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nazri on temple, khir toyo, hindraf meeting with pm, and social contract

December 3rd, 2007
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the reality as nazri says it is in the paragraphs below. the younger generation may feel 50 years is enough and its time to look forward with a new contract. post-independence, everyone worked hard to bring malaysia to its current heights. with globalisation and borderless movement, the younger generation (born after the 70s) will question the inequality which is thrust upon them. can the malays be once more kind hearted and think of malaysia's unity and future? can there be a deadline or a milestone to mark the beginning of a new malaysia, one which is really equal to all its citizens?

Asked regarding a survey commissioned by the Asia Foundation which found the majority of Chinese and Indian youths stating that they believe they were discriminated against in the country, Nazri said the incidence of inequality in Malaysia is undeniable.

However, he said this state of affairs is due to the social contract reached 50 years ago by representatives of the racial communities who agreed that Malays would enjoy certain privileges in return for the granting of citizenship rights to members of the migrant communities.

The only way such an arrangement can be changed is if future generations of Malaysians decide on revising that contract. Until then, said Nazri, the government is charged with carrying out the agreement.

“If there is any unhappiness, then it is entirely up to the future generations of Malaysians, regardless of whether they are Indians, Chinese or Malays, for them to sit down (and discuss),” he said.

“It’s not just about what the Indian and Chinese (youths) want. You have to ask the Malays also, whether they want the social contract to be renegotiated. It’s up to them…. As of today, I know the Malays are not prepared to renegotiate,” he added.

Nazri: Temple demolition 'stupid, insensitive'
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75592

Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
Dec 3, 07 4:43pm

Stupidity, lack of sensitivity, and inexperience all came into play in the debacle surrounding the demolition of a 100-year-old temple in Shah Alam on the eve of Deepavali last month.

And these were not the words of a non-governmental organisation or opposition party leader conveying the frustrations and bitterness within the Indian community.

This was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz’s view on the destruction of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple by Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) officers in Kampung Rimba Jaya.

“It was stupid of the officials not to be considerate (and) to look into sensitive matters like this. I believe it could have been done in a better way if (the state government) had just waited a few more days. Let the Hindus celebrate their Deepavali,” he said.

“Deepavali is a religious festival. It could have been handled much better and with more sensitivity (to) the feelings of the Hindus,” he added.

He was speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the two-day Colloquium on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights organised by the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Caucus for Good Governance (AIPCGG) and the Regional Working Group for an Asean Human Rights Mechanism. The event was held in Parliament.

Nazri was commenting on the resentment felt among Indians, many of whom say they have been discriminated and marginalised.

The tearing down of the Sri Maha Mariamman temple touched a raw nerve in the Indian community not only as it occurred on the eve of Deepavali, but because it was the latest in a series of demolitions undertaken by the Selangor state government on Hindu temples in the state.

The Malaysia Hindu Sangam, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) and the Selangor Coalition of Indian Community Organisations has also voiced their anger over the incident.

Even MIC had issued a statement of protest over the issue and planned a ban on Deepavali celebrations.

Khir Toyo lacks experience

While Nazri does not think Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has any “personal vendetta” against Hindus, he said the manner in which the latter implemented the state’s ‘zero squatters’ policy leaves much to be desired.

“I think we (can) put it to experience, which he probably lacks. I agree with you that matters touching religious issues should be handled more cautiously and not in a wanton way according to individual whims and fancies,” said Nazri.

However, the minister was not as acquiescing on the issue of the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf) and its Nov 25 rally.

Nazri said the government had always listened to the complaints of the various communities and acted on them.

He cited his own decision to open Mara junior science colleges – which had previously been reserved to Malays – to Indian youths from poor families as well as the setting up of skills and training institutes exclusively for Indian youth.

“(There are claims that) not enough is being done for the Kadazan, for the Iban and for the Chinese. Even among the Malays (some) have been unhappy because they feel the NEP (National Economic Policy) benefited only a few people,” he said,

“But that does not (have to) make them demonstrate. You want to talk about pockets of people who are not happy, there are many pockets of unhappiness among Malays and Chinese. They don’t have to demonstrate,” he added.

