Posts Tagged ‘Penang’

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Gerakan starts wooing indian voters in penang

January 14th, 2008
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From the party that asked what "rubber tappers do behind trees" 🙂

source

GERAKAN has asked the Government to take advantage of the higher rubber and palm oil prices to raise estate workers’ wages, Malaysia Nanban reported. It also proposed a special fund to help the children of rubber and oil palm estate workers and former plantation workers. 

Acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the move was crucial to help plantation workers, particularly the younger ones in the estates, to earn higher incomes to provide a better life for their families. 

He was speaking to reporters after chairing a four-hour central committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday. 

He said he was making the suggestion following a meeting with Indian community leaders in Penang. Party leaders had also met Indian grassroots officials in several places to find ways to improve the community’s socio-economic status. 

On Gerakan, Koh said the party had expanded the Maju Diri programme, a special programme to help the Indian community in Penang, to other states. This programme was initiated eight years ago in the form of sponsoring kindergarten classes, giving financial aid to poor Indian students and paying Tamil schoolteachers’ salaries. Seven Tamil schools in Penang have benefited from the programme so far. 

Koh said Gerakan would also expand the “Lim Keng Yaik Education Fund”, set up by the party adviser, who is also Energy, Water and Communications Minister, to help the Indian community in his Beruas parliamentary constituency. He said the fund, set up three years ago, would be extended to other Gerakan-held state and parliamentary constituencies. 

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Krishnasamy received threats

January 12th, 2008
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Krishnasamy had received threats

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SEGAMAT: Slain Tenggaroh state assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy had been receiving threats for about a week but did not take them seriously.  

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said that Krishnasamy had told him about the threats before he left for India two weeks ago. “I just advised him to take care. That was the maximum I could say,” he said, adding that such threats were commonly received by those in politics or those who become elected representatives.  Samy Vellu said that he, too, received 10 to 15 such calls a day from people making all sorts of accusations and threats.  

“This time, things got out of hand. Now, there are all sorts of accusations and the people's minds have been poisoned.  “People think we are not needed anymore. Such cases can happen in future as the people hate us,” he said, referring to the killing of the assemblyman.  

However, Samy Vellu added that they (MIC politicians) would not be able to do their job if they lived in fear.  “I meet 750 people each week. If the gunman comes, even I can be shot,” he said, adding that that all MIC assemblymen and MPs have been told to be extra cautious.  

“We also appeal to the Inspector-General of Police to investigate this case thoroughly as the previous murder of Lunas assemblyman Joe Fernandez in 2000 has yet to be solved,” he said.  “Besides that, several other murders have also happened in Penang.” 

Samy Vellu said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had contacted him yesterday to assure him that the police were tracking down the suspect.  Samy Vellu, who arrived at Krishnasamy's house at 11.15am, said that Abdullah also conveyed his condolences to the family. 

He called for security at all MIC offices nationwide would be beefed up.  “I have told the Johor MIC leader to employ a new security guard and not to just allow everybody into the building,” he said, adding that he was surprised that the guard, stationed at the building, was not present at the time of the shooting.  

Asked how Krishnasamy's death would affect MIC's performance in the area in the coming elections, he replied: “I do not want to talk about the elections now.”  

On Krishnasamy's contributions, Samy Vellu said that he had showed a lot of interest in wanting to help the people in Johor.  “Each week, at least once, he brings people to see me for help,” he said, adding that he last spoke to Krishnasamy on Friday morning as Krishnasamy had wanted to meet with him next week.  

Segamat MP Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam appealed to the police to investigate and bring the killer to book. “MIC has lost a good leader and I have lost a good friend,” he said.  

State PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed, who led a delegation of about 30 people to the house, said that this was a new phenomenon, which needed to be checked.  “The police need to do something about such cases, including providing additional security to politicians,” he said, adding that people had the right to live in peace.  Dr Mahfodz also conveyed his condolences to the family.

Krishnasamy received threats a week before his death

BERNAMA source

SEGAMAT, Sat.:

State Assemblyman for Tenggaroh Datuk S. Krishnasamy received several threatening calls a week before he was shot dead yesterday.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who is Works Minister, said Krishnasamy, who was Johor MIC deputy chairman, informed him of the threats before he left for India on an official visit.”He said the threats went on for a week but he did not take it seriously. I did advise him to be careful. That is all I can say,” Samy Vellu told reporters when he came to the residence of the late assemblyman in Bandar Putra here today.

