Posts Tagged ‘MIC’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Musa accuses ex-deputy of politicising statue issue

May 8th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Musa accuses ex-deputy of politicising statue issue By : Joniston Bangkuai
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/NST41265928.txt/Article/index_html
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has denied curtailing religious freedom in Sabah.
Explaining his recent actions and the accusations that have been hurled at him over an order to stop work on the Ma Tzu Goddess of the Sea statue in Kudat, Musa said he was not against the building of the statue.
He said the decision to stop work followed objection from other quarters.
During a meeting with 50 Christian, Buddhist and Taoist leaders, Musa said the United Sabah Islamic Association, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, Persatuan Belia Intelek Kudat, Kudat As-Syakirin Mosque committee and Umno Kudat were unhappy with the project site.
They objected because the statue was being built too close to the district mosque, he added. Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, the Tanjung Kapur assemblyman, who resigned as deputy chief minister and tourism, culture and environment minister last month had said two days ago that the decision to stop the project prompted him to resign from the state cabinet.
Chong, who mooted the construction of the statue, had implied that state secretary Datuk K. Y. Mustapha issued the order to stop work on the project on Musa’s instruction. He had also said that by resigning, “he was standing up to his principles to defend religious rights and freedom as enshrined in the Constitution”.
Musa said Chong’s comments were a personal attack on him.
“By saying that he resigned to uphold religious freedom, Chong was indirectly accusing me of suppressing religious freedom. I am talking today because I want to put a stop to this character assassination as I too have principles.”
He said the government always took into account the religious and cultural sensitivities of the multi-racial society when making decisions.
Musa said the state government had offered an alternative site for the 27-metre statue and agreed to compensate the cost incurred in building it at the present site.
“I met Chong and made him the offer but he accused me of inciting Umno and the Muslim community in Kudat to oppose the project,” Musa said, adding he was not informed about the project.
He accused Chong of trying to politicise the issue by making comparison to two similar statues built in Tumpat, Kelantan.
“The two statues in Tumpat are within a Siamese resettlement which are predominantly Buddhist and the area has also been gazetted as a place of worship.”
Musa said the original site of the statue had been awarded to a shipping company to put up a building.

Comments Off on Musa accuses ex-deputy of politicising statue issue »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Religious freedom was being curbed? – Alternative site offer for Ma Zu statue

May 8th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Alternative site offer for Ma Zu statue
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
KOTA KINABALU: The state government has offered to provide an alternative site and compensate the Kudat Thean Hon Charitable Foundation after the state issued a stop order on the construction of the state’s tallest Ma Zu statue in northern Kudat.
“We are ready to compensate them for whatever costs they have incurred, provide them an alternative site for free and we are ready to provide the infrastructure if it is lacking in the area identified,” Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said yesterday.
Musa was speaking to reporters after meeting some 50 representatives from Christian, Buddhist and Taoist groups to explain the stop order and to allay non-Muslim fears that religious freedom was being curbed, especially after allegations made by his former deputy Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat.
However, the Kudat Thean Hon Charitable Foundation was not present at the closed-door meeting that was also attended by state Cabinet ministers and senior Chinese party leaders from the Barisan Nasional.
Musa told reporters that Chong was stirring up religious issues in a bid to character-assassinate him.
He said the state government’s order to stop the half-completed project was due to mounting opposition from various groups, including Masjid As-Syakirin Kudat, Abim and the United Sabah Islamic Association.
Buddhist Foundation of Sabah representative Tsen Nyuk Vun said the chief minister had explained the reasons for the stop order and it was clear that the situation arose due to “exceptional circumstances.”
“Though we empathise with the Thean Hon Foundation, we hope the matter will be looked at in a rational manner.
“We hope the foundation will consider the state’s offer and minimise politicising the issue,” he said.
He added that the religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution was being guarded safely by the state government.
Sabah Taoist Association chairman Wong Ka Leong said he hoped the foundation would take up the government’s offer in the interest of unity and harmony.

1 comment »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Lim Kit Siang – PM – reprimand and discipline JJ for racist remarks against Malaysian

May 7th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


PM – reprimand and discipline JJ for racist remarks against Malaysian Indians in California