Nazri said the thousands of Indians who protested on Nov 25 were “incited” to do so by Hindraf’s “lies” regarding the Malaysian government’s treatment of Indians.

Nazri said Barisan Nasional component parties or their youth wings would be in the wrong if they chose to demonstrate.

He admitted that he, in his youth, had also participated in demonstrations but had admitted his guilt and paid the penalty.

“When I was in Umno Youth, I did this too. I was brought to court, I admitted my guilt, and I paid the fine,” he said, contrasting this with Hindraf’s leaders who are seeking to defend their actions.

“Not like these ruffians, these thugs. They broke the law, but they want to defend themselves. They’re wasting court time, they’re wasting government resources and tax payers’ money,” he added.

Social contract

Asked regarding a survey commissioned by the Asia Foundation which found the majority of Chinese and Indian youths stating that they believe they were discriminated against in the country, Nazri said the incidence of inequality in Malaysia is undeniable.

However, he said this state of affairs is due to the social contract reached 50 years ago by representatives of the racial communities who agreed that Malays would enjoy certain privileges in return for the granting of citizenship rights to members of the migrant communities.

The only way such an arrangement can be changed is if future generations of Malaysians decide on revising that contract. Until then, said Nazri, the government is charged with carrying out the agreement.

“If there is any unhappiness, then it is entirely up to the future generations of Malaysians, regardless of whether they are Indians, Chinese or Malays, for them to sit down (and discuss),” he said.

“It’s not just about what the Indian and Chinese (youths) want. You have to ask the Malays also, whether they want the social contract to be renegotiated. It’s up to them…. As of today, I know the Malays are not prepared to renegotiate,” he added.

Commenting on the request by Hindraf to meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over the issue of Hindu rights, Nazri said it may happen as long as the front did not impose any conditions on the government.

Nazri also said MIC president S Samy Vellu would have to be present at the meeting.

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empire strikes back?

December 2nd, 2007
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empire strikes back or return of the jedi? Articles from Star and NST carries PM's angry response on HINDRAF's "ethnic cleansing" accusation and use of words like "extremist government" etc. So, looks like HINDRAF's proposal to meet PM will not materialise.
 
PM  "pledged to look after the interests and the well-being of the Indian community" as quoted by Star. So, perhaps we can start by revising the 3% national wealth distribution target to 10%? 30% for bumiputra, 10% for indian, 20% for chinese, and balance (40%) left to open market?  Naturally, to push up the current 1.5% to 10%, many immediate actions have to be taken in 9th and 10 Malaysia plan. The current policies will not be sufficient to boost the percentage. We can see that for the bumiputras, it is taking decades to move few percentages, but some claim their percentages is actually above 40% (due to use of differing methodologies).
 
 

Abdullah slams Hindraf over allegations

source

MALACCA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tore into the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) yesterday, saying that it is spreading blatant lies with the intention of arousing hatred among multiracial Malaysians and sparking racial clashes.  Singling out Hindraf's accusation that the Government was carrying out ethnic cleansing of the Indians in Malaysia, the Prime Minister fumed: "I'm really angry, I rarely get angry but this blatant lie cannot be tolerated at all."  Abdullah even offered to resign if there was proof that the Government was involved in ethnic cleansing.  He said he did not want the people, especially the Indians, to be misled by Hindraf's unfounded claims and allegations, hoping that other races would not show sympathy towards the Indian activist group. 

However, despite his anger during the 20-minute press conference where he dealt mostly with the Hindraf issue, Abdullah pledged to look after the interests and the well-being of the Indian community.  "The social problems faced by the Indian community are clear. I have never said no. We support the Indians but there are some quarters instigating them and making them feel unhappy with the Government," he said..  