He also urged the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the case to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

Samy Vellu said that for a politician or elected individual, receiving threats from dissatisfied people was normal but in this case, it was too much.”What happened to Krishnasamy can happen to anyone else,” he said.He said a circular had been issued to all MIC assemblymen and members of Parliament on the need to take extra precautions to ensure their safety.

Samy Vellu said that presently, there were some people within the Indian community who created agitation including in writing to show that the MIC and its elected representatives did not work for the benefits of the community. This was very dangerous because the aim was to sow hatred towards the MIC and its elected representatives, he said. “They write as though the people hate us a lot. When people think we are no longer useful, perhaps a shoot to kill can occur,” he said.

Asked whether he believed that Krishnasamy’s murder was politically motivated, Samy Vellu said he was not sure.”I cannot say whether it has something to do with politics, a private matter or in connection with the constituency. An elected representative has many connections,” he said.However, he said, an elected representative should not be afraid when facing threats from irresponsible quarters.

Samy Vellu also said that he was disappointed with the laxness of security at the Johor MIC building and the absence of security guards at the premises when the shooting took place.”I have told the Johor MIC chairman to place new security personnnel and instal closed-circuit cameras to know who come in and out of the office,” he said.He also ordered all state MIC offices to review the security aspect of their premises.

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Penang Hindu Endowment Board under attack

January 11th, 2008
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Political meddling in Penang Hindu temples
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76923
Athi Veeranggan | Jan 11, 08 10:46am

A Hindu organisation has taken the Penang Hindu Endowments Board to task for acting beyond its jurisdiction and becoming a political tool of the MIC and Gerakan.

The United Hindu Religious Council (UHRC) president S Mugunthan alleged that the board's nine commissioners were appointed yearly based on their political affiliation rather than their knowledge on Hinduism and administrative skills.

He said that the political-based appointment for the board's commissioner position had become a norm since the 1980's.

"It is obvious that the present commissioners were appointed due to their political allegiance with certain parties or leaders notably the MIC and Gerakan,” he said.

Sources close to the endowments board told Malaysiakini that MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu and Gerakan president and Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon were the most powerful influence behind the appointment of the commissioners.

The source revealed that MIC and Gerakan had been using the commissioners’ position as a political gift to their local leaders.

The present chairman of the endowments board is the state MIC deputy chairperson and executive councillor PK Subbaiyah.

Over the past 20 years or so, many commissioners were appointed from political ranks of MIC and Gerakan.

"This is unwarranted," added Mugunthan.

The statutory powers

Under the Section 3(1) of the Hindu Endowment Ordinance 1906, the state governor on the advice of the state executive council shall appoint a board of commissioners, in which one of whom shall be a government officer.

Under Section 6 of the HEO, the board of commissioners shall appoint an endowment management committee consisting members of public professing the religion applicable to the endowment.

UHRC deputy president K Suppayah, who was appointed as assistant secretary to the commissioner board for more than 20 years (1970-1993), said there was no provision under the ordinance that empowered the board to appoint the management committees to manage any Hindu temples, organise Hindu religious festivals, govern tanneer panthals (refreshment sheds), collect donations and charge devotees with prayer fees of any form.

"The board is only a trustee of Hindu endowments of five temples," he said, while stressing that he had clarified the matter with the Attorney-General Chambers.

At present Hindu endowments belonging to the Waterfall hilltop Sri Balathandayuthabani Kovil , Sri Ramar Kovil in Dhoby Ghaut, Sri Kunj Bihari Krishan Mandir, Lebuh Queen's Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil and Butterworth Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil come under the jurisdiction of the endowments board.

Although it's merely a board of trustees to safeguard and manage the endowments of the five Hindu temples, the statutory body has, however transformed itself into a religious authority to appoint, control and dictate the management committees of the five temples, religious festivals and tanneer panthals (refreshment sheds).

"This clearly contravenes Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which was unambiguous that the government shall not handle religious affairs pertaining to religions other than Islam.

"Since the board is a statutory body, it shall not encroach into Hindu religious affairs," said Suppayah, while adding that the management of the five temples should be left to Hindu public, especially Hindu organisations.

