Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

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more comedy from MIC youth

December 23rd, 2007
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"Is the opposition really worried about the state of affairs of the Indians, or is it trying to win support for the coming elections?"
[ the same can be asked of all political parties. That's why they exist, no?]

"You mean, for 50 years, the MIC did not do anything?
[more likely the last 30 years its been downhill as compared to the 1st 20 years]

MIC acknowledged that the community had some chronic problems, such as in the area of education opportunities and also the relocation of estate workers.
[ aik! I thought everytime they said life is rosy and everyone is happy. Now, the community have some chronic problem???]

He said the MIC was trying to resolve these problems, but nothing could be done overnight.
[ 50 years is not overnight. Even 30 years is not overnight. If can convert one school every year to fully aided, we would have extra 30 schools to the 180].

"We also need more statistics on the problems facing the Indians so that we can bring them up with the government. This is now a priority for us."
[ Why not use YSS to gather statistics? They seem to look more capable. But really, now only want to collect statistics??? Never had monthly reports from divisions on poverty, unemployment, education etc? Only have statistics on voters and voting trend is it? Err…what was your priority before this?]

youth wing wanted to compile a list of problems in every area so that relevant action could be taken.
[ yeah..compile and add to the pile of neverending reports.]

"I have told all youth members to go on to the ground and gather all the information they can get and fax it to state youth secretariats daily."
[who pays for the fax cost? Can we also fax information?]

Comedy Time with MIC Youth! 🙂

Hindraf 'hijacked' by opposition

source

KLANG: Opposition politicians have hijacked the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) and are now proclaiming themselves as saviours of the Indians, a senior MIC official said.

"They have hijacked it and are going around throwing all kinds of accusations at the MIC and the government," said MIC Youth chief S.A. Vigneswaran.

"Is the opposition really worried about the state of affairs of the Indians, or is it trying to win support for the coming elections?"

Speaking at the start of a nationwide roadshow by the MIC Youth movement here on Friday night, Vigneswaran said the opposition kept saying the MIC had not done anything for the Indians.

"You mean, for 50 years, the MIC did not do anything?

"If this is true, why didn't these so-called heroes do anything all this while?"

The roadshow is to explain to the youth members the current issues and what needed to be done.

Vigneswaran said the MIC acknowledged that the community had some chronic problems, such as in the area of education opportunities and also the relocation of estate workers. He said the MIC was trying to resolve these problems, but nothing could be done overnight.

"We also need more statistics on the problems facing the Indians so that we can bring them up with the government. This is now a priority for us."

He said the youth wing wanted to compile a list of problems in every area so that relevant action could be taken.

"I have told all youth members to go on to the ground and gather all the information they can get and fax it to state youth secretariats daily."

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MIC confident indians vote for BN

December 23rd, 2007
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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.

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gerakan issues statement on paranjothy

December 23rd, 2007
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Following DAP Vice Chief Paranjothy's statement ( http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2007/12/21/gerakan-leader-paranjothy-attacks-umno/), Gerakan issues statement to disassociate itself from his statement. I think he would say that it was his personal opinions and not official party stand.

Gerakan Youth 'shocked' by Paranjothy's comments
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76335
Andrew Ong | Dec 22, 07 3:35pm

Gerakan Youth has disassociated itself from the scathing comments issued by the movement’s vice-chief S Paranjothy yesterday.

In a joint statement issued by Gerakan Youth deputy chief Lim Si Pin and party central committee member Kohilan Pillay, the duo said the Youth wing was “shocked” by Paranjothy’s statement.

blamed Umno for inciting racial sentiments among Malaysians for political mileage.

He also criticised the government for “marginalising, oppressing and ignoring” Indian community which resulted in them being “fourth-class citizens”.

Lim and Kohilan hinted that Paranjothy’s statement could have resulted from several Gerakan Youth discussions on the causes and implications of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally on Nov 25.

“(However) the (Youth wing) committee did not discuss about issuing such a statement. We strongly believe in the true spirit of BN in consensus building in resolving problems faced by all Malaysians,” they said.

Lim and Kohilan said issues raised by Paranjothy should be resolved internally or through “consultation” without having to attack others through the media.

Lets move on

On Paranjothy’s criticism of Umno’s acts of racial posturing, Lim and Kohilan said Gerakan Youth was fully committed BN Youth chairperson, and Umno Youth chief, Hishammuddin Hussien’s advice to let the past lie.

“It is not constructive to criticise again at this moment, utterances and actions of the past which has admittedly hurt the feelings of one another,” they added.

On Paranjothy’s comments regarding the plight of the Indian community, Lim and Kohilan said the best way to overcome such problems was through “consultation and working on concrete solutions” without having to point fingers through the media.

“Gerakan Youth wants to reiterate that we understand and symphatise with the grievances of segments of the Malaysian Indian community especially those from the lower income groups about their adverse economic and social situations,” added Lim and Kohilan.

) and Kohilan said the Indian community’s problems were a national problem and required the attention and actions of the government.

They added that the duo were responding to Paranjothy’s statement as Gerakan Youth chief Mah Siew Keong was presently overseas.

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mahathir on ISA

December 22nd, 2007
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TDM says if don't like ISA, don't vote for those who use them. So, asking people not to vote for BN?

Star, NST, and MK excerpts below:

The Star
On the Government using the Internal Security Act (ISA) against Hindraf leaders, Dr Mahathir said he himself had used the ISA before. 

"It is up to the government and the people to decide this. You see, we are a democratic country. 

"If the people selected to lead are the people who support the use of ISA, then they will use it. The choice is yours. I thought people approved the use of ISA when they supported me, so I implemented it." 

However, Dr Mahathir felt that problems felt by any community ought to be addressed in other ways and that public assemblies should only be used as a last resort.

NST
When asked on the government’s decision to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) on the group behind the activities which threatened public order and national security, Dr Mahathir said: “I used the ISA too.

“It is up to the government and the people to decide; as you know we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally the ISA will be there.

“If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours.”

According to Dr Mahathir, he was elected based on the fact that he supported the ISA.

“I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA, that’s why I implemented the ISA,” he said.

On claims of ethnic cleansing here, Dr Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

“I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that…I think that’s a bit absurd.”

On street demonstrations, he said the people were entitled to raise (issues) but there were other ways of doing it.

“Not unless they are prevented from making their presentation in other ways.

“If they don’t have a choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders to explain their problems. I think that should be their first choice,” he said.

MK
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today demonstrations should only be held as a last resort when other avenues of communicating grievances are unavailable.

Mahathir said that as long as the channels are still open for issues to be raised and conveyed to community leaders, he is against demonstrations.

“They are entitled to raise (the issues), but there are other ways of raising it,” Mahathir told a press conference at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya.

“If they have no other choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders, they can meet (and) they can explain their problems, I think that would be the first choice,” he added.

Mahathir – speaking after the launch of a book on ‘The Third World and International Law’ by legal expert Tungku Sofiah Jewa – was commenting on the spate of public gatherings organised recently, such as by polls watchdog coalition Bersih and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Also present at the press conference were Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Rais Yatim.

While Bersih rallied about 40,000 people into the streets on Nov 10 in support of a petition to the King for electoral reform, about 30,000 rallied on Nov 25 in support of a Hindraf petition to the British embassy protesting discrimination against and marginalisation of ethnic Indians.

Following the crackdowns by the police on the events, civil society groups and organisations have pressed for the government to give greater freedom for public assemblies and to abolish laws requiring a police permit before public gatherings are held.

Vote wisely

Mahathir also denied that the Indian community had been refused opportunities to make their grievances known.

On claims of ethnic cleansing here as alleged by Hindraf,  Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

"I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that….I think that's a bit absurd."

  Speaking on the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against five Hindraf leaders, Mahathir said if people were against the ISA – which provides for detention without trial – they should not vote to power a party whose politicians are in support of the act.

“As you know, we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally, the ISA will be there. If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours,” he said.

“I was elected despite the fact that I supported the ISA. I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA. That’s why I implemented the ISA,” he added.

Many quarters have criticised the government’s detention of the ‘Hindraf 5' under the ISA as an act of ‘desperation‘.

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police claims hindraf activities involve secret service???

December 22nd, 2007
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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!]

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