 

Allegations of ethnic cleansing are all lies, says PM

source

By A. LETCHUMANAN

MALACCA: A visibly angry Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has hit out at the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for their baseless allegations that the Government carried out ethnic cleansing of Indians.  "The allegations are all lies to deceive the Indians that they are an exploited race. Malaysians will not believe this. Even the Malaysian Indians will not believe this.   "Ethnic cleansing is something which was done in Bosnia. We do not do it in this country.  "I'm really angry; I rarely get angry but this blatant lie cannot be tolerated at all," he told reporters after opening Kampung Hadhari in Tanjung Bidara. 

Abdullah said that he was prepared to resign if there was proof that there was ethnic cleansing in the country.  "Tell me, do you believe there is ethnic cleansing in Malaysia? Is there ethnic cleansing, tell me? If I allow this, I would resign.  "Tell me, you are an Indian and so are you (looking at Indian media personnel), have we been doing it for the past 50 years or even for that matter one week, have we done this?" he asked. 

Abdullah said the Government had never marginalised the Indians in the mainstream development of the nation.  "I've helped them, I've helped them in many ways. They want money to repair their temples, I help because we respect other religions and they are not our enemies, they have cooperated very well with us, this is what has happened," he said. 

Abdullah said the Government had always given attention to the various requests made by MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to improve the socio-economic status of the Indian community.  "Be it to appoint senators or elected representatives, we give attention to and support all the requests," he said. 

Abdullah said the nation had enjoyed 50 years of Independence without any uneasiness among the Indian community.  "The Indians have played their role. They have given strong support to the Government and Barisan Nasional. They know we are just and fair.  "But sadly, some have been influenced by Hindraf and I hope they will evaluate Hindraf's statements carefully," he added.   Abdullah said there was no truth to the claims in the Hindraf memorandum that a Government-backed extremist group had destroyed a temple in Kampung Jawa, Klang, on Nov 15. 

"This is a lie created by certain groups to create hatred among the Indians towards the Government."   He said lies like this could cause racial conflict between the Malays and the Indians.  "Is this what we are seeking in Malaysia, where there has been no problems between Muslims and Indians or Islam and Hinduism?" 

The Prime Minister said holding street protests, including by a group calling themselves "Bersih" on Nov 10, purportedly to bring about reforms in the country's electoral system for a fair and open elections, was not the right way.  Abdullah said the Election Commission had decided to use the indelible ink and transparent ballot boxes in the next general election. "With the transparent ballot box, everybody will know the ballots are inside when the boxes are taken (to the tallying centre). It's the same with postal votes; others can come and see what is happening during postal voting," he said. 

Abdullah added that the latest economic figures showed the Malaysian economy has improved by 6.7 percentage points, all indicators are pointing towards progress, and the economy is showing positive growth signs.   He said that he was not prepared to let the country be destroyed by the actions of these groups.  "I do not want our country which is growing steadily and attracting foreign investors to be destroyed. We do not want the country to be in chaos by their actions," he said. 

 

Rights of minorities are protected, says Abdullah

source

ALOR GAJAH: The prime minister yesterday gave the assurance that minority races in the country are protected under the law and continue to enjoy the fruits of development.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said this was because Islam required Muslims to be fair and that representatives of all the races were in the government. He said the minorities in the country — whether Indians, Chinese or people of other races — would have a place in the nation as guaranteed in the Constitution.  "The minorities will get protection under the law, enjoy the development that the nation experiences and continue to progress. We are a country which practises the sharing of power and in the government, there are representatives from all races. We sit down together and decide what is best for the country and the people. "We do not sideline any race or religion. There is no such thing as ethnic cleansing… this is for sure."  Abdullah said the government would continue to help the Indian community by providing education, equal opportunities and other benefits.

"I have to be fair to all and this is something which is a must in Islam. One day, I will die and according to Islam, Allah will judge me.
"Allah will evaluate me and question me if I have been just and fair. Have you done this or not? I cannot lie. Allah knows if I lie. As a Muslim, I cannot be enemies with others, I cannot hate any race, I cannot hate any group."

