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MIC confident indians vote for BN

December 23rd, 2007
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BN can count on Indian voters
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76334
Dec 22, 07 3:21pm

There is no risk of the Indian voters ditching the BN and running to vote for the opposition in the coming general election, said MIC deputy president G Palanivel today.

"Loyalty is not a one-way process. It's a two-way process. BN voters will remain loyal to us because we have served our constituencies and have cultivated our relationship with our people," said Palanivel.

Bernama reported the Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development as saying that the voters would know the volume of work done by MIC for the community.

"On the ground situation, especially during a general election, would be such that our voters will evaluate the volumes of work the MIC has done under the leadership of Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu,” he said.

He was commenting on suggestions by Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang yesterday that there has been a political awakening among Indian voters in the country recently. Lim had said that the Indian voters could use their voting powers to be kingmakers in determining who should represent them.

However Palanivel said: "This will not happen".

He added that Lim was only referring to the voice of a splinter group, adding that the majority of the Indian voters knew that voting for the opposition would not be a solution to some of their unresolved woes.

Palanivel however admitted that BN’s elected representatives must continue to work hard in their constituencies and keep their voters informed of the opposition's ploy to fish in troubled waters.

Opposition exploitation

Palanivel’s comments today followed similar remarks made by the MIC Youth chief SA Vigneswaran yesterday that the opposition was exploiting the Indian voters.

Yesterday party president Samy Vellu also claimed that recent incidents have not dented MIC.

"I will continue to fight for the betterment of the (Indian) community,” he told Bernama in an interview.

Referring to recent street protests by some members of the Indian community and those from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), he said MIC's spirit and strength had not been weakened by those incidents.

"I have always stood by the MIC and will continue to stand by the party. I will continue to fight for the community to ensure that Indians in the country continue to rise socially and economically," he had said.

Lim however had said that Samy was out of touch with the wishes of the Indian community.

The opposition leader said that Samy has a "serious denial syndrome" when he claimed that the government has never neglected the Indians.

The kingmakers

Lim also predicted that the Indian voters, who for long have been loyal to the Barisan Nasional, will shift away from voting for the ruling coalition in the next general election.

The most recent electoral data shows that there are 50 parliamentary and 133 state assembly constituencies where Indian voters comprise more than 10 percent of the electorate and 21 parliamentary and 133 state assembly seats in Peninsular Malaysia where the Indian voters constitute more than 15 percent of the electorate.

Lim said that the Indian voters in these constituencies can make the difference in sending a message to the BN.

MIC and Samy Vellu have come under tremendous pressure in recent months after Hindraf had managed to gather 30,000 people in Kuala Lumpur as a sign of protest against the marginalisation of the community in this country.

The community, feeling helpless, has thrown its weight behind Hindraf in the calls made to the government to immediately look into the woes of the Indians here.

As a result of their hardline campaign, five Hindraf leaders have been detained under the Internal Security Act which provides for detention without trial.

To regain the losing support, Samy Vellu and the MIC have been embarking on a series of programmes to convince the community that only MIC can help them.

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mahathir on ISA

December 22nd, 2007
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TDM says if don't like ISA, don't vote for those who use them. So, asking people not to vote for BN?

Star, NST, and MK excerpts below:

The Star
On the Government using the Internal Security Act (ISA) against Hindraf leaders, Dr Mahathir said he himself had used the ISA before. 

"It is up to the government and the people to decide this. You see, we are a democratic country. 

"If the people selected to lead are the people who support the use of ISA, then they will use it. The choice is yours. I thought people approved the use of ISA when they supported me, so I implemented it." 

However, Dr Mahathir felt that problems felt by any community ought to be addressed in other ways and that public assemblies should only be used as a last resort.

NST
When asked on the government’s decision to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) on the group behind the activities which threatened public order and national security, Dr Mahathir said: “I used the ISA too.

“It is up to the government and the people to decide; as you know we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally the ISA will be there.

“If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours.”

According to Dr Mahathir, he was elected based on the fact that he supported the ISA.

“I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA, that’s why I implemented the ISA,” he said.

On claims of ethnic cleansing here, Dr Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

“I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that…I think that’s a bit absurd.”

On street demonstrations, he said the people were entitled to raise (issues) but there were other ways of doing it.

“Not unless they are prevented from making their presentation in other ways.

“If they don’t have a choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders to explain their problems. I think that should be their first choice,” he said.

MK
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today demonstrations should only be held as a last resort when other avenues of communicating grievances are unavailable.

Mahathir said that as long as the channels are still open for issues to be raised and conveyed to community leaders, he is against demonstrations.

“They are entitled to raise (the issues), but there are other ways of raising it,” Mahathir told a press conference at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya.

“If they have no other choice, of course, they may resort to demonstrations. But if they have a choice, they have their own leaders, they can meet (and) they can explain their problems, I think that would be the first choice,” he added.

Mahathir – speaking after the launch of a book on ‘The Third World and International Law’ by legal expert Tungku Sofiah Jewa – was commenting on the spate of public gatherings organised recently, such as by polls watchdog coalition Bersih and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

Also present at the press conference were Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Rais Yatim.

While Bersih rallied about 40,000 people into the streets on Nov 10 in support of a petition to the King for electoral reform, about 30,000 rallied on Nov 25 in support of a Hindraf petition to the British embassy protesting discrimination against and marginalisation of ethnic Indians.

Following the crackdowns by the police on the events, civil society groups and organisations have pressed for the government to give greater freedom for public assemblies and to abolish laws requiring a police permit before public gatherings are held.

Vote wisely

Mahathir also denied that the Indian community had been refused opportunities to make their grievances known.

On claims of ethnic cleansing here as alleged by Hindraf,  Mahathir said he read a lot about ethnic cleansing in Bosnia.

"I have yet to see a lot of Indians being killed here. Malays killing Indians and all that….I think that's a bit absurd."

  Speaking on the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) against five Hindraf leaders, Mahathir said if people were against the ISA – which provides for detention without trial – they should not vote to power a party whose politicians are in support of the act.

“As you know, we are a democratic country. If you elect people who are supportive of the ISA, naturally, the ISA will be there. If you don’t like the ISA, you have to elect people who don’t like the ISA. The choice is yours,” he said.

“I was elected despite the fact that I supported the ISA. I was elected by the people, so I thought the people approved the ISA. That’s why I implemented the ISA,” he added.

Many quarters have criticised the government’s detention of the ‘Hindraf 5' under the ISA as an act of ‘desperation‘.

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samy vellu says oath prevents him

December 22nd, 2007
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Samy uses the OSA to cover up.  I also heard in the news tonight that 76 schools have been renovated 180+ schools out 522 were fully aided.

Samy promises new faces for GE
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76339
RK Anand | Dec 22, 07 6:54pm

MIC’s elected representatives who have reached the ‘fatigue stage’ would be dropped and replaced by new faces in the coming general election, said the party’s president S Samy Vellu today.

"Looking at the situation, I am going to do many changes. This is sure to happen," he said when interviewed in RTM's Tamil talkshow "Karuthu Kalam" or "Opinion Forum" aired over RTM2 today.

Samy spoke about wide-ranging issues from when he entered politics and the challenges being faced by the party and the Indian community.

"Normally, I introduce new faces in elections and I assign them special tasks.

"Since I work long hours, I can't be monitoring them all the time. That will affect my job," he said.

He said he could tell them about their responsibilities during the MIC's monthly central working committee (CWC) meetings.

"Few are clear about their duties and carry out their responsibilities accordingly (but) some have reached the fatigue stage," he said.

At present MIC has nine members of Parliament and 19 state representatives.

Many would see the proposal to introduce new faces by the party in the coming general election as a way by Samy to recapture the trust of the Indian community.

The Indian community has been quite critical in the recent past over what is seen as the party’s and its leaders’ failures to uplift the community.

We have benefited

Samy also said that he entered politics in 1957 "with a view to change the condition of the Indian community".

"That was one of the main reasons for me to join politics. It was permanently in my mind. I kept thinking for ways and means to create a better situation to upgrade the condition of the community.

"When I became president of MIC in 1979, I realised that only by transforming the community into an educated community, we would be able to compete and be on par with others," he said.

He also said that he has not stopped fighting for the community in his 29 years of service as a minister. He is presently the works minister.

"I have talked everything. I can tell one thing to those who ask on what I've done. I can't reveal what I've talked, what I've fought in the cabinet.

"We have taken an oath of secrecy and we should not reveal anything that have been decided in the cabinet because those government documents are classified as official secrets," he said.

To a question, the MIC chief said not all the requests made by the MIC were put aside by the government.

"During the 29 years, when we request for 20, we get 10. So we have always benefited. We can't say we didn't get anything.

“I have records on what we have got. I know how the government has been channelling the assistance," he added.

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another death while in police custody

December 21st, 2007
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Another custodial death, questions abound
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76306
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Dec 21, 07 6:36pm

How many more deaths in custody will it take before the authorities set up a credible and effective mechanism to look into claims of – and punish – misconduct by police personnel?

This was the question raised by the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee (Police Watch) in response to the death of 30-year old palm oil worker K Letchumanan last Tuesday. 

Police Watch coordinator B Chandran said “nothing less than” an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) – or its credible equivalent – can reduce the abuses and discipline the police or other enforcement personnel. 

“There’s nothing better than the IPCMC, because the police really need to be disciplined,” he said when contacted today.

He called for an immediate inquest to be held into Letchumanan’s death.

Police Watch legal advisor N Surendran said Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Musa Hassan has to order an immediate investigation into Letchumanan’s death and charge those responsible.

“While the government and the police say there is no need for an IPCMC, assaults and other abuses are continuing at the ground level,” he said.

Chandran and Surendran were speaking on the heels of reports that Letchumanan, a father of six from Gali estate near Raub, Pahang, died in his cell on Dec 18.

‘Hanged himself with a blanket’

Letchumanan was arrested last Friday and detained together with his friend, M Kanniyappan, 38, for suspected involvement in the theft of grass-cutting machines. Kanniyappan was released four days later.

According to the police, Letchumanan died by hanging himself with a blanket. The police claimed that the post-mortem report revealed the same.

Letchumanan’s family members claimed that they were not informed of his arrest and only knew of his death when police officers told them Friday evening.

“They are not satisfied with the explanation of the police. Letchumanan had six children to take care of. How could he have suddenly taken his own life like that?” said the family’s neighbour B Subramaniam, 45, when contacted.

Letchumanan’s sister Sarasvathy Thevi, 32, lodged a police report on Wednesday and requested the state police chief to investigate the circumstances surrounding her brother’s death.

The family is waiting for the findings of a second post-mortem report after they rejected the first.

Adding to the questions, Surendran claimed that the Raub police station has closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

“Leaving aside the allegation Letchumanan was assaulted to death, there’s a CCTV system in the lock-up. What were the police doing while Letchumanan was said to have hanged himself?” asked the lawyer.

“At the least, there was gross negligence on the part of the police for allowing this to happen,” he said.

Friend: He was ‘threatened’

Strengthening the family’s suspicions of foul play, Letchumanan’s friend Kanniyappan also lodged a police report alleging he had witnessed Letchumanan being threatened by police officers on the day he died.

According to Kanniyappan, both he and Letchumanan were taken by the police to Gali estate in search of the stolen grass-cutting machines.

Having failed to recover the items, Letchumanan was allegedly verbally abused and warned that he would be “beaten until half-dead”, said Kanniyappan in the police report lodged yesterday.

“I do not believe that Letchumanan killed himself as claimed by the police,” he said further.

Kanniyappan alleged that he was also assaulted during his four-day detention. “I was kicked four times on the chest and stomach and slapped on the cheek.”

Contacted later, Raub district police chief Wan Mohd Shamsuddin Wan Osman declined to comment.

“I cannot comment on the case right now. Investigations are ongoing. If I say anything, it may jeopardise everything,” he said.

DAP leader Ronnie Liu, who met with Wan Mohd earlier this week, has vowed to bring the ma

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MIBA’s Sivakumar offers more views

December 21st, 2007
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He asked why the government cannot offer discounts to poor Indians and Chinese to purchase better houses.

"Why should they be left with the low-cost houses option? This will just lead to the creation of urban slums. They should also be given the opportunity to enjoy better housing," he added.

Yeah, why not?

Indian woes: Look at the BIG picture
RK Anand | Dec 21, 07 5:17pm
Source

The problems afflicting the Indian community in Malaysia extend beyond government handouts, said Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar today.

In order to view the big picture, he called on concerned groups, including MIC, to discard their conventional myopic ways.

The Johor-based businessman stressed on the importance of a reform in mindset and approach to tackle the community's woes.

"For decades, they have been talking about the same issues like estates, Tamil schools and temples. No doubt these are important, but the problem now is greater.

"What is confronting the community today are issues of national identity and equal opportunities in both the public and private sector as well as education," he told Malaysiakini.

After 50 years of independence, Sivakumar said Indians are deeply concerned about their future and that of their children's in this country.

"This is the real issues that need to be addressed. We cannot run away from them. The community is also concerned about its rights as enshrined in the federal constitution.

"This is a painful and tearful situation. Those with wealth, who are the minority, can afford to migrate, but what about the rest?" he said, adding, "I have been working with the community for 25 years and I have read their 'pulse'."

"It is these concerns that are being expressed. The community is not indulging in racism, communalism or extremism, they are merely expressing their sentiments and frustrations."

Elections – a test for BN

Sivakumar also warned that the coming general election will be a litmus test for the ruling Barisan Nasional government in terms of Indian votes.

In the past, Indians have been true-blue supporters of the ruling coalition but recent events, namely the emergence of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and allegations of marginalisation and persecution, indicate the possibility of a swing in votes.

Meanwhile, Sivakumar said the Indian community is not questioning the special privileges accorded to the bumiputera.

"These privileges were agreed to in the social contract in 1970 when the New Economic Policy (NEP) was formulated, agreed to and supported by all the races.

"This is not being disputed by anyone," added the 50-year-old entrepreneur who was one of those who met with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi recently to discuss the problems faced by the Indians.

The issue of contention, according to Sivakumar, is the 'abuse' of the NEP. "This has given rise to dissent and dissatisfaction. It is the lack of aid extended to the poor of other races. The poor are being neglected," he said.

He asked why the government cannot offer discounts to poor Indians and Chinese to purchase better houses.

"Why should they be left with the low-cost houses option? This will just lead to the creation of urban slums. They should also be given the opportunity to enjoy better housing," he added.

He reasoned that education and business are two key areas which can help propel the community towards a better future. "So, it is vital that the government assist Indians in these areas."

Furthermore, he said with the increase in the cost of living, the Indians must receive their fair share of help from the government to ensure that they can lead quality lives.

Samy 'departs from the norm'

"These are the issues that MIC should be pushing for instead of mentioning the same old things again and again," he added.

However, he commended MIC president S Samy Vellu over his recent comments, which Sivakumar described as a "departure from the norm."

"Samy Vellu made some critical observations, such as agreeing on the need for more Indians in the civil service and that the public delivery system must be improved and stressing on the need for a Malaysian identity," he said.

Sivakumar also commented on a news report today which quoted Johor MIC chief K S Balakrishnan as saying that the state never marginalised Indians.

Among others, the state MIC leader said the state granted RM9 million over the past years for the modernisation and development of Tamil schools while RM2 million was allocated last year to build new Tamil schools, renovate classrooms and buy equipment.

"I have to agree with this," said Sivakumar.

"Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman has a track record of being fair to all races. He was also generous enough to extend a privatisation project to the community, but this was later withdrawn.

"Maybe Johor MIC can explain why it was withdrawn," he said, without elaborating.

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