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Temple report task for MIC bad idea

December 25th, 2007
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Star, NST, and MK all highlighted the task given to MIC by PM, no less, to:
– look into the status of all Hindu temples
– submit a report on these temples to the cabinet periodically
– continuously monitor all temple
– submit to PM a list of temple that may be demolished due to various reason

 MIC will:
– go around the country to prepare report on number of temples and their problems
– identify illegally built and check their status (this statement sounds very confusing. identify ILLEGAL temples and check their STATUS?)
– check if there are moves to demolish or relocate the temples
– organise meetings with temple committees
– verify temple land status
– secure land reservations in new housing development areas
– seek registration of all temples
– ensure suitable alternative site is allocated before demolishment
– ensure no temples are demolished in the future (meaning from today 24/12/2007), and if need to be demolished, to ensure proper alternative site is provided.
– make sure no temples, either legally or illegally built will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC

Abdullah had assured that the government would provide the necessary support in resolving any matters involving temples as has been the case before.

That seems to be a tall order.

My opinion is that such a task should not be handed over to a political party, especially a de facto one that is part of the ruling body. It should be driven by a government department or a newly appointed permanent committee that consists of various representatives from religious bodies, government departments, NGOs etc. The people seemed to have lost faith in MIC. to entrust MIC with such task may backfire on BN since the people may take this as the govt not listening to them. Should MIC be given a chance to redeem themselves? MIC, having a vested interest, may cover things up to save their hides.

Or this can be seen as a ploy by BN to push the ball back to MIC to handle it, rather than taking responsibility collectively. Since MIC is the one perceived to cause all this problem, let them solve it. If they can, good. If not, BN can still win without MIC. Its a zero sum game.

So, if any more problem happens, can we blame MIC 100% and by extension blame the cabinet as well?

MIC tasked with temple relocations, demolitions
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76374
Yoges Palaniappan | Dec 24, 07 5:05pm

MIC has been given the task to look into the status of all Hindu temples in the country and will submit a report on these temples to the cabinet.

In line with that, MIC president S Samy Vellu will travel nationwide to prepare the report on the number of Hindu temples and their problems.

This "new approach" follows a directive by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to MIC to continuously monitor all temples in the country and to submit a report on their status to the cabinet periodically.

Samy, in a media statement today, said that Abdullah had specifically wanted MIC to forward him the list of any temples that may have to be demolished for various reasons.

"As temples are sensitive matters, a new approach is necessary to resolve them and MIC will take over completely this task," said Samy, who is also the Works Minister.

"We will identify the illegally built temples first and check on their status. We want to see if there have been any moves to demolish or relocate them," he said.

He added that he had directed Federal Territory MIC chief M Saravanan and Selangor state executive councillor Kamala Ganapathy to organise meetings with temple heads in their respective states.

The long time MIC president said the meetings would have several objectives, namely to verify the status of the land where the temples were built, to secure land reservations in all new housing development areas and to seek the registration of all temples.

"What is more important is that suitable alternative sites will have to be allocated first before any temples are to be relocated," he said.

According to Samy, a meeting to be held soon in Kuala Lumpur would be attended by 780 temple heads, whereas 870 temple heads would participate in the second meeting to be held in Selangor.

Premier's assurance

He added that similar meetings would be held in other states; with the third meeting scheduled in Perak and that he would chair all the meetings.

"I will scrutinise all matters concerning temples with a view to ensure that no temples are demolished in the future and if they have to be demolished, suitable alternative sites must be allocated so that Hindus can continue to worship," he said.

"No temples, either legally or illegally built will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC," he said, adding that Abdullah had assured that the government would provide the necessary support in resolving any matters involving temples as has been the case before.

In recent years a high number of Hindu temples have been demolished on the account of them being illegally built, causing much anger among the Indian community.

The Hindu Rights Action Force has played a vital role in defending these temples, culminating in a Nov 25 rally in Kuala Lumpur over the apparent marginalisation of the Indian community.

Since then, five leaders of the group have been detained for two years under the dreaded Internal Security Act.

Hindraf's popularity among the community in fighting for the Indian cause has come at the expense of MIC, which has for long been held as the sole Indian voice in the government.

Many segments of the community have blamed MIC for being inactive in protecting Hindu temples from being demolished.

The new approach outlined by the government for MIC to have 'powers' to protect temples now is seen as being aimed to win over the support of the community for the party.

NST:

Samy Vellu to give report on temples

KUALA LUMPUR: The prime minister has asked MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to monitor all Hindu temples and submit a report on their status periodically.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also wanted the MIC to forward to him and the cabinet a list of temples that might have to be demolished for various reasons.

"As the issue of temples is a sensitive matter, a new approach is necessary to resolve it and the MIC will completely take over the task," said Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, in a press statement.

He would travel to all states soon to prepare a report on the number of temples and their problems. "We will identify the illegally-built temples first and check on their status."

Meetings with the heads of temples in each state would be organised. The Federal Territory and Selangor meetings would be attended by 780 and 870 temple heads, respectively. It was to verify the status of the land where the temples were located, to secure land for them in all new housing areas and to seek registration for all temples.

"I will scrutinise all matters to ensure that no temples are demolished in the future or suitable alternative sites are allocated to temples that have to be demolished so that Hindus can continue to worship. "No temples, either legal or illegally built, will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC," Samy Vellu said.

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PM asks MIC to change approach for temple demolition

December 24th, 2007
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BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, MON:

The government has asked MIC to continuously monitor all Hindu temples in the country and submit a report on their status to the cabinet periodically.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wanted the MIC to forward to him and the cabinet the list of temples that may have to be demolished for various reasons.

“As temples are a sensitive matter, a new approach is necessary to resolve the issue and the MIC will take over completely this task,” he said in a statement here today.

Samy Vellu said he would travel to all the states soon to enable him to prepare a report on the number of temples in the country and their problems for submission to the cabinet.

“We’ll identify illegally-built temples first and check on their status. We want to know of any move to demolish or relocate them,” he said.

Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, said he had asked Federal Territory MIC chief Datuk M. Saravanan and Selangor state executive councillor Kamala Ganapathy to organise meetings involving temple chiefs in their respective states.

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samy wonders why temple was demolished

December 23rd, 2007
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He said Indians had taken part in the illegal demonstration recently to register their anger over the inadequacy in the implementation of projects by the Government.”Their anger is not because I had not raised questions about or fought for the plight of the community. We have done this many times and I have the documents to prove this if anyone says I did not raise these in the Cabinet,” he said.
[ so problem is whatever raised not taken into consideration? He admits that the Indians march for a correct reason?]

“I was angry because there was no order to demolish the houses, temples and mosques. They did not give orders for the temples and mosques. They only had an order to get the occupants to vacate the houses. “But I am still wondering why they wanted to demolish the temple first. I think there must be a personal reason or someone could have hated the temple,” Samy Vellu said. He said he would raise funds to construct a temple at a new site in Padang Jawa and hand it over to the people.
[looks like he is unhappy with the immigrant MB. Now, which one is lying, Selangor MB or SV? Why need to raise funds? Selangor govt said will pay for the cost already. Developer also agreed to provide land help shift. What is this…miscommunication or lying at the highest level?]

Below is excerpt from the Star today:

He said Indians had taken part in the illegal demonstration recently to register their anger over the inadequacy in the implementation of projects by the Government. “Their anger is not because I had not raised questions about or fought for the plight of the community. We have done this many times and I have the documents to prove this if anyone says I did not raise these in the Cabinet,” he said. 

Samy Vellu said he was not the kind of representative who would ignore the people's problems and “have fun” instead. “I work from the time I wake up in the morningtill 1am. Why? I do so for the betterment of the community. 

“Many say the community has not improved. I can’t believe this. If they say what we have got is not enough, I’ll agree and I’ll request more. I have demanded for opportunities according to our population size, not only with the current Prime Minister but also with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Hussein Onn,” he said. 

On Tamil schools, Samy Vellu said that he and MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting have been fighting in the Cabinet for a long time for all vernacular schools to be turned into government-aided schools.  

He said there are 522 Tamil schools in the country, of which 180 are government-aided and the rest are partially-aided. “From 1983 till today, we have rebuilt 76 Tamil schools. I don’t know whether some people have eyesight problems or those schools are 'magical' schools. I can see them but others can’t. At all times, Tamil schools are being built,” he said. 

Samy Vellu said he had asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi not to allow any quarters to demolish any temples in the future. 

“Whichever temple it may be, no one should go to the extent of demolishing it. If a temple has a problem, it should be brought to my attention. I’ll visit the place and I’ll get the appropriate allocation from the Government and make the necessary arrangements to rebuild the temple. I’ve said firmly that only then can a temple be relocated,” he said. 

He said the temple in Padang Jawa was built on private land and the land owners had obtained a court order two years ago to get the people staying there to vacate. 

“I was angry because there was no order to demolish the houses, temples and mosques. They did not give orders for the temples and mosques. They only had an order to get the occupants to vacate the houses. 

“But I am still wondering why they wanted to demolish the temple first. I think there must be a personal reason or someone could have hated the temple,” Samy Vellu said. 

He said he would raise funds to construct a temple at a new site in Padang Jawa and hand it over to the people. 

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police claims hindraf activities involve secret service???

December 22nd, 2007
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I read through the chronology and found no statement on links with secret societies etc.

Chronology of events

source

– 2007: Police investigations show that Hindraf was involved in numerous violent demonstrations, including employing the services of secret societies against local authorities legally demolishing temples.
[wonder why the above item is stated as 2007 only]

– July 2007: Hindraf leaders give speeches and distribute a seditious publication, 50 Years of Violation of the Federal Constitution by the Malaysian Government at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.
[does seditious mean telling lies, telling unconfirmed news/rumours, or telling the truth that may hurt, but still is the truth?]

– Aug 12: Hindraf leaders and followers gather illegally outside the prime minister's office, demanding that the prime minister personally collect a memorandum from them. Hindraf leaders speak and widely distribute pamphlets containing their memorandum which called for the end to Malay special rights and included other similar demands intended to cause racial tension.
[well, when there's no reply from various posted letters, i suppose it is only normal to personall handover the requests]

– Aug 30: Hindraf files class action suit against the British government for bringing Indians to Malaysia as indentured labourers and exploiting them for 150 years and thereafter failing to protect the Indian community's rights under the Federal Constitution when independence was granted. The sum sought was US$4 trillion (RM14 trillion) — or US$1 million for every Malaysian Indian.
[is this a crime? i thought this is a legal process. if not successful, so be it lah]

– October – December: SMSes alleging government conspiracies to demolish temples and completely marginalise the Indian community are circulated. In relation to the planned Hindraf rally, SMSes are sent stating that each Indian attending the rally would receive RM100,000.
– Nov 15: In a letter to the British prime minister, Hindraf alleges that the Malaysian government practises ethnic cleansing and the Islamic extremist backed government demolished Hindu temples.
[origin of the SMS? hopefully not from some 16 years old school girl's handphone!. I'm sure the letter to Gordon Brown contained more than "ethnic cleansing" and "islamic extremists". Anyway, what's the big deal? I'm sure that UK and Malaysia being good friends, UK have good idea and information on our country. The memo would not have impacted our country. Again, is this a crime?]

– Nov 16: Hindraf applies at Cheras police station for a permit to hold a gathering to submit a petition to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to fund (estimated by Hindraf to be RM5 million) their lawsuit against the British government.

– Nov 16: Hindraf's application for permit rejected by police as the planned gathering could potentially lead to trouble and public disorder as well as the fact that the application was made by an individual. Under Section 27 of the Police Act 1967, any application for a permit to assemble in a public place must be made by an organisation or jointly by three individuals.

– Nov 16: Hindraf leaders alleged to have given seditious speeches in Tamil at a restaurant in Kuala Selangor.
[alleged? hahahaha!]

– Nov 22: Court issues an order to Hindraf leaders prohibiting them from participating in the planned Nov 25 illegal gathering. This order means, that if the gathering goes on, the respondents will not only be held liable for illegal assembly, but can also be cited for contempt of court.
[hmmm…if indeed the leaders came at 1.15pm, can still charge under contempt of court? why ISA or this dillydallying?]

– Nov 23: Three Hindraf leaders are arrested and charged with sedition. Two are released on bail while the third refuses bail and threatens to go on a hunger strike.

– Nov 23: Scuffle breaks out between Hindraf supporters and FRU. A 2,000-strong Hindraf procession gathers behind Klang district police headquarters where released Hindraf leaders give speeches.

– Nov 25: Hindraf supporters damage vehicles and temple in Batu Caves, KL, as well as cause grievous bodily hurt to policemen present.
[proof that supporters did it? can be any tom, dick and harry right? i can be anti-hindraf, attend the gathering and throw stones everywhere 🙂 ]

– Nov 25: In defiance of a court order and police warnings, Hindraf leaders vow to proceed with the illegal gathering and urge all Indians to attend. Police were ready to negotiate with Hindraf leaders to allow them to hand over the memorandum but they were missing from the rally and only attended at 1.15pm, more than 5 hours after the crowds had gathered.
[this depends on who you ask. attendees said the organisers were there around 8am itself.]

