| Learning amidst the dead http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75169 |
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Children who will be attending a Tamil primary school in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, in the near future may mistake their alma mater for a horror movie set. This is because the school is slated to be constructed in the midst of not one, but numerous cemeteries several times its size. Shuddering at the thought, Bukit Jalil estate resident V Loudesmary said she does not understand how the authorities can imagine children going to school under such circumstances. Loudesmary, who attended the estate’s present SRJK Ladang Bukit Jalil more than 30 years ago, said the land allotted for the new school was inadequate for children. This is in addition to the overwhelming presence of Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian cemetaries contained in the proposed development plan for Bukit Jalil estate, she added. “The land planned for the school is too small and it is surrounded by cemeteries. Where are the children supposed to play?” she asked when contacted yesterday. “Do they expect them to just come to school, stay in their classrooms, and go straight home after that?” Development plan On one side of the temple/school is a Hindu cemetary that is slightly bigger at 0.43 ha, while the other side will be occupied by Christian cemetary measuring 0.49 ha. To the east and south, there will be Buddhist cemetery measuring 3.28 ha and a Muslim cemetery measuring 5.69. This is in addition to another Muslim cemetary measuring 3.9 ha adjacent to the Buddhist cemetary. The smaller Muslim cemetary is believed to be part of the temporary detention centre planned for Bukit Jalil which will replace the overcrowded Kuala Lumpur Remand Centre formerly known as Pudu Jail. Loudesmary’s concerns are the latest among the residents who have been in distress since the government’s acquisition of the estate land in July 1980 for the purposes of development. While the rubber trees have made way for the ultra-modern Bukit Jalil Sports Complex and the equally impressive Bukit Jalil Golf Club, the estate residents face eviction and the demolition of their houses by DBKL. Better treatment Although DBKL has offered to relocate them to a nearby low-cost public housing project (PPR), the residents argue that their decades of service tapping rubber – including, at one point, for DBKL itself – qualifies them to better treatment and compensation. Having ultimately agreed to move to the PPR flats last August, bureaucratic complications have led to a further delay to their relocation. The residents who have not already moved are still waiting to receive DBKL’s letters of offering to occupy the flats. While that has yet to be resolved, the residents were visited by DBKL officers on Tuesday and reminded that their houses would be demolished as stipulated in notices issued on July 14 and 16 this year. The residents’ spokesperson S Thiakarajan said the reprieve granted to them by DBKL had expired. The officers made their rounds on Tuesday to tell residents the demolition exercise would occur Nov 22. However, DBKL seems to have put off the demolition after DBKL was informed that an appeal had been lodged with the office of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. “We don’t know how long we can continue holding them off. We hope to receive a reply from Abdullah’s office soon,” said Thiakarajan when contacted. |
Posts Tagged ‘temples’
sjkt bukit jalil students to learn amidst the dead
November 23rd, 2007
Hindraf meeting a journey of facts
November 20th, 2007A reader’s account of the Hindraf talk at Brickfields on 18th Nov 2007. Thanks to Kannan.
from Kannan Ramasamy
to M Poobalan
date Nov 20, 2007 10:49 AM
subject Hindraf meeting – a journey of facts
Hi all,
It was abt 3.30 pm yesterday (18th Nov 2007) when I moved from our UMIC
Deepavali gathering for 300 kids in Klang.
I had to move early leaving our UMIC function to be handle by other CC team
to avoid any delay to HINDRAF’s meeting in Brickfield due to roadblocks.
Pick up few frens in Kelana Jaya and we drive thru Federal Highway.
On the way we called few others to see if there were any blocks ahead near
Brickfileds, the reply was no roadblocks.
By 4.45 pm we were there in front of the hall in Brickfields. It was just 25
mins drive from Kelana Jaya.
There were only a few of them near the gate at that time, so we drive to
have a small chaya at nearby restaurant.
Walked to the hall at 5.45 pm and saw the crowd slowing coming in.
This is the 1st meeting we are going which organized by HINDRAF to seek more
info and as well to show support to them.
There were few people giving away form to pen down support sign for the UK
case.
The mix crowd of old and young, man and woman soon filled the hall and
around 6.45 pm the hall was almost full.
Sharp at 7.00 pm, the 1st speaker, Mr Mano introduce himself and talked
about fundamental discrimination of right happening in Malaysia towards
Indians.
