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greenhouse gas makes us industrialised nation

November 30th, 2007
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Malaysians emitting more CO2

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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has become the 26th largest source of greenhouse gases in the world, a position that places it within the ranks of industrialised nations. 

The country released 177.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2004, which is 0.6% of the global total, according to the latest Human Development Report by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

Each Malaysian discharged 7.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2004, compared with three tonnes in 1994. In contrast, China has a per capita emission of 3.8 tonnes, France six tonnes, Egypt 2.3 tonnes and the United States, 20.6 tonnes. 

"With increased prosperity and greater urbanisation, Malaysia will undoubtedly continue to adopt the carbon-intensive lifestyle of the developed countries. This implies increased carbon emissions from an ever-growing number of automobiles, factories and power plants," said United Nations Resident Coordinator Dr Richard Leete at the launch of the report Thursday. 

Leete said although Malaysia has made a positive start in reducing its carbon footprint, such as implementing carbon-mitigating projects and adopting several renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives, it should do more. 

"In Malaysia, I would support a stronger role to develop a policy on climate change to address adaptation, deforestation and mitigation," he said. 

The report also showed that Malaysia's Human Development Index (HDI) – calculated based on income, life expectancy, adult literacy and school enrolment – improved to 0.811 from 0.805 previously, placing the country in the category of "high human development." Malaysia ranked 63rd out of 177 countries. 

It warned, however, that the effects of climate change could threaten human development and reverse progress in improvements in poverty reduction, health and education. For instance, changes in rainfall pattern and glacial retreat could trigger water scarcity while increased drought and erratic rainfall could reduce agriculture yield. Increased storms and floods could displace up to 332 million coastal dwellers globally. 

To stem rising temperatures, the report proposed that developed countries cut carbon emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by 2050, and developing countries by 20%. 

To help countries adapt to increased climate risks, the report called for greater international co-operation, technology transfer and financial support for the developing world.

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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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india PM urged to act after hindraf rally

November 28th, 2007
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Act against 'sufferings' in M'sia, Indian PM told
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75382
Nov 28, 07 2:08pm

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been urged to take immediate action concerning the state of the Indians in Malaysia.

The premier’s intervention was sought by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and other politicians in the state following the mass rally held on Nov 25 in Kuala Lumpur.

newspaper, Karunanidhi wrote to Manmohan on Tuesday asking him to employ the necessary measures regarding the “sufferings and bad treatment” of Tamils in Malaysia.

Karunanidhi said the people of Tamil Nadu were disturbed over the happenings in Kuala Lumpur.

The daily reported that he also conveyed their concern over the treatment being meted out to the Tamils living in Malaysia for a very long period of time.

On Sunday, some 30,000 Indian Malaysians took to the streets in a protest organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

The rally was held to support a lawsuit by Hindraf against Britain for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years.

The suit sought a declaration that the Reid Commission Report 1957 failed to incorporate the rights of the Indian community when Malaya was granted independence and this had allegedly resulted in discrimination and marginalisation to this day.

Police used tear gas and chemical-laced water to break-up the rally, which also saw scores of people being arrested.

'Treated like slaves'

Meanwhile, another Tamil Nadu politician and popular actor Vijayakant also called on the Indian prime minister to act on this issue.

In a news report, Vijayakant, who is the founder leader of the DMDK party, said: "The Tamils were taken there 200 years ago by the then British rulers to work in the plantation fields but the way police dispersed them by firing tear gas showed that the Malaysian government is still treating them as slaves.

He alleged that Malaysia was "becoming a Sri Lanka" where the government "sidelined Tamils from all government departments".

He warned that ignorance by India to intervene in this issue could create a situation similar to that of Sri Lanka, which is gripped by ethnic strife. "What started as a spark, is now burning all over Sri Lanka," he said.

The Nov 25 rally received widespread coverage in the Indian as well as international media. The event was reported, among others, in the UK, US, China, Taiwan, Australia and the Philippines.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's warning that the government could invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) against the protestors has also received wide media coverage.

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