Speaking at the launch of the Hadhari Village in Kampung Tanjung Bidara, Abdullah, who was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, said the implementation of Islam Hadhari or "civilisational Islam" was aimed at enhancing the quality of life of Malaysians, regardless of race and religion.  Abdullah said if approached honestly and sincerely, Islam Hadhari's 10 principles could be a guide to progress for all Malaysians. He said Islam Hadhari was a comprehensive approach to ensuring development, peace and stability.

"For us Muslims, sometimes we argue about what we are doing in the name of Islam and we face numerous hurdles to understand this. As for the non-Muslims, they are monitoring what we do and looking if the things we are doing in the name of Islam cause them any hardship, or if it is something which is against the teachings of their religion. "They (non-Muslims) are given the freedom of religion under the constitution." He said Islam Hadhari was not a new sect, nor was it something new.  "It is the manhaj or approach of Islam. It is based on what is best for the nation and takes into account the multiracial and multireligious people. "All Malaysians want development and the 10 principles of Islam Hadhari are being used as guidelines for the development of the nation." He said nine of the 10 principles of Islam Hadhari stressed the importance of gaining knowledge as only knowledge could empower the people to build a better nation.

 
 
Government doing its best for Indians, says PM

V. Vasudevan and Jason Gerald John

 

ALOR GAJAH: An outraged Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday blasted Hindraf's claims of the mistreatment of Malaysian Indians as lies intended to divide the races and destroy the country's peace.

"I rarely get angry but this time I am very angry and this is something I cannot accept,"he said. The prime minister took grave exception to a memorandum asking the British government to lead an international condemnation of Malaysia 's "atrocities" against Indians. "Hindraf is making baseless allegations and wants the United Kingdom to move an emergency United Nations resolution condemning ethnic cleansing in Malaysia.

"Tell me, do you believe there is ethnic cleansing in Malaysia? Is there ethnic cleansing, tell me? If this happened, I will resign," Abdullah said at a press conference after launching Kampung Tanjung Bidara as the country's second Islam Hadhari village. "Tell me, you are an Indian and so are you (referring to Indian reporters), have we been doing it for the past 50 years, have we done this?"he asked. "Malaysians would not believe it. Even the Indians who are Hindus do not believe it. Ethnic cleansing was perpetrated in Bosnia where the Serbs attacked the Bosnians to chase them out and make them non-existent. It was backed by the state. We do not do this here," he said.

Hindraf legal adviser P. Uthayakumar has resorted to the British before. In May 2004, he went to London to apply for asylum alleging police harassment in relation to a death-in-custody case he had taken up. He returned to Malaysia about a month later after Tan Sri Musa Hassan, then the federal CID director and now inspector-general of police, advised him to substantiate his allegations.

Abdullah also slammed Hindraf's charge that "government backed armed Islamic extremists" had destroyed a temple in Klang. "There is no such thing. This a lie conjured by certain groups to create hatred among the Indians for the government." In its memorandum, Hindraf also appealed to the British government to refer Malaysia to the World Court and the International Criminal Court for "crimes against ethnic minority Indians".

Describing the Indian community as "innocent and good people", Abdullah said it had contributed to nation- building. "They have done their part and supported the government. They are strong supporters of the Barisan Nasional and they surely do so because they believe we are fair to all." Abdullah said the government was doing its best for the Indians and cited his experience in helping the community in his parliamentary constituency of Kepala Batas. "There are many Indians in Kepala Batas and I help them.

Funds are provided to repair their temples as we respect their religion. "They are not our enemy but we sit together and muafakat (co-operate).

" Abdullah said MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was constantly bringing the community's requests to him. "Samy makes requests to me for the Indian community and I approve and give them grants. I have never said no. We support the Indians but there are some quarters inciting them and making them unhappy with the government." The prime minister called on Malaysians, especially the Indians, to carefully evaluate the Hindraf memorandum and statements.

"I do not want Indians to be duped by them." Abdullah said many had gone to Hindraf's illegal rally to hear what it had to say about the oppression of and crimes against the Indian community by the government. "These are all lies that can cause racial conflict in the country, especially between the Indians and Malays. Is this what we want? In Malaysia, there has been no conflict between the Muslims and Indians or Islam and Hinduism. It has never happened,"he said. Abdullah felt Hindraf's bigger motive was to cause chaos and disturb the peace. "This country has rules and laws. We have a constitution and we are successful today as we abide by it and hold firmly to the Rukun Negara." Asked for his views on other planned street demonstrations, Abdullah said he had instructed the police to deal with them and take the appropriate measures.

