Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

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Abim slams Hindraf for seditious words

November 30th, 2007
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Abim slams Hindraf for 'seditious' words
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75465
Nov 29, 07 5:22pm

The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) has criticised Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for using 'subversive' and 'seditious' words in its documents to the British government.

In a statement today, Abim expresses concern that some contents in various documents issued by Hindraf "constitute extreme, exaggerated and sensationalised allegations implicating the Muslim community in one way or another".

"The use of terms and expressions such as 'ethnic cleansing', 'permanent colonization' of Indian Malaysians by 'Islamic extremists', 'Malay gangs' and (others) are clearly racially and religiously unjustified, seditious and borders on the subversive". 

However, the Muslim movement urges Malaysians to remain calm because Hindraf's view is not representative of all Indians in the country.

No ill will

"We believe that although there may be grievances among the Indian community, the majority of our peace-loving Indian friends and mainstream Hindu organisations do not harbour ill will or undue enmity against the Muslims and are also not agreeable to the manner, style and approach adopted by Hindraf," Abim said.

The movement proceeded to warn those fighting for racial and religious interests to learn from history that such issues, if not carefully handled, may cause tensions to flare up.

"When emotions are left unchecked and the communal temperature is too high, there's no guarantee that public order and safety can be maintained.

"(We) condemn all forms of racial and religious extremism and urges peace-loving Malaysians not to take actions that may jeopardize peace, harmony, public order and safety in the country," it said.

The NGO also viewed that relevant authorities should be allowed to regulate the exercise of freedom of assembly rights by taking into account the circumstances of each case.

They urge the police to observe due restraint and be reasonable in exercising their discretion in handling the situation.

Solidarity with all groups

Abim was referring to the rally that took place last Sunday where about 30,000 people – mostly Indians – gathered at Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur to participate in a rally organised by Hindraf to submit a memorandum to the British High Commission.

The authorities had denied a permit for the rally and obtained a rare court order restraining the public from taking part. The police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd.

"We also believe that the current situation is such that it is very irresponsible and dangerous for anyone to manipulate this issue to fan racial sentiments for any political or ulterior agendas," the movement added.

Abim then reaffirmed its solidarity with the poor and marginalised communities and urged all parties to undertake continuous effort to improve their livelihood.

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MIC hotline to address community

November 30th, 2007
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Update from the Star and also THR this morning. I have SMS’ed my suggestion on setting up multiple communication channels to him just now.

MIC to set up hotline to address the problems of the community
source

By A. LETCHUMANAN and PARVEEN GILL

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC will set up a hotline as soon as possible to handle all problems faced by the Indian community, its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.

He said that after meeting the Prime Minister on Wednesday, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had also asked MIC to set up a special committee to analyse and address socio-economic problems faced by the Indian community.

“We expect calls on problems on Tamil schools and Hindu temples. Other problems can also be channelled to the hotline,” he told reporters after chairing the party’s central working committee meeting here yesterday.

Samy Vellu said the problems would be referred to party leaders according to their portfolios.

He said the telephone and contact numbers of the hotline would be published in the local newspapers as soon as it was set up.

“When there are problems which need to be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, I will bring it up with them,” he said.

Samy Vellu said that he had also received hundreds of SMS on his handphone after certain quarters distributed his numbers and those of MIC leaders.

“While many were genuine, some were crank ones.”

Samy Vellu said Abdullah wanted the committee to submit a detailed report on all the demands of the Indian community so that they could be evaluated.

He stressed that the committee was a result of a report submitted by the party to Abdullah in June. The report is entitled “A New Mechanism for the Indian Community”.

Asked if all these measures were due to the Hindraf protest last Sunday, he said MIC had always submitted a report to the Prime Minister every six months.

He said Abdullah was very sympathetic to the plight of the community and the Prime Minister had promised to study the report.

Saying that Abdullah asked the special committee to come up with more proposals, Samy Vellu said among the new proposals would be to provide the number of non-bumiputras serving in the civil sector, their ranks and also the number of vacancies available at both the federal and state levels.

The Works Minister said that whenever the party did something for the Indian community, it did not seek publicity. He refused to comment on the fate of Cameron Highlands MP K. Devamany on remarks the latter made on the woes of the Indian community in the Parliament sitting on Monday.

“I do not want to comment on the issue as he is supposed to meet Barisan Nasional Chief Whip and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak to explain his remarks.”

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malaysia better off than india and no protest from other indians says minister

November 28th, 2007
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I'm not clear on why are they comparing our country with India. I mean comparing a country with 1 billion over people who have got independence 10 years before a country with 27++million people doesn't make much sense.

Also, looks like the global indians out of Malaysia have not complained to our govt over the attack on protesters. Maybe the need some help finding their emails and addresses. best place to try would be:

www.gov.my
www.parlimen.gov.my
www.umno.org.my
www.mic.org.my
www.mca.org.my
http://www.pmo.gov.my/

Opposition behind Hindraf rally
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75412

Yoges Palaniappan
Nov 28, 07 6:22pm

The opposition had instigated the people to demonstrate to create the impression that the public is angry with the government, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

"The opposition know that they would not win the coming elections. So they have resorted to create such an atmosphere," said parliamentary secretary to the Foreign Ministry Ahmad Shabery Cheek

He explained that the government had not received protest notes from other countries over the claim that the Indians here have been marginalised.

He was replying a supplementary query from Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) who asked Ahmad Shabery whether the government had received protests from Indians residing in other countries over the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia.

Shabery said the living conditions in Malaysia is better than India and quoted a report from the United Nations (UN) in 2006 which stated that one-third of the problems in the world are faced by India.

"With so many immigrants from India flooding our country only goes to show that the situation in Malaysia is far better than India," he added.

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Nazri tells Tamil Nadu CM not to interfere

November 28th, 2007
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Nazri to Tamil Nadu CM – butt out!
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75415
Yoges Palaniappan
Nov 28, 07 6:34pm

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz has warned Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi not to interfere in Malaysian politics. 

At a press conference in the Parliament lobby, Nazri (left) said Karunanidhi (right) should "look at his own backyard" before interfering in Malaysia’s affairs.

"His own state is out of control. (What happens in Malaysia) has nothing to do with him. This is not his country. This is Malaysia," said Nazri.

Karunanidhi has reportedly written to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking immediate action for the "sufferings and bad treatment" of Tamils in Malaysia, based on grievances linked to last Sunday’s street protest. 

Nazri also took the opportunity to warn the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), the coalition behind the rally, against challenging the government.

"I would like to reiterate the prime minister’s and deputy prime minister's statement that we would not accept challenges from Hindraf," he said.

"In France, the authorities use rubber bullets to control the crowd, we only use water cannon and tear gas, and still they (Hindraf) said that we (the police) have used excessive force.”

Check on claims

Nazri further said the government would not hesitate to charge Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar under the Sedition Act if it is true that he had made certain claims in a memorandum to be presented to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The memorandum that the Umno led government had killed some hundred Indians in the Kampung Medan "mini genocide" (in May 2001) and that the Indian Malaysians fear they would be forced into terrorism in a matter of time, as has happened among Sri Lankan Tamils.

Nazri was of the view that words like "genocide" could incite the Indian community to hate the Malays and vice versa.

) has to be responsible for his actions. We will discuss this with the attorney-general and consider charging him under the Sedition Act," he said.

Asked when the government would act on its threat to use the Internal Security Act against demonstrators, Nazri said: "For the time being, we will use existing laws. We will use the police and open court as long as we can control the situation."

Asked for an update on the royal commission of inquiry into the Lingam tape , Nazri said the cabinet meeting today, which was chaired by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, discussed only the terms of reference. 

He said the cabinet did not discuss the composition of the commission and that Abdullah would select its members and announce all the details.

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89 protesters charged with illegal gathering

November 28th, 2007
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out of the 89, at least 15 are taken to prison for not being able to post bail. one of the absentee is a student taking exam. SPM student???

89 protesters charged with illegal gathering
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75375
Syed Jaymal Zahiid
Nov 28, 07 12:13pm

A total of 89 people were today charged with illegal assembly at the Selayang Sessions Court and the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates’ Court following their arrest in the Hindraf rally on Sunday. 

Of the 89, 40 were charged at the Selayang Sessions Court with allegedly taking part in an illegal gathering at the Batu Caves temple on Sunday morning on Nov 25.

They were charged under Section 27 of the Police Act which stipulates the need for a police permit to gather in a public place.

These protesters were part of a larger crowd that had gathered at the temple in the early hours of last Sunday, with the intention of participating in the Hindraf-organised rally later that morning at Jalan Ampang.

About 1,000 people who had gathered at the temple since late Saturday night were forcibly dispersed by the Federal Reserve Unit using tear gas and water cannons.

Security was very tight at the Selayang Sessions Court with seven FRU trucks and about 30 police personnel on standby.

The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Bar has sent lawyers to assist the 40. Bail was set at RM1,000 for the accused.

Five others who were also to be charged today were absent today. The court was told that three of them were on medical leave while two were missing.

Two charges in KL

Meanwhile at the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates’ Court, 49 people were accused of committing two offences under Section 141 and 145 of the Penal Code for illegal gathering and defying police orders to disperse respectively.

The accused persons were also given the option of pleading guilty to committing an offense under Section 27 of the Police Act, which is for gathering without a police permit.

However the defendants opted to claim trial to both the charges under the Penal Code.

These accused persons in Kuala Lumpur were offered a bail of between RM1,500 and RM3,000 each.

Fifteen people failed to post bail and have been taken to the Sungai Buloh prison to be remanded.

Their cases will be heard between Jan 3 to Feb 11. If they are unable to pay bail, they would be held until the court hearing.

There were also five people absent from the court today in Kuala Lumpur. One was on medical leave while another had to sit for an exam. The court however issued arrest warrants for two of the other three absentees.

Variation of bail amount and hearing date was due to the big group of people being charged and to accommodate the situation, the prosecutors had assigned the case to be heard in four separate courts, each with its own set of prosecutors and magistrates.

Under the Police Act, anyone taking part in an illegal gathering is liable, upon conviction, to a fine of RM2,000 to RM10,000 or imprisonment of not more than a year.

And for those found guilty of Section 141, a jail sentence of up to six months and/or a fine of RM2000 awaits them.

Under Section 145 of the Penal Code, those found guilty are liable to a penalty of maximum two years jail and a fine at a sum decided by the magistrate.

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