FHROI DEMANDS REVOCATION OF THE BAN IMPOSED ON 'HINDRAF'.

FEDERATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS OF INDIA
8, Todarmal Lane, Bengali Market, New Delhi- 110 001
Phone: 65288241, 23718929 Fax-01123718929

26.10.2008

1) Duli Yang Maha Mulia
Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin
Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud
Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
Istana Negara
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

2) Y.A.B. DATO’
SERI ABDULLAH AHMAD BADAWI
Prime Minister of Malaysia

Subject:- IMPOSITION OF BAN ON “HINDRAF”

Your Highness,
The citizens and Human Rights organisations of India have taken a serious note of the ban
imposed on Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDFAF) by the Government of Malaysia. We are
equally concerned about the detention of five members of HINDRAF. We feel that the sole
reason for the imposition of ban on HINDRAF and the detention of five members of
HINDRAF, was for expressing concerns about the marginalization of ethnic South Asians
within Malaysian society and specifically for organizing rallies.

It is disheartening to know that all the detainees are being treated like criminals, but they
have never been charged much less convicted of a crime. We have been informed that at
least 65 people are being held at Kamunting Detention Centre under the administrative
detention provisions of the ISA. The Internal Security Act allows the police to arrest
individuals they believe have acted, or are "about to" or "likely to" act in a way that would
threaten Malaysian security, "essential services" or "economic life" (Article 73 (1)(b) and the
detainees can be held for up to 60 days for investigation by the police, after which time the
Home Minister can issue a two year detention order under the ISA. The two year detention
can be renewed indefinitely without the detainee ever being charged with a crime or tried in
a court of law.

As such the ISA is contrary to fundamental principles of international law, including the right
to liberty of the person, to freedom from arbitrary arrest, the presumption of innocence, and
the right to fair and open trial in a court of law.
We demand that the Government of Malaysia should start the process to abolish this
draconian legislation. We also demand that the ban imposed on HINDRAF should be revoked
immediately and the five members of HINDRAF should be released without any precondition.

Rajesh Gogna
Convener
(FHROI)

A salute to those who lead the way.

by Thamilan

P.Uthayakumar’s six year old niece P.W. Vwaishhnnavi , sister-in-law K..Nageswari@ Shanti, sister P.Waytha Nayagi, brother P. Taramaraju, Police Watch and Human Rights Committee coordinator S Jayathas , R.Kanan, Poobalan, Rajah Sekhar, Lourdes Mary (Shanti), P. Suntheram , Sivakumar and Balakrishnan were all arrested outside the Prime Ministers office at Putrajaya on 23/10/08 when they went there to deliver a Deepavalli card asking for the release of the Hindraf lawyers detained under the ISA before Deepavalli and to extend a Deepavalli invitation.
They went to the PM’s office as citizens accompanying a little girl to give a letter of appeal but were detained for illegal assembly and later, they were investigated under the Societies Act instead..

They should not have been arrested in the first place, since when do members of the public who submit a document get arrested. Further the remand application was defective from the onset and the entire episode is evident of the flaw in our criminal justice system.
There were no grounds for the arrest and the following detention that took place. UMNO has got so desperate in curtailing Hindraf that they have resorted to stoop so low as to arresting the 6 year old daughter of Hindraf chairman, family and friends for asking the release of their brother P.Uthayakumar currently detained without trial in Kemta prison. UMNO is going for the whole of the Uthaya’s family and Hindraf supporters. UMNO wanted to see them all in a police lock up this Deepavalli. Deepavalli means nothing to the present government. They broke temples last Deepavalli and conducted the UMNO AGM on Deepavalli day without a care for the Indians at heart. After all it is the same police and government that attacked the Indians and pregnant women with water cannons when they gathered peacefully to voice their grievances, so what would they care?

Hindraf cabar buktikan mereka biadap

Posted by St Low
Saturday, 11 October 2008 09:59

Barisan Bertindak Hak-hak Hindu (Hindraf) mencabar menteri dalam negeri dan TV3 menyiarkan rakaman lengkap rumah terbuka Aidilfitri perdana menteri yang menunjukkan penyokong mereka biadap.
Pengerusi Hindraf, P Waythamoorthy juga mengecam Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, stesen televisyen itu dan Utusan Malaysia berhubung laporan mereka yang mendakwa sedemikian.Beliau, yang juga adik seorang lagi tokoh gerakan tersebut P Uthayakumar yang kini ditahan bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), mendakwa dua media itu "sengaja mengapi-apikan semangat perkauman" terhadap Hindraf. "Sekiranya benar tohmahan-tohmahan mereka, mengapa mereka tidak berani menayangkan gambar dan klip yang kononnya penyokong Hindraf bersikap biadap dan kurang ajar," katanya. "Sebaliknya kami mempunyai bukti kukuh yang menunjukkan yang perdana menteri, timbalan beliau dan ramai lagi menteri-menteri kabinet yang senyum panjang dan menerima salamam penyokong Hindraf dengan hati terbuka dengan semangat maaf zahir dan batin.

"Waythamoorthy mengakui penyokong Hindraf merayu Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi agar membebaskan lima pemimpin gerakan itu yang kini meringkuk di kem tahanan Kamunting, Taiping sejak Disember lepas."Apakah rayuan ini boleh dianggap mencemar agama Islam? Motif Utusan dan TV3 mengapikan sentimen perkauman dan agama harus dikutuk oleh semua lapisan masyarakat Malaysia," katanya dalam satu kenyataan. Menurutnya, yang kini berada di London, dalam satu perjumpaan Hindraf dengan setiausaha Abdullah seminggu sebelum majlis berkenaan, mereka dimaklumkan bahawa perdana menteri "tiada bantahan" atas kunjungan mereka di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC). "Seramai lebih 500 orang penyokong Hindraf menghadiri majlis tersebut tetapi kurang daripada 50 penyokong dibenarkan bersalaman dengan perdana menteri. "Kami datang dengan niat ikhlas dengan semangat maaf zahir batin, di samping merayu supaya perdana menteri membebaskan semua tahanan ISA di hari mulia ini," katanya.
- Malaysiakini

Comments (7)
...written by onnetline, October 11, 2008 10:25:25
Home Ministry & TV 3, What say you ??? The rakyat or your tax payers wish to know about the truth !
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...written by Joe, October 11, 2008 11:11:03
Hope they try to BAN Hindraf... that will be liken censoring the internet. As an Indian and looking at the state of the Malaysian Indians in this country, honestly I wont be surprised if there are death threats and even deaths next.
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...written by AUTAR, October 11, 2008 12:02:20
Hoi budak botak dari Johor! Kumpulan tu bukan dari kumpulan pelampau. Mereka hanya mengusulkan sahaja, macam jugak masa budak ingusan Saipul pukimak tu pergi kat putrajaya di pejabat TPM minta sain untuk dapatkan biasiswa. SALAH KE TU?. Kalau salah, bagus jangan jadi menterilah. Nasibbaik bukan keluarga saya yang engkau ambil tindakan macam tu. Andai belaku, saya akan pastikan budak botak ni sentiasa kekal berada di kandang 4X6.
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...written by Lembing Tajam, October 11, 2008 22:27:48
Botak Balbar ni memang biul dan taksub ngan jawatan Home Minesternya.Orang melawat dengan jujur tapi biasalah paria paria UMNO dan menteri2 bodohnya akan memutar belitkan kenyataan.
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...written by Jana, October 12, 2008 11:40:32
If you banning Hindraf is your(UMNO) solution then prepare to face the next level of our playing field
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...written by Rozlan, October 13, 2008 09:11:14
If the HIndraf were rude or unruly They had not been allowed to enter the function in the first place..The cctv had been place allover the corner.They could always refer to recordings..Moreover Paklah's bodyguards for sure wont let the commotions to happen..Arrest will be made if the Hindraf supporters were unruly..But nothing happened..The Hariraya functions go on unscathed till the end.. It seem Paklah lying again...
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...written by riversnail, October 13, 2008 13:34:14
a few times i watched the 8pm news in RTM1 and TV3 and all showed the Hindraf supporters was standing in the queue in an orderly manner.if they were rude and unruly,definately every hour we can watch in the UMNO controlled TV stations and also in all the newspapers.It is very obvious that Pak Lah and his UMNO goons are telling lies to the Rakyat!! hmmmm...i really dont know when the idiots will learn that the Rakyat dont trust their TVs or newspapers anymore.......

Letter- HINDRAF is a broadband.

Re: [malaysiafm] Is banning Hindraf the solution?
Sunday, 12 October, 2008 15:12
From: "saro saro" saro312002@yahoo.com

To: malaysiafm@yahoogroups.co.uk

Any attempt to ban is a grave mistake the govt jokers can ever think, to meet the dooms day.
Its not formed out of protem commitee and rules for approval from ROC.
HINDRAF is SOUL centered. And you know what is the vibration of SOUL.
To know, pls press the button to ban HINDRAF.
Cant the Authorities take note the shit the authorities are undergoing as result of the court cases. The more the justice seen to be done, the more the hidden truth all these years are surfacing.

And not only the tempering of evidence are so freguent but the DPP himselfs admission of the defect of original charges against RPK in court is untold ambarassment.
An ambarassment one has to face it due to some senior authorities bulldozing to nail truth in haste.

