Posts Tagged ‘Hindraf’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Street demos not supported by government and MIC says Samy Vellu

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


BERNAMA
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/NewsBreak/20071125124358/Article/index_html

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun.:

Neither the government nor the MIC support street demonstrations as a means to resolve problems, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today. 

“We believe in working from within the (government) system,” the MIC president said in response to the illegal gathering organised by the defiant Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.

The minister issued the statement following requests from local and foreign media for his comments on the rally. “The MIC has been working within the system and it has been proven to be successful.  “We have resolved many problems and issues through consultations and dialogues with the government, without resorting to street demonstrations,” he said.
 

Samy Vellu said education, economic and social issues have been resolved through direct consultations with the federal, state and local governments. “Every Wednesday, at Cabinet meetings, we bring up issues concerning the Indian community. Some matters are discussed behind closed-doors as it involves sensitive matters. “However, the government has always been supportive. The leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been very supportive and sympathetic towards our cause,” he said.

On the gathering, Samy Vellu said it was obvious that the Opposition was behind it and was a ploy to smear the government’s name, especially in the eyes of the world. The Hindraf rally was staged this morning despite the police having warned Hindraf leaders and supporters not to challenge the law. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Ismail Omar warned protesters that they risked arrest if they turned up for the illegal gathering. Yesterday, Hindraf co-ordinator S. Manickavasagam singled out Ampang Park, Wisma MCA and KLCC as the gathering points for the rally.

1 comment »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

latest updates on hindraf rally

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


for latest and continuous news from all sides, visit the following sites:

www.bmahendran.com
policewatchmalaysia.com
http://english.aljazeera.net/English/
www.malaysiakini.com (needs paid subscription)
www.thestar.com.my/news/nation
www.bernama.com
www.nst.com.my

5 comments »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

hishamuddin says Sembrong is example of racial unity

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


Hisham: Constituency a fine example of multi-racial cooperation

source

KLUANG: The Sembrong parliamentary constituency is an example of racial unity and harmony where its Indian assemblyman receives the full support of people of other races, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. 

He said Kahang assemblyman S. Ramis received the support of the people although 97% of the population were non-Indians. 

However, he said foreign news networks such as Al-Jazeera or CNN do not want to highlight such positive situations. 

“They prefer to focus on the bad things that do not reflect the true identity of this country,” Hishammuddin, who is Sembrong MP, said after launching the Think.Com programme at SMK T6 yesterday. 

At the Sembrong MIC Deepavali Open House, Ramis said the situation in the country, especially Sembrong, was fine without even a whiff of racial tension. 

On the planned rally by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur today, he said he was firmly against such actions, describing it as an exploitation of democracy. 

“These people are misusing the freedom of democracy to cause unwanted problems by staging the illegal rally or march,” he said.

Comments Off on hishamuddin says Sembrong is example of racial unity »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian

Tags:

speak up but stay within the law says Najib

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


People can speak up, but stay within the law, says Najib

source

ALOR STAR: Malaysians have every right to speak up but it is against the law to utter seditious words that could lead to racial clashes, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,  “People can speak up, but they can’t break the law,” he said. Najib said this when asked to comment on the three members of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) who were charged under the Sedition Act 1948. 

The three accused – lawyers P. Waythamoorthy, P. Uthayakumar and V. S. Ganapathi Rao – claimed trial to the charges. The three members allegedly uttered seditious words during a gathering in Batang Berjuntai in Selangor on Nov 16. “Action was taken against the Hindraf members because of the seditious speeches and not because of their plan to organise an illegal gathering in front of the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. “Regardless of who they are, we will take action under the Sedition Act against those who utter words that could stir anger among other races,” Najib said, describing the speeches made by the three men as very seditious. 

Najib was speaking to newsmen after opening the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) Entrepreneur Carnival at Darul Aman Stadium here yesterday. On the planned gathering, Najib said those involved would have to face the music because the police did not grant them a permit. “The law is very clear. Those who want to hold gatherings must get a police permit first. People cannot hold such gatherings without a police permit. This is against the law and those involved should face the risk.” 

The group had planned to stage the assembly to submit a petition with 100,000 signatures to Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen’s Counsel to represent the Indian community in a class action suit against the British government for bringing Indians as labourers to the then Malaya and exploiting them. The suit, filed at the Royal Courts of Justice in London by Waythamoorthy in August, seeks compensation of up to US$4tril (RM13.5tril) or US$1mil for every Indian in Malaysia.

2 comments »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Hindraf says just give us an hour to hand petition

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


Hindraf: Just give us an hour to hand petition

source

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) will go ahead with its gathering today and has asked to be given “one hour maximum” to hand over its petition to the British High Commission. 

A. Sivanesan, one of the lawyers representing the three Hindraf members who were charged with sedition at the Klang Sessions Court on Friday, said the gathering would go ahead as planned. 

He noted that on Friday, a huge crowd had gathered in Klang outside the court and made its way to the Sri Rajeshwari temple a kilometre away and “not a single flower pot was damaged.” 

“The Government need not fear. It is an orderly crowd,” he said of today’s planned gathering. 

“It is away from the city and 60% of the shops in that area are closed on Sunday. We are not going to be a nuisance to the people,” he added.  

Sivanesan believes the police had overreacted by having roadblocks all over the city. 

“The duty of the police should be to control the traffic – nothing more than that. 

“Just give us a chance. It will be an hour maximum. We will hand over the petition to the British High Commission, speak to the crowd, and then we will go back,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the five lawyers who were served a restraining order on Friday morning barring them from organising or participating in the rally have asked for an immediate hearing to appeal against it. 

The five – P. Waythamoorthy, P. Uthayakumar, V. S. Ganapathi Rao, R. Kenghadran and M. Manoharan – faxed 10 copies of their notice to the Kuala Lumpur High Court. 

Waythamoorthy, Uthayakumar and Ganapathi Rao were charged with sedition later that day. 

The law firm, which applied for the notice of appeal, said the five were dissatisfied with the magistrate’s court decision to issue the court order against them. 

They asked the court for immediate decision in view of the fact that the planned gathering was today. The courts are closed on weekends.

Comments Off on Hindraf says just give us an hour to hand petition »

Posted in Indian

Tags: