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Penang Hindu Endowment Board under attack

January 11th, 2008
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Political meddling in Penang Hindu temples
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76923
Athi Veeranggan | Jan 11, 08 10:46am

A Hindu organisation has taken the Penang Hindu Endowments Board to task for acting beyond its jurisdiction and becoming a political tool of the MIC and Gerakan.

The United Hindu Religious Council (UHRC) president S Mugunthan alleged that the board's nine commissioners were appointed yearly based on their political affiliation rather than their knowledge on Hinduism and administrative skills.

He said that the political-based appointment for the board's commissioner position had become a norm since the 1980's.

"It is obvious that the present commissioners were appointed due to their political allegiance with certain parties or leaders notably the MIC and Gerakan,” he said.

Sources close to the endowments board told Malaysiakini that MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu and Gerakan president and Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon were the most powerful influence behind the appointment of the commissioners.

The source revealed that MIC and Gerakan had been using the commissioners’ position as a political gift to their local leaders.

The present chairman of the endowments board is the state MIC deputy chairperson and executive councillor PK Subbaiyah.

Over the past 20 years or so, many commissioners were appointed from political ranks of MIC and Gerakan.

"This is unwarranted," added Mugunthan.

The statutory powers

Under the Section 3(1) of the Hindu Endowment Ordinance 1906, the state governor on the advice of the state executive council shall appoint a board of commissioners, in which one of whom shall be a government officer.

Under Section 6 of the HEO, the board of commissioners shall appoint an endowment management committee consisting members of public professing the religion applicable to the endowment.

UHRC deputy president K Suppayah, who was appointed as assistant secretary to the commissioner board for more than 20 years (1970-1993), said there was no provision under the ordinance that empowered the board to appoint the management committees to manage any Hindu temples, organise Hindu religious festivals, govern tanneer panthals (refreshment sheds), collect donations and charge devotees with prayer fees of any form.

"The board is only a trustee of Hindu endowments of five temples," he said, while stressing that he had clarified the matter with the Attorney-General Chambers.

At present Hindu endowments belonging to the Waterfall hilltop Sri Balathandayuthabani Kovil , Sri Ramar Kovil in Dhoby Ghaut, Sri Kunj Bihari Krishan Mandir, Lebuh Queen's Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil and Butterworth Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil come under the jurisdiction of the endowments board.

Although it's merely a board of trustees to safeguard and manage the endowments of the five Hindu temples, the statutory body has, however transformed itself into a religious authority to appoint, control and dictate the management committees of the five temples, religious festivals and tanneer panthals (refreshment sheds).

"This clearly contravenes Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which was unambiguous that the government shall not handle religious affairs pertaining to religions other than Islam.

"Since the board is a statutory body, it shall not encroach into Hindu religious affairs," said Suppayah, while adding that the management of the five temples should be left to Hindu public, especially Hindu organisations.

Legal action possible

If the letter of law were to be enforced strictly, the board had no powers to manage temples, interfere in organising of the Thaipusam or Chitra Paruvam festivals and tanneer panthals.

As such, the board would have no authority to stop tanneer panthals from playing their own music during the Thaipusam festival and install a 3km-long single public address system between the Waterfall hilltop temple in Jalan Air Terjun and the Jalan Brown – Jalan Utama.

It also cannot impose charges on devotees for prayers of any form at the five temples.

Technically and ideally, said Suppayah, either existing Hindu organisations shall be allowed or new independent organisations shall be registered to manage each of the temples and organise religious festivals and functions associated with the temples.

"However, the board has now usurped a non-existent power by directly interfering with Hindu religious," he said.

Mugunthan said his council would carry out awareness campaign on the real position and powers of the endowments board since many Hindus were either ignorant and naive about the whole issue.

He did not rule out legal redress on the issue to stop the board from overstepping its judicial boundary thus committing unlawful acts.

"We have to take court action to right the wrong then we will do it," he said.

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Radzi denies claim by MCCBCHST on renewal ban

January 10th, 2008
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He also denied an allegation by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism that the Immigation Department had given renewal permits of six months to priests, three months to temple musicians and a week to sculptors.

read the MCCBCHST statement and other related articles at:

http://poobalan.com/blog/religion/2008/01/08/no-more-work-permit-renewal-for-religious-workers/

http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2008/01/09/pm-will-look-into-appeal-by-mccbchst-on-work-permit/

http://poobalan.com/blog/borninmalaysia/2008/01/09/home-affairs-minister-clarifies-work-permit-issues/

source
On the entry of foreign religious teachers and priests, he said the government had tightened the rules to encourage the hiring of locals. He said those already here would have to undergo stringent interviews before approval could be granted for renewal of work permits. There are 5,468 temple priests, musicians and sculptors in the country. "Our policy is that we want locals to become religious teachers, priests, musicians and sculptors.

"We have given enough time for foreigners to work here. If we find that they have worked here too long, we will not extend their work permit." He said some of them had been here for 10 years.  "Five years is normal, but if it is too long we encourage the search for local priests, musicians and sculptors."

On new applications by religious teachers and priests, he said the ministry would review them on a case by case basis.

He also denied an allegation by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism that the Immigation Department had given renewal permits of six months to priests, three months to temple musicians and a week to sculptors.

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samy says indian workers banned then say no

January 8th, 2008
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Something funny went on now. News started to trickle in that all visa for foreigner workers from India and Bangladesh (including professionals) were suspended since end of last year, Dec 2007. Read below articles from Reuters ( 6.20pm) and BBC. However, a newer article on Reuters at 7.05pm says that no such thing happened. Looks like Samy Vellu made a big blunder. Telling the indians that their workers are not wanted, in their own country!

Earlier, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) issued a statement expressing shock that permit for temple priests, sculptors, and musicians will not be removed by the govt. Read about it at:

http://poobalan.com/blog/religion/2008/01/08/no-more-work-permit-renewal-for-religious-workers/

Malaysia denies ban on India, Bangladesh workers

Tue Jan 8, 2008 7:05pm IST
source
 

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – A Malaysian minister denied on Tuesday that his governmenthad suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh.

"I just spoke to my prime minister … There is no truth in the statement released by Reuters … It's not true means everything is status quo," Works Minister S. Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian member of the cabinet, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi.

"Indian workers are already there. When it is needed, they are welcome."

Earlier, a Malaysian Home Ministry official told Reuters that the cabinet had decided about two weeks ago to freeze the intake of workers from India and Bangladesh. Other ministry officials had then confirmed the ban but gave no reason.

About an hour before his denial, Vellu had said the country had enough foreign workers.

"The government decided it is enough and we don't want to recruit any more because we have enough workers," he told Reuters at the conference. "Is it wrong?"

The minister's press secretary later said those comments should be "disregarded", saying they were made before the minister had adequate information.

Relations between India and Malaysia have been hurt by recent allegations of discrimination against the ethnic Indian community in this Southeast Asian country.

Ethnic Indians staged a mass anti-government protest in November, alleging that the authorities had sidelined the community under an affirmative action policy that favours the majority ethnic Malays.

From Reuters: Malaysia bans intake of India, Bangladesh workers

Tue Jan 8, 2008 6:20pm IST
 

Source

By Jalil Hamid

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) – Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India and Bangladesh, the government said on Tuesday, in a move one official said could be linked to a recent uproar about Malaysia's treatment of its ethnic Indians.

The ban, which took effect on Dec. 31, 2007, could further strain India-Malaysian relations after some Indian politicians sympathised with ethnic Indians who complained they had been marginalised by the Malay-majority government.

"The cabinet decided about two weeks ago to freeze the intake of workers from India and Bangladesh," a Home Ministry official told Reuters.

