Posts Tagged ‘Marginalisation’

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Hindraf to sue Utusan

October 5th, 2008
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Probably Hindraf should sue all those ministers who commented as well 🙂 Waytha dares the media to publish proof of the unruly behavior of Hindraf supporters who attended the Hari Raya open house at PWTC. So, far photos in Malaysiakini and those received via email paint a different story compared to the yarn spun by Utusan.

Waytha says:

So visiting the PM on a Hari Raya (Eid) is a grave sin committed by HINDRAF. An act of betrayal and insult to the Islamic religion. the masterminds should be arrested under the ISA or prosecuted under the existing Laws – so say the Malay extremist and fundamentalists organisations. Cabinet Ministers claim HINDRAF was extreme in barging into the PM’s open house and presenting a memorandum. Their seditious criticisms. were carried out by the none other than the UMNO controlled daily Utusan and TV3.

So it was a grave sin. I challenge these fools to obtain evidence from over 30 odd TV crews and pressmen (both local and International media) and the numerous Police Special Branch units who covered , recorded and filmed the entire episode to make public their recordings so that the whole world could see the foolishness and low mentality of Malaysian politicians and their UMNO coolies who stir up racial sentiments for their own political survival.

There is no doubt that whenever there are serious problems within UMNO, the best solution (idiotic though) is to stir racial tension among races. UMNO creates problems and misleads the public with the strength and might of their media.

Let us see the pictures below which our supporters recorded.

It is for you to judge whether HINDRAF presence at PM’S OPEN HOUSE IS as an INSULT TO ISLAM ?

This card is interpreted by the Cabinet Ministers as memorandum. I wonder if they know what they are talking about. The simplest greeting card prepared by a 6 year old with the help of adult to express the feeling of HINDRAF supporters to the PM-And this is interpreted as an insult to the Islamic faith???

Salam Aidilfitri
Semoga di hari mulia ini YAB akan diberkati rahmat Tuhan dan membebaskan semua tahanan ISA dan mendengar rintihan masyarakat India di bumi tercinta Malaysia. Maaf Zahir batin.

P.Waythamoorthy
Hindraf Chairman
Currently in London

Note: The images are in this PDF file (3MB).

Now, there’s a possibility of Utusan getting a RM1 million lawsuit soon. Malaysiakini reports that the issue is being discussed by HINDRAF lawyers. National coordinator RS Thanenthiran said that HINDRAF was very disturbed by the Utusan reports which he claims were tainted by lies and distorted facts.

A commentary in Utusan by Baharom Mahusin deserves a police investigation or even detention under ISA due its contents. I guess the writer may need police protection.

Hindraf was particularly offended by Baharom’s comment which stated that ‘ Kalau penyokong Hindraf melakukan penghinaan seumpama itu di kawasan-kawasan pendalaman yang menjadi kampung halaman orang Melayu, mereka sudah pun diajar tentang makna dan akibat berperangai kurang ajar.’ (If Hindraf supporters pour such insults in the interior areas dominated by Malays, they would have been taught a lesson on the meaning and consequence of misbehaviour.)

Thanenthiran asked, “What is the writer trying to instigate here?
‘Communal conflict? Racial hatred?”.

“Baharom’s comment was most unprofessional and unethical”, Thanenthiran told a press conference in Butterworth.

HINDRAF also chastised and ridiculed the Home Minister and others who did not understand the difference between Hari Raya card and a memorandum.

Charles Hector raised a similar question to mine in his blog – Why no coverage of the Free RPK group nor a warning to them in Utusan and NST? Is it discrimination? He also wrote few more important points.

Utusan, meanwhile, continuous with its tirade. The protection and freedom given to this paper is unprecedented. If this was some other paper, it would have closed shop ages ago. On Saturday, Utusan says “Hindraf diberi amaran” (HINDRAF warned) which reported on Home Minister hinting that the illegal organization (no other paper uses the word “illegal”) HINDRAF faces police investigation over the Raya visit. The article in Utusan is really an insulting peice of work. I won’t bother reproducing it here lest people start to burn Utusan paper in public or throw cocktails (Is it the trend nowadays?). I guess even ISA may be used against the key persons. Among the names being bandied about was Shanti, Waytha’s wife and Thanenthiran, the National Coordinator. I guess even the 6 year old daughter may be detained as potential future threat! Other articles in Utusan with similar hateful words are here and here. Take a deep breath before reading them.

Meanwhile Samy says he will continue to fight for the release of Hindraf 5 even with the “problem” given by HINDRAF.

He said he was taking “other action” besides appealing to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and the BN supreme council that the Hindraf leaders be set free from their detention under the Internal Security Act.

Samy Vellu however declined to give details. He said he was only trying to help the family of the detained men.

He said their wives were happy and hopeful since he began to work for their release.

“MIC is going all out until we get them released. We are getting help from others to get them out. When they are released, I don’t need anything from them. I’m not doing this for popularity, I’m doing it for the community.”

He also said that MIC won’t pressure the Home Minister or place any conditions. He said he will meet Syed Hamid next week to discuss further.

According to Samy Vellu, the MIC’s effort is in line with its objectives to defend and protect the rights of the Indian community in this country.

“The MIC also wants to pursue this on humanitarian grounds as the families of those involved are suffering and need assistance,” he said.

He added that it was mischevious to suggest the party’s effort was to gain publicity or become popular.

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More on the Race Relations Act

September 19th, 2008
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A bit more on the proposed Race Relations Act, as quoted by Syed Hamid:

Speaking to reporters after addressing ministry staff at a monthly gathering yesterday, Syed Hamid said both ministries would also have to collect input from non-Governmental organisations and individuals on the contents and scope of the Act.

The Act would include provisions on punitive action while using the Federal Constitution as the guideline, he said.

He added that the Act would also touch on race relations through the economic, education and distribution systems.

“There is a great need to work on the mindset of Malaysians and ways to strengthen the relations among all races in the country,” said Syed Hamid.

“We need to give priority on our diverse cultures and on the sensitivity of each race in order to create an ideal environment to live in,” he said, adding that similar Acts in other countries would be used as reference in drafting it.

While MCA youth thinks of the Act as a deterrent to ensure various communities are not belittled, reading Syed Hamid saying that the  “Act would also touch on race relations through the economic, education and distribution systems” implies that it will hinder progress on equal rights. It may well serve to silence any voices that ask about distribution of scholarships, bumiputra equity, company ownership etc. Well, equal does not mean its equal. 🙂

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Orang Asli wants justice

September 15th, 2008
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Their plans for a march to the palace was cancelled following advice from the police, but the Orang Asli group have some serious grouses that needs attention.

The march organised by Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia) to the palace this morning was called off following ‘advice’ from the police.

The group of more than 100 was unable to start their march from the Central Market Annexe at 10.15am when the police stopped them.

Suaram’s S Arutchelvan and Orang Asli activist Colin Nicholas had an argument with the police team led by ASP Sydney Clyde Jeremiah of the Dang Wangi police district.

The organisers claimed they had permission from the police for today’s event two weeks ago and were unhappy that they were prevented from carrying it out this morning.

However, ASP Sydney advised them to disperse failing which the police would have no choice but to arrest those taking part in the march.

The organisers then decided to call it off and held a press conference at 10.45am instead to make public their demands and recommendations contained in a memorandum, meant to be submitted to the palace.

Colin told the press conference that the march was never granted a permit but they received verbal “permission and approval” from the Dang Wangi police.

Their written application was originally rejected but when they appealed for permission, it was given verbally on the understanding that there would be no political sentiments involved in the event.

When asked if the police gave any reason to stop the march, Colin replied: “No, but he (ASP Sydney) said the march has to be stopped because of latest political development in the country.”

Yesterday, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok were detained under the Internal Security Act.

The march this morning was organised to submit a memorandum to the king seeking recognition of the rights of indigenous groups as espoused in the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Similar to Hindraf, they also have their memorandum:

Despite calling off a march to the King’s palace to submit a memorandum, our spirits are not broken and we will continue to voice our disappointment towards the government, the Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia) said today.

In the memorandum, the network had protested the non-recognition of their customary lands, forced resettlement, non-recognition of cultural rights, unfair policies of assimilation and integration, and outright disregard for judicial decisions.

The march was planned in conjunction with the first anniversary of United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In the memorandum, the group highlighted several violations including Orang Asal rights as the land-owners.

“The federal and state governments have acted maliciously against the Orang Asal by forcibly taking our lands, territories and resources without our free, prior consent,” executive director of Borneo Resources Institute, Mark Bujang, told a press conference following the cancellation of the march this morning from police ‘advice’.

Reading out the memorandum, Mark said in Selangor alone, about 7,000 hectares of Orang Asal reserves were degazetted without their knowledge. Neither were they informed when, where and how the areas were taken from them.

“In Sabah and Sarawak, an increasing number of communities are now finding out the hard way that their native customary lands have been given to oil palm and industrial tree plantation companies or leased to logging companies – again without their prior consent,” he added.

Furthermore, the Orang Asal have been subjected to force for involuntary resettlements because of government’s non-recognition of their native titles.

Mark cited as an example the forced resettlement of Chewong-Orang Asli community in the Kelau Dam project in Pahang where the indigenous people were intentionally misrepresented by the agents of the government and forced to resettle.

“To make matters worse, the indigenous community concerned need not be resettled as their village would not have been affected by the projects,” Mark explained.
Among their demands, the Orang Asal have requested that customary land be returned and appropriate legal processes be taken for the restitution of the land obtained.

“The government must immediately halt the legal process to gazette land which indiscriminately acquire the indigenous customary lands,” said Mark.

He added the courts should prioritise cases involving customary land dispute and urged the government to provide legal assistance for their cases.

According to findings in the memorandum, the Orang Asal consist of more than 80 ethno-linguistic groups, each with its own culture, language and territory, totalling up to four million or 15 per cent of national population.

“In the context of Malaysia, however, no law or policy was found that mentions the right to self-determination for indigenous peoples, let alone, accord us that right,” said Mark.

According to him, the Orang Asal have suffered from injustices by previous regimes and governments since the formation of the government of Malaysia.

“Therefore, the government must apologise for all these injustices and prejudices that have happened throughout the history,” he stressed.

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Statistics on plantation workers

August 4th, 2008
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After the recent forced laborer case in his own constituency, Dr S.Subramaniam says that effective August 1, contractors and companies supplying workers to plantations must register with the Manpower Department. He said failure to do so will lead to legal action.

Dr Subramaniam said a study by the Manpower Department of 1,408 plantations recently revealed that 15,201 workers were contractored by 1,066 contractors and nine companies supplying workers.

Houses
– 49,565 workers’ houses of which 41,207 were built according to the Workers Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 while the rest were “sub-standard” and needed improvement.

– ministry was also actively promoting a scheme whereby workers could eventually buy the houses they lived in.

Utilities
– On electricty and water suppply, 33,500 workers’ houses were supplied by public enterprises while the rest were supplied by sources maintained by their employers.

– large portion of plantations supplied electricity at commercial rates and that was not fair to the workers. To overcome the problem the Manpower Department met with TNB and the plantations and that TNB agreed to provide electricity to the houses via individual meters.

– the department was asked to talk to the relevant agencies to ensure water supplied was clean.

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Government consider converting Tamil schools status if land issue settled

July 26th, 2008
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There was a meeting on Thursday to discuss about the partially-aided Tamil schools, chaired by Education Minister, Hishamuddin. Others included Devamany, Murugiah (PPP), Saravanan.

The meeting repeated the same mantra on the schools being on private or estate land, but this time there are plans to get those lands from the plantation/private companies and convert to government owned. With quite a number of schools on GLC lands, it should not be a problem, and should have never been a hurdle in the first place.

While the report says there are about 250 (or half the schools) were in private land, if I’m not mistaken, more than 320 schools (about 2/3) are partially aided.

There should also be efforts to relocate under-enrolled schools to other places. Education Ministry should set up a channel for residents/community to forward their requests. If there are ample number of potential students, let’s say 200 of them, then relocation must be seriously considered.

But what made me stand up was the news report in Minnal FM which says that MIC was thankful for government to converting schools after getting the land from plantations. This is quite misleading because the meeting highlighted the possibility only, and nothing has been done yet.

One have to ask why this effort is being taken now. What was the catalyst? Obviously Samy Vellu and MIC 😉

From the Star:

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will consider converting the status of partially aided Tamil primary schools to fully aided, if the land issue can be solved.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the problem was that about 250 Tamil primary schools were presently built on estate land.
Status problem: Hishammuddin (right), Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department S.K. Devamany (middle) and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator T. Murugiah holding copies of the ministry’s reports on the status of Tamil primary schools after the meeting yesterday.

“We can’t have a fully aided school if the land doesn’t belong to us,” he told reporters after chairing a special committee meeting to overcome Tamil school issues.

He said the ministry had to identify if the land belonged to government-linked companies, private companies or individuals.

Besides land, he said, the Government also had to look at other issues such as the supply of teachers, upgrading of schools and under-enrolled schools.

“There is no point converting a school if it only has three pupils. This is why in our meeting, we identified the actual number of pupils and schools, schools which need to be upgraded or are overcrowded,” he said.

There are presently 523 Tamil primary schools in the country.

He said the committee found that the overall situation at Tamil primary schools was not as bad as painted by some parties.

“We are also working closely with the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry to upgrade the infrastructure of Tamil schools in plantations,” he said.

Hishammuddin said 171 applications had been approved in cases of children who do not have birth certificates as long as their parents obtained a confirmation letter from their village headman or the Village Development and Safety Committee (JKKK) head to allow them to go to school.

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