Can the BAR COUNCIL standup to see to the safety of ordinary people seeking justice and endup becoming victim of certain hidden agenda of certain unfaithful authorities.
The Justice dept. owe the people an explanation on the waste of public fund in holding trials of imagination.

The LINGAMS drama is enough so much for people to laugh at for the kind of infiltration certain bad elements can make toin the judiciary.
The followup is not over in the LINGAMS case that other untoward truth are surfacing.
The people demand an immediate action and not to be too concern into determining the new PM after March 2009.

Pak Lah could not hold to the amount of loose ends as a result of some negative greedy officials.
He is an honest man and left it in the hands of the people who are responsible for their issue to clear their name or get killed as a result of it.
What ever it is, the countdown starts the day the next PM of Malaysia takes stage.
Thus completing the "RAHMAN" teory.

Whether DSAI is going to be the next PM or not is not the Q.
The change in the choice of the govt. is indeed inevitable. All odds are already against the UMNO lead BN govt.
The key issue is how soon is the changes going to manifest after March 2008.

GOD SAVE OUR KING AND OUR NATION.
OKOT

Hindraf went 'over the limit' - comments from m2day.blog

Hindraf went 'over the limit'

Posted by kasee
Monday, 06 October 2008 10:04

(NST) KAPAR: The MIC cannot condone the sort of behaviour demonstrated by some of the Hindraf members at the Muslim ministers' Hari Raya open house on Wednesday. Party secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said that sort of behaviour did not augur well for a multiracial nation.He said people should learn from and emulate senior members of the opposition parties, who made it a point to attend the open house and take part in the festivities.Hindraf members led by K. Shanti, the wife of Hindraf leader-in-exile P. Waytha-moorthy, went to the open house at the Putra World Trade Centre and presented Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi with a card asking him to release the organisation's leaders detained under the Internal Security Act. The card was delivered by Waythamoorthy's 5-year-old daugher, Vwaishnnavi, who had been invited to the open house by the prime minister.About 20 bloggers also turned up at the open house, wearing T-shirts bearing the slogans "No to ISA" and "Free RPK", referring to Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who is being held for two years under the ISA.Subramaniam was commenting on Pas leader Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's statement that he viewed Hindraf's actions as part and parcel of democracy and that it signalled a change in democratic practices in the country.He acknowledged that it was the group's democratic right to be at the open house but noted that everything had its limits.In Kemaman, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said it was wrong of Hadi to say that what had happened was part and parcel of democracy."A cabinet open house is for the people to meet the nation's leaders and political ideologies are set aside on that day."When a political agenda takes the driving seat on such an occasion, it dampens the Hari Raya spirit. Democracy should not be abused," he said, after attending Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said's open house in Kijal, here, yesterday.


Comments (29)
...written by Jan, October 06, 2008 10:12:47
Hindraf over the limit? What about jailing people indicriminately without charge, isn't that worse?
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...written by rayfire, October 06, 2008 10:16:55
Please, can someone from Hindraf or others show recorded proof of what exactly went on that day at the open house, the media report and the minister's response makes it seem like they went on rampage that day! I am quite sure they would have behaved quite decent and have presented the card with the request in an acceptable manner! Please do not politicise this issue, and Utusan please don't use this to incite hatred amongst the races! It is good that Hindraf plan to sue Utusan for their degrading comments and headline on second day of raya to cause discomfort! While they are at it, they should sue Syed Hamid Albar as he said "they insulted Islam", he should SHOW proof what they have done wrong! or should be charged for sedition! As for MIC, do it because of concern, not because of publicity, it is likely the latter is the reason for your "sudden" concern. All ISA detainees should be released and I urge Hindraf to represent all intimidated Malaysians instead of focusing only on Indians
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...written by Concerned Malaysian, October 06, 2008 10:19:18
These two pea brain minister are the milestone of rest of the ministers in Malaysia. What political agenda is the $%#@^ information minister is talking about, meeting the PM who claims to be PM of all Malaysian and giving him a card is this poitical. Hoi mangkuk hayun don;t be like your predecessorlah. Subra..subra...water cannoning the Indians,will augur well for multi racial nation. where were you then? don't be an UMNO dog wake up.
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...written by avj, October 06, 2008 10:25:09
You still can't get it it into thick skull,can you Dr Subramniam that MIC does not represent the Indian Malaysian and that MIC is only an extention of BE END trying to to keep political power within themselves.Hindraf has allowed the winds of change in and there is nothing you can do about it.And as for you don't try and be an extention for slimeball Samy,he is politically finished,kaput,over.Wake up lah thamby.
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...written by Liberace, October 06, 2008 10:28:43
Nobody's looking for approval from MIC or UMNO. Neither party is qualified to speak by virtue of their failure to give 2 hoots about the welfare of the Indian community.
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...written by SCM, October 06, 2008 10:35:25
Subra, you guys in MIC really don't get it. The Indians don't want to hear you say anything because whenever MIC says something, it is said to carry UMNO's balls. Samy and the rest of his gang have been thrown out because the Indians want people like Hindraf and not weak money grabbing corrupt leaders who are hypocrites like you and your MIC gang of spineless morons, and that worm Nalla also. Just stop hindering efforts by the Indians to get some rights.
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...written by indianputra, October 06, 2008 10:43:26
With due respects to you Dr. Subra, you have absolutely no right to talk about HINDRAF and what they are doing. When your own MIC members are behaving like gangsters (Remember MAIKA HOLDING AGM?)I would appreciate you taking care of those rougues before you say anything about HINDRAF. MIC is NOT and will NOT represent HINDRAF and any attempt by MIC to discredit HINDRAF is tantamount to treason.
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...written by manny_california_usa, October 06, 2008 10:47:35
To Dr.Subra, Your prime minister don't even have the guts to receive a bouquet of flowers from a little girl at the Parliament and you are talking about bad behaviour by the Hindraf members? To Ahmad Shabery, stop being Mis-Information minister. Datuk Seri Anwar already given you an embarrassing knock-out in the debate, don't let us give you another one.
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...written by cheekhiaw, October 06, 2008 10:52:01
Hey Muttal Indian Congress, At least HINDRAF does not steal in broad daylight... xxx
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...written by dumbfounded, October 06, 2008 11:17:16
When the gov detain people in ISA, we, the people of the nation, demand that the ISA detainees be released and charged in open court
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...written by advocatusdiaboli, October 06, 2008 11:25:29
As it is we Malaysians are a peaceful lot and we will be even better without you MIC,UMNO & MCA and it is your kind of behaviour that does not augur well for a Multiracial Nation. As for Shabery Cheek,just stuff it up your nether regions. Anyway Selamat Hari Raya.
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...written by onnetline, October 06, 2008 12:07:24
Subramaniam, Not everybody is a God like you ..... knows what is totally right or totally wrong ! You should be sitting up in an altar and not talking cock lah !
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...written by RumahPanjai, October 06, 2008 12:11:17
By putting RPK in prison, you morons have already dampened our hari raya spirit! So where is the selamat baboon minister?
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...written by Cinakelate, October 06, 2008 12:19:46
"A cabinet open house is for the people to meet the nation's leaders and political ideologies are set aside on that day. When is asking the realease of prisoner of concience a political ideology? "When a political agenda takes the driving seat on such an occasion, it dampens the Hari Raya spirit. Democracy should not be abused," What is the spirit of Hari Raya? Maaf Zahir dan Batin! Shabiri-biri Shabri-biri!
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...written by The dragonheart, October 06, 2008 12:31:31
I support the Hindraf plight but I disagree of people spoiling other peoples' events... similarly goes to UMNO/BN does that to any of the opposition official or religious functions... I know many people in here disagree with me but I hate to see Malaysian with no respect and no manners... If one would do it just because the other did the same to them..then basically they are both the same breed...
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...written by ZamZamAlaKazam, October 06, 2008 12:42:53
...please be aware of the spin our mainstream media can put on such issue. I see no wrong in trying to convey one's feeling/opinion/etc regardless of the occassion, esp when one was not allowed any avenue to do so, despite repeated request. Justice for all.
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...written by joeawk, October 06, 2008 13:03:03
Giving a letter to the PM asking for the hindraf 5 to be released can cause so much fuss. That is how low people, especiually politicians can get. Subra, if you want to bodek UMNO, that is no way about it. Sabery chik n Hadi awang, it is not even about democracy or the occasion because if it was Sabary Chiks funeral, it is still not wrong or impolite to hand over the letter. Did anyone shout or did anyone make a scene? Not, i believe.
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...written by jhlee, October 06, 2008 13:10:04
why are we wasting time reading and commenting on this article?
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...written by kkselvam, October 06, 2008 13:31:22
We don't need MIC to represent us.No need for raced based party anymore.We have PKR to take care of us, Malaysian! Anyway,enough of your sandiwara.You want to carry "future" PM Najib's ball,carry on lah!! But don't tell us what we can or cannot do! Come next election, you can rest assure to lose your MP seat.You want to bet? Your call!
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...written by Bigjoe99, October 06, 2008 13:42:45
All these descriptions, disrespectful, over the limit, etc... Well, there are descriptions of the use of ISA now - obscene, immoral, sadistic, perverted... Hmmm... not so bad to be disrespectful, over the limit, objectional...
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...written by johntyc, October 06, 2008 13:49:30
Attend open house and take part in the festivities. That's exactly what Hindraf doing. So, what's wrong with that?
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...written by shangrilapeace, October 06, 2008 14:04:57
Desperate calls for justice & help called for desperate actions regardless of when, where and how (peaceful actions). Over the limit are the people responsible for giving instructions for all the poor victims to be directed to the car parks. A card and a teddy bear, by a child (of an ISA detainee) posed so much fear that the PM has to take so much time to decide an ok? Gosh...
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...written by SamSan, October 06, 2008 14:09:41
I agree with Dr. S. Subramaniam. The indians need to leave their faith completely in the hands of MIC and Datuk Sri Samy Velu and then pray and wait for another fifty more years for their pathetic and marginalised plight to be allievated. In that next fifty years, Semi Value gives you all 100% assurance (just like he assured you all when he sold MAIKA shares) that you will all be uplifted). If there is still any complains, you can all apprehend our President if you can find a way of going to the next world where he will be waiting to hear any complainsts
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...written by teo siew chin, October 06, 2008 14:47:16
"...Democracy should not be abused..." ----------------------------------- and to throw innocent people in jail using ISA and let them lanquish in there for god-knows-how long is an ABUSE of what pray tell?
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...written by MalaysianUnited, October 06, 2008 16:52:05
HINDRAF perlu buat perkara yang sama seperti rumah terbuka Deepavalli!!.. Dear K Shanti, Hanya UMNO sahaja ker yang menindas orang India Malaysia?..Apa yang saya tahu ramai juga orang UMNO yang memberi sumbangan bantuan secara peribadi kepada orang2 India yang miskin..K Shanti tak tahu ker?.. Ini adalah satu pandangan yang penuh dengan emosi dan tak praktikal!!..K Shanti perlu cakap perkara yang sebenarnya..siapa yang menindas sebenarnya dan tiada membawa perkembangan yang bagus kepada komuniti India Malaysia??.. Bukankah pemimpin2 India yang berada di dalam kerajaan????..yang selama 50 tahun ini apa yang mereka buat mewakili kaumnya sendiri???.. Masa untuk cari kesalahan pemimpin kaum anda dahulu K Shanti..contohi Dr. Wan Azizah yang lebih lembut dan tidak membuat sebarang kenyataan yang menunjukkan beliau tak tahu apa2 tentang perkembangan politik dan sejarah tanahair.
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...written by Selva, October 06, 2008 17:16:23
Hey Shitass Subramaniam , Go suck Badawi's and BN balls-you were lucky to get in the last last GE, next time around you will even lose your deposit-stay out of matters that do not concern you-we have enough labour problems-look at the estate labourers who have toiled for the nation and what are there earning today-do not forget they pay your salaries too-you are n othing but a casual worker who gets his job by sucking oranges thrown by the UMNO goons
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...written by beijing, October 06, 2008 17:31:47
This is how the massage been delivered to our sleepy PM or else he just covers his head with blanket all the time. And this is how we meet the national leader and “THE PEOPLE” of Malaysia.
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...written by lobster, October 06, 2008 17:51:39
"When a political agenda takes the driving seat on such an occasion, it dampens the Hari Raya spirit. Democracy should not be abused," Shaberi Cheek, shame on you! Tell that to RPK who had to spend his Raya in Kemunting detention center. Talk about abusing democracy... STFU.
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...written by cillipepper, October 06, 2008 18:03:17
MIC podah mutal!
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Confused HINDRAF spouses plea does not dampen struggle to repeal ISA

Confused HINDRAF spouses plea does not dampen struggle to repeal ISA
Sunday, September 28, 2008


Now, if you are the spouse of an ISA detainee - then your concern generally is for the immediate and unconditional release of your spouse.

After the release, of your spouse you may not even be bothered to campaign further for the release of the others detained under the ISA or other Detention Without Trial laws... let alone continuing to campaign for the repeal of such laws...

We have to ask ourselves the question whether we were even bothered about those under detention without trial laws before this - before our spouse, friend, acquaintance, our 'leader', our fellow fighter for rights, our church member, our ... was arrested and detained under these laws.

In fact for many, after our 'people' are released - the ISA just is no more a priority. For some, it will be worse - they just become indifferent to it.

Now the police or their agents may be telling family and friends of the detainees - stop the campaigning, stop the protest...etc and then your loved one will be released. They will also say that the continuous campaigns, protest... is actually the cause of your 'loved one' continued detention. STOP it all and they will be released...

This tactic of the police is not unique to the ISA arrests - it is also used commonly by the police whenever they arrest persons. They would say that there is no need for a lawyer - just be patient and the arrested will be released soon after investigations.

If you protest...get a lawyer, etc - then it will be long....it will become complicated...difficult.

If not, it will be settled soon --- and that is the reason WHY many persons, when arrested, do not engage a lawyer as soon as the arrest happens... they(and their families) wait believing the police and hoping for a quick release --- and sometime it does not happen.

And within 24 hours after arrest, when the police take the detainee to the Magistrate to get a remand order, the detainee is most of the time not represented -- and in fact, without contest, the police usually get their way most of the time when it comes to remand applications...

I say, it is very important to engage a lawyer when you get arrested - and choose a lawyer, who is not afraid of the police and who will really fight for the rights of the arrested person. Sadly, there are many lawyers who are afraid of the police or are not interested in challenging the police because they are worried that their 'rice bowl' will be affected..

In Malaysia, sadly most people only start looking for a lawyer after they get charged in court - and that delay is sometimes bad for the person charged.

Not knowing the law, he/she may have done things after their arrest and during detention, which they would not have done if they had early legal advice and representation, may in fact be the very things that will ultimately be the things that will cause them to be found guilty...

Why do they do this? Why do they risk it? Why do they prejudice themselves by their ignorance or by reason of not having a lawyer? To save money - for after all, if I am not charged - then the money spend on a lawyer could have been better spent for other important matters...

I read with interest a recent report in Malaysiakini entitled "ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed"
The struggle of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is different now compared to when it started some 10 months ago under the leadership of the five who are currently under Internal Security Act (ISA) detention, said the wives of two leaders today.

Dr M Kalaivani and B Buvaneswary, the wives of K Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau, respectively, said they were not comfortable with the direction in which the movement has taken.

Speaking at a press conference in Kelana Jaya, Kalaivani said aside from the goal of obtaining the release of the Hindraf leaders, what is of utmost importance is that the Indian community's problems are alleviated.

Both these goals can be affected without rallies planned by those now coordinating Hindraf activities.

On the contrary, they said the rallies may actually serve to harm the chances of the five's release. - Malaysiakini, 26/9/2008 ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed


They want it all to stop - the rallies, the protest --- and the authorities seem to have convinced them if this happens, then, their spouses will be free..., and so 2 spouses call a press conference (which is not that easy to do) and say things that can be very damaging for the HINDRAF movement and struggle...
Commenting on the anti-ISA vigil planned for tomorrow night, she said as long as the organisers have obtained the required permits to ensure the gathering is legal, she appreciates the effort of all quarters to highlight the plight of her husband and other Hindraf leaders.

"If they are going to do it legally, if they've got a permit, I really appreciate the efforts taken by these individuals. The vigil will be peaceful, so I don't think there is anything wrong with it - as long as they do it legally," she said.

Echoing her statements, Buvaneswary said she too disagreed with the planned gathering at Abdullah's Hari Raya open house as it may be detrimental to her husband’s chances of being released.

Contending that the rallies organised after the detention of the Hindraf five had deviated into becoming 'anti-government' rallies, Buvaneswary said they were defeating the purpose of highlighting the problems of the Indian community.

She said her husband had also told her to call for an end to such rallies.

"Who are these people to call for rallies? If our husbands wanted these rallies, their wish would be conveyed through us because we are their wives. What are the Hindraf coordinators trying to do now?"

"If you want the Hindraf five to be released, there are other methods of seeking this," she added.- Malaysiakini, 26/9/2008 ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed

When it comes to the ISA and the Malaysian police - we really have to re-evaluate our perception of the Malaysian police - many think that they are sub-standard and not very good...but this may be far from the truth..

What have the police (and the authorities) achieved to date? They have got the 5 HINDRAF detainees to already go against each other. Recently, we also heard that one of them may even be a police plant - or agent...How good are they...they are 'breaking' the unity of the struggle...doubts about some 'leaders'..

By arresting the 5, they made them 5 HINDRAF leaders - but are they all really the leaders of HINDRAF?? Or is it what the police (and others) managed to get into our minds - i.e. that these are the 5 main leaders of HINDRAF... [Try to remember the HINDRAF movement before the ISA arrests - and ask yourself who were the 'leaders'. then. Were there even any 'leaders'?]

Remember HINDRAF is not a society - not an association - it is a movement of people...a movement of a long-oppressed people..who finally finds the courage to stand up and say "enough is enough".

HINDRAF rose up from the people because those who were supposed to be looking after the interest/needs/rights of the Indian community were not doing their job - the main culprit being the MIC. Temples demolished - and MIC was silent ( silent also was PPP, IPF, ....). When the so-called leaders and self-proclaimed reps failed, the people arised - The cry was "Makkal Sakti" - "People Power".