This month, the Bar Council is staging its annual walk for human rights while Bersih is planning a demonstration outside Parliament House on Dec 11 to protest a constitutional amendment allowing election commissioners to serve until the age of 66. A third demonstration is being planned by the opposition and non-governmental organisations to protest road toll increases due next year.

"I have asked the police to talk to them and do what is appropriate. In fact, this should not happen. Why must street demonstrations be chosen to bring change and present demands?"he asked. As an example, he said many of the proposals of the Bersih demonstration on Nov 10 had already been fulfilled. The Election Commission had introduced the use of indelible ink and transparent ballot boxes. In addition, the names of the dead had been erased under an exercise to clean up the electoral roll. Abdullah said the Election Commission had worked out arrangements for party representatives to be present when postal votes were cast.

"But despite this, they do not believe us but think only they (the opposition) are right. If we are a rotten government, we would have been removed as the people are not stupid and cannot be cheated." Abdullah said the BN had governed for 50 years and had brought development. "I admit there are weaknesses and there is still work to be done. There is no country in the world or any leader who can say he has done everything and there are no more poor people in his country." He pointed out that development was a process that did not end. "There are still poor people (in the country) and we still need to bring them out of poverty. We have to strengthen ties between the races and religions." Abdullah said he was not prepared to leave the country hostage to irresponsible groups. "I do not want our country, which is growing steadily and attracting investors, to be destroyed. I do not want the country to be in disarray as a result of the action of an irresponsible few."

 

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experts say BN to suffer loss in election

December 1st, 2007
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yeah, its logical only, since they have 198 seats (91%), thus probability is high that some seats may be lost. To maintain the seat will be good, to go above 91% would be great achievement. at this rate, within the next 4-5 elections, BN can reach 100% of parliment seats.
 
 
Experts: BN to suffer poll losses
Dec 1, 07 11:21am

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition is expected to suffer losses in elections expected early next year as it grapples with rare street protests and ethnic tensions, experts told a forum here.

But Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's BN government should maintain its two-thirds majority in Parliament unbeaten since independence in 1957, they said.

Unprecedented street protests demanding electoral reforms and highlighting racial discrimination erupted in Kuala Lumpur this month, posing one of the biggest challenges to Abdullah since he took over from the largely authoritarian and abrasive Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2003.

"I think that even with the parameters shifting at this particular juncture, it is extremely difficult for the opposition to break the barrier of the two thirds. Period," said Bridget Welsh, a Southeast Asian expert at John Hopkins University.

Opposition parties in Malaysia, she said, did not provide a viable alternative electorally as they were still very personality driven and ideologically divided with limited capacity in terms of "real representation and aspect of governance."

'The only place to go is down'

The BN secured the largest majority in about three decades, sweeping 198 parliamentary seats to the combined opposition parties' 20 seats, in the last elections held in 2004.

But Welsh predicted Abdullah's Umno, BN's lynchpin, could lose up to 15 parliamentary seats in upcoming polls and its senior coalition partner MCA could drop about six seats.

"The reality is electorally, the only place he has to go is down because he has 91 percent of the seats and it is very hard to go much higher," she said.

Islamic opposition party PAS, which rules Kelantan, also has a "good chance" of losing the only opposition held state to Umno amid an influx of new voters, she said.

Aside from rising prices and other economic issues, race, religion and ethnic concerns are going to matter considerably in the next elections, she said.

Pek Koon Heng, an expert on Chinese politics in Malaysia from American University, highlighted dissatisfaction over an affirmative action policy favouring majority Muslim Malays over other races.

Many ethnic Chinese and Indians feel the time has come for a review of the New Economic Policy, framed after bloody race riots in 1969, after studies showed that Malays have already achieved the target of 30 percent corporate ownership.