"Those already in the country will not have their work permits renewed," he said. "The ruling applies to all workers, including expatriates."

The news came as Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony ended a three-day visit aimed at boosting defence ties.

Other ministry officials confirmed the ban but gave no reason. The government had said in October it was trying to determine exactly how many foreign workers the country needed.

"Frankly speaking, we have got enough workers," Works Minister S. Samy Vellu, the only ethnic Indian minister in the cabinet, said on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi.

"The government decided it is enough and we don't want to recruit any more because we have enough workers. Is it wrong?

Malaysia also decided on Tuesday to ban foreign workers at all major airports in the country, state news agency Bernama reported, citing Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Najib said the ban must be complied with as soon as possible, although the government realised that companies carrying out various works at the airports had to make some adjustments.

"We will issue rulings to Malaysia Airports Bhd to ensure that the workers are Malaysian citizens," he said.

Latest figures up to last Sept. 30 show Malaysia was home to about 2.2 million legal foreign workers, with 35 percent employed in factories and 17 percent in plantations.

Indonesians made up the highest number at around 60 percent, followed by Nepalese (11 percent), Bangladeshis (9 percent) and Indians (7 percent), government data showed.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was due to visit Malaysia on Friday, seeking to smooth relations between the two neighbours following disputes over cultural theft and ill-treatment of migrant workers.

"DRASTIC STEP"

Indians are mainly employed in restaurants and in the construction, information technology and financial services industries.

The Indian government said it had no immediate comment but some Indian professionals said they were upset.

"They (the Malaysian government) should not take such drastic steps. They should recognise the contribution made by Indian workers and professionals in the economic growth of the country," said one Indian professional who declined to be named.

A Malaysian inter-faith group criticised the ban, which it said would hit the intake of foreign priests and temple workers.

"This sudden decision without any dialogue or consultation with us is unprecedented," said A. Vaithilingam, president of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

Relations between India and Malaysia have been hurt by recent allegations of discrimination against the ethnic Indian community in this Southeast Asian country.

Ethnic Indians held a mass anti-government protest in November, alleging that the authorities had sidelined the community under an affirmative action policy that favours the majority ethnic Malays.

Some Indian politicians, including Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, voiced concern for the ethnic Indians.

Around 7 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people are ethnic Indians, whose forefathers were brought over as labourers by British colonial rulers.

From BBC:

Malaysia bans Indian recruitment


Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India amid rising domestic tensions.
source

A government official said the decision might be linked to the actions of a group that led protests complaining of discrimination against ethnic Indians.

But the official did not say why the decision had been made, nor how long the restrictions would last.

The ban will affect thousands of manual labourers as well as professionals, including religious workers.

There are currently about 140,000 legal workers from India in Malaysia.

"The government decided it is enough, and we don't want to recruit any more," Malaysian Works Minister S Samy Vellu told Reuters new agency, while at a conference in Delhi.

The Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur told the Associated Press it had contacted the relevant authorities but did not give any further details.

'Unprecedented'

The move to freeze visas for all workers from the two countries was taken three weeks ago, the government said.

But Tuesday's announcement took many people by surprise.

A Vaithilingam, president of a Malaysian inter-faith group, said that the decision came without dialogue and was "unprecedented".


The BBC's correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Robin Brant, said it was a significant diplomatic move by the Malaysia government.

A Home Ministry official told the BBC that the decision "may be linked to Hindraf", the Hindu activists group which organised recent rallies by Malaysian ethnic Indians.

Thousands of ethnic Indians took to the streets late last year in protest against perceived social and economic discrimination by the Malay-Muslim majority.

The announcement came on the final day of a visit to Malaysia by Indian Defence Minister AK Antony.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Mr Antony "did not raise the issue of ethnic Indians in Malaysia," reported the French news agency AFP.

An unnamed Indian professional told Reuters that the Malaysian government should not have taken such a drastic step.

"They should recognise the contribution made by Indian workers and professionals in the economic growth of the country," he said.

Our correspondent said that tensions are high with a general election expected to take place early this year.

Many people fear a repeat of the racial violence which has broken out in the past.

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PKR Gobala hits back at Nalla

January 8th, 2008
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Earlier, Nalla condemned Anwar. Now, PKR man Gobalakrishnan comes out with some truths on Nalla himself. How long will this drama last? Yaare vaithu yaaru komedi pannarange? (who is making a joke of who?)

'Hypocritical' Nalla rapped for changing tune
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76806
Terence Netto | Jan 8, 08 3:38pm

The anti-Anwar Ibrahim tirade unleashed in recent weeks by MIC President S Samy Vellu, joined by the chief of the new formed Malaysian Indian United Party, KS Nallakaruppan, has drawn a scathing response from PKR supreme council member N Gobalakrishnan.

Gobalakrishnan, a staunch canvasser of Indian support for PKR, said Nallakaruppan’s latest salvo against the former deputy prime minister in today’s editions of Tamil Nesan and Makkal Osai was particularly hard to take because of what the MIUP leader has said in public and in private about Anwar in the past.

Among other criticisms, Nallakaruppan was reported by the two Tamil dailies as lambasting Anwar for hoodwinking the Indians by presently showing sympathy for their plight when he had nothing to display as proof of that empathy while he was the powerful finance minister and deputy prime minister from when he was in the government.

In remarks to Malaysiakini, Gobalakrishnan said he found this broadside by Nallakaruppan particularly galling because of what the latter had told him after one budget presentation in the 1990s by the then Finance Minister Anwar that exempted temple products from tax.

“He told me that Anwar had called him before tabling the budget to talk about the tax exemption. Nallakaruppan said that Anwar would call him before presenting the budget to parliament to chat with him about aspects of the budget that would help the Indian community,” said Gobalakrishnan.

In all, Anwar tabled eight budgets in Parliament between 1990 and 1997. He was sacked from the cabinet and Umno in September 1998, two months before what would have been his ninth budget.

Gobalakrishnan further disclosed that in 2004, he and Nallakaruppan met up in Munich while both were visiting Anwar who was in the Bavarian capital for surgery by a renowned orthopedic surgeon for a back problem.

“I remember what Nallakaruppan told me in Munich – that he believed Anwar would be the saviour of the Indian community in Malaysia,” recalled Gobalakrishnan.

“That is the same thing Nallakaruppan reiterated at the function PKR held at the Hotel Istana in Kuala Lumpur to welcome him into the party when he joined us in the later part of 2006. He told the gathering that he would get one hundred thousand Indians to join PKR. In the event, he barely garnered two thousand,” said Gobalakrishnan.

Anwar sympathetic to all

As preamble, Gobalakrishnan, 48, said he had known Nallakaruppan since “our childhood days in Sitiawan in the 1960s.”

“Nalla was my senior in the youth wing of MIC,” said Gopalakrishnan who between 1985 and 1999 was secretary general of MIC Youth. Gopalakrishnan joined PKR in April 1999 when the party was formed.

“There was a rift between Nallakaruppan and Samy Vellu in 1987 over a corporate matter,” continued Gopalakrishnan.

“After that, Nallakaruppan was afraid for his safety and drew even closer to Anwar whom he has known for thirty years. For him to say what he has been saying about Anwar in recent weeks is hypocritical and shows his lack of integrity,” said Gopalakrishnan.

“Just because Anwar did not support Nalla’s aspirations for a vice presidential slot in the PKR hierarchy does not mean he should forget all what has transpired between him and Anwar and all what he has said and felt about Anwar in the past,” he added.

Nallakaruppan attempted last May to contest for a veep’s positon in PKR elections but withdrew when Anwar demurred. He left the party in a huff, muttering recriminations against Anwar and went on to form MIUP.

