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30 days since Indians united

December 26th, 2007
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Yesterday marked the 31st day or one month since Indians in Malaysia took to the streets to protest against marginalisation and discrimination against them. As a mark of respect for Christians who celebrate Christmas, I decided against writing about the significant milestone (unlike some who organise the General Assemblies on religiously significant public holidays and have the gall to complaint about newspapers not being delivered!).Even though 20,000 to 30,000 people were physically present, there seemed to be much, much higher number of support from nearly 1.8 million Indians and also other Malaysians who understood their predicament. From my experience, very few of the people I met talked negatively on the rally, perhaps less than 10%. From relatives to friends to acquaintances, there was words of support for the organisers, HINDRAF and the rally participants, and volleys of condemnation againsts MIC, the police and certain segment of the government.
What is clear is that the Indians are using the newly found spirit and camaraderie to jump-start their lives, with or without the millions from the British government. For the last 30 days, HINDRAF have been a topic over thosais and teh tariks, at home and office. There is a new born awareness against discriminative policies and citizen rights.
But how long will this last? The main leaders are behind bars, and HINDRAF is clearly not a political party will millions to spend.
The torch is seen to be taken over by MIC and a handful of NGOs who before this were quite invisible. The ordinary Indian is left wondering where were this folks when bad things happened to them. Again, how long the torch is carried by the newly self-election champions is left to be seen.
The government had taken initiative to spew statistics, make promises (without the word “promise” in it) and set up committees and panels; all the usual stuff expected of a government. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
All the players are playing their cards now. The trump card is still with the Indian community. How well would they remember the water canons and tear gases in another 30 days? More importantly, how well would they remember the last 50 years when the candidates come knocking on their doors?
What can the Indian community learn from the rally and subsequent voice of discontent raised by themselves? How can they make use of this energy to improve their lives and to ask for their rights? What is the role of the individual? Can this rally be used to turn the youths into better persons, the women into equally important contributors to economy, the men into educated and matured citizens?
Can the community force a reduction in crime statistics, suicide percentages, and school dropout rates? Can they work together, with or without HINDRAF to make this country a better place to live?
HINDRAF has set the pace. It is now the responsibility of the Indian community to ensure the sacrifices made by the group is not forgotten and left to rot.
Let’s see how things are after the 100th day.

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Temple report task for MIC bad idea

December 25th, 2007
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Star, NST, and MK all highlighted the task given to MIC by PM, no less, to:
– look into the status of all Hindu temples
– submit a report on these temples to the cabinet periodically
– continuously monitor all temple
– submit to PM a list of temple that may be demolished due to various reason

 MIC will:
– go around the country to prepare report on number of temples and their problems
– identify illegally built and check their status (this statement sounds very confusing. identify ILLEGAL temples and check their STATUS?)
– check if there are moves to demolish or relocate the temples
– organise meetings with temple committees
– verify temple land status
– secure land reservations in new housing development areas
– seek registration of all temples
– ensure suitable alternative site is allocated before demolishment
– ensure no temples are demolished in the future (meaning from today 24/12/2007), and if need to be demolished, to ensure proper alternative site is provided.
– make sure no temples, either legally or illegally built will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC

Abdullah had assured that the government would provide the necessary support in resolving any matters involving temples as has been the case before.

That seems to be a tall order.

My opinion is that such a task should not be handed over to a political party, especially a de facto one that is part of the ruling body. It should be driven by a government department or a newly appointed permanent committee that consists of various representatives from religious bodies, government departments, NGOs etc. The people seemed to have lost faith in MIC. to entrust MIC with such task may backfire on BN since the people may take this as the govt not listening to them. Should MIC be given a chance to redeem themselves? MIC, having a vested interest, may cover things up to save their hides.

Or this can be seen as a ploy by BN to push the ball back to MIC to handle it, rather than taking responsibility collectively. Since MIC is the one perceived to cause all this problem, let them solve it. If they can, good. If not, BN can still win without MIC. Its a zero sum game.

So, if any more problem happens, can we blame MIC 100% and by extension blame the cabinet as well?

MIC tasked with temple relocations, demolitions
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76374
Yoges Palaniappan | Dec 24, 07 5:05pm

MIC has been given the task to look into the status of all Hindu temples in the country and will submit a report on these temples to the cabinet.

In line with that, MIC president S Samy Vellu will travel nationwide to prepare the report on the number of Hindu temples and their problems.

This "new approach" follows a directive by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to MIC to continuously monitor all temples in the country and to submit a report on their status to the cabinet periodically.

Samy, in a media statement today, said that Abdullah had specifically wanted MIC to forward him the list of any temples that may have to be demolished for various reasons.

"As temples are sensitive matters, a new approach is necessary to resolve them and MIC will take over completely this task," said Samy, who is also the Works Minister.

"We will identify the illegally built temples first and check on their status. We want to see if there have been any moves to demolish or relocate them," he said.

He added that he had directed Federal Territory MIC chief M Saravanan and Selangor state executive councillor Kamala Ganapathy to organise meetings with temple heads in their respective states.

The long time MIC president said the meetings would have several objectives, namely to verify the status of the land where the temples were built, to secure land reservations in all new housing development areas and to seek the registration of all temples.

"What is more important is that suitable alternative sites will have to be allocated first before any temples are to be relocated," he said.

According to Samy, a meeting to be held soon in Kuala Lumpur would be attended by 780 temple heads, whereas 870 temple heads would participate in the second meeting to be held in Selangor.

Premier's assurance

He added that similar meetings would be held in other states; with the third meeting scheduled in Perak and that he would chair all the meetings.

"I will scrutinise all matters concerning temples with a view to ensure that no temples are demolished in the future and if they have to be demolished, suitable alternative sites must be allocated so that Hindus can continue to worship," he said.

"No temples, either legally or illegally built will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC," he said, adding that Abdullah had assured that the government would provide the necessary support in resolving any matters involving temples as has been the case before.

In recent years a high number of Hindu temples have been demolished on the account of them being illegally built, causing much anger among the Indian community.

The Hindu Rights Action Force has played a vital role in defending these temples, culminating in a Nov 25 rally in Kuala Lumpur over the apparent marginalisation of the Indian community.

Since then, five leaders of the group have been detained for two years under the dreaded Internal Security Act.

Hindraf's popularity among the community in fighting for the Indian cause has come at the expense of MIC, which has for long been held as the sole Indian voice in the government.

Many segments of the community have blamed MIC for being inactive in protecting Hindu temples from being demolished.

The new approach outlined by the government for MIC to have 'powers' to protect temples now is seen as being aimed to win over the support of the community for the party.

NST:

Samy Vellu to give report on temples

KUALA LUMPUR: The prime minister has asked MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to monitor all Hindu temples and submit a report on their status periodically.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also wanted the MIC to forward to him and the cabinet a list of temples that might have to be demolished for various reasons.

"As the issue of temples is a sensitive matter, a new approach is necessary to resolve it and the MIC will completely take over the task," said Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, in a press statement.

He would travel to all states soon to prepare a report on the number of temples and their problems. "We will identify the illegally-built temples first and check on their status."

Meetings with the heads of temples in each state would be organised. The Federal Territory and Selangor meetings would be attended by 780 and 870 temple heads, respectively. It was to verify the status of the land where the temples were located, to secure land for them in all new housing areas and to seek registration for all temples.

"I will scrutinise all matters to ensure that no temples are demolished in the future or suitable alternative sites are allocated to temples that have to be demolished so that Hindus can continue to worship. "No temples, either legal or illegally built, will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC," Samy Vellu said.

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MIC confident indians vote for BN

December 23rd, 2007
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BN can count on Indian voters
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76334
Dec 22, 07 3:21pm

There is no risk of the Indian voters ditching the BN and running to vote for the opposition in the coming general election, said MIC deputy president G Palanivel today.

"Loyalty is not a one-way process. It's a two-way process. BN voters will remain loyal to us because we have served our constituencies and have cultivated our relationship with our people," said Palanivel.

Bernama reported the Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development as saying that the voters would know the volume of work done by MIC for the community.

"On the ground situation, especially during a general election, would be such that our voters will evaluate the volumes of work the MIC has done under the leadership of Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu,” he said.

He was commenting on suggestions by Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang yesterday that there has been a political awakening among Indian voters in the country recently. Lim had said that the Indian voters could use their voting powers to be kingmakers in determining who should represent them.

However Palanivel said: "This will not happen".

He added that Lim was only referring to the voice of a splinter group, adding that the majority of the Indian voters knew that voting for the opposition would not be a solution to some of their unresolved woes.

Palanivel however admitted that BN’s elected representatives must continue to work hard in their constituencies and keep their voters informed of the opposition's ploy to fish in troubled waters.

Opposition exploitation

Palanivel’s comments today followed similar remarks made by the MIC Youth chief SA Vigneswaran yesterday that the opposition was exploiting the Indian voters.

Yesterday party president Samy Vellu also claimed that recent incidents have not dented MIC.

"I will continue to fight for the betterment of the (Indian) community,” he told Bernama in an interview.

Referring to recent street protests by some members of the Indian community and those from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), he said MIC's spirit and strength had not been weakened by those incidents.

"I have always stood by the MIC and will continue to stand by the party. I will continue to fight for the community to ensure that Indians in the country continue to rise socially and economically," he had said.

Lim however had said that Samy was out of touch with the wishes of the Indian community.

The opposition leader said that Samy has a "serious denial syndrome" when he claimed that the government has never neglected the Indians.

The kingmakers

Lim also predicted that the Indian voters, who for long have been loyal to the Barisan Nasional, will shift away from voting for the ruling coalition in the next general election.

The most recent electoral data shows that there are 50 parliamentary and 133 state assembly constituencies where Indian voters comprise more than 10 percent of the electorate and 21 parliamentary and 133 state assembly seats in Peninsular Malaysia where the Indian voters constitute more than 15 percent of the electorate.

Lim said that the Indian voters in these constituencies can make the difference in sending a message to the BN.

MIC and Samy Vellu have come under tremendous pressure in recent months after Hindraf had managed to gather 30,000 people in Kuala Lumpur as a sign of protest against the marginalisation of the community in this country.

The community, feeling helpless, has thrown its weight behind Hindraf in the calls made to the government to immediately look into the woes of the Indians here.

As a result of their hardline campaign, five Hindraf leaders have been detained under the Internal Security Act which provides for detention without trial.

To regain the losing support, Samy Vellu and the MIC have been embarking on a series of programmes to convince the community that only MIC can help them.

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mahathir on ISA

December 22nd, 2007
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TDM says if don't like ISA, don't vote for those who use them. So, asking people not to vote for BN?

Star, NST, and MK excerpts below:

The Star
On the Government using the Internal Security Act (ISA) against Hindraf leaders, Dr Mahathir said he himself had used the ISA before. 

"It is up to the government and the people to decide this. You see, we are a democratic country. 

"If the people selected to lead are the people who support the use of ISA, then they will use it. The choice is yours. I thought people approved the use of ISA when they supported me, so I implemented it." 

However, Dr Mahathir felt that problems felt by any community ought to be addressed in other ways and that public assemblies should only be used as a last resort.

NST
When asked on the government’s decision to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) on the group behind the activities which threatened public order and national security, Dr Mahathir said: “I used the ISA too.

“It is up to the government and the people to decide; as you know we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally the ISA will be there.

“If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours.”

According to Dr Mahathir, he was elected based on the fact that he supported the ISA.

“I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA, that’s why I implemented the ISA,” he said.

On claims of ethnic cleansing here, Dr Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

“I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that…I think that’s a bit absurd.”

On street demonstrations, he said the people were entitled to raise (issues) but there were other ways of doing it.

“Not unless they are prevented from making their presentation in other ways.

“If they don’t have a choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders to explain their problems. I think that should be their first choice,” he said.

MK
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today demonstrations should only be held as a last resort when other avenues of communicating grievances are unavailable.

Mahathir said that as long as the channels are still open for issues to be raised and conveyed to community leaders, he is against demonstrations.

“They are entitled to raise (the issues), but there are other ways of raising it,” Mahathir told a press conference at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya.

“If they have no other choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders, they can meet (and) they can explain their problems, I think that would be the first choice,” he added.

Mahathir – speaking after the launch of a book on ‘The Third World and International Law’ by legal expert Tungku Sofiah Jewa – was commenting on the spate of public gatherings organised recently, such as by polls watchdog coalition Bersih and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Also present at the press conference were Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Rais Yatim.

While Bersih rallied about 40,000 people into the streets on Nov 10 in support of a petition to the King for electoral reform, about 30,000 rallied on Nov 25 in support of a Hindraf petition to the British embassy protesting discrimination against and marginalisation of ethnic Indians.

Following the crackdowns by the police on the events, civil society groups and organisations have pressed for the government to give greater freedom for public assemblies and to abolish laws requiring a police permit before public gatherings are held.

Vote wisely

Mahathir also denied that the Indian community had been refused opportunities to make their grievances known.

On claims of ethnic cleansing here as alleged by Hindraf,  Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

"I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that….I think that's a bit absurd."

  Speaking on the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against five Hindraf leaders, Mahathir said if people were against the ISA – which provides for detention without trial – they should not vote to power a party whose politicians are in support of the act.

“As you know, we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally, the ISA will be there. If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours,” he said.

“I was elected despite the fact that I supported the ISA. I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA. That’s why I implemented the ISA,” he added.

Many quarters have criticised the government’s detention of the ‘Hindraf 5' under the ISA as an act of ‘desperation‘.

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MIBA’s Sivakumar offers more views

December 21st, 2007
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He asked why the government cannot offer discounts to poor Indians and Chinese to purchase better houses.

"Why should they be left with the low-cost houses option? This will just lead to the creation of urban slums. They should also be given the opportunity to enjoy better housing," he added.

Yeah, why not?

Indian woes: Look at the BIG picture
RK Anand | Dec 21, 07 5:17pm
Source

The problems afflicting the Indian community in Malaysia extend beyond government handouts, said Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar today.

In order to view the big picture, he called on concerned groups, including MIC, to discard their conventional myopic ways.

The Johor-based businessman stressed on the importance of a reform in mindset and approach to tackle the community's woes.

"For decades, they have been talking about the same issues like estates, Tamil schools and temples. No doubt these are important, but the problem now is greater.

"What is confronting the community today are issues of national identity and equal opportunities in both the public and private sector as well as education," he told Malaysiakini.

After 50 years of independence, Sivakumar said Indians are deeply concerned about their future and that of their children's in this country.

"This is the real issues that need to be addressed. We cannot run away from them. The community is also concerned about its rights as enshrined in the federal constitution.

"This is a painful and tearful situation. Those with wealth, who are the minority, can afford to migrate, but what about the rest?" he said, adding, "I have been working with the community for 25 years and I have read their 'pulse'."

"It is these concerns that are being expressed. The community is not indulging in racism, communalism or extremism, they are merely expressing their sentiments and frustrations."

Elections – a test for BN

Sivakumar also warned that the coming general election will be a litmus test for the ruling Barisan Nasional government in terms of Indian votes.

In the past, Indians have been true-blue supporters of the ruling coalition but recent events, namely the emergence of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and allegations of marginalisation and persecution, indicate the possibility of a swing in votes.

Meanwhile, Sivakumar said the Indian community is not questioning the special privileges accorded to the bumiputera.

"These privileges were agreed to in the social contract in 1970 when the New Economic Policy (NEP) was formulated, agreed to and supported by all the races.

"This is not being disputed by anyone," added the 50-year-old entrepreneur who was one of those who met with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently to discuss the problems faced by the Indians.

The issue of contention, according to Sivakumar, is the 'abuse' of the NEP. "This has given rise to dissent and dissatisfaction. It is the lack of aid extended to the poor of other races. The poor are being neglected," he said.

He asked why the government cannot offer discounts to poor Indians and Chinese to purchase better houses.

"Why should they be left with the low-cost houses option? This will just lead to the creation of urban slums. They should also be given the opportunity to enjoy better housing," he added.

He reasoned that education and business are two key areas which can help propel the community towards a better future. "So, it is vital that the government assist Indians in these areas."

Furthermore, he said with the increase in the cost of living, the Indians must receive their fair share of help from the government to ensure that they can lead quality lives.

Samy 'departs from the norm'

"These are the issues that MIC should be pushing for instead of mentioning the same old things again and again," he added.

However, he commended MIC president S Samy Vellu over his recent comments, which Sivakumar described as a "departure from the norm."

"Samy Vellu made some critical observations, such as agreeing on the need for more Indians in the civil service and that the public delivery system must be improved and stressing on the need for a Malaysian identity," he said.

Sivakumar also commented on a news report today which quoted Johor MIC chief K S Balakrishnan as saying that the state never marginalised Indians.

Among others, the state MIC leader said the state granted RM9 million over the past years for the modernisation and development of Tamil schools while RM2 million was allocated last year to build new Tamil schools, renovate classrooms and buy equipment.

"I have to agree with this," said Sivakumar.

"Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman has a track record of being fair to all races. He was also generous enough to extend a privatisation project to the community, but this was later withdrawn.

"Maybe Johor MIC can explain why it was withdrawn," he said, without elaborating.

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