But the government last year introduced another benchmark – household income – to measure Malay progress in an indication that the controversial policy would remain at least up to 2020, Pek said.

Unease over NEP

"There is a lot of unease about how the New Economic Policy is measured. With the uncertainty – the moving targets – it (the policy) can go on forever," Pek said.

"Although they accept the policy… because we need political stability but then to subject generations and generations of Malaysians to the policy, they say, 'sometimes we need to do something about this.'"

Citing an opinion poll conducted this year, she said Chinese Malaysians were "least satisfied with the economic conditions and Prime Minister Abdullah's leadership and most likely to vote for the opposition."

The ethnic Indians are also discontented. At least 30,000 of them defied police warnings and held rare protests in Kuala Lumpur earlier this week against what they see as racial discrimination.

Police beat them with batons and used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the rally.

Welsh said the protests were a critical "test" for Abdullah's coalition government.

A key problem in the government is "the rising dominance of Umno and Malay chauvinism of Umno (which) do not listen to the other voices within the coalition," she said.

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india concerned about malaysian indians

November 30th, 2007
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thanks to Nagarajan for highlighting this.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/071130/43/6nwie.html

India to take up issue of ethnic Indians with Malaysia
 
By IANS
Friday November 30, 03:55 PM
New Delhi, Nov 30 (IANS) India Friday said it is concerned about the crackdown on peaceful protests by ethnic Indians in Malaysia and will take up the issue with the country's government.
'Whenever Indian citizens abroad or people of Indian origin are adversely affected, it's a cause of concern,' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told reporters at a joint press conference with leaders of the European Union.
He was replying to a question on whether his government was planning to take up the issue of alleged victimisation of peaceful protesters with the Malaysian government.
'This is matter which does concern us,' he said.
The prime minister refused to comment any further as External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was making a statement on the issue in parliament.
'I am in touch with the Malaysian government. We are going to take up the issue with them,' Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha in response to a question on the issue.
At least 80 ethnic Indians were charged in Malaysia early this week for taking part in a rally to demand equal rights in the Muslim-majority country. About 10,000 minority ethnic Indians took out a rally in Kuala Lumpur police last Sunday.
The police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters. Around 250 people were arrested and three protest organizers were charged with sedition.
Indians comprise eight percent of Malaysia's population of 27 million. They allege that an affirmative action policy favours Malays in government jobs.
 
India taking up Tamil issue with Malaysia
 
NEW DELHI, NOV 30 (PTI)
With ethnic Tamils under attack in Malaysia, the Government today told the Rajya Sabha that New Delhi was taking up the issue with Kuala Lumpur.
 
"The matter is being taken up through diplomatic channel," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri told the House during Zero Hour.
 
He was responding to the concerns of members who took strong exception to a senior Malaysian minister asking Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to "lay off" from the happenings in that country.
 
Terming as condemnable the ill-treatment being meted out to ethnic Tamils, Pachouri said that after the matter was taken up with the Malaysian authorities, the External Affairs Minister would make a statement in the House.
 
Raising the issue, R Shanmugasundaram (DMK) drew the attention of the Governnment to the statement of the Malaysian Minister on the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. "This is highly condemnable as the Malaysian Minister has no business to talk like this. The Governnment of India should take appropriate action," he said.
 
S S Ahluwalia (BJP) demanded that the Malaysian envoy to India should be called to explain.
 
B S Gnanadesikan (Cong) expressed serious anguish over the manner in which the Chief Minister was snubbed by the Malaysian minister. He was joined by his party colleague V Narayanaswamy.
 
 
India lawmakers protest treatment of ethnic Indians in M'sia

NEW DELHI (Nov 30, 2007): Several India lawmakers expressed their concern in parliament yesterday over the treatment of ethnic Indians in Malaysia , news reports said.

 
The issue came up both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, India's lower and upper house of parliament, PTI and IANS news agencies reported.
 
The legislators expressed concern over the police treatment at a rally by Malaysia's ethnic Indian minority in Kuala Lumpur, demanding equal rights to jobs and education.
 
