Thoughts/ Letters- Makkal Sakthi Supporters

1st Indian opposition party ? Since when ? - Haris Ibrahim

2009-07-20T02:16:00.000-07:00

First and only Indian based multi-racial political party? - Harris Ibrahim

Malaysianinsider reports that Uthayakumar explained that his spanking new party, Human Rights Party Malaysia is the “first and only Indian based multi-racial political party which is in the opposition and which is not aligned to Umno/BN”.

Indian-based, yet multi-racial?

Er, how does this work?

If any of you can figure this out, do write in and share with the rest of us, will you?

In the opposition?

Since when?

All I will say is, Uthaya, you just undid all the good that came out of that rally on 25th November, 2007.

Well done.

UMNO will be drinking to your good health!

Posted by barred at 7/19/2009 04:03:00 PM

Comments from Malaysia Insider in Uthaya's Party

2009-07-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

The Malaysian Insider
Monday July 20 2009
Related Articles
Samy Vellu: Many Indian parties not healthy
Another Chief to lead Indians
Another man lays claim to Hindraf
Uthayakumar wants Unesco to revoke heritage status over Kampung Buah Pala
Kampung Buah Pala is Hindraf’s new rallying cry
Hindraf leader defends Guan Eng, asks who made Waytha boss
What do you get when you have two Indian lawyers?
Pakatan calls emergency meeting to salvage united front
Uthayakumar sets out to create Indian clout with new party

Uthayakumar is mobbed by his supporters during today’s launch of the latest Indian-based party, Human Rights Party Malaysia. –
Picture by Baradan Kuppusamy
By Baradan Kuppusamy

KLANG, July 19 — P. Uthayakumar today launched his Human Rights Party Malaysia (HRP) before 3,000 cheering hardcore supporters by lambasting Umno for sidelining Indians for 52 years, while also training his guns on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) for winning on Indian votes but failing to help the community.

He said the cavalier attitude of Umno and PR towards Indians was because the community lacked political clout, and he is now offering a unique scheme where marginalised Indians could create this clout as well as pressure for public resources to uplift the community.
Under the scheme, Indians in certain states should re-register as voters in select constituencies where there are about 20 to 30 per cent Indian votes, he said.
“By doing this they would create Indian majority parliamentary and state seats in the country and can, if united, win the seats easily,” he said.
“We will use the clout created by controlling these seats to bargain for the community,” Uthayakumar said.

“We will no longer be political beggars,” he said to a standing ovation from supporters, who arrived from across the country, many of whom wore Hindraf’s saffron-coloured T-shirts. Uthayakumar, who wore a similar T-shirt with his fiancée, was mobbed by his supporters.
Uthayakumar, who is secretary general of the party, announced the names of state leaders at the function and vowed to fight on until the “last drop of my blood.”
“I will not betray you, I will not sell you for some crumbs and I will never give up the struggle,” he said to huge applause.

Elaborating on his scheme, he said DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang and party secretary general Lim Guan Eng were classic examples of politicians who have “migrated” from their hometowns to fight and win and hold office in other states.

“We should be like them. We must create Indian power centres in all states, re-register ourselves in those constituencies and elect our own representatives to parliament,” he said.
“Only in that way can we create clout,” he said, adding that currently Indians were members in numerous political parties. “Our votes are split and we are dismissed as non-entities.”
He said the new party can win 15 parliamentary and 38 states seats if this scheme was implemented successfully.

“This is what we are going to do for the next two years …to get Indians to re-register in selected constituencies to create Indian community power centres,” Uthayakumar said.
Among the areas he identified are Padang Serai in Kedah; Ipoh Barat, Sungei Siput and Bagan Datuk constituencies in Perak and Ulu Selangor; along with Kota Raja and Klang in Selangor.
Uthayakumar spoke for nearly two hours, listing out all the grievances the Indian community suffers from – poverty, neglect, and marginalisation – and laid the blame at the feet of Umno.
“It is Umno that rules the country, it is Umno that decides who gets what and how much, not Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said. “Umno is the enemy but it is a very smart enemy and we have to watch out for it.”

Also present were DAP Teluk Kemang MP M. Manoharan, human rights lawyer N. Surendran and PR supporter David Balla who is the key financier of the new party.
Manoharan said he was there as counsel for Uthayakumar and added he takes the criticism of PR in his stride.
He urged party supporters to beware of Umno, which will work with the Special Branch to sow disorder, confusion and splits within the party.
Uthayakumar also lambasted the DAP for failing to resolve the woes of the villagers of Kampung Buah Pala in Penang.

About 30 Buah Pala residents were also in the audience cheering him on.
“Guan Eng can, with one just signature, settle the Buah Pala issue but he has refused to do so giving all kinds of excuses,” Uthayakumar said. “The reason is we are politically weak.”
He cited as example the sole DAP representative who could bring the PAS-led Kedah PR government to its knees by pulling out of the coalition over an abattoir to slaughter pigs.
“Just one man can do that…imagine 15 or 20 MPs (of our party) walking out. How much we can achieve,” he said.

..........................................................................................................................
Comments (15)
Show/Hide comments
...written by jt, July 19, 2009
This is how racism began. First it was the Malays who were being "robbed" in their own country by immigrants. UMNO was created. Now, the Indians are using their "impoverishment" to rally the race against the respective state establishments. I don't believe what Uthaya is doing will uplift the Indian community. I believe he is building a personal clout which will be useful to political parties. Political defection, as has been seen, is lucrative business.

+6

...written by Observer, July 19, 2009
Oh no... not another MIC in the making.

+1

...written by JackJax, July 19, 2009
Aiyoyo, yet another Indian-based party? And here is a man who says the Indian vote is fractured. Talk about the ultimate irony.

+3

...written by G, July 19, 2009
You have a dream but 15 to 20 MP seats ...dont dream..work with Pakatan Rakyat and you will/may get this number of seats........ G Belfast

+1

...written by citizen, July 19, 2009
Uthayakumar, i think you wrongly calculated. You cannot form a political party without any experiences. Before became famous amang the indians after 25th Nov.2007, can you tell one of the indian comunity issues you settled, like squatter, eviction, unemployement. Dont play pupilist polirtics dan the huge crowd gather on that the not because of you, pls remember thoundands of problem the indian comunity of this country face through out BN regime. Dont be another pandhitan. If you smart , first you avoid to do mistake done by samyvellu. In samy leadership this indian comunity fragile, spilit until today. If you realy realise this, first thing you must do is, call all indian who split like ipf, mic,ppp,makkal sakti, nalla karuppan party,mindraf and others is to meet up, you faild to this At the same time, you talk aabout makkal sakti, you realy know that what is makkal sakthi. if you believe and respect the makkal sakti, another important task you must done if before form the party is, do road show asked peeople opinion about forming new political party.like you did it before the 25th Nov.2007 Another funny thing your today annoucment that, your new party going to centest 15 parliment seats and 38 states seat for next election is, i feel realy you are in wrong direction. dont compare DAP, they are veteran in politics. anoher funny thing is one of two seats is your target is Sungai siput and ipoh barat .this announcement clearly show that you are not matured in politics. Look like you are going to attack opposition and MIC and not UMNO ,MCA seats. Dont dick your own grave, be realistic.people are still with oppsition, any attempt by anybody to destroy the oppostion allies are sure be avoid by the people fo malaysia.

+0

...written by WAN, July 19, 2009
This is the most ridiculous plan I have heard about Malaysian politics. Yet, it has enough of a certain crazy appeal that I am compelled to wish Human Rights Party Malaysia good luck in all their endeavors. I don't think you guys will succeed but I would surely love to see you guys try

+0

...written by eklim, July 19, 2009
great man, move all the indians to one state, maybe perlis, n u may become the MB......otherwise u will only be mr opposition n can only collect crumps !! but then u will rule the poorest state without being able to provide for yr indian citizens !! n subsequently, the other races will move to that state to re-take control; what a strategy ..... unless u are able to move india to malaysia !! come on man ........... its all for yr own ego n self interest !!

+2

...written by Bluemoon, July 19, 2009
This spinning auta who deripved inspiration from Sri Langka's tiger still thinks that this country can be turned into greater india. He must be dreaming or living in the clouds. One may wonder where he got the statistics considering there there is no single seat in which indian constitutes the majority. With dwindling population of ess then 2% and about a dozen political parties which are indian based, Mr. Uthayakumar must be lucky if he gets enough nomination. Forget about contesting because his party would certanily be trounced and lost the deposit. While the whole country is rejuvenating with equality for all, this racist goon, unfortunately is talking about his race, skin and colour. What a pathetic!

+1

...written by Eskay, July 19, 2009
That's a jolly good idea, Mr. P. Uthayakumar. Better still if you can get all the Indians to live and work in either Perlis or Negeri Sembilan or in both the states. With this mass migration, Indians would be a majority race there and the chances will be very bright for you and other Indian leaders to become the first Indian Menteris Besar in Malaysia. Good luck to you.

+3

...written by Paul Warren, July 19, 2009
Uthaya, I've said this to Samy and MIC before. Now I say it to you and PAHAM. Sto politically representing Indians. Only in Malaysia the Indian diaspora is politically represented. And look at the shit they are in. Every where else we have the Vjijay Singhs, The Mittals and you even have those heading the Pepsicola Company and several others....They are all not politically represented. Than you for your offer...now jus tleave the Indians alone...You are only hijacking them.

+1

...written by KB, July 19, 2009
This Uthayakumar is a political novice and making a fool of himself. Ask Indians to re-register to form the majority in certain seats? Come on man, it's the same stupid, simplistic idea like his "one stroke of the pen to solve Kg. Buah Pala issue". You want to register for another constituency, you have to shift there loh...and change your I.C. to update the address on your I.C. He thinks Indians going to uproot themselves for his politival party to serve his political interest? Human rights party indeed! I haven't heard him say one word about Teoh Beng Hock. Maybe Teoh is not Indian so this race blind person cannot see the human abuse on poor Teoh. Making your party multi-racial is academic. Who from other races going to join if you can only see through an Indian lens?

+1

...written by samson, July 19, 2009
It is sad to note that Uthyakumar is forming another race based party which will cause further divisions among Indians.In which constituency are Indians majority ?An Indian candidate whether BN or PR still needs the support of the Malays and Chinese.This is the reality in this country.Please bear this in mind.The only alternative for the Indians ,who were discriminated by the UMNO bastards is to unite under Pakatan Rakyat ,where our voice will be heard.Pakatan rakyat under DSAI is getting stronger day bya day and UMNO is very worried .Please give PR some time and they cant do any miraculous as the Federal Govt is still under corrupted BN.As a learned lawyer Mr Uthya is in a better position to explain the truth to the Kg.Pala residents of Penang and not to blame DAP.The whole mess was created by the then Gerakan(Bn) under Mr Koh Tsu Koon .Uthyakumar should think logically and rationally taking into consideration the various unique situation of this multiracial country before forming another race based party .Perhaps he has his own personal agenda .

+0

...written by Rakyat, July 19, 2009
HRP will die off eventually just like PPP.

+0

...written by Akam, July 20, 2009
Let's the migration to Perlis begin! Yay to Ultrakumar! Not Ultra...Ultakumar. What a rubbish selfish political snake. With one stroke of pen, you can give free lands to all Indians who move to Perlis! maybe you can vote to change the Perlis constitution too.

+0

...written by OrangRojak, July 20, 2009
How disappointing. I was very excited by the prospect of a 'Human Rights Party', but it's just a fancy name for another MIC, it seems. Just another sad event in Malaysia's political history.

+0

2009-07-20T00:09:00.000-07:00

More Articles and News on Hindraf being political party and breaks within

Samy Vellu: Many Indian parties not healthy

Another Chief to lead Indians

Another man lays claim to Hindraf

Hindraf leader defends Guan Eng, asks who made Waytha boss

What do you get when you have two Indian lawyers?

Uthayakumar sets out to create Indian clout with new party

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

2008-10-29T10:53:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-10-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

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 !
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +19
...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +8
...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +11
...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +5
...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
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +4
...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...
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +1
...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.

2008-10-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-06T03:38:00.000-07:00

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?
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +83

...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
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +40

...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +20

...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +23

...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +24

...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +23

...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +24

...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +22

...written by cheekhiaw, October 06, 2008 10:52:01
Hey Muttal Indian Congress, At least HINDRAF does not steal in broad daylight... xxx
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +18

...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
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +18

...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +7

...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 !
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +9

...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?
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +8

...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!
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +4

...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...
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: -9

...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +4
...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +5
...written by jhlee, October 06, 2008 13:10:04
why are we wasting time reading and commenting on this article?
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +4
...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!
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +7
...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...
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +1
...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?
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +1
...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...
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +2
...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
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +3
...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?
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +2
...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: -1
...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
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +1
...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +0
...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.
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +0
...written by cillipepper, October 06, 2008 18:03:17
MIC podah mutal!
report abuse
vote down
vote upVotes: +0

Confused HINDRAF spouses plea does not dampen struggle to repeal ISA

2008-09-28T20:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-02T00:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

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.

--

(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/

..\\__

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

2008-08-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

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

..\\__

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

2008-08-05T03:04:00.000-07:00

DAP-PKR-PAS' betrayal of the Indians

2008-07-31T21:48:00.000-07:00

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

..\\----

Letter from a supporter from London on Rehab

2008-07-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-09T03:38:00.000-07:00

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

-->

An Attempt to Break up HINDRAF?

2008-07-09T02:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-09T00:23:00.000-07:00

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._

VOH- Comments from recent news

2008-07-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

Voice of Hindraf

A. Sivanesan proves to be the mandoreof the DAP as MIC was and is the mandore of the UMNO. Former Perak State Assemblyman R.K.Muthu was reported in Tamil Nesan on 24/06/08 as saying that he had spoken to the Perak Menteri Besar who had agreed that 50 acres of land would be granted to 204 people affected by the taman pinggiran risha hijau abandoned project. However on 25/06/08 coolie DAP Exco member A. Sivanesan denies that the said Menteri Besar had made the promise. It should have been the Menteri Besar who should have made the denial. Why are the DAP coolies now replacing the MIC Indian mandores? In any event R.K.Muthu also should not be mis-representating the Indians by making “empty” media statements without anything in writing from the Menteri Besar. This is exactly what the MIC had been doing over the last 50 years. Enough is enough. Let us have a new beginning with people power Makkal Sakthi’s voice. Genuine and independent Indian political voice and representation at the highest political level and without fear or favour is the way forward. Our day will come. People power will prevail over PKR, DAP, PAS and UMNO.

Voice of Hindraf

UMNO cheating on Hindu Temple again in the Bangi Sri Maha Mariamman Hindu Temple land issue.
UMNO is yet again using MIC to cheat the Indians. UMNO got their MIC mandores to do a “wayang kulit” shadow play by pretending to have solved this Hindu Temple problem which sits on the University Kebangasaan Malaysia (UKM) land. The MIC gets another Indian mandore i.e. an Indian official from UKM to give a verbal confirmation that it is alright for the temple to sit on the UKM land until the bulldozers come one day when the UKM Indian mandore may not be there anymore. Thousands of Hindu Temples have been demolished this way by mere oral promises. MIC puts up a show in Tamil Nesan and in colour photo picturing an MIC Datuk Krishna Moorthy cum mandore. MIC should have rightfully done this upon securing the land title for the said Hindu Temple in the name of the Temple caretakers and having got the same land gazetted as a Hindu Temple gazette. UMNO can use the MIC and do this to our grand and great grand parents who might have believed UMNO MIC axis but the UMNO MIC axis is out of times. They are now dealing with the third and fourth generation Indians in Malaysia who are now powered by People Power Makkal Sakthi. To MIC, get the land title and then blow your trumpet. Enough of your wayang kulit. At this rate UMNO and MIC would both be wiped out in the 2012/13 general elections. Makkal Sakthi would then prevail and would speak up without fear or favour. Makkal Sakthi would not even bow to the PKR, DAP and PAS or be made use of by PKR, DAP and PAS as their mandores, coolies or showcases as the Indians in MIC., Our day is coming. People Power will prevail with their representative voice at the highest political level. Evil forces will be wiped out.

Voice of Hindraf

Bagan Serai Hindu crematorium Perak given a tar road.
MIC says thank you to local UMNO Member of Parliament. Another wayang kulit by MIC (Tamil Nesan 26/06/08 Pg 13). MIC should have secured the land title to this crematorium, got the same gazetted as a Hindu crematorium and then posed to the Tamil Nesan photographers. This is exactly what MIC has been doing for the last 50 years under UMNO’s wing. The first thing the UMNO government would do when a development comes up in the area is to level up and destroy this historical crematorium which is also the heritage of this country that the Indians lived and died in this place. Also it is not for the local Mariamman Hindu Temple to maintain this. Makkal Sakthi People Power and the current third and fourth generation Indians want a permanent solution to our problems and not mere “peanuts” tar roads.

Voice of Hindraf

Tamil book launch in Seremban (Tamil Nesan 26/06/08 Pg 7).
Two books were launched on short stories and Kannathasan’s poems by the MIC president. As usual in almost all such book launches, MIC over the last 50 years has succeeded in diverting away and getting Tamil book writers to divert away from the real and critical problems faced by the Indians in Malaysia especially the critical Indian problems vis a vis UMNO’s oppression, suppression and 50 years of permanent colonisation of the Indians in Malaysia. MIC and the Tamil writers would talk about past glories of the Indians, Indian Kings in India, the beauty of the Indian based poetry, language play etc. and about everything else except UMNO’s atrocities. We call upon the Makkal Sakthi People Power generation to write in Tamil about the truth especially on the critical Indian problems and the 18 point demands to Prime Minister Badawi dated 12/07/2007 and the 25th November 2007, 100,000 people power Makkal Sakthi, Hindraf Rally at the KL City Centre. Don’t be afraid to blame UMNO for it is the truth. The current generation Indians and Makkal Sakthi People Power want to know the truth.

2008-07-04T02:00:00.001-07:00

ISA detainee not given chance to see dying daughter (in Malay)

2008-07-04T01:55:00.000-07:00

Ustaz Zainudin Hashim Foto Nasir Sudin
Fri Jul 04, 08 12:24:38 pm MYT
Source - harakahdaily.com

Rasulullah s.a.w. ada bersabda maksudnya: "Sesiapa yang memisahkan seseorang, maka dia bukan daripada golonganku."

Hadis sohih riwayat at-Tabarani daripada Ma'qal Bin Yasar, sabda baginda lagi: "Sesiapa yang memisahkan ibu daripada anaknya, maka Allah akan pisahkan (orang yang bertindak demikian) antara dia dengan seluruh anggota yang dikasihinya pada hari kiamat." - Hadis sohih riwayat Imam Ahmad, at-Tirmizi dan al-Hakim daripada Abu Ayyub.

Kedua-dua hadis ini menunjukkan satu ketegasan terhadap perbuatan memisahkan antara seseorang dan orang yang dikasihinya (ahli keluarga seperti isteri, suami, anak-anak) yang dianggap satu tindakan kejam dan pelakunya dianggap sebagai penjenayah, sebab itu baginda tidak memperakui sebagai umatnya pada hari kiamat.

Inilah yang berlaku kepada sistem pentadbiran negara yang berorientasikan Sekularisme yang bertindak zalim ke atas mangsa-mangsa tahanan ISA yang ditahan tanpa bukti kukuh yang disabitkan oleh mahkamah.

Tindakan tidak berperi kemanusiaan itu mengakibatkan pelaksana undang-undang itu ditolak baginda Rasulullah s.a.w. sebagai umatnya pada hari kiamat, akhirnya tidak mendapat sebarang pembelaan untuk mendapatkan syafaat baginda.

Terbaru berita mengenai seorang tahanan ISA yang masuk tahun ketujuh, Shahrial Sirin yang tidak sempat melihat anaknya Almarhumah Aina Mardiah Shahrial buat kali terakhir sebelum menghembuskankan nafasnya di Hospital Kajang kerana tindakan birokrasi yang menghalang ketibaan Shahrial tepat pada waktunya.

Sudahlah beliau ditahan selama tujuh tahun yang sudah lama terpisah dengan keluarga termasuk isteri dan anak-anak, malah tidak berkesempatan untuk menatap wajah anaknya buat kali terakhir (ketika sedang nazak) sebagai penghormatan kasih sayangnya terakhir sebagai kenangan pahit dalam hidupnya.

Apapun kepada pihak berkuasa, tindakan yang dilakukan itu dengan menahan mangsa tanpa bukti, malah tidak disabitkan kesalahan mereka di mahkamah, mereka akan menjadi golongan yang muflis pada hari akhirat.

Inilah golongan yang mana segala kebaikan pahala mereka di dunia walau sebesar Gunung Uhud sekalipun, tetapi jika tidak mendapat kemaafan daripada mangsa, atau kaum kelurganya yang terdekat, maka pahala yang dilakukan itu akan dipindahkan kepada mangsa, dan akhirnya akan dicampakkan dalam api neraka. Maka sama-samalah kita renung ancaman baginda tersebut. - lanh _

Our Special Branch and their 'license to torture'

2008-07-01T03:36:00.000-07:00

Our Special Branch and their 'license to torture'
Josef Roy Benedict Jul 1, 08 4:22pm

On the June 26, the world celebrated the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. June 26 is the day the United Nations adopted the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

This treaty was adopted by the United Nations in 1984 after years of campaigning by various human rights organisations and came into force in 1987. Today, over 145 states are party to this convention including countries in this region such as Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Cambodia. When a country ratifies this treaty, it makes sure that laws in the country are in conformity with the treaty

Despite this global acceptance that torture is wrong, illegal under international law and unacceptable in all circumstances, Malaysia, which is currently a member of UN Human Rights Council, has refused to ratify this international treaty.
One particular agency which has benefitted from Malaysia’s continued acceptance of torture is the Malaysian police intelligence or Special Branch. They have systematically employed techniques of interrogation including a combination of physical assaults, deception and coercion, and intense mental and physical pressure at times amounting to torture, which became entrenched over the years.

One piece of legislation that has given the Special Branch a ‘licence to torture’ is the Internal Security Act (ISA), which was originally enacted in 1960 to counter a specific threat of communist insurgency but was made permanent. The legislation was amended incrementally to remove key safeguards, including effective judicial review of the lawfulness of ISA detentions.
Patterns of torture and other ill-treatment of ISA detainees have been documented by various human rights organisations since the 1970s against opposition, politicians, journalists, educationists, community workers and other civil society members. In most cases, torture and ill- treatment of ISA detainees take place during the initial 60-day investigation period.
Detainees have been assaulted, forced to strip, deprived of sleep, food and water, told that their families would be harmed, and subjected to prolonged aggressive interrogation to break them down (referred to as ‘turning over’, ‘neutralisation’ or ‘brain washing’) coerce confessions or elicit information.

Many have claimed the situation under ISA detention has improved compared to the 1970s and 80s but recent complaints lodged with Suhakan in 2004 by ISA detainees illustrate how things have remained the same.
Detainees detailed how they were forced to describe how they made love to their wives, being hit across the face with a newspaper; spat at and forced to drink the spittle; and being forced to sit in the cold blast of air conditioners during interrogation.
Two ISA detainees, Abdul Razak Abdul Hamid reported that he had been stripped naked, beaten by his interrogators and forced to drink water poured onto the floor while Sulaiman Suramin reported he was stripped, sexually humiliated and forced to kiss rubbish and cigarette ash. They were both accused of ‘links to terrorism’.

During this period, ISA detainees are usually held in solitary confinement, often in a windowless cell where they lose all sense of time. Within a context of actual or threatened physical assault, the interrogation procedure is designed to induce a feeling of complete disorientation and dependence on the interrogators as the only point of human contact.
The sense of helplessness is exacerbated by their knowledge that access to effective judicial protection has been blocked, and that visits by lawyers and family members are entirely at the discretion of their interrogators.

Despite committing systematic abuse against ISA detainees, none of these Special Branch officers has ever been charged and brought to justice. Even a royal commission, which was set up in 2005 to examine the conduct and management of the police, recognised the lack of accountability of this agency.
The royal commission recognised that there appears to be no legal provisions dealing with the functions, powers and duties of the Special Branch.
The royal commission, in their inquiry, were not given access to the Special Branch Charter which governs the Special Branch and issued by the prime minister and called for it to be made under the authority of the law.
The commission also called for greater clarification of what spelled out ‘security intelligence’ and recognised the agency as a ‘fearful organisation’.
Therefore as the world commemorates this day for victims of torture, it also time for the police reform process to move forward and that this body which has operated with impunity be scrutinised in a public setting.
There is a need to set up an independent body to investigate all the abuses and torture committed by this agency over the last 40 years and brings those responsible to justice.
While many recognise the need for police organisations to have an intelligence arm in tackling crime, there is a crucial need to bring this agency under the rule of law with clear and transparent functions and powers free from political influence and manipulation.
As the royal commission has recommended, report of Special Branch’s activities needs to be submitted to the prime minister at the end of each year and then presented in parliament.
And finally, as we condemn governments which have employed torture as part of the so-called global ‘war on terror’, we Malaysians must call on our government to immediately send a strong message that torture is unacceptable and ratify the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
It must also immediately abolish the ISA and other preventive detention laws which have become a training ground for torturers
I believe we, as a country, will never be secure as long as we allow this department of institutional torture to continue to operate with impunity outside the rule of law.

Source - Malaysiakini Letters - http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/85383

..

VOH - UMNO prevents Hindu prayers before public performance !

2008-06-25T02:54:00.000-07:00

Voice of Hindraf
24 June 2008

UMNO prevents Hindu prayers before public performance of Bharathanatiyam Classical dance at the Taman Budaya Public Auditorium Ipoh (NST 04/06/08 pg 17).

UMNO’s The National Unity, Culture and Arts UMNO Minister has interfered and infringed Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion. When even the National Unity UMNO Minister approve of this, how are we to promote racial harmony, national unity and racial integration. Even such a small scale dance programme like this can be acted against with racism and religious extremism. Reject UMNO in the 2012/13 General Elections once and for all.

More review about Nataraja and importance to Indian Classical dance,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja

VOH- Makkal Sakthi awake now to report on OCPD Klang

2008-06-25T02:50:00.000-07:00

Voice of Hindraf 24th June 2008

Hindu temple demolishment and people lodge report against OCPP of Kapar. (Tamil Nesan 04/06/08 pg 15).

The aftermath of the 25th November 07 Hindraf 100,000 peaceful assembly “People power” is seen in action. We have never heard nor seen Indians lodging a police report against an OCPD. They would ordinarily not have the guts. The minds of the change is flowing and will flow strong enough to blow UMNO out of power after having been in power far too long-50 years is enough!

VOH- Petronas doesnt reflect nationalisme in its station allocation

2008-06-24T02:45:00.000-07:00

Petronas doesnt reflect nationalisme in its allocation

from Voice of Hindraf (VOH)

200 Petronas Petrol Stations to sell natural gas. Datuk Shahrir Samad, Minister of Domestic Trade. But there are zero Petronas Station owned by Indians because they were never given the opportunities to own one. Article 8 of the Federal Constitution provides equality (and equal opportunities). But UMNO has been violating this constitution guarantee for the last 50 years.

UMNO: End racism and religious extremism. 50 years enough. Let us move on. Help all the poor including the Indian poor. Let us be NEEDS based and not RACE based when giving opportunities to Malaysians.

TDM remarks have again spoken his mind

2008-06-23T20:55:00.000-07:00

Re: Samy is racist, says Mahathir
Posted by: "Kamalanathan Sappani" ksappani@yahoo.com ksappani
Mon Jun 23, 2008 3:01 am (PDT)

TDM remarks have again spoken his mind. His ramblings have actually risen many questions in our minds.

Firstly, during his 23 years as PM, has he used the Sri Lankan problem to systemmatically marginalise the Indian community in Malaysia whilst promoting his Ketuanan Melayu nonsense?
Secondly, is he using this cheap publicity he is seeking to divert peoples attention away from the accusations that are being hurled at him from all quarters?
Thirdly, Has TDM singled out Tamils to practice the classic "divide and rule" to ensure the Indian minority is made weaker. In Malaysia and Sri Lanka the larger group of Indians are Tamils whilst in UAE it's the Keralites and in Mauritius it's the Bhojpuris but we are all Indian origin or PIOs.
Fourthly, For a person of the stature of an ex PM this racist remark made publicly speaks volumes of his real self. Can this rambling old man be considered as a statesman especially when he makes such statesments at this advanced age? Most people at this age would have resigned gracefully and focussed their attention on worship and spreading goodness and peace around the world. This is the true TDM and it's frightening what would have gone through his mind from 1982 to 2003 when he was the PM.
Finally, TDM is solely responsible for the racial discord in this country, if he had been an able statesmen he would have harmonised our multi racial society but he has done so much damage to even proclaim this as an Islamic country just to win votes from the PAS supporters. He has indeed been a desperate man always seeking to be in the limelight and all the physical entities he has helped to manifest are meaningless if we cannot forge racial harmony.
Hindraf was formed by people who were desperate to assist the marginalised community in dire need of some form of help. There are many people like RPK who are always risking everything to promote racial harmony. NOBODY CHOSE HIS RACE OR HIS FACE AND TDM being half Indian has done more damage to the Indian Malaysian than any other Politician visibly.
Hindraf was formed by a group of people oppressed, suppressed and marginalised from the mainstream of Malaysian society. Under Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak & Tun Hussein Onn to some extent there was some fair chance of competition on an equal footing. TDM pulled the rug completely from under our feet and we are a marginalised community today. Hindraf represents every single marginalised Malaysian, not just the Indians alone but the breaking of temples indiscriminately with brazen arrogance was the last straw that broke the camels back. Singling the Tamils and linking with LTTE is the work of sick minds poisoned with evil intentions.

Now our 5 of our Hindraf brothers are under ISA detention like common criminals and terrorists. It's a shame we have foolish leaders who are unable to think rationally. The community will never rest untill the Hindraf 5 are released at least for a fair trial.
It is well known Hindraf has no quarrel with any race including the Malays but with the Politicians who were manipulating the masses for their own means and ends and this includes Indian political leaders as well.
History has shown Indians and Tamils have been around SEA for the last more than 1000 years without any quarrel and now we are accused of racism by the Bapa Racisme who has destroyed the multiracial fabric of Malaysia which has been built so carefully by our forefathers.
Anyone not proud of his ancestry has no dignity at all.

../\
..\/..
\___/

Tun Dr Mahathir - Father of Hypocrisy

2008-06-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

From: www.malaysia-today.net

Dr Mahathir, the father of hypocrisy

Monday, 23 June 2008

This good old doctor sure is bitter. He certainly has a lot of baggage that needs to be jettisoned and without a doubt has issues of seeing the country being managed in a totally different style than his, which was nothing but a clear show of dictatorship.

By JJ Ray

WHEN he joined the medical profession, Dr Mahathir Mohamad took the Hippocratic oath to uphold the ethics and nobility of this vocation. But after his 22- year reign as Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad is working his way towards becoming the nation’s ‘father of hypocrisy’.

I say this because post-retirement, Dr Mohamad has not had anything positive to say of his successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and fellow politicians. Dr Mahathir spared no effort in condemning Abdullah Badawi’s leadership style and his regret over having chosen the latter as his successor. Abdullah may not bag the “best leader” trophy but he for sure will be remembered as a good human being.

The incomprehensible Dr Mahathir went so far as to say the current deputy Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak, was his first choice to lead Malaysia.

A few months ago, Dr Mahathir contradicted himself when he called Najib a coward and said the latter was not the right choice to lead Malaysia after Abdullah Badawi. Then Dr Mahathir again contradicted himself when he asked that the quota system in Umno be abolished, a system which he himself put in place. Yes, a person has the right to change but the change should be for the better, not otherwise. In these instances, it evidently was a clear show of hypocrisy from Dr Mahathir.

Then Dr Mahathir goes all out to show his self-proclaimed concern for fellow Malays and warned the Chinese and Indians not to question the Malay rights. He rattled on about Samy Vellu being a racist when the latter asked for the release of the Hindraf leaders detained discriminately under the Internal Security Act (ISA). Dr Mahathir had the audacity to relegate Indians as immigrants whom he implied were taken mercy upon and given citizenship as Malaysians.

This good old doctor sure is bitter. He certainly has a lot of baggage that needs to be jettisoned and without a doubt has issues of seeing the country being managed in a totally different style than his, which was nothing but a clear show of dictatorship.

It is unfortunate that for a former Premier with over two decades of experience, Dr Mahathir has so clearly failed or perhaps refused to share any in helping ensure Malaysia can be managed effectively, more so in the present critical period . Dr Mahathir may have left the arena of active politics but he definitely has not stopped playing politics. It appears that this veteran politician is as stubborn as a mule in not wanting to accept reality that his days are over and that it is time for him to play by-stander and not be a thorn in the flesh in the management of the country’s affairs.

There is no denying that Dr Mahathir has a sharp mind and speaks it without reservations. However, it is unfortunate that he has failed to use his mind for the betterment of his nation and instead took delight in making virulent attack on his successor. The result? Dr Mahathir has failed miserably in proving himself as a leader worth emulating. No one to blame here but himself.

At a juncture when national unity in Malaysia has become a question mark, the least educated minds such as Dr Mahathir can do is to help prevent a racial chasm from taking shape. Instead, he has taken the sordid approach of fanning racial disharmony by playing the racist card. What was his stand during his years as the Prime Minister when “immigrant” businessmen like Lim Kok Wing, Vincent Tan and Ananda Krishnan served as his allies?

If Dr Mahathir can stoop so low as to forget his own roots, one wonders what respect does he then have for the fundamental rights of a person. That explains why he mercilessly brushed aside the human rights provisions provided under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In this regard, it is helpful to remind Dr Mahathir that Article 2 of the Declaration states that “everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. No distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty”.

To jog Dr Mahathir’s memory further, Article 5 of the same Declaration states “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”. While Article 9 says “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile”.

Then there is Article 7, 8, 10, 11, 18, 19, 20, 25 respectively, all which Dr Mahathir had blatantly disrespected. The first step towards retribution is for Dr Mahathir to respect the existence of each and every Malaysian, irrespective of them being native or “immigrants”.

Dr Mahathir’s gimmicks not welcomed
It is apparent that Dr Mahathir is playing to the gallery and trying very desperately to win the people’s support by portraying himself as the rakyat’s defender. Well, he is damn wrong if he thinks he can ink any public support as the people have had enough of him, of his double standards and of his shenanigans.

Maybe someone should just ask Dr Mahathir what it is he really wants. Does he want to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia once again? Does he think there are no leaders left after him? Does Dr Mahathir think he can bring back the nation’s lost glory and self-esteem by getting rid of corruption and the complacent mindset synonymous with government servants?

So Dr Mahathir, what really is your agenda here by stirring racial disunity and proclaiming to be the defender of the rights of the Malays? Was it not Dr Mahathir during his tenure as Prime Minister who chastised the Malays as being lazy and relying on hand-outs? Was it not him in his not-so-matured- analysis of “the Malay dilemma” who had come to the conclusion that Malays are stupid because of in-breeding?

With so much malice evoked by him, why the sudden change in attitude towards Malaysians, with the sudden sympathy for the Malays and the newly-acquired disgust for the Indians?

There is no intention here to put the former Premier down but rather to understand whether Dr Mahathir is or has gone senile or he is simply living up to the axiom of “once a politician always a politician”?

Dr Mahathir, if you cannot help, then be quiet

It is to be a sad day if someone as shrewd and vocal as Dr Mahathir finds himself having no respect from the people. In this regard he has no one to blame but himself for it was his discriminating policies and insensitive remarks that have distanced the rakyat from him. Unfortunately, Dr Mahathir has refused to accept reality and has conveniently hid behind the veil of denial.

The country is going through a very bad phase and the people can do without a show of mud-slinging between a “has been” leader and the present leadership. Perhaps, having basked under the limelight of attention for 22- years, it is near impossible for Dr Mahathir to lead a quiet life. That maybe explains his every-now-and- then angry outbursts against Abdullah Badawi and Samy Vellu. Since Dr Mahathir so proudly claims to be a Malay, then he must do good by remembering that “sabar itu separuh daripada iman” (patience comprises part of the religious faith).

Clearly, Dr Mahathir has forgotten his roots or has chosen to do so at his convenience. But at who’s expense? Was Hindraf no lesson in this vicious game of power-play and racial biasness? Is Dr Mahathir looking towards instigating a Hindraf 2? If you are afraid of getting burnt, do not play with fire, Dr Mahathir.

Wise up Dr Mahathir!

A person is as good as their words and by this account Dr Mahathir scores very poorly. No doubt he has on the global platform taken on leaders that fared worse but on the home turf Dr Mahathir played the dreaded matron. He was also for superficiality, all the expense of his people. Physical development was deemed more important that people-development and the consequences of such ignorance is witnessed today by everyone. Malaysia has world class infrastructure but a third-class mentality. Who’s doing is this? The damage-control is not impossible but certainly is nerve- wrecking.

The Malay saying “harimau mati meninggalkan belang, manusia mati meninggalkan nama” (a tiger leaves behind his stripes and a human leaves behind his name) should rattle Dr Mahathir. Just what legacy does he intend to leave us with? What should the history books write of him? Will the truth be distorted again because of the biting reality that manipulative leaders existed during the Malacca Sultanate days and still do today?

There is more to life than threatening the people with ISA and the Press with the Official Secrets Act. Freedom of speech and freedom of expression were never condoned by Dr Mahathir when he headed the country. There was always a climate of fear and the only voice that could speak was that of Dr Mahathir’s. Yet today this very man is talking about ‘freedom’. What does the typical Malaysian make of this?

There is still time for Dr Mahathir to take stock of his past actions and make amends. There is still time for introspection and retrospection and there is still time to do good, but with no hidden agenda. And there is certainly time to wise up, Dr Mahathir!

200 days of Hindraf 5 detention under ISA- What do you think ?

2008-06-23T20:16:00.001-07:00

29th June 2008 will mark the 200th day under ISA detention for the 5 HINDRAF
leaders (detained since 13th December 2007). What is the opinion or comment
of the Indian community on this? What do you, the man (woman) in the street
have to say? Agree? Disagree? Hurt? Angry? Don't Care? Feel hopeless?

Should they be released? Should they be brought to court for a fair trial?
Should we instead ask for those who claim these people are linked to
terrorists to be put under ISA?

Having a hard time wondering how long is 200 days? Well, sit back and think
what you have done since 1st January 2008. Changed career, met a new love,
bought new things, voted in elections, paying higher for petrol, met new
friends, watched plenty of movies, attended weddings, graduated, went for
holiday, involved in new hobby, learned new skill, moved house, got married,
and many, many more things would have happened in the last 6 months. Feels
like a long time doesn't it?

Share your thoughts at:

http://poobalan.com/blog/indian/2008/06/24/200th-day-under-isa-for-hindraf-5/

VOH-Why the Double Standards against Indians?

2008-06-22T23:46:00.000-07:00

Why the Double Standards against Indians?
Voice of Hindraf

UMNO racist against Hindraf peaceful assembly on 25/11/07. Arrested Hindraf lawyers under ISA and 100 others arrested and 41 not granted bail.

But in the latest rally by PAS against the petrol price hike the local NTV 7 on 13/6/08 describes the same as peaceful assembly. (Tamil Nesan front page 14/06/08) But when it is the Hindraf peaceful assembly it is repeatedly blasted and UMNO propaganda by the local print and electronic media against Hindraf as a violent group and unlawful assembly.

Previously in Khairy Jamaluddin’s rally to protest Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Malaysia in 2006 and no action was taken but police escort given for the orderly conduct of the rally. UMNO must also accord Hindraf the same treatment further to especially Article 8 of the Federal Constitution like all other rallies before and after the Hindraf rally on 25/11/07.

No one should detained and punished without trial under the ISA for organizing a mere peaceful assembly like what happened to the Hindraf lawyers. Malaysia is the worlds only country which considers four lawyers championing the minority Indian rights as a threat to national security and then detains and punish them with an indefinite jail sentence under the draconian ISA. Malaysia Boleh. End UMNO rule to end ISA.

Watch UMNO out again in the next 2012/13 general elections but throw them out this time

Court ruling gives hope to ISA opponents

2008-06-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

Court ruling gives hope to ISA opponents
http://www.sun2surf.com/articlePrint.cfm?id=23310

By: Rathi Ramanathan (Wed, 18 Jun 2008)

KUALA LUMPUR (June 18, 2008): A High Court ruling on the case of an Internal Security Act detainee in October 2007 gives hope to those lobbying for the abolishment of the law which allows for detention without trial.
In a public forum titled "ISA: Abolish or Review" in the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night, Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreneevasan said: "The recent judgment has given us hope to pursue the removal of the ISA.
"There are sufficient provisions under the Penal Code to charge terrorist suspects, yet we have been witnessing that the two-year detention given under ISA are being extended with no fresh reasons given. This has negatively impacted on the family of detainees."

In October, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus awarded RM2.5 million damages to political activist Abdul Malek Hussein after ruling that his arrest and detention under the ISA were made in bad faith under Article 5 of the Federal Constitution.

The judge had added that the nature of the interrogation was clearly for a political purpose, and was not based on genuine concern for national security.
Ambiga said the big award was in view of the torture that Abdul Malek was subjected to during detention.

She said given the recent legal developments in cases where detention without trial is being challenged, "similarly Malaysia must also move forward in removing legal provisions for detention without trial in the Emergency and Public Ordinance and the Dangerous Drug 1995 and abolish the ISA which is being used to stifle dissent ".
Last year, the US Supreme Court ruled that foreign detainees held in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba had the right to appeal to U.S. civilian courts to challenge their indefinite imprisonment without charges.
The court specifically struck down a provision of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that denies Guantanamo detainees the right to file petitions to determine whether a prisoner is being held illegally.

In the previous Parliament meeting, replying to Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan), who suggested that the ISA be abolished, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahimin had said the government had no intention to abolish the ISA and other laws deemed harsh by certain people.

However, he said the government was open to enhancing and updating provisions under the ISA as well as other laws.
Another speaker in the forum, Batu MP Tian Chua, who was an ISA detainee, said the ISA was a form of absolute power and the flexibility to hold detainees indefinitely suggests that there is no room for enhancing it, except to abolish it.

"ISA is inefficient and ineffective with regards to the aim of preserving security. We would argue that in fact, the ISA removes the responsibility of the police to investigate, which is dangerous, " he said.
In the United States, detention without trial is permitted only for 14 days and in that time, the police have to investigate whether the detainee is in fact a threat to security.

Other speakers in the forum were Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA (GMI) chairman Ibrahim Syed Noh and Norlaila Othman, wife of an ISA detainee.
A book titled "Dunia Tanpa Suami", co-authored by three wives of of ISA detainees - Aliza jaafar, Norlaila Othman and Raha Hassan - was also launched in the forum.

GMI is also organising an anti-ISA rally in Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam on June 28.

VOH- More marginalization on Malaysian Indians though many promised made by PM

2008-06-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

“No one from any race, religion or state would be marginalized by the country’s economic growth” Utter lie by Badawi

Voice of Hindraf

UMNO sacks ten(10) poor Indian pupils from Methodist Tamil School Kapar because they do not have birth certificates/UMNO denies them birth certificates.(Tamil Nesan 13/6/08 front page) UMNO’s Prime Minister Badawi lies again by saying “the (UMNO controlled) government will make sure no one is left behind in mainstream development” (NST 13/6/08 pg 2). These two conflicting news reports but on the same day. Badawi further says “No one from any race, religion or state would be marginalized by the country’s economic growth”. But how not to be left out from mainstream development and not to be marginalized is a non starter when the Prime Minister of Malaysia does not even accord poor and innocent children, their very basic and innate right to their birth certificates.

But it is an offence not to send your child to school. How to go to school when the school sacks the child because he or she has no birth certificate. This is the extent UMNO would go to in their racist and religious extremist policies. The Prime Minister told B.N. MP’s at the 2009 Budget Consultation session themed “Enhancing resilience for sustained growth and shared prosperity”. But “shared prosperity” to be read for UMNO and their cronies and specifically excluding the Indian poor. Other 40,000 poor Indian children in the state of Selangor alone would not be denied even to their birth right to birth certificates in the first place by the UMNO controlled Malaysian government. “Abdullah said efforts to bridge income and human capital development gaps would also be given attention”. How is the Prime Minister going to bridge income and human development gaps when he even bullies (using his UMNO majoritarian might and ably backed up by his police army and civil service) poor Indian by not even giving them their basic birth certificates. What are you talking about Mr. Prime Minister?

We are the third and fourth generation Indians in this country. You could have got away telling this to our grandfathers and get away with it. Malaysia is our country as much it is yours. The current generations of Indians have no fear in fighting against UMNO’s atrocities. We have been pushed to the wall and will fight back. This is a classical example of a critical Indian problem which even “multi racial” PKR. DAP, PAS, Bar council, Suhakam NGO’s, activists, civil society and mainstream non Tamil print and electronic media would not bother taking up this matter as the victims are “merely Indians”. This is how multi racialism works in Malaysia i.e. anybody except the Indians. The PKR MP for Kapar would not put his foot down in Parliament for example the way the DAP Serdang MP put her foot down for the Mahkota Cheras/Grand Saga highway closure dispute. Even if the PKR MP did he would not be supported like how the Shah Alam MP and Ipoh Barat MP supported the said Serdang MP as the victims “are all Indians”. Indians have no choice but to fight their own battle. Political empowerment is the only way forward.

Dr.Mahathir Reveals his True Colour !! by TigerLingam

2008-06-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

It is now that Dr.Mahathir is showing off his true colour.
He was in all his years of being the prime minister of our country seperated the citizens racially. His remarks also reveals his ignorance on Hindraf struggle.
Dr.Mahathir by saying Hindraf only represents Tamils in Malaysia is trying to propagate 2 destructive points.

Firstly he is trying to disunite Indians. It is a known factor Malaysian Indians are of various segments be it their mother tongue , religion , sosial status etc... Hindarf for the first time ever since Independence successfully managed to unite them. Hindraf too proved how Indians can be politically strong if they are united.12th general election results speaks for itself with regards to Malaysian Indian unity.Therfore by saying Hindarf only fights Tamil's right he is poisoning the minds of Malayalees , Telugus , Sikhs , Gujarathis and others to keep away. He must by now realized the days for such cheap , narrow and shallow tactics will never work anymore in this country.

Secondly by saying Hindraf is only represents Tamils , Dr.Mahathir is trying to link the Malaysian Indians with Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka and hoping to create an image as if Tamil origins are trouble makers wherever they are.He might also trying his luck by blindly labeling the Tamil origins loose their respect in the eyes of internatioanal community.Knowing such accusations will arise , concept of "AHIMSA" was adopted since day one of Hindraf's struggle. That was the main reason why the Hindarf supporters carried Mahathma Ghandi's picture in the 25th November rally. So Dr. Mahathir , your baseless propaganda will never work.

I wonder what makes Dr.Mahathir to under estimate my fellow Malay Muslim brothers and sisters will believe what he is trying to propagate in his speeches and blog. The Malay Muslims clearly understood of Hindraf's struggle when we join force with PAS and Keadilan in the 12th general election. They know we are only asking our constituitional rights which was systematically ignored by the UMNO led government.

Therfore my fellow Indian brothers and sisters do not get provoked by Dr.Mahathirs's baseless accusations. Infact in my opinion he is provoking us to react negatively that situations can turn ugly . Just ignore him . Let him loose his respect in the eyes of Malaysians as well as international community.
For us my dear brothers and sisters , let us not let anything get between us to disunite ourselves.

TigerLingam

Hindraf Is a Tamil Racist Mentality ? ?

2008-06-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,
Dr.Mahathir is either speaking purely out of lack off information or purely ambitous to garner the Malay Muslim support since he has left UMNO. He need to state his point of view to the Malays so they know where he stands on the Malay Supremesi issue. But he failed to understand that Makkal Sakthi is actually anti BN-UMNO dictatorship. It has nothing to do with malays or being racist. It was the arrogance of UMNO who assumed they could manipulate this country and it's people to serve their personal interest. So the people needed to unite to bring down this empire. To unite a force you first need to find a common issue.

The indians who just happened to be tamils for the obvious reasons united to fight againts this discrimination.
It was the discrimination towards the minority that led to the fall of 5 states to the opposition. The Umno arrogance that made the malays vote againts BN. Many who went out there to vote for the opposition was not because they believe in them but because they wanted BN to learn a lesson.

There is a movement brewing towards boy cotting Petronas. I have been reading on this matter alot lately and I find that this is the most influntial action to take. Increasing 41% ni a big blow for the nation. Even the middle class feel the pinch. Imagine the lower income group. There is alot more to it. I'll post it when i have the time.

Pathmanck

http://pathmanck.blogspot.com/2008/06/hindraf-is-tamil-racist-mentality.html

MIC urges Mahathir to stop fanning anti-Tamil sentiments

2008-06-21T12:51:00.000-07:00

June 21st, 2008 - 4:04 pm ICT by ANI - Email This Post

Kota Baru (Malaysia), June 21 (ANI): Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu has urged former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to act as a statesman for all races instead of calling others racist.
Responding to a blog by Dr Mahathir in which he called the MIC president a racist for sympathising with Hindraf leaders, Vellu said that Dr Mahathir was a leader of all races; therefore he should work with all towards promoting national unity.
Asked if he would meet Dr Mahathir to clear the air, he said that he was a small and common man and Mahathir was the boss.
Opening the 91st annual general meeting of the Kelantan MIC here, he said despite the perceived dispute with Dr Mahathir, he preferred to stay away from mudslinging, the Star reported.
Samy Vellu said that he was hurt during the last general elections when Dr Mahathir said that he had not done anything for the community and wanted the Sungai Siput voters to reject him.
MIC deputy president G. Palanivel requested Dr Mahathir not to make statements that would further fan racial sentiments and hatred among the people.
He said Dr Mahathir should be honest in his opinions and said that his recent statement on Hindraf, describing them as Tamil racists would only further drive away Indian voters from the Barisan Nasional to Pakatan Rakyat.
It was sad that the former PM was not aware of the fact that Hindraf included many non-Tamil and even non-Hindu Indians. He was wrong to say that Hindraf leaders represented Tamil racists, he added. (ANI)

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/mic-urges-mahathir-to-stop-fanning-anti-tamil-sentiments_10062749.html

SIX MONTHS OF TEARS FOR A FATHER, HUSBAND

2008-06-17T05:22:00.000-07:00

MONTHS OF TEARS FOR A FATHER, HUSBAND
- malaysiakini Monday, June 16, 2008 at 11:30 PM Posted by jatt

On Dec 13, 2007, the day my husband - Hindraf secretary T Vasanthakumar.was arrested, I had to meet the police at my doorstep after spending many hours at the Bukit Aman police headquarters searching for information on his whereabouts.

When the police came to the house to inform me of the arrest, I had to send my two daughters upstairs because I didn’t want my children to see a group of policemen at my house and get a wrong impression of their father.

It may forever be embedded in their young minds and I didn’t want that. That was the moment I realized my precious, cosy and comfortable married and family life would come crashing down.

Refusing to admit defeat, I dragged my two girls all the way to Kamunting the next day, Dec 14. 14. They were asleep when we left KL at 5 am. At that time, I thought his detention would only be for a short period.

But as days and months passed by, it ended up being a Sunday ritual dragging the girls - even in the rain - to meet their father. They cannot imagine why he is there and why he is not coming back home yet. I have lied to them, telling them that he is hospitalised.

On Jan 1, I spent it without my husband after eight years of marriage. I was working on that day because for me it was no celebration. The beginning of the new year had to pass without him and while the whole world was celebrating, my girls and me were in the bed,.

I had no words of comfort for my small ones that night.

Over the months, many celebrations have been conveniently ‘forgotten’ such as our Ponggal (Harvest Festival), the Hindu New Year, our wedding anniversary and soon it will be the girls’ birthdays, the first one without their father around.

He has been a good and loving father, it is just not right to deprive the family of him when he is not guilty. Instead, noble men like my husband are charged under ISA when those who committed greater crimes threatening society and harming the peace are free out there.

The emotional pain seems too much to bear, I just do not know where to begin. I am suffering mentally and financially as a result of this injustice.

My husband’s 60 year-old mother who had raised him up as a single mother is pining for her son. He is her only son, his father had passed away when he was two years old. She worked as labourer to bring him up and she still suffers in body and health.

She is crying day and night in the fear that her life may end during her son’s detention and she unable to see him free. A mother her age should be spending her aging life happily with her son and grandchildren.

All my husband wanted was to end the suffering faced by people in a similar siutation his mother was in - the poor and the neglected. To help the poor Indians in the suburban and rural areas by acting according to his conscience.

He did not murder or steal. To detain him under the ISA is too cruel.

Today, June 13, marks six months since my husband’s detention. The emotional suffering and pain remains the same since Dec 13. All I want is for my family to be together again.

My children and I deserve the happiness and peacefulness that most other Malaysians enjoy. The whole thing is too much for me and my children to bear. Please release my husband and the others.

I am making an impassioned plea to the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to please release my husband and others from detention as they are not a threat to the nation.

UMNO is as arrogant as ever

2008-06-12T01:44:00.000-07:00

UMNO is as arrogant as ever

DAP has called for the release of the Hindraf 5
PKR has called for the release of the Hindraf 5
PAS has called for the release of the Hindraf 5

After the elections:

Gerakan has called for the release of the Hindraf 5
MIC has called for the release of the Hindraf 5
MCA has called for the release of the Hindraf 5

That leaves UMNO alone who is not supportive of releasing the Hindraf 5. And it is UMNO which is holding back the release of the Hindraf 5

The citizens of Malaysia have demonstrated clearly that they do not accept UMNO/BN's stand of Hindraf 5 being a threat to national security.

The people of Klang have given Manogaran a huge victory to underline the fact that Hindraf 5 are heroes of the country.

Yet UMNO is obstinately holding them as prisoners.

So, all the talk of power sharing is an absolute LIE. UMNO decides and the rest has to follow. That is the truth.

That Syed Hamid refuses to meet the ordinary citizens of Malaysia PROVES beyond doubt that UMNO has not learned any lessons from the recent elections.

Makkal Shakti (All Malaysians) must rise again to drive out the tyrant UMNO from Malaysian politics once and for all.

Forward to all please!

A.J. WILLIAMS
willyloves69@gmail.com

Vwaishnavi Celebrates Bday in Parliament, a rightful place for all

2008-06-05T01:52:00.000-07:00

Vwaishnavi’s 6th Birthday Wish at The Royal Palace and Parliament Lobby – Abolish ISA, Free My 5 Uncles and Pray for the Safe Return of My Father from London
Hindu Rights Action Force leader P Waythamoorthy's daughter approached parliamentarians on 21.05.08 on her birthday, requesting the government to release the five Hindraf members detained under the draconian securities law. She also wished for the safe return of her father from London. Coincidently she was six and her request for these six is very symbolic to her.

Accompanied by her mother K Shanthi and several other Hindraf delegates, Vwaishhanavi celebrated her birthday in the Parliament lobby and delivered roses to members of Parliament present. She also took the opportunity to present a cake and her birthday wish was written in a card handed to the King earlier that day at the Royal Palace. Her wish was simply for the King to grant her birthday wishes on his Birthday on 7th June 2008. Had vwaishnavi done this at the gates of Buckingham Palace and House of Commons she would have been an overnite celebrity. The western world would have seen this young HUMAN RIGHTS BABY in a different light altogether.
Surprisingly, the delegation was earlier stopped at the gates of Parliament, denying them entry. However authorities allowed them in as opposition MPs approached to welcome the delegation.
Nevertheless it is very disheartening to note that such gesture by Vwaishhanavi to celebrate her birthday at Parliament did not auger well for the Home Affairs Minister of Malaysia, who was quick to rebut on the occasion of the celebration.
The Government has failed to realize the Parliament is free to be used by the Public, provided the usage is sanctioned and kept under control. We find that such rebut by the Home Affairs Minister is uncalled for. Furthermore, if the elected representatives are free to use the Parliament as they wish, I believe we as Public who voted these elected representatives are more privileged in doing so.

When we bring our demands to the Street it is welcomed with tear gas and chemical water cannon and Police brutality. Later our Valentine Day’s gesture was also welcomed the same. Now in Parliament a child making her birthday wishes is also wrong. Even a mother’s request to ensure her son is given proper medical treatment whilst under ISA detention is not heard. If the Government of the day knows what is right for us to do, please speak up. We are ever willing to hear. Tell us what will satisfy the Government in order for us to get the 18 demands across to be implemented by the Government. We have now proven that ours is a peaceful struggle, only to ensure the plight of the 70% of the lowest strata in the Indian Community is looked into by the Government.

At the launch of Unity Month on 25.05.08, the Deputy Prime Minister in his speech said that “it was important for Malaysians to identify themselves as Bangsa Malaysia and not by their race. He said the creation of Bangsa Malaysia was not something that was unrealistic. “We just have to put it in our minds that when we look at another Malaysian, we do not identify him or her from the colour, religion or her cultural background. “The person should be just another Malaysian whose nobility, strength and character values transcend the colour of his skin,”.
If what is said to be practised, then we call upon the Government to set aside the differences and take the Indian Community plight as a Malaysian and not a race issue and accept that HINDRAF’s struggle is just another group of concerned Malaysians whose nobility, strength and character values transcend all boundaries to see a less divided Malaysia, living as truly Malaysians.

A HUMBLE HINDRAF SUPPORTER

VOH - The Federal Constitution and Malay Supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu)

2008-06-02T23:26:00.000-07:00

The Federal Constitution and Malay Supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu)

by Voice of Hindraf (VOH)
01/06/2008

UMNO wants evidence of no Malay Supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu) in the Federal Constitution. (Utusan Malaysia 28/05/08 pg3)

The most racist and religious extremist UMNO Minister Datuk Noh bin Omar asks Lim Kit Siang for the evidence. To start of with there is nothing in the Federal Constitution about Malay Supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu). How does the racist minister who happens to be a law graduate want prove when it is not in the Federal Constitution in the first place. Article 153 only provides for Reasonable privileges for the Malays in getting scholarships, licences, permits etc. This article was drafted and finalised in 1957 when the Malays were genuinely backward in the fields of education and economics/business. In any event Article 153 is subject to Article 153 (7) which states that provided 153 does not interfere with the rights of the non-Malays and Tunku Abdul Rahman in UMNO’s written proposal to the Reid Commission asked for the special privileges for only 15 years. It is fifty years today and the racist and religious extremist Minister is still harping on “bully and strong arm tactics” as UMNO has the back up of the police, army and the civil service.

Anyway the evidence wanted by the racist Noh bin Omar is in Hindraf’s publication titled “50 years of Constitutional violations by the (UMNO controlled) Malaysian Government” which the minister can obtain from the special branch police or get a copy from the editors of Malaysiakini.com.This publication contains 450 pages of historical documents procured from the public records office, Kew, London (National Archives). This is the evidence Mr. Minister Noh bin Omar. Read history and don’t just speak that there was never a social contract as UMNO keeps claiming exist. There is never one word about Malay supremacy (Ketuanan Melayu). But there are volumes of documents, memorandums etc by the then people of Malaya on which basis the Reid Commission drafted the Federal Constitution stating equal rights, equal opportunities, all communities to be in the civil service and judiciary. The judiciary and the civil service, police force and the army should not be dominated by one community. In fact the then people of Malaya dreamt of a harmonious and fair Malaysia and nothing like the racist and religious extremist policies the UMNO regime has led us into in the last 50 years.

Do your homework Mr. Minister and UMNO. Don’t just flaunt your racist and religious extremist majoritarion might with impunity. The original people of Malaysia are the orang asli. The Malays came to Malaysia, but only earlier in time compared to the Chinese and Indians.

VOH - UMNOS’s and PSD’s statement on scholarships – an outright lie

2008-06-02T23:24:00.000-07:00

UMNOS’s and PSD’s statement on scholarships – an outright lie

by Voice of Hindraf (VOH)

01/06/2008

PSD scholarships, 55% for the Bumi’s and 45% for non bumis (TV 3 News 8pm on 28/5/08) is an outright lie by UMNO. Indians get only about 2% of these scholarships. Get to the point UMNO. IF the above 55:45% is true then UMNO Minister Nazri would have replied to Chong Eng (B.M.) and agreed to publish the said names of recipients, their grades etc. UMNO could have made this statement before the 25th of November and the Indians may have believed the same. UMNO has to move away from these obsolete cheap media propaganda and gimmicks. You cannot be hoodwinking all the people all the time. Try harder in Parliament the next time Minister Datuk Nazri and UMNO!

Young Indians are struggling to get PSD scholarships and public university places. Young UMNO graduate is talking about her RM 8 Billion profits. (NST Biz news 28/5/08 pg 41) Nur Azrin who holds a Bachelor of Science Biotechnology from University Malaya has been issued a license by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry to produce biodiesel to her company Agro Biotechnology Technovation (M) Sdn Bhd (ABT) which is building the country’s largest biodiesel plant in Kuala Lukut Port Dickson for RM 900 Million. With this kind of caliber, the last thing UMNO should do is to even deny 40,000 Indian children even their birth certificates (in Selangor alone) giving only 2% of the Indians PSD scholarships locally and less than 1% for foreign universities. Tamil school pupils having to study in cabins, JKR stores and even under the trees as their schools eaten by white ants are falling apart. How cruel can UMNO be? Just compare the RM 8 Billion profits they are making to the position of the Indians. And after all these UMNO insists on Malay Supremacy and the Indians to be their slaves!

Of the 2000 PSD successful recipients, 151 were put on fast lane because of their academic record and economic background. We immediately short listed them because they got 10 1As and were from poor families earning below RM 1,500.00 a month. “Of the 151, 117 were Bumiputeras and 35 were non Bumiputeras” says PSD Director General Tan Sri Ismail Adain (NST 29/05/08 pg 9) UMNO and PSD are beating around the bush. If you have nothing to hide and are telling the truth, why are you not wanting to publish the names of the successful recipients, their grades and also the unsuccessful list and their grades and the criteria for having rejected them? The ground reality shows that only about 2% of Indian students are getting PSD scholarships locally and a mere 1% for overseas courses where the government has allocated RM 1.7 Billion for the next five years. UMNOS’s and PSD’s statement does not reflect the ground reality at all. Just run through the Tamil dailies on high achieving students and their rejection and you will know the truth you already know.

VOH -Msian Indian Medical students victimised

2008-06-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

Malaysian Indian Medical students – victimised

by Voice of Hindraf (VOH)
01/06/2008

Racist UMNO deliberately victimising thousands of Malaysian Indian Medical students from practicing in Malaysia with the deliberate intention of reducing the number of Malaysian Indian doctors in Malaysia . UMNO rather give the medical postings to foreigners than Malaysian Indians. The NST 30/05/08 pg 24 news report, letter to the editor proves this.

There are a number of foreign doctors (mostly from Pakistan , Bangladesh , Myanmar and India ) (presumably Muslims) from unrecognised Universities who are working in rural areas and university hospitals with the blessings of the health ministry. They do not have to sit for examinations to be registered and are given annual practicing certificates for up to three years. This is unfair as Malaysian doctors from unrecognised Universities have to sit exams. Why not employ them instead? Foreign doctors are also given places in the Master’s courses in public universities such as University Malaya and University Kebangsaan Malaysia when our own doctors are not given such privileges.

These foreign doctors are then given registration and annual practicing certificates so that they can undergo these courses and perform surgeries and procedures on patients. Isn’t it ridiculous that our own doctors from the same unrecognised universities are not allowed to do so? These foreign doctors then do locum in private hospitals and clinics and are therefore practically earning a living and studying at the same time while local doctors have to sit exams, do houseman ship and then work for the government for three years in order to apply for masters course. Foreign students are readily accepted into the medical courses in public universities.

Why are they given preference when there is an acute shortage of doctors in this country? (Dr.TSK Kuala Lumpur )

ANSWER - Racism and religious extremism by UMNO. UMNO rather take in foreign doctors rather there being a shortage of doctors by 100% rather clinics not be manned by doctors, rather patients wait for hours before being treated THAN giving the opportunities to Malaysian Indian doctors from “unrecognised foreign universities”. UMNO rather see these Indian doctors unemployed to quench their racist and religious extremist thirst. UMNO does not care that these Indian doctors parents labour, sweat, pain, soil and toil and their hard earned money goes down the drain. Umno does not care that it was these innocent poor man’s children’s dream to become a doctor was probably no different from a dream to become a “criminal”. This is how vindictive UMNO’s Health Ministry Director General Datuk Dr Ismail Merican can get. Vote UMNO out with a fatal blow and once and for all at the 2012/13 general elections.

Patient overload at public hospitals where staff (and doctor) shortage is a perennial problem says Health Minister (NST 28/05/08 front page and pg 6). The doctor patient ratio in Malaysia is 1:1,200 whereas the ideal position is 1:600. Malaysia ’s shortage of doctors by 100%. Further follow up treatment from GH to be referred to private clinics because of shortage of doctors at GH and the government will pay for the consultation and medication (Utusan Malaysia 28/05/08 pg 15). But Indian medical graduates rejected because they are from “recognised universities” deliberately not recognised by UMNO. Why can’t these Indian medical graduates be absorbed into especially the rural areas, extend their housemanship for six months (because they are from “unrecognised universities”) and allow them to practice medicine in Malaysia .

Why this outright racism and religious extremism by UMNO. Most of these unrecognised medical degrees are recognised by the British and US Medical Councils but not by the Malaysian Medical Council. UMNO and other UMNO extremists, racist Director General of the Health Ministry Datuk Dr Ismail Merican must be removed first for there to be a start to genuine racial harmony and racial integration. Launching National Unity colourful dances and drums, launched by UMNO’s DPM Najib last week is eyewash that is obsolete.

And then up to 20 per cent of foreign doctors recruited to work in the country are later kicked out. As Malaysian Medical Resources writes: "Health Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Lee Kah Choon disclosed that between 10 and 20 per cent foreign doctors and medical experts recruited by the Government to work in Malaysia had to be sent back as their service was not up to the standard required. Language, background and cultural differences were among the reasons why they had failed to perform their duties well. He said at present, most foreign doctors in Malaysia (eds. note: there are about 1000 of them) were from Indonesia , Bangladesh and Pakistan , and lately, the Government was eyeing to recruit more doctors from Myanmar . Lee said the Government spent about RM40 million annually to pay their salaries. The government is the single largest employer of doctors. About half the doctors in Malaysia are employed by the government and the other half work in the private sector.

UMNO is not dealing with the third and fourth generation Malaysian Indians who demand equal rights and equal opportunities which right is acceptable in any part of the world except in Malaysia . UMNO can fool all the Indians some of the time and some of the Indians all the time. But UMNO cannot fool all the Indians all the time especially the current third and fourth generation Malaysian Indians.

FIDH Observatory Report : ISA is a violation of human rights principle

2008-05-30T05:03:00.000-07:00

Contributed by Fadiah Nadwa Binti Fikri
Wednesday, 28 May 2008 09:29pm

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) in close cooperation with SUARAM (Suara Rakyat Malaysia) has launched an Observatory Report on an international mission of judicial observation in Malaysia on the hearing of habeas corpus application of five leaders of Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) who are detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA). The hearing of the application took place from 24 to 28 January 2008 and on 26 February 2008 the Court upheld that the detention is in accordance with law.

The launching of the Observatory Report took place at Chinese Assembly Hall today. Miss Laurie Berg, a practising lawyer from Australia, who has been given the mandate to observe and report the entire preliminary hearing of habeas corpus application presented the report to the press and urged the Government of Malaysia to repeal the ISA in its entirety as indefinite detention without trial violates international human rights standards. This recommendation is in line with the universally recognized human rights norms and fundamental freedoms, particularly the right to “participate in peaceful activities against violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms” as enunciated in Article 12 of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

The Observatory also expressed their concern over the fact that the Detainees were not produced at the final hearing as their presence is of importance as to the question of the legality of their detention. The delay in delivering judgment is also one of the matters that concerns the Observatory.

Malaysia, being a member state of the United Nation is urged to comply with the fundamental principles of justice and universally recognized human rights norms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly on the prohibition of arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. The use of ISA only demonstrates various violations of human rights such as the right to fair and public trial, the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, the right to answer the charges against them and the right not to be arbitrarily detained and the Observatory further stated that the Government has failed to show illegal or dangerous act has taken place as alleged to have threatened national security. The use of ISA also undermines the independence of the judiciary to scrutinize evidence of the alleged illegal or dangerous act.

In her closing remark, Miss Berg reiterates the Observatory Recommendations calling the Government of Malaysia in particular :

1) To repeal the ISA in its entirety.

2) To bring promptly before a judge all persons detained in the country within the framework of ISA.

3) All persons in Malaysia should be tried in conformity with international standards. The right of judicial review should be restored with respect to detention under ISA. Section 8B of the ISA should be repealed as an urgent and immediate step.

4) The five HINDRAF leaders and all detainees should be immediately released.

At the end of the press conference, Miss Berg in the presence of Mr. Saha Deva Arunasalam (representative of Bar Council Human Rights Committee), Mr Bernard Francis (representative of SUARAM) and also Mr. Syed Ibrahim Alhabsyi (the Chairman of Abolish ISA Movement (GMI)) handed over a copy of the Observatory Report to the family of HINDRAF leaders

http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/human_rights/observatory_report_isa_is_a_violation_of_human_rights_principle.html

The ISA 1960: A throwback to the era of tyranny ( from BC)

2008-05-30T04:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.malaysianbar.org.my/opinions/comments/the_internal_security_act_1960_a_throwback_to_the_era_of_tyranny.html

Contributed by Sunil Lopez a/l Ceasar Lopez
Thursday, 14 February 2008 08:59pm

Settling disputes among individuals and ascertaining the guilt of a member of society who is charged with committing an offence by a tribunal of law has been the hallmark of a civilised and democratic society for some time now.

In feudal times and before, the power to decide on a dispute and to mete out punishment lay absolutely in the hands of one person or with a privileged few. It was a power that was used, often I suspect, without question and arbitrarily.

The majority of legal systems which exist in this day and age are not without flaws but as the essential feature of most of these systems are public trials presided over by persons charged with upholding the rule of law and dispensation of justice, it must, in my view, be accepted that anything else would be a poor substitute.

John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, otherwise known as Lord Acton, once wrote in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887 that “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

The validity of that statement is beyond reproach and I would think that no right thinking member of society would dare disagree, at least not in broad daylight.

It therefore seems inconceivable to me that even in these ‘enlightened times’, there exists a patch of the past, a throwback, if you will, to the bygone era of tyrannical monarchs where the word of one is sufficient to affix guilt to a human being. Inconceivable it may be but the continued existence of legislation like the Internal Security Act 1960 (I.S.A.) is such a ‘patch’ and an unjust one at that.

The I.S.A. conveys into the hands of one person, the power to detain without trial and also it appears, without question. The existence of such power would perhaps be excusable if that one person had the biblical qualities of Nabi Sulaiman or King Solomon as he is otherwise known, but alas we don’t run into many kings of that nature these days.

Some may reason that preventive detention is a necessary evil, especially in these dark times of terrorism but the upshot is that the liberty of individuals takes a backseat, the years of legal evolution grind to a halt and the trek towards authoritarianism begins anew.

The I.S.A. is a common dirty word [sic] among Malaysians who even consider voicing their dissent against government policies and decisions. It is an abbreviation which strikes fear and stifles the development of a just and equitable society.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, when faced with criticism for the enactment of the I.S.A. said that it will "be used solely against the communists...My Cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the I.S.A would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silence lawful dissent.”

Even at its inception, it was recognised that the I.S.A. could be abused and that it is a powerful tool in the hands of the government of the day.

Today, the spectre of the unchallenged use of the I.S.A continues to haunt the citizens of this nation.

The time is long overdue for the abolishment of this draconian and archaic legislation.

It is with that in mind that a motion calling for the abolishment of the I.S.A. has been submitted for consideration at the Kuala Lumpur Bar’s 16th Annual General Meeting on February 21, 2008.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MOTION TO ABOLISH THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT 1960

RECOGNISING that the detention of persons without trial as provided for by the Internal Security Act 1960, violates principles of the Rule of Law and Human Rights.;

CONDEMNING the Internal Security Act 1960 as legislation that is draconian and archaic and prone to abuse;

REAFFIRMING the Malaysian Bar’s Motion dated 27 November 1987, calling for the abolishment of the Internal Security Act 1960.

CONDEMNING the recent detention without trial on 13 December 2007 of 4 members of the Malaysian Bar, in particular, 2 members of the Kuala Lumpur Bar, namely Uthayakumar Ponnusamy and Manoharan Malayalam under the Internal Security Act 1960.

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED

1. That the Kuala Lumpur Bar calls on the Government of Malaysia to immediately repeal the Internal Security Act 1960 and to adopt the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) contained in their Review of the Internal Security Act 1960 report of 2003; and

2. That the Kuala Lumpur Bar calls for all the current detainees under the Internal Security Act, to, be released immediately and where appropriate, be charged in an open and public trial.

Dated : 13th day of February, 2008

Proposer : Sunil Lopez
Seconders : Lim Fang Say
Amer Hamzah Arshad

POLICE BAIL DELIBERATELY EXTENDED TILL THE 10th of JUNE

2008-05-30T03:31:00.001-07:00

Fri, 30/05/2008 - 16:47 — admin POLICE BAIL DELIBERATELY EXTENDED TILL THE 10th of JUNE

5 of us turned up at the Tanjong Tokong police station this afternoon to only be told that our remand has been extended till the 10th of June 08. Among those present was my self, Mr. Ong, Mr. Vimal, Ms. Lau Shu Shi, Mr Supramaniam and members of the press. It is very disappointing to hear of our remand. It shows how slow the police are in conducting their investigation. How much time more do they need to investigate 7 innocent activist which upholded their constitutional rights by protesting peacefully against the ISA and was later abused by the police. Are they delaying their investigation in order to scare us and slow down our upcoming protest so that we would divert our attention to our own case rather than the ISA. Till today we have not receive any apology from the Home Minister as called by the Penang State government to do so as it was a miss use of power by the Malaysian Police.

Protest in Gurney on ISA

I called upon the Malaysian Police to wrap up their investigation as fast as possible and drop all the charges that they have brought against us. Stop wasting our time, and start to work on many other important issues which effect the Public. Example, the robbery which took place in Komtar a few days ago. Komtar is located only 5min away from both the District Police HQ and State Police HQ. What a shame it is to the Police force for such incidents to happen. Don`t we have any safe place in Penang Anymore ?... and yet they can waste their time disturbing and arresting peaceful protesters as if there is no other cases for them to deal with.

Arrest of 7 is unlawfull
The arrest of the 7 is a challenge to Malaysians and the constitutional law. Can the the Police Act over write the Constitutional Law? Does the Federal Government respects the constitutional law and the rights of it`s Rakyat? If no, than the Federal Government and the Police must be brought to trial for violating the Federal constitutional law and sentenced to jail. The Rakyat is being misleaded by the continuous arrest of many many protesters during their peaceful gatherings. This Violation needs to be put to an end. How much longer does Malaysians need to suffer for standing up and voicing their views. The rakyat`s money is being wasted by the police on the operational cost to disperse the rallies by usage of the tear gas, petrol, chemical water, documents, and video shooting. The police needs to learn from the well develop countries and protect the rights of the citizen and not be a tool of any political party.

NO ISA

It is clear that the people are unhappy with the Internal Security Act. So just abolish it and listen to the cries of the people or be prepared to face many many more peaceful protest by the public. We can`t just sit down and see our brothers suffer in the Kamunting detention center. The detainees are being abused politically, and we would not shut up! Release all the ISA detainees immediately and close down the Kamunting detention camp which symbolize injustice and evilness in Malaysia.

K.SUDHAGARAN STANLEY
http://profiles.friendster.com/23311684
stanley_sudha@yahoo.com
H/P 016-498 2125

Reply to Krishna T - Re: Hindraf is on winning track

2008-05-30T03:25:00.000-07:00

Hi Krishna T,

We are very sorry that u dont seems to understand the actual struggle of Hindraf. If u think u are interest in the day to day life of yourself than u should not be bothered about others activities including Hindraf or even MIC for that sake.

U cant even pick the right word that can be use in public forum and keep repeating the same word. Lucky moderate edits and post your msg which by right should be rejected in the 1st place of repeated abuse/vulgar language.

FYI, Hindraf have told in its 18 demand that MIC mandore system need to be stopped. Malaysia is for Malaysian and all the issue regarding Malaysia need to be looked as Malaysian and stop all the systematic marginalization.

We were all stuck in the same old mandore way of highlighting and expecting MIC to solve the Tamil school, solve the estate compensations, education allocation and many more. By right it should be the task and responsibility of the related Ministry and local authorities.

The Education Minister held responsibility of the tamil schools and it allocation.

Hindraf wants the Malaysian indians to shift paradigm in the way we look into the problem and the way we seek solution.
In this week we saw the Education Minister promises to convert all the tamil schools as fully aided soon, so who held the final responsibility. Was it Uncle Sam or Kerismuddin?

We know the answer, so why are we still barking the wrong tree.

We are glad one of our 18 demands is promised for reality by the Minister himself after 52 years of Impendence.
MIC is just another political party, their survival are for the party struggle.

Regarding ISA, I dont know where u had information that many Indian support ISA. Btw ISA was not after May 13, it was there from 1960s. pls get your facts right.

We wish u good luck in your money generating activities, hope u will have more focus there in order to keep u away from areas that u are not interested in.

Have a good day.

Nandri.
Vaalge Hindraf Makkal Sakthi

--- In UnitedMalaysianIndianClub@yahoogroups.com, "Krishna. T."

dear waytha,

yeap, atrocities are commited in malaysia and it is by hindraf thru brainwashing the indian community so much many are exibiting uncivil behavior in everyday life. grace, my
friend grace under pressure. we can do better than this. our problem is samyvellu not the govt.
the problem the indian community facing in malaysia is due to the politics of MIC esp under samyvellu.

to understand samy's politics we have to go back to the Konfrontasi period with indonesia between 1964- 1965. smay staged a drama in kuala lumpur by tearing the flag of
indonesia flying at the indonesian embassy and burning it. it captured the imagination of the media and he was declared a hero. and ever since he rose none stop in politics until the voters of sg. siput and dr. devaraj MP taught him the lesson of his life. ( lets hope that MP devaraj and adun nasir will realise that they are being brainf**ked by arutchelvam in parti sosialia malaysia.

the politics of samyvellu is known brainf**king politics.( forgive us for the language- couldnt find a better alternative. You f**k the brains of the people first ( ie play a game on the minds
using any card and any method including the sympathy card) and then you f**k the people (ie fool the people) and gather power and wealth. ethics- what ethics?" i am in power so why do i have to bother about ethics" samyvellu. we were very much perplexed,confused and fooled, for a long long time like many others until we realised we were being brainf**ked by samyvellu's politics.

it is only after that we realised that something must be done. And since it is an indian or rather a tamil problem and mess, we tamils have to take the responsiblity to clean it up. and so we are doing it. we thought we could work with hindraf but the politics of hindraf seems to be similar to samyvellu although both of dont appear together or give opposing views to the media appearing as enemies. as cho ramasamy, a lawyer as well as actor of the tamil movie world would say " we have seen too many tamil movies". nangal nireiya tamil padam parthu
irrukirom. ha ha ha.

come on waytha, this is the 21st century. we shudnt be practising politics that belong to the stone age. it may be a laughing matter in india esp tamilnadu but NOT In MALAYSIA. we have to concerned about the feelings about our fellow malaysians from the malay, chinese, iban, dayak,kadazan etc etc communities as well. riots could break out as happened in the
past.

the I.S.A. act has maintained the peace in malaysia ever since may 13. infact the BN esp umno youth could be making money by making badges saying " saya cintai Akta I.S.A.
or I love ISA act. we will know that the majority of malaysians including the indian/tamil community support I.S.A.act. ( incase , hishamuddin,khairy or anyone else in UMNO youth want to take up the idea of making the badges , you are free to do so, but please remember to pay me my commision for the idea. hey it is intellectual property man!).
certainly, all the detainees must be put on trial. but that the buisness of the govt and the elected reps in parliament. The public is busy with their personal lives.

best wishes waytha.
from krishna

Draconian ISA, tortured and paralysed its detainee

2008-05-30T03:09:00.001-07:00

Hi all Vanakam,

If we could recall, I have told about the story of Sanjev Kumar last
month after getting the real story from inside KEMTA.

There were some from this online forum didn't believe me then and
also challenge me.

For your information, Sanjeev Kumar is a young man who is only 25
years old.

He never had any record of crime before his detention.

Just got married about 6 months prior to his detention.

Was held under police custody for 55 days and none of the family
members knew what happened and where he was.

Later he was brought to Kemta and then only the family knew that he
was held under ISA.

It is so funny as the police finally decided to held him under ISA
as he was charged to be a spy for foreign nation !! But so far no
official charge made against him.

During his 55 days held by police, he was brutally beaten and this
young 25 old guy was unable to walk. His legs and knees were swollen
and cant stand neither walk.

While he was held in Kemta no officer/ prison personnel helped him
for daily movement. He crawled and moved with his wheelchair and his
mobility was bad due to his unheal injuries on his body.

One day suddenly his family was told that he is been hospitalised !!
When they reached there, it was horrified moment for his young wife
and his family looking at Sanjev whom use to be healthy and handsome
guy now lying on bed without moment.

He is now half paralysed !!! His left side and both leg cant be
used....

The camp personnel claimed he fell down and injured caused one side
of the paralysed !!

Do you want us to believe this claim by Kemta personnels.

All this sad story were kept within the family and they were
harassed and warned by SB that Sanjeev would be even worse if they
open their mouth.

Family requested if he could be brought for further check to heal
his paralyse and wounds. It was rejected. The camp even refused to
take the police report made by his wife and denied her request to
get a letter from him about his condition.

He is isolated in Kemta and not many knew about him. The helping
hand were other detainees there whom most of them are Malays whom
helped him to move to toilet and others.

His condition were brought to daylight none other than our great
HINDRAF leader, P. Uthayakumar thru his lawyers. This is good
example that Hindraf leader, P.Uthaya Kumar is still fighting for
justice for Malaysian Indian though he is held under the same camp.

He wants the Malaysians to know the bad things covered all the while
under this draconian ISA.

Sanjeev family were given courage by Uthaya's lawyers and finally
they agreed to come forward to tell the story. GMI also helped them
to seek and engage for a lawyer.

Though many report and complaints made by his family but there is
official statement from the Home Minster about this. ISA is a tool
that been abused by Home Minister and police.

We as Malaysian citizen in general need to voice out boldly against
this draconian law by supporting the activities that call for ISA
Abolishment. Recently even the BN components and Law Ministers is
talking about reviewing ISA.

Do you think if people were quiet and sympathise on ISA would bring
them out?

It was continuous pressure and demo/vigil that made the govt to open
mouth about ISA review.

Sanjeev condition was known thru great soul P. Uthayakumar who
still struggle from inside, just imagine many more people's fate
that were unknown under ISA. So far 10,662 people were held under
this draconian law and it took away many innocent person's life and
their right.

Let us all join together to Abolish ISA in Malaysia.

Let us free Malaysia from ISA.

Vaalge Hindraf Makkal Sakthi.
Admin.Hindraf@gmail.com

Sgor DUN approves ISA critics

2008-05-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

Dun Selangor lulus usul kritik ISA
Mikini - Saidah Hairan
Tue | May 27, 08 | 1:29:00 pm MYT

SHAH ALAM, 27 Mei (Hrkh) - Kerajaan negeri Selangor di bawah Pakatan Rakyat mencatat sejarah apabila menjadi negeri pertama yang berani meluluskan usul mengkritik Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) yang dibahaskan dalam sidang Dun ke-12.

Sebelum usul tersebut dibahas dan diluluskan, Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA telah menyerahkan memorandum `Malaysia bebas daripada ISA" melalui Pengerusi, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh kepada Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Dato' Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, di lobi Avenue, SUK.

Penyerahan memo itu berikutan penahanan Adun Kota Alam Shah, M. Manoharan (DAP) pada 13 Disember 2007 bersama lima rakan yang lain.

Usul tersebut dibawa oleh Adun Kampung Tunku (DAP), Lau Wen Sang yang dibahaskan bermula petang hingga jam 8.55 malam.

Usul bersejarah itu berbunyi: "Bahawa Dewan ini menetap untuk mengkritik penahanan Yang Berhormat Tuan M Manoharan, Adun kawasan Kota Alam Shah serta pemimpin-pemimpin Hindraf (Barisan Bertindak Hak-hak Hindu) dan aktivis-aktivis sosial yang lain tanpa perbicaraan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) dan menyeru Kementerian Dalam Negeri membebaskan tahanan-tahanan ini."

Seramai enam Adun Pakatan Rakyat, termasuk dua bekas tahanan ISA, Saari Sungib (PAS-Hulu Kelang) dan Dr Mohamad Nasir Hashim (DAP-Kota Damansara) menyokong dan membahaskan usul tersebut.

Usul tersebut diluluskan sebulat suara oleh Dun Selangor tepat jam 9 malam.

Malangnya ketika usul itu dibahaskan semua Adun BN tidak berada di Dewan sejak jam 6 petang, Isnin 26 Mei.

Turut serta dalam perbahasan itu Adun Rawang, Gan Pi Nee (KeADILan), Adun Subang, Hannah Yeoh (DAP), Adun Seri Setia, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (KeADILan) dan Batu Caves, Amirudin Shari (KeADILan).

Saari Sungib dalam perbahasan menegaskan, apabila seseorang itu ditahan di bawah ISA dan dibawa ke suatu tempat mereka akan terkejut kerana di negara yang sudah merdeka 50 tahun tetapi masih mempunyai tempat yang amat menggerunkan.

Beliau ditahan ISA ketika berumur 41 tahun terkejut kerana berhadapan dengan manusia yang sangat buas dipaksa minum air kencing, dibogelkan, diugut dan sebagainya.

Menurut beliau, ISA merupakan undang-undang untuk mempertahankan kuasa Umno-BN dengan cara menakutkan rakyat supaya tiada siapa yang berani menyuarakan kebenaran.

"Pemerintahan BN lebih zalim daripada rejim zionis kerana tahanan sebelum dimasukkan ke ISA ditahan selama 60 hari tetapi rejim Zionis hanya menahan lapan hari saja," katanya.

Sementara itu, Lau turut menyifatkan akta tersebut sebagai bercanggah dengan prinsip Islam.

"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," kata Lau, yang juga setiausaha DAP negeri.

"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."

Bagi Dr Nasir pula, beliau berbangga dengan keberanian dan ketegasan Menteri Besar kerana sudi menghulurkan bantuan kepada isteri-isteri dan keluarga mangsa ISA.

Menurut beliau, ISA telah memperlekehkan perlembagaan dan perlembagaan itu menjadi sumbing dan songsang.

Katanya, penggunaan ISA itu dikekalkan kerana pemerintah BN selama ini takut dengan bayang-bayang sendiri. - mns

Sgor to help ISA detained family

2008-05-28T21:34:00.000-07:00

Selangor sedia peruntukkan bantu keluarga mangsa ISA Saidah Hairan | Foto Nasir Sudin
Tue | May 27, 08 | 2:14:13 pm MYT

SHAH ALAM, 27 Mei (Hrkh) - Keprihatinan kerajaan negeri Selangor mengeluarkan peruntukkan membantu isteri-isteri dan keluarga mangsa Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) membuktikan satu lagi kesungguhan dan kejayaan kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat yang baru tiga bulan memerintah.

Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Dato' Abdul Khalid Ibrahim menyatakan kesungguhan itu selepas menerima memorandum penyerahan lencana `Malaysia bebas daripada ISA' daripada Pengerusi Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA, Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh di lobi Avenue, SUK.

Beliau berkata, kerajaan di bawah tanggung jawab Exco Kebajikan, Hal Ehwal Wanita, Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Rodziah Ismail akan mengeluarkan peruntukkan tersebut secepat mungkin.

Dalam penyerahan memo itu Khalid turut berjanji akan berusaha memansuhkan ISA dan OSA kerana ia merupakan salah satu janji Pakatan Rakyat.

Menurut beliau, kehadiran isteri tahanan dan ahli Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA merupakan kesinambungan usaha kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat mendesak memansuhkan ISA.

"Perjuangan mendesak memansuhkan ISA akan diteruskan bagi menjamin kesejahteraan rakyat," katanya.

Beliau menjelaskan, kerajaan negeri akan membiayai kos perjalanan isteri-isteri dan keluarga untuk melawat tahanan di kem kemunting, Perak.

Selain itu katanya, beberapa usaha akan dilaksanakan seperti memberi biasiswa untuk anak-anak meneruskan pelajaran dan membuat satu perusahan supaya isteri-isteri dan keluarga mangsa dapat bekerja bagi meneruskan kehidupan.

"Saya mempunyai Adun bekas tahanan ISA yang faham dan menghayati kesengsaraan keluarga dan mangsa ISA. Saya yakin mereka akan terus menyokong perjuangan yang paling penting dalam demokrasi sekarang," tegasnya.

Sementara itu, Rodziah ketika ditemui berkata, kerajaan akan memberi bantuan kepada 16 keluarga mangsa ISA yang tinggal di Selangor.

Katanya, bantuan yang diutamakan seperti membayar yuran tertunggak dan perbelanjaan keluarga khusus bagi keluarga yang berada di paras kemiskinan.

Menurut beliau, kerajaan juga akan mengkaji cadangan mewujudkan projek usahawan bagi membantu isteri-isteri tahanan meneruskan kehidupan.

Kandungan memo itu menyatakan enam keluarga mengesahkan suami dan bapa mereka telah dtahan di bawah ISA melebihi enam tahun.

Mereka Mat Sah Mohd Satray suami kepada Norlaila Othman; Abdullah Minyak Silam suami Siti Normah Ismail; Yazid Sufaat suami Chomel Mohamad; Shahrial Sirin suami Fatma Masrum; Suhaimi Mokhtar suami Jurainah Basari dan Shamsuddin Sulaiman suami Fatimah Shamsuddin. - mns

TV3 and Malaysian media do not appreciate this young HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER

2008-05-26T23:20:00.001-07:00

Hope arises from the small things in life. Never discount anything simply on the grounds that it's little or tiny. Remember that oak trees grown from acorns. Everything has to start small and the future of Malaysia depends on the children of Malaysia today.

Step forward Vwaishnavi, a six year old who celebrated her birthday in Parliament. She is the daughter of Waythamoorthy, one of the leaders of Hindraf living in self-exile in Britain. Vwaishnavi attended Parliament with a cake that bore the message 'Release my Hindraf Uncles'.She is the embodiment of the struggle facing our country today. Those who speak out for their rights are thrown in prison.Those who dare to demonstrate peacefully are thrown in prison. Families left behind campaign actively for the release of these as Vwaishnavi was doing.
Vwaishnavi has already learnt at a young age that Malaysia is a place which does not treat its' citizens equally, that some are more worthy than others and that, if you are the wrong race, you will be treated as an outcast. She is campaigning for this injustice to be righted. We hope that her act will set an example and that her generation will grow up not knowing the injustice that her Indian father and uncles have suffered.

Jayanthi M

Backbenchers Club chairman: Parliament has become like Central Market

2008-05-22T11:35:00.001-07:00

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 ─ If the first day of Parliament's sitting was described as a boisterous market where only three questions were answered, yesterday it was described by one MP as "Central Market" complete with cake, candles and singing. And that despite it being the highest law-making institution in the country.

The attitude of some MPs in bringing visitors for certain purposes caused discomfort among other parliamentarians.

About 20 men and women, believed to be Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters, first held a news conference which turned into a birthday celebration when the parliamentary session took a break at 1pm.

The celebration was for Wvaishnari, the six-year-old daughter of Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy, and the group sang "Happy Birthday To You" in the lobby near the MPs' rest area.

A cake with six candles was placed on a table in the lobby.

The birthday song was sung repeatedly and MP N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai) was seen carrying the child to meet fellow MPs.

Some MPs were given red roses but overall the situation was calm with no untoward incident.

Backbenchers Club chairman Datuk Tiong King Sing reminded opposition MPs that Parliament was not a place they could do as they pleased and bring in outsiders.

"Before it was a market, now it is Central Market. As the highest institution in the country, you cannot just bring in outsiders as you please. I will raise the matter with the Dewan Rakyat Speaker," Tiong said when met in the lobby.

He called on opposition MPs not to use the Hindraf issue and children to champion the cause.

Opposition parties are urging the government to release the five Hindraf leaders who are under Internal Security Act (ISA) detention.

Later, the supporters gathered in front of Istana Negara to appeal to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin to have the five released. ─ Bernama

ISA ganas- comments

2008-05-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

KS Ronny Padvai wrotes in MalaysiaIndian YahooGroups regarding ISA detainee Sanjeev Kumar been tortue by police,

Who is going to investigate this matter because they are Indians or are they going to close case I think few month ago YB Kit’s “Good Cop, Safe Malaysia” election theme but still going to drain. In general Malaysian police is the laughing stock of the world. The IGP is another talker but really nothing happens. Our IGP and some cops are Mesra Politicians rather than Mesra Rakyat. Rakyat not only concern about getting worst crime rate, But inside the police lock up and in ISA the prisoners welfare was not taken care or are they being treated like animals. But nowadays animals also well treated with high class food and lodging

Mkini- ISA Mengganas Lagi

2008-05-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

ISA Mengganas Lagi!! Dipukul hingga Lumpuh ?
Tarikh : Thursday, May 22 @ 14:06:59 MYT
Topik : Artikel

Oleh Malaysiakini

Seorang surirumah mendakwa suaminya didera dan gagal
dirawat dengan rapi sewaktu ditahan bawah Akta
Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) sehingga mengalami
kelumpuhan.

Dalam laporan polisnya hari ini, Sharmila Uthiakumar
mendakwa pasangannya Sanjeev Kumar Krishnan dibelasah
dalam tempoh siasatan selama 55 hari sejak 28 Julai
tahun lepas.

"Bahagian badan dan kepala beliau ditumbuk dan
ditendang dengan kasut. Bahagian tulang beliau
ditendang beberapa kali dengan menggunakan kaki.

