Malaysian PM denies 'gentleman's agreement' to step down
9 hours ago 1 Feb. 2008
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Thursday denied he had made a "gentleman's agreement" with former premier Mahathir Mohamad to stay as premier for only one term.
Mahathir, who has had a public falling out with his successor, has said he did not expect the current prime minister to lead for more than one term, and suggested he step down.
"No gentleman's agreement," Abdullah said when asked if the two statesmen struck a deal when he took over in 2003. The premier will attempt to win a second term in general elections expected to be held in March.
Abdullah said he supported Mahathir's campaign to have clean and corruption-free candidates for the election but said the people would ultimately decide who they want as their representatives.
"The rakyat (people) always decide what they want to see," he said.
"People have been saying many things to get the rakyat to do (what these individuals want) for the last 50 years but the people in the end decide what they want to do," he said.
Abdullah won a landslide victory in the 2004 polls when voters were enthused by his plans to fight corruption, but since then he has been widely criticised for inaction and suffered a steep tumble in popularity.
In recent months he has faced an unprecedented wave of public protests over the rights of minority ethnic Indians, as well as electoral reform and rising food and fuel prices.
Abdullah is head of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) which leads a coalition of race-based political parties that have ruled multicultural Malaysia for the past 50 years.
He downplayed the negative effect on votes for the coalition after the December arrests of five Indian activists under internal security laws and allegations of marginalisation of the community.
"It might be a little bit, to be realistic, but nothing more than that," he said.
Mahatir handpicked Abdullah as his successor when he stepped down but when the new leader dumped several of his pet projects the former prime minister began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iAV4Kv8reCi7s8NiIVM9f3Br4YBg
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Malaysian Chinese in row over conversion
Malaysian Chinese in row over conversion
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR -- An ethnic Chinese battling Malaysian authorities who snatched the body of his father after saying he had embraced Islam before he died, said on Wednesday that non-Muslims were getting a raw deal in the country.
"What choice do we have?" said Gan Hok Ming, a 46-year-old computer technician mourning the loss of his father. "We are very unsatisfied.
"There should be a more transparent system especially on Muslim conversions," he told Reuters by telephone from his home in the southwestern state of Negeri Sembilan. The row over the body of Gan Eng Gor, a 74-year-old ethnic Chinese man who died on Jan. 20, is the latest in a series of disputes in mostly Muslim Malaysia that have upset non-Muslims, who fear authorities are trampling on their religious rights.
It also highlighted resentment among the sizable Chinese and Indian minorities against the government in the run-up to general elections, widely expected by March.
"Enough is enough," opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said in urging the government to put a stop to the so-called "body-snatching" cases to help preserve racial harmony.
In the latest case, the elder Gan had been buried as Muslim after an Islamic sharia court in Negeri Sembilan ruled that the man converted to Islam last year. But his family insisted otherwise, arguing that Gan could not have converted because he was senile and paralyzed after suffering two strokes.
They said Gan was also unable to speak after a stroke in 2006, challenging a claim that Gan made an oral declaration in Arabic to accept Islam. His conversion papers were also flawed because they were not signed, they said.His family suffered a legal setback on Tuesday when a civil court rejected their bid to declare Gan a Buddhist, saying it had no jurisdiction over Islamic cases, a lawyer said.
"We are not Muslims, why should we go to sharia court?" the son said. "The government should have a better system to deal with conversions. Otherwise the people will suffer."
The spectacle of non-Muslims battling for funeral rights of relatives is not new in Malaysia, where disputes over religious conversions and complaints about demolitions of churches and Hindu temples have fuelled fears of a surge in hardline Islam.
There have been exceptions.
In a 2006 case involving an ethnic Indian said to have converted to Islam, Islamic religious authorities eventually climbed down and allowed the family of van driver Rayappan Anthony, 71, to reclaim his body for Christian burial.
Politically dominant Malay Muslims form about 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people, while ethnic Indian, Chinese, Sikh minorities include Hindus, Buddhists and Christians.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2008/01/31/141316/Malaysian-Chinese.htm
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Reuters
KUALA LUMPUR -- An ethnic Chinese battling Malaysian authorities who snatched the body of his father after saying he had embraced Islam before he died, said on Wednesday that non-Muslims were getting a raw deal in the country.
"What choice do we have?" said Gan Hok Ming, a 46-year-old computer technician mourning the loss of his father. "We are very unsatisfied.
"There should be a more transparent system especially on Muslim conversions," he told Reuters by telephone from his home in the southwestern state of Negeri Sembilan. The row over the body of Gan Eng Gor, a 74-year-old ethnic Chinese man who died on Jan. 20, is the latest in a series of disputes in mostly Muslim Malaysia that have upset non-Muslims, who fear authorities are trampling on their religious rights.
It also highlighted resentment among the sizable Chinese and Indian minorities against the government in the run-up to general elections, widely expected by March.
"Enough is enough," opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said in urging the government to put a stop to the so-called "body-snatching" cases to help preserve racial harmony.
In the latest case, the elder Gan had been buried as Muslim after an Islamic sharia court in Negeri Sembilan ruled that the man converted to Islam last year. But his family insisted otherwise, arguing that Gan could not have converted because he was senile and paralyzed after suffering two strokes.
They said Gan was also unable to speak after a stroke in 2006, challenging a claim that Gan made an oral declaration in Arabic to accept Islam. His conversion papers were also flawed because they were not signed, they said.His family suffered a legal setback on Tuesday when a civil court rejected their bid to declare Gan a Buddhist, saying it had no jurisdiction over Islamic cases, a lawyer said.
"We are not Muslims, why should we go to sharia court?" the son said. "The government should have a better system to deal with conversions. Otherwise the people will suffer."
The spectacle of non-Muslims battling for funeral rights of relatives is not new in Malaysia, where disputes over religious conversions and complaints about demolitions of churches and Hindu temples have fuelled fears of a surge in hardline Islam.
There have been exceptions.
In a 2006 case involving an ethnic Indian said to have converted to Islam, Islamic religious authorities eventually climbed down and allowed the family of van driver Rayappan Anthony, 71, to reclaim his body for Christian burial.
Politically dominant Malay Muslims form about 60 percent of Malaysia's 26 million people, while ethnic Indian, Chinese, Sikh minorities include Hindus, Buddhists and Christians.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/2008/01/31/141316/Malaysian-Chinese.htm
Hindraf calls for talks with political parties
HINDRAF Calls For Talks on Malaysian Indian’s Future with Political Parties
Published by Hindu Rights Action Force January 31st, 2008
HINDRAF has always maintained it’s non-partisan stand and has always steered clear of party politics or align itself with any political party including the opposition.
However HINDRAF cannot deny it has “Political Friends” both from within the ruling as well as opposition parties who have supported us in our cause for the protection of the ethnic minority Indian rights in Malaysia.
Hence taking into consideration of the upcoming general election, HINDRAF is now forced to advice the Malaysian Indians on “Whom to Vote”.
HINDRAF calls upon the Indian community not to blindly assume that by voting for the opposition political party in the next upcoming General Elections would solve the problems of oppression, suppression, marginalization and permanent colonization of the ethnic Indian community.
HINDRAF urges the political parties to:
a) Be transparent, fair and equitable in the distribution of seats to the Indian candidates both Parliamentary as well as State seats.
b) Make their manifesto extremely clear as to their commitment for advocating and implementing Indian rights should they be elected to lead the next Government. The 18 Point Demands made and submitted by HINDRAF to the Prime Minister are crystal clear on the needs and thirst of the Indian community to undo 50 years of Political and Socio Economic violations of the UMNO led Malaysian Government.
These points should be the paramount consideration in respect to the Indian needs.
I call upon the interested political parties to immediately engage in talks on the above two crucial aspects as soon as possible so that we can advice the Malaysian Indian community “Whom to Vote”.
Malaysian Indians have been cheated in the political arena for 50 years by the UMNO led BARISAN Government. HINDRAF’s leaders have made great sacrifices to relate this message to the Malaysian Indian community.
We will not betray the trust of Malaysian Indian community on HINDRAF’S leadership and will not advice the Malaysian Indians to place “a blind hope” on either BARISAN or the Opposition party unless we are satisfied the above two issues are adequately addressed.
HINDRAF is also happy to engage in dialogue with BARISAN subject to releasing the 5 HINDRAF leaders and accepting HINDRAF as a pressure group.
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
Currently in London
http://www.bangkit.net/2008/01/31/hindraf-calls-for-talks-on-malaysian-indians-future-with-political-parties/
Published by Hindu Rights Action Force January 31st, 2008
HINDRAF has always maintained it’s non-partisan stand and has always steered clear of party politics or align itself with any political party including the opposition.
However HINDRAF cannot deny it has “Political Friends” both from within the ruling as well as opposition parties who have supported us in our cause for the protection of the ethnic minority Indian rights in Malaysia.
Hence taking into consideration of the upcoming general election, HINDRAF is now forced to advice the Malaysian Indians on “Whom to Vote”.
HINDRAF calls upon the Indian community not to blindly assume that by voting for the opposition political party in the next upcoming General Elections would solve the problems of oppression, suppression, marginalization and permanent colonization of the ethnic Indian community.
HINDRAF urges the political parties to:
a) Be transparent, fair and equitable in the distribution of seats to the Indian candidates both Parliamentary as well as State seats.
b) Make their manifesto extremely clear as to their commitment for advocating and implementing Indian rights should they be elected to lead the next Government. The 18 Point Demands made and submitted by HINDRAF to the Prime Minister are crystal clear on the needs and thirst of the Indian community to undo 50 years of Political and Socio Economic violations of the UMNO led Malaysian Government.
These points should be the paramount consideration in respect to the Indian needs.
I call upon the interested political parties to immediately engage in talks on the above two crucial aspects as soon as possible so that we can advice the Malaysian Indian community “Whom to Vote”.
Malaysian Indians have been cheated in the political arena for 50 years by the UMNO led BARISAN Government. HINDRAF’s leaders have made great sacrifices to relate this message to the Malaysian Indian community.
We will not betray the trust of Malaysian Indian community on HINDRAF’S leadership and will not advice the Malaysian Indians to place “a blind hope” on either BARISAN or the Opposition party unless we are satisfied the above two issues are adequately addressed.
HINDRAF is also happy to engage in dialogue with BARISAN subject to releasing the 5 HINDRAF leaders and accepting HINDRAF as a pressure group.
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
Currently in London
http://www.bangkit.net/2008/01/31/hindraf-calls-for-talks-on-malaysian-indians-future-with-political-parties/
Get Out! Malaysia Tells Migrants. Again.
Get Out! Malaysia Tells Migrants. Again.
Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob
31 January 2008
The cycle of blaming foreign workers for its woes has begun in Malaysia.
The Malaysian government’s recent decision to send home at least 200,000 foreign workers by 2009 and to push more out of the country by 2015 hints at the deep divisions that the migrants, legal and illegal alike, have stirred in their host country.
As with most countries, when hard times start to appear – and Malaysia’s economy is starting to turn down – migrants get the blame for rising crime, stealing jobs from the locals, cultural pollution, overloading school systems, not carrying their share of the tax burden and even spreading HIV, almost none of which is true. Nonetheless, the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi feels it has no choice but to put a stop to the influx in an effort to solve many of the country’s problems, which analysts say isn’t going to do much good, and in fact could do considerable harm.
“The immediate effect (of the expulsions) is that the labor supply will be significantly depleted, upsetting local as well as multinational employers relying on migrant workers,” says Tricia Yeoh, Senior Research Analyst at the Centre for Public Policy Studies. “There will be a time-lag while waiting for local Malaysians to fill in the menial labor gaps.”
The question is whether Malaysia will ultimately back away from the plan. The government periodically decides to expel overseas workers, as it did in 1994, when it forced about 380,000 out of the country with threats of imprisonment and caning, only to beg them to come back later to fill jobs Malaysians wouldn’t take. Some analysts believe the government is raising the subject for political advantage in advance of a possible election and that it will die off when the election is over.
Nonetheless, government officials say a whopping 2.3 million registered foreign workers are trying to make a living in this thriving Southeast Asian nation of 26 million people, although most observers believe the total, including illegal migrant workers, is much higher. Much like in the rest of the world where development depends on inexpensive labor, Malaysia, richer than most of its neighbors, has become irresistible for poor workers from the wider region.
They hail from across Asia – Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Burma, Nepal and Bangladesh. Most are unskilled and indentured to the recruitment agencies responsible for importing them, taking jobs as everything from waiters and janitors to hotel clerks and security guards. Even the personnel at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport are imported, much to the irritation of the government, which says it would like tourists to see a “Malaysian” face when they arrive in the country. Some are also prostitutes. Earlier this week, 34 women were picked up from a Kuala Lumpur budget hotel after being found in a secret compartment.
Prostitutes or not, migrants face widespread abuse from the Royal Malaysian Police, immigration officials and volunteer quasi-vigilante groups known by he acronym RELA, which translates to “people’s voluntary corps.” In 2006, RELA forces set upon 60 Indian nationals protesting the fact that their employers hadn’t paid them for two months in front of the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, kicking and beating them, some so badly that bones were broken.
More than 1,000 migrants arrive daily at the international airport in and many are forced to sleep in a car park, sometimes for days, while they await processing by their new employers. Tens of thousands more arrive annually by boat, illegally across the Strait of Malacca or from Kalimantan into Sabah and Sarawak, large numbers of them working the country’s rubber and oil palm plantations.
The plight of the workers is the rarely-seen underbelly of Malaysia's economic success. Immigrant labor by and large built the skyscrapers that clutter the Kuala Lumpur skyline, as Malaysians have begun to shun hard labor, preferring instead to work in modern office surroundings with better pay.
Recent events are straining the economy and that limit the use of migrant labor. With the slowing of the US economy, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research has revised Malaysia’s economic growth down to 5.1 percent in 2008 from 6.1 percent in 2007. The institute’s director, Mohammad Arif, says growth could fall to as low as 4 percent if the U.S. falls into a full-blown recession.
"Our economy in 2008 may not be performing as well as it did in 2007, although authorities are putting on a brave face, but we think we should brace ourselves for a slowdown," he says. The institute also put the rate of inflation at 3.2 percent in 2008 due to an anticipated oil price hike if heavy oil and gas subsidies that cost the Malaysian government approximately US$10 billion (35 billion ringgit) annually are eased. The government had earlier promised no further price hikes for oil and gas.
The lackluster economic indicators have put the ruling Barisan Nasional on alert for voter fallout ahead of national elections that may be held as early as March to head off any backlash from discontent over the cost of living and inflation. An independent local non-governmental organization, the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, recently published a poll showing Abdullah Badawi’s popularity at an all-time low of 61 percent.
Thus, the government is bracing for harder times and not taking any chances. Jobs that were once considered unworthy of Malaysians may now be attractive again – or maybe not. In western countries, recent experience is that menial jobs go begging even while people look for work.
In the service sector the government is seeking to implement measures to compel employers to hire Malaysians. In another move, a ban is to be imposed on hiring foreign workers for front-line positions at hotels and the airport.
That measure may not go down well. One business owner told Asia Sentinel that “I would rather hire foreign workers, as they are more committed and hardworking. The locals will just up and leave when they have better offers. I have to deal with a lot of attitude at work with Malaysians.”
The issue of migrant workers has also soured relations between Indonesia and Malaysia. Some 60 percent of migrant workers are from Indonesia but the alleged mistreatment of Indonesia’s Pahlawan De Visa, or foreign exchange heroes, who remit some 4.85 billion ringgit (US$1.5 billion) every year to Indonesia, is a sore point in Jakarta.
Relations with India have also turned sour, culminating in a squabble resulting in a reduction of the number of Indian workers sent to Malaysia after the Indian government raised issues behind closed doors about the treatment of Malaysia’s ethnic Indians, who make up about 7 percent of the population. Recently the Hindu Rights Action Force, which claims to represent economically disadvantaged ethnic Indians, led street protests following which some of the organization’s leaders were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act.
The rise of violent crime is another factor that dogs the migrant issue. Abdullah Badawi himself was stunned by a 45 percent rise in the National Crime Index since the time he took office. The Chinese community, which regards itself as the biggest victim because of its relative wealth, is most vocal. Immigrant workers, particularly Indonesian construction workers, have been blamed, contrary to a Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity hearing which concluded that 80 percent of crimes in the country are committed “by our own people.” Frustrated by the decline in public safety, fingers are pointed at the migrant workers, so whether they deserve it or not, they take the brunt of the disapproval.
http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1019&Itemid=31
Imran Imtiaz Shah Yacob
31 January 2008
The cycle of blaming foreign workers for its woes has begun in Malaysia.
The Malaysian government’s recent decision to send home at least 200,000 foreign workers by 2009 and to push more out of the country by 2015 hints at the deep divisions that the migrants, legal and illegal alike, have stirred in their host country.
As with most countries, when hard times start to appear – and Malaysia’s economy is starting to turn down – migrants get the blame for rising crime, stealing jobs from the locals, cultural pollution, overloading school systems, not carrying their share of the tax burden and even spreading HIV, almost none of which is true. Nonetheless, the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi feels it has no choice but to put a stop to the influx in an effort to solve many of the country’s problems, which analysts say isn’t going to do much good, and in fact could do considerable harm.
“The immediate effect (of the expulsions) is that the labor supply will be significantly depleted, upsetting local as well as multinational employers relying on migrant workers,” says Tricia Yeoh, Senior Research Analyst at the Centre for Public Policy Studies. “There will be a time-lag while waiting for local Malaysians to fill in the menial labor gaps.”
The question is whether Malaysia will ultimately back away from the plan. The government periodically decides to expel overseas workers, as it did in 1994, when it forced about 380,000 out of the country with threats of imprisonment and caning, only to beg them to come back later to fill jobs Malaysians wouldn’t take. Some analysts believe the government is raising the subject for political advantage in advance of a possible election and that it will die off when the election is over.
Nonetheless, government officials say a whopping 2.3 million registered foreign workers are trying to make a living in this thriving Southeast Asian nation of 26 million people, although most observers believe the total, including illegal migrant workers, is much higher. Much like in the rest of the world where development depends on inexpensive labor, Malaysia, richer than most of its neighbors, has become irresistible for poor workers from the wider region.
They hail from across Asia – Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Burma, Nepal and Bangladesh. Most are unskilled and indentured to the recruitment agencies responsible for importing them, taking jobs as everything from waiters and janitors to hotel clerks and security guards. Even the personnel at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport are imported, much to the irritation of the government, which says it would like tourists to see a “Malaysian” face when they arrive in the country. Some are also prostitutes. Earlier this week, 34 women were picked up from a Kuala Lumpur budget hotel after being found in a secret compartment.
Prostitutes or not, migrants face widespread abuse from the Royal Malaysian Police, immigration officials and volunteer quasi-vigilante groups known by he acronym RELA, which translates to “people’s voluntary corps.” In 2006, RELA forces set upon 60 Indian nationals protesting the fact that their employers hadn’t paid them for two months in front of the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, kicking and beating them, some so badly that bones were broken.
More than 1,000 migrants arrive daily at the international airport in and many are forced to sleep in a car park, sometimes for days, while they await processing by their new employers. Tens of thousands more arrive annually by boat, illegally across the Strait of Malacca or from Kalimantan into Sabah and Sarawak, large numbers of them working the country’s rubber and oil palm plantations.
The plight of the workers is the rarely-seen underbelly of Malaysia's economic success. Immigrant labor by and large built the skyscrapers that clutter the Kuala Lumpur skyline, as Malaysians have begun to shun hard labor, preferring instead to work in modern office surroundings with better pay.
Recent events are straining the economy and that limit the use of migrant labor. With the slowing of the US economy, the Malaysian Institute of Economic Research has revised Malaysia’s economic growth down to 5.1 percent in 2008 from 6.1 percent in 2007. The institute’s director, Mohammad Arif, says growth could fall to as low as 4 percent if the U.S. falls into a full-blown recession.
"Our economy in 2008 may not be performing as well as it did in 2007, although authorities are putting on a brave face, but we think we should brace ourselves for a slowdown," he says. The institute also put the rate of inflation at 3.2 percent in 2008 due to an anticipated oil price hike if heavy oil and gas subsidies that cost the Malaysian government approximately US$10 billion (35 billion ringgit) annually are eased. The government had earlier promised no further price hikes for oil and gas.
The lackluster economic indicators have put the ruling Barisan Nasional on alert for voter fallout ahead of national elections that may be held as early as March to head off any backlash from discontent over the cost of living and inflation. An independent local non-governmental organization, the Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research, recently published a poll showing Abdullah Badawi’s popularity at an all-time low of 61 percent.
Thus, the government is bracing for harder times and not taking any chances. Jobs that were once considered unworthy of Malaysians may now be attractive again – or maybe not. In western countries, recent experience is that menial jobs go begging even while people look for work.
In the service sector the government is seeking to implement measures to compel employers to hire Malaysians. In another move, a ban is to be imposed on hiring foreign workers for front-line positions at hotels and the airport.
That measure may not go down well. One business owner told Asia Sentinel that “I would rather hire foreign workers, as they are more committed and hardworking. The locals will just up and leave when they have better offers. I have to deal with a lot of attitude at work with Malaysians.”
The issue of migrant workers has also soured relations between Indonesia and Malaysia. Some 60 percent of migrant workers are from Indonesia but the alleged mistreatment of Indonesia’s Pahlawan De Visa, or foreign exchange heroes, who remit some 4.85 billion ringgit (US$1.5 billion) every year to Indonesia, is a sore point in Jakarta.
Relations with India have also turned sour, culminating in a squabble resulting in a reduction of the number of Indian workers sent to Malaysia after the Indian government raised issues behind closed doors about the treatment of Malaysia’s ethnic Indians, who make up about 7 percent of the population. Recently the Hindu Rights Action Force, which claims to represent economically disadvantaged ethnic Indians, led street protests following which some of the organization’s leaders were detained without trial under the Internal Security Act.
The rise of violent crime is another factor that dogs the migrant issue. Abdullah Badawi himself was stunned by a 45 percent rise in the National Crime Index since the time he took office. The Chinese community, which regards itself as the biggest victim because of its relative wealth, is most vocal. Immigrant workers, particularly Indonesian construction workers, have been blamed, contrary to a Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity hearing which concluded that 80 percent of crimes in the country are committed “by our own people.” Frustrated by the decline in public safety, fingers are pointed at the migrant workers, so whether they deserve it or not, they take the brunt of the disapproval.
http://asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1019&Itemid=31
Ethnic anger on the rise in Malaysia
Ethnic anger on the rise in Malaysia
http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=9604702
By Thomas Fuller
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: The customers of Malaysian Indian Casket, a small shop
on the outskirts of this modern and cosmopolitan city, come in all
different sizes: standard coffins clutter the entrance, child-size
boxes are stacked high on the shelves and extra-large models, those
for the tallest of the deceased, are stored in the back.
But there is no variety in the ethnic background of the clientele.
"All the customers are Indian," said Aru Maniam, a shop salesman.
In death as in life, Malaysians are divided by ethnicity. The
country's main ethnic groups - Malays, Chinese and Indians - have
their own political parties, schools, newspapers and, in the case of
Malays, a separate Islamic legal system.
For years this segregation was promoted as the best formula for social
harmony in a country that advertises itself as "Truly Asia," a place
where the palette of skin colors is as diverse as the mosques,
churches and Hindu and Buddhist temples that dot the landscape.
But in recent months ethnic relations here have deteriorated to a
level that many find alarming. After years of muffled tensions over
religious conversions, government funding for minority schools and a
longstanding system of special privileges for Malays, the dominant
group, ethnic anger has burst to the forefront of Malaysian politics.
In November, Indians, who make up less than 10 percent of the
population of about 25 million and are disproportionately poor, led a
protest march through Kuala Lumpur, the first large-scale ethnically
motivated street demonstration in almost four decades. They announced
a largely symbolic $4 trillion class-action lawsuit against the
British government, the colonial rulers, for bringing them as
indentured laborers to the region, "exploiting them for 150 years" and
allowing them to be marginalized.
The police broke up the demonstration with water cannon and tear gas
and arrested five representatives of a group called the Hindu Rights
Action Force, or Hindraf, which led the protests. The five men are
being held indefinitely and without trial under an internal security
law.
"This is a country that is in search of soul, in search of a common
mission," said Charles Santiago, coordinator of the Group of Concerned
Citizens, an organization that seeks solutions to ethnic strife in the
country. Malaysians, he said, are feeling more threatened by common
problems such as crime and cost-of-living increases, but at the same
time are increasingly divided by ethnicity.
The past six months have seen an unusual number of street
demonstrations in Malaysia, a country where the police for decades
have systematically denied permits for demonstrations in an effort to
keep political quarrels off the streets. Frustration has grown with
the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who promised to
sweep away corruption and make government more accountable when he
came to power five years ago.
In September, the country's Bar Council marshaled thousands of lawyers
for a demonstration demanding judicial independence after a video clip
surfaced of a top lawyer apparently negotiating judicial appointments.
In November, a coalition of activist groups organized a demonstration
of at least 10,000 people calling for clean and fair elections. Last
Saturday, opposition groups demonstrated against rising prices of food
and fuel, the second such protest in six months.
The Indians' anger appears to have rattled the government the most.
Abdullah sought to woo back Indians by declaring the Hindu festival of
Thaipusam, which was celebrated Jan. 23, a federal holiday. A court
decision in a highly emotional dispute over whether an Indian man
should be buried according to Hindu or Muslim rites has been postponed
indefinitely.
Analysts say race relations could become more tense as the country
prepares for elections, which are widely expected to be called for
March.
"It will be a racialized campaign, there's no question," said Bridget
Welsh, a specialist in Malaysian politics at Johns Hopkins
University-SAIS in Washington.
An opinion poll made public last Friday by the Merdeka Center
(www.merdeka.org) showed support for the government among non-Malays
plummeting. Only 38 percent of Indians and 42 percent of Chinese said
they strongly or somewhat approved of Abdullah's job performance, by
far the lowest rating for the prime minister. When he came to power,
he had an overall approval rating of 91 percent.
His overall approval rating in the new poll was 61 percent, a poor
showing for Malaysia, where the opposition is weak. Almost two-thirds
of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the way the government
was handling issues of ethnicity and inequality.
The survey, conducted by phone in December among 1,026 randomly
selected registered voters, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1
percent.
"Indian support for the government is the worst it's ever been in the
country's history," Welsh said. "It's profound. Indians have
traditionally supported the government the highest."
With Chinese voters also angry at the government - mainly over its
handling of the economy - Welsh says the government risks losing
control of the state of Penang, where ethnic Chinese form a plurality,
as well as a handful of parliamentary seats scattered across the
country.
There is little risk that the coalition of Malay, Chinese and Indian
parties known as the National Front, which has governed the country
since independence from Britain in 1957, will lose its majority. Even
though the coalition won only 64 percent of the popular vote in 2004,
it controls more than 90 percent of the seats in Parliament, partly
because after five decades in power the government has gerrymandered
constituencies to its advantage.
But analysts fear that ethnic frictions could increase as Chinese and
Indian representation in the government weakens.
Underpinning the anger of the Chinese and Indians is an affirmative
action program in place for 37 years that favors Malays and other
smaller indigenous ethnic groups collectively known as bumiputra,
literally "sons of the soil."
Bumiputra make up 60 percent of the population but have 87 percent of
government jobs. They receive discounts of 5 to 10 percent on new
homes and have a reserved quota of 30 percent of any newly listed
company on the stock market. Newspapers are filled with notices of
government construction contracts exclusively reserved for companies
controlled by bumiputra.
"It's completely unacceptable that you cannot get awarded a contract
just because of the color of your skin," said Lim Guan Eng, the
secretary general of the Democratic Action Party, the leading
opposition party in Parliament. "That grates tremendously. We are
treated as though we are third- or fourth-class citizens."
The bulk of the Chinese and Indians came or were brought to the Malay
Peninsula while it was still a British colony to work in tin mines or
on rubber plantations, although some Chinese, known as Peranakan, came
as long as five centuries ago.
Yet Malaysia's ethnic classification is complicated by the fact that
race is often an imprecise concept in Southeast Asia. Malays are a
vaguely defined group that trace their ancestry to the Indonesian
islands of Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra or as far as Arabia and India.
Lim points out that the father of Mohamed Khir Toyo, the chief
minister of Selangor State, came from Indonesia. Yet his son is
considered a bumiputra, while an ethnic Chinese person whose family
has lived in Malaysia for centuries would still not qualify as
indigenous.
The biggest losers in the current system are Indians, who, according
to government statistics, make up 9 percent of the labor force but
hold 16 percent of menial jobs and control just 1.2 percent of equity
in registered companies in the country.
Indians are not aided by the affirmative action program, because it is
based on ethnicity, not need.
More than economic issues, said Santiago of the Group of Concerned
Citizens, Indians were infuriated by the highly publicized case of a
Malaysian soldier, Maniam Moorthy, who died in 2005 and whose body was
claimed by the Islamic authorities for Muslim burial.
The authorities claimed that Moorthy, who was born a Hindu, converted
to Islam months before his death. Moorthy's wife, Kaliammal Sinnasamy,
sued in a civil court to obtain the body, but the court ruled that it
had no jurisdiction because the matter had already been decided in an
Islamic court. A ruling on Kaliammal's appeal has been postponed
indefinitely.
The case, one of at least a dozen similar ethno-religious disputes
reported recently in Malaysian newspapers, became a cause célèbre
among Indians.
"You can push us, you can cheat us, you can discriminate against us,
but you can't tell us that we're not Hindus after we are dead,"
Santiago said.
11 books on Islam banned
Malaysia has banned 11 books for allegedly giving a false portrayal of
Islam, such as by linking the religion to terrorism and the
mistreatment of women, an official said Wednesday, The Associated
Press reported from Kuala Lumpur.
The government ordered the books - most of them released by American
publishers - to be blacklisted this month "because they are not in
line with what we call the Malaysian version of Islam," said Che Din
Yusoh, an official with the Internal Security Ministry's publications
control unit.
"Some of them ridicule Islam as a religion or the facts are wrong
about Islam, like associating Islam with terrorism or saying Islam
mistreats women," he said.
The banned books include eight English-language ones, such as "The Two
Faces of Islam: Saudi Fundamentalism and its Role in Terrorism,"
"Secrets of the Quran: Revealing Insights Into Islam's Holy Book" and
"Women in Islam." There are also three books written in the local
Malay language.
http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=9604702
By Thomas Fuller
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: The customers of Malaysian Indian Casket, a small shop
on the outskirts of this modern and cosmopolitan city, come in all
different sizes: standard coffins clutter the entrance, child-size
boxes are stacked high on the shelves and extra-large models, those
for the tallest of the deceased, are stored in the back.
But there is no variety in the ethnic background of the clientele.
"All the customers are Indian," said Aru Maniam, a shop salesman.
In death as in life, Malaysians are divided by ethnicity. The
country's main ethnic groups - Malays, Chinese and Indians - have
their own political parties, schools, newspapers and, in the case of
Malays, a separate Islamic legal system.
For years this segregation was promoted as the best formula for social
harmony in a country that advertises itself as "Truly Asia," a place
where the palette of skin colors is as diverse as the mosques,
churches and Hindu and Buddhist temples that dot the landscape.
But in recent months ethnic relations here have deteriorated to a
level that many find alarming. After years of muffled tensions over
religious conversions, government funding for minority schools and a
longstanding system of special privileges for Malays, the dominant
group, ethnic anger has burst to the forefront of Malaysian politics.
In November, Indians, who make up less than 10 percent of the
population of about 25 million and are disproportionately poor, led a
protest march through Kuala Lumpur, the first large-scale ethnically
motivated street demonstration in almost four decades. They announced
a largely symbolic $4 trillion class-action lawsuit against the
British government, the colonial rulers, for bringing them as
indentured laborers to the region, "exploiting them for 150 years" and
allowing them to be marginalized.
The police broke up the demonstration with water cannon and tear gas
and arrested five representatives of a group called the Hindu Rights
Action Force, or Hindraf, which led the protests. The five men are
being held indefinitely and without trial under an internal security
law.
"This is a country that is in search of soul, in search of a common
mission," said Charles Santiago, coordinator of the Group of Concerned
Citizens, an organization that seeks solutions to ethnic strife in the
country. Malaysians, he said, are feeling more threatened by common
problems such as crime and cost-of-living increases, but at the same
time are increasingly divided by ethnicity.
The past six months have seen an unusual number of street
demonstrations in Malaysia, a country where the police for decades
have systematically denied permits for demonstrations in an effort to
keep political quarrels off the streets. Frustration has grown with
the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who promised to
sweep away corruption and make government more accountable when he
came to power five years ago.
In September, the country's Bar Council marshaled thousands of lawyers
for a demonstration demanding judicial independence after a video clip
surfaced of a top lawyer apparently negotiating judicial appointments.
In November, a coalition of activist groups organized a demonstration
of at least 10,000 people calling for clean and fair elections. Last
Saturday, opposition groups demonstrated against rising prices of food
and fuel, the second such protest in six months.
The Indians' anger appears to have rattled the government the most.
Abdullah sought to woo back Indians by declaring the Hindu festival of
Thaipusam, which was celebrated Jan. 23, a federal holiday. A court
decision in a highly emotional dispute over whether an Indian man
should be buried according to Hindu or Muslim rites has been postponed
indefinitely.
Analysts say race relations could become more tense as the country
prepares for elections, which are widely expected to be called for
March.
"It will be a racialized campaign, there's no question," said Bridget
Welsh, a specialist in Malaysian politics at Johns Hopkins
University-SAIS in Washington.
An opinion poll made public last Friday by the Merdeka Center
(www.merdeka.org) showed support for the government among non-Malays
plummeting. Only 38 percent of Indians and 42 percent of Chinese said
they strongly or somewhat approved of Abdullah's job performance, by
far the lowest rating for the prime minister. When he came to power,
he had an overall approval rating of 91 percent.
His overall approval rating in the new poll was 61 percent, a poor
showing for Malaysia, where the opposition is weak. Almost two-thirds
of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the way the government
was handling issues of ethnicity and inequality.
The survey, conducted by phone in December among 1,026 randomly
selected registered voters, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1
percent.
"Indian support for the government is the worst it's ever been in the
country's history," Welsh said. "It's profound. Indians have
traditionally supported the government the highest."
With Chinese voters also angry at the government - mainly over its
handling of the economy - Welsh says the government risks losing
control of the state of Penang, where ethnic Chinese form a plurality,
as well as a handful of parliamentary seats scattered across the
country.
There is little risk that the coalition of Malay, Chinese and Indian
parties known as the National Front, which has governed the country
since independence from Britain in 1957, will lose its majority. Even
though the coalition won only 64 percent of the popular vote in 2004,
it controls more than 90 percent of the seats in Parliament, partly
because after five decades in power the government has gerrymandered
constituencies to its advantage.
But analysts fear that ethnic frictions could increase as Chinese and
Indian representation in the government weakens.
Underpinning the anger of the Chinese and Indians is an affirmative
action program in place for 37 years that favors Malays and other
smaller indigenous ethnic groups collectively known as bumiputra,
literally "sons of the soil."
Bumiputra make up 60 percent of the population but have 87 percent of
government jobs. They receive discounts of 5 to 10 percent on new
homes and have a reserved quota of 30 percent of any newly listed
company on the stock market. Newspapers are filled with notices of
government construction contracts exclusively reserved for companies
controlled by bumiputra.
"It's completely unacceptable that you cannot get awarded a contract
just because of the color of your skin," said Lim Guan Eng, the
secretary general of the Democratic Action Party, the leading
opposition party in Parliament. "That grates tremendously. We are
treated as though we are third- or fourth-class citizens."
The bulk of the Chinese and Indians came or were brought to the Malay
Peninsula while it was still a British colony to work in tin mines or
on rubber plantations, although some Chinese, known as Peranakan, came
as long as five centuries ago.
Yet Malaysia's ethnic classification is complicated by the fact that
race is often an imprecise concept in Southeast Asia. Malays are a
vaguely defined group that trace their ancestry to the Indonesian
islands of Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra or as far as Arabia and India.
Lim points out that the father of Mohamed Khir Toyo, the chief
minister of Selangor State, came from Indonesia. Yet his son is
considered a bumiputra, while an ethnic Chinese person whose family
has lived in Malaysia for centuries would still not qualify as
indigenous.
The biggest losers in the current system are Indians, who, according
to government statistics, make up 9 percent of the labor force but
hold 16 percent of menial jobs and control just 1.2 percent of equity
in registered companies in the country.
Indians are not aided by the affirmative action program, because it is
based on ethnicity, not need.
More than economic issues, said Santiago of the Group of Concerned
Citizens, Indians were infuriated by the highly publicized case of a
Malaysian soldier, Maniam Moorthy, who died in 2005 and whose body was
claimed by the Islamic authorities for Muslim burial.
The authorities claimed that Moorthy, who was born a Hindu, converted
to Islam months before his death. Moorthy's wife, Kaliammal Sinnasamy,
sued in a civil court to obtain the body, but the court ruled that it
had no jurisdiction because the matter had already been decided in an
Islamic court. A ruling on Kaliammal's appeal has been postponed
indefinitely.
The case, one of at least a dozen similar ethno-religious disputes
reported recently in Malaysian newspapers, became a cause célèbre
among Indians.
"You can push us, you can cheat us, you can discriminate against us,
but you can't tell us that we're not Hindus after we are dead,"
Santiago said.
11 books on Islam banned
Malaysia has banned 11 books for allegedly giving a false portrayal of
Islam, such as by linking the religion to terrorism and the
mistreatment of women, an official said Wednesday, The Associated
Press reported from Kuala Lumpur.
The government ordered the books - most of them released by American
publishers - to be blacklisted this month "because they are not in
line with what we call the Malaysian version of Islam," said Che Din
Yusoh, an official with the Internal Security Ministry's publications
control unit.
"Some of them ridicule Islam as a religion or the facts are wrong
about Islam, like associating Islam with terrorism or saying Islam
mistreats women," he said.
The banned books include eight English-language ones, such as "The Two
Faces of Islam: Saudi Fundamentalism and its Role in Terrorism,"
"Secrets of the Quran: Revealing Insights Into Islam's Holy Book" and
"Women in Islam." There are also three books written in the local
Malay language.
Global rights group calls for abolition of strict Malaysian security law
Malaysia: Global Rights Group Calls For Abolition Of Strict Malaysian Security Law
2008-01-31 17:12
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: An international human rights organization Thursday (31 Jan) called on Malaysia to abolish its strict security law and said five ethnic Indian activists detained for holding a mass rally stand no chance of getting a fair hearing.
The activists from the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf, were detained in December under the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial, shortly after they led some 20,000 Indians to protest alleged unfair treatment in ethnic Malay-dominated Malaysia.
A hearing into an appeal by defense lawyers to have the detention declared illegal finished on Monday (28 Jan). The verdict will be issued on 26 Feb.
Laurie Berg, an Australian lawyer speaking on behalf of the International Federation for Human Rights, said Thursday the hearing was not fair because the detainees were not present and could not challenge the accusations.
"We find that they have no chance of a fair hearing under this law ... The Internal Security Act is the very definition of arbitrary detention ... It's a violation of their fundamental human rights," she told reporters. "The use of this law is never justified."
Berg called on Malaysia to abolish "this outdated law" and free the five activists and about 70 others detained under the decades-old legislation.
Officials were not available for comment Thursday.
Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail has said the imprisonment of the five Indian activists ordered by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was lawful and necessary for security reasons.
Hindraf shot to prominence through its 25 Nov rally to protest against alleged discrimination in employment, business and education opportunities and the destruction of some Hindu temples.
Ethnic Indians, most of them Hindus, make up only 8 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people. Ethnic Chinese, mainly Buddhist and Christians, account for a quarter, while Muslim Malays make up 60%. (AP)
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/6461
2008-01-31 17:12
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: An international human rights organization Thursday (31 Jan) called on Malaysia to abolish its strict security law and said five ethnic Indian activists detained for holding a mass rally stand no chance of getting a fair hearing.
The activists from the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf, were detained in December under the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial, shortly after they led some 20,000 Indians to protest alleged unfair treatment in ethnic Malay-dominated Malaysia.
A hearing into an appeal by defense lawyers to have the detention declared illegal finished on Monday (28 Jan). The verdict will be issued on 26 Feb.
Laurie Berg, an Australian lawyer speaking on behalf of the International Federation for Human Rights, said Thursday the hearing was not fair because the detainees were not present and could not challenge the accusations.
"We find that they have no chance of a fair hearing under this law ... The Internal Security Act is the very definition of arbitrary detention ... It's a violation of their fundamental human rights," she told reporters. "The use of this law is never justified."
Berg called on Malaysia to abolish "this outdated law" and free the five activists and about 70 others detained under the decades-old legislation.
Officials were not available for comment Thursday.
Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail has said the imprisonment of the five Indian activists ordered by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was lawful and necessary for security reasons.
Hindraf shot to prominence through its 25 Nov rally to protest against alleged discrimination in employment, business and education opportunities and the destruction of some Hindu temples.
Ethnic Indians, most of them Hindus, make up only 8 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people. Ethnic Chinese, mainly Buddhist and Christians, account for a quarter, while Muslim Malays make up 60%. (AP)
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/6461
M'sia Chinese in agony over Muslim conversion row
http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/2059/46/
M'sia Chinese in agony over Muslim conversion row
Posted by kasee
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
(The Straits Times) - KUALA LUMPUR - AN ETHNIC Chinese battling Malaysian authorities who snatched the body of his father after saying he had embraced Islam before he died, said on Wednesday that non-Muslims were getting a raw deal in the country.
'What choice do we have?' said Gan Hok Ming, a 46-year-old computer technician mourning the loss of his father. 'We are very unsatisfied. There should be a more transparent system especially on Muslim conversions,' he told Reuters by telephone from his home in the southwestern state of Negeri Sembilan.
The row over the body of Gan Eng Gor, a 74-year-old ethnic Chinese man who died on Jan 20, is the latest in a series of disputes in mostly Muslim Malaysia that have upset non-Muslims, who fear authorities are trampling on their religious rights.
It also highlighted resentment among the sizable Chinese and Indian minorities against the government in the run-up to general elections, widely expected by March.
'Enough is enough,' opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said in urging the government to put a stop to the so-called 'body-snatching' cases to help preserve racial harmony.
In the latest case, the elder Gan had been buried as Muslim after an Islamic sharia court in Negeri Sembilan ruled that the man converted to Islam last year.
But his family insisted otherwise, arguing that Gan could not have converted because he was senile and paralysed after suffering two strokes.
They said Gan was also unable to speak after a stroke in 2006, challenging a claim that Gan made an oral declaration in Arabic to accept Islam. His conversion papers were also flawed because they were not signed, they said.
His family suffered a legal setback on Tuesday when a civil court rejected their bid to declare Gan a Buddhist, saying it had no jurisdiction over Islamic cases, a lawyer said.
'We are not Muslims, why should we go to sharia court?' the son said. 'The government should have a better system to deal with conversions. Otherwise the people will suffer.'
The spectacle of non-Muslims battling for funeral rights of relatives is not new in Malaysia, where disputes over religious conversions and complaints about demolitions of churches and Hindu temples have fuelled fears of a surge in hardline Islam.
There have been exceptions.
In a 2006 case involving an ethnic Indian said to have converted to Islam, Islamic religious authorities eventually climbed down and allowed the family of van driver Rayappan Anthony, 71, to reclaim his body for Christian burial. -- REUTERS
M'sia Chinese in agony over Muslim conversion row
Posted by kasee
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
(The Straits Times) - KUALA LUMPUR - AN ETHNIC Chinese battling Malaysian authorities who snatched the body of his father after saying he had embraced Islam before he died, said on Wednesday that non-Muslims were getting a raw deal in the country.
'What choice do we have?' said Gan Hok Ming, a 46-year-old computer technician mourning the loss of his father. 'We are very unsatisfied. There should be a more transparent system especially on Muslim conversions,' he told Reuters by telephone from his home in the southwestern state of Negeri Sembilan.
The row over the body of Gan Eng Gor, a 74-year-old ethnic Chinese man who died on Jan 20, is the latest in a series of disputes in mostly Muslim Malaysia that have upset non-Muslims, who fear authorities are trampling on their religious rights.
It also highlighted resentment among the sizable Chinese and Indian minorities against the government in the run-up to general elections, widely expected by March.
'Enough is enough,' opposition leader Lim Kit Siang said in urging the government to put a stop to the so-called 'body-snatching' cases to help preserve racial harmony.
In the latest case, the elder Gan had been buried as Muslim after an Islamic sharia court in Negeri Sembilan ruled that the man converted to Islam last year.
But his family insisted otherwise, arguing that Gan could not have converted because he was senile and paralysed after suffering two strokes.
They said Gan was also unable to speak after a stroke in 2006, challenging a claim that Gan made an oral declaration in Arabic to accept Islam. His conversion papers were also flawed because they were not signed, they said.
His family suffered a legal setback on Tuesday when a civil court rejected their bid to declare Gan a Buddhist, saying it had no jurisdiction over Islamic cases, a lawyer said.
'We are not Muslims, why should we go to sharia court?' the son said. 'The government should have a better system to deal with conversions. Otherwise the people will suffer.'
The spectacle of non-Muslims battling for funeral rights of relatives is not new in Malaysia, where disputes over religious conversions and complaints about demolitions of churches and Hindu temples have fuelled fears of a surge in hardline Islam.
There have been exceptions.
In a 2006 case involving an ethnic Indian said to have converted to Islam, Islamic religious authorities eventually climbed down and allowed the family of van driver Rayappan Anthony, 71, to reclaim his body for Christian burial. -- REUTERS
Chinese, Indians a 'great advantage' to Singapore economy: MM Lee
Chinese, Indians a 'great advantage' to S'pore's economy: MM Lee
http://heresthenews.blogspot.com/2008/01/chinese-indians-advantage-to-s-economy.html
Jan 23, 2008
Malays have also imbibed the same mindset to acquire knowledge and compete
By Li Xueying
IN making Singapore into a knowledge-based economy, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said he had the 'great advantage' of a population that includes the ethnic Chinese and the Indians, both with cultures that place great emphasis on knowledge.
'So I had a population that was eager and voracious to acquire knowledge and education,' he said. 'Without that, we would not have taken the easy leaps we did,' MM Lee told 300 business leaders and government officials at the Global Competitiveness Conference on Tuesday.
And while the Malay community did not initially have that same culture, they have - through inter-mingling with their neighbours - imbibed the same mindset, he added.
Today, there is a new Malay generation that has 'learnt to compete'.
'They see what their Chinese and Indians neighbours are doing with their children... emphasise on education and learning math and science, and their performance have come up,' said Mr Lee.
He cited Singapore's experience to make the point that the Saudis will have to also change their mindsets as they move to ratchet up their economic competitiveness.
'You have to move from a bedouin culture into the modern world, into the knowledge society,' he told the audience.
'Your first problem is how do you get your people to understand that you can't just live a quite happy peaceful childhood and suddenly you grow up and you acquire knowledge. Education is like training a violinist or a pianist - you got to start very early, pick up the urge to want to learn.'
Taking 10 questions that were variations on the same theme - what should Saudi Arabia do to become more competitive - Mr Lee said the resource-rich country should leverage on its revenues to reform now.
'This is the modern world where you have an untold, unbelievable opportunities to convert your oil and gas resources into a modern civilisation.'
This is what he would do if he is a Saudi given the task: 'I'd say, what makes me relevant to the rest of the world - not my sand, my camels, my dates, but my oil, and that's a scarce resource so let's not waste it,' said MM Lee.
He said he would move away from industries that extract oil for cheap energy. Instead, there are others that 'maximise' its value - for instance land and air transportation, plastic and resins, and other 'new discoveries that you can make out of oil'.
'It's how you manage those reserves,' he said. 'You're not going to build new cities all the time, you'll have to learn to invest in them judicously worldwide.'
Touching on social mores, Mr Lee also said that the country must educate its total population including the women, in a way that does not upset the social balance. It should also try to retain its foreign talent.
Mr Lee cited how Dubai allows its foreigners to live how they like. Saudi Arabia will have to find a way to allow its foreigners 'live a Dubai-type of life'.
For instance, while the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology will have a gated enclave, a university cannot exist in a vaccum without stimuli from the outside world, he observed.
Speaking to the Singapore media later, Mr Lee, who last visited the country two years ago, gave his impressions of the country.
'They're building at a very fast pace. The key for them is to have the people who will manage and run the system to catch up with the speed of the building,' he noted.
On criticisms from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority governor Amr Al-Dabbagh who said Singapore companies are not aggressive enough in investing, he said: 'This is a new country for us. We don't speak their language, we don't understand the intricacies of the system and we got to know where are the advantages we can go into which will be needed by them.'
In 2006, Mr Lee said Singapore companies have a window of five to seven years to enter the Middle East market.
On the progress made so far, he noted that Singapore companies are 'making more progress in the smaller Gulf states' such as Abu Dhabi and Qatar where a simple ruling structure is in place.
'Here you got, I don't know how many, hundred princes, royal princesses and different divisions of authority about who's in charge of what. So you got to find your way around.'
Mr Lee returned to Singapore on Wednesday.
http://heresthenews.blogspot.com/2008/01/chinese-indians-advantage-to-s-economy.html
Jan 23, 2008
Malays have also imbibed the same mindset to acquire knowledge and compete
By Li Xueying
IN making Singapore into a knowledge-based economy, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said he had the 'great advantage' of a population that includes the ethnic Chinese and the Indians, both with cultures that place great emphasis on knowledge.
'So I had a population that was eager and voracious to acquire knowledge and education,' he said. 'Without that, we would not have taken the easy leaps we did,' MM Lee told 300 business leaders and government officials at the Global Competitiveness Conference on Tuesday.
And while the Malay community did not initially have that same culture, they have - through inter-mingling with their neighbours - imbibed the same mindset, he added.
Today, there is a new Malay generation that has 'learnt to compete'.
'They see what their Chinese and Indians neighbours are doing with their children... emphasise on education and learning math and science, and their performance have come up,' said Mr Lee.
He cited Singapore's experience to make the point that the Saudis will have to also change their mindsets as they move to ratchet up their economic competitiveness.
'You have to move from a bedouin culture into the modern world, into the knowledge society,' he told the audience.
'Your first problem is how do you get your people to understand that you can't just live a quite happy peaceful childhood and suddenly you grow up and you acquire knowledge. Education is like training a violinist or a pianist - you got to start very early, pick up the urge to want to learn.'
Taking 10 questions that were variations on the same theme - what should Saudi Arabia do to become more competitive - Mr Lee said the resource-rich country should leverage on its revenues to reform now.
'This is the modern world where you have an untold, unbelievable opportunities to convert your oil and gas resources into a modern civilisation.'
This is what he would do if he is a Saudi given the task: 'I'd say, what makes me relevant to the rest of the world - not my sand, my camels, my dates, but my oil, and that's a scarce resource so let's not waste it,' said MM Lee.
He said he would move away from industries that extract oil for cheap energy. Instead, there are others that 'maximise' its value - for instance land and air transportation, plastic and resins, and other 'new discoveries that you can make out of oil'.
'It's how you manage those reserves,' he said. 'You're not going to build new cities all the time, you'll have to learn to invest in them judicously worldwide.'
Touching on social mores, Mr Lee also said that the country must educate its total population including the women, in a way that does not upset the social balance. It should also try to retain its foreign talent.
Mr Lee cited how Dubai allows its foreigners to live how they like. Saudi Arabia will have to find a way to allow its foreigners 'live a Dubai-type of life'.
For instance, while the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology will have a gated enclave, a university cannot exist in a vaccum without stimuli from the outside world, he observed.
Speaking to the Singapore media later, Mr Lee, who last visited the country two years ago, gave his impressions of the country.
'They're building at a very fast pace. The key for them is to have the people who will manage and run the system to catch up with the speed of the building,' he noted.
On criticisms from the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority governor Amr Al-Dabbagh who said Singapore companies are not aggressive enough in investing, he said: 'This is a new country for us. We don't speak their language, we don't understand the intricacies of the system and we got to know where are the advantages we can go into which will be needed by them.'
In 2006, Mr Lee said Singapore companies have a window of five to seven years to enter the Middle East market.
On the progress made so far, he noted that Singapore companies are 'making more progress in the smaller Gulf states' such as Abu Dhabi and Qatar where a simple ruling structure is in place.
'Here you got, I don't know how many, hundred princes, royal princesses and different divisions of authority about who's in charge of what. So you got to find your way around.'
Mr Lee returned to Singapore on Wednesday.
Hindu woman and Islamic council in insurance row
www.hindraf.org/content/msian-hindu-woman-row-over-dead-muslim-sons-insurance
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Hindu woman and Islamic Council in insurance row
$25,000 insurance payout denied to mum even though Muslim son named her as
beneficiary
A HINDU woman has spurned an offer by Malaysia's Islamic authorities to
settle a dispute over her dead Muslim son's insurance policy in a case that
highlights growing conflicts over religious rights.
The Federal Territory Islamic Council offered on Tuesday to give Mrs
Rukumony Muthiah two-thirds of the RM56,300 (S$25,000) proceeds from her
son's insurance policy, Mrs Rukumony's lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira said
yesterday.
Mrs Rukumony's army ranger son, a Muslim convert, had died in 2000. In his
insurance policy, Mr Ragu Ellaiappan - whose Muslim name was Mohamed Redzuan
Abdullah - had named Mrs Rukumony as his beneficiary, Mr Darshan said.
But the Islamic authorities argued in court that under the country's
religious laws for Muslims, a non-Muslim cannot claim inheritance from a
Muslim, he said.
'Our federal Constitution guarantees equality, so how can you say a
non-Muslim cannot inherit from a Muslim, but a Muslim can inherit from a
non-Muslim?' Mr Darshan asked.
The council's lawyers made the offer in the High Court in Penang on Tuesday,
but Mr Darshan said it was a 'fairy-tale offer' that was unacceptable.
Mrs Rukumony, a 61-year-old Indian widow, is willing to settle for 80 per
cent of the total sum, he said. The court is scheduled to hear the case on
March 14.
Malaysia's non-Muslim minorities say a spate of court cases in recent years,
involving disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims, has usually ended with
the Muslim side winning.
The legal conflicts have strained multiracial ties in Malaysia.
The Rukumony case is not the first one involving inheritance rights of a
non-Muslim family following the death of a Muslim family member.
In September 2004, a family of a Chinese fireman in Malacca who had
converted to Islam lost their inheritance after he died. His estate was
placed under the administration of the state's Islamic council.
After political intervention, half of the estate was returned to the family.
In another closely watched case, a Chinese man is battling the authorities
who took away the body of his father after saying he had embraced Islam
before he died.
He wants the court to declare that his father was a Buddhist.
Mr Gan Hok Ming, a 46-year-old computer technician, said yesterday that
non-Muslims were getting a raw deal.
'What choice do we have? We are very unsatisfied. There should be a more
transparent system, especially on Muslim conversions, ' he said from his home
in Negeri Sembilan.
His father Gan Eng Gor, 74, had died on Jan 20 and was buried as a Muslim
after an Islamic court ruled that he converted to Islam last year.
But the family insisted that Mr Gan was a Buddhist up to the day he died.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS
Thursday, 31 January 2008
Hindu woman and Islamic Council in insurance row
$25,000 insurance payout denied to mum even though Muslim son named her as
beneficiary
A HINDU woman has spurned an offer by Malaysia's Islamic authorities to
settle a dispute over her dead Muslim son's insurance policy in a case that
highlights growing conflicts over religious rights.
The Federal Territory Islamic Council offered on Tuesday to give Mrs
Rukumony Muthiah two-thirds of the RM56,300 (S$25,000) proceeds from her
son's insurance policy, Mrs Rukumony's lawyer Darshan Singh Khaira said
yesterday.
Mrs Rukumony's army ranger son, a Muslim convert, had died in 2000. In his
insurance policy, Mr Ragu Ellaiappan - whose Muslim name was Mohamed Redzuan
Abdullah - had named Mrs Rukumony as his beneficiary, Mr Darshan said.
But the Islamic authorities argued in court that under the country's
religious laws for Muslims, a non-Muslim cannot claim inheritance from a
Muslim, he said.
'Our federal Constitution guarantees equality, so how can you say a
non-Muslim cannot inherit from a Muslim, but a Muslim can inherit from a
non-Muslim?' Mr Darshan asked.
The council's lawyers made the offer in the High Court in Penang on Tuesday,
but Mr Darshan said it was a 'fairy-tale offer' that was unacceptable.
Mrs Rukumony, a 61-year-old Indian widow, is willing to settle for 80 per
cent of the total sum, he said. The court is scheduled to hear the case on
March 14.
Malaysia's non-Muslim minorities say a spate of court cases in recent years,
involving disputes between Muslims and non-Muslims, has usually ended with
the Muslim side winning.
The legal conflicts have strained multiracial ties in Malaysia.
The Rukumony case is not the first one involving inheritance rights of a
non-Muslim family following the death of a Muslim family member.
In September 2004, a family of a Chinese fireman in Malacca who had
converted to Islam lost their inheritance after he died. His estate was
placed under the administration of the state's Islamic council.
After political intervention, half of the estate was returned to the family.
In another closely watched case, a Chinese man is battling the authorities
who took away the body of his father after saying he had embraced Islam
before he died.
He wants the court to declare that his father was a Buddhist.
Mr Gan Hok Ming, a 46-year-old computer technician, said yesterday that
non-Muslims were getting a raw deal.
'What choice do we have? We are very unsatisfied. There should be a more
transparent system, especially on Muslim conversions, ' he said from his home
in Negeri Sembilan.
His father Gan Eng Gor, 74, had died on Jan 20 and was buried as a Muslim
after an Islamic court ruled that he converted to Islam last year.
But the family insisted that Mr Gan was a Buddhist up to the day he died.
ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Pak Lah take Dr. Mahathir's advice, release Hindraf 5
Pak Lah take Dr.Mahathir’s advice, release Hindraf 5
I spoke at Au Long, Taiping on 30thJanuary2008.
Among the matters spoke were
1) Demand the release of the HINDRAF 5
2) SPR should ensure all the 17000 newly registered be eligible voters to vote in the coming elections
Malaysian former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday said the government should talk to the Hindraf leaders, not arrest them under the ISA.
He also said the corruption and vote buying will be rampant in the next election.
Dr Mahathir said BN coalition member the Malaysian Indian Congress was not properly representing the Indians.
The Hindraf rally was one of several streets demonstrations that have shaken the government in recent months, along with an election reform rally that drew more than 30,000 protesters.
These are very serious observation by the former Prime Minister who knows better to urge Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to release the five Hindraf leaders.
He said the Hindraf protest happened because the government failed to listen to the Indian people grievances.
How true is Dr Mahathir’s observation.
Abdullah must heed this wise advice and release the Hindraf leaders immediately and without any condition. He should open dialogues with the Indian community based on the 18-points memorandum Hindraf had submitted to him in August last year.
We urge the Prime Minister to urgently set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate this matter, release the Hindraf leaders and begin a proper study to help the Indian community based on the 18-points memorandum.
Only this action will ease the anger the Indian community is feeling and clearly expressed during the Nov 25 protest, boycott of Thaipusam at Batu Caves on January 23 and next will show their anger at the general elections expected din mid-March.
Are the 17000 who registered with the SPR in the last quarter eligible to vote in the coming elections?
The Elections Commission Chairman has announced that over seventeen thousand have registered as voters between the months of October-December2008 but these voters may not be eligible to vote in the coming elections as “investigations could not be completed by then”. This is really disappointing. Or are the 17000 new voters perceived as going to vote against the Barisan in the coming elections. Why it takes such a long time to verify and gazette the new voters? We urge the SPR to speed up the process and gazette all the eligible voters so that they can vote in the coming elections. The SPR should if the need be employ more staff for this purpose. The SPR wants powers to sue those who make “wild allegations” against the SPR. Instead of trying to shield from criticisms the SPR should come clean and do its primary work of gazetting eligible voters the soonest possible.
The SPR spends over RM80 million a year to carry out voter registration exercise. All this is shear waste of tax payer’s money as all the particulars of eligible voters could be obtained from the National Registration Department and the data could be used to up date the records of the SPR.
In countries like New Zealand and in many other countries:
a voter can register as a voter a day before elections and why this is not the case in Malaysia;
can register as a voter by email but this not possible in Malaysia;
The SPR chief has traveled widely around the globe to witness the election process but the question is why the good practices in those countries are not implemented in Malaysia? Recently we met him in Ipoh and he had just come back after the Australian general elections but nothing has changed since then.
http://kula.blogsome.com/2008/01/31/pak-lah-take-drmahathirs-advice-release-hindraf-5/
Candles are the resemblance of peace
Parliament lobby on 28thJanuary2008
We find it ridiculous that MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu condemned the DAP - myself and Mr Lim Kit Siang - for the candle light vigil held on Thaipusam day in Ipoh Perak last week.
Candles are the resemblance of peace and are also useful when there is no electricity
The candle just gives flame and marks the peoples protest against injustice. It is a symbol of light over darkness and is accepted as such by all cultures and religions in the world.
To accuse us of taking candles to temples is simply ridiculous and panders to the base instincts of people. Samy Vellu should know that.
Candles, kuttu villaku and other flames are totally acceptable and normal in any places of worship in the world. Only Samy Vellu out of deep ignorance is making an issue out of it berceuse he has gone bankrupt of issues. Because people have rejected him.
The procession is a people’s event, asked by them and organised by them and us as a people’s party. It is allowed under the constitution to protest peacefully in case Samy Vellu is unaware of it. Over 5,000 people took part in it and it was a great success.
The procession started from the Mariman Temple buntong, Ipoh to the Subramaniam Temple, Gunong Cheroh ,Ipoh and took about 3 hours with a distance of nearly over 3 km.
Just to add protestors had candles and also kuttu vilaku - they used whatever was convenient. The important thing for us all was the flame as a sign of protest and purification. candles are alright with Hinduism, which is a broadminded, and inclusive religion based on understanding and tolerance.
Meanwhile the procession did not enter the temple although it is alright with Hinduism, experts I consulted today said.
Samy’s unbecoming conduct
Samy has defamed and disgraced himself when celeberating Ponggal had his shoes on. He was not only disrespectful but in all respect by wearing the shoes he acted like a WOG (western orientated gentleman)
Hindu Temples are for all not only for MIC members!
MIC politicians manage almost all main Hindu Temples and frequently MIC meetings are also held in the temple grounds.
But when people request the temples to hold prayers for the HINDRAF 5 it is not permitted. Why? By and large almost all Hindu Temples are run from monies received from donations from the Indian community.
Temples should not be use to propagate Barisan polices but must be a place of religious orientation.
POSTED BY Administrator ON 01.28.08
http://kula.blogsome.com/2008/01/28/candles-are-the-resemblance-of-peace/
I spoke at Au Long, Taiping on 30thJanuary2008.
Among the matters spoke were
1) Demand the release of the HINDRAF 5
2) SPR should ensure all the 17000 newly registered be eligible voters to vote in the coming elections
Malaysian former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday said the government should talk to the Hindraf leaders, not arrest them under the ISA.
He also said the corruption and vote buying will be rampant in the next election.
Dr Mahathir said BN coalition member the Malaysian Indian Congress was not properly representing the Indians.
The Hindraf rally was one of several streets demonstrations that have shaken the government in recent months, along with an election reform rally that drew more than 30,000 protesters.
These are very serious observation by the former Prime Minister who knows better to urge Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi to release the five Hindraf leaders.
He said the Hindraf protest happened because the government failed to listen to the Indian people grievances.
How true is Dr Mahathir’s observation.
Abdullah must heed this wise advice and release the Hindraf leaders immediately and without any condition. He should open dialogues with the Indian community based on the 18-points memorandum Hindraf had submitted to him in August last year.
We urge the Prime Minister to urgently set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate this matter, release the Hindraf leaders and begin a proper study to help the Indian community based on the 18-points memorandum.
Only this action will ease the anger the Indian community is feeling and clearly expressed during the Nov 25 protest, boycott of Thaipusam at Batu Caves on January 23 and next will show their anger at the general elections expected din mid-March.
Are the 17000 who registered with the SPR in the last quarter eligible to vote in the coming elections?
The Elections Commission Chairman has announced that over seventeen thousand have registered as voters between the months of October-December2008 but these voters may not be eligible to vote in the coming elections as “investigations could not be completed by then”. This is really disappointing. Or are the 17000 new voters perceived as going to vote against the Barisan in the coming elections. Why it takes such a long time to verify and gazette the new voters? We urge the SPR to speed up the process and gazette all the eligible voters so that they can vote in the coming elections. The SPR should if the need be employ more staff for this purpose. The SPR wants powers to sue those who make “wild allegations” against the SPR. Instead of trying to shield from criticisms the SPR should come clean and do its primary work of gazetting eligible voters the soonest possible.
The SPR spends over RM80 million a year to carry out voter registration exercise. All this is shear waste of tax payer’s money as all the particulars of eligible voters could be obtained from the National Registration Department and the data could be used to up date the records of the SPR.
In countries like New Zealand and in many other countries:
a voter can register as a voter a day before elections and why this is not the case in Malaysia;
can register as a voter by email but this not possible in Malaysia;
The SPR chief has traveled widely around the globe to witness the election process but the question is why the good practices in those countries are not implemented in Malaysia? Recently we met him in Ipoh and he had just come back after the Australian general elections but nothing has changed since then.
http://kula.blogsome.com/2008/01/31/pak-lah-take-drmahathirs-advice-release-hindraf-5/
Candles are the resemblance of peace
Parliament lobby on 28thJanuary2008
We find it ridiculous that MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu condemned the DAP - myself and Mr Lim Kit Siang - for the candle light vigil held on Thaipusam day in Ipoh Perak last week.
Candles are the resemblance of peace and are also useful when there is no electricity
The candle just gives flame and marks the peoples protest against injustice. It is a symbol of light over darkness and is accepted as such by all cultures and religions in the world.
To accuse us of taking candles to temples is simply ridiculous and panders to the base instincts of people. Samy Vellu should know that.
Candles, kuttu villaku and other flames are totally acceptable and normal in any places of worship in the world. Only Samy Vellu out of deep ignorance is making an issue out of it berceuse he has gone bankrupt of issues. Because people have rejected him.
The procession is a people’s event, asked by them and organised by them and us as a people’s party. It is allowed under the constitution to protest peacefully in case Samy Vellu is unaware of it. Over 5,000 people took part in it and it was a great success.
The procession started from the Mariman Temple buntong, Ipoh to the Subramaniam Temple, Gunong Cheroh ,Ipoh and took about 3 hours with a distance of nearly over 3 km.
Just to add protestors had candles and also kuttu vilaku - they used whatever was convenient. The important thing for us all was the flame as a sign of protest and purification. candles are alright with Hinduism, which is a broadminded, and inclusive religion based on understanding and tolerance.
Meanwhile the procession did not enter the temple although it is alright with Hinduism, experts I consulted today said.
Samy’s unbecoming conduct
Samy has defamed and disgraced himself when celeberating Ponggal had his shoes on. He was not only disrespectful but in all respect by wearing the shoes he acted like a WOG (western orientated gentleman)
Hindu Temples are for all not only for MIC members!
MIC politicians manage almost all main Hindu Temples and frequently MIC meetings are also held in the temple grounds.
But when people request the temples to hold prayers for the HINDRAF 5 it is not permitted. Why? By and large almost all Hindu Temples are run from monies received from donations from the Indian community.
Temples should not be use to propagate Barisan polices but must be a place of religious orientation.
POSTED BY Administrator ON 01.28.08
http://kula.blogsome.com/2008/01/28/candles-are-the-resemblance-of-peace/
Malaysia: Indian mutiny
Indian mutiny
Posted online: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 2356 hrs
Some devotees had been fasting for weeks and shaved their heads. The most zealous pierced their cheeks with skewers or attached large wooden icons to their bodies with dozens of flesh-piercing hooks. On January 23rd tens of thousands of ethnic-Indian Malaysians gathered at the Batu Caves temple outside Kuala Lumpur to celebrate Thaipusam, one of Hinduism’s biggest festivals. In past years more than a million have turned out. This year, although ministers and pro-government newspapers denied it, the crowd was much thinner. Many Malaysian Indians seemed to have answered a call for a boycott, amid rising anger at the way their minority—around 8% of the country’s population—is treated by the government.
Three days earlier the prime minister, Abdullah Badawi, had sought to appease Hindu anger by promising that Thaipusam would henceforth be a public holiday in the capital of the Muslim-majority country. He announced this at a gathering of 15,000 Malaysian Indians, hoping to show that he still retains their support, despite the emergence in the past year of a radical protest group called the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf.
Last November Indians gathering at the Batu Caves on the eve of a Hindraf street march were trapped when the temple’s managers—said to be linked to the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), part of Mr Badawi’s ruling coalition—locked the gates and called the police. In the disorder that followed, many were arrested. Even so, the next morning at least 10,000 took part in the Hindraf march, which the police broke up with tear-gas and baton charges.
In the 50 years of peninsular Malay-sia’s independence from Britain, the ethnic Indians have been more quiescent than the richer, better educated and more assertive ethnic Chinese, who make up about one-quarter of the population. Under an implicit “social contract”, the two minorities, mostly descended from migrant workers, were given citizenship in return for accepting that ethnic Malays and other indigenous groups, together known as bumiputras (sons of the soil), would enjoy privileged access to state jobs and education. All the races have done well from strong economic growth since independence. The Indians and Chinese suffer even lower poverty rates than the bumiputras. But whereas the majority population have, with official help, started catching up with the Chinese in the property and shares they own, the Indians still have few assets. Often they are stuck in rented homes and low-skilled urban jobs.
The Indians’ sense of missing out on the good life has helped to feed their mood of grievance. But what has most fuelled their anger in the past few years is a feeling that “creeping Islamisation” threatens their religious freedom. The issue that triggered Hindraf’s formation, according to N. Surendran, one of the group’s leaders, was the demolition of a number of “unauthorised” Hindu temples by local governments, often by state workers who were Malays and thus
Muslims. The big rally in November came a few weeks after a temple in Shah Alam, west of the capital, was demolished just before Diwali, another important Hindu festival, despite the temple committee’s pleas to delay its destruction for a few more days.
Many of the threatened temples were constructed by migrant workers in colonial times, without formal permission, on plantations or by roads and railways built by the migrants. Now this land is being redeveloped. Hence the drive to demolish them, says A. Vaithilingam of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam, the main association of temples. The authorities could try harder to resolve disputes, he says, but they are too anxious to please rich developers.
The heavy-handed response to Hindraf’s protests has served to make things worse. Five Hindraf leaders have been detained without trial under a colonial-era security law, and were said to have gone on hunger strike. Hindraf denies the government’s charge that it has links to Sri Lanka’s rebels, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
With an election expected shortly, Mr Badawi has sought to soothe ethnic Indian anger. Besides declaring Thaipusam a holiday he has promised a cabinet committee to look into poverty among all races. But he may also calculate that the unnecessarily harsh treatment of Hindraf will win his party votes among hardline Malays. If so, he risks helping the extremists on each side peddle the dangerous myth that there is a zero-sum game between the races—and that the way to win it is to take to the streets.
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Indian-mutiny/267163/#
Posted online: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at 2356 hrs
Some devotees had been fasting for weeks and shaved their heads. The most zealous pierced their cheeks with skewers or attached large wooden icons to their bodies with dozens of flesh-piercing hooks. On January 23rd tens of thousands of ethnic-Indian Malaysians gathered at the Batu Caves temple outside Kuala Lumpur to celebrate Thaipusam, one of Hinduism’s biggest festivals. In past years more than a million have turned out. This year, although ministers and pro-government newspapers denied it, the crowd was much thinner. Many Malaysian Indians seemed to have answered a call for a boycott, amid rising anger at the way their minority—around 8% of the country’s population—is treated by the government.
Three days earlier the prime minister, Abdullah Badawi, had sought to appease Hindu anger by promising that Thaipusam would henceforth be a public holiday in the capital of the Muslim-majority country. He announced this at a gathering of 15,000 Malaysian Indians, hoping to show that he still retains their support, despite the emergence in the past year of a radical protest group called the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf.
Last November Indians gathering at the Batu Caves on the eve of a Hindraf street march were trapped when the temple’s managers—said to be linked to the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), part of Mr Badawi’s ruling coalition—locked the gates and called the police. In the disorder that followed, many were arrested. Even so, the next morning at least 10,000 took part in the Hindraf march, which the police broke up with tear-gas and baton charges.
In the 50 years of peninsular Malay-sia’s independence from Britain, the ethnic Indians have been more quiescent than the richer, better educated and more assertive ethnic Chinese, who make up about one-quarter of the population. Under an implicit “social contract”, the two minorities, mostly descended from migrant workers, were given citizenship in return for accepting that ethnic Malays and other indigenous groups, together known as bumiputras (sons of the soil), would enjoy privileged access to state jobs and education. All the races have done well from strong economic growth since independence. The Indians and Chinese suffer even lower poverty rates than the bumiputras. But whereas the majority population have, with official help, started catching up with the Chinese in the property and shares they own, the Indians still have few assets. Often they are stuck in rented homes and low-skilled urban jobs.
The Indians’ sense of missing out on the good life has helped to feed their mood of grievance. But what has most fuelled their anger in the past few years is a feeling that “creeping Islamisation” threatens their religious freedom. The issue that triggered Hindraf’s formation, according to N. Surendran, one of the group’s leaders, was the demolition of a number of “unauthorised” Hindu temples by local governments, often by state workers who were Malays and thus
Muslims. The big rally in November came a few weeks after a temple in Shah Alam, west of the capital, was demolished just before Diwali, another important Hindu festival, despite the temple committee’s pleas to delay its destruction for a few more days.
Many of the threatened temples were constructed by migrant workers in colonial times, without formal permission, on plantations or by roads and railways built by the migrants. Now this land is being redeveloped. Hence the drive to demolish them, says A. Vaithilingam of the Malaysia Hindu Sangam, the main association of temples. The authorities could try harder to resolve disputes, he says, but they are too anxious to please rich developers.
The heavy-handed response to Hindraf’s protests has served to make things worse. Five Hindraf leaders have been detained without trial under a colonial-era security law, and were said to have gone on hunger strike. Hindraf denies the government’s charge that it has links to Sri Lanka’s rebels, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
With an election expected shortly, Mr Badawi has sought to soothe ethnic Indian anger. Besides declaring Thaipusam a holiday he has promised a cabinet committee to look into poverty among all races. But he may also calculate that the unnecessarily harsh treatment of Hindraf will win his party votes among hardline Malays. If so, he risks helping the extremists on each side peddle the dangerous myth that there is a zero-sum game between the races—and that the way to win it is to take to the streets.
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Indian-mutiny/267163/#
18-point demands of Hindraf supporters
18 Point demands of Hindraf Supporters
Posted by chaanakyan on January 30, 2008
1. Realizing the five leaders from the ISA because they were arrested for Malaysian Malay political purpose
2. Realizing or acquittal the Hindraf people charged by AG /PM Charges against for political purpose
3. 18 POINT DEMANDS OF THE MALAYSIAN INDIANS TO
1. Whereas:
The Reid Commission was appointed by her Majesty the Queen of England and the Conference of Rulers in 1956 with the view to Malaya (and now Malaysia) achieving independence by August 1957.Among the primary terms of reference of the Reid Commission were a Common Nationality for the whole of the Federation.
2. And whereas
The overwhelming of the 131 written memoranda submitted to the Reid Commission as evidenced by the declassified documents from the Public Records Office, Kew, London, United Kingdom which represented the will and wishes of the then Malayan population were primarily equality and equal opportunities etc for all Malayans irrespective of
race or religion as follows: -
2.1 In the grant of state land,
2.2 Admission to public and administrative service;
2.3 To trade and do business, licences, permits etc
2.4 Primary, secondary, skills Training, university and overseas university education.
2.5 No special privileges for the Malays,
2.6 No discrimination of any ethnic community based on race or religion,
2.7 The retention of all their places of worship in particular Hindu temples, crematoriums and burial sites,
2.8 Freedom of Religion,
2.9 Malaya is to be a Secular State and not an Islamic state,
2.10 Right to mother tongue education in particular Tamil schools to be fully aided,
2.11 Minimum wage for the lowest paid, and
2.12 Equal recognition as sons of soil for all Malayan born.
3. And whereas
Based on the aforesaid proposals the Malaysian Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law of Malaysia as drawn out by the Reid Commission in 1957 was passed by the inaugural Malayan Parliament and which formed the basis of independent Malaysia.
4. And whereas
Over the last 50 years since independence on the 31st day of August 1957, the United Malays Organisation (UMNO) controlled Malaysian government with their majoritarian might, and backed by police, Attorney General’s Chambers, Judiciary, civil service and the media continuously violated the Malaysian Federal Constitution by their racist and Islamic extremist policies and which in effect have created an apartheid system ala Malaysia and especially resulting in the degeneration of at least 70% of the ethnic minority Indians to become the underclass of Malaysia who end up in the poor and hardcore poor category. The rest of the 29% raised above the poor and hardcore poor category wholly and/or substantially through their own efforts, sacrifices and labour with no or very little assistance by the UMNO
controlled government. The 1% of the cream thrives anyway.
5. And whereas
The plight of the Indians have been made worse by the racist UMNO mindset having spilled over to even almost all of the Opposition parties, NGOs’, Civil society, Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Bar Council, the media etc who do not take up the Indian plight for they are deemed to be lacking “political mileage” (race based) and/or no funding.
6. And whereas
The Indians having no or very little opportunities for upward mobility or hope either turn to crime (60% of Malaysian detainees are Indians though they are only 8% of population-Suhakam 2005) or end up committing suicide which is 1000% higher than Malays (Utusan Malaysia 12.9.2005).
7. And Whereas at a public forum attended by 1,000 over Indians on 28.7.2007 at 7.00p.m at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, the participants unanimously resolved to forward their 18 point demands and which this peaceful assembly gathered here today on the 12th day of August 2007 at Putrajaya once again unanimously resolves to demand as hereinbelow outlined.
And now it is hereby demanded for and on behalf of the two (2) Million ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia from the UMNO controlled Malaysian Government their 18 point demands as follows: -
(1) End 50 years of violations of the Malaysian Federal Constitution.
(2) End Racism, end Islamic extremism and end Malay privileges on the 50th year golden jubilee mega Independence celebrations of Malaysia on 31st August 2007.
(3) Call for affirmative action plans for all poor Malaysians especially the ethnic minority Indians. A Protection of Ethnic
Minority Malaysian Indian Act 2007 be passed to secure and safeguard the interests of the poor and defenceless ethnic Indian Minority Community.
(4) All 523 Tamil Schools in Malaysia be made fully aided government schools with immediate effect and to have equal and same facilities as granted to national schools especially in terms of financial allocations, sufficient graduate teaching staff, financial allocation for extra tuition, ample computers, Information Technology facilities, school fields, sports, recreational facilities, air conditioned library, textbook loans, kindergarden, school uniforms and pocket money for poor pupils, nutritional food programmes, teaching aids, school building, infrastructure, film screening room and facilities, financial assistance for poor students, rehabilitation classes, non Muslim religious classes, etc. A RM 100 Billion grant @ 20 Billion per year with effect from 2007 be allocated to Indians under the 9th Malaysia Plan (5 years) for refurbishing the existing 523 Tamil schools and rebuilding of the 300 Tamil schools demolished over the last 50 years.
(5) Extend and implement with immediate effect to Indians the affirmative action plans, grants, scholarships, loans etc as extended to Malay Muslim citizens with the view to providing equal opportunities for higher education, university education, admission to foreign universities, post graduate studies locally and overseas, Trade and Skills Training Institutions, Science Colleges especially for each and every Indian student from the 70% poor and hardcore poor
Indian category.
(6) Extend and implement with immediate effect affirmative action plans as extended to Malay Muslim citizens with the view to provide equal opportunities in acquiring wealth, venturing into business, trade, industries, medium and small scale industries, government linked companies, corporate sector, procurement of direct government contracts, in acquiring licenses for contractors, blue chip and / or guaranteed return shares, lorry, taxi and bus permits, loans and licenses to venture into trade, business banking and the corporate sector for each and every Indian from especially the 70% poor and
hardcore poor Indian category. To this effect the UMNO controlled government allocates RM100 Billion at RM20 Billion per annum with effect from 2007 and implements successful strategic schemes in investments for the Indians as implemented for the Malay Muslims with the view to the Indians acquiring at least 10% of the nation’s equity.
(7) All the aforesaid is to be handled directly by the UMNO controlled government and UMNO is to stop “playing politics” through the “Mandore” (supervisor) system by dishing out on a piecemeal and/or peanuts basis or merely public and/or newspaper announcements and declarations by the Malaysian Indian Congress ( M.I.C) who have no or very little power or say in the UMNO controlled Malaysian government.
(8) 20% of the Government top most level postings (Secretaries Generals), Middle level Management (Directors) and management level (Managers) postings, and the same for the Private Sectors, and positions of District Officers; Foreign and Diplomatic Service positions, civil service positions are reserved for Indians for the next 15 years.
(9) The UMNO controlled government makes public and is transparent on all of the aforesaid affirmative action plans i.e. the aforesaid education places, licenses, scholarships, grants, loans, permits, licenses, opportunities etc by publishing the same in the official website of the Government of Malaysia as and when the same is granted and/or on a monthly basis specifying the Indian beneficiaries thereto.
(10) Stop the indiscriminate unconstitutional and unlawful demolitions of Hindu temples, crematoriums and burial sites in
Malaysia. All existing Hindu temples, crematoriums and burial sites be granted state land and permanently gazetted as Hindu temple reserves as has been done for all Islamic places of worship and burial sites. Compensation at RM10 Million per temple be paid by the UMNO controlled Malaysian Government for the 15,000 Hindu temples demolished up to date over the last 50 years.
Every individual given the Right to practice and profess Religion/s of his/her choice in accordance to Standards adopted by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. The State and its Authorities barred from interfering in the personal beliefs and conscience of individual citizens . Disputes between Muslims & Non Muslims should be adjudicated in the Civil Courts.
(11) Stop the victimization and direct discrimination by the Police and all other state authorities of the Indians. All Malaysians earning RM 3,000.00 and below are to be fully borne by state funded legal aid for any criminal charges they face.
(12) The UMNO controlled government forms with immediate effect a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Kg Medan Mini Genocide, condemns the violence thereto, apologises to the Indian community on this mini genocide, undertakes not to repeat the same in future and pay a compensation of RM1,000, 000.00 for each and every citizen killed, permanently maimed, maimed or injured in this tragedy.
(13) Each and every Indian especially the Indian poor in the aforesaid 70% Indian poor and hardcore poor category is paid
compensation which is to be adjudicated and determined by the United Nations Secretary General for the aforesaid 50 years of Constitutional violations by the UMNO controlled government.
(14) All homeless Malaysians are to be provided affordable homes and not low cost flats by law. A minimum wage of RM1,000.00 for each and every Malaysian be made law.
(15) A Royal Commission of Inquiry is initiated to report on the aforesaid constitutional violations by the UMNO controlled government and appropriate recommendations for amongst others further affirmative action plans for especially the 70% Indian poor and hardcore poor category.
(16) All forms of racial and religious discrimination, oppression and suppression of the Indians / Hindus in both the public and private sectors are stopped with immediate effect and a Race Relations Commission Act 2007, an Equal Opportunities Commission Act 2007 and a Freedom of Religion Commissions Act 2007 be passed and powerful Commission thereto be put into force to give effect to anti racism, anti Islamic extremism and anti direct discrimination practices by the UMNO controlled government in both the public and private sectors.
(17) The UMNO controlled government passes specific laws to give effect to the Independence of the Judiciary, the Attorney General’s Chambers, Civil service, Police Force, Army, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission and the Malaysian media and for the Opposition parties, NGOs’ Civil Society groups, Bar Council and the media not to
discriminate and side step Indian issues but instead to voice out the same without fear or favour. The Malaysian media is also to be legislated to report the real happenings especially on the 70% Indian poor and hardcore poor without fear or favour.
(18) A minimum of 20 Opposition members of Parliament are elected exclusively by the Indian Community to represent their interest at the highest political level and also as a Parliamentary Democracy check and balance and the same is safeguarded and entrenched into the Federal Constitution and which is to be increased proportionately with the increase in Parliamentary seats.
http://malaysianindiantoday.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/18-point-demands-of-hindraf-supporters/
Posted by chaanakyan on January 30, 2008
1. Realizing the five leaders from the ISA because they were arrested for Malaysian Malay political purpose
2. Realizing or acquittal the Hindraf people charged by AG /PM Charges against for political purpose
3. 18 POINT DEMANDS OF THE MALAYSIAN INDIANS TO
1. Whereas:
The Reid Commission was appointed by her Majesty the Queen of England and the Conference of Rulers in 1956 with the view to Malaya (and now Malaysia) achieving independence by August 1957.Among the primary terms of reference of the Reid Commission were a Common Nationality for the whole of the Federation.
2. And whereas
The overwhelming of the 131 written memoranda submitted to the Reid Commission as evidenced by the declassified documents from the Public Records Office, Kew, London, United Kingdom which represented the will and wishes of the then Malayan population were primarily equality and equal opportunities etc for all Malayans irrespective of
race or religion as follows: -
2.1 In the grant of state land,
2.2 Admission to public and administrative service;
2.3 To trade and do business, licences, permits etc
2.4 Primary, secondary, skills Training, university and overseas university education.
2.5 No special privileges for the Malays,
2.6 No discrimination of any ethnic community based on race or religion,
2.7 The retention of all their places of worship in particular Hindu temples, crematoriums and burial sites,
2.8 Freedom of Religion,
2.9 Malaya is to be a Secular State and not an Islamic state,
2.10 Right to mother tongue education in particular Tamil schools to be fully aided,
2.11 Minimum wage for the lowest paid, and
2.12 Equal recognition as sons of soil for all Malayan born.
3. And whereas
Based on the aforesaid proposals the Malaysian Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law of Malaysia as drawn out by the Reid Commission in 1957 was passed by the inaugural Malayan Parliament and which formed the basis of independent Malaysia.
4. And whereas
Over the last 50 years since independence on the 31st day of August 1957, the United Malays Organisation (UMNO) controlled Malaysian government with their majoritarian might, and backed by police, Attorney General’s Chambers, Judiciary, civil service and the media continuously violated the Malaysian Federal Constitution by their racist and Islamic extremist policies and which in effect have created an apartheid system ala Malaysia and especially resulting in the degeneration of at least 70% of the ethnic minority Indians to become the underclass of Malaysia who end up in the poor and hardcore poor category. The rest of the 29% raised above the poor and hardcore poor category wholly and/or substantially through their own efforts, sacrifices and labour with no or very little assistance by the UMNO
controlled government. The 1% of the cream thrives anyway.
5. And whereas
The plight of the Indians have been made worse by the racist UMNO mindset having spilled over to even almost all of the Opposition parties, NGOs’, Civil society, Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam), Bar Council, the media etc who do not take up the Indian plight for they are deemed to be lacking “political mileage” (race based) and/or no funding.
6. And whereas
The Indians having no or very little opportunities for upward mobility or hope either turn to crime (60% of Malaysian detainees are Indians though they are only 8% of population-Suhakam 2005) or end up committing suicide which is 1000% higher than Malays (Utusan Malaysia 12.9.2005).
7. And Whereas at a public forum attended by 1,000 over Indians on 28.7.2007 at 7.00p.m at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, the participants unanimously resolved to forward their 18 point demands and which this peaceful assembly gathered here today on the 12th day of August 2007 at Putrajaya once again unanimously resolves to demand as hereinbelow outlined.
And now it is hereby demanded for and on behalf of the two (2) Million ethnic minority Indians in Malaysia from the UMNO controlled Malaysian Government their 18 point demands as follows: -
(1) End 50 years of violations of the Malaysian Federal Constitution.
(2) End Racism, end Islamic extremism and end Malay privileges on the 50th year golden jubilee mega Independence celebrations of Malaysia on 31st August 2007.
(3) Call for affirmative action plans for all poor Malaysians especially the ethnic minority Indians. A Protection of Ethnic
Minority Malaysian Indian Act 2007 be passed to secure and safeguard the interests of the poor and defenceless ethnic Indian Minority Community.
(4) All 523 Tamil Schools in Malaysia be made fully aided government schools with immediate effect and to have equal and same facilities as granted to national schools especially in terms of financial allocations, sufficient graduate teaching staff, financial allocation for extra tuition, ample computers, Information Technology facilities, school fields, sports, recreational facilities, air conditioned library, textbook loans, kindergarden, school uniforms and pocket money for poor pupils, nutritional food programmes, teaching aids, school building, infrastructure, film screening room and facilities, financial assistance for poor students, rehabilitation classes, non Muslim religious classes, etc. A RM 100 Billion grant @ 20 Billion per year with effect from 2007 be allocated to Indians under the 9th Malaysia Plan (5 years) for refurbishing the existing 523 Tamil schools and rebuilding of the 300 Tamil schools demolished over the last 50 years.
(5) Extend and implement with immediate effect to Indians the affirmative action plans, grants, scholarships, loans etc as extended to Malay Muslim citizens with the view to providing equal opportunities for higher education, university education, admission to foreign universities, post graduate studies locally and overseas, Trade and Skills Training Institutions, Science Colleges especially for each and every Indian student from the 70% poor and hardcore poor
Indian category.
(6) Extend and implement with immediate effect affirmative action plans as extended to Malay Muslim citizens with the view to provide equal opportunities in acquiring wealth, venturing into business, trade, industries, medium and small scale industries, government linked companies, corporate sector, procurement of direct government contracts, in acquiring licenses for contractors, blue chip and / or guaranteed return shares, lorry, taxi and bus permits, loans and licenses to venture into trade, business banking and the corporate sector for each and every Indian from especially the 70% poor and
hardcore poor Indian category. To this effect the UMNO controlled government allocates RM100 Billion at RM20 Billion per annum with effect from 2007 and implements successful strategic schemes in investments for the Indians as implemented for the Malay Muslims with the view to the Indians acquiring at least 10% of the nation’s equity.
(7) All the aforesaid is to be handled directly by the UMNO controlled government and UMNO is to stop “playing politics” through the “Mandore” (supervisor) system by dishing out on a piecemeal and/or peanuts basis or merely public and/or newspaper announcements and declarations by the Malaysian Indian Congress ( M.I.C) who have no or very little power or say in the UMNO controlled Malaysian government.
(8) 20% of the Government top most level postings (Secretaries Generals), Middle level Management (Directors) and management level (Managers) postings, and the same for the Private Sectors, and positions of District Officers; Foreign and Diplomatic Service positions, civil service positions are reserved for Indians for the next 15 years.
(9) The UMNO controlled government makes public and is transparent on all of the aforesaid affirmative action plans i.e. the aforesaid education places, licenses, scholarships, grants, loans, permits, licenses, opportunities etc by publishing the same in the official website of the Government of Malaysia as and when the same is granted and/or on a monthly basis specifying the Indian beneficiaries thereto.
(10) Stop the indiscriminate unconstitutional and unlawful demolitions of Hindu temples, crematoriums and burial sites in
Malaysia. All existing Hindu temples, crematoriums and burial sites be granted state land and permanently gazetted as Hindu temple reserves as has been done for all Islamic places of worship and burial sites. Compensation at RM10 Million per temple be paid by the UMNO controlled Malaysian Government for the 15,000 Hindu temples demolished up to date over the last 50 years.
Every individual given the Right to practice and profess Religion/s of his/her choice in accordance to Standards adopted by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948. The State and its Authorities barred from interfering in the personal beliefs and conscience of individual citizens . Disputes between Muslims & Non Muslims should be adjudicated in the Civil Courts.
(11) Stop the victimization and direct discrimination by the Police and all other state authorities of the Indians. All Malaysians earning RM 3,000.00 and below are to be fully borne by state funded legal aid for any criminal charges they face.
(12) The UMNO controlled government forms with immediate effect a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Kg Medan Mini Genocide, condemns the violence thereto, apologises to the Indian community on this mini genocide, undertakes not to repeat the same in future and pay a compensation of RM1,000, 000.00 for each and every citizen killed, permanently maimed, maimed or injured in this tragedy.
(13) Each and every Indian especially the Indian poor in the aforesaid 70% Indian poor and hardcore poor category is paid
compensation which is to be adjudicated and determined by the United Nations Secretary General for the aforesaid 50 years of Constitutional violations by the UMNO controlled government.
(14) All homeless Malaysians are to be provided affordable homes and not low cost flats by law. A minimum wage of RM1,000.00 for each and every Malaysian be made law.
(15) A Royal Commission of Inquiry is initiated to report on the aforesaid constitutional violations by the UMNO controlled government and appropriate recommendations for amongst others further affirmative action plans for especially the 70% Indian poor and hardcore poor category.
(16) All forms of racial and religious discrimination, oppression and suppression of the Indians / Hindus in both the public and private sectors are stopped with immediate effect and a Race Relations Commission Act 2007, an Equal Opportunities Commission Act 2007 and a Freedom of Religion Commissions Act 2007 be passed and powerful Commission thereto be put into force to give effect to anti racism, anti Islamic extremism and anti direct discrimination practices by the UMNO controlled government in both the public and private sectors.
(17) The UMNO controlled government passes specific laws to give effect to the Independence of the Judiciary, the Attorney General’s Chambers, Civil service, Police Force, Army, the Malaysian Human Rights Commission and the Malaysian media and for the Opposition parties, NGOs’ Civil Society groups, Bar Council and the media not to
discriminate and side step Indian issues but instead to voice out the same without fear or favour. The Malaysian media is also to be legislated to report the real happenings especially on the 70% Indian poor and hardcore poor without fear or favour.
(18) A minimum of 20 Opposition members of Parliament are elected exclusively by the Indian Community to represent their interest at the highest political level and also as a Parliamentary Democracy check and balance and the same is safeguarded and entrenched into the Federal Constitution and which is to be increased proportionately with the increase in Parliamentary seats.
http://malaysianindiantoday.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/18-point-demands-of-hindraf-supporters/
Fasting Hindraf leader Uthayakumar's health deteriorating
11:40 PM 30 Jan. 2008
I received the following message from a Malaysian contact.
Subject: ISA ARREST LATEST ON UTHAYAKUMAR
> URGENT
> This inhumanly treatment of MR UTHAYAKUMAR isn't helping to make > the already bad situation both domestically and internationally any > better. Pls use your influence to convince and drive some sanity into > relevant authorities to stop this non-sensical and barbaric treatment to > a person who is yet to be proven "guilty" for whatever charges framed on > him ! We all want peace and this isn't the way to go about achieving it. > In fact, I dread to think of the consequence if anything untoward > happens to MR UTHAYAKUMAR whilst under this unlawful detention. I > desperately appeal to you once again to do something which I'm sure you > can.God Bless our beloved country.
> ISA DETAINEE
> LATEST ON FASTING BY UTHAYAKUMAR.
> I have just received information from my family members who met > Uthayakumar at Taiping Hospital that his condition is quite bad.
>
> He had severe stomach and abdominal pain. He is warded at ward 12 C of > Taiping Hospital.
>
> His right hand is handcuffed to the bed which is absolutely > ridiculous. He is not a common criminal. He is also tightly guarded by 4> prison security officials at all times.
>
> I am told that his potassium level is very high and has been warned> that he may suffer a heart attack. He is now on drips.
>
> Uthayakumar has urged all HINDRAF supporters to continue with their> peaceful struggle and our legitimate demands for the rights of the> ethnic minority Indian community.
>
> P.WAYTHA MOORTHY
> currently in London
I received the following message from a Malaysian contact.
Subject: ISA ARREST LATEST ON UTHAYAKUMAR
> URGENT
> This inhumanly treatment of MR UTHAYAKUMAR isn't helping to make > the already bad situation both domestically and internationally any > better. Pls use your influence to convince and drive some sanity into > relevant authorities to stop this non-sensical and barbaric treatment to > a person who is yet to be proven "guilty" for whatever charges framed on > him ! We all want peace and this isn't the way to go about achieving it. > In fact, I dread to think of the consequence if anything untoward > happens to MR UTHAYAKUMAR whilst under this unlawful detention. I > desperately appeal to you once again to do something which I'm sure you > can.God Bless our beloved country.
> ISA DETAINEE
> LATEST ON FASTING BY UTHAYAKUMAR.
> I have just received information from my family members who met > Uthayakumar at Taiping Hospital that his condition is quite bad.
>
> He had severe stomach and abdominal pain. He is warded at ward 12 C of > Taiping Hospital.
>
> His right hand is handcuffed to the bed which is absolutely > ridiculous. He is not a common criminal. He is also tightly guarded by 4> prison security officials at all times.
>
> I am told that his potassium level is very high and has been warned> that he may suffer a heart attack. He is now on drips.
>
> Uthayakumar has urged all HINDRAF supporters to continue with their> peaceful struggle and our legitimate demands for the rights of the> ethnic minority Indian community.
>
> P.WAYTHA MOORTHY
> currently in London
UK Hindu community protest and petition to UK PM
UK Hindu Community Protest & Petition to UK Prime Minister (Feb-1st)
Wed, 30/01/2008 - 11:56 — anniyan
Malaysian Hindu demonstration at 10 Downing on Friday, 1st February, at 11am to 2pm
Malaysian Hindus, a two million minority in Malaysia, are sufferring religious persecution under the new "lite-taliban" policies of the corrent Government. HINDRAF (Hindu Rights and Action Force) of Malaysia have organised a protest opposite Downing street at 11am this Friday to present a petition to the Prime Minister at 2pm.
- Hindu temples have been destroyed and damaged, irrespective of their age. An EDM was raised by the Hon. Stephen Pound MP to raise the issue in the UK Parliament last month.
- 31 protestors were arrested in the peaceful march at Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007, of whom 5 still remain under detention.
HCUK requests all to support this silent protest against the human rights violations of not only the Hindu minority but other religious minorities of Malaysia also.
HCUK's General Secretary, Anil Bhanot, said that the Taliban ideology which destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas needs to be challenged for re-education. He said, "If God ever commanded not to worship idols then it was in reference to the idols in one's own heart, the idols of obsession to some self-centred ideologies and not those of selfless devotion to the wonderful facets of the all-loving one Absolute God."
We appeal to the world communities to help stop the lite-talibanisation of the Malaysia Government through trade and other means. Please come to the protest this Friday and if working then at least in your lunch hour.
Anant M Vyas
Executive Representative
Hindu Council UK
http://www.hindraf.org/content/uk-hindu-community-protest-petition-uk-prime-minister-feb-1st
Wed, 30/01/2008 - 11:56 — anniyan
Malaysian Hindu demonstration at 10 Downing on Friday, 1st February, at 11am to 2pm
Malaysian Hindus, a two million minority in Malaysia, are sufferring religious persecution under the new "lite-taliban" policies of the corrent Government. HINDRAF (Hindu Rights and Action Force) of Malaysia have organised a protest opposite Downing street at 11am this Friday to present a petition to the Prime Minister at 2pm.
- Hindu temples have been destroyed and damaged, irrespective of their age. An EDM was raised by the Hon. Stephen Pound MP to raise the issue in the UK Parliament last month.
- 31 protestors were arrested in the peaceful march at Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007, of whom 5 still remain under detention.
HCUK requests all to support this silent protest against the human rights violations of not only the Hindu minority but other religious minorities of Malaysia also.
HCUK's General Secretary, Anil Bhanot, said that the Taliban ideology which destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas needs to be challenged for re-education. He said, "If God ever commanded not to worship idols then it was in reference to the idols in one's own heart, the idols of obsession to some self-centred ideologies and not those of selfless devotion to the wonderful facets of the all-loving one Absolute God."
We appeal to the world communities to help stop the lite-talibanisation of the Malaysia Government through trade and other means. Please come to the protest this Friday and if working then at least in your lunch hour.
Anant M Vyas
Executive Representative
Hindu Council UK
http://www.hindraf.org/content/uk-hindu-community-protest-petition-uk-prime-minister-feb-1st
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Hindraf Uthayakumar petitions against Sessions court decision
Wednesday January 30, 2008
Hindraf adviser petitions against decision
KUALA LUMPUR: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser P. Uthayakumar has filed a petition to appeal against the Sessions Court’s decision to reject his preliminary objection that his sedition charge was defective.
He stated in the petition yesterday that he was not satisfied with the decision given by judge Sabariah Othman on Dec 11 last year.
The judge had ruled that the absence of his signature in an alleged seditious letter did not make the charge defective and rejected the objection raised by his counsel under Section 173 (g) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In the petition, Uthayakumar said the judge had erred when she dismissed the objection.
He said the judge made a mistake when she decided that the letter did not have to be signed merely because it was posted from a website.
Among others, he contended that the judge was wrong when she decided that it would not make the charge unclear to enable the accused to understand and answer to the charge.
He filed the petition at the Sessions Court (criminal) registry through his lawyers.
On Dec 11, Uthayakumar was produced in a Sessions Court here to face a charge of publishing a seditious letter on a website at Menara Mutiara Bangsar between Nov 15 and Dec 8.
The lawyer, however, pleaded not guilty to publishing the alleged letter.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/30/courts/20166510&sec=courts
Hindraf adviser petitions against decision
KUALA LUMPUR: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) legal adviser P. Uthayakumar has filed a petition to appeal against the Sessions Court’s decision to reject his preliminary objection that his sedition charge was defective.
He stated in the petition yesterday that he was not satisfied with the decision given by judge Sabariah Othman on Dec 11 last year.
The judge had ruled that the absence of his signature in an alleged seditious letter did not make the charge defective and rejected the objection raised by his counsel under Section 173 (g) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
In the petition, Uthayakumar said the judge had erred when she dismissed the objection.
He said the judge made a mistake when she decided that the letter did not have to be signed merely because it was posted from a website.
Among others, he contended that the judge was wrong when she decided that it would not make the charge unclear to enable the accused to understand and answer to the charge.
He filed the petition at the Sessions Court (criminal) registry through his lawyers.
On Dec 11, Uthayakumar was produced in a Sessions Court here to face a charge of publishing a seditious letter on a website at Menara Mutiara Bangsar between Nov 15 and Dec 8.
The lawyer, however, pleaded not guilty to publishing the alleged letter.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/30/courts/20166510&sec=courts
Over 70 videos on denial of human rights to Malaysian Indians
MORE THAN 75 VIDEOS ON INDIAN ISSUES
Tue, 29/01/2008 - 10:57 — shawnmorgan
Do you want to know more about indians in malaysia and their issues which has not been published in newspapers. Over 70 videos concerning indians and their issues highlighted in video format. Please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/sanmorgan
and also issues related to indians in malaysia
http://malaysianindian1.blogspot.com/
We have compiled most of the recent article for your reading pleasure and please do give some comment to improvise further. We are going to make these 2 bolgs for indians as a main voice to highligh all issues relating to indian community. Also dont forget to vote the poll.
http://www.hindraf.org/content/more-75-videos-indian-issues
Tue, 29/01/2008 - 10:57 — shawnmorgan
Do you want to know more about indians in malaysia and their issues which has not been published in newspapers. Over 70 videos concerning indians and their issues highlighted in video format. Please visit:
http://www.youtube.com/sanmorgan
and also issues related to indians in malaysia
http://malaysianindian1.blogspot.com/
We have compiled most of the recent article for your reading pleasure and please do give some comment to improvise further. We are going to make these 2 bolgs for indians as a main voice to highligh all issues relating to indian community. Also dont forget to vote the poll.
http://www.hindraf.org/content/more-75-videos-indian-issues
Mahathir slams jailing of ethnic Indians (Hindraf 5)
Mahathir slams jailing of ethnic Indians
Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 (Kuala Lumpur)
Malaysia's former premier Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday criticised his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for jailing five ethnic Indian activists under a draconian internal security law that allows for indefinite detention without trial.
The leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) infuriated the government in November by leading 8,000 people onto the capital's streets, claiming that ethnic Indians are marginalised in multicultural Malaysia.
''No, I don't think they should have thrown the leaders (into detention), they should have met these people first and had proper discussion,'' Mahathir said.
However the 82-year-old said he did not accept the claim that Indians are marginalised, but that coalition member the Malaysian Indian Congress was not representing them properly.
''Here you have only one (Indian) political party and nobody else is allowed to come in and that is what is making the Indians really unhappy,'' he said.
The Hindraf rally was one of several streets demonstrations that have shaken the government in recent months, along with an election reform rally that drew more than 30,000 protesters.
''There are occasions when there is a need for protest, when (the people) see that the government is repeatedly doing the wrong thing or they see the government is being weak, then they resort to protest,'' Mahathir said.
Mahathir also lashed the government as ''weak'' and said he feared that vote-buying would be deployed to stem its losses in upcoming general elections.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080039804&ch=
Malaysia's Mahathir fears corruption in general elections
7 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysian former premier Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday lashed the government as "weak" and said he feared that vote-buying would be deployed to stem its losses in upcoming general elections.
Mahathir, who stepped down in 2003 after two decades in power, echoed analysts' views that the increasingly unpopular government is headed for losses at the polls expected to be held in March.
He also criticised its decision to jail ethnic Indian protesters, saying the minority community had no way of airing its grievances, and that a wave of public protests was inspired by the government's repeated errors.
In an interview with foreign newswires to mark the launch of a book on his correspondence with world leaders, Mahathir said the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) would still lead the Barisan Nasional coalition.
"Even if (UMNO) lose 20, 30 of their candidates, the Barisan Nasional is going to win", Mahathir said, but added that voters would be sending a message with what is expected to be a reduced majority.
"It will give a much truer picture of the support that the government gets, but I fear corruption of the voters," he said.
"I hope that this kind of money politics -- I know a lot of people are collecting a lot of money now -- if they use money politics the result may not reflect the true feeling of the people."
Mahathir was critical of his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's jailing of five ethnic Indian activists under a draconian internal security law that allows for indefinite detention without trial.
The leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) infuriated the government in November by leading 8,000 people onto the capital's streets, claiming that ethnic Indians are marginalised in multicultural Malaysia.
"No, I don't think they should have thrown the leaders (into detention), they should have met these people first and had proper discussion," Mahathir said.
The 82-year-old said he did not accept the claim that Indians are marginalised, but that coalition member the Malaysian Indian Congress was not representing them properly.
"Here you have only one (Indian) political party and nobody else is allowed to come in and that is what is making the Indians really unhappy," he said.
The Hindraf rally was one of several streets demonstrations that have shaken the government in recent months, along with an election reform rally that drew more than 30,000 protesters.
"There are occasions when there is a need for protest, when (the people) see that the government is repeatedly doing the wrong thing or they see the government is being weak, then they resort to protest," Mahathir said.
The one-time strongman of Malaysian politics said he expected his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim, who he sacked in 1998 when he was jailed on corruption and sodomy charges, to continue to be a "thorn" in the government's side.
Anwar's ban on seeking political office expires in April this year, but Mahathir was scathing of his prospects.
"There is no more political future for (Anwar)," he said. "If he thinks he is going to be the prime minister, he is daydreaming."
Abdullah was Mahathir's hand-picked successor when he stepped down in 2003, but after the new leader dumped several of his pet projects he began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jd4VKlp_N1QlaKfsj9pKkaD8_z7g
Solidarity Picket in Dublin with Human Rights Activists in Malaysia
Malaysia has seen a clamp down on Human Rights. Some of those who dared to challenge have been arrested and face serious charges.
A solidarity Picket took place today at the Malaysian Embassy at Shelbourne House today.
http://rockinsince86.com/2008/01/29/solidarity-picket-in-dublin-with-human-rights-activists-in-malaysia/
Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 (Kuala Lumpur)
Malaysia's former premier Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday criticised his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for jailing five ethnic Indian activists under a draconian internal security law that allows for indefinite detention without trial.
The leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) infuriated the government in November by leading 8,000 people onto the capital's streets, claiming that ethnic Indians are marginalised in multicultural Malaysia.
''No, I don't think they should have thrown the leaders (into detention), they should have met these people first and had proper discussion,'' Mahathir said.
However the 82-year-old said he did not accept the claim that Indians are marginalised, but that coalition member the Malaysian Indian Congress was not representing them properly.
''Here you have only one (Indian) political party and nobody else is allowed to come in and that is what is making the Indians really unhappy,'' he said.
The Hindraf rally was one of several streets demonstrations that have shaken the government in recent months, along with an election reform rally that drew more than 30,000 protesters.
''There are occasions when there is a need for protest, when (the people) see that the government is repeatedly doing the wrong thing or they see the government is being weak, then they resort to protest,'' Mahathir said.
Mahathir also lashed the government as ''weak'' and said he feared that vote-buying would be deployed to stem its losses in upcoming general elections.
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080039804&ch=
Malaysia's Mahathir fears corruption in general elections
7 hours ago
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysian former premier Mahathir Mohamad on Tuesday lashed the government as "weak" and said he feared that vote-buying would be deployed to stem its losses in upcoming general elections.
Mahathir, who stepped down in 2003 after two decades in power, echoed analysts' views that the increasingly unpopular government is headed for losses at the polls expected to be held in March.
He also criticised its decision to jail ethnic Indian protesters, saying the minority community had no way of airing its grievances, and that a wave of public protests was inspired by the government's repeated errors.
In an interview with foreign newswires to mark the launch of a book on his correspondence with world leaders, Mahathir said the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) would still lead the Barisan Nasional coalition.
"Even if (UMNO) lose 20, 30 of their candidates, the Barisan Nasional is going to win", Mahathir said, but added that voters would be sending a message with what is expected to be a reduced majority.
"It will give a much truer picture of the support that the government gets, but I fear corruption of the voters," he said.
"I hope that this kind of money politics -- I know a lot of people are collecting a lot of money now -- if they use money politics the result may not reflect the true feeling of the people."
Mahathir was critical of his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's jailing of five ethnic Indian activists under a draconian internal security law that allows for indefinite detention without trial.
The leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) infuriated the government in November by leading 8,000 people onto the capital's streets, claiming that ethnic Indians are marginalised in multicultural Malaysia.
"No, I don't think they should have thrown the leaders (into detention), they should have met these people first and had proper discussion," Mahathir said.
The 82-year-old said he did not accept the claim that Indians are marginalised, but that coalition member the Malaysian Indian Congress was not representing them properly.
"Here you have only one (Indian) political party and nobody else is allowed to come in and that is what is making the Indians really unhappy," he said.
The Hindraf rally was one of several streets demonstrations that have shaken the government in recent months, along with an election reform rally that drew more than 30,000 protesters.
"There are occasions when there is a need for protest, when (the people) see that the government is repeatedly doing the wrong thing or they see the government is being weak, then they resort to protest," Mahathir said.
The one-time strongman of Malaysian politics said he expected his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim, who he sacked in 1998 when he was jailed on corruption and sodomy charges, to continue to be a "thorn" in the government's side.
Anwar's ban on seeking political office expires in April this year, but Mahathir was scathing of his prospects.
"There is no more political future for (Anwar)," he said. "If he thinks he is going to be the prime minister, he is daydreaming."
Abdullah was Mahathir's hand-picked successor when he stepped down in 2003, but after the new leader dumped several of his pet projects he began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jd4VKlp_N1QlaKfsj9pKkaD8_z7g
Solidarity Picket in Dublin with Human Rights Activists in Malaysia
Malaysia has seen a clamp down on Human Rights. Some of those who dared to challenge have been arrested and face serious charges.
A solidarity Picket took place today at the Malaysian Embassy at Shelbourne House today.
http://rockinsince86.com/2008/01/29/solidarity-picket-in-dublin-with-human-rights-activists-in-malaysia/
Malaysia: children made to clean toilets
Non-Muslim Children made to clean toilets in Johor School, Southern Malaysian State
Children made to clean toilets
BY GLADYS TAY
gladys@thestar.com.my
JOHOR BARU: Angry parents held a meeting with a school in Taman Daya after their Year Six children were asked to clean the toilets on Friday.
They lodged a police report on the matter on Saturday, prompting the state Education Department to intervene.
Department director Mokhy Saidon together with the headmistress, teachers, and parents of the 20 pupils held a meeting at the school yesterday, with policemen on standby to ensure order.
Special session: Darshiney answering questions asked by Mokhy (sitting) during the meeting at the school in