are).

If at the last general election, the MIC delivered 80-90 per cent of the Indian Malaysian vote to the Barisan, several Indian Malaysians I have met are predicting that this time the MIC would be hard-pressed to deliver even 10 per cent.

That may be wishful thinking – and an underestimation of the BN “machinery” and mastery of racial politicking – but all indications are that the MIC is going to suffer a serious setback at the polls. (It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out!) And that could spell trouble for the BN in a string of constituencies, especially in areas where the majorities were wafer-thin in the 2004 general election.

Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim has been hitting the hustings in Penang over the weekend, holding a series of talks and forums in the state. From what I hear, he has been drawing significant multi-ethnic turnouts at some of these events including a session with Malay and Indian Malaysian squatters in Bukit Gelugor who are facing eviction. He promised them that, if elected, he would try and do something about their plight.

He appears to be having some impact, working the ground. Have a look at this Malaysiakini videoclip to see the rapport he has struck with Indian Malaysians at this earlier rally in Jalan Kebun, Klang on 14 Dec attended by 4,000 people.

The BN has good reason to be worried. All of a sudden, cracks are appearing in the BN fold and the juggernaut appears to be creaking. Will Samy dare to show up at any other public event in the future? Stay tuned…

Comments Off on samy got booed »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

SJKT Tepi Sungai classes in storerooms

December 24th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Bravo! Another entry for Book of Records! Maybe can give broom award as well for the relevant officers.

Since May 2003, classes running in MPK's (municipal council) storerooms and under trees??? 4 and a half years!!! This is indeed a shameful matter.

Post-Hindraf Rally, I think this issue will be settled soon since new building is slated to have ground breaking ceremony next month.

My twisted mind seems to say that the fire may be on purpose to facilitate building of new blocks or the urgent need for the piece land which houses the school! 🙂


NST

Storerooms serve as classes

By : V. Shankar Ganesh


A fire on Saturday night rendered the remaining functional classrooms of SRK (T) Tepi Sungai useless. — NST picture by Che Rani Che Din

KLANG: It is a first that no school wanted to achieve.

But SRK (T) Tepi Sungai has become the first school to operate fully in a local council's storerooms after an 11pm fire on Saturday.

The fire destroyed a classroom in the only functional block in the school. This has prompted the authorities to declare the block out of bounds.  With this, all six classes, the office and the staff room will now be located in the Klang Municipal Council's storage building.

A section of the school had collapsed in 2003 because of termite infestation and other buildings were subsequently declared unsafe.
 

The two-classroom block, housing Years Five and Six classes, and the canteen are the only structures still functional. Following the termite infestation, four classrooms, the office and the staff room were moved to the council's storerooms.

Education Ministry parliamentary secretary Datin Paduka P. Komala Devi said the ministry would be providing the furniture for the classrooms, using funds allocated for emergencies.

A new three-storey block would be built later. Komala Devi, MP for the area, said the ministry had allocated RM1 million for the new block. She said a ground-breaking ceremony for the new block would be held on Jan 21 and MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu would be present. Samy Vellu had also ordered contractors to set up temporary classrooms for the pupils.

Parent-Teacher Association chairman M. Valiyedam, 58, said the earlier move to the storerooms was supposed to be a temporary solution but they had been there for more than four years now.

On the fire, district police chief ACP Mohamad Mat Yusop said police were investigating the incident.

The STAR:

Fire razes Tamil school's last building

By WANI MUTHIAH

KLANG: Until Saturday, there was only one building standing at the SJK (T) Tepi Sungai, a ramshackle structure housing two classrooms. Today, even that is no more.  The building was razed by fire that night. 

Tables and chairs as well as the ceiling of a classroom were destroyed in the fire, which is believed to have occurred at about 11.30pm. In May 2003, part of the 100-year-old school building collapsed, and was demolished later after being declared unsafe. 

Besides the two classrooms that were razed, the pupils have been having their classes at the nearby Klang Municipal Council (MPK) store as well as under several big trees in the school premises. 

According to Education Ministry parliamentary secretary Komala Krishnamoorthy who went to the school yesterday morning, a security guard stationed there claimed two men had questioned him about the school at about 9pm on Saturday night. She added that the school's back fencing had also been cut. "The Fire and Rescue Department will be sending a team over on Monday to find out how the fire started and if it was arson," Komala said. 

She added that MPK had agreed to clear more rooms in its store to be used as classrooms until the school's new building is ready. 

"The ground-breaking ceremony for the new building will take place at 9.30am on Jan 21," Komala said, adding that the Government had already allocated the necessary funds for the construction of the new school building. The school's parent-teacher association (PTA) had requested a three-storey building with 16 classrooms, a computer lab, staff room, resource centre, library, canteen and a kindergarten on the 0.4ha site. 

Meanwhile, an official from the South Klang Fire and Rescue Department said one fire engine and four personnel were despatched to the scene of the fire. He said the fire was brought under control in less than an hour. 

Comments Off on SJKT Tepi Sungai classes in storerooms »

Posted in Tamil-Schools

Tags: