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Street demos not supported by government and MIC says Samy Vellu

November 25th, 2007
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BERNAMA
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/NewsBreak/20071125124358/Article/index_html

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun.:

Neither the government nor the MIC support street demonstrations as a means to resolve problems, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today. 

“We believe in working from within the (government) system,” the MIC president said in response to the illegal gathering organised by the defiant Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.

The minister issued the statement following requests from local and foreign media for his comments on the rally. “The MIC has been working within the system and it has been proven to be successful.  “We have resolved many problems and issues through consultations and dialogues with the government, without resorting to street demonstrations,” he said.
 

Samy Vellu said education, economic and social issues have been resolved through direct consultations with the federal, state and local governments. “Every Wednesday, at Cabinet meetings, we bring up issues concerning the Indian community. Some matters are discussed behind closed-doors as it involves sensitive matters. “However, the government has always been supportive. The leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been very supportive and sympathetic towards our cause,” he said.

On the gathering, Samy Vellu said it was obvious that the Opposition was behind it and was a ploy to smear the government’s name, especially in the eyes of the world. The Hindraf rally was staged this morning despite the police having warned Hindraf leaders and supporters not to challenge the law. Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Ismail Omar warned protesters that they risked arrest if they turned up for the illegal gathering. Yesterday, Hindraf co-ordinator S. Manickavasagam singled out Ampang Park, Wisma MCA and KLCC as the gathering points for the rally.

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hishamuddin says Sembrong is example of racial unity

November 25th, 2007
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Hisham: Constituency a fine example of multi-racial cooperation

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KLUANG: The Sembrong parliamentary constituency is an example of racial unity and harmony where its Indian assemblyman receives the full support of people of other races, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein. 

He said Kahang assemblyman S. Ramis received the support of the people although 97% of the population were non-Indians. 

However, he said foreign news networks such as Al-Jazeera or CNN do not want to highlight such positive situations. 

“They prefer to focus on the bad things that do not reflect the true identity of this country,” Hishammuddin, who is Sembrong MP, said after launching the Think.Com programme at SMK T6 yesterday. 

At the Sembrong MIC Deepavali Open House, Ramis said the situation in the country, especially Sembrong, was fine without even a whiff of racial tension. 

On the planned rally by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur today, he said he was firmly against such actions, describing it as an exploitation of democracy. 

“These people are misusing the freedom of democracy to cause unwanted problems by staging the illegal rally or march,” he said.

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PM and DPM on hindraf organisers arrest

November 24th, 2007
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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.

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No support for Hindraf rally from MIC and 25 NGOs

November 24th, 2007
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Cancel march, urge Indian groups

source

KUALA LUMPUR: Community leaders from 25 leading Indian associations have backed MIC’s call for tomorrow's Hindraf march to the British High Commission to be cancelled because there are too many political, economic and social concerns at stake. 

“Investors are watching us closely, and if they do not have good vibes about this country, they will shift their attention elsewhere. 

“The country and its people stand to lose tremendously. If the intention is sincere, just get a few men to hand over the memorandum to the High Commission,” said Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry public relations and publicity chairman K. Ramesh. 

Media statement: Saravanan speaking during the press conference at the MIC office in Kuala Lumpur Friday.

Ramesh was one of 25 community leaders present at a press conference yesterday at the MIC office called by party information chief Datuk M. Savaranan to protest the gathering. 

Saravanan said calling off the gathering was the best approach to prevent any untoward incident. 

Like Ramesh, Saravanan questioned the motive behind the gathering. 

“The High Commission is not even open on Sunday, so why plan the march on a rest day?” he asked. 

Malaysia Hindu Sangam national central council member C.M. Kopalan said the MIC and the Government had helped to fund, build, repair as well as settle relocation and land issues for temples nationwide. 

Malaysia Punjabi Chambers president Datuk Daljit Singh said the group would not support any gathering with a hidden agenda to foster ill will. 

The leaders said they would advise their 500,000-odd members to steer clear of the gathering. 

In Putrajaya, Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the “silent majority” should make itself heard and stand up to people with their own agenda. 

He said racial and religious sentiments made for a dangerous cocktail that could spell disaster. He also cautioned Umno Youth members to remain calm. 

In Kangar, Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail advised the people not to join any illegal assembly.

No support for Hindraf rally from MIC, 25 NGOs
By : K. Harinderan

Representatives from 25 Klang Valley Indian NGOs voicing their opposition to the Hindraf rally yesterday at a press conference convened by Federal Territory MIC chairman and national information chief Datuk M. Saravanan (front row, third from left).

KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty-five Indian non-governmental organisations here deny that they will support the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally tomorrow.

Federal Territory MIC chairman and national information chief Datuk M. Saravanan said: "Hindraf's claims are baseless and the Indians here will not support the gathering.

"As Malaysians, we have lived in peace and street protests are not a part of our culture.

"I urge the parties to discuss and resolve the matter. History has shown that demonstrations always end in violence."

Saravanan was speaking yesterday at a press conference convened by the MIC and the NGOs, which claim to represent 500,000 Indians in the Klang Valley.

Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry vice-president for Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Ramesh Kodammal, said demonstrations would affect the business community and, on a greater scale, the image of the country.

Malaysian Punjabi Chambers of Commerce and Industries president Datuk Daljit Singh Dalliwal said: "Our message is clear, we support the Barisan Nasional government and do not support any element that goes against the peace and economic viability of the country."

The Hindraf rally outside the British High Commission is in support of a class-action suit against the British government for bringing Indians to Malaya as indentured workers, for exploiting them for 150 years, and for failing to protect their rights as a minority in the Federal Constitution when independence was granted.

The group is seeking STG4 trillion (RM27.7 trillion) in damages in a suit filed in Britain on Aug 30. They plan to petition Queen Elizabeth II for a Queen's Counsel to argue their case

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sjkt bukit jalil students to learn amidst the dead

November 23rd, 2007
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Learning amidst the dead
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75169
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
Nov 23, 07 12:38pm

Children who will be attending a Tamil primary school in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, in the near future may mistake their alma mater for a horror movie set.

This is because the school is slated to be constructed in the midst of not one, but numerous cemeteries several times its size.

Shuddering at the thought, Bukit Jalil estate resident V Loudesmary said she does not understand how the authorities can imagine children going to school under such circumstances.

Loudesmary, who attended the estate’s present SRJK Ladang Bukit Jalil more than 30 years ago, said the land allotted for the new school was inadequate for children.

This is in addition to the overwhelming presence of Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian cemetaries contained in the proposed development plan for Bukit Jalil estate, she added.

“The land planned for the school is too small and it is surrounded by cemeteries. Where are the children supposed to play?” she asked when contacted yesterday.

“Do they expect them to just come to school, stay in their classrooms, and go straight home after that?”

Development plan

According to Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) development plan for Bukit Jalil estate, the new SRJK Ladang Bukit Jalil will share grounds – measuring a total of 0.404 hectares – with a Hindu temple.

On one side of the temple/school is a Hindu cemetary that is slightly bigger at 0.43 ha, while the other side will be occupied by Christian cemetary measuring 0.49 ha.

To the east and south, there will be Buddhist cemetery measuring 3.28 ha and a Muslim cemetery measuring 5.69.

This is in addition to another Muslim cemetary measuring 3.9 ha adjacent to the Buddhist cemetary.

The smaller Muslim cemetary is believed to be part of the temporary detention centre planned for Bukit Jalil which will replace the overcrowded Kuala Lumpur Remand Centre formerly known as Pudu Jail.

Loudesmary’s concerns are the latest among the residents who have been in distress since the government’s acquisition of the estate land in July 1980 for the purposes of development.

While the rubber trees have made way for the ultra-modern Bukit Jalil Sports Complex and the equally impressive Bukit Jalil Golf Club, the estate residents face eviction and the demolition of their houses by DBKL.

Better treatment

Their refusal to move out – some of them have lived in the estate for up to 60 years in houses given to them by the British during colonial times – has led to their being labelled squatters by DBKL.

Although DBKL has offered to relocate them to a nearby low-cost public housing project (PPR), the residents argue that their decades of service tapping rubber – including, at one point, for DBKL itself – qualifies them to better treatment and compensation.

Having ultimately agreed to move to the PPR flats last August, bureaucratic complications have led to a further delay to their relocation. The residents who have not already moved are still waiting to receive DBKL’s letters of offering to occupy the flats.

While that has yet to be resolved, the residents were visited by DBKL officers on Tuesday and reminded that their houses would be demolished as stipulated in notices issued on July 14 and 16 this year.

The residents’ spokesperson S Thiakarajan said the reprieve granted to them by DBKL had expired. The officers made their rounds on Tuesday to tell residents the demolition exercise would occur Nov 22.

However, DBKL seems to have put off the demolition after DBKL was informed that an appeal had been lodged with the office of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“We don’t know how long we can continue holding them off. We hope to receive a reply from Abdullah’s office soon,” said Thiakarajan when contacted.

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