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DBKL demolishes shrine, Saravanan upset

December 3rd, 2008
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According to the Star, DBKL (City Hall) has demolished a 15-year-old Hindu shrine in Taman Desa, Seputeh, at 10am yesterday, causing another round of outbursts from the Hindu community.

Apparently, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) issued a notice indicating the actions it would take on Oct 23, but the message was pasted on the shrine’s wall and not handed over to the management.

Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said he was upset over the demolition. “I have an understanding with the Federal Territories Minister that no existing temples would be demolished. If there was any development on the land, then the temple would be relocated,” he said.

Saravanan said he would arrange for a meeting with the DBKL officers to get full details.

Meanwhile, after saying he will meet PM over the fatwa issue, Samy Vellu says he would also speak to PM Badawi about this temple demolishment issue.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has asked DBKL to explain why it demolished the shrine that was located on a field.

He added that he would speak to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about the issue.

I’d love to condemn Saravanan for his failure, but then I realise this case is similar with Maha Kaliamman temple in Ampang. The elected representatives were not informed of things that are happening, and I notice that this tend to happen to non-UMNO politicians only.  So, now the blame is on DBKL, Saravanan is left red-faced, and Pakatan will have field day blasting BN, MIC, and Saravanan. Looks like MIC better push for local council elections. They seem to suffer the most from local councils actions.

DBKL has a committee that oversees temple issues. I think MHS, MIC and other relevant people are in the committee. So how can this demolition take place? Is everyone aware of the demolition but putting on a “drama” or the committee never did have any meetings regarding this temple? Or is possible that DBKL staff themselves forgot that such a committee exists?

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Posted in Indian, Religion

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Taman Putra Sepang

December 3rd, 2008
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Taman Putra Sepang is a very small housing area in Puchong, but actually under Sepang district. There  are 120 houses there, mostly occupied, but without CF. Why you ask? Well, its a long story says one of the resident (which I met personally). The land belongs to PKNS, but was developed by a contractor firm. The project was abandoned, and the residents pooled some cash to get another firm to continue the project. Since no CF, there’s no road maintenance, no electricity supply to street lights, no road signage, and no water supply. The residents approached Syabas, but not entertained (yalah, no CF). But after intervention from YB Manikavasagam, Syabas started installing water meters. Around 80 houses were processed, but now it seems Syabas is stalling again – citing lack of road signs etc.

The resident show a copy of a letter announcing RM490,000 grant for infrastructure construction awarded by Khir Toyo way back in 2006. The residents plan to make a report with BPR next week.

MPS doesn’t come and cut grasses or maintain landscape because no CF means no assessment is collected. Residents have to fork out own money to hire contractors to do it.

The MPS knew about this problem for many years, but still no proactive action. The latest info is that something will be worked out.

Note: This taman is near Taman Desa Air Hitam, need to take the road after SJKC Sin Min.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, I Was Here

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Kayveas threatens BN over ISA

December 1st, 2008
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I think PPP haven’t get the point yet. When their invited VIP, Ali Rustam, told PPP to get out of BN during PPP Malacca’s AGM, any self-respecting party would have burn effigies of their enemy, protested day and night, raise a ruckus everyday, and pick a fight with all and sundry. But, the mosquito party, devoid of any such sense, just kept quiet.

And now, what a joke that their leader dare to threaten the coalition? People already asked you to get lost, but you still saying I”ll go, I’ll go, I’ll go!

It seems since PPP Youth and Wanita wants PPP to leave BN if ISA is not amended.

Deputy Minister Murugiah said that:

PPP Youth leader T Murugiah said the party did not support the use of the ISA against the ordinary citizens of Malaysia.

“The ISA was designed to handle a terrorist threat and should be used nly for that purpose,” he added.

Well, would PPP walk the talk, or swallow their pride and stick with BN? I think PM Badawi had mentioned clearly that the ISA would not be amended or changed.

By the way, PPP won’t join the opposition if it ever quits, says Kayveas.

PS: Murugiah would be appointed to PPP supreme council and nominated as vice president since he is without a position in the party. He did not stand for Youth chief due to age.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian

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HINDRAF Rally 1st Anniversary

November 26th, 2008
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Supporters at 1st Year Rally anniversary prayers

Supporters at 1st Year Rally anniversary prayers

View the rest at Charles Santiago (MP for Klang) Picasa‘s site.

According to report from Malaysiakini and Anil Netto, the crowd was as follows:

Batu Caves: 500 people

Penang Ganeshar Temple Waterfall Road: 50 people

Mariamman Temple, Prai: 1000 people

JB Temple: 100 people

Anil Netto describes situation in Penang:

This was the scene at the Sree Ganeshar Temple along Waterfall Road in Penang at around 7.00pm. About 50 people gathered for prayers to commemorate the first anniversary of the Makkal Sakthi (People Power) awakening. On 25 November last year, some 30,000 Indian Malaysians rallied in downtown KL to highlight their plight.

Over on mainland Penang, people started arriving at the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam Temple in Prai from 7.00pm.

At 8.32pm a contact at the temple tells me a thousand people are now inside listening to speeches. Among the speakers was Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy.

In the background, over the phone, I hear cries of “Makkal Sakthi!”. More people could have turned up if not for the heavy rain.

Plainclothes police are around and keeping a watchful eye.

In KL area, it was raining and traffic jam. Being a working day, it was hard to get to Batu Caves after 5pm. I was stuck in jam in Puchong itself, plus having a relative coming to house yesterday evening.