"Kaki kiri dan tangan kiri beliau dipukul beberapa
kali dengan menggunakan objek yang keras seperti kayu.

"Selain itu, beliau juga selalu dipukul dengan
menggunakan botol yang berisi air," kata Sharmila
dalam aduannya di ibu pejabat polis daerah Dang Wangi,
Kuala Lumpur pagi ini.

edyes wrote:

apa nak jadi nie? sampai lumpuh !!

Pertama sekali perkara ini harus disiasat terperinci.
bukan oleh polis yang 'sentiasa betul' tetapi oleh
sebuah badan bebas.

Sekiranya laporan ini sahih, sekiranya post mortem
menunjukkan memang benar lelaki ini didera sewaktu di
tahanan ISA, siapakah yang akan menjawabnya?

Siapakah yang akan jawab kejadian ini dan siapa yang
akan bertanggungjawab? ? Polis? Paklah ? Tun Mahathir?
Ini soal kehidupan, lebih baik mati dari menderita
kerana lumpuh !

ISA harus dimansuhkan !

Kekejaman ini harus lenyap dari bumi Malaysia !!!

ISA = KGB

2008-05-21T03:36:00.000-07:00

http://malaysianindian1.blogspot.com/2008/05/kgb-isa-its-same-diffrence-we-are-in.html

The Internal Security Act 1960 (ISA) is a preventive detention law in force in Malaysia. Preventive detention was inherited by Malaysia as part of the colonial baggage that the British left behind.

Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world whose Constitution allows for preventive detention during peacetime without safeguards that elsewhere are understood to be basic requirements for protecting fundamental human rights.

Article 149 of the Malaysian Constitution under which a person may be detained is characterised by subjective language. Such terms as ‘substantial body’, ‘substantial number’, ‘cause to fear’, ‘excite disaffection’, ‘promote feelings of ill-will and hostility’, all embody wide areas of discretionary interpretation.

Preventive detention first became a feature of the then Malaya in 1948 primarily to combat the armed insurgency of the Malaysian Communist Party. The Emergency Regulations Ordinance 1948 was made, following the proclamation of an emergency, by the British High Commissioner Sir Edward Gent. It allowed the detention of persons for any period not exceeding one year.

The Emergency Regulations Ordinance 1948 was primarily made to counter acts of violence and, conceivably, preventive detention was meant to be temporary in application.

The emergency ended in 1960 and with it ended the powers contained in the Emergency Regulations Ordinance 1948 as it was repealed.

The power of preventive detention was however not relinquished and in fact became an embedded feature of Malaysian law. In 1960 itself, the government passed the Internal Security Act under Article 149 of the Malaysian Constitution..

It permitted the detention, at the discretion of the Home Minister, without charge or trial of any person in respect of whom the Home Minister was satisfied that such detention was necessary to prevent him or her from acting in any manner prejudicial to national security or to the maintenance of essential services or to the economic life in Malaysia.

The ISA is one of the most controversial Acts enacted under Article 149 of the Malaysian Constitution. Section 8(1) of the ISA provides that ‘(i)f the minister is satisfied that the detention or Extajudicial punishment of any person is necessary …’ then s/he may issue an order for his/her detention.

Torture is reportedly a major part of an ISA detainee's daily life. Former detainees have testified to being subjected to severe physical and psychological torture that include one or more of the following: physical assault, forced nudity, sleep deprivation, round-the-clock interrogation, death threats, threats of bodily harm to family members, including threats of rape and bodily harm to their children.

Also, detainees are confined in individual and acutely small cells with no light and air, in what is believed to be secret holding cells. These interrogation techniques and acts of torture are designed to humiliate and frighten detainees into revealing their weaknesses and breaking down their defences.

ISA detainees have even turned up with bruises, but such results of assaults will not be investigated by the police. ISA detention is effectively a free-for-all for the police to torture and assault the detainees.

Solitary confinement takes place in tiny cells that measure roughly 3-feet by 3-feet, with hardly any room to kneel and sit. These cells will not have any drainage system and are hardly cleaned.

In Anwar ibrahims's account of his solitary confinement, he mentioned that his cell was filthy and had an unbearable stench. Excrement and urine from previous detainees are left uncleaned within the cell.

Although physical abuse is typically limited to bruising, the detainees are seldom beaten up to the point of being disabled, or having broken bones. There have been cases, however, of female detainees being raped and male detainees being sodomized

Extrajudicial punishment is punishment without the permission of a court or legal authority. Agents of the state often carry out this type of punishment if they come to the conclusion that a person is an imminent threat to security.

The existence of extrajudicial punishment is considered proof that the government will break their own legal code if deemed necessary. Non-governmental or non-state actors, including private individuals, have also resorted to different forms of extrajudicial punishment, though such actions are more properly called assassination, murder or vigilantism instead

you call it I.S.A, sounds like the K.G.B

Passport cancellation: 'Gov't owes an explanation'

2008-05-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

Mkini-Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Rahmah Ghazali | May 16, 08 5:04pm

MIC information chief M Saravanan said there was no need for the government to revoke the passport of Hindu Rights Action Force leader P Waythamoorthy though he is known to be severely critical towards the authorities.

The Federal Territories Deputy Minister when contacted said that the Hindraf leader should not be likened to a criminal by his passport being revoked simply for his criticism towards the government.

"The government owes an explanation to the public as to why they revoked his passport because it involves a Malaysian citizen. They have to justify their action.

"In my eyes, he's not a terrorist. He just condemned the government, but that does not mean the government can revoke his passport," argued Saravanan.

Waythamoorthy revealed today that he had been informed by the British immigration officials that his Malaysian passport has been revoked, rendering him in as a stateless person. He is presently in Britain after leaving Kuala Lumpur last November to escape a givernment dragnet on Hindraf leaders.

Amnesty International' s Washington-based Asia-Pacific advocacy director T Kumar had earlier told AFP that Waythamoorthy has applied for asylum in the UK.

According to the British Home Office website, asylum is given under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

To be recognised as a refugee, one must have left one's country and be unable to go back because he or she have a well-founded fear of persecution because of his or her race, religion,nationalit y, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group.

The British authorities is reported to be contemplating to hold hearings to consider Waythamoorthy' s application for political asylum.

More reactions

Apart from Saravanan, various quarters also expressed their shock towards the matter.

Below are the excerpts of what these people had to say:
N Surendran, human rights and Hindraf lawyer

This act amounts up to nothing but a clear indication of political prosecution. It is a vindictive step taken by the home ministry. Not only is he under Internal Security Act threat back home (but now) he is getting harassed abroad as well. He doesn't deserve to be treated this way, all he did was raise valid concerns of the Indian minority of this country. This act shows clearly that the government cannot take criticism.

John Liu, Suara Rakyat Malaysia's managing coordinator

It's a blatant attempt by the government to stop his movement. They have no right to revoke his passport. The government is just trying to get him so that he could be detained under ISA.

Simon Sipaun, Suhakam vice chairperson

As to what reason the government has revoked his passport. Did they (revoke) the passport under certain law, or any particular legislation, and what under condition of federal constitution?
If the government wants to revoke his passport, they have to state the actual reason (according to the law).

Anil Netto, Aliran activist

I think it's unfortunate for him because he has not been found guilty of any crime. So, he also should be allowed of any movement and the government should be accountable for the decision and should make public the reason why they revoked his passport.

http://malaysiakini.com/news/83006

Passport Revoke - HM should make Ministerial Statement (Comments)

2008-05-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

Vejay.Chin@yahoo.com comments,

Revocation of passport of Hindraf Chairman - Hamid should make ministerial statement in Parliament
The revocation of the passport of the Hindraf Chairman P. Waytha Moorthy by the Malaysian government is most undemocratic and deplorable.

The Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar should make a ministerial statement for the government’s high-handed action when Parliament reconvenes next Tuesday

Passport Revoke -Govt aggravating H5 (comments)

2008-05-19T10:10:00.000-07:00

'Gov't aggravating Hindraf 5 issue'
May 19, 08 11:17am
‘In spite of the fact that there has been a lack of (perhaps a complete absence) of evidence that warrants any form of charges, they persist in aggravating this issue.’

On Waytha's Passport Revoked - Amnesty

Ravi Chitty: It appears that the government loves to rub salt to the injury that they have already suffered on March 8. In spite of the fact that there has been a lack of (perhaps a complete absence) of evidence that warrants any form of charges to the Hindraf 5 and P Waythamoorthy, let alone the draconian ISA, they persist in aggravating the issue.

I beseech the government to do what is morally right, that is to immediately release the Hindraf 5 and charge them in the open court if there are ANY charges to be answered to. The same is to be expected for Waytha. You cannot revoke his ‘state-ship’ by virtue of the justice he is seeking for.

The government led by PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi must not merely ‘explain’ but undo all the injustice inflicted on these six people for they are doing what is rightfully their right to speak, fight and work for the downtrodden of this country.

I believe that such an action by the government is regressive and will merely invite more disappointment, disgust and disdain from all Anak Bangsa Malaysia. This will merely expedite the demise of BN as the government of Malaysia.

Passport Revoke - serious matter (Comments)

2008-05-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

From : Vijey Chin

This is serious matter and have to be highlighted in the parliament's oral supplementary questions time by the govt in waiting I suppose.

Hrkh: Penindasan ISA - Rakyat harus berani hentikan kezaliman BN

2008-05-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Anis Nazri
Fri | May 16, 08 | 11:05:37 am MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Mei (Hrkh) - Rakyat negara ini perlu berani membuat anjakan paradigma dalam menyatakan sokongan bagi membantah kezaliman dan kejahatan ISA, yang digunakan sejak zaman penjajahan dulu.

Malah, rakyat juga diminta supaya membebaskan minda dari kongkongan BN selama 50 tahun agar lebih berani menyuarakan hak masing-masing serta mengambil tahu penderitaan orang lain yang dicabuli oleh ISA.

Pengarah Kempen Bebaskan Enam Tahun ISA, Norlaila Osman, berkata masih ada rakyat yang belum berfikiran moden dan bimbangkan pihak penguasa, kesan 50 tahun pemerintahan BN.

Mengulas kempen GMI yang dilancarkan sejak April lalu, Norlaila yang dihubungi Harakahdaily berkata bagi kempen 'Letter Signing Marathon', GMI telah berjaya mengutuskan enam ribu pucuk surat yang dihantar ke Kementerian Dalam Negeri dan Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu, di Switzerland, manakala, bagi kempen 'Petition Online', sebanyak 3039 tandatangan orang ramai sudah direkodkan.

Dalam pada itu, Norlaila turut memaklumkan bahawa GMI kini dalam peringkat kempen poskad, yang kemudiannya akan diserahkan kepada Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Walaupun kempen poskad sudah bermula, orang ramai masih boleh menyatakan sokongan melalui 'letter signing marathon' dan 'petition online'. Bagi mereka yang ingin menandatangani poskad, ia boleh didapati daripada wakil rakyat-wakil rakyat Pakatan Rakyat," jelas beliau.

Dalam perkembangan sama, GMI dengan kerjasama GMI Perak akan menganjurkan kempen 'vigil' pada 7 Jun akan datang, yang akan diadakan di Kem Kamunting, Taiping, Perak. - mr

Online Petition from UK to end Human Right Violation in Msia

2008-05-14T03:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.petitiononline.com/StopHRVM/petition.html

To: Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Under-Secretary General, Ms Louise Arbour
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson,
52 rue des Pâquis,
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland

Dear Ms Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

PETITION ON BEHALF OF THE MALAYSIAN PEOPLE TO END HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN MALAYSIA AND TO PROTECT THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, FREEDOMS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES OF THE MALAYSIAN PEOPLE

1. We the undersigned respectfully appeal to you, in good conscience and in good faith, that you investigate into our petition and if found to be true and fair, that you apply appropriate diplomatic pressure on Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi and the Malaysian Government to:

• charge or release immediately and unconditionally the five Malaysian human rights lawyers and activists of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) currently being detained under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960;

• charge or release immediately and unconditionally all other Internal Security Act detainees, estimated to be seventy at present with some detainees having been in detention for over six years;

• start or support the process to repeal the out of date and draconian Internal Security Act 1960

• start or support the process to repeal all other out of date, anti-democratic and oppressive laws such as the Sedition Act 1948, the Printing Presses & Publications Act 1984, the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, the Societies Act 1966, the Police Act 1984 and the Official Secrets Act 1972;

• re-establish core democratic structures such as an independent judiciary, an independent free press and an independent and impartial Election Commission;

• implement the recommendation made by the Royal Commission of inquiry into alleged misconduct by the Royal Malaysian Police by setting up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission to control potential abuse of police powers.

2. We also respectfully urge, subject to your independent investigation and findings, that you:

• recommend a Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Malaysia’s human rights record to gauge whether Malaysia is fulfilling her obligations to “uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” and to ascertain her suitability to continue with her current membership (to mid 2009) of the UN Human Rights Council;

• remove Malaysia from her seat at the UN Human Rights Council if so warranted by the UPR findings and provided no action is forthcoming from the Malaysian Government to eradicate all such alleged human rights abuses and violations in Malaysia.

We thank you in advance and we look forward to your good counsel and help on this important matter of conscience.

Yours respectfully,
Ms S B Menon,
United Kingdom.

Letters on Uthaya's health

2008-05-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

Vejay Chin wrote:

The government should not shrug of it's responsibilities to the rakyat including those detained under the ISA. If the government fail again to hear the voice of the rakyat, dissent will grow beyond control and may topple the current government of the day. As such it is only proper for the Federal government to immediately sent Mr Uthayakumar to IJN for further treatment. The popularity of Pakatan Rakyat is growing steadily, thus taking over the government is predicted by many in the alternative media. BN should take drastic action now or else the shadow government will become real. Makkal Sakthi ie The People's Power is so might that that it can send the most arrogant and recalcitrant leader to thrash.

----- Forwarded Message ----
Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 7:20:55 PM
Subject: ISA detainee's health: Governmentâ€™s responsibility

ISA detainee's health: Government's responsibility
Sunday, 11 May 2008 17:56
posted on http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Indian- Malaysian

Many Malaysians are deeply concerned about the seemingly deliberate denial of medical treatment for ISA detainee and Hindraf adviser P Uthayakumar. The Kamunting detention centre's denial of urgent medical treatment for Uthayakumar, whose health is fast deteriorating, is a deliberate violation of the Hindraf leader's human rights, asserts Angeline Loh. Uthayakumar has been diagnosed with a cardiac problem and the Taiping General Hospital consultants have recommended that he be admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) in Kuala Lumpur. But he remains at the Kamunting Detention Centre without adequate medical attention.Pleas and appeals by family members and friends appear to have been stonewalled, not only by centre's authorities, but also indirectly by the federal government itself. In the first place, the reason for his detention and that of four other Hindraf leaders under the draconian and oppressive ISA is completely unclear and dubious. The continuing denial of medical treatment for Uthayakumar is seen as "cruel and inhuman treatment" as described in The Declaration on Protection from Torture 1975 and against the "purposes of the Charter of the United Nations" and represents a violation of human rights under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (Annex, Article 2 Declaration on Protection from Torture).What has Uthayakumar done to deserve such `torture'? This apparently deliberate act of oppression by the government may result in the death of Uthayakumar, which the Federal Government and Kamunting centre authorities must be held responsible and accountable for. Ordinary remand and other prison inmates are duly given access to medical treatment in government hospitals around the country; why not political detainees?There is no justification for such `violence' and cruelty to be practised on any human being, let alone those who have been courageous enough to speak out for their rights and the rights of others suffering from the exclusion and the oppression of poverty. Uthayakumar and other Hindraf leaders championed the cause of the poor at the end of last year, before the Barisan Nasional lost its two-thirds majority in the 8 May 2008 general elections. Their protest was not the sole cause for that loss of votes by the BN. The fundamental cause of it was the arrogance and increasingly oppressive circumstances brought about by the ruling party itself. Evidence of this can been seen in its callous attitude towards fuel price and toll rate hikes and its strangulation of the freedom of expression and the right of assembly. The oppressive circumstances included the spiralling public transport chaos, not only in the Federal Territory but also in Penang State, the neglect of the disabled and the denial of their rights, burgeoning corruption, and above all else the refusal to hold free and fair elections.All in all, it was the ruling party's own mismanagement of the country and abuse of power that spurred the rakyat to shift their support. The Barisan Nasional has only itself to blame for its losses.Uthayakumar, his family and the other Hindraf leaders, their families and supporters, should not be made scapegoats for the errors of a government that continues to turn a blind-eye to its own failures.When will the Barisan Nasional government stop these reprisals against ordinary Malaysians whose only aspiration is to live in peace and justice in a our multiracial Malaysian society?Reprisals such as this and the suppression of free expression and assembly are certainly not the solution to the symptoms of a weak administration that is conscious of its own deficiencies and progressive loss of credibility. Over-reactionary, brute force does not represent strength; it is a symptom of weakness and loss of control. The Federal government and the Kamunting authorities should allow Uthayakumar the urgent medical treatment he needs, and cease the violation of his human rights. A newly elected government should be clear in its thinking; it should advocate and adhere to principles of good governance. A fair and just government does not respond to the problems of the rakyat with reprisals but with concrete measures to alleviate their suffering.Join in the call for ALL ISA detainees to be released or tried in open court. Support the Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA and all other civil society organizations that have taken a strong position against detention without trial.

http://www.aliran.com/web-specials -mainmenu- 40/55-2008/ 570-isa-detainee s-health- governments- responsibility

Those are Malaysian Temples We Are Destroying

2008-05-07T07:18:00.001-07:00

Written by Farish A. Noor
Friday, 17 November 2006
http://www.othermal aysia.org/ content/view/ 52/52/

A nation is as rich as its geography; and geography is enriched when it is overdetermined. In this respect, we in Malaysia are – or were – rich indeed. Rich because of the fact that being located as we are at the crossroads of Asia this patch of earth was the meeting point of so many cultures and civilisations that stretched from mainland China to South Asia, Central Asia, the Mediterranean and Europe.

Looking back at the maps (both oral and graphic) left since the days of Ptolemy and others, we see that this was indeed a land blessed in many ways. Across the archipelago we find some of the greatest kingdoms and empires that have ever graced the earth of humankind: Angkor, Majapahit, Srivijaya, Langkasuka, Khmer, Mataram, Vijaya, Champa, Indrapura… the list goes on endlessly. Nor were these settlements isolated: They traded with the empires of China and the numerous dynasties that ruled over mainland India and Lanka. During my trip to Sri Lanka earlier this year, I stood amidst the ruins of the great monasteries of Anuradhapura, and sat awhile in thought as I contemplated the journeys that were made by the monks of Lanka as they travelled all the way to Java, bringing with them the Theravada tradition as well as a sprinkling of Tantraism along the way. In turn the landscape of Southeast Asia bears silent witness to the great migrations of the past, with the great temple complexes of Pagan, Angkor and Borobudur reminding us of the days when the peoples of Southeast Asia were indeed global in outlook and their daily lives. No, we were never a parochial lot, us Southeast Asians.

Sadly, geography has not evolved a means of defending itself against the writing of a political and politicised history, and landscapes have precious little means to defend themselves against the onslaught of ideological reconstructionism. Southeast Asia today remains a contested landscape though the contestation in question has less to do with the scramble for resources but more with the need to erase the past in order to plant ever more firmly the stamp of the present.
We should have seen it all coming when, in the 1970s and 1980s the region was swept by a new wave of conservative religiosity that was wedded to the interests of sectarian politics: The great temple of Borobudur was the first victim, when it was bombed by radical Islamists who claimed that the time had come to `cleanse' Indonesia of its Hindu-Buddhist past, and that the destruction of the magnificent Buddhist monument would signal the coming of a new age. Some of the more radical Islamists were undoubtedly disappointed that millions of tourists were flocking to the country to see Borobudur in all her glory, and were not equally awe-struck by the Soviet-realist statues and monuments of Jakarta dedicated to the inflated egos of Indonesian politicians, or worse still, the painfully ugly utilitarian- modernist edifices built by Saudi money in the same capital…

In Malaysia we have come to hear similar voices being raised. Not too long ago a prominent religious scholar and politician known more for his arcane knowledge of Djinns and other assorted spirit-folk uttered the lament that a town up north was still named `Indera Kayangan'; and in his speech stated quite bluntly that the name of the town should be changed to something more Islamic to mirror the mood of the day. (One wonders what would serve as an appropriately Islamic name then, as if pronouns had a religious identity…)

Of late we have also witnessed the sad spectacle of the erasure of history in no uncertain terms: The destruction of Hindu temples all over the Peninsula has been cited as a case in point, though in practically every case of Hindu temple demolition we have been told that it was for the sake of `development' and that the temples in question were illegally built anyway.

One wonders if the foundations of Angkor Wat or Borobudur were laid on legally-sanctified ground as well, or whether those who built them had applied for planning permits.

One such case is the Sri Mariamman Muniswaran temple, located at Batu Lima, Jalan Tampin, near Seremban. Historical records of the estate that used to sit at the site indicate that the temple was built around 1870-1890, and so the temple may be anything between 110 to 130 years old.
Furthermore the temple – a modest structure with a simple roof sheltering the image of the local deity – is backed by a spectacular specimen of the Banyan tree species, a sprawling mass of vegetation that would bolster the claim of its relative antiquity. Even more interesting is the fact that during my visit there a couple of weeks ago, I found a tiny Chinese shrine situated behind the temple and tree, with – of all things – what appeared to be a small statue of a Javanese King as the primary totem of devotion! Here was multiculturalism at its best and most unapologetically hybrid. The combination of Hindu, Chinese and Malay elements was evident for all to see, including those who seem bent of levelling the structure down for the sake of road expansion.

Those who speak the jargon of legalese may be able to understand the rationale for its scheduled demolition. In fact on 26 February 2005 the temple structure was smashed by men wielding sledge hammers, though it was immediately rebuilt by regular devotees who visit the temple. The fate of the tiny temple is now being decided in the courts, though opinion on the matter remains divided.

Partisans to the development argument will undoubtedly claim that the loss of one more temple would make no difference to the landscape. After all, many others have fallen under the hammer and the bulldozer, so why not this one? But here one is forced to interject by stating the obvious.

It has often been said that such `Indian temples' are an eyesore, that they have been built illegally, that they somehow do not `match' with the overall flavour and patterns of the Malaysian landscape. Lest it be forgotten, let us remind ourselves of some basic facts:
Firstly, these are NOT `Indian' temples that are being destroyed, but rather Malaysian temples that are just as much a part of the Malaysian cultural-religious landscape as any other mosque, church or pagoda in the country. To call them `Indian temples' would suggest an Otherness and alterity they do not profess nor possess. They were built by Malaysian Hindus on Malaysian soil and are therefore a part of the Malaysian landscape.

Secondly the recognition of the Malaysian character of these temples would mean recognising that Hinduism has been and remains part of the cultural fabric of Malaysian society, and is not some alien faith and cultural system that was transplanted to the country yesterday while we were all sleeping. There is nothing new, odd, alien or unusual about Hinduism in Malaysia. In fact it counts as one of the foundations of Malaysian and Malay identity and has been part of the organic culture and history of the Malaysian peoples more than any other belief and cultural system.
The Malay language itself is proof of this, and if you wish I can cite you a Malay sentence that is made up almost entirely of Sanskrit words: "Mahasiswa-mahasiswi berasmara di asrama bersama pandita yang curiga".

Thirdly, the defence of these temples should be seen by all Malaysians as a Malaysian concern, and not that of the Hindus of Malaysia solely or exclusively. Living as we do in a country whose history is being diluted on an hourly basis, we all need to recognise the fact that this land of ours is rich in culture and history only as long as we collectively preserve and protect it. The systematic destruction of the spiritual landscape of Malaysia should therefore be seen as a Malaysian concern, for all Malaysians; and this should not be pathologised as simply a `Hindu' problem, or worse still, an `Indian problem'. (To which one might add that there are no `Indians' in Malaysia save for those who carry Indian passports and happen to be citizens of India. The rest are Malaysians who may or may not identify themselves as believing, practising, nominal or even atheistic Hindus.)

In short, what we are witnessing today is the destruction of Malaysian temples, and that is why we Malaysians should be concerned. It doesn't matter what religion you may or may not choose to profess: this is an issue that needs to be addressed by us collectively. To recognise that these temples are Malaysian temples means locating them here, at home, as part of our collective identity and what defines us as what we are. I grew up in a neighbourhood of Kuala Lumpur where at dawn I could hear the sound of the azan from the mosque and the chimes of the Hindu temple nearby. Today the temple bells are being silenced; and my world – and yours – is poorer as a result.

posted by Admin.Hindraf@gmail.com

Malaysia: Racism is allowed, protest against racism isn't

2008-05-07T07:03:00.000-07:00
Malaysia is in the news again after hundreds of its citizens of Indian origin under the aegis of the Hindu Rights Action Force demonstrated on 25 November 2007 outside the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur seeking US$ 4 trillion compensation from the British government for bringing the indentured labourers from India. The real focus was not the British government but the Malaysian government's racist policies and practices which have crippled the Indian origin Malaysians.
The Malaysian government banned the demonstration on the ground that the protest may create "racial tensions". Obviously, State-sponsored racism and racial preferences are allowed but any protest against such racism and racial discrimination is classified by the State as "seditious" and "criminal".

I. Racism and its impact on minorities in Malaysia

Under Article 2(2) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, State parties can "when the circumstances so warrant, take, in the social, economic, cultural and other fields, special and concrete measures to ensure the adequate development and protection of certain racial groups or individuals belonging to them, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the full and equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms". It further states, "These measures shall in no case entail as a consequence the maintenance of unequal or separate rights for different racial groups after the objectives for which they were taken have been achieved".

These measures are intended towards the oppressed groups. But in 1971, the Malaysian government introduced New Economic Policy (NEP) to perpetuate the rule of the majority Malays. The NEP provided affirmative action programmes for the majority "Bhumiputras" (sons of the soil) i.e. the ethnic Malays in business, education and the civil service. Within two decades, the NEP had crippled the Indian and Chinese origin Malaysians. Yet, in 1991, the NEP was revised under the New Development Plan (1991-2000) to achieve further socio-economic upliftment of the Bhumiputras. The same preferential treatment of the majority Malays continues under the New Vision Policy (2001-2010).

The statistics of the devastating impact of the pro-Bhumiputra policies are telling.

Today, Malaysia is one of the South-East Asia's most vibrant economies and the socio-economic conditions of the majority Malays have improved exponentially. But there has been little improvement of the conditions of the Indian origin Malaysians.

In 1970, the overall share of wealth of the ethnic Indians stood at 1.1 percent but three decades later, their overall share of wealth increased only slightly to about 1.5 percent which is disproportionately less in relation to their population. [1]

Indian origin Malaysians constitute about 8% of the total population. But, they also constituted 15 percent of juvenile delinquents, about 50 percent of all convicts in prisons in 2004, [2] and 41% of the beggars in 2003. [3] According to Hindu Rights Action Force, the percentage of Indians in the civil service fell from 40% in 1957 to less than 2% in 2005. [4] According to official records, 30-35 Indian origin Malaysians per 100,000 committed or attempted to commit suicide annually as compared to 10-12 Malaysians per 100,000 in 2006. [5]

In education, Indian origin Malaysians made up of less than 5% of the total university intake of over 45,000 annually. Nearly half of the 523 Tamil vernacular schools do not receive any government funds although they are in shambles. [6]

In addition, their religious freedoms are violated. Under Article 3 (1) of the Constitution of Malaysia, Islam is the religion of the Federation. According to the Hindu Rights Action Force, there is an "unofficial policy of Hindu temple cleansing in Malaysia". At least three Hindu temples were demolished, one was partly destroyed and two others had been served demolition notices in Kuala Lumpur and neighboring Selangor state since February 2006. [7]

II. Repression to silence protest against racism

Malaysia remains a truly Police State. It resorted to high-handedness to bludgeon the protestors on 25 November 2007. The Malaysian riot police broke up the rally by using disproportionate force – using batons, tear gas and water cannon against unarmed protestors. [8]

The state also invoked the Sedition Act though on 26 November 2007, police had to release three Hindu Rights Action Force leaders including its President, Waythamoorthy, legal advisor, P. Uthayakumar and V.S. Ganapathi Rao [9] for failing to produce any evidence of their alleged seditious statements. [10] On 27 November 2007, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stated that the draconian Internal Security Act, whch allows suspects to be detained for indefinite period without charge or trial, could be used against the demonstrators arrested on 25 November 2007. [11] More than 70 people are currently detained without trial under the Internal Security Act and some of them have been detained for more than six years. [12]

Moreover, many students face suspension under the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 which prohibits undergraduate students from taking part in demonstrations. Under this Act, those arrested and charged in court are suspended and are allowed to resume their studies only if the cases against them are dropped or if they are acquitted. Hence, those who participated in the rally on 25 November 2007 could face suspension of their studies.

It is high time that the international community protested against the racist policies and practices of the Malaysian government and the use of the Internal Security Act against those who protest against the policies and practices of the "racism and racial discrimination" .

[1] . Criticism of 30-Year-Old Affirmative- Action Policy Grows in Malaysia, The International Herald Tribune, 5 JANUARY 2001, http://www.iht. com/articles/ 2001/01/05/ kuala.2.t. php?page= 2
[2] . RIGHTS-MALAYSIA: Ethnic Indians Demand Fair Share of Prosperity, IPS, 17 October 2005, http://ipsnews. net/interna. asp?idnews= 30656
[3] MALAYSIAN INDIANS: The third class race by C. S. Kuppuswamy, South Asia Analysis Group, 28 February 2003, available at http://www.saag. org/papers7/ paper618. html
[4] . RIGHTS-MALAYSIA: Ethnic Indians Blame Britain for Sorry Plight, IPS, 11 September 2007, available at http://ipsnews. net/news. asp?idnews= 39221
[5] . Suicide rate high among ethnic Indians in Malaysia, Daily News and Analysis, 23 July 2006, http://www.dnaindia .com/report. asp?NewsID= 1043361
[6] . RIGHTS-MALAYSIA: Ethnic Indians Blame Britain for Sorry Plight, IPS, 11 September 2007, available at http://ipsnews. net/news. asp?idnews= 39221
[7] . Hindu group protests 'temple cleansing' in Malaysia, The Financial Express, 23 May 2006, available at http://www.financia lexpress. com/old/latest_ full_story. php?content_ id=128069
[8] . Malaysian police break up rally, BBC News, 25 November 2007
[9] . Police arrest Hindraf leaders, The Star, 23 November 2007, available at http://thestar. com.my/news/ story.asp? file=/2007/ 11/23/nation/ 20071123123403&sec=nation
[10] . Malaysia Hindu activists released, BBC News, 26 November 2007
[11] . Malaysia PM issues demo warning, BBC News, 27 November 2007
[12] . Malaysia PM issues demo warning, BBC News, 27 November 2007

Msian NGOs- urged HINDRAF leaders to be released

2008-05-05T00:58:00.000-07:00
NGO India gesa Hindraf 5 dibebaskan

May 3, 08 12:52pm
Gabungan Pertubuhan India Malaysia menyokong gesaan Barisan Bertindak Hak Hindu (Hindraf) supaya dibebaskan segera lima pemimpin mereka yang sedang ditahan di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA).Ia juga menggesa rakyat supaya turut menyokong rayuan mereka melalui kempen poskad di seluruh negara, meminta perdana menteri supaya membebaskan segera pemimpin HIndraf terbabit.Kempen itu juga bertujuan untuk meyakinkan kerajaan bahawa keputusannya untuk menahan mereka adalah satu penyalahgunaan proses undang-undang.Setiausaha gabungan tersebut, Gunaraj George berkata, persepsi rakyat bahawa penahanan pemimpin Hindraf itu adalah wajar, kini semakin terhakis dan langkah segera perlu diambil untuk memperbetulkan keadaan."Kerajaan mungkin boleh mencadang tempoh bila mereka akan dibebaskan dan boleh meminta anggota (Hindraf) jangan mengadakan demonstrasi dan perhimpunan untuk menuntut pembebasan lima pemimpin mereka itu," katanya.Lima pemimpin Hindraf itu - M Manohan, P Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau, R Kengadharan dan K Vasantha Kumar - ditahan pada 13 Disember lalu bawah ISA selepas terbabit menganjurkan perhimpunan 25 November lalu serta membuat kenyataan yang berunsur hasutan terhadap kerajaan.Dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac lalu, Manoharan, yang mewakili DAP, menewaskan calon Barisan Nasional (BN) Ching Su Chen dengan majoriti 7,184 undi di kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Kota Alam Shah, Selangor.
Hadap ke mahkamah
Beliau akan mengangkat pada pagi 8 Mei depan di Kem Tahanan Kamunting.Gunaraj berkata, beliau yakin pemimpin Hindraf itu akan dibebaskan tidak lama lagi tanpa perlu melalui menjalani tahanan selama dua tahun, memandangkan kes mereka telah menarik perhatian masyarakat antarabangsa dan implikasinya terhadap hak asasi manusia di Malaysia."Malaysia adalah sebuah negara yang progresif dan pesat membangun."Publisiti negatif bahawa kerajaan sedang menahan lima pemimpin masyarakat tanpa bicara, akan menjejaskan reputasi Malaysia di arena antarabangsa, " katanya.Menurut Gunaraj lagi, beliau pasti kerajaan menyedari perkara itu dan akan berbuat sesuatu untuk menyelamatkan reputasi negara.Beliau juga menggesa kerajaan supaya sama ada membebaskan pemimpin Hindraf berkenaan atau mendakwa mereka di mahkamah."Adalah tidak adil untuk menahan mereka di bahawa ISA hanya kerana menyuarakan rasa tidak puashati mereka terhadap dasar-dasar kerajaan yang meminggirkan masyarakat India," katanya.Menurutnya, pemimpin Hindraf bukanlah penjenayah dan ini harusi diambilkira boleh pihak berkuasa di samping terdapat undang-undang yang mencukupi untuk digunakan sekiranya mereka melakukan sebarang kesalahan.

Mkini- Delimma of an ISA detainee's wife

2008-05-04T23:45:00.000-07:00
Dilemma of an ISA detainee's wife
Rahmah Ghazali Apr 30, 08 7:48pm

Her husband has been held under the Internal Security Act (ISA) at the Kamunting detention camp for the last six years, as a suspected member of regional terrorism group Jemaah Islamiah.This afternoon, her frustration spilled over, despite the knowledge that going public with her views could expose Mat Sah Mohd Satray to some kind of punishment.Norlaila Othman was in a 20-member delegation in Parliament House to support the submission of a memorandum to Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim and Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.The joint memorandum, by Abolish ISA Movement (GMI) and the Human Rights Committee (HRC) of the Bar Council, demanded the release all the detainees and the abolition of the ISA.Syed Hamid did not show up, but at a press conference, Norlaila alleged that she has been warned to keep quiet about her husband.“I was told by the Special Branch that my husband could be detained for another six years if I talk to Wan Azizah and the media. But I can’t keep quiet. I need to tell everyone about this.“Two years ago, I ambushed the prime minister in Seremban. The next day, my husband was put in a confinement cell. There was no window, no lights, just a few small holes for air.“My biggest worry is my husband’s condition. I don’t know what will happen to him when this (story) is published. But I don’t give a damn what happens to us.”Apart from Wan Azizah, other MPs at the press conference were Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang), Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) and Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena).

Syed Hamid was criticised for not having visited the ISA detainees or taking a closer look at the situation on the ground.“I urge the minister to go to Kamunting and visit them personally, rather than sign detention orders in his office,” said HRC deputy chairperson Amer Hamzah Arshad.The 20-member delegation included S Pushpaneela, the wife of M Manoharan, and V Raidu, the brother of S Ganapathi Rao.Manoharan and Ganapathi are among five Hindu Rights Action Force leaders currently being detained in Kamunting for two years, on grounds that they are a ‘threat to national security’. The group handed out Malaysia Bebas dari ISA (ISA-free Malaysia) badges to those present, which Wan Azizah then distributed personally to other MPs in the lobby and cafetaria.Among those who accepted the badges were Mukhriz Mahathir (BN-Jerlun) and Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau).When Wan Azizah placed a badge against Khairy’s chest (right), he smilingly remarked: “You’re very naughty, you know I can’t remove your hand. I will not wear it, but I will accept it.”

Mkini- Letter - True Democracy cannot mature with ISA around

2008-05-04T23:40:00.000-07:00
True democracy cannot mature with ISA around
Ashvin Raj May 2, 08 4:46pm

I read with much scepticism of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Zaid Ibrahim’s recent statement that he finds the Internal Security Act (ISA) and Official Secrets Act (OSA) unacceptable. He was quoted as saying that he is against any unjust and harsh laws which and this includes the ISA and OSA.
However, this was contradicted by the Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar who said that such laws will not be abolished, as they are needed for the purpose of maintaining public order. In such a scenario between two conflicting statements, what would be the public stand of the prime minister?
Would he seek to abolish such oppressive laws in the newly-convened Parliament in agreement with his own minister in his department? Or would he seek not to, in the interest of the home minister’s recent remarks?
I would certainly not be surprised if Pak Lah remains defiant in not wanting to abolish the ISA and OSA, as it has served to protect BN’s interests for the past 51 years after Merdeka. After all, he was the one who authorised the detention of the Hindraf activists and accused them on baseless grounds of being a threat to national security.
The opposition and the vast majority of the general public have long seen the ISA to be a notoriously oppressive law. In the name of national security, the ISA has been used as a convenient political tool that allows for indefinite detention without trial. The ISA is an obnoxious piece of legislation that has no place in a democracy.
Former detainees have published horrifying accounts of their detention under the ISA when they have been subjected to solitary confinement without access to family members, lawyers and friends. Police interrogators have routinely subjected ISA detainees to physical and mental torture in order to 'turn them over’.
All this amounts to human rights abuse and a barbaric treatment of individuals who have never been tried, let alone convicted, in an open court. These acts of injustices are an obscene affront to human dignity and a mockery of democracy. They violate the teachings of all religions in our nation, because it has demeaned human life.
The ISA is an unjust law, where its so-called legal practices represent a crime against humanity. As always, the 'threat to national security' has been a flimsy catch-all excuse for not charging and trying so-called suspects in open courts.
How do you expect the continued existence of the ISA to foster a reformed democratic society when this oppressive law looms as an ever-present threat over the lives and liberty of ordinary Malaysian citizens? True democracy cannot mature when people are being threatened with detention without trial.
The basic principle of natural justice is that the accused must be given the right to be heard must be unconditionally upheld. I therefore sincerely hope that Zaid Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat will pressure the federal government in Parliament to immediately charge and try all ISA detainees in an open court or release all ISA detainees still incarcerated.
Otherwise, there will not be any true judicial reform as pledged by the prime minister - through the appointment of Zaid Ibrahim to be in charge of legal affairs - and it will only remain a mere rhetoric.

Economist- Wind of change in Msia

2008-05-04T23:34:00.001-07:00
The winds of change
Could the opposition take power after 51 years?
AFP Prime minister in waiting again

AS MALAYSIA'S new parliament opened this week, a mood of change was in the air not felt since the country's independence from Britain in 1957. The governing coalition, led since then by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is panicking after suffering its poorest-ever showing in the general election held in March. The knives are out for Abdullah Badawi, the prime minister. The opposition, newly assertive and, so far, united behind its leader, Anwar Ibrahim, claims that at least 30 MPs from the ruling coalition are preparing to defect, which would be enough for it to take power. A change of government in Malaysia—a fanciful notion until recently—now seems a real possibility.
To fend off calls for his resignation Mr Badawi has said that after UMNO's annual conference, which has been postponed until December, he will discuss handing the party leadership (and thus the prime ministership) to his deputy, Najib Razak. Not soon enough, say his internal critics, including Mahathir Mohamad, the prime minister's embittered predecessor, and Razaleigh Hamzah, a former finance minister and rival to Dr Mahathir, who intends to run for the leadership. Mr Badawi has pleaded with local party branches to stop calling emergency meetings to discuss the poor election result and question his leadership, so far to no avail.
In a bid to salvage his reputation, Mr Badawi has belatedly started keeping the bold promises of reform that he made on coming to office in 2003. Foremost among these was curbing corruption within the government. But the public thinks it has actually worsened under his administration. Last year, grave allegations against the then head of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) and the national police chief were dismissed by the attorney-general's office for “lack of evidence”. The prime minister announced this month that the ACA, widely seen as subservient to the politicians it is supposed to supervise, would be replaced by a more independent body. Opposition leaders are pressing him to create an independent police-complaints body, a promise Mr Badawi had broken after meeting stiff resistance from police chiefs.
Another of Mr Badawi's pledges, unkept until now, was to reform the country's weak and mistrusted judiciary. The justice system was wrecked by Dr Mahathir in 1988, after the courts ordered UMNO's dissolution. Dr Mahathir had the constitution changed to strip the courts of their independence from government. He also sacked the head of the Supreme Court and five other senior judges. Last year the opposition highlighted the need for judicial reforms by releasing a video-clip of a top lawyer apparently boasting of his ability to fix judicial appointments. In his cabinet shuffle after the election Mr Badawi appointed a prominent legal reformer, Zaid Ibrahim, to shake up the justice system. Last month the prime minister announced that the changes would include a new, independent commission to recommend candidates for the judiciary. The six judges sacked in 1988 will be given compensation but no apology.
Other better-late-than-never measures from Mr Badawi include loosening the state's tight grip on the press. Mr Anwar's People's Justice Party is to be allowed to publish its own newspaper, a right it has been seeking for ten years. The government has also revoked its ban on Makkal Osai, a paper read by the country's ethnic-Indian minority, which had given ample coverage to the opposition's election campaign and to Hindraf, a radical protest group campaigning for the Indian minority's rights, which the government has accused of terrorist links. The government is also reconsidering some of its lavish public-works projects, which have a tendency to be awarded to UMNO-friendly firms. A high-speed “bullet” train link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, costing 10 billion Malaysian ringgit ($3.2 billion), was the first to come under review.
Welcome as they are, these moves seem unlikely to save Mr Badawi. Mr Anwar crows that his opposition coalition, the People's Alliance, will be in government by September. He says he is simply waiting until he has enough potential defections from the government benches to secure a comfortable majority before making his move. There have been a few defections at state level but, so far, no MPs have jumped. Mr Anwar has been courting support in the Malaysian part of Borneo, hoping that some of the gaggle of pro-government parties there—on which the ruling coalition now depends for its majority—might defect en masse.
Mr Anwar has been prime minister in waiting before. He was deputy to Dr Mahathir until 1998 but the two men fell out and the then prime minister had him jailed on dubious charges. A ban on Mr Anwar's taking political office expired last month. Rebranded as an anti-UMNO reformer, he can now stand for parliament again. His chances of success in his second shot at power hinge not just on whether he can attract enough government MPs—ideally principled ones, not just those available to the highest bidder—but on whether his opposition coalition, an uneasy mix of secularists, Islamists and ethnic-Chinese activists can hold together.
http://www.economist.com/

MalaysiaToday- RPK on Karpal's Appeal on release Hindraf 5

2008-05-04T23:30:00.000-07:00
Raja Petra Kamarudin

Karpal Appeals To PM For Hindraf Leaders' Release

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 (Bernama) -- DAP Chairman Karpal Singh today appealed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to instruct Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar to revoke the detention order on the five Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
Karpal said that despite the detention orders by the King, Syed Hamid could at any time under the law revoke the orders on the five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).
The King had on March 26 ordered for the leaders two-year detention, effective Dec 13 last year, be continued until completion.
"I would have thought, in line with the reconciliatory stance of the government in bringing about reforms, including setting up of a judicial commission for the appointment and promotion of judges, the five leaders would have been set free to rejoin their families.
"In fact, the Government should, in line with this approach, repeal the ISA," said Karpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, in a statement tonight.
On Dec 13 last year, the authorities detained M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar for organising a mass rally in the federal capital and making demands for the rights of Indians in the country.

*************************************************
Nik Aziz’s son was detained for more than five years. Do you know the name of this son? There are about 90 or so ‘Muslim terrorists’ who are in their seventh year of detention. Okay, we have five Hindraf activitists, now popularly known as the HINDRAF 5, who have been under detention for the last four months. And their names are M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar. Yes, that’s right, five Indians going by the name of M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar have been under detention without trial since the last four months and we want them freed without any further delay.
That’s work with me. I am all for it. Now, can be list down the names of the other 90 or so Malaysians who have been detained for up to six to seven years? The five Indians are called M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar. I want to know the names of the other 90 Malaysians -- Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other ‘natives’. Can we also list their names down? Who are they? Where are they from? The five Indians have been under detention since Christmas last year. Some of the other 90 have been under detention for six or seven Christmases.
I believe in FIFO (first in, first out) not LIFO (last in, first out). Okay, we know that the HINDRAF 5 -- M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar -- have been detained for the ‘crime’ of organising a massive demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007. What are the crimes of the other 90 -- whom no one cares what their names are?
According to the government, the HINDRAF 5 are under detention because they have links with international terrorists and had planned to create chaos in Malaysia. Of course, that is a government lie and we certainly don’t believe that lie. Also according to the government, the other 90 have been detained because they too have links with international terrorists and they too had planned to create chaos in Malaysia. The government could be correct on this one because most of these 90 or so are Muslims and, according to America, all Muslims are terrorists.
Okay, maybe not all 1.2 billion or so Muslims are terrorists. Maybe only 0.1% of Muslims are terrorists. But that means we have to be careful about the balance 99.9% because they could also be terrorists since they share the same religion.
Hmm…is not the government using this same argument to detain the HINDRAF 5? Since 0.1% Indians in Sri Lanka are terrorists then M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kenghadharan and K. Vasanthakumar must also be terrorists since they share the same skin colour and religion.
As I said in my earlier piece, yes, let us fight for the release of the HINDRAF 5. I agree that they are victims of political persecution. But if you do not want to also fight for the release of the other 90 at least mention their names to show that you know who they are.
In fact, there are also some Chinese amongst those 90. Yes, and I bet you did not know that. I bet you do not know how many of them are Chinese. And I further bet you do not know what their names are. And I dare bet my last dollar that you don’t know why they were detained and how long they have been under detention.
Do you know, 20 years ago, a young Chinese girl from Kuala Terengganu was detained because she spoke about Jesus Christ to some Malays. The Malays reported her and the unfortunate girl was detained under ISA. Don’t you Chinese, in particular you Christians, feel outraged? Or is it you don’t dare express outrage or else you will also have to express outrage about the Muslims who have been detained for more than six or seven years?
One of my schoolmates, Hilmi, was also detained under ISA. He was detained because he left Islam to become a Christian and eventually went up to become a senior priest in the church. I bet you will now express outrage about Hilmi’s detention because he is a Malay who became a Christian. But if he was a Malay who remained a Muslim then you probably would not be interested to know why he was detained.
I met one Chinese woman while she was still under ISA detention who told the Suhakam Commission of Inquiry that she was asked to strip naked so that her Malay jailors could feast their eyes on her naked body. Still not outraged yet? Okay, I also met a Chinese chap who was beaten senseless. He no longer knew how long he had been detained. He just sat there and cried and was not able to utter a word. They had beaten him so bad that he had lost his mind. The Suhakam Commissioners were speechless and did not know what to say. I hope, now, you are outraged and can see the ‘logic’ of broadening your focus beyond just the HINDRAF 5.
DAP is not a Chinese party. No doubt 30 Indians contested under DAP’s banner on 8 March 2008 and Hindraf was certainly a factor that swung the election results. But we must not just ‘bodek’ the Indians. If DAP wants to be perceived as a ‘Malaysian’ party, rather than a Chinese party that is merely exploiting the Indian issue, then it has to broaden its ‘perjuangan’. PAS is currently debating whether to admit non-Muslims into the party. If they vote in favour of that move, and Chinese Christians and Indian Hindus join PAS, then DAP may become irrelevant. And there are Indians and Chinese waiting to jump into PAS the instant it opens it doors to the non-Muslims.
The new Speaker of the Selangor State Assembly finally wore a songkok when he went before the palace to take his oath of office. Earlier, this Chinese State Assemblyman from DAP wrote in his Blog that he will never wear a songkok and that he will boycott any function that requires him to wear one.
Kurang ajar sungguh! He has been a State Assemblyman for many terms and is now the Speaker of the Selangor State Assembly and he still does not know that one must never mengadap Tuanku with a ‘kepala gondol’ (naked head). Even if you mengadap the Queen of England or the Emperor of Japan you can’t do so with a naked head. This is called ‘dress code’.
I remember once when Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah, the Sixth Sultan of Selangor, was denied entry into the Lake Club. He was actually the guest of honour of the Club President and was being escorted there by my grandfather, Raja Sir Tun Uda. But they were both denied entry into the Lake Club, so the Sultan and my grandfather just turned around and went home without a fuss.
Even a Sultan can be denied entry. And he did not say anything or protest even though he was a Sultan and wielded immense power in those pre-Merdeka days. Do you think it is unfair if the Sultan denies someone entry into the palace if that person refuses to observe the proper dress code? Anyway, some were in fact not properly attired when they mengadap the Sultan recently but Tuanku did not make an issue out of it. Tuanku was very accommodating and chatted with everyone in a very friendly manner even though some were ‘disrespectful’ or, in palace lingo, tidak beradat.
Let us grow up and move ahead (even the Sultan was prepared to close his eyes to the DAP ‘protest’). We need to rise above the ‘I refuse to wear anything that is Malay’ tantrum. And Karpal Singh should stop whacking those DAP leaders who wore the songkok during the recent swearing-in ceremony because this will just make these people suffer from songkok phobia. And to throw up the excuse that they refuse to wear the songkok because ‘it is something Malay’ does not go down well with the Malay grassroots who are already being poisoned by Umno that ‘Malay land is falling into the hands of the Chinese’. Why make it easier for Umno to convince the Malays that this is so?
Okay, the very stubborn State Assemblyman who would rather get sent to hell than wear a songkok finally relented and wore one. Of course, wearing a songkok is a small sacrifice when the prize is the position of Speaker of the Selangor State Assembly. DAP had earlier decided that they will leave it to each state to decide whether to wear one or not. And Selangor decided that they will wear one when they mengadap Tuanku in keeping with proper adat istiadat istana. So can Karpal please now leave them alone and stop whacking them for ‘becoming like Malays’.
And if these Wakil Rakyat, both Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen, do a good job, the Rulers may want to reward them. I know Karpal is not happy if any of the DAP leaders become Datuk or Tan Sri or, heaven forbid, Tun. Hey, this is the way the Rulers reward dedicated, hardworking, loyal and faithful servants of the people. So please stop warning the DAP leaders that if the Rulers offer them any award, decoration or title they should reject them like how Lim Kit Siang did so some years back.
Would you rather they buy them from Umno like all those other Chinese towkays and tycoons? For RM100,000 to RM250,000, depending on the state, the Chinese and Indians tycoons can get a datukship. Fortunately, though, those are not states that are under Pakatan Rakyat control. If the Rulers feel that some DAP leaders have done a great job and Their Highnesses would like to decorate them, then let it be. Hey, maybe not a single DAP leader will get a datukship until the day he or she dies. But in the event the Rulers decide they would like to dish some out, then stop getting in the way. Just allow the DAP leaders to accept these awards. After all, if they have done a good job then they deserve these awards.

Shahrir defends UMNO's Ketuanan Melayu

2008-04-30T02:29:00.000-07:00
Taken from Malaysian_Indian@yahoogroups posting

20 yrs a long time shahrir, your vision blurred, don't confuse yourself with old ideologies, no race is supreme under the constitution, malay privilege is no malay rights and this privilege is limited to the hardcore poor and not the rich malays.stop harping ketuanan melayu and concentrate on ministerial job.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008

Shahrir defends Umno's 'Ketuanan Melayu'
Kong See Hoh, The SunPETALING JAYA (April 29, 2008): Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad has poured cold water on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s rally cry of "Ketuanan Rakyat" (people's supremacy), saying "Ketuanan Melayu" (Malay supremacy) cannot be done away with unless the Federal Constitution, which accords the natives their special rights, is amended.Said Shahrir: "In fact, it depends on how people interpret it (Ketuanan Melayu). To me, Ketuanan Melayu is linked to the survival of the sultanate system. To abolish "Ketuanan Melayu" means to change the constitution to do away with the sultanate system in favour of the presidential system."Shahrir, who was appointed Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister recently after an absence of 20 years from the cabinet, told Sin Chew Daily this when asked to comment on PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's remark that if her party comes to power at the federal level, party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will champion "Ketuanan Rakyat" and not "Ketuanan Melayu".Shahrir said he is not of the view that the sultanate system can be maintained as part of the "Hak Istimewa Melayu" (Malay special rights) (if Ketuanan Melayu) is replaced with Ketuanan Rakyat.He said Ketuanan Melayu determines the present facets of the country and keeping the sultanate system is part of Ketuanan Melayu as prescribed under Article 153 of the constitution.Shahrir said only by reforming the present government system, to one of presidential system, can Ketuanan Rakyat be practiced. Otherwise Ketuanan Melayu is not to be denied.Ketuanan Melayu cannot be denied, because the constitution has institutionalised a system of Constitutional Monarchy for Malaysia. If the Ketuanan Rakyat as espoused by PKR is implemented, where will the sultans be?" he asked.He felt that Ketuanan Rakyat that is being bandied about by PKR is just a political catchphrase.He said Ketuanan Melayu is something that exists under the constitution. What Umno is doing – in shouting for Ketuanan Melayu – is just defending the concept of Malay special rights as enshrined in the constitution.He said although the sultans do not have executive power, they still have power (over their territories) as indicated by the flexing of power by state rulers in the selection of mentris besar in some states recently."This shows that sultans have their power and role under the system of constitutional monarchy, otherwise why should Pakatan Rakyat (PR) compromise (on the selection of mentris besar?"If Pakatan is championing Ketuanan Rakyat, it would not have compromised, " he said.Meanwhile, Wan Azizah begged to differ, saying the so-called "Ketuanan Melayu" is a phrase coined by Umno, and has nothing to do with the special rights the constitution accords the Malays in language, religion and land matters.She said Ketuanan Melayu is just a concept and when Pakatan Rakyat proposed to replace it with Ketuanan Rakyat, the coalition did not intend to abolish the system of constitutional monarchy – in other words, there is no change to the position of the Malay rulers.Speaking to Sin Chew, the parliamentary opposition leader said: "We did not ask that Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees the special position of the Malays, be abolished."When we talk about Ketuanan Rakyat, apart from the special rights enjoyed by the Malays, we want all the people to enjoy equal rights."We reject Ketuanan Melayu because PR wants to be a government which looks after all the people, and not for a particular race to reign supreme."Wan Azizah stressed that as a Malay and a Muslim, it would be wrong under Islam for her to ignore non-Muslims who need help.She said she believed Shahrir said what he said to defend Umno.

No quick end in sight for ISA-Syed Hamid

2008-04-30T02:24:00.000-07:00
No quick end in sight for ISA, PPPA

http://malaysiakini .com/news/ 82149

Apr 30, 08 12:58pm

Newly-appointed Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar quashed any hopes of a quick end to restrictive media laws when he told RTM1's 'Bersemuka Bersama Media' programme that the Printing Presses and Publications Act was still valid.

The former foreign minister also extinguished any hopes for quick changes to the Internal Security Act, arguing that "the preventive law was more effective in pre-empting unrest in the country than normal measures".

During the hour-long programme, which was broadcasted live last night, Syed Hamid said that in a multi-racial and multi-religious country, such laws were necessary to ensure peace and harmony.

"We are not against people's freedoms but at the same time, we need the ISA to stop people who incite others before any damage is done," he said.

"Freedom is not just about rights but also about responsibilities too. And as the government, we've to ensure there is balance in the two matters.

"During Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration, a lot of leeway is given to people, be it media, rallies or public forums, but many still perceive that it is not enough."

Room for improvement

While he admitted there was still room to improve the system, the minister stressed that the ISA is still necessary to ensure that peace and harmony remains in the country.

Asked why ISA detainees were not brought to court, Syed Hamid said this was done to protect the government's intelligence gathering units and secrets.

It was also pointed out to the minister that some detainees have be held for as long as six years without trial.

"Besides protecting certain information the government has acquired, the objective of ISA is to re-habilitate people and not treat them as criminals. Once they are no longer deemed dangerous, we release them.

"And because this is not under the Penal Code, they go back to society without any criminal records," Syed Hamid explained.

Asked if the re-emergence of such laws in United Kingdom and the United States after the Sept 11 attacks has encouraged the government to keep the ISA, Syed Hamid answered, "There will be a time for that (to dismantle the ISA) but not now".

He also dismissed suggestions that the government uses the ISA as a tool to clamp down on its political rivals as "nonsensical" .

"If you look at the recent elections, there was a lot of freedom given everywhere. Furthermore, the ministry does not issue instructions for the use of ISA, it is the police who do that," said Syed Hamid.

Sufficient freedom

On media freedom, he said that there was sufficient freedom in the country with some 31 newspaper licences issued.

"Furthermore, if you look at the recent elections, dissemination of news is no longer restricted to traditional avenues like newspapers and television. Information sharing is now very rampant on blogs and alternative news websites such as Malaysiakini.

"As such, we don't see any restrictions placed on the media in Malaysia," said Syed Hamid.

Asked whether the government has from time to time instructed mainstream news editors to not publish certain news, he told the panelists to look to the future and not the past.

"While, yes, the government has sometimes told the mainstream media not to highlight crimes or even the haze issues, but this is something of the past.

"And when we did that, it was done with the intention of not frightening tourists," he added.

The weekly programme is hosted by RTM with panelists from other media organisations.

Besides its host Sabarudin Ahmad Sabri, yesterday's interview saw the participation of The Sun's political editor Zainon Ahmad and Malaysiakini editor K Kabilan.

MIC Youth: Review Hindraf 5's detention

2008-04-25T04:28:00.000-07:00
Mkini - Apr 24, 08 5:49pm

MIC Youth has called on the government to review the Internal Security Act (ISA) detention of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders.
In a statement today, MIC Youth chief SA Vigneswaran said the five should be freed if they are no longer considered a security threat.
'At that material time, the decision (to arrest) was warranted for if every demand is taken to the street then the democratic process will be in jeopardy and this will lead to chaos.
'But now when we go down (to the ground), the true sentiment is that they feel that these people were punished for asking for their rights.
'And because this was reflected in the general election result, they feel that the government is not adhering to their sentiments,' he added.
Vigneswaran said if the five are still considered a threat then it is incumbent on the home minister to be transparent and explain the reasons for their continued detention.
He also suggested that the five could be released with conditions if there is a need for this.
The five leaders were detained on Dec 13, shortly after Hindraf had organised a mammoth rally which drew some 30,000 people to the streets in Kuala Lumpur.
Those detained are P Uthayakumar, V Ganabatirau, R Kenghadharan, M Manoharan and T Vasantha Kumar.
Manoharan had also won the Kota Alam Shah state seat in the March 8 elections which he contested from behind bars under a DAP ticket.

Religious conversion
Meanwhile, MIC Youth also recorded its appreciation to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over his recent decision concerning the issue of religious conversion.
The premier had said that those seeking to convert to Islam must inform their family beforehand.
Apart from this, Vigneswaran appealed to the premier to also enforce a rule for prospective converts to obtain a 'release certificate' from recognised religious bodies such as the Hindu Sangam.
'When a convert chooses to convert out of the religion, the decision should also be left to his right without any restrictions, ' he added.
Vigneswaran’s statement comes following a two-day MIC brainstorming session held in Penang which ended today.
Elaborating on the session, the Youth chief said numerous issues were discussed in depth, including those raised during the recent general election.
In a nutshell, Vigneswaran said the dismal performance of MIC members in the polls is a result of their failure to resolve sensitive issues pertaining to the Indian community.
'The issues involve religious rights, educational issues, government contracts, business opportunities and employment in the civil service,' he added.
He also said the government appeared to be uncommitted in resolving issues affecting the community and this allowed certain groups to take advantage of the situation and influence the community to turn its back on MIC and the BN government.
'It seems that the efforts of the BN for the past 50 years are no longer something to be proud of,' he added.
Silent no more
Vigneswaran said this allowed movements like Hindraf and Makkal Sakthi to flourish and they received support from the opposition which exploited the sentiment for political mileage.
'In view of this, MIC Youth has decided not to keep silent any longer or blindly follow protocol when there is a need to voice out sensitive issues.
'This does not mean that we will ignore or not adhere to the existing directive as a BN component party,' he added.
Among the strategies devised during the session, Vigneswaran said it includes the immediate setting up of a toll-free line for the community, especially the youngsters, to channel their grouses in a more effective manner.
MIC Youth will also form a ‘task force’ to receive complaints directly without delegating it to other quarters.
Another move will be the immediate creation of an electronic media team called ‘E-Team’ to counter the allegations raised by the opposition in cyberspace.
Vigneswaran also said that MIC Youth will look into education issues as well in an aggressive manner.

Letter from MADPT abt Suhakam report on Uthaya

2008-04-25T04:25:00.000-07:00
Charles Hector Apr 25, 08 3:48pm
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Suhakam: Uthaya wasn't denied treatment.
Madpet (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture) is disappointed by the fact that the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) made and pronounced conclusions about complaints about detention conditions and health care of an Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee in Kamunting Detention Centre without even meeting with the said P Uthayakumar.
The Malaysian Human Rights Commission should never come to any conclusion or finding without at least meeting and talking to both sides.
In this case, it was reported that the Suhakam team, led by Human Rights Commissioner Siva Subramaniam, had meetings with `…senior officials, the doctor and police personnel at the camp, as well as medical personnel in Taiping hospital'.
It was also reported that `Uthayakumar was neither present during the four-hour probe, nor interviewed by the team'. When Siva Subramaniam was asked why Uthayakumar' s side of the story was not heard it was reported, `He pointed out that media reports were also sufficient to highlight Uthayakumar' s plight'.
The manner in which this `inquiry' was done and the conclusions reached are very wrong, and is a deprivation of Uthayakumar and his family's fundamental right to be heard and participate in any inquiry and/or investigation.
Uthayakumar is already a victim of a draconian law that allows for detention without trial - where there is no right to defend oneself; no right to a fair and open trial and no right to even go for judicial review of the alleged reasons for detaining him.
As such, the manner in which Suhakam conducted themselves in this case makes it even more deplorable and is certainly unacceptable behaviour for a national human rights commission.
Madpet seriously hopes that the making of such speedy `conclusions - in this case by Commissioner Siva Subramanian - was not affected by the fact that his current term expires in July 2008, and a belief that a `pro-government' positioning now may assist chances of a re-appointment for another two-year term.
Human rights commissioners and Suhakam must at all times be independent and be seen to be independent and fearless and should only be driven by human rights and justice considerations. If a human rights commissioner cannot do this by reason of fear or some other reason, then the proper and ethical thing to do is to resign.
Madpet urges Suhakam to immediately retract its conclusions about the complaints by Uthayakumar, his family and/or his friends as reported in the media, and conduct a proper inquiry into these complaints in the proper manner – which would necessarily include that the fundamental rights to be heard and to participate be accorded to the alleged victim and the complainants.
Madpet also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Uthayakumar and all those currently detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and other laws that allow for detention without trial and that all laws that allow for detention without trial be repealed.
The writer represents Madpet.

Open letter - Suhakam’s probe “UNTRUE”

2008-04-25T03:56:00.000-07:00
By. G Kanchana

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) as a supposed independent vanguard of human rights in Malaysia should be the first to come into the defense of victims of abuse, in this case P.Uthayakumar, or at least take the initiative to ensure the truth is unveiled through an appropriate and accurate probe that includes both sides being heard. After all wasn’t Uthayakumar the very person in the centre of the issue? Wasn’t it he who made the complaints?
If a one sided probe is sufficient, than from my very own probe it seems Suhakam deliberately refrained from interviewing Utayakumar. Had they done so, they may well have had to throw accusations at the prison officials and police officers. We know from past history this is something Suhakam abstains from doing. Perhaps that’s why time after time it has earned itself the name of “ toothless tiger ”. If this is the manner in which Suhakam conducted its previous inquiries into other human rights issues than, I fear for the preservation of “truth”.
Suhakam has decided, or perhaps been coached to portrait P.Uthayakumar as a liar. Are they now saying that his sugar level did not rise to three times the normal level and that he had not been admitted to the hospital for this reason, that from the blood test done at the hospital, urea, protein and cholesterol were above the limit and this condition had led to some blurring of his eyesight, that infact there is fear there may be minimal damage to his heart for which he is scheduled to undergo some test’s.
Aren’t these symptoms that a diabetic would suffer if medication was not taken, in this case medication denied? Is Suhakam saying none of the above things took place?
What prove does Suhakam have that he Uthayakumar only received salt and sugar-free food and drinks. Can rice and Malay style foods which are constantly sweet in nature be construed as ‘diabetic diet? Is mere assurance by the party which would otherwise be guilty, sufficient? Uthayakumar has repeatedly conveyed his problems of not obtaining diabetic diet and medication to his family and lawyers. He made similar complaints for his friend Mr. Kengatharan who is a vegetarian. Infact it was claimed by his lawyer, that on a recent visit and upon requesting for hot drinks (with no sugar) for both of them, she had been shocked to find that the drinks came extremely and unnecessarily sweet, that they had to put it away. Uthayakumar has been consistent with his claims. How can Suhakam carelessly or maliciously doubt the victim and not the perpetrator.
As to his medication it is my contention that Suhakam has misled and twisted the issue once again. The statement that Utayakumar had expressed satisfaction with the medication he received (if made at all) would have been while he was admitted at Taiping Hospital and receiving treatment there. Being a well established hospital with dedicated and meticulous doctors they would certainly uphold the need for medical treatment. At all times Uthayakumar was referring to not having been given medication at the Kamunting prison.
Uthayakumar’s contention was that for one month he was not given his diabetic medication by the prison officials and this despite his 6 written requests to see the Director of the prison. The prison authorities can claim or even demonstrate to Suhakam the ample stock of diabetic medication in their possession but that does not mean nor prove that they had given him those medicines.
Medication was brought by his family and lawyers only because he had not received the same from the prison. He was beginning to feel very weak and tired. Despite this he exercised daily in a desperate hope that the sugar level would be lowered. If not for the exercise his sugar level could have been at the most dangerous level. Knowing, that without medication and consumption of non-diabetic meals he was going to be very ill, he requested for medication to be brought by his family. It was not to substantiate the medicine supplied by the prison (as indicated by Suhakam) but rather it was the only medication that he could have had. What was the motive behind refusing Uthayakumar his medication?
Suhakam has further ridiculed itself by claiming medical confidentiality and media reports being sufficient to highlight Uthayakumars plight. Did Suhakam also conduct a similar fact-finding probe on others who claimed medical neglect at Kamunting, namely of a detainee by the name of Sanjay Kumar who apparently made more than 30 request for treatment. He was admitted only after his situation got critical. He is now suspected of being paralysed on one side. Did Suhakam attend to him or his problems ?????

As to the fact that Uthayakumar’s family did not approach Suhakam – can you really blame them? Can you really blame how people feel about Suhakam, a body created by the government for the government. Thus far, apart from preparation of reports and recommendations Suhakam has not played an active role in upholding the rights of the people in this country. Its probe’s and inquiries should not be seen as eyewash for the government.
The very same people came to you as a Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), lodging a complaint about the incident in Batu Caves that took place on the day before the Hindraf rally. Their allegations encompassed alleged use of excessive force by the police to disperse the crowd that had gathered there. A series of photographs were shown on how the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) had fired tear gas and used water cannon against those caught within the temple compound. One photograph depicted several FRU members inside the compound - the site of one of the holiest Hindu shrines in Malaysia.” After that, they just kept on pumping tear gas inside.

Where is Suhakam’s public inquiry or at least a ‘fact-finding’ probe into the Batu Caves issue and of course the November 25th 2007 Hindraf Rally itself. A rally that claimed denial of human rights , discrimination and marginalisation. Shouldn’t Suhakam be seen to be acting without fear or favour?

It was once said by Mr. P Ramakrishnan
“……..that the protection of human rights and the preservation of civil liberties in this country will always require the active participation of conscious citizens.”
Uthayakumar and all those we consider as true and active human right advocates personify this statement.

However as concerns Suhakam, I quote Mr. P.Ramakrishnan again :
“ Accordingly, I had always thought that a fundamental assessment of Suhakam’s role and work must determine whether Suhakam is a creature of the BN government, or an ally of the national movement for justice, whether, in other words, Suhakam sides with those who abuse human rights and violate civil liberties or gives true assistance and solidarity to the victims of the same abuses and violations.

Personally, I wouldn’t blame Mr. P.Uthayakumar if he had refused to see you had he even been invited.
He was merely fighting for his rights under Article 5 (1) of the Federal Constitution i.e. his right to life which includes right to proper medical attention.

1st Msian Indian appointed as Speaker in State Assembly

2008-04-24T02:11:00.000-07:00
First Malaysian Indian, appointed as a speaker for Perak state assembly. Reliable informer said, Y.B.Sivakumar, Tronoh state asemblyman is the candidate for the state speaker. The history will named him as a first Malaysian Indians who has been appointed as a state speaker. This is a history for Indians and Malaysians. State speaker is a second highest position's after the Menteri Besar. This is a good move from "Pakatan Rakyat" since they promised the new Malaysia for all Malaysian and of course this is bad information for Semi Value's party. They are still begging to Pahang MB to appoint MIC man as an EXCO yet MB are not bothered about the appeal. MIC was so loyal to umno yet umno has never give a due respect to this party. With more appointment' s from Indian community in Pakatan Rakyat's government, I'm dare to say, the chances for MIC to regain the lost ground is getting slimmer.

Valga Makkal Sakthi

source: http://doi-moi. blogspot. com/ [write your comment in blog]

Reply to Suhakam's Dato Siva

2008-04-24T02:05:00.000-07:00
Hi all,

It is clear evidence tht the government is under pressure to immediatally close the case of illtreatment to Uthaya.
There are many Amnesty, Human Right and even International red Cross have condemn the the ill treatment by the camp warden. They have personally wrote letters to Msian government and cc to Suhakam ( as there is only this body claim representing Human Rights in Msia).
Tht is why the Suhakam step in so fast even there was no official request by HINDRAF neither the family to Suhakam over the condition of Uthaya.
Hindraf have deal with Suhakam many times before and Suhakam repeatly telling that they are working within scope given and they are not activist, they can only advise, they are bound to Parliament and many more of this and that restriction to themselves.

They spent tonnes of money on printing the annual report on human right in Msia, ( u can see hundreds of reports) for many recent years in their office at Jalan Raja Laut. They say they only visit and write report and cant do anything beyond that. They are expecting Parliament to talk abt this !!!
Aiyoo aiyoo which "not so smart" rulling government will open this report and condemn themselves in the Parliament ???
There was an government officer told to media tht Suhakam is toothless tiger, but I think he was wrong by using "tiger", he should instead use "cat".

Mr Siva had made it twice !! He is popular in giving statements that is half true and favor to his ex-employer ( the government). He was chase out from a human right meeting by various NGO groups few months ago for giving a "not smart" statement about BERSIH gathering. He said tht the police have act wisely by using tear gas and water cannon in dispreasing the crowd !!! This is still in the mind of many ppl. He is not fit to be in the commission if he failed to understand what is human right !

Mr Siva is not a medical expert nor pharmist to understand the medical need of a diabetic patient. He is a ex cikgu whom most of the time attending meetings for union.

If Uthaya's diabetics have rose up to 18.8 which is 3 times higher than normal person, there is a serious medicine consumption or a serious uncontrolled non diabetic food consumption. Any normal person would understand this.

So what went wrong?
Why was the medicine not given for 1 month ? Proven thru medical report tht says his pottasium level drop below normal and his uric acid rose up.
Uthaya was very ill as his sugar level rose high as his family and lawyers visited him, after several complaints then only the camp sent him to hospital.

Being detained in a camp with control food supply, theoritically a diabetic person should get better as he will have control food and proper medication BUT it was reverse in Uthaya's case !! So what is so mystery here.
Are there any attempt by the camp to "kill" Uthaya systematically inside ??
If his uric acid rose high, his eye sight have problem and his heart muscle function irregularly as all these were mentioned in his medical report and due to that he was approved for further check up thru ECO than Uthaya is really in serious health condition due to improper diabetic control.

Mr Siva of Suhakam and others whom delaying proper medical treatment to Uthaya are just doing more damage to his health and life !!
HINDRAF wont wait long to react.

Thx
Kannan R
Hindraf Makkal Sakthi Event Coordinator.

Posters for the Abolish ISA

2008-04-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

Abolish ISA Seminar in Penang

2008-04-22T01:46:00.000-07:00

http://anilnetto.com/2008/04/19/5-state-govts-back-call-for-isa-detainees-release-guan-eng-tells-makkal-sakthi-crowd/

Taken from a blog on the recent Hindraf organised "Abolish ISA Seminar" in Penang.

Some 3,000 Hindraf Makkal Sakthisupporters call for release of ISA detainees in Penang recently organise seminar call for Abolish ISA.

For one moment, it looked as if the general election campaign was not yet over. The orange shirts were back in numbers. A similar crowd had packed the Penang Chinese Town Hall in the run-up to the general election.
Makkal Sakthi is still alive and kicking - and the newfound sense of solidarity has not abated one bit.
But how was Hindraf, the organiser, able to get a permit so easily for this gathering? Well, I suppose it helps if your star speaker is the Penang Chief Minister! Not that permits should be required for such gatherings. A couple of uniformed cops sat in the audience, a couple more outside the hall.
Syed Ibrahim, the coordinator of the Abolish ISA Movement (GMI), gave a run-down on why the ISA had to be abolished. Also on stage was human rights lawyer Latheefa Koya. It has been a long time since I had seen such a huge crowd enthusiastically calling for the release of ISA detainees. In between, cries of Makkal Sakthi! and Valga! (Long live people power!) pierced the air.

How times have changed. If we want to look at it from a racial point of view, you had a Malay activist addressing a largely Indian crowd at the Chinese Town Hall!

The fear is gone as we can see some young girls sign a petition calling for the release of ISA detainees as Fadiah from the GMI/Bar Council Human Rights Sub-committee beams
I don’t think I have seen so many people queuing up to sign petitions calling for the release of ISA detainees. (Some of these detainees have been held for more than six years!) Where previously people would have been afraid or reluctant to sign such petitions, tonight there was no such fear. People were distributing all sorts of anti-ISA literature. Volunteers collected donations for the ISA detainees’ families. Amazing! Surely, it can’t be too long before the ISA is totally abolished.

Penang CM YB Guan Eng is mobbed outside the hall by Hindraf supporters after giving the five state governments’ backing for the release of ISA detainees
It was an especially meaningful occasion for Guan Eng. Tonight was exactly 19 years to the day since he was released from ISA detention in 1989.
Guan Eng delighted the audience in the packed hall when he told them, “You are not alone in your call for the release of ISA detainees. You have five state governments backing this call and I will take this message to Parliament!” he said to loud applause. He told the crowd that the huge swing in their votes had made a big difference in the general election this time.
The entire gathering rose to their feet to cheer when a petition calling for the release of the ISA detainees was later handed over to the Chief Minister.
Later, after the event, I ran into a few pals, J, M and S, at a hawker centre. Politics was the hot topic. J wanted to take a bet (beers and kacang!) that Anwar would be Prime Minister by 1 Sept while S and M looked sceptical.
All three of them wanted the ISA abolished. But M and S said they would first like Mahathir to experience what it felt like to be unjustly detained in Kamunting and cut off from loved ones. “Just for six months and then we can abolish the ISA!” said S.
I looked at S. He was serious.
J and I, however, felt that this would be wrong. No one deserves to be detained without trial, not even Mahathir or whoever else has used this harsh and evil law. Everyone has the right to a fair trial.

Forget not your ideal, HINDRAF

2008-04-20T19:19:00.000-07:00
Forget not your ideal, Hindraf
Naragan Apr 16, 08 4:11pm

Hindraf has had some major successes in the very recent past and has created a major impact on the politics of Malaysia. Hindraf has contributed to a change of the whole political landscape.
It was when the people started responding in a large way to Hindraf’s initiatives from Nov 25 that these major events started to happen. Even as the momentum was gathering in the days prior, Hindraf was just another organisation. In fact, many were only marginally involved with Hindraf prior to that. They were galvanised into action only from Nov 25. Hindraf had existed for several years prior to that and had been struggling (and very hard at that) as just another organisation till the Nov 25. Then the big things started to happen.
What all of this says is that the major successes of Hindraf have been possible only because of the ‘Great Wave’ that was created beginning the Nov 25. Without the wave, there would be nothing significantly different today.
Hindraf must never forget this. Any time Hindraf forgets this, it is surely on its way out from the influential position it finds itself in now.
The people rallied behind Hindraf because of an ideal. The ideal is this – confront injustice without fear. Confront the injustices of police brutality, the injustices of mindless demolition of temples, the injustices of a careless government, and the injustices of an apartheid type of system.
This fearless confrontation touched the people at the core of their souls and created a ground swell of support of tsunami proportions. This unexpectedly provided a significant basis for almost complete unity among the Indians in the country.
The unity the Indians needed as a minority ethnic group to be able to have more say over their own destinies. The kind of unity the Indian minority group needs to stop the destruction of their places of worship, to stop their continuing impoverishment, to stop the denial of access to quality education, to end a system that marginalises them as policy, to stop the continuing bullying both by thugs from within and without and to begin the process towards winning their rightful place under the sun, here in Malaysia.
That is the ideal Hindraf needs to continue to stand for. It is that ideal that P Uthayakumar stood for in those years that Hindraf was seen as a maverick organisation, and which today resonates in the hearts of millions of people. Hindraf has created such a resonance within the hearts of our people. When we have the courage to stand up and speak up for the people, the people respond with their hearts and souls. Only possible, only possible, I repeat, because of the ideal Hindraf was created on.
As long as Hindraf does not abandon the path towards this ideal, Hindraf will get continuing support from the people. The day Hindraf deviates from this ideal, Hindraf will lose their reason to be and the support from the people will dry up and it will only be a matter of time before Hindraf also will fade into oblivion.
No ideal – no Hindraf.
So, what all of this in my opinion says is that Hindraf cannot expect to lead the Indian people in Malaysia without really standing for this ideal. Hindraf’s focus must be to continue to confront injustice wherever and whenever it occurs, courageously and consistently. Hindraf must use the position they have created now to take this on to more, larger and substantial issues of injustice.
Indians cannot win in a straight forward numbers game, they are too small to count – 7- 8% of the total population. But experience also shows, that effects of a colossal proportion far beyond what these numbers suggest can be created just by being united and by synchronising the energies of this small number.
This, then, should become Hindraf’s central strategy. Continue to confront injustice, continue to build unity and continue to build synergy. Continue to have the people solidly behind Hindraf and push against the injustices in the system and create national change in the process.
The inertia of the system, however ,is great. So one must not be deluded into thinking that the next initiatives will easily bear fruit. There are many challenges and obstacles ahead. There is much work to be done. Only by having the people solidly behind Hindraf can Hindraf yet move ahead.
Confrontation against injustice and creating of unity and synergy are Hindraf’s central missions. All else will follow, I say.

Email Campaign to lift ban on Makkal Osai

2008-04-20T18:44:00.000-07:00
，“Merdeka News Center” hari ini menyuruh agar orang ramai menghantar email kepada Datuk Syed Hamid Albar, Supaya keputusan mangharamkan surat khabar tamil “Makkal Osai” dapat dikaji semula，“Merdeka News Center” merupakan satu pertubuhan untuk memelihara kebebasan dalam surat khabar,（V. Gayathry）Pengerusinya, V. Gayathry hari ini berkata,“Marilah kita menghantar email kepada Menteri Keselamatan Dalam Negeri, Datuk Syed Hamid Albar, menyuruh beliau supaya tidak mengharamkan Makkal Osai, dan menyatakan Makkal Osai telah melanggar mana-mana syarat kementerian.
Kami mahu menahan mereka daripada menggunakan kuasa untuk mengharamkan kebebasan surat khabar dan kebebasan rakyat untuk menperolehi maklumat. “Explain why you denied the permit and lift the ban on Makkal Osai” V. Gayathry mencadangkan agar subjek email yang dihantar kepada pembantu Datuk Syed Hamid Albar iaitu Intan diletakkan sebagai “Explain why you denied the permit and lift the ban on Makkal Osai”, dan menghantar satu salinan kepada “Merdeka News Center” supaya “Merdeka News Center” dapat sentiasa mendapatkan penjelasan seterusnya

Email Address pembantu Syed Hamid Albar - Intan
intan@moha.gov.my

Email Address Merdeka News Center:
gayathry@cijmalaysia.org

GOPIO writes to new Msian Govt

2008-04-20T18:28:00.000-07:00
Friday, April 18, 2008

GOPIO WRITES TO THE NEW MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT

In the letter to Minister Subramanian, GOPIO President Inder Singh said, "although your own party did not achieve the margin of seats you may have expected in the recent election, your elevation to the highly respectable and responsible ministry provides you a unique opportunity to woo back 2.5 million Malaysians of Indian Origin, the majority of whom have lost faith in the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) party.""As you very well know, Malaysians of Indian Origin and their ancestors have been contributing to the economic growth and prosperity of Malaysia. But they are deprived of fair and equal treatment in educational resources and job opportunities. As a result, a significant number of them work as plantation and/or urban underpaid laborers, and hence majority of them are poor and continue to face undue social and economic
hardships.""Your party, Malaysian Indian Congress, has been an integral part of your country's ruling coalition and at one time represented the interests and aspirations of Malaysians of Indian Origin.

However, MIC as a partner of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), has not been able to get fair share for the minority Indian community as their role as coalition partner either has been rendered ineffective or considered irrelevant." "The Malaysians of Indian Origin are your country's third largest ethnic group and the majority of them are considered to be at the bottom of the social and political ladder. A significant majority of Malaysian Indians continue to be economically marginalized and are generally seen as providers of cheap labor in plantations and construction sites. Thus they occupy the bottom rung of the Malaysian modern society, primarily due to lack of educational and economic opportunities." "The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) urges you to use your human resource development (HRD) portfolio to provide needed equity, skills training and equal employment opportunities to the Malaysian Indian community."

Makkal Sakthi Song from a Hindraf Supporter

2008-04-16T18:40:00.000-07:00
makkal sakthi valgae....
im proudly call this song .... "song of makkal sakthi'...

also with lyrics...

raajaavai toondiyataal...
padaigal tirandhathu...
roojaavai tuundiyathal...
mutkal elunthathu...
mani oasi kethathal
kangal vizhithathe
malai charal tindiyal
maunam kalainthathe
itutaanee aarambam..
iniyellam perinbam...
varunggalam vaalthidhum..
ini varum puthumai
tamilanaaga pirantha pirapeenamkkul irukkum
sirappunamakkul irukkum ootrumaiyea...
niiyum naanum karuppu

raajaavai toondiyataal...
padai tirandhathu...
roojaavai tuundiyathal...
mutkal elunthathu...
music

Kaiyodu Kai Korthe Vetriyai Yetti Toduvomey
Tholode Tholl serntheVelichaithai Nooki Nadapomey
poorkalam namakkul vendhaame
yorukulam namakkul vendhumey
kalavaram namakkul vendhammey
samarasam namakkul vendhumey
tamilanaaga pirantha pirapeenamkkul irukkum
sirappunamakkul irukkum ootrumaiyea...
niiyum naanum karuppu

raajaavai toondiyataal...
padai tirandhathu...
roojaavai tuundiyathal...
mutkal elunthathu...
music

Vali Mithe Vilzhi Veithe
Muyarchi Pathaiyil Nadapomey
Adi mithe Adi ThangiImaiyam Sendre Servomey
Tholviyai Kande Kalanggathey
Tunbanggal Neringgidea Varunthathey
Sathanai Purinthida Yelunthode
Saritham Pesidum UnPere
tamilanaaga pirantha pirapeenamkkul irukkum
sirappunamakkul irukkum ootrumaiyea...
niiyum naanum karuppu

raajaavai toondiyataal...
padai tirandhathu...
roojaavai tuundiyathal...
mutkal elunthathu...
mani oasi kethathalkangal vizhithathe
malai charal tindiyalmaunam kalainthathe
itutaanee aarambam..iniyellam perinbam...
varunggalam vaalthidhum..
tamilanaaga pirantha pirapeenamkkul irukkum
sirappunamakkul irukkum ootrumaiyea...
niiyum naanum karuppu

raajaavai toondiyataal...padai tirandhathu...
roojaavai tuundiyathal...mutkal elunthathu...

Download via this link.http://www.mediafire.com/?zyvddbamx9n

Uthaya's Mother lodges report today.

2008-04-13T02:07:00.000-07:00

Detainee’s mum lodges report alleging plot to harm her son

SEREMBAN: The mother of ISA detainee P. Uthayakumar lodged a police report yesterday alleging that her diabetic son had been denied proper medical treatment and that there was a “silent agenda” to inflict harm on his health.

K. Kalaivaniy, 64, a widow who lives in Jalan Rasah, lodged the report at the district police station in Seremban Two at 12.10pm, accompanied by a group of Hindraf supporters.
Uthayakumar’s sister-in-law K. Shanti said the last time she saw him on Thursday at the Kamunting detention centre, Uthayakumar was weak and was denied his medication after being prematurely discharged from the Taiping hospital the day before.

Shanti, the wife of Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy, who is now in London, added that Uthayakumar was also suffering from poor vision and alleged that his meals had excessive sugar.
Mother’s effort: Kalaivani arriving at the Seremban Two police station accompanied by Hindraf supporters to lodge the police report on Saturday.
Uthayakumar’s fiancee S. Indradevi also lodged a police report in Kuala Lumpur alleging that had been deprived of his diabetic medication.
Lawyer Uthayakumar, 46, was arrested with four other Hindraf leaders on Dec 13 for allegedly making speeches to incite hatred at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai on Nov 16.
They are being detained for two years under the Internal Security Act.

Meanwhile, Penang PKR called on the Prime Minister to ensure Uthayakumar received proper medical attention before his condition deteriorated further.

Aliran : Uthayakumar - Callous treatment to a human being !

2008-04-12T11:04:00.000-07:00
P Uthayakumar - Callous treatment of a human being

Friday, 11 April 2008
Aliran is shocked to learn that Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar who is under ISA detention is being treated inhumanely. We find it difficult to believe that a country that has exalted the virtues of Islam Hadari could be so callous in the treatment of a human being - which is hard to believe or accept.
Uthayakumar, who is diabeti,c has been wickedly denied his daily medication even though the Kamunting detention authorities had been informed of his health problems. His fiancee S Indradevi had also handed Uthayakumar' s medication to the Kamunting Detention Centre's administration in the belief that it would be handed over to him. But this had not happened. She reportedly said that he had written six letters previously to the prison's director but the director did not respond in any way. The medicines were prescribed by a doctor in January.
As a result of this gross negligence and wanton cruelty, Uthayakumar had fallen ill and had to be hospitalised. His diabetic reading was 18.8 - something that is worrying. If he does not receive his regular medication, he can be subjected to various related illnesses associated with diabetes. His kidneys may be affected and his eye sight may be in danger - just to mention a few ailments related to diabetes. We also understand that his protein and uric levels are dangerously high.
His medical condition would require him to go on a strict diet but this doesn't seem to be the concern of the Kamunting authorities. They do not seem to take responsibility for the welfare of a detainee under their care. His younger brother was reported as saying that despite his condition he was forced to consume food which was high in sugar and starch.
Aliran wishes to emphasise that a detainee does not forfeit his right to medical care under whatever circumstance. As a human being, he is entitled to receive medical attention like any other Malaysian. And his family has a right to be notified when a detainee is hospitalised. This is something very basic in a civilised society.
Kamunting authorities need to be given an urgent course on human decency so that they will react as human beings and treat others under their care with dignity and compassion. So far their conduct has been disgraceful, deserving condemnation from the civilised international community.

P Ramakrishnan
President
11 April 2008
http://www.aliran. com/content/ view/535/ 11/

Open Letter to PM- Hindraf is NOT a National Threat

2008-04-10T10:31:00.000-07:00
HINDRAF 5 ARE NOT “A NATIONAL THREAT”
by Santha

So what is their crime? Both the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (the then Internal Security Minister) who signed the detention order and the AG Abdul Ghani Patail state that, “thorough police investigation has deemed them a treat to national security”. At the Federal Court , Abdul Ghani argued that the PM had gone through the detailed facts raised during police investigations and that these include the claims,
1) that the appellants had through their past activities raised racial sentiments,
2) hatred for the government
3) had links with terrorist organization such as Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)….. that “ In pursuing their cause, Hindraf had tried to get international acknowledgement and help from the terrorist organisation LTTE with the intention of further inciting riots in this country which has and will threaten peace and national security,”. Mr. AG if you have “detailed facts” be out with it. People are fully aware of the movements of the 5 detainees and their activities. They have been been transparent and accountable. There are no secrets involved here unlike the practices of the Government and its bodies. What is holding you, show us evidence as opposed to mere “claims” , or perhaps there is none or not enough to evoke the ISA.
I wish now to inform the PM, the AG, and the entire Government that the appellants did not through their activities raise racial sentiments. Rather racial sentiments were activated the moment the government and Islamic religious bodies started practicing religious extremism in Malaysia .
M.Moorthy was buried a Muslim although he had died a practicing Hindu. This was followed by other “body snatching” and conversion matters such as Lina Joy and M.Revathi. Tension had already been brewing amongst non-Muslims in similar matters. Racial sentiments that you speak of came about when the government, its bodies/authorities, officers or agents lowered the axe on our sacred statues of Lord Siva , Lord Ganesha and many others, demolishing ruthlessly our temples.
Sentiments and more sentiments when you confiscated Christian bibles, preached and practiced Muslim religion and policies to non-Muslims, when you insulted and humiliated non-Muslim for their believes, when matters that required urgent investigation and inquiries such as Kg.Medan incident, Francis Udayappan’s death etc. were ignored or swept under the carpet. The hatred towards the government transpired the moment the government turned a blind eye towards equality and equal opportunities for all. Such hatred amongst the poor, oppressed, marginalised and discriminated came into the picture when the government - failed to recognise this country as a secular nation with different races and religions and did not resolve sensitive issues in a likewise sensitive manner.
This is the true reason for the disintegration of the people in this country. - curtailed the people’s constitutional rights to freedom of religion, assembly, speech, and media - amended and manipulated the Constitution more than 600 times in the past 50 years. Amendments like this, often made for the benefit of the Malay Muslim and to create an Islamic nation erasing the secular state.
- failed to recognise every citizen of this country as the “son of the soil”.
- failed to activate proper and principled teaching standards, to judge on merit based performance and not quota’s in schools and universities.
- practiced the divide and rule racist policies and schemes such as the NEP, and unfair in issuing business licenses, opportunities, and financial support to all races without favouring a certain group.
- did not take serious measures to eliminate the contamination of corruption, scandalous judiciary, dishonest and inefficient police force that has lost the respect of the people it serves.
- Ministers and their ministries refusing to be transparent and accountable in their dealings, thus unlawful enrichment of some and the constant obvious conflict of interest.- Ministers openly uttering seditious, racist and sexist remarks, behaving in an unruly and unprofessional manner (even in Parliament)and getting away with it.
The hatred exploded when the government refused to listen to the people and their grievances, the hundreds of letters, and appeals that fell into deaf ears only to be told correct channels and procedures were not followed.
5000 Indians came to Putrajaya in July 2007 for their ‘18 point Demands’,
Lawyers ‘Walked for Justice’,
Bersih argued for ‘Free and Fair Elections’,
Hindraf , rallied for ‘Indian minority rights’,
a little girl of five came to give ‘Roses for the PM’ as symbol of love.
In all events, people were treated as common criminals, some more harshly than others. The arrogant governance is what caused the hatred NOT the Hindraf 5. It would only be rightful to say, that in all issues of arousing “racial sentiments and hatred towards the government”, the government, its bodies, authorities, leaders, officers and agents first conducted the offensive acts. They are the true perpetrators , running about freely. The prison in Kamunting should have been filled up with these people who committed these crimes of racial tension, anger and hatred. These are truly the people who “have and will threaten the peace and national security of this country”. The Prime Minister should have signed detention orders for the above perpetrators long before the Dec 13th 2007 arrest of Hindraf 5. As to the connection with terrorist such as LTTE, just like P.Uthayakumar challenged you, we now challenge you to show us one piece of evidence –we know there is none. Interpol would definitely have come into the picture if what you claimed was true.
The United Kingdom would not accommodate P.Waytha Moorthy had there been such links, for they too take matters of terrorism very seriously. Nor would they have allowed Hindraf to be legally registered in the UK if such links existed . P.Waytha Moorthy has no choice but to lead Hindraf from the United Kingdom .
Being a nation that practices true democracy they would never brand a human rights barrister, fighting peacefully for justice, as terrorists. Perhaps the AG’s office could get some guidance first, when investigating what amounts to “terrorism”.
So Mr. Prime Minister, with all due respect people have lost faith and trust in your governance and government. With the findings and investigations of the newly formed Pakatan Rakyat already a lot of filth is coming out (it’s only the beginning) about the way this country has been running under your governance and the previous. You have an enormous burden to rectify the huge damage already done to our beloved nation. It is unbelievable how things got so out of hand and even more, how we allowed these sorts of practices all these years. We had been both complacent and ignorant, but are out of our shells now. Because of Hindraf 5, P Waytha Moorthy and many others who fought for justice, Malaysians today have a chance of seeing true democracy. The accusation’s of raising racial sentiments and creating hatred towards the government was self-inflicted.
The Hindraf 5 is not the cause. Shed your arrogance and listen to what the people of this nation , the civil societies, the NGO’s , the political parties and international bodies have to say on this matter and do the right thing - release the Hindraf 5 and assure the safe return of P.Waytha Moorthy. People finally found a group of respected and credible lawyers fully committed to the cause of the poor and oppressed, fighting a genuine war on their behalf.
It was not the money they wanted .Not the Glory. They fought for the people sacrificing their own lives, families and freedom, they had nothing to gain for themselves.

They are not extremist, fanatics or terrorist but true to their profession as lawyers and barristers, merely upholding peace and justice.