Posts Tagged ‘Najib Tun Razak’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

rafidah shocked over sharanya

December 5th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Blooger Sharanya under attack from Rafidah Aziz

Shocked by ‘apartheid’ report

source

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz was shocked during a recent work trip to India to find a newspaper there carrying a front page article that claimed that Malaysia was practising apartheid against Hindus. 

Holding up the DNA newspaper of Nov 28, the International Trade and Industry Minister said that the article quoted a 22-year-old Sri Lankan-born poet who had spent 17 years in Malaysia, as saying that she fled Malaysia last month to escape “systematic racial harassment.” 

“Fleeing Malaysia? Oh my goodness gracious. Can you imagine? This is really telling lies,” Rafidah told reporters yesterday after chairing a Wanita Umno meeting. 

The Wanita Umno chief said that the poet, Sharanya Manivannan, had also claimed in the article that there had been cases in Malaysia of “body-snatching” of Hindu corpses by the authorities so that the deceased could be buried according to Muslim rites. 

She said that the poet, however, had never mentioned that these men had converted to Islam. 

Rafidah added that Sharanya had said in the article that “countless (Hindu) temples have been demolished and idols smashed – oftentimes in the middle of prayer sessions and devotees attacked”. 

“What a lie. Words like this are terrible. The article really hurts,” she said. 

Rafidah was heading a trade mission to India from Nov 26 to Dec 1 when she came across the newspaper article at one of the five-star hotels there. 

“I was shocked. Obviously there is already an international network set up,” she said, adding that she believed that this was politically motivated. 

During the mission to New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, the minister said she was asked once or twice about the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) Nov 25 demonstration in Kuala Lumpur. 

She said she explained that it was untrue that Hindus were being marginalised in Malaysia, adding that Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) director-general Datuk R. Karuna Karan, who accompanied her on the trade mission, was himself a Malaysian Hindu. 

“He (Karuna) is a perfect example of those who get to the top. He’s not there by chance. MIDA is the organisation we put our trust in to get billions in investments.  

“And Datuk Karuna is the chief because he’s the best,” she said, adding that his predecessor too was a Hindu. 

Rafidah slammed Hindraf for using religion for its political purposes. 

She said that if there were groups that felt sidelined, they should use the proper channels to let the Government know their grievances in black-and-white, rather than taking it to the streets and to the Queen of England. 

Hindraf has filed a US$4 trillion (RM13.5 trillion) suit in London, claiming the British is to blame for the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia, as they had brought them to the then Malaya as indentured labourers and exploited them. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the system of democracy practised in Malaysia, though dissimilar to that in the other democratic nations, is fair and transparent. 

“Our democracy is founded on our history, cultural values and our traditions.  

“The important thing is that we give every citizen the right to fairly elect anyone they wish to make up the Government,” he said in the Bicarawara interview programme on RTM1 last night. 

1 comment »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

najib denies samy vellu is mandor

November 27th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Najib: Government ready to deal with political challenges

source

PETALING JAYA: The Barisan Nasional Government will face the “political challenges” thrown by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) group which defied the law and went ahead with its rally on Sunday.  “We will meet the challenge. We will not back down from political challenges,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said when asked if the Government was pressured by the group, which alleged that Hindus in Malaysia were being marginalised. He pointed out that if the Government had practised discriminatory policies against the Hindus as claimed by Hindraf, the Indian community in the country would not have supported the Government all this time and Barisan Nasional would not have been able to achieve big victories in elections. “Now, they suddenly want to raise the issue (of being sidelined). It’s politically motivated,” he said at a ceremony for the delivery of three Dauphin AS 365N3 helicopters by Eurocopter to the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency yesterday. 

Najib reiterated that street demonstrations only produced negative effects on the national economy, besides inconveniencing the people. “Businesses are affected and the people are also inconvenienced by a few days of traffic jams as police set up roadblocks,” he said.

Hindraf defied a court order and went ahead with its gathering on Sunday and police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the illegal gathering. Thousands converged at various locations in the city to give support to Hindraf's plan to submit a petition with 100,000 signatures to the British High Commission. The petition was to ask Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen’s Counsel to represent the Indian community in a class-action suit filed against the British government for bringing in Indians as indentured labourers to the then Malaya and exploiting them. Hindraf called off its protest after seven hours without handing over its memorandum to the British High Commission.  

At another function later, Najib denied claims that MIC leader Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was a “mandor” of Umno and an ineffective leader for the Indian community.

In Penang, acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the Indian community could use other avenues to air grouses, as they were well represented in the Barisan Nasional coalition. Dr Koh said the Indian community could use signature campaigns to highlight their grievances.

Comments Off on najib denies samy vellu is mandor »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

speak up but stay within the law says Najib

November 25th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


People can speak up, but stay within the law, says Najib

source

ALOR STAR: Malaysians have every right to speak up but it is against the law to utter seditious words that could lead to racial clashes, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,  “People can speak up, but they can’t break the law,” he said. Najib said this when asked to comment on the three members of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) who were charged under the Sedition Act 1948. 

The three accused – lawyers P. Waythamoorthy, P. Uthayakumar and V. S. Ganapathi Rao – claimed trial to the charges. The three members allegedly uttered seditious words during a gathering in Batang Berjuntai in Selangor on Nov 16. “Action was taken against the Hindraf members because of the seditious speeches and not because of their plan to organise an illegal gathering in front of the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. “Regardless of who they are, we will take action under the Sedition Act against those who utter words that could stir anger among other races,” Najib said, describing the speeches made by the three men as very seditious. 

Najib was speaking to newsmen after opening the Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) Entrepreneur Carnival at Darul Aman Stadium here yesterday. On the planned gathering, Najib said those involved would have to face the music because the police did not grant them a permit. “The law is very clear. Those who want to hold gatherings must get a police permit first. People cannot hold such gatherings without a police permit. This is against the law and those involved should face the risk.” 

The group had planned to stage the assembly to submit a petition with 100,000 signatures to Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen’s Counsel to represent the Indian community in a class action suit against the British government for bringing Indians as labourers to the then Malaya and exploiting them. The suit, filed at the Royal Courts of Justice in London by Waythamoorthy in August, seeks compensation of up to US$4tril (RM13.5tril) or US$1mil for every Indian in Malaysia.

2 comments »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

PM and DPM on hindraf organisers arrest

November 24th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


NST: PM: Hindraf leaders charged with sedition after thorough probe

S. Retnanathan, BERNAMA

KAMPALA, Sat.:

Police charged in court three leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) under the Sedition Act yesterday only after monitoring their activities over a certain period, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today. 

“They are deemed to have gone against the Sedition Act and we had to take action… it is not because they had planned to hold a rally in front of the British High Commission (tomorrow),” he said.

The Prime Minister said he was told the police have been watching their activities, including recording their speeches and statements, over a span of time. Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, was speaking at a press conference after attending the first day of the two-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Abdullah said police investigations showed Uthayakumar, Waythamoorthy and Ganapathi Rao had breached the Sedition Act. “If they are wrong, then they are wrong. We are not drumming up charges against them. For us, if someone is wrong, then the person must be charged and brought to justice. “Once in court, we can hear what they have to say… for sometime now these three people have been getting carried away saying things that are against the law,” he said.

Asked about the planned rally, the Prime Minister said the country had its way for the people to voice their grouses. “Street demonstrations are not the way. We are not a nation where the people cannot voice their grievances, but it has to be done in the proper way. “We have elections… they can contest, they can campaign, ask for votes. In our elections, anyone can contest… we have never denied any registered political party from contesting in the elections, they are free to contest,” he added.

THE STAR: Don't jump to conclusions, says PM

source

By DEVID RAJAH

KAMPALA (UGANDA): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged the public not to jump to conclusions and view police action against three members of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as racial in nature.  "It has nothing to do with race. People should stop linking or viewing everything that happens in the country as a racial matter," he said.  He added that people should not be too quick to make such unfounded claims.  

"Those who commit offences will have to face charges," Abdullah told Malaysian journalists at the end of the first day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here.  Abdullah, who is also the Internal Security Minister, said police had evidence to charge the three men for making seditious statements and speeches.  

The police have been monitoring the activities of the three men and their group for a while now, he said. "We have to take action if these people have clearly committed offences," said Abdullah, adding that the arrest and charging of the three members had no connection with the planned gathering by Hindraf outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. 

NST: Hindraf leaders charged for inciting racial issues — Najib

BERNAMA

ALOR STAR, Sat.:

Three leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) were charged in court yesterday for inciting racial issues and arousing the anger of other races, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today. 