– Nov 26: Hindraf leaders are granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal at the Klang Sessions Court.
[of course la. always "allege" only. how to win?]

– Nov 28: British High Commissioner denies receiving Hindraf memorandum. Hindraf claims it was faxed.
[hindraf claims it faxed "something" and high comm acknowledges it received "something"].

– December: Hindraf leaders systematically engage in a planned campaign spreading falsehoods to foreign governments and politicians. They claim that the Malaysian government carries out ethnic cleansing and widespread indiscriminate destruction of Hindu temples.
[ haiyaa…repeating old story only. what's the big deal? if left alone, i think will die a natural death. but looks like the govt is helping to promote and encourage hindraf?]

– Dec 01: A Hindraf leader, in an interview with the Indian Express (India), warned that Malaysia could become another Sri Lanka.
[so what? anyone can say many things, but if its not true, no big deal].

– Dec 04: A Hindraf leader, in an interview with the New Paper (Singapore), said that Hindraf could not rule out violence.
[incomplete statement. a search in the internet will show the full text of the interview and what the leader actually said]

– Dec 06: IGP reveals that Hindraf has links with terrorists and local gangster groups.
[reveals? sorry, i didn't see any proof]

– Dec 07: Attorney-General informs the court of documents alleging links between Hindraf and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
[ alleges again? like this i also can be AG :)]

– Dec 11: Hindraf leaders are arrested and charged with sedition. A crowd gathers near Pudu Jail and begins shouting for the leader's release. The police and the Federal Reserve Unit take up positions as the crowd begins to swell.

– Dec 12: Police raid the offices of two Hindraf leaders at Menara Mutiara Bangsar in KL and in Seremban and seize computers and documents.

– Dec 13: Five Hindraf leaders are picked up from Petaling Jaya, Brickfields, Bangsar and Seremban under the Internal Security Act and send to the Kamunting Detention Centre where they will be held for two years. Hindraf supporters gather in two groups — one outside the Federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman and the other outside Menara Mutiara Bangsar. They condemn the arrests and vow to carry on with their struggle.
[well, they certainly have the spirit of malaysia boleh!]

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paranjothy talks on Kerling incident in june 2006

December 22nd, 2007
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Gerakan Youth slams temple demolitions
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/52340
Jun 10, 06 9:12pm
The wanton destruction of Hindu temples by local councils in several states must now stop as it could fan religious and racial animosity among Malaysians, Gerakan Youth warned today.

“We strongly believe that the local authorities have blatant disrespect for other religions in this country and for violating the Federal Constitution by their disrespectful manner in which places of worship have been demolished,” its  deputy chief S Paranjothy said in a strongly worded statement.

Article 11 of the Federal Constitution guarantees freedom of religion while laws such as Section 295 of the Penal Code describes defiling religious buildings as a criminal offence.

Paranjothy’s criticism comes hot on the heels of a heated parliamentary roundtable on temple demolitions last Sunday attended by more than 160 temple caretakers, all decrying the recent trend.

The latest incident revolved around the Muniswaran Alayam temple in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur which was destroyed by DBKL on Thursday.

Remember ‘Kerling incident’

“We hereby issue a stern warning to all local councils to stop demolishing temples and to avoid the repeat of another 'Kerling incident' because of their (local governments) insensitivities of the right of minority groups,” added Paranjothy.

In 1977, five Muslim Malays, accused of being involved in a series of temple desecration, were killed after being ambushed near the vicinity of a Hindu temple by several Indian Hindus in Kerling, near Kuala Selangor.

The incident drew a storm of controversy and the assailants were all given jail sentences. They were then represented by former MIC secretary-general DP Vijandran.

Paranjothy argued that most of such temples have been long in existence and the local authorities should show sensitivity by relocating them to appropriate places.

MIC has failed

Paranjothy also took a swipe at fellow Barisan Nasional component party MIC over their failure to protect these temples.

“We regret that the MIC who claims to represent and champion the cause of the Indian community in this country has failed to safeguard and protect these temples from being demolished,” he added.

He also called on the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, an MIC initiated religious body, to be more proactive in protecting Hindu temples and not take a “passive stand”.

Next on Paranjothy’s firing-line was the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which he claimed has yet to take any action on police reports made against local councils in regards to temple demolitions.

“We sincerely hope that the AG’s Chambers is not biased towards the majority by discriminating the minority of their rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution. In this instance, silence is not golden,” he stressed.

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