PM – reprimand and discipline JJ for racist remarks against Malaysian Indians in California
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should reprimand and discipline the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Dr. Jamaludin Jarjis for his disgraceful conduct in making racist and derogatory remarks about Malaysian Indians when he met Malaysian students in California on Monday (30th April).
During his official visit to California on Monday, Jamaludin met some of the Malaysian students studying in California especially the ones from TPM Academy twinning programme at the Belacan Grill Malaysian Restaurant, Redondo Beach, Ca.
One of the students was Sheena Moorthy, a third-year Biotech Malaysian student in CALYPOLY.
Sheena complained that during the 3 ½ hour session, Jamaludin passed a few racial remarks on her, being one of the two Indians present there.
Sheena has formally written to the Prime Minister to complain against Jamaludin for the “totally uncalled-for racial insults”, citing the following instances:
Incident 1 – Each student had to briefly introduce themselves. When it came to her turn, while speaking he interrupted her and asked if she knew Samy Vellu, because he knows him. She did not see any relevance in that and he mentioned it a few times for no apparent reason.
Incident 2 – He gave a speech regarding how agriculture started in Malaysia. He mentioned how the British invested in Malaysia and made farmers work. Due to the lack of work force, “buruh India” was brought in. While mentioning this, he looked at her saying “that’s how we get Indians in Malaysia”.
Incident 3 – After saying he is going to get MARA to help the Bumiputra students, he looked at her and asked “How many Indians are here?” Sheena did not keep track of number of Indian students so she mentioned that in the room there were two (pointing to another Malaysian Indian friend, who is fair skinned) and Jamaludin looked at him and asked “Oh. You are an Indian? Which means you are an upper class Indian and she is the lower class one” (pointing at her). Jamaludin went on to say that, “Oh, I am not going to help upper class Indians, I only help the lower class ones. They are the ones that need it’.
Sheena left the room feeling very insulted as the Minister had judged her based on her skin colour.
This incident happened in front of a crowd of about 100 people including students, officials from the Malaysian Consulate, TPM, Tourism Malaysia, etc. But everyone is afraid and nobody is prepared to stand up to speak the truth.
I can fully understand Sheena’s hurt feelings at being humiliated and insulted by Jamaluddin in public. All right-thinking Malaysians should support Sheena’s demand for a public apology from Jamaludin.
Sheena’s sister, Dr. Sheela Moorthy, who is currently living in the USA and supporting her sister’s education at CalyPoly, is so incensed that she has written to the media to express her disgust and anger that a Minister of a multi-racial country should be making such racist and derogatory remarks about Malaysian Indians at a function abroad, giving the country a bad image.
Sheena has also written to complain about Jamaluddi’s biased and disgraceful conduct to several Malaysian Ministers, including the MIC President and Works Minister, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
I hope Samy Vellu would raise the Sheena issue at the Cabinet meeting next Wednesday to add his voice to the growing demand for public apology from Jamaludin and to support the Prime Minister to reprimand and take disciplinary action against the Science, Technlogy and Innovation Minister.
Jamaludin is still in the United States as he is currently leading a 300-man Malaysian delegation to the Biotechnology Industry Organisation (BIO) Convention in Boston, Massachussets.

Comments Off on Lim Kit Siang – PM – reprimand and discipline JJ for racist remarks against Malaysian »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian

Tags:

Samy Vellu and Khairy slam Anwar

May 7th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Samy Vellu and Khairy slam Anwar
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/7/nation/17651214&sec=nation
SHAH ALAM: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim came under heavy criticism from MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin over allegations that the MIC had neglected the welfare of the estate workers.
When Anwar was deputy prime minister, he “did nothing” for the estate workers, let alone the Indian community, said Samy Vellu, who is also the Works Minister.
“I have copies of letters I sent to him seeking assistance (for estate workers when Anwar was deputy prime minister), but he did not lift a finger to help,” he told reporters after opening the MIC Wanita, Youth and Puteri general assemblies here.
Anwar had also claimed that estate workers were intimidated and bribed into supporting the Barisan Nasional during the recent Ijok state constituency by-election, which was won by the Barisan Nasional candidate from the MIC, K. Parthiban.
PKR had fielded former Guthrie Group chief executive officer Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim in the by-election.
In his address to the MIC Youth assembly, Khairy said Anwar had been touted as Malaysia’s future but Barisan had proved that he was part of history and finished.
“They also claimed that Ijok was a comeback for Anwar and PKR but we have thwarted the nuclear bombs and missiles thrown at us.
“They did everything. They spoke ill of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak but now they don’t have anything any more,” he said

Comments Off on Samy Vellu and Khairy slam Anwar »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Jais backs court decision

May 7th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Jais backs court decision
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/7/nation/17648018&sec=nation
BY LOONG MENG YEE
PETALING JAYA: The Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) is supportive of the High Court decision allowing a Hindu husband to take custody of his six children although his wife remains a Muslim after they separated.
“We go by the facts. In this case, the fact of the matter was the children had Hindu names and never practised Islam.
“This fact was supported by documentation and Jais accepts the reasons,” said Jais public relations officer Fakrul Azam Yahya yesterday.
Fakrul was asked to comment on a recent case at the Shah Alam High Court where rubber tapper P. Marimuthu won custody of his children – after his Muslim wife agreed to allow him to raise them as Hindus.
Raimah Bibi Noordin, 39, claimed in an affidavit that she was born a Muslim and wished to profess the faith. However, she had no objection to hand over her children – whose religion is stated as Hindu in their birth certificates – to be raised by their father.
Marimuthu, 41, had filed a habeas corpus application last month claiming Jais officers had forcibly taken his wife and children from their home in Kampung Baru Tambahan, Ulu Yam Lama on April 2.
He alleged the officers did not give any reason why Raimah and the children were being detained. He also claimed the officers had threatened to arrest and charge him with khalwat (close proximity) if he tried to stop them.
Last Thursday, Marimuthu was granted custody of the children and he withdrew the habeas corpus case.
Fakrul clarified it was Raimah who had called Jais for help and said that Jais officers never threatened Marimuthu with khalwat.
“Khalwat is only applicable on Muslims. The children were taken because we have not established their religion at that point. It is the duty of Jais to protect Muslims in distress,” said Fakrul.
Although it was the norm for mothers to be allowed custody of the children below 16-year-old, Fakrul said Jais agreed with the court decision to allow the father to care for the children after it was established that the children never practised Islam.

Comments Off on Jais backs court decision »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags: