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Posts Tagged ‘Perak’

Six areas identified for Tamil schools in Perak

December 21st, 2007

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This resulted in the closure of some Tamil schools in the estates

I thought no schools have been closed down???

The six areas are not for new schools, but for relocation?

Six areas identified for Tamil schools

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Other News & Views
Compiled by TAN SIN CHOW, A. RAMAN AND YOGEETHA JEEVAN

PERAK MIC has identified six areas for the building of new Tamil schools in the state, according to Tamil Nesan.State MIC chief and state executive councillor Datuk G. Rajoo said the party had requested land from the state government to build the schools.

He said many people were moving to the town areas where there were ample job opportunities. This resulted in the closure of some Tamil schools in the estates.

Rajoo said there have been more requests for schools from Indians living in towns. He said he had brought the matter of more Tamil schools to the attention of the Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali. He said that application for land would be submitted to the state government and also approval would be sought from the Education Department for the building of these Tamil schools.

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Posted in Tamil-Schools

Tags: Education MIC Perak Tamil school

5 lawyers arrested at human rights march

December 9th, 2007

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well, i don't suppose water cannons used againsts educated professionals like lawyers will bode well for our country. It will be different if this was mass protest involving all segment of societies, "penyangak"s included!

Human rights march: 5 lawyers arrested

http://www5.malaysiakini.com/news/75828

Syed Jaymal Zahiid | Dec 9, 07 8:16am

The police have arrested eight people, including five lawyers, for proceeding with a march to mark International Human Rights Day from the Sogo department store to Central Market in Kuala Lumpur early this morning.

The arrests came after a failed attempt by the organisers of the march to negotiate with the police to allow them to finish their march at their intended spot.

The 100-odd crowd was already halfway to their destination when the police give the marchers a 10-minute warning to disperse.

The organisers, who believed that they could complete their march within the time limit, wanted to press on. According to an eyewitness, the police however cordoned off the area, moved in and made the arrests even before the stipulated deadline expired.

Those arrested included five lawyers – N Surendran (photo), Latheefa Koya, R Sivarasa, Eric Paulsen and Amer Hamzah. Others were Anthony Andu, Norazah Othman and an unidentified activist.

They were arrested near the Jalan Tun Perak LRT station and were immediately taken to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.

The eight were arrested under the Police Act for illegal assembly, said Dang Wangi's acting Superintendent Che Hamzah Che Ismail.

The remainder of the marchers dispersed following the arrests.

"Authorities seem to be upset by any visible signs of protest and I think this is a problem with the country," said Sivarasa, who is also a leader of PKR.

"They don't seem to be able to deal with peaceful dissent," he told AFP before he was arrested.

Organiser Latheefa said that Malaysians needed to continue to exercise their constitutional right to public assembly.

Willing to cooperate

Earlier today, at about 8am, the small group of about 100 gathered at the Sogo departmental store under the watchful eyes of the police. There were however no signs of the dreaded Federal Reserve Unit and their water cannon trucks.

The marchers had carried banners that read "Lawyers for the freedom of assembly" and "Government that abuses human rights is terrorist."

Eyewitnesses said that one of the persons arrested was dragged into the waiting police truck and the arrests were done despite the marchers’ willingness to cooperate with the police.

This small group of marchers have undertaken this march after the Bar Council had dropped its annual march in conjunction with the International Human Rights Day celebration – which falls on Dec 10 – due to pressure to obtain a police permit.

Yesterday the police had warned the public not to participate in the march given that no permit had been issued for the gathering.

"As no permit has been issued for the gathering, those who take part in it can be charged under Section 27(5) of the Police Act 1967 for participating in an illegal assembly," warned Che Hamzah in a Bernama report.

Upon the decision of the Bar Council to call off the march, at least 15 lawyers decided to proceed with the walk to make a statement that citizens have a right to assemble peacefully and without prior requirement of a police permit.

Venue changed

Two days ago, Surendran had said that the march was purely initiated by a group of concerned lawyers, adding that the organisers will not be applying for a police permit.

