Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

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PAS condemns hindraf

December 4th, 2007
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PAS has become the first (and only?) opposition party to condemn Hindraf.

Hindraf demands too extreme, says PAS

source

PETALING JAYA: PAS has become the first opposition party to hit out at the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), urging the Government to set up a commission to investigate the “absurd” allegations it has made.  

Its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang slammed Hindraf in a statement here yesterday, saying: 

“We think that part of the demands and accusations made by Hindraf are extreme and we want the Government to immediately set up an independent body to investigate them.” 

However, he stressed that PAS still agreed that all parties should be given the right and freedom of assembly and speech as provided for in the Federal Constitution.  

“Racial unity should continue to be maintained in this country and anything that will evoke the emotions of either Indians, Malays or Chinese should be rejected,” he said.  

Last Sunday, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse an illegal gathering organised by Hindraf. 

Thousands converged at various locations in Kuala Lumpur to support Hindraf’s plan to submit a petition with 100,000 signatures to the British High Commission. 

The petition was to ask Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen’s Counsel to represent the Indian community in a class-action suit filed against the British government for bringing Indians as indentured labourers to the then Malaya and exploiting them.  

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hindraf should meet PM without conditions

December 3rd, 2007
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No conditions must be attached if PM meets Hindraf, says Nazri
source
 Husna Yusop
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 3, 2007): If there is going to be any meeting between the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, it must be done without any conditions and in a mutually-agreed manner, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said. 

Otherwise, he said, Hindraf would be seen to be giving an ultimatum to the government, and the government will not bow to this.

While stressing that he was only giving his personal opinion, he also said that should the prime minister agree to meet the group, it must be with the presence of the MIC. "Otherwise, we may be interpreted as having lost confidence in the MIC in handling Indian issues. These are just my thoughts. The PM will have the last say."But, in my opinion, any meeting should not leave out the MIC because it has always been our partner for the last 50 years with regards to matters relating to the Indians," he said in Parliament lobby today , after the opening of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Caucus for Good Governance.

Yesterday, Hindraf called for a dialogue with Abdullah to discuss the social and economic problems faced by the Indians. This was following an illegal rally staged by Hindraf in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25, to voice concerns on the issues faced by the community. At least 94 people have been charged for allegedly being involved in the illegal assembly.

Asked why the government did not allow peaceful demonstrations, Mohamed Nazri said there were historical reasons for this, citing the May 13, 1969, incident when demonstrations led to racial riots. "There is no point talking about rule of law when many lives have been sacrificed," he said. He added that in multi-racial Malaysia, some of the issues raised by certain groups may be interpreted as challenges to other groups.He also said the government was responsible for ensuring the country remained peaceful and stable.

"If we do know a demonstration can lead to something which may be explosive and violent, [but we still allow it], if anything happens later, the buck stops at the government. People will ask, ‘Why did you allow it when you know it was bound to happen?’ "I have respect for human rights but I am prepared to withdraw the human rights of three or four people in order to protect the human rights of the majority," he said, adding that the Nov 25 demonstration was instigated by a few people and that the majority of the Indians were happy with the government.

Asked to comment on Hindraf legal adviser P. Uthayakumar’s remark that Hindraf had resorted to the rally because it had exhausted all avenues to overcome the community’s problems, Mohamed Nazri said it was not a valid claim. "Whatever you do, you cannot have it your way all the time," he said. He advised Hindraf supporters to work with the government or register the group as a political party to face the ruling government in the general election.

On Hindraf’s request for a special committee and hotline at the Prime Minister’s Office to respond to issues concerning the Indian community, Mohamed Nazri said: "This is a government which listens but it must be done in a proper way."

Asked to comment on Hindraf’s complaint about the demolition of temples, he said he agreed it was insensitive of the officials in Selangor to tear down the temples on the eve of Deepavali."I agree that was stupid of the officials not to be considerate in sensitive matters like this. It could have been done in a better way if we had just waited a few more days and let the Hindus celebrate Deepavali. "[But] I do not think the Mentri Besar [Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo] has a personal vendetta against the Hindus. I think, we put it to experience, which he probably lacks. I agree that matters touching on religious issues should be handled more cautiously and not be done in a wanton way according to one’s whims and fancies," he said.He added that the public must understand that the relocation of temples or surau on government land was common in the process of development.

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indians have better poverty rates and household income

December 3rd, 2007
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Deputy minister: Indians better off than Malays
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
Dec 3, 07 6:31pm
There is lower poverty among the Indians compared to the Malays and the former also enjoy higher household incomes, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

According to Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Zainal Abidin Osman (BN-Nibong Tebal), the monthly household income for Indians in 2004 was RM3,456, while it was RM2,711 for Malay households and RM4,437 for Chinese.

He said this was a five percent improvement for the Indians compared to 1999 when their household income was RM2,702.

He said the poverty rate and hardcore poverty in 2004 among Indians was at 2.9 percent, 8.3 percent among Malays and 0.6 percent among the Chinese.

This was also an improvement for the Indians from 1999, where the rate was 3.5 percent.

“Because of this, we must hold on to the true facts and figures and not allow emotions and tall tales to influence the people,” he said.

Explain to Hindraf

Zainal Abidin was replying Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh (BN-Gerik) who asked for clarification of the per capita income and the incidence of poverty among the various communities.

“Let’s explain this issue to (Hindu Rights Action Force) Hindraf in this august House where the ethnic Indians are situated… and the number of professionals (among Indians), isn’t their percentage high in comparison with other groups?” asked Wan Hashim.

“Millions are living comfortably (in Malaysia). It is as if they are in Nirvana compared to the circumstances in Tamil Nadu.” 

Wan Hashim was referring to claims by Hindraf, a group advocating rights and better treatment of Indians, who they claim have been discriminated, marginalised and exploited.

Hindraf organised a rally on Nov 25, and managed to gather about 30,000 protestors in Kuala Lumpur.

The movement has also filed a class- action suit against the British government for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years.

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Minnal FM DJs sacked

December 3rd, 2007
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According to my sources, six of the seven are Meena, Silalee, Kavirajan, Mahendran, Vijayan, and Yamuna. Not sure who is the 7th person.
 
 
Radio DJs punished for supporting Hindraf
K Kabilan
Dec 3, 07 5:54pm
State-owned Tamil radio station Minnal FM has sacked several presenters – including some popular ones – for supporting the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Sources told Malaysiakini that others have been suspended.

It is learnt that seven presenters were affected in the exercise, including two presenters working on contract. The station has 20 full-time presenters.

The severe action was for either taking part in the Hindraf-organised rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 or for giving prominence for the rally and Hindraf on air, added the sources.

Among those sacked or suspended are popular DJs K Meenakumari, K Sillalee ( left) and V Jamuna (right). The latter was a hugely popular contract presenter.

Minnal FM’s director Raja Sekaran was not available for comment while queries to the station remain unanswered.

Restructuring exercise

However, a source close to the station told Malaysiakini that the dismissal was a staff-restructuring exercise undertaken by the radio station which is increasingly losing out to private Tamil radio station THR Raga.

“There are talks within Minnal to hire fresh faces to revamp the station. Maybe that’s why some of the contractual presenters were let go,” said the source.

Another source said the station was in the midst of offering a different category of employment to the terminated presenters, and as such would need to give them new contractual terms.

A former Minnal FM presenter, however, said the station director has been unhappy with the work of the seven presenters and finally decided to terminate them on the grounds of their involvement with Hindraf.

Hindraf has been under fire recently over its demands for the upliftment of the Indian community which the organisation claims is sidelined by the government, a charge denied by the government and the Indian-based MIC.

On Nov 25 the organisation managed to gather a crowd of 30,000 at Jalan Ampang to march to the British High Commission to deliver a memorandum seeking the assistance of the Queen of England.

The gathering was denied a permit and the police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd.

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Facts speak volumes, says Samy Vellu

December 3rd, 2007
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By : Jaspal Singh

SUNGAI SIPUT: The concerns of the global Indian community in the wake of the street protest organised by the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) will be allayed by the facts, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said yesterday.

He said during his working visits to foreign countries, including India, he was often asked about the conditions of the Indian community in Malaysia. "There are two things I take into consideration when I answer such questions. The first is to explain the requests and proposals of the Indians that were met by the government. "The second is to explain those demands that have been turned down or not met. I cannot bluff like them (Hindraf organisers) and say that the Indians did not get anything," he said.

Samy Vellu was asked how he planned to explain the concerns raised by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi, through Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

According to The Hindu, Karunanidhi had written to Manmohan about the rally. He reportedly urged Manmohan to employ the necessary measures regarding the "suffering and bad treatment" of Tamils in Malaysia. Samy Vellu, however, was quick to say that Karunanidhi had not meant to interfere,  "He will never do such a thing. But when there are reports that 50,000 Tamils were smashed on the streets, then naturally anybody, anywhere, and not necessarily in India, will be aghast."

He said a day after the street rally, he was interviewed by a New Delhi-based television station in which he told the interviewer "not to be taken in by the protest". "This is what happens when someone starts to throw wild allegations. "Are the Indians in this country without clothes? Are they without jobs? Are they without food? I cannot bluff like them. I will tell only the truth," he said.

He lashed out at Hindraf for capitalising on the allegation that the government had indiscriminately torn down temples, saying that these people had never erected temples anywhere in the country. "They have never fought with the government to get land for the temples. Instead, they have been on a worldwide campaign that Malaysia is against Hinduism. "I, on the other hand, have acquired several plots of land from the chief ministers to build temples. I have received money from the government. Each year we get RM1 million to build temples and the money has been channelled for that purpose solely."

He also said the rally organisers had produced a CD and were distributing copies of it worldwide alleging that 35,000 temples had been demolished in the country. Rubbishing the allegation, he urged the Indians to go through newspapers of the last 20 years and to read for themselves the number of temples demolished. He reiterated that any temple in a development area would be shifted and compensation paid. "There are so many temples which were built illegally. For instance, along the double-tracking project between Ipoh and Rawang, 76 such temples were shifted and compensation paid. "Anyway, I have been working on temple matters even before he (Hindraf adviser P. Uthayakumar) was born," said Samy Vellu.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Selangor MIC welcomed the prime minister's "reassuring" stand on the Indian community. MIC deputy president and Selangor MIC chairman Datuk G. Palanivel said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's statement on Saturday showed how concerned he is with the situation. "Malaysian Indians are fully aware of his fair and just commitment to all," Palanivel said. "The MIC is aware of the people's grievances, but our approach is both realistic and rational." He denied claims by Hindraf that Indians were marginalised or subjected to "ethnic cleansing".

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