The numbers that came forth into the streets - and stood there withstanding the water cannons and tear gas...When this happened, other Malaysians, irrespective of ethnicity/religion again gained courage to fight for rights - for a better Malaysia - for change - and hence the results of the 2008 General Elections...

I go back to the news report about the 2 detainees wives - and note that in their eagerness to get their loved ones released, they even go so far to praise and thank the MIC and Samy Velu...
During the press conference, the wives also recorded their appreciation for MIC president S Samy Vellu and other quarters who are pushing for the five's release.

Commenting on the statements by certain quarters who questioned the "integrity and sincerity" of Samy Vellu in declaring he had met with Abdullah and sought the release of the Hindraf leaders, Kalaivani said her family’s only wish was to see her husband's return.

"I'm sure it’s the same for the other detainees as well and we sincerely hope that no individuals would continue questioning the integrity of any leaders or individuals from any party or question why they are asking for the release of our husbands.

"We appreciate the efforts taken by anybody to secure the release of our husbands, ...." - - Malaysiakini, 26/9/2008 ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed

Now, Zaid Ibrahim has set the standard - will the MIC Cabinet members be resigning now - or did they even threathen to resign?

It is sad that the 2 wives (noting that it was not the family members of all 5 detainees) also goes further to state...that all is well and their husbands are being treated well...

Kalaivani said her husband was being treated well and was provided with the necessary medical attention at the Kamunting Detention Centre.
"We would like to thank the government for having looked after my husband well. He has not had any problems with medication so far, and I’m thankful for that," she added. - Malaysiakini, 26/9/2008 ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed

What she did was very wrong - because she has unconsciously painted a picture that all is great in detention in Kamunting. She has also raised doubts about the assertion by ISA detainees about the bad conditions and even 'torture' that they undergo during detention.

Interestingly, during arrest and detention under the ISA - they treat different people differently. I believe Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Chandra Muzaffar, the Ops Lallang detainees, were not at all tortured and were treated 'well'. On the other hand, others were tortured...

‘
During the first two weeks of my detention, I was interrogated very vigorously by Special Branch officers about my personal faith and my religious activities. I was not allowed sleep for days at a stretch and was warned that I would not get my food if I did not cooperate. One Inspector threatened to disturb my girlfriend ... On one occasion, I was knocked down to the ground and I injured my back. Since then, I have been passing blood in my urine and have suffered pain in my lower back constantly ... On one occasion, Inspector (name withheld) forced me to strip naked and enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. [He] also forced me to crawl on the floor in a naked state ...’.


‘The cell was windowless, the only ventilation being some holes in the upper portion of a wall. It was lit by a single light which was kept on all night ... For a full month ... my entire bedding was a thin plywood sheet on a cement slab. I was beaten with a stick about 1cm x 4cm x 120cm on my legs and the soles of my feet several times ... and was also slapped on the face with the back of my hand …’.
‘A police officer put fear in me ... by saying, ‘If I squeeze your balls, how long can you last?’ ... I was also subjected to the cold treatment during interrogations with very cold air directed through louvers onto my head causing me to shiver ... [i] experienced hallucinations and woke up in cold sweat. For two or three nights, I hallucinated that a big cobra was crawling beside me ... It was under such harsh and oppressive circumstances that I was requested to make statements...’.
‘I was forced to stand on a leg with arms outstretched and head bent backwards for long periods until I collapsed onto the floor ... Immediately I was kicked by the police officer to stand up again on one leg, and this was repeated many times ... I was forced to walk blindfolded towards the wall resulting in knocking myself against the wall and this was repeated many times. The police officers stamped on my toes and fingers causing excruciating and prolonged pains. I was subjected to the ‘cold treatment’ which consisted standing in front of a very cold air conditioner either naked or half naked several times ... and on one occasion the police officer had thrown cold water all over me ... I was forced to strip naked. A police officer ... rolled a bundle of newspapers, lit one end and threatened to burn my genitals [by] bringing the lighted end close to my genitals ... A police officer stated that he would ... make sexual advances to my wife ...’. - Charles Hector, Preventive Detention in Malaysia - A Brief Overview, also Malaysia: ‘Operation Lallang’: Detention Without Trial Under the Internal Security Act – Amnesty International (December 1988), Preventive Detention (Restrictions) Laws In Malaysia – an article that was published in ALIRAN on or about December 1994.

YES - this is what they do. Treat persons differently. They may have treated Dr M Kalaivani's husband well - but we all know that Uthayakumar has alleged that he was not treated well at all.

We may get angry at these 2 women - but remember they are spouses - family members - and they really may not know what they have done - how they may have affected the strugle. But remember, they are also the victims of the police and the authorities..

It was great to see that their 'press conference' has not affected the struggle for the repeal of the ISA and for the immidiate and unconditional release of the HINDRAF 5 and the others detained under the ISA..

About 2,000 people staged a peaceful march through the busy streets of Kuala Lumpur tonight calling for the abolishment of Internal Security Act and freeing detainees under the Act


Initially, two separate groups - Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and coalition of NGOs led by the Writer Alliance For Media Independence (Wami) - had initially planned to hold a candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka at about 7.30pm.

When they came across a police cordon at Dataran Merdeka, the Hindraf-led group numbering about 500 decided to march to the temple opposite the Puduraya bus terminal about 1km away.

The crowd marched unhindered towards their destinations and gradually the crowd swelled to about 2,000 people from all walks of life, with many carrying candles.

The other group, which was in a procession holding Chinese lanterns, eventually joined up with the Hindraf group.

The police were caught off-guard by the huge turnout. Many media personnel had also remarked that the large crowd was unanticipated as past vigils had been small in number. - Malaysiakini, 27/9/2008 - Anti-ISA vigil turns into peace march


Let us continue to call for the repeal of the ISA... Let us continue the call for the release of not Raja Petra and the HINDRAF 5 ...but for the release of ALL who are being detained under the ISA and other Detention Without Trial Laws..

Come on -- go get Hari Raya cards and send it to each and every person that you know are being detained under the ISA and other Detention Without Trial laws (My earlier posting/s give the address of the Kamunting Detention Centre and also a list of who were know are being detained under the ISA in Kamunting)

taken from Charles Hector Blog
Labels: Detention Without Trial, HINDRAF, ISA

Malaysians reiterate need for change, reforms

Malaysians reiterate need for change, reforms

AUG 31 — The surprising thing about the Permatang Pauh by-election result was this: that some Malaysians were actually stunned and shocked that the Barisan Nasional could be defeated so soundly.
Let’s get real. Nothing much has changed from March 8 2008, that watershed day when Malaysians threw off the yoke of fear and conservatism and voted for the opposition in great numbers.
Five-and-a-half months on, this is the scenario on the ground. The Chinese and Indians still believe that the Umno-led government treats them as tenants and that the power-sharing concept of the Barisan Nasional does not protect minority interests.
The young voters still believe that Umno politicians are corrupt, arrogant and consumed by power and position.
Non-Muslims still believe that the country is sliding down the slippery slope towards intolerance and narrow-mindedness. Many Malaysians still believe that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is the prime minister of grand sounding rhetoric, but rhetoric none the same.
Here are just a few examples of what has happened since March 8 to confirm that nothing much has changed.

• The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is still anti-government despite several overtures by BN officials to a few leaders of the movement. When Abdullah visited the Karu Mariamman temple in Butterworth he was booed by a segment of Hindraf followers. Others upset at the presence of the PM refused to take part in the gathering.
Abdullah, protected by a phalanx of Special Branch and Unit Tindak Khas officials, stayed on for a while but there was little doubt that he was an unwelcome guest.
Several Hindraf officials who were informed of the PM’s visit were dismissed as lackeys of the government. The tone of the protest against the PM showed that the movement still has not forgiven the government for jailing P. Uthayakumar and others under the Internal Security Act and for addressing the marginalisation of Indians seriously.
MIC and IPF members who canvassed for votes in Permatang Pauh conceded that they faced a tough time convincing the 3.300 Indian voters to support BN’s Arif Shah.
In some households, they were simply not welcome, much like during the general election campaign period.
End result: Vast majority of Indians voted for Pakatan Rakyat, just like they did on March 8.

• Christians and other non-Muslims groups. Anecdotal evidence suggest that non-Muslims, upset their religious rights were trampled upon in the years since Abdullah became prime minister, deserted the BN in numbers in March.
They have grown weary of the arrogance of Umno politicians, the impotence of MCA, Gerakan and MIC politicians to stand up for the rights of non-Malays. They have become cynical with Abdullah’s pledge of being the leader of all Malaysians.
Their vote in March was not a protest vote but a vote for change. In their opinion, their best hope for a moren equitable country lies with Anwar Ibrahim. In the run-up to the Permatang Pauh by-election, all they heard Umno politicians talk about was Malay unity and the need to ensure the rights of Malays enshrined in the Constitution were always protected.
Indeed, Malay unity and not Malaysian unity has been the number one concern of Umno since March 8. On Aug 25, a day before the by- election, Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail spoke at a ceramah and called Chinese pendatang (immigrants) and added that “as the Chinese were only immigrants it was impossible to achieve equal rights amongst races”.
His comments were carried in all the Chinese language newspapers. Predictably, more Chinese voted for the opposition in Permatang Pauh on Aug 26 than they did on March 8.
Since then, MCA and Gerakan officials have demanded strong action against Ahmad Ismail.
Abdullah has promised to remind Ahmad Ismail to be more careful with his words.
His meek response will only serve to drive home the point that nothing has changed since Election 2008. Umno is arrogant and incapable of change.
• Young voters. There has been no attempt to draw up a plan for Umno/ BN to win over young voters.
An analysis of Election 2008 results shows that many newly-registered voters and those in the 21 and 30 age-group supported DAP, PAS or PKR candidates.
Their reasons were varied – they viewed BN as corrupt; they believed that the New Economic Policy was only benefiting a select group of Malays; they did not believe that the future of a better Malaysia was dependent on BN running the country.
Since March 8, many BN politicians have been talking about getting closer to young voters. What they don’t realise is that younger Malaysians will only support a political party which shares their aspirations, not one that continues to lecture them.
At Permatang Pauh, some 90 per cent of the young voters supported Anwar Ibrahim.
• Malay voters. In July, the Islamic International University polled 1,500 Malays from across the country to find out their political values.
They discovered that 70 per cent of those polled said that even though the government could guarantee strong economic growth and stability, it was necessary to hold elections and ensure that democracy was alive.
Some 90 per cent of them wanted the special rights of the Malays to be maintained but they also wanted other races to be treated fairly. Nearly 70 per cent said that they did not agree with detention without trial.
Taken together, their views seemed to be closer to what Anwar Ibrahim spoke about in the run-up to the by-election than what Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and other BN leaders promised.
Anwar assured the Malays that their rights were protected under the Constitution but added that needy Chinese and Indians also needed help from the government.
He said that the Internal Security Act must be abolished and more must be done to ensure that the political system was not corrupt.
So like Election 2008, he was speaking a language which found resonance on the ground. In contrast, Umno politicians still are stuck in a time warp, believing that appealing to Malay insecurity is the only way to keep political power.
• Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. How can a leader squander an approval rating of 91 per cent in March 2004 and watch it plummet to 43 per cent in July 2008?
By not fulfilling a raft of promises including the pledge to be a leader of all Malaysians; to fight corruption; to bring about reform in the police, judiciary and the political system.
By the time March 8 came around, many Malaysians had become disillusioned with Abdullah, believing that he was indecisive and could not execute policies.
In the days after Election 2008, he came out strong, saying that he had heard the voices of dissent and was committed to repairing the country’s institutions and tackling the rising cost of living.
After the initial burst of enthusiasm, his unwillingness to upset Umno during the party’s election season has seen him go slow on reforming the judiciary.
His Cabinet does not inspire confidence nor does his stewardship of the Malaysian economy. Cynicism and skepticism accompanies every promise and pledge that he makes today.
So really no one should be surprised that Anwar won by a yawning gap over BN’s Arif Shah on Aug 26.
Malaysians voted for change on March 8. It was not a protest vote, it was a vote for change.
Abdullah, Umno and the BN still don’t get it. So the electorate sent them another message on Aug 26.
Only this time it was more emphatic.

Malaysia must integrate its minorities

Malaysia must integrate its minorities
By Sekina Joseph
Column: Simple DreamsPublished:

September 01, 2008, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysia holds a record in the preservation of peace in a country well known for its multiple religious beliefs, its diverse cultures and ethnicities and the multilingual nature of the society.
Malaysia is a multiethnic and multi-religious country, with a strong tradition of parliamentary democracy. The country is much esteemed for that, as well as for its positive role in helping to create stability in the region. Indeed, Malaysia has hosted several peace negotiations, has participated in peacekeeping missions abroad, and has no tradition of interference in the internal matters of other nations. It has a federal Constitution, which respects fundamental freedoms, basic rights and the equality of all before the law.

In the late 1990s, twenty years after Malaysia’s independence, the rapid development and modernization that occurred left in its wake a stressed interethnic and interreligious relationship.

One major area of concern is the absence of specific programs targeting the Malaysian Indian population. Existing policies are so general that they do not reflect the sharp contradictions and intra-ethnic disparities within the community. This creates the false impression that the Malaysian Indian community as a whole is doing well. It also creates a setback, instead of bringing various communities and racial groups together to promote a positive feeling of fair play. On the contrary, it only serves to alienate the people and set them apart.

In Malaysia’s eagerness to advance on the road of progress, it has neglected to observe essential features of democratic principles and values. The marginalized and discriminated should be lifted up to the average level of society to compete on equal terms in the open market system and have their rights and privileges duly recognized. If the Malaysian Constitution provides for certain entitlements born of historical factors for the underprivileged, then those rights of entitlement should be upheld.

Experience shows that mere acknowledgment by the authorities of specific difficulties faced by the Malaysian Indian community is insufficient. Unless adequate funds are made available to target the vulnerable groups, socioeconomic problems affecting them will persist and even worsen.

Many Indians from low-income groups are not aware of the assistance, if any, they can get from government agencies. Many rely on political party mechanisms for information, but some local-level politicians are not honest and caring. In some cases, sadly, ethnically biased bureaucrats even place hurdles when the Indian poor seek assistance.

Awareness campaigns should be conducted in electronic and print media – the Malaysian press being in a perpetual state of impotence. This would help the Indian poor derive some benefit by directly accessing government programs.

Aug. 31 marked the beginning of Malaysia's 51st year of independence, and what have the minority groups achieved in terms of wealth, educational opportunities, adequate and/or fair budgetary allocations, social welfare, care for the youth and entrepreneurial development? Without a doubt, certain vulnerable sections of the non-Bumiputra population have little or no access to public goods and services. No wonder Malaysian Indians have low self-esteem and have turned to gangsterism as a way of life.

In this environment of hopelessness, a significant number of Indian youth become involved in gangs and criminal activities. The police have adopted a strong-arm approach and, instead of showing compassion and mercy, treat such youth as if they were a threat to national security.

Large segments of the ethnic Indian community have been economically and materially marginalized since pre-independence. These socioeconomic ills are mainly due to their continuing marginalization from mainstream Malaysian society. Efforts to overcome this lack of integration will not bear fruit without a firm commitment from the government and concrete, tangible follow-up actions by responsible agencies.

The integration of Malaysia's minorities must succeed for the nation to realize its dream of uniting its people. Talk of democracy must include integration – they go hand in hand and are, in fact, intimate bedfellows. The majority should not be allowed to tyrannize and destroy a functioning democracy.

Justice does not just mean having good judges; it also calls for good law enforcement agencies. What can a good judge do if investigations are sub par? On the other hand, if the independent judiciary, as an eminent institution of democracy that provides for proper conduct under the rule of law and protection under the Constitution, is destroyed, then all the essential elements of a democratic society – such as justice, equity, fair-play, liberty and rule of law – go down the drain as well.

All Malaysians, especially the marginalized and downtrodden, have a place under the Malaysian sun, under a new order that believes in justice, equitable distribution of the nation's wealth, a conducive environment for people to make a living, and equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color and creed.

The challenge of establishing a united Malaysian nation with a sense of shared destiny, at peace with itself and its populace, ethnically and territorially integrated, in fair partnership and ownership, and made up of one "Bangsa Malaysia," is part and parcel of that dream.

After 50 years of independence, one would think that everything would be more or less under control; however, today we are still searching for values, trying to forge unity in diversity. What with self-serving politicians, highly politicized universities, party-controlled media, and continued segregation of the people, even beautiful dreams can turn into frightful nightmares for the ordinary person.

The future of Bangsa Malaysia depends on whether we can support the Malaysian vision to promote peace and harmony, so that our various communities can work, play, communicate and enjoy our blessed racial and cultural diversity, with the goal of building a united and integrated nation in the new millennium, whatever the cost.

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(Sekina Joseph is a writer, a social activist, and a member of the Malaysian Interfaith Network based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She can be contacted at sknjoseph@yahoo.com. ©Copyright Sekina Joseph.)

source :- http://upiasiaonline.com/Society_Culture/2008/09/01/malaysia_must_integrate_its_minorities/5057/

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Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmed Badawi opened the new campus of the ethnic

Indian-run Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology, now renamed by its acronym, AIMST in Kedah state.

Badawi said while opening the new campus at Semdeling Bedong Sunday that AIMST could build a strong reputation for producing software engineers and business process outsourcing professionals which the nation needed urgently.
He also called for greater interaction between universities and ICT (Information communication technology) companies to develop a business process outsourcing (BPO) base.
AIMST is a private university formed by Maju Institute of Educational Development, the education arm of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), on March 15, 2001.
It was conferred university status in April last year. Its first campus was set up in Aman Jaya.
The university has 2,300 undergraduates pursuing degree courses in medicine and health sciences, dentistry, engineering and computer technology, applied sciences and business and management.
Badawi said the opening of the university marked the completion of Malaysia's educational development phase where five private colleges were chosen to become universities.
"I believe AIMST can play a leading role in developing skilled human capital in the medical, scientific and technological fields that would benefit Malaysia and the world,
"The university, which will cater to all, is evidence that Malaysians can stand united as one and not be divided by racial or ethnic lines," The Star newspaper quoted him as saying Monday.
The prime minister said his government would continue to lend support to ensure AIMST achieved its mission.

MIC president and former minister S. Samy Vellu said the idea to build a university was mooted when he noticed that "many qualified students were not given places in public universities."
AIMST chairman K. Ampikaipakan said the university was given the approval last week to conduct PhD courses in biotechnology, adding that it had the nation's first private dental hospital with 125 dental chairs.
MIC has traditionally spoken for the estimated 2.6 million ethnic Indians that forms eight percent of Malaysia's 28 million population.

Source : http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=6d35a05e-30ee-4617-a94d-6287e7b4a16b&MatchID1=4741&TeamID1=8&TeamID2=6&MatchType1=2&SeriesID1=1195&PrimaryID=4741&Headline=Malaysian+PM+opens+campus+of%26nbsp%3bIndian+university&strParent=strParentID

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On the eve of 25-11-2007 at Bt Caves Murugan temple

DAP-PKR-PAS' betrayal of the Indians

Mkini- Ashwin Fernandez Apr 1, 08 3:54pm

The recent announcement of the exco composition of the PKR-DAP-PAS controlled Perak and Selangor is a huge let down for the marginalized Indian community. It really borders on the outer limits of betrayal. Least this letter be misconstrued as a mischievous attempt of a MIC or Barisan supporter, let this be put to rest – we voted for PAS in Perak and for PKR in Selangor.

And what do we marginalised Indians get in return? The same one miserable exco seat each in Selangor and Perak – just like what Umno gave MIC. For a marginalised community that started the tsunami what do we get – one miserable seat. For a community that defied the police, bore the brunt of tear gas, were charged with murder and placed in police lock ups and under the ISA – what do we get? One miserable exco seat. We threw the dictator Samy Vellu out in Perak and what do we get in Perak? One miserable exco seat.
Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang would not have had an audience at their early ceramah if not for the Indians who made a sizable portion of the audience. Others saw us coming out in the thousands for the ceramah and decided to follow suit. A marginalised community ignited a revolution in this country that ended up in a tsunami. And what do we get for it? Betrayal.
The problems of the suppressed Indian community are too enormous for just a single exco member to handle. A Sivanesan of Perak and Dr Xavier Jayakumar would fail because the task is unmanageable – unmanageable by any single person. Definitely an argument will be forthcoming that this Barisan Rakyat represents all races and that their elected representatives would take care of all regardless. If so, then why the tussle over exco seat allocations between the parties? Why the wrangling over juicy portfolios like land and local government?
How about PAS in Perak? Instead of taking three exco seats, why didn’t it give up one and insist on two exco seats for Indians? How could PAS have won these many seats both in Selangor and Perak if not for the 95% Indian support for a party that wouldn’t even allow me, a Malaysian, to be a full member because of my religion? Is this action a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ action, can this action be called keadilan and is this the action of a party that is rooted in religion?
We Indian Malaysians were colour blind, race blind and religion blind during the last elections – because we didn’t want it to matter. To our core, we were Malaysians first, Malaysians second and Malaysians third. We placed our entire faith in the hands of the Barisan Rakyat parties. Now have we been shortchanged. No, we have been betrayed instead.
How could one Indian exco member be successful in safeguarding the interest of all the Indians as well as the interest of all Malaysians in Selangor and Perak? The Malaysian Malaysia’s DAP website and PKR’s website don’t even have sections in Tamil – only Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin! Now who is marginalising whom? Gentlemen, let your action speak louder than all your sweet campaign words.

Please make amends to your actions. There are city council and municipal council heads to be changed. The PKR-DAP-PAS coalition should ensure that at least some of the big cities have an Indian as a mayor or municipal head, both in Selangor and Perak. There are also state government bodies and corporations. Please ensure adequate representation at senior levels.
Also, both these states, please come up with a comprehensive plan to combat the problems the Indians are faced with. We are disappointed so far but we are hopeful that the wrongs will be righted. We hope we will not be let down again in the future.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/80698


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Letter from a supporter from London on Rehab

Subject: Letter from a supporter from London on Rehab

The word 'rehabilitation' implicitly suggests that a problem has occurred in the first instance and, consequently, that a recovery program is needed to restore the person suffering this problem to his or her original state.

What crime then did Uthayakumar commit to lead the police to consider that he needed rehabilitation?

There are numerous inconsistencies with this and whichever way you examine it the analysis points to a huge miscarriage of justice against Uthayakumar that is state sponsored. 1. The Internal Security Act is a political weapon used by the Government to curtail dissent in Malaysia. There was no charge brought against Uthayakumar. How then do the police consider that he needs rehabilitation? 2. Are the police acting on the Government's orders and are we witnessing, yet again, the blurring of boundaries between the police and the Executive?

Do we have an independent police force or a puppy dog police force? 3. Is the act of campaigning for equal rights one that needs rehabilitation? How can Malaysia stand up to the Western world and insist on being counted as a progressive nation when it will not allow the concept of human rights to exist freely.
Drug addicts undergo rehabilitation programs to wean themselves off their addiction. Criminals go to jail because they have committed a crime and prison is the place where they are rehabilitated before being let out to take their place in an ordered society. In Malaysia you are jailed for championing the principles of natural justice. How can we ever strive for a place on the world stage?

Jayanthi Manning

London

Full text - Abolish ISA motion in Selangor State Assembly

ISA melawan prinsip al-Quran
Lau Weng San May 26, 08 9:54pm

"Bahawa Dewan ini menetap untuk mengkritik penahanan Yang Berhormat Tuan M Manoharan, Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) kawasan Kota Alam Shah serta pemimpin-pemimpin Hindraf (Barisan Bertindak Hak-hak Hindu) dan aktivis-aktivis sosial yang lain tanpa perbicaraan bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dan menyeru Kementerian Dalam Negeri membebaskan tahanan-tahanan ini."Sehingga hari ini, kerusi untuk Adun Kota Alam Shah masih lagi kosong. Rakyat seluruh Malaysia terkejut pada 13 Disember 2007 apabila kelima-lima orang aktivis Hindraf iaitu P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan, T Vasantha Kumar serta ahli YB Kota Alam Shah telah ditahan mengikut Seksyen 8 akta ISA.

Kelima-lima orang ini merupakan para aktivis yang bergiat aktif dalam perjuangan untuk mengangkat martabat masyarakat kaum India yang selama ini ditekan dan ditindas oleh kerajaan BN. Mengikut Seksyen 8 ISA, lima tahanan ini akan terus dihantar ke kem tahanan Kamunting dan ditahan di sana selama dua tahun bawah arahan menteri keselamatan dalam negeri tanpa melalui siasatan polis.Inilah kali pertama Seksyen 8 digunakan untuk menahan seseorang. Sebelum itu, tahanan-tahanan biasanya akan ditangkap bawah Seksyen 73 - seseorang itu akan ditahan bawah pemantauan polis selama 60 hari sebelum ditentukan sama ada seseorang tahanan itu wajar ditahan lanjut di Kamunting.

Saya berpendapat penahanan kelima-lima orang aktivis Hindraf ini bukan sahaja tidak adil, malahan tidak munasabah sama sekali, khususnya penahanan YB Kota Alam Shah, apabila seorang Adun telah dinafikan hak dan kebebasannya untuk menjalankan tugasnya sebagai seorang wakil rakyat.Saya ingin mengetengahkan beberapa sebab mengapa penahanan ini patut dikritik dan tahanan-tahanan perlu dibebaskan tanpa syarat dengan segera.Sebab pertama: YB Kota Alam Shah telah menang dengan undi majoriti yang besar.

Pada pilihanraya umum ke-12 yang baru berlangsung, YB Kota Alam Shah telah menang dengan majoriti sebanyak 7,184 undi biarpun beliau masih ditahan di Kamunting bawah ISA dan tidak dapat hadir untuk berkempen.Kejayaan besar ini bukan sahaja satu kejayaan besar untuk DAP dan beliau sendiri, malahan ia juga merupakan satu tamparan kepada kerajaan pusat bahawa ia tidak boleh terus menahan mereka yang tidak bersalah tanpa perbicaraan melalui ISA.

YB Kota Alam Shah ditahan berikutan penglibatannya dalam Hindraf. Sebenarnya, apa yang dilakukan oleh YB Kota Alam Shah selama ini hanyalah untuk memperjuangkan hak asasi untuk golongan masyarakat India yang tertindas dan terpinggir dan ia tidak mengancam keselamatan negara. Oleh itu, YB Kota Alam Shah harus dilepaskan serta-merta agar beliau dapat menunaikan sumpahnya sebagai Adun dan menjalankan tugasnya dengan sempurna.Dalam sejarah Malaysia, terdapat dua orang tahanan ISA yang pernah mengambil bahagian dalam pilihanraya umum dan berjaya memenanginya semasa masih ditahan di bawah ISA. Kedua-dua orang ini kebetulannya merupakan bekas ahli parlimen DAP iaitu Chiang Heng Kai dan mendiang Chan Kok Kit. Kedua-dua mereka telah ditahan bawah ISA pada pertengahan 1970-an atas tuduhan menyokong elemen Komunis. Biarpun begitu, kedua-dua mereka masih bertanding dalam pilihanraya umum pada 1978 dan menang dengan majoriti yang lebih besar. Dalam konteks ini, saya ingin menyarankan supaya

YB Kota Alam Shah dibebaskan daripada penahanan ISA agar beliau dapat kembali berkhidmat untuk rakyat di kawasannya.Adun Kota Alam Shah tidak boleh ditahan secara berpanjangan di bawah ISA. Penahanannya secara tidak langsung telah menidakkan hak rakyat Kota Alam Shah untuk menyampaikan suara mereka ke dewan yang mulia ini.Sebab kedua: Alasan penahanan YB Kota Alam Shah dan aktivis Hindraf lain terlalu lemah.YB Kota Alam Shah dan aktivis Hindraf selama ini telah terlibat dalam pelbagai aktiviti sah untuk memperjuangkan hak masyarakat India yang ditindas dan dipinggirkan selama ini.Kita harus memahami bahawa apa yang diperjuangkan oleh kelima-lima orang tahanan ini adalah untuk membawa isu peminggiran masyarakat kaum India yang diabaikan selama ini.Hakikatnya, kita telah lihat sekurang-kurangnya 30,000 orang menyertai tunjuk perasaan yang diadakan pada 25 Oktober lalu.

Tunjuk perasaan ini yang disertai oleh rakan-rakan berketurunan India kita dari seluruh pelusuk negara telah membuktikan bahawa perjuangan mereka ini adalah berasas.Malahan naib ketua Pemuda Gerakan, S. Paranjothy dalam artikelnya yang bertajuk 'Discrimination from Womb to Tomb menyatakan bahawa 30,000 warganegara berketurunan India yang mengambil bahagian dalam tunjuk perasaan tersebut kerana mereka telah lama dipinggirkan, ditindas dan tidak dipedulikan. Rakyat India merupakan golongan yang tertindas di dalam struktur ekonomi Malaysia, seperti yang terbukti dalam beberapa petunjuk termasuk kemasukan universiti. Mereka dilayan seolah-olah mereka merupakan warga kelas keempat.Di pusat penahanan Simpang Renggam, yang menempatkan kira-kira 1,600 orang tahanan, lebih seribu daripada mereka terlibat dengan penyalahgunaan dadah, manakala 574 orang disyaki terlibat dalam aktiviti-aktiviti jenayah. Biarpun hanya lapan peratus daripada jumlah rakyat Malaysia terdiri warga India, tetapi lebih daripada 48% daripada tahanan-tahanan di pusat ini merupakan kaum India, sekali gus menunjukkan bagaimana runcingnya masalah sosial yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat ini.Sebab ketiga: ISA mencaburi prinsip hak asasi manusia.

ISA merupakan punca segala bentuk undang-undang penindasan di negara ini, malah ia lebih berbisa jikalau dibandingkan dengan undang-undang zalim yang lain seperti Akta Rahsia Rasmi (OSA), Akta Penerbitan dan Mesin Cetak (PPPA), Akta Polis dan Akta Hasutan. Untuk itu, ISA sepatutnya dimansuhkan kerana ia sudah tidak sepadan dengan perlindungan hak asasi manusia.ISA juga telah disalahgunakan sebagai satu instrumen oleh pemerintah untuk menekan suara pembangkang dan masyarakat madani untuk kepentingan politik mereka.

Dalam kebanyakan kes ISA, akta ini telah digunakan oleh polis untuk menahan mereka yang disyaki mengugat kedudukan pemerintah biarpun pihak pemerintah masih tiada apa-apa bukti kukuh. Terdapat banyak judul tulisan yang dihasilkan berkaitan dengan ISA. Antara yang terkenal tidak lain tidak bukan buku berjudul Freedom under Executive Power in Malaysia yang ditulis oleh menteri luar sekarang, iaitu Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim yang juga merupakan timbalan menteri dalam negeri dari tahun 1976 hingga 1978.Beliau dalam buku itu telah menyifatkan bagaimana menteri dalam negeri menandatangani arahan penahanan ISA secara automatik hanya bergantung kepada cadangan polis tanpa menggunakan tanggungjawab mereka sebagai menteri untuk mengesahkan keperluan untuk menahan seseorang itu di bawah ISA.Beliau telah menulis bahawa:"That there are clear violations of human rights by invoking the ISA and other draconian legislation is an understatement. The misery that these executive laws have brought upon individuals have left a clear message: there is a state of confusion in the real, accepted meaning of the phrase 'prejudicial to the security of Malaysia.' The meaning of this phrase which is thematic in the ISA as well as under Articles 149 and 150 of the Constitution is systematically left to the discretion of the executive." (p. 293-4)

Ahli YB dari Hulu Kelang pernah menulis siri lapan buku yang bertajuk Suara Dari Kamunting semasa beliau masih ditahan bawah ISA pada tahun 2001. Ahli YB dari Kota Damansara juga merupakan seorang mangsa ISA di bawah Ops Lalang 1987.ISA juga bertentangan dengan ajaran agama. Misalannya, ia bercanggahan dengan prinsip-prinsip kebenaran dan keadilan seperti yang diterangkan dalam al-Quran, iaitu ayat 58 surah an-Nisa', ayat 15 surah as-Syura dan ayat 90 surah an-Nahl.

Apa yang jelas, penahanan seseorang tanpa perbicaraan merupakan satu bentuk pencabulan hak asasi manusia yang patut dikutuk dan dikritik sekeras-kerasnya, khususnya dalam kes ini di mana seorang wakil rakyat telah dinafikan hak dan kebebasannya untuk menjalankan tugasnya sebagai seorang wakil rakyat.

Lebih-lebih lagi, seperti yang dimaklumkan dalam kenyataan Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) pada hari ini, terdapat 16 keluarga mangsa ISA yang telah dikenal pasti tinggal di Selangor.Dengan itu, saya memohon supaya usul ini dipersetujui.

Lau Weng San, setiausaha DAP Selangor, juga Adun Kampung Tunku.

Artikel ini asalnya teks ucapan beliau di DUN Selangor sewaktu membawa usul tergempar mengkritik ISA pada 26 Mei.

Malaysian Islamic court declares dead man Muslim amid Hindu family's objections

Malaysian Islamic court declares dead man Muslim amid Hindu family's objections

The Associated Press of IHT
Published: July 7, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia:

An Islamic court has declared a dead man a Muslim, preventing his Hindu family from cremating his body, in the latest dispute over religious conversions in Muslim-majority Malaysia, their lawyer said Monday.
A Shariah court in northern Penang state ruled Friday that B. Elangesvaran, 34, who committed suicide last month, was a Muslim and his body should be released from the hospital for Muslim burial, lawyer R. Nethaji Rayer said.

In handing down the ruling, the Shariah court upheld the local Islamic Religious Affairs Department's claim that Elangesvaran had converted to Islam before his death.
A civil court — the Penang High Court — dismissed the application by Elangesvaran's family Friday to have him declared a Hindu, Nethaji said.
The court later Monday also refused to grant an injunction to stop the Islamic department from taking possession of Elangesvaran's body, Nethaji said.

"The body will be buried according to Muslim rites," Nethaji said. "History has shown that in 10 cases like this, we've won one."
It was not immediately clear when the department would conduct the burial.
Religious conversion disputes often erupt in Malaysia, where Muslim Malays make up 60 percent of the population and mostly non-Muslim ethnic Chinese and Indians account for a third.
The cases have put pressure on the government to guarantee the rights of religious minorities who increasingly complain they lose out in disputes involving Islam.

"This is not proper at all," said Nethaji. "Generally (the civil courts) always take the stand that they cannot interfere with the Shariah court."
Malaysia has a dual court system. While Shariah courts handle civil matters for Muslims, civil courts rule on the same for non-Muslims. It is unclear which court has the final word in conversion disputes.

Ghazali Saad, an official with the Penang Islamic department, said his office had proof that Elangesvaran had converted before his death.

"We have the document that he converted to Islam," he said, but declined to comment further, pending the outcome of the case.
Nethaji said the purported proof was only a scribbled note allegedly written by Elangesvaran. The note was not signed, he said.

He said the family was "distraught, very disappointed, completely broken down ... They are unable to go on with their lives. It's all hanging in the balance."

source : http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/07/asia/AS-Malaysia-Conversion-Dispute.php

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An Attempt to Break up HINDRAF?

An Attempt to Break up HINDRAF?
Hindraf.org- Sun, 06/07/2008 - 10:04 — Anonymous

An attempt to break up HINDRAF6th July 2008
I would like to add my thoughts on the recent issue raised about the treatment of Mrs. Vasanthakumar - but from a different point of view altogether.
When an organization emerges that is able to challenge status quo, the normal reaction from those challenged is to try and break up the organization and kill off the opposition posed by the organization in this manner.

Several events since the arrest of the 5 HINDRAF leaders seem to suggest a similar process at work against HINDRAF.
On the 14th of January 2008 it was reported that Vasanthakumar had lodged a police report against several leaders of HINDRAF and related members about the alleged collection of funds and subsequent misappropriation of the money. Whether this report was made under duress or whether it was part of this process to break up HINDRAF, the allegations made in the report are clearly false. If it was made under duress there was ample opportunity subsequently to correct the perception created.

On the 22nd of January a report in Malaysiakini appeared about a statement made by Vasanthakumar’s wife. “She told Malaysiakini yesterday: “He (Vasanthakumar) told me that the report was made as an insurance policy to protect themselves against police claims that they are seeking funds from terrorist organizations. She said their plan was to make it clear that funds collected locally was not used for any alleged terrorism activities, but rather for the community activities. ”

My comment is that, if you read the police report and this explanation together, it does not look like a retraction of the earlier statements that was intended by this explanation, to correct the wrong impressions created. The tone of the police report was misappropriation of the funds, the tone of this subsequent explanation is self preservation. It bothers me very much that there is this significant anomaly. I am bothered whether this is an outright attempt to cover up the true intentions to damage the integrity of the leaders, or if it is a concealed and more subtle attempt to confuse the people at large, or if it is something else we do not expect. Whichever way this is a cause for serious concern to all of us.

In that same report he is purported to have said“He (Vasanthakumar) wants everyone to know that they are very united - there have been no open arguments as claimed in certain (text-messages). And that the report was made in consideration for their own safety in the future.”
The fact is Uthayakumar is in a cell in a different block from Vasanthakumar now. This separation was requested by Uthayakumar himself because of the constant threats and badgering by Vasanthakumar. Badgering - stating repeatedly and in hateful ways that it was only because of Uthayakumar that they were all detained. Threatening – stating again in very threatening ways that Uthayakumar will be bodily harmed on their release, whenever that happens.

We do not know the true intentions of these kinds of actions on the part of Vasanthakumar, but whichever way this is cause for serious concern on our part. Even if is not by design, and even if it is spontaneous this is not acceptable behavior, as it has the effect of breaking up the leadership of HINDRAF and playing exactly into the hands of those opposed to HINDRAF. He would have served the opposers their purpose by these kinds of actions. Even if the intentions are different , the effect is the same..

It is also a known Special Branch tactic to infiltrate organizations to break them up. An individual comes on the scene a few months earlier, works his way all the way up to the top, by aggressively seeming to promote the interests of the group, then studies all the goings on and movements and creates episodes based on circumstances to smear, to confuse and to use the episode thus created to kill off the organisation.

It is not too far fetched to think that this kind of intrigue is actually behind several of the episodes referred to above. Circumstances suggest very strongly that this may be happening.
So, Vasanthakumar has some serious explanation to do. He must explain in detail exactly why he did all what he did and his explanations must be totally supported by the other leaders. There must be no anomaly, there must be no dissension from any of the leaders in detention with him. If he does not satisfactorily make the explanations, the people will have no choice but to conclude the inevitable – that he actually worked for the Police Special branch as their agent to kill off HINDRAF.
This is tantamount to TREACHERY.

History has many instances of how such individuals are dealt with, so Vasanthakumar, you must come clean. Everyone has to remember that in the ultimate analysis it is the people who matter and who decide.

TRUTH WILL PREVAIL AND THE PEOPLE WILL PREVAIL!

Letters and Blogs

Comments

Sun, 06/07/2008 - 16:43 — krishavengkat

Hi, Anonymous

hi,I have to agree with your point of views onconstant threats and badgering by Mr. Vasantha Kumar to Mr. Uthaya in KEMTA cell few months ago. Indeed I myself heard about this quarrel few months ago. It was said that, the H5 cell was very noisy with arguements and quarrell. We were also informed that , H5 cell create big noise and everyone knows that a mouth war was going on. I wasn`t informed who quarreled and what was the cause. To clarify my query, I wrote a mail to admin and asked them to inform us about these H5 progress in KEMTA.After reading this article, I know the true happening. Once we know that a person close to us is turning into blacksheep, just ignore and pretend as nothing happened. Be positive and be calm. Those who eat chillies, has to drink water.Hindraf is not build based on low quality people. Hindraf is bulit by high quality people who have high spirits, high tolerance, high level of patience and of course intelligent.
So have no worries. Blacksheeps will not harm Hindraf!

..

Satu lagi kekejaman ISA

Roy Rasul Wed Jul 09, 08 6:59:26 am MYT
KUALA LUMPUR,9 Julai (Hrkh) -

Aina Mardiah Shahrial, 17, yang menghembus nafasnya tanpa kehadiran orang yang dirindui di sisi, melahirkan rasa marah dan kecewa beberapa pihak apabila pihak polis dilihat melengah-lengahkan pelepasan sementara ayahnya yang ditahan tanpa bicara di Kem Tahanan Kamunting, Perak.

Anak sulung kepada salah seorang tahanan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), Shahrial Sirin ternyata dinafikan haknya sekalipun beliau dalam keadaan nazak, ayahnya langsung tidak dapat bersama-samanya di saat-saat akhir beliau dirawat di Hospital Kajang, Selangor pada petang Khamis, 3 Julai lalu.

Biarpun pelbagai usaha dilakukan keluarga, rakan-rakan serta aktivis Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) untuk membawa keluar ayahnya dari Kem Kamunting, Taiping, Perak, tetapi usaha itu gagal kerana ayahnya sampai setelah hampir empat jam Aina meninggal dunia.
(Aina paling kanan bersama rakan sekolahnya- gambar di atas)

Pengerusi GMI, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh berkata, beliau berasa sangat sedih kerana Aina meninggal dalam keadaan ayahnya tiada di sisi.
Beliau berkata, ketidaksempatan ayahnya ziarahi beliau yang dalam keadaan koma disebabkan tidak ada kesungguhan polis untuk menyegerakan membawa ayahnya bertemu Aina.

"Tunggu punya tunggu sampailah anaknya pergi menghadap tuhan tanpa melihat ayahnya yang sudah tujuh tahun di penjara," katanya turut berada di hospital ketika Aina kembali ke Rahmatullah.
Katanya, apa yang dikesalkan ialah berita mengenai ketenatan Aina diberitahu kepada pihak berkuasa sejak malam dia dimasukkan ke hospital lagi.
"Ini satu penyeksaan dan bukan sifat kemanusiaan dan sepatutnya pihak berkuasa membenarkannya keluar lebih awal untuk memberi kesempatan kepada seorang ayah untuk menziarah anaknya yang kritikal," katanya.

Katanya, sesungguhnya rasa sedih beliau tidak mungkin sama dengan rasa yang dihadapi keluarga tersebut lebih-lebihnya ibunya, Siti Fatma Masrum yang begitu berharap suaminya tiba pada petang itu.
Beliau berkata sebagai manusia yang mempunyai sifat keinsanan pihak berkuasa sepatutnya merasai keluh kesah keluarga tahanan ISA.

Oleh kerana itu, tidak ada lain cara untuk atasi halangan tersebut melainkan kerajaan membebaskan segera tahanan ISA termasuk Shahrial bagi mengembalikan hak mereka ke pangkuan keluarga.
Malah katanya, peristiwa seperti itu sudah kerap diucapkan dan kerana itu katanya kerajaan harus bertanggungjawab penuh ke atas mereka.

"Ini satu perkara asas tetapi apabila ia dikaburi dengan alasan keselamatan negara yang dianggap lebih besar isu kemanusiaan mnejadi kecil dan remeh," katanya.

Sementara itu,Ketua Penerangan Pemuda PAS Selangor, Mohd Sani Hamzan menyifatkan kematian tersebut sebagai satu kemalangan kepada sistem demokrasi dalam negara ini.
Katanya, ini jelas apabila, ayah adik Aina dinafikan haknya untuk datang melawatnya sehingga pesakit meninggal dunia.

"Saya kira ini merupakan satu malapetaka dan gerak gempur kepada amalan demokrasi yang menampakkan kerajaan Barisan Nasional hilang sifat keperimanusiaan kepada perkara-perkara yang melibatkan kematian dan kehidupan rakyat Malaysia," katanya yang datang menziarah Aina di hospital pada Khamis lalu.

Dalam pada itu, Pengerusi Pusat Sokongan Keluarga Gerakan Mansuh ISA (GMI), Norlaila Osman berkata, peristiwa kematian Aina Madiah merupakan satu bukti terbaru mengenai kezaliman kerajaan yang berkuasa untuk percepatkan lawatan seorang tahanan ISA, Sahrial Sirin untuk melihat anaknya yang sedang tenat di hospital.
Katanya,walaupun beliau bersama-sama kaum keluara dan rakan-rakan menghubungi kem Kamunting sejak malam lagi sama ada melalui telefon dan faks untuk tahanan dibenarkan keluar dari kem tahanan.

Lebih menyayatkan hati katanya, Aina disahkan doktor yang memaklumkan bahawa beliau sedang bertarung nyawa dan bergantung kepada mesin jangka hayat.
Beliau yang turut menemani Aina di hospital mendakwa, pihak berwajib terutamanya anggota SB dilihat sewenang-wenangnya menggunakan kuasa mereka untuk mencabul hak tahanan walaupun hanya untuk melawat anak yang kritikal.

"Bagi saya tiada maaf di atas peristiwa seperti itu dan sebenarnya satu penegasan yang datang daripada mereka yang hatinya kering dan begitu sombong.
"Peristiwa ini juga menguatkan azam saya untuk terus berjuang memastikan ISA terkubur dari bumi Malaysia," tegasnya. - mks._