This followed by Mr Genga and Mr Wathya on the current situation and support
on the suit.
The whole atmosphere in the hall was very vibrating as the crowd claps for
every point made by the speakers.
The crowd also echoes with high spirit support with clear loud voices.
He even called the people not to worry to the police presence outside as it
is LEGAL and PERMIT APPROVED gathering.
There were a lot of things and facts shares in this gathering which needs to
be known by all of us.
This is must attend meeting by every Indian in Malaysia regardless of age,
religion, education or status as long as they are Malaysian Indians.
This group of lawyers from Mr. Mano, Mr Genga, Mr Waytha, Mr Uthaya and Mr
Rao has put the community above all to serve them with high dedication.
Their speech full of facts on
* the reason and the way the Indian were brought into Malaysia
* the promises given by the British before independence
* The suffering and pain by the Indians here under British colonial
* the contribution and glory made by our Indian towards British
* the dirty ways of the current government cleaning Indian history and
icons
* the discriminations by umno lead government in last 50 years
* the right that every Malaysia Indian have in law and constitution
* the wrongdoing by the PM as the government leader to save Indian as
whole.
And the most important thing was the reason why the suit was filed against
the UK and how the Reid commission failed the Malaysian Indians !!
This information shared was the most crucial and interesting parts.
I have to salute to this team of lawyers whom dedicated so much time and
life in preparing the findings and filing the suit.
As Mr Watya said, this suit is the bull’s eye shot that will open the eyes
of world towards the suffering of Indians in Msia.
It was a bit sad part to see only abt 2000 plus people came from Klang
Vallley to this meting despite Brickfields is well known as Indian hub.
Nevertheless the HINDRAF gathering at the other parts of Malaysia pulls huge
crowd in Sban ( ~7000) and Penang (~5000), Butterworth (~4000) and Kulim
(~4000).
As said, may be people are still worried on Bersih gathering reaction
recently. But this is total is different gathering with NON POLITICAL
purpose.
The other request made in the speech were,
1. The signature support by Malaysian Indian on the suit against UK
a. Each Indian to get at least 10 signatures and make 10 copies
of the form
2. The peaceful gathering to support the memo submission to the UK
counsel on coming 25th Nov 2007 at 9am in front of British Council, Jln
Ampang KL.
a. Request made if possible to be in “orange” to assemble peace
and sacred gathering. ( Amathiyum Thuimaiyum)
b. Be in peace and total calm during the gathering as it
resembles the Indians in Msia to pledge the HRH Queen of England to appoint
Her Queen’s Counsel to represent us.
c. The international media will be present at the gathering to
record this peace wave.
d. It will be a legal peace gathering with police permit.
e. Be there early to avoid traffic jam and possible to take
public transport like LRT Star to Ampang Park Stn which is only 50m walk to
the council.
3. Do daily prayers and light up a “agal villaku” in front of every
Indians house daily from 7pm – 8 pm to shown support on the suit against UK.
The gathering came close to end at 10.30 pm with standing recognition to the
brave hearts that fought their life to save the recent Kg Jawa Amman Temple
followed highly motivated song and the IKRAR reading.
It was a stunning and high vibrate gathering that I ever been.
We need more Malaysian Indian to support this team that is fighting for the
rights of all of us whom are poor, oppressed, suppressed and permanently
colonized.
As your simple contribution, pls pass this info to all the Indian tht u
knew.
Pls seek for the form and pen down your signature of support.
Be there in all the meeting to get to the root of the truth.
“KAMI MAHU HAK KAMI”
“KAMI MAHU HAK KAMI”
“KAMI MAHU HAK KAMI”
Thanks for reading and seek for support.
– Kannan Ramasamy –
MIC says ignore calls to attend rally
November 20th, 2007MIC: Ignore calls to attend rally
KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian community has been advised to ignore calls by certain groups urging them to attend a rally at the British High Commission this Sunday to protest against the demolition of an Indian temple in Klang.
MIC secretary-general Datuk S. Veerasingam said the party had informed its members not to attend the gathering. He claimed the event was being held for the benefit of the Opposition.
“There are SMSes calling participants to go against the authorities. Such matters will create a tense situation and innocent people will get caught while the perpetrators will walk free,” he added.
Veerasingam said the MIC would discuss what action to take against its members who attend the gathering. He added that several social activists had acted irresponsibly by inciting the Indian community to hate the Government.
“These people are not assisting the Government in solving problems affecting the Indian community. We have no problem with social activists. But this past week, the community has been confused by the actions of this group, including four lawyers, which we believe will only help the Opposition,” said Veerasingam at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
He added that problems could be settled through proper channels in the coalition government.
In SEREMBAN, police raided the office of lawyer and Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) head P. Waythamoorthy at Kemayan Square yesterday for allegedly possessing seditious materials.
The 10-man team arrived at Waythamoorthy’s office at about 3.30pm and spent more than an hour searching for documents.
Waythamoorthy said the police had a search warrant, but the raid was an attempt to intimidate him and others not to attend a mass gathering this Sunday outside the British High Commission.
Waythamoorthy said the policemen took away several documents from his office including copies of letters he had written to the United Nations secretary-general, the Prime Minister and the Inspector General of Police on matters relating to the plight of the Indian community.
He said the police also took photographs at this office, adding that this was not provided for under the warrant conditions.
His brother Uthayakumar’s office in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, was also raided at the same time.
City CID chief Senior Asst Comm 11 Ku Chin Wah said: “The raid follows a report lodged by a civilian at the end of July regarding a book deemed to be seditious.”
Nod for temple in Sg Udang
November 19th, 2007By A. LETCHUMANAN
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
MALACCA: The 34-year-old Sri Vanathandavar Temple has been given approval to operate in Sungai Udang.
The temple has been serving more than 10,000 Hindus in Sungai Udang and surrounding areas. However, the temple committee has to raise RM228,000 before Dec 5 to pay the premium for the temple’s land.
The committee had been organising several fund-raising activities, including a dinner on Nov 21, and MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has consented to be the guest of honour at the function in Dewan Hang Tuah.
The land purchase sub-committee chairman Major (QM) G. Segar said the proceeds of the dinner would be used to pay the premium to the state and any excess would be used to furnish the temple.

Seeking contributions: Segar (right) and a priest standing outside the 34-year-old Sri Vanathandavar Temple in Sungai Udang recently.
The temple, set up by members of the Gurkha army deployed in Sungai Udang during the British colonial period, is the largest in Sungai Udang.
Segar said the temple nearest to Sungai Udang was the Throbathai Amman Temple in Gajah Berang which was 17km away. He said the temple management committee was made up of people from the armed forces and civilians.
Those wishing to contribute can contact the temple management at Batu 12, Sungai Udang, 76300 Malacca, or Segar at 019-681 7607 or Major (R) M.P. Indran at 012-661 5091 or 06-315 1684.
ladang bukit jalil plantation workers given eviction notice
November 19th, 2007details about the location of tamil school being surrounded by graveyards can be read here.
Plantation families to lose homes
KUALA LUMPUR: Just give us a home we can call our own and the respect we deserve for our dedication to the country.
So say the plantation community of Ladang Bukit Jalil after being slapped with eviction notices by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL). They have to be out by Thursday and the demolition of their homes is set for Friday. The 58 families were labelled as squatters after a census in the area in April last year, despite being employed by developers with contracts with DBKL to work the land since 1980.
Ladang Bukit Jalil residents action committee secretary Thiakarajan Sathasivam, 54, said their pleas for an extension and a fair resettlement deal have fallen on deaf ears.
The community has been offered accommodation in the nearby Project Perumahan Rakyat, but according to Thiakarajan the agreement drafted by DBKL only offers a three-year tenancy without the option to purchase the homes when the term was up. If the head of the household dies, the agreement ends, leaving the rest of the family homeless.
Housing is not the only problem this small community has to contend with. The new Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (T) Ladang Bukit Jalil may be boxed in by cemeteries, a crematorium and a detention centre. "The cemetery land will be segmented according to the different religions, 13.97ha in total, while our 103-year-old temple and new school have been allotted 0.4ha to share. "How are the children going to study, sandwiched between a crematorium and graveyards? "We need at least 5ha for the school, so we have a proper field. Who is more important, the living or the dead?" asked the school's parent-teacher association chairman, S. Balakrishnan, 46, who fears the projects may already be confirmed as construction on the detention centre has begun.
The pupils and their parents were out in full force yesterday, calling for a new location and a resized plot to be gazetted for the school.
Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu announced the school's relocation on Oct 16, saying the 61-year-old school was in a state of dilapidation, especially after being repeatedly hit by floods.