Gobalakrishnan asserted: “Anwar is not being hypocritical in the matter of his sympathy for Indians. As a matter of fact he is sympathetic to all, irrespective of race, who are poor and in need of state help to alleviate their plight.”

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MIBA Sivakumar talks about the positives of Hindraf rally

January 7th, 2008
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Silver lining of Hindraf rally

http://malaysiakini.com/news/76766

RK Anand | Jan 7, 08 3:45pm

On Nov 25 last year, some 30,000 people reportedly flooded the streets in Kuala Lumpur to participate in a rally. 

The massive turnout caught everybody by surprise, including the organiser – Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

In a knee-jerk response, government leaders called it an act of extremism, arguing that all is well with the Indian community and hence there was no other motive, except for a sinister one, for such a rally.

Scores were arrested, while five Hindraf leaders, four of whom lawyers, are being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA). The five were accused of having links with terrorist groups, a charge they have vehemently denied.

However, as the days passed, there seemed to be an official recognition of the problems faced by the Indian community. Suddenly, all was not well after all.

Even MIC and its leaders acquiesced, carefully pointing out the leaks that needed to be plugged.

Positive side

"This is the positive side of the Hindraf rally," argued Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar. 

"This must be acknowledged. It is because of the five individuals locked up under ISA that so many things are moving now," he told Malaysiakini today.

"These professionals, who could have led comfortable lives, were forced to shoulder this issue because the groups tasked with helping the Indians failed miserably. They have sacrificed their freedom for this," he added.

On the momentum of change stoked by Hindraf, Sivakumar said since the Nov 25 rally, there have been some positive developments.

The most notable, he pointed out, is that it has united the Indian community. Apart from this, he said numerous meetings and assurances followed.

"For example, the special meeting between Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Indian non-governmental organisations on Dec 14," added Sivakumar, who was present at the meeting.

He said MIC and its president S Samy Vellu, who have come under intense pressure, are now forced to act for the betterment of the Indian community.

"Not to forget Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo meeting with Hindu groups over the issue of temple demolitions and the prime minister also giving an assurance concerning this.

"The premier, in his winding up speech during the special meeting, also acknowledged that help was not trickling down and promised to look into improving the delivery system.

"After three generations of Indian Malaysian parents selling off their assets to educate their children, there is now hope of more educational grants and loans coming forth.

"There is also hope that all races in Malaysia will one day be treated equally. Why did all of these happen? Because of the Hindraf rally," he noted.

'New champions' 

Sivakumar also pointed out that the rally gave rise to 'new champions' of the Indian community and some of them are branding the rally as a form of extremism.

"But where would these new champions be if not for the rally?" he asked.

In view of this, Sivakumar urged all parties, including the media, to stop using the word extremism to describe the rally.

"This is an unkind term which should not be used," he said, calling the rally a "just cause" born out of "bottled-up frustration".

"The rally, which was meant to be peaceful, was an eye opener, it got everybody talking. It even captured the world's attention," he added.

Critics have lambasted Hindraf and its leaders for making claims, which they said, bordered on extremism and could lead to racial tensions.

Chief among these are the claims that the government has marginalised the Indian community and subjected them to ethnic cleansing.

'No evidence' 

In a related development, Samy Vellu told Indian television station NDTV that the Hindraf five are held under ISA on 'suspicion' of having terrorist links, namely with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The veteran politician said this when asked if the government has evidence to back the accusation.

Below is an excerpt from the Jan 2 interview.

NDTV: Do you have any evidence to back your government's charge that Hindraf has links with terrorists?

Samy Vellu: Hindraf said they would fight like the Tigers (LTTE), the way the Tigers are fighting in Sri Lanka. It was by (Hindraf chairperson) P Waythamoorthy. After he talked like that, we did an investigation and it was felt that he may have gone there for training.

NDTV: Do you have evidence of this?

Samy Vellu: No. It is our suspicion.

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