Posts Tagged ‘temples’

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PM to talk on managing multiracial country

January 14th, 2008
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As long as economy is well, public won't complain much. As long the majority are taken care of, there overall situation will be fine.

Not sure if PM will be asked to talk/comment about illegal conversions, apostasy, banning of books/movies, temple demolition, forced wearing of tudung/songkok, etc.

PM to tell how KL bridged racial-religious gaps

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By MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR

MADRID: Malaysia will get to share with other world leaders its experience as a successful moderate Islamic country with a multi-racial society and serve as an example to other nations. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, specially invited to the First Alliance of Civilisations (AoC) annual forum here from tomorrow will explain how Malaysia was able to bridge the religious and racial gaps among its people. 

The two-day forum, to be opened by the President of Spain, Josi Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, will be attended, among others, by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former Portugal President Jorge Sampaio, who is also UN High Representative for AoC.  

Malaysian ambassador to Spain Datuk Naimun Ashakli Mohammad said the Spanish Government had cited Malaysia as a successful Muslim country, which practised a democratic process that could be emulated by others. 

Naimun said the forum organisers had invited the Prime Minister to be one of the panel members in a plenary session to discuss the topic The Alliance of Civilisations: Managing Diversity in the era of Globalisation. 

Abdullah, who arrived today, is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with Zapatero and extend an invitation to the Spanish leader to attend the third International Conference on Islam and the West in Malaysia. 

The conference to be held on June 9 and 10 is in line with the Malaysian government’s aim to create an alliance among civilisations through the involvement of governments, scholars and civil society.  

The two leaders are also expected to touch on the situation in Myanmar and West Asia. 

On trade ties, Naimun said trade volume amounted to RM3.7 bil, in Malaysia’s favour, between last January and October. Malaysia exported telecommunication equipment, electrical goods, vegetable fats, textile and rubber gloves.

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subra says malaysians cannot be priests

January 14th, 2008
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A memorandum was submitted to the Home Affairs Ministry in the 1970s outlining the various difficulties faced by Malaysian temples and gurdwaras in employing local priests and musicians. "Following the submission of the memorandum, a new policy was formulated by the Home Affairs Ministry in 1984 stating that Hindu and Sikh priests from India shall be considered to stay in Malaysia for a maximum period of seven years, and musicians for a maximum period of five years, to be renewed on an annual basis," he said.

– even if we assume 1979 as submission year, it took 4 YEARS to establish the new policy!
– renewal on annual basis. So if 7 years from 1984, it is 1991. For the last 16 years, there have been annual renewals for priests.

He added that it was not possible to train Malaysians to become priests because they had to be vegetarians and teetotallers.

– meaning generally local Hindus not fit to be priests? Can we say out of every 10 Hindus, 6 consume alcohol, while 9 are non-vegetarian?

The salary offered was also low, only about RM500 monthly.

– last time maybe yes. Now with so many prayers from birth to death, priests can earn quite well.

Subra: Consult before making policy changes

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KUALA LUMPUR: A memorandum was submitted to the Home Affairs Ministry in the 1970s outlining the various difficulties faced by Malaysian temples and gurdwaras in employing local priests and musicians.

Former MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam said local Indians faced difficulty in becoming priests because they were not educated in Sanskrit, the common language used along with Tamil for performing Hindu rites and prayers.
Subramaniam was commenting on a statement by Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad that the government had tightened the rules on the entry of foreign religious teachers and priests from other countries to encourage more locals to become priests.

Subramaniam said priests from India undergo several years of training to become a priest. He added that it was not possible to train Malaysians to become priests because they had to be vegetarians and teetotallers.

The salary offered was also low, only about RM500 monthly.

"Following the submission of the memorandum, a new policy was formulated by the Home Affairs Ministry in 1984 stating that Hindu and Sikh priests from India shall be considered to stay in Malaysia for a maximum period of seven years, and musicians for a maximum period of five years, to be renewed on an annual basis," he said.

Subramaniam also urged the government to consult relevant Indian-based religious bodies in Malaysia before making any policy changes regarding the intake of Hindu and Sikh priests or issues related to their work permits.

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Krishnasamy cremation

January 13th, 2008
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Even the sky shed tears during cremation

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TANGKAK: The late Tenggaroh assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy’s remains were cremated at the Kwang Ee Crematorium near here at about 5.40pm yesterday. 

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and other state as well as national MIC leaders attended the cremation. The moment Krishnasamy’s body arrived at the crematorium, it started raining heavily until after the cremation. An MIC member from Segamat said the rain were the “tears of God who cried over the death of a very kind man”. 

While temple priests were reciting prayers, Samy Vellu was seen wiping tears from his eyes. 

Segamat MIC division chief A. Nadarajah said Krishnasamy was a good leader and had no known enemies, including within the party. He said he had known the assemblyman for many years and knew how caring he was, adding that the Indian community in Labis had lost a very helpful leader. Labis MIC Youth chief A Sivarajah said MIC had lost a considerate leader who always thought about the people, especially the Indians in Johor.  

In SEGAMAT, the crowd came with wreaths and penned condolence messages in a book placed outside the late assemblyman’s house. Family members and relatives wept as the cortege left the house at 3.30pm.  

Earlier in the morning, Krishnasamy’s second child Rajkumar, 33, thanked everyone for their support and said that his father had worked tirelessly to ensure no community was left out in the government’s development programmes.  The family also asked the press not to speculate and allow the police to investigate the killing.

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Samy Vellu admits Hindraf is correct

January 13th, 2008
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Admitting that there had been several weaknesses in the government’s implementation and delivery system that led to the Indian sometimes losing out in various fields, he said the party would rectify them. “There are weaknesses, but they can and will be corrected.

Some people keep on condemning the 25/11 rally as unnecessary, "not our culture", penyangak, and so many other things. Just imagine the rally never took place. Would the Indian community get any attention. Nothing much in the last 20 -30 years. But now, more airtime in news, committees set up to manage temple issues, meeting with PM, awareness on equal rights, among others have occurred. Something that the leading party had failed to highlight or do while in power. But now, claiming there is some problem with implementation. For so many years, there was no weakness/problem is it? Only now the eye can see? Looks like a jolt like the rally is indeed needed.

SAMY VELLU: My door is always open

BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, SUN:

“My door is always open,” said MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to the Indians, especially to the youths and professionals.

Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, said he was willing to listen to any problem faced by the Indians, especially the youths. “Indian youths play a major role in ensuring unity within the community as they are a major force that will shape its future direction,” he said in a statement issued here today. Appreciating the role of Indian youths as “people who have the courage and wisdom to bring changes to the community,” he said the party was not making promises merely to canvas for support from the Indians.

“But MIC will strive to bring justice and fairness to them through the government by taking the necessary action,” he said.

Admitting that there had been several weaknesses in the government’s implementation and delivery system that led to the Indian sometimes losing out in various fields, he said the party would rectify them. “There are weaknesses, but they can and will be corrected.

“No government in the world can satisfy 100 percent the needs of their people. But what is important is to ensure that what we deserve is attained.”

Samy Vellu said the party would adopt a different and more practical approach in tackling the problems of the Indians. “We have been vigorously taking the necessary steps in the last four months and we expect to see some positive results soon,” he said. “We will be more open to hear their views, especially from the Indian youths.”

He said Malaysian Indians needed to unite to safeguard their future in this country, adding that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had been sympathetic to their plight and had promised to address their problems.

Samy Vellu said the party which had laid a strong educational foundation for the Indian community with the creation of two institutions, namely TAFE College and the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology, was now striving to raise their economic position with several measures taken with the help of the government. “MIC has also fought hard to ensure better housing, healthcare and employment through training for the poor, especially single mothers and youths.”

He said the Indian community in Malaysia should not fall into despair, adding that only the Barisan Nasional (BN) government could ensure their future. “They should not be duped by the opposition parties who only want their votes in the coming general election.” However, he said, the party would work with anyone who wished to see the progress and development of the Indian community, but would fight “to the ground those who poison the minds of the Indians”.

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Leaders condemn assemblyman Krishnasamy murder

January 12th, 2008
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PM, DPM, SV, and others expressed shock over the assassination of Tenggaroh state assemblyman Datuk S Krishnasamy.

Leaders condemn rep’s murder

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KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has expressed shock over the murder of Tenggaroh state assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy in Johor Baru yesterday, describing it as a cruel and despicable act. The Prime Minister said he wanted the perpetrators of the crime brought to justice swiftly. “I am shocked and saddened by the killing of Datuk Krishnasamy. This is a cruel and despicable act. I wish to express my condolences to Datuk Krishnasamy's family,” he said. 

Krishnasamy, 62, who was the Johor MIC deputy chairman, was shot dead in the lift of the Johor MIC headquarters. He was found slumped in a pool of blood by Johor MIC Puteri chief R. Vithiya Mohan. The motive for the murder is not known. 

A witness said he saw a man leaving in a hurry from the building on a motorcycle shortly after he heard what sounded like a gunshot. In Putrajaya, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak called on the public to cooperate with the police to solve the murder. “I am saddened and shocked by the news and on behalf of the Government I express our condolences to Krishnasamy's family,” said Najib. He said the police had briefed him and said they would speed up investigations to determine the motive of the killing. 

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu also expressed shock over Krishnasamy's death. “We have lost a strong and capable leader. I regret the loss of a very hardworking leader who has done a lot for the Malaysian Indian community,” he said. Samy Vellu, who is Works Minister, said Krishnasamy was a close friend, a hard worker and a high performer in politics. “He maintained his constituency well and was constantly in touch with the grassroots members. His death will be a great loss to the community,” he said. 

In Johor Baru, Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman expressed shock over the incident and conveyed his condolences to Krishnasamy's family. Abdul Ghani described Krishnasamy as a good assemblyman who was committed to his work and serving the public. 

State MIC chairman Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan, who was also scheduled to attend the meeting at the MIC headquarters, described the death as a big loss to MIC. State MCA acting chief Tan Kok Hong said Krishnasamy was a good fried. “I have known him since 1995 and we had a good working relationship,” said Tan. Pengkalan Rinting assemblyman Low Teh Hian said Krishnasamy always sat beside him during the state assembly sessions.  “He cared for people of all races. Money was always allocated to Chinese schools and temples in his constituency,” he said.  

State Wanita Umno chief Halimah Sadique said Krishnasamy was an outstanding leader and his death was a great loss for the Mersing constituency. “Whenever we had election campaigns, we could see that he was well-loved by the people,” she said when conveying her condolences to Krishnasamy’s family on behalf of the state Wanita Umno. 

Abdullah shocked, condemns killing

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KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has expressed shock over the murder of Tenggaroh state assemblyman Datuk S. Krishnasamy in Johor Baru this afternoon, and described it as a cruel and despicable act. 

He said he wanted the perpetrators of the crime to be brought to justice swiftly."I am shocked and saddened by the killing of Datuk Krishnasamy. This is a cruel and despicable act," he told Bernama."I also wish to express my condolences to Datuk Krishnasamy's family." he added.

In Putrajaya, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak extended his condolences to the family of the late Krishnasamy. Najib called on everyone to co-operate with the police and not speculate over the incident. "I have been told by the inspector-general of police that every effort is being made to track down the killer," he said. Najib said although this was not the first time that an elected representative had been shot dead, it was not a culture. "We have to establish why this happened. We want to establish the motive."

Samy Vellu: We have lost a warrior

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KUALA LUMPUR: MIC leaders are shocked and outraged over the brutal slaying of MIC Johor deputy chief Datuk S. Krishnasamy.

Krishnasamy, 61, who was also the Tenggaroh state assemblyman, was at the Johor MIC headquarters to attend a meeting when unidentified gunmen shot him at close range while he was in the lift. Krishnasamy died shortly after the incident yesterday afternoon.

MIC president and Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who was in India attending the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2008 meeting, expressed shock over the murder. "I am saddened by his sudden death. Such incidents should never have taken place," Samy Vellu said in a statement.
 

"We have lost a warrior who fights for the people. Krishnasamy was a capable and dedicated leader. "He was also a personal friend and he had always been a people's person," said Samy Vellu. In extending his condolences to Krishnasamy's family, Samy Vellu said he was leaving it to the police to investigate the killing.

MIC vice-president Datuk S. Veerasingam condemned the incident as ruthless and inhumane.  "This is not the first time such an incident, involving an MIC member, had taken place. I do not understand why such things happen," said Veerasingam.

Putera MIC leader P. Kamalanathan, who was also a personal friend of the victim, said Krishnasamy was one of the most vocal politicians who had championed youth programmes in the party and in Johor. "He had always supported the MIC education bureau by voicing education-related matters and took a personal interest in helping deserving youth to succeed," said Kamalanathan.

Krishnasamy, a former contractor, had been actively involved in politics since 1995 and won the rural state seat of Tenggaroh for three terms.  He was also a member of the MIC central working committee. Krishnasamy is survived by his wife, N. Sornavalli, and four children.

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