“We think that applying for a permit is a negation of our fundamental right to freedom of assembly as enshrined in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution,” he had explained.

“We feel the (Bar Council) march was called of due to undue pressure from the authorities. We want to send a message that the people of Malaysia have the right to a peaceful assembly,” Surendran said.

Bar Council chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan meanwhile had explained that the decision to call off the march was made after “anxious consideration to the present circumstances that surround the event, particularly the interests of the public and the Malaysian Bar."

The Bar Council also moved its “Festival of Rights” event today to its own building located near Central Market after police insisted that organisers apply for a permit to hold the event at Central Market.

In a related development, Ambiga today expressed disappointed over not being allowed to see the arrested people.

Ambiga said that the march was peaceful and slammed the arrests as "totally unnecessary and unfortunate."

"The Bar holds the view that requirement of police permit is unconstitutional," she told reporters.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags: Festival ISA Perak PKR Politicians Protest

ghani pattail leads case against hindraf supporters

December 5th, 2007

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MalaysiaKini report is here. Below are reports from Star and NST.

Batu Caves illegal assembly case sees A-G laying charges

source

By WANI MUTHIAH

SHAH ALAM: Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail made a personal appearance at the Sessions Court here to lay charges against 26 people who allegedly took part in an illegal gathering at the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves on Nov 25.

One of the charges was participation in an illegal assembly which led to an attempted murder. The high-powered prosecution team comprised Abdul Ghani, A-G’s Chambers’ prosecution head Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden and Selangor prosecution chief Nik Suhaimi Nik Sulaiman.

The 26 were charged with being in an illegal assembly and using criminal force on policeman Dadi Abdul Rani with the intent of causing death, under Section 149 of the Penal Code that was punishable under Section 307 of the same code. They were also charged with participating in an illegal assembly and causing damage to public property. Both are non-bailable charges. Ten of them claimed trial to a main charge under Section 27 (5) of the Police Act 1967 and an alternative charge under Section 143 of the Penal Code for taking part in an illegal assembly.

A drama started at the outset of the proceedings when three volunteer lawyers from the Bar Council discharged themselves after one of them had a fallout with Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) lawyer P. Uthayakumar.

Later, Abdul Ghani said the accused were all charged under non-bailable charges and that Judge Azimah Omar had to hear all arguments before using her discretion to allow them bail. Azimah agreed and adjourned the case to today and ordered the accused to be held in police custody. She said she would not use her discretionary powers to release the accused on bail without hearing to the arguments of both sides.

Prosecution and defence teams trade words during tense proceedings

source

SHAH ALAM: It was a dramatic start to the trial of 26 people alleged to be Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters in a packed and heavily-guarded Sessions Court here yesterday as a high-powered prosecution team crossed swords with a huge group of defence lawyers. The suspects, detained by police in Batu Caves on Nov 25, claimed trial to various charges including taking part in an illegal assembly and causing damage to public property during the tense proceedings tinged with racial overtones.

They were also charged with using criminal force on a policeman with intent to cause death.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Patail himself led the prosecution team.

Seventeen lawyers appeared for the defence.

Three volunteer lawyers from the Bar Council for the defence discharged themselves after one of them, Rajpal Singh, disagreed with Hindraf lawyer P. Uthayakumar’s racial slant.

Judge Azimah Omar told the defence lawyers not to be emotional.

26 also charged with damaging seven vehicles

source

By : A. Hafiz Yatim and V. Shankar Ganesh

SHAH ALAM: In the strongest move yet against supporters of the Hindu Rights Action Front (Hindraf), 26 of them were yesterday charged with attempted murder.

This comes a week after they were charged with illegal assembly and rioting at the Selayang court. All the accused, between the ages of 18 and 45, were picked up by the police from their homes in the Klang Valley and Perak, as early as 2am yesterday. They were brought to the Shah Alam Sessions Court yesterday at 3.20pm in two police lorries. Out of the 26, 10 were also charged with illegal assembly.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail led the prosecution. Also in the team was the head of prosecution in the A-G's Chambers, Datuk Yusof Zainal Abiden. All 26 were jointly charged with using criminal force against a policeman, Dedi Abd Rani. They were also charged with causing disturbances by damaging seven vehicles — two Proton Wiras, Proton Waja, Kia Pregio, Perodua Rusa, Toyota Hiace and Rover Defender. Both offences took place in front of the Sri Subramaniam temple at Jalan Besar, Batu Caves, between 1am and 8am on Nov 25, 2007. The 26 were said to be part of an illegal assembly which was waiting to join up with other Hindraf supporters at a rally later in the day at Jalan Ampang.

For the charge of attempted murder, the accused face a maximum 20 years' jail with fine, while for charge of causing mischief, they face a jail sentence not more than five years and a fine if convicted. All claimed trial to the charges.

They were represented by a team of 17 lawyers led by G.K. Ganesan and M. Manoharan from the Bar Council. Manoharan also informed the court that none of the 26 accused was given food or drink when the police picked them up from their homes. There was also a shouting match during proceedings when Manoharan submitted the attendance of Abdul Gani may intimidate Sessions Court judge Azimah Omar who was hearing the case. Abdul Gani said the defence should not make this an issue and also not insinuate that race was an issue. Azimah assured Manoharan she was undaunted by Abdul Gani's presence and that she was only interested in seeing that justice was done. Abdul Gani objected to bail as the offence for attempted murder and causing mischief were non-bailable. Ganesan said the defence was not prepared to submit on the issue of bail and asked that the matter be heard today. Manoharan pointed out that there were irregularities to the charges framed by the prosecution, but was unprepared to submit on the matter and asked for a postponement. Azimah allowed the matter to be heard today while the accused remain under detention.

Before proceedings ended, there was a tiff among the defence lawyers when P. Uthayakumar (legal adviser to Hindraf) told the court that the charges were malicious and that the Indian community was being persecuted while no such treatment was dished out to supporters of the coalition for clean and fair elections, known as Bersih. Supporters of Bersih held a rally on Nov 10 before presenting a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

At this juncture, lawyer Jaspal Singh, stood up and told the court that he did not agree with Uthayakumar's argument and he was discharging himself from this case. He alleged that Uthayakumar was causing more problems for all 26 accused. Jaspal left the court room followed by counsel Suraj Singh and Jaya Murugan. Outside court, a Light Strike Force team was on standby as there was a large crowd of family members and friends who were denied entry. No untoward incidents were reported.

Bickering over language

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SHAH ALAM : Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail yesterday chided the 17 defence lawyers, charging that they were causing more problems for their clients by bringing up trivial issues.

Defence lead counsel M. Manoharan had earlier told the Sessions Court that Gani's presence was to intimidate judge Azimah Omar. Manoharan then made an issue of Abdul Gani's submission in English, arguing that as a government servant Abdul Gani should have used Bahasa Malaysia. Azimah waved away the objections .

At this juncture, one of the accused, M.K. Suman, 20, told the court that he had already been charged with illegal assembly — at the Selayang Sessions Court last week. Abdul Gani checked on it and apologised to the court for the mistake, but counsel P. Uthayakumar would not let him off the hook until he apologised to the accused. Azimah told him not to make an issue of it.

Abdul Gani then accused the defence of turning the proceedings into a racial issue. Then, during the bail application, counsel G.K. Ganesan said he was not prepared with submissions in Bahasa Malaysia as his submissions were in English. An exasperated Abdul Gani stood up and pointed out that earlier, the defence had wanted him to submit in Bahasa Malaysia and now Ganesan wanted to submit in English.

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Posted in Indian

Tags: Batu Caves Hindraf ISA NGO Perak Politicians PPP Protest Selangor temples Uthaya

MIC reacts with committee

November 30th, 2007

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tamil schools already have existing forums which is the state tamil school coordinators, plus tamil school HM association, plus the MIC exco in states are briefed about the schools.

temples also same – there's MHS, MIC excos, even committee in Perak and KL.

does it mean that all this didn't work until now?

whatever it is, we shall give our suggestions and do our part.

The Star's version is over here.

MIC's new approach on community woes
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75495

Nov 30, 07 12:45pm

The MIC will be setting up a special committee and a call centre soon to help the Indian community to overcome its woes.

According to a Bernama
report, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has asked MIC to form a special committee to prepare a complete report on demands by the Indian community as a follow-up to the party's proposals in June.

The news agency quoted MIC president S Samy Vellu as saying that the directive followed a meeting with Abdullah on Wednesday.

"The committee was asked to study the proposals in the report titled "New Mechanism for the Indian Community" presented to the Prime Minister in June," said Samy Vellu.

Samy Vellu, who is also the works minister, added that Abdullah sympathised with the MIC's requests and promised to study them.

"However, he asked the special committee to put in new proposals."

The new proposals include data on non-Bumiputeras in the public sector, posts and vacancies at the federal, state and local authority-level, and giving priority to recruiting non-Bumiputeras in areas where they have high population concentration in sectors like welfare, education, health and youth.

On the call centre proposal, Samy Vellu said the hotline would enable the public to channel their problems to the party. He said issues such as temples and Tamil schools could be made known to the party through the call centre.

"The MIC is a responsible party which represents the Indian community and has the social, moral and political obligations to protect the interest of Indians.

"It will continue to struggle for the betterment of the Indian community so that they can progress together with the other communities towards achieving the objectives of Vision 2020," he added in the Bernama report.

While the NST says this:

PM open to MIC proposals

source

KUALA LUMPUR: The prime minister is sympathetic and open to proposals forwarded to him by the MIC leadership concerning socio-economic ills affecting the Indian community.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was very receptive to the proposals which were contained in a 12-page report entitled "Mechanism for Effective Delivery for the Indian Community".

He said the report was handed over to the prime minister in May.

"The prime minister even suggested including additional input among the proposals, so that all areas are covered."

Samy Vellu, who headed the committee that prepared the proposals, said they included investment opportunities, skilled training, micro-credit facilities, education, employment health and issues pertaining to temples.

He said Abdullah had directed his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to study the proposals and work with the MIC leadership to conduct periodic reviews to address the plight of the Indian community.

"The periodic review is to ensure that the proposals agreed to are carried out effectively," he said after chairing the party's central working committee meeting at the MIC headquarters.

Samy Vellu added that the proposals included budget allocations under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to ensure that the Indian community would not be marginalised when the country achieved its "Vision 2020" aspirations.

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Posted in Indian

Tags: Education MHS MIC Perak Politicians Tamil school temples

Perak never rejected application for temple land titles

November 13th, 2007

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Apply for land titles, temples told MIC: State has never rejected applications

By CLARA CHOOI

Perak MIC chairman Datuk G. Rajoo said he was confident the state government would not reject their applications, as it had not done so before.

“Since 2000, the state has issued land titles to 38 temples,” he told reporters at his Deepavali open house in Ipoh recently.

His comments came following the demolition of a temple in Shah Alam by the Selangor Government on Oct 30 that sparked off a controversy.

On the 38 temples issued land titles, Rajoo said, some had been allowed to remain in their current location while others were given alternative plots of between 0.404ha and 0.808ha.

“The state government also gives an RM300,000 annual allocation for the maintenance of the legalised temples,” he said.

Despite this, he said, there were still so many illegal Hindu temples in Perak.

“This is because the temple committees are not willing to move from their current locations. They do not apply for land titles as they may be asked to relocate to a new spot,” he said.

He added that in Ipoh alone, at least 400 Hindu temples were squatting illegally on government land.

“Still, Perak has never demolished temples to make way for development,” he said, adding that with negotiations, such problems could be resolved amicably.

“However, we would like to urge all temple committees to legalise their temples and apply for the grants.

“They must register their details with the Malaysia Hindu Sangam and their applications can be sent to the state government through the Perak MIC,” he said.

Earlier at the open house, Rajoo donated RM5,000 each to six orphanages in Ipoh.