Legal action possible

If the letter of law were to be enforced strictly, the board had no powers to manage temples, interfere in organising of the Thaipusam or Chitra Paruvam festivals and tanneer panthals.

As such, the board would have no authority to stop tanneer panthals from playing their own music during the Thaipusam festival and install a 3km-long single public address system between the Waterfall hilltop temple in Jalan Air Terjun and the Jalan Brown – Jalan Utama.

It also cannot impose charges on devotees for prayers of any form at the five temples.

Technically and ideally, said Suppayah, either existing Hindu organisations shall be allowed or new independent organisations shall be registered to manage each of the temples and organise religious festivals and functions associated with the temples.

"However, the board has now usurped a non-existent power by directly interfering with Hindu religious," he said.

Mugunthan said his council would carry out awareness campaign on the real position and powers of the endowments board since many Hindus were either ignorant and naive about the whole issue.

He did not rule out legal redress on the issue to stop the board from overstepping its judicial boundary thus committing unlawful acts.

"We have to take court action to right the wrong then we will do it," he said.

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nalla knows about anwar for 30 years and kept quiet?

January 7th, 2008
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Based on my close association with him for more than 30 years, I know very well that he is lying to the Indian community now, just to gain votes.

Nalla stick around Anwar for 30 YEARS knowing very well about the guy? Why not come out in the open earlier? Looks like cannot trust Nalla as well. sticking around with a crook, means you are most likely one as well, especially if for as long as 30 years.

Nalla to Anwar: 'What've you done for Indians?'
http://malaysiakini.com/news/76771
Soon Li Tsin | Jan 7, 08 4:29pm

PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim today came under fire from former ally turned nemesis KS Nallakarupan over his comments regarding the Indian community. 

Nallakarupan, who helms the fledgling Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), challenged Anwar to reveal what he did for the Indian community when he was deputy premier and finance minister.

Nallakarupan was responding to Anwar’s remarks during his recent roadshows in Kedah and Penang.

“He is telling them (the Indian community) to stop voting for Barisan Nasional candidates and instead cast their votes for his party in the coming elections.

“I find it strange that Anwar is going around making claims that the government has done nothing for the Indian community

“Even stranger is his claim that his party will ensure the Indian community is not marginalised if he comes to power,” he said in a statement.

'Putting up a show'

In issuing his challenge to Anwar, Nallakarupan claimed that the opposition leader is lying to fish for votes. 

“I have personal experience and knowledge on how he treats the Indian community. Based on my close association with him for more than 30 years, I know very well that he is lying to the Indian community now, just to gain votes.

“I hope he will put an immediate stop to his political games in trying to cheat the Indian community,” he said.

Nallakarupan also advised the Indian community not to be taken up by Anwar’s claims.

“I hope they will realise that Anwar who did nothing for them when he could have done something for them is not going to do anything now,” he said.

Recently, Anwar was also attacked over the same issue by MIC president S Samy Vellu who accused the former of putting up a show.

“He is lovely because the general election is just around the corner. He seems to be putting up a very good show and smiling a lot these days when he sees the Indians.

“I don’t know when he started to develop such good habits whereas his old habits were totally different when he was deputy prime minister and finance minister.

“When he was on top, he never looked at the Indians, let alone resolve their problems,” said Samy Vellu.

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thaipusam at batu caves minus indians?

January 6th, 2008
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Hmmm..if many indians don't go to batu caves in two weeks time, pity all the foreign tourists! Perhaps the organisers can hire the many foreign workers and dark-skinned malaysians to provide cover, just in case.

businessmen may also think about setting up their stalls in other locations as a backup plan since even if the crowd is there, but don't spend much, will affect their business. Other locations like Penang, JB, Ipoh, Kuala Selangor, Teluk Intan, Port Klang, Klang etc will surely see bigger crowd this year.
 
 
Boycotting Batu Caves for Thaipusam?
K Kabilan | Jan 5, 08 4:23pm

A movement is fast gaining momentum on the ground to canvass support among the Indian community to boycott the Batu Caves temple for the Thaipusam festival which falls in Jan 23.

Short message services (SMSes) and emails are being circulated asking people not to fulfill their spiritual vows in Batu Caves following the temple committee’s role in allowing the police to violently disperse a gathered crowd in the early hours of Nov 25.

So far no one has claimed leadership or responsibility for the boycott call but the feedback from the ground seemed to indicate that it is a random act of protest propagated by unknown individuals.

“As mark of respect for all fellow brothers and sisters who were part of the Nov 25 rally, we will fulfill all our spiritual vows at other temples in Malaysia except Batu Caves during Thaipusam,” said one such SMS making its rounds in recent weeks. Other SMSes with similar messages have also been in circulation lately.

The SMSes refer to the violent dispersal by police of a large crowd who had gathered peacefully at the compound of the Batu Caves temple in the early hours of that day last year.

The crowd had arrived there prior to participating in the much-talked about Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) organised rally in Kuala Lumpur later that morning.

The police have said that they had acted only after they were called in by the Batu Caves temple management committee, headed by R Nadarajah.

Nadarajah (photo) had defended the temple’s actions by saying that the crowd had trespassed into the temple after closing hours and in the process had caused severe damages to the temple’s properties.

Thaipusam is one of the most important festivals for the Hindus. It is dedicated to Lord Muruga and celebrates the victory of good over evil. In Malaysia, Batu Caves has been the centre of the celebration for years, attracting about a million visitors on that day every year.

An angry community

One annual Batu Caves visitor, S Sivalingam from Pasir Penampang in Selangor told Malaysiakini that the calls for the boycott was likely to be heeded in his area.

“Every year bus loads of devotees from this place and the surrounding estates will make the pilgrimage to Batu Caves. This year lots of people are asking us not to go after what the temple has done to the people who were there on Nov 25,” he said.

He said that calls for the boycott has come not just via the SMSes, but also from local community leaders and from fellow residents themselves.

“They talk openly about Hindraf and how Nadarajah and his committee members have failed to support the fight for Indian rights,” he added.

He admitted the local Indian population in his area and the surrounding areas – which have long been strong BN supporters – were angry with the manner Hindraf supporters and protesters were treated in both Batu Caves and Kuala Lumpur city centre on Nov 25.

“The feeling is that our political parties have failed us. Our temples have failed too. So why must we continue giving our support to them,” asked Sivalingam, a 43-year-old businessman.

Bloggers too have joined along in asking the people to boycott Batu Caves this year.

“Perhaps we should teach them (the Batu Caves committee) by going to Penang and Malacca for Thaipusam. Let them lose their revenue,” wrote a blogger.

“Public solidarity is paramount in this symbolic effort to achieve the objectives and show that it is not easily quelled. Let's hit them where it naturally hurts most – $$$,” wrote another blogger.

Hindraf denies involvement

A priest in a small temple in Kapar K Munian said that he was worried that devotees from his temple would take “their fight against the wrong party”.

“The anger should not be focussed at the deity in the temple. It is after all Lord Muruga’s day. We go there to pray to him. If the anger is against the temple committee, find some other way to show it. Let’s not ask people not to go to Batu Caves to pray,” he pleaded.

Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran (photo), when contacted, denied that his organisation was the mover behind the call for the boycott.

“How can we ask people not to pray. Of course we at Hindraf are angry with the Batu Caves temple committee, but that doesn’t mean we can ask people to boycott Lord Muruga,” he said.

“It is a temple and we will not stop people from praying there. But if it is their choice to boycott, we can’t do anything about that,” he added.

Batu Caves temple officials when contacted said that they are aware of the calls to boycott the temple for Thaipusam.

“But we are not worried about this. We are sure the devotees will continue to come here to worship,” said an official.

Protest the right way

Similar strong sentiment was espoused by MIC vice president S Veerasingam, who was confident that devotees will not boycott Batu Caves for Thaipusam.

“As usual thousands will turn up at Batu Caves and other places to fulfill their vows. Do not bring negative thoughts into religious festivals,” he told Malaysiakini.

A long time kavadi-bearer at Batu Caves, P Batu Malai said that he would surely fulfill his vows by carrying a kavadi this year too at Batu Caves, although he was angry with the manner the temple committee handled the crowd on Nov 25.

“I was in the crowd and I know how the temple committee worked hand in hand with the police in getting us out of the temple compound,” he claimed.

“But that will not stop me from going there for Thaipusam. However I will not pay a single sen to the temple for any of its projects and charity drives. Neither will I be standing around to hear MIC president S Samy Vellu’s annual speech for Thaipusam at Batu Caves,” he added.

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