Posts Tagged ‘Politicians’

Suhakam slams authorities over temple row

October 31st, 2007
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bila kecil baling batu kat anjing
bila besar baling batu kat orang.

inilah budaya sifat sopan santun dan lemah lembut. ataupun pekerja – pekerja itu pun merupakan imigren.

let me translate for benefit of international readers:

when small throw stones at dogs,
when big throw stones at people.

this is the culture that prides itself with being soft-spoken, humble, and pleasant. or are the workers immigrants?

what qualifications these enforcement officers have? SPM dropouts?

source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/74205

Temple row: Suhakam slams authorities
Andrew Ong
Oct 31, 07 5:02pm
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has condemned the manner employed by the authorities to demolish a Hindu temple in Shah Alam yesterday.

) said the incident showed that the authorities did not have respect for religious and cultural sensitivities.

“The authorities may have state or legal right to carry out the demolition, but the manner in which it was conducted requires far greater consideration,” he told a press conference at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Suhakam has been repeating this so many times. But the authorities seem to be deaf. They cannot display simple human decency in responding to a crisis.

“Why make it a crisis when it can be settled amicably?” he said, adding that the demolition was untimely since the Hindu festival of Deepavali was only a week away.

Yesterday, scores of Hindu devotees were injured when they resisted attempts by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) enforcement officials to demolish a temple in Rimba Jaya.

Some eye witnesses described the situation as a “near riot” as the two sides clashed. MBSA were backed by the riot police and other enforcement authorities.

The authorities claimed that the demolition was carried out based on a court order. Devotees, on the other hand, claimed that they were never notified of the demolition.

Grace period

Based on information received from eye witnesses and press reports, Denison said Suhakam’s preliminary findings is that the devotees had asked for a two-day grace period in order to carry out necessary preparations to relocate.

Denison said the way the temple and the sacred items within the structure were destroyed by the authorities would be taken as great offence by the Hindu community.

He said that rightfully, the authorities should have respected the rights of the Hindu devotees to carry out the necessary rituals to safely remove the items.

“These processes take time. What is (the enforcement authorities’) hurry? Can’t they wait two days, three days or one more week?

“If they can cool down emotions, that achieves far more than bulldozing the issue,” he added.

Another Suhakam commissioner N Siva Subramaniam condemned the use of violence by the authorities to subdue the devotees.

“Based on press reporters, the enforcement authorities pelted the devotees with stones. Their actions must be condemned. As enforcers, they should not subject the people to cruelty,” he said.

Public inquiry

Siva added that the authorities had displayed blatant abuse of power during the incident.

Numerous press reports today highlighted pictures of head and body injuries sustained by several devotees.

Both commissioners would try to convince Suhakam to hold a public inquiry on the matter. A decision on whether to hold a public inquiry would be made on Nov 12.

Siva added that the problem seemingly stems from the Selangor government’s policy as such occurrences are rare outside the state.

Denison said Suhakam had previously issued guidelines for the authorities on the demolition of places of worship and expressed regret that they had been ignored.

He stressed that the authorities needed to consult political parties and other stakeholders before taking action on places of worship because of the sensitivities involved.

An insight into minister Samy Velu

October 31st, 2007
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An insight into a minister

source

By ELAN PERUMAL

SAMY Vellu as we know him is the latest book published by the MPH Group.  

The 300-page coffee-table book was launched on Thursday by Cul-ture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Rais Yatim.

 

Let's see now: Rais (right) and Samy Vellu taking a look at the book while Chitra looks on.

 The pictorial book, which covers the life of MIC president and Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu from the age of 12, was authored by Chitra Vasu. 

 It was Chitra’s admiration for Samy Vellu that inspired the UK-trained accountant to embark on her maiden book. 

Samy Vellu as we know him com-prises interesting, inspiring and me-morable accounts by 97 people who are acquainted with the politician, some from as far back as 1946. 

“It is extremely important for us to document the great achievements of our past and present leaders like Datuk Seri Samy Vellu; the wealth of experience acquired by these great leaders is vital to the next generation of Malaysian leaders. 

“At MPH, we are fully committed to bringing you these great achievements through our books,” said MPH Group chief executive officer Datuk Ng Tien Chuan. 

Rais said the book was unique as it was on a personality who was a “living legend” and someone whom he often met. 

“We started as MPs together in 1974 and I have been here, gone out and returned to the government but Samy Vellu is still around as the country’s top leader of the Indian community. 

“The book will relate to us how Samy Vellu, as a boy from the estate, came to Kuala Lumpur and worked as waiter, cook, bus conductor and office boy and then became a char-tered architect from the UK before making a name for himself as one of the country’s great leaders,” he said in speech prior to launching the book.  

He added that people should not be discouraged by the book's 300- page extent as Samy Vellu's colourful life made interesting reading.  

Chitra, who presented a copy of the book to Samy Vellu, whom she had first met when he presented her a gift for achieving excellent results in the Standard Five examination in 1982, said: “This is my gift to Datuk Seri on your 71st birthday; I did not expect it to become such a huge event.”  

Chitra recalled that Samy Vellu had told the people who were at the prize-giving all those years ago, that “this girl will go very far in life”.  

She said she had adored the leader from a very young age and Samy Vellu's photograph hung alongside a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the wall of her house in Ipoh. 

“I’m grateful to Datuk Seri Samy Vellu for he has funded my education throughout all the years,” said the 36-year-old chief executive officer of MIC’s Maju Institute for Educa-tion (MIED). 

Chitra thanked Samy Vellu, all the 97 people who had contributed their accounts of the politician and her editorial team for her success. 

“This is only my first book and I could not have done it without the support of various people who willingly came forward to assist me in accomplishing my ambition,” she said. 

The book is available at MPH outlets at RM140 per copy.

shah alam temple demolished and media blackout

October 31st, 2007
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The temple demolishment in Padang Jawa area (Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, Taman Karuppiah, Shah Alam) was first highlighted in the UMIC forum by one of the members. However, confirmation came in after 6pm, while SMSes started to arrive after 8pm.

I checked with an acquaintance in the print media yesterday night, who did not anything about it. Nothing was mentioned in the news at Vaanavil Bernama, TV2, TV3 buletin Utama, and Nightline. Nothing too in Star Online, NST, The Sun etc. Only report was in Malaysiakini. This was preceded by statements issued by Hindraf and MHS.

From what we have read, Hindraf paints a terrible picture of massacre level – equating MBSA with Myanmar's junta. Still, we have to take it with a pinch of salt.

Some reports mentioned that even MBSA staff were injured. Well, I guess the people didn't give any quarters.

Malaysiakini mentioned that the area was to be cleared – houses, temple and a surau as well. It also quoted DAP's representative saying that Samy Vellu mentioned Khir Toyo being stubborn (un-cooperative) and did not want to give any time for discussions. I suppose what made the people angry is the insensitivity shown by the government servants in dealing with the public.

MHS as usual issued a statement, which will be disposed into recycle bins as fast as they arrived in emails and print.  People may get fed up with this soon.

Since this was done in a hurried manner, I suspect money has a bigger role rather than an agenda  to get rid of Indians or to create racial tension. In the end, its all about the money trail or as it is often put "benefits to the rakyat" (read: certain rakyat only, especially those living in houses bigger than some schools). Of course, I have no proof. But if the law is on your side, would you still go bulldozing ahead and do things illegally?

The action by Khir Toyo does not bode well. After all the committees, discussions, task forces etc being created at federal and state level to amicably solve these kind of religious issues, he goes ahead and does as he likes. This flies in the face of MIC and MHS who called for restraint and asked the Indians not to retaliate in earlier cases throughout the country.

Well, I guess no one will be inviting Khir Toyo for Deepavali open house this year! Unless shameless Kamala Ganapathy, Komala, Samy Vellu, Palanivel etc. does an about turn and say that Khir Toyo is Pembela Rakyat India!

New block for SJK West Country, but temple status unsure

October 27th, 2007
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“However, the 0.4ha site for the Hindu temple has been changed to vacant land.”

RM330,000 new block for Tamil school

source

By ESTHER CHANDRAN

SJK (T) West Country Timur, a partially government aided school, will soon be able to accommodate its students into proper classrooms as a new block is being built on the school grounds. The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) chairman O. Kumaravelu said the new block cost RM330,000 to build. “A total of RM200,000 was do-nated by Datuk GN Chidapparam and RM40,000 was from Serdang MP Datuk Yap Pian Hon. “The remainder of the money was raised by the PTA through fund raising activities and from well wishers,” he said. The school, which has 365 pupils, currently has eight classrooms, principal C Jayaletchumy said. 

SJK West Country
Space constraints: The students of SJK (T) West Country Timur using the canteen.

Three of these classrooms are divided to accommodate two classes. Sometimes, the classes take place at the library or school canteen due to lack of classrooms. Last year, the school's enrolment was 307. Jayaletchumy said the new block would help accommodate the growing number of students. The project to build the new block began in March and is expected to be ready by mid Oct, Kumaravelu said. “There are six classrooms in the new block,” he said. The school at Section 5, West Country, Bangi is situated on the former West Country Estate grounds. 

When the state government acquired the estate to develop the area into the newer Bangi, the Indian community were promised 1.6ha for the Tamil school, 1.2ha for a Hindu cemetery and 0.4ha for a Hindu temple. It has been 18-years since the acquisition but the land has not been gazetted. Yap said the Hulu Langat Land Office sent a letter to the Ministry of Education in September asking for the school land to be gazetted. He added that Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo had agreed for the cemetery land to be gazetted as well. 

“However, the 0.4ha site for the Hindu temple has been changed to vacant land. “The Sri Maha Mariamman West Country Devotees Associa-tion will be applying to the land office for the 100-year old Sri Maha Mariamman West Country Temple to remain at its old site.'' 

He advised the temple committee, headed by Kumaravelu, to apply for the land to be gazetted. Yap also advised them to apply to the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry for the 100 year-old temple to be preserved as a heritage site because of its long history.  Kumaravelu said the temple was recently registered under the Registrar of Societies.

Coffee table book on Samy

October 25th, 2007
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Coffee table book on Samy

source

A coffee table book, Samy Vellu – As We Know Him, to be launched Thursday, will provide insight into the leader who has become almost a legend in the Malaysian Indian community, says Tamil Nesan

The book contains 97 short stories by those close to the MIC president, compiled by Chitra Vasu. 

The daily said the 300-page book is not an autobiography but tells the story of Samy Vellu as seen through the eyes of those close to him, the daily said. 

The book also features more than 300 photographs of Samy Vellu, mostly from private collections of contributors. 

Chitra said the book could be considered a rare documentation of a man who held the Malaysian Indian community spellbound through his deeds over the last three decades. 

The book is edited by M. Govind Nair and published by MPH Group Publishing. 

MPH Group (M) Sdn Bhd general manager (corporate affairs) Donald Kee said that 10,000 copies of the book would be printed in English and Tamil.