MalaysiaKini reports the event at Batu Caves as follows:

Despite that the movement is outlawed, police presence at the locations were minimal with hardly any uniformed personnel around. No untoward incidents were reported.

At the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Batu Caves, Selangor, some 500 Hindraf supporters braved the rain to attend the special prayer ceremony.

The prayers began on a low key at about 7pm but the enthusiasm grew as the crowd scaled the 272 steps of the temple.

With oil lamps in hand, the crowd chanted ‘Makkal Sakti Valga’ (long live people’s power) as they climbed the steps.

About 30 minutes later, the crowd descended and there were impromptu speeches from several politicians and leaders associated with Hindraf.

Again, the crowd chanted ‘Makkal Sakti Valga’ and the temperature went up several notches when those present chanted ‘Hindraf Valga’ (long live Hindraf) and ‘Uthaya Valga’ (long live P Uthayakumar) punctuated with cheers and rapturous applause.

“Hindraf is alive!” declared PKR’s Kapar MP and former Hindraf activist S Manikavasagam to frenzied cheers.

Other speakers included Selangor state exco member Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran and Police Watch and Human Rights Committee coordinator S Jayathas.

The crowd dispersed at about 9.30pm.

Meanwhile, in Mariammn Temple Penang, Deputy Chief Minister Dr Ramasamy proposed that November 25 to be declared as a public holiday if Pakatan Rakyat takes over Federal government. He said he will put forth a request:

Meanwhile in Penang, some 1,000 people converged at Butterworth’s Sri Maha Mariamman Alayam for a special prayer session.

The function started at 7pm with Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy and Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran leading the crowd on a 500-metre ‘agal vilaku’ (oil lamp) march to the temple from the main road.

State executive councillors Lim Hock Seng and Phee Boon Poh were also present to lend support.

Addressing the crowd later, Ramasamy described Nov 25 as the day Indians in Malaysia experienced a political awakening.

“It was an uprising against 50 years of marginalisation and racial discrimination,” he said.

According to the DAP leader, if the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat seized control of the federal government, it would declare Nov 25 a public holiday.

Ramasamy said he would table a proposal at the state executive council to have Nov 25 gazetted as a state holiday in Penang starting next year.

I thought that up to 3000 people were expected to be at Batu Caves, but in the end only 500 turned up. Combination of traffic jam and rain may have cause many others to be late.  Many would want to go back from work and take a bathe before going to temple.

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Posted in Indian

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Tamil School heads threatened not to apply funds

November 25th, 2008
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I’m still waiting for news from some of the HMs in Selangor but this seems to be true. Malaysiakini reports in detail while as usual nothing in the papers (except Makkal Osai).

I wonder how long before the protector of Tamil Schools reply to this latest news. What will the reply of  Pala nivel, Dr S Subramaniam, Saravanan, Devamany, etc will be? Who is involved in issuing orders to education department officer to call the HMs? By right, the Tamil schools are under the care of Tamil School controller. Perhaps can start with him. His details are below:

Penyelia Sekolah Tamil (DGA32)
Encik Vallikkannan a/l Ramasamy
03-5518 6518
rvallikkannan@yahoo.com.my

The information above is available in public domain and is not invasion of privacy. The website of Selangor Education Department has the contact info.

Out of 79 schools, only 11 registered. I wonder about the statistics for the Chinese schools. Did the state departments threaten the Chinese school heads as well?

Below is excerpt of Charles Santiago’s statement:

I however strongly denounce the act of the fear mongers who have ill-advised school principals against accepting the funds. The state education department should know better than to issue verbal instructions to principals asking them not to attend the function at the Petaling Jaya Civic Center..

Currently there are only 11 Tamil schools registered with the state government for financial aid, to be used to improve facilities and infrastructure. I encourage more schools to come forward for the future of the school children..

The government and state education department must not try to force a political issue out of the initiative by the Selangor state government . Instead they could try to genuinely reach out to help the Tamil and Chinese schools which are in dire need of funding.

Let’s see what the PTA representatives said to Malaysiakini:

Two PTA representatives interviewed later revealed that their principals had received instructions not to attend the event.

Kinrara school PTA president Michael Tamil (left) said the headmaster had received verbal instructions.

“He told me that he had received such instructions…I don’t see the rationale for this,” he said.

S Sugumaran of the Persiaran Raja Muda Musa school said the principal had received a phone call from the state education department, which issued similar ‘advice’.

“But the headmaster encouraged me to attend instead…she actually wanted to come but it would have been hard for her because she would have been easily identified (by the authorities),” he added.

Xavier had this to say:

Addressing participants at the event, state exco member Dr Xavier Jayakumar – who handles the health, plantation workers, poverty and caring government portfolio – said he had sent two letters to the education department director, seeking consent for the principals to attend the event.

Instead, he claimed, the department had warned them against doing so.

“I have learnt that (the officials) had made numerous phone calls to the principals,” said Jayakumar.

However, he said it was a positive sign that many others had shown up despite the directive.

“Even though we faced some hurdles before the event, I thank you all for coming today…because this is about our children’s priority, rather than that of politicians,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

I’m appaled to even read about this. If this story is true, then those responsible should be hauled up and sacked. The Education Minister should initiate an investigation so that his name is not implicated. But, most importantly, the affected HMs must come forward to name the criminals. They can do it via the PTA representatives. Or the police can subpeona phone records to trace who made the calls to the schools or the HMs’ handphones. (Hmmm… watching police series/movies makes us think better!)

Better still, Selangor government should just call PTAs instead of HMs or just visit the schools to hand over the allocations. No need for some function which puts the HMs in difficult position.

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Posted in Indian, Tamil-Schools

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