The protesting lawmakers were largely from India 's southern Tamil Nadu state and cut across party affiliation. Most of Malaysia's ethnic Indian people have origins in Tamil Nadu.
They demanded that the Indian government take up the issue with the Malaysian government and ensure protection of Indian ethnic minorities.
 
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee disapproved of the motions, and ordered some of the members' remarks expunged from the record.
 
"We are a very responsible democracy," he said. "We don't discuss any other country in such a manner."
 
But Rajya Sabha deputy chairman K.Rahman Khan said India 's external affairs minister would be informed of the sentiments of the lawmakers. – dpa

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gcc handover complaint to suhakam

November 30th, 2007
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Police slammed for 'racial stance'
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75519
Andrew Ong
Nov 30, 07 4:49pm

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) should come out to condemn acts of racial profiling by the government and the authorities, said a lobby group. 

The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), lodging a complaint about an incident in Batu Caves, Selayang, last Sunday, said these acts occurred when:

• Almost 100 people were charged in court in connection with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally in Kuala Lumpur; and 

• Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz referred to rally participants as penyangak (crooks). 

GCC representative M Manohar told Suhakam commissioner Prof Khoo Kay Kim today that the police had been selective in their actions, by remanding and charging Hindraf supporters but not those who attended the Bersih rally two weeks before.

Manohar said he believed this was racially motivated because the Bersih rally participants were mostly Malays, while the those at the Hindraf protest were mainly Indians.

“Suhakam must find out why no one was remanded or charged over the Bersih rally… we believe there is some racial element involved,” he said.

More than 40,000 people took part in the Bersih (Coalition for Free and Fair Elections) rally on Nov 10. About 200 people were arrested but have not been charged to date.

During the Hindraf rally in Kuala Lumpur, almost 400 people were arrested and 88 were charged for various offences on Wednesday. 

On Nazri’s penyangak remark, another GCC representative Charles Santiago told Khoo that such acts were unacceptable and unbecoming of a minister.

“Such sinister attempts at racial profiling of a disadvantaged minority community as ‘violent people’ speaks volumes of the failure of race-based politics in Malaysia,” he said.

He also urged Suhakam to issue a written condemnation of Nazri’s remark.

Photo evidence

GCC’s complaint letter was officially handed over to Khoo by several of those who said they were affected in the Batu Caves incident.

Their allegations encompassed alleged use of excessive force by the police to disperse the crowd that had gathered there on Sunday morning, several hours ahead of the Hindraf rally in the city centre.

Santiago used a series of photographs to show Khoo how the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) had fired tear gas and used water cannon against those caught within the temple compound.

One photograph depicted several FRU members inside the compound – the site of one of the holiest Hindu shrines in Malaysia.

Santiago said the FRU had entered the compound and assaulted people, including those who were there to perform prayers in conjunction with the holy festival of Karthikai.

One victim, K Ramesh, said he and his family members had just finished performing their prayers, when the FRU struck.

“They came in and arrested me and my brother. One of them pushed my mother and she fell,” he claimed, adding that he was forced to surrender his identity card and it was not given back.

Another eyewitness, G Ashok Kumar ( photo), 47, told Khoo that he was with another group in Batu Caves intending to proceed to KLCC for the rally.

He said the police locked the main entrance to the compound at about 4.30am, forcing many in the crowd to sit near the gate.

Ashok said several of them were arrested as they tried to leave the compound, and that some angry people then hurled projectiles at the police.

“After that, they just kept on pumping tear gas inside… (the police said) there was no body contact. That was absolutely rubbish. There was lots of body contact (when people tried to flee),” he said.

Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan has steadfastly maintained that there was “no body contact” between the police and the crowd.

Approached for comments later, Khoo (photo) skirted a question on whether he felt there were human rights violations during the Batu Caves incident.

“From what that has been conveyed, there appears to be a question to be addressed with regard to the interpretation of the law,” said Khoo.

The upcoming commission meeting on Dec 10 will decide the next course of action based on complaints in hand.

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