The Deputy Prime Minister said Hindraf chief P. Waythamoorty, his brother Uthayakumar and V. Ganabatirau were not charged because of the rally in front of the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. He said anyone who fanned racial sentiments and instigated the people would be charged in court as their actions breached the country’s laws. “No matter who they are, if they are found to be giving or have given seditious speeches that arouse the anger of the other races, they can be charged. “They can speak up but cannot break the law. If their speeches are seditious and instigative and can spark racial clashes, legal action will be taken against them,” he told a press conference after launching the Amanah Ikhtiar Entrepreneur Carnival.

Najib said the country’s laws explicitly state that anyone intending to organise a gathering must get a police permit but if they still went ahead with the unlawful assembly, they must be prepared to face the law for their defiance. Lawyers Waytha Moorthy, 41, Uthayakumar, 46, and Ganabatirau, 34, were charged in the Klang Sessions Court with uttering seditous words in Tamil at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai, Kuala Selangor, on Nov 16. They claimed trial to the charge.

They were charged under Section 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 (Revised 1960), which states that anyone who utters any seditious words will be liable to a maximum RM5,000 fine or three years’ jail, upon conviction. The seditious tendency includes inciting racial hatred and bringing the government and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong into contempt. It applies to an act, speech, words, or publication. It includes any phrase, sentence, or combination of words, oral or written. The three are also said to be key players in the Hindraf-initiated gathering tomorrow. Police have refused permission for the rally for fear of public disorder.

3 comments »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

Mrs Malaysia Beatrice Nirmala

November 19th, 2007
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


source

Mrs Malaysia to hold charity ball

By FAZLEENA AZIZ

Beatrice Nirmala still finds it hard to believe sometimes that she has been crowned Mrs Malaysia 2007. 

“I was the biggest in size among the other contestants and was the only Indian, too,” said the 38-year-old mother of two who also happens to be managing editor of a lifestyle magazine called Passion. 

Furthermore, she said, she had never taken part in beauty pageants before and was therefore totally alien to the preparation involved. 

“A friend had suggested that I take part in the contest and before I knew it I had been short-listed for the grand finals. 

Kind-hearted beauty: Beatrice hopes to raise RM100,000 for the IJN Foundation.

“I got the jitters just looking at the other girls,” she recalled. 

Not being one who gives up easily, Beatrice hit the gym to slim down and get the curves in the right places in time for the finals. 

Thankfully, she said, she was also taught how to walk, how to be poised, graceful and even how to smile.  

“I was calm when my name was announced as the winner. It was a defining moment of what I can achieve if I just believe in myself enough to want to make it,” she said. 

Even so, Beatrice said, she still had the jitters when she represented Malaysia in the Mrs World Pageant 2007 in Moscow, Russia, early this year. 

With beauty comes purpose, and Beatrice felt an urge to do more after being crowned Mrs Malaysia.  

“I had met with someone from the National Heart Institute (IJN) Foundation, who asked if the magazine would like to raise funds. Since Passion always organise a lot of balls, I thought it would be a great opportunity to hold the Passions Royal Charity Ball.  

“The ball will be held at the Palace at the Golden Horses on Nov 30 to raise money for needy IJN patients. We hope to raise a minimum of RM100,000 from the event. Top 10 art pieces from the Passions International Art Gallery will be put on auction.  

»I was the biggest in size among the other contestants and was the only Indian, too« BEATRICE NIRMALA

“It was quite difficult as first because, we had always invited people for our functions and now we are asking them to buy tables and contribute donations. 

“The magazine’s is read by a lot of the well-heeled and we hope to show them the loneliness and hardship faced by the less fortunate patients at the wards through a documentary video, which we will play at the event.  

“I also thought it would be exciting to have the other recent participants of the Mrs World 2007 pageant to attend the function. I managed to get 13 of them, who will be doing some activities here with the sponsors as well being part of the charity ball.  

“We plan to sing Heal the World by Michael Jackson on top of the fashion show at the event,” said Beatrice. 

She hopes to turn the charity ball into an annual event and to make other charitable organisations especially orphanages as beneficiaries. 

Among the VIPS who are expected to attend the Passions Royal Charity Ball are Sultanah of Pahang Sultanah Khalsom and wife of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.  

Table prices range between RM3,000 and RM10,000. For details, call 03-7729 4886. 

5 comments »

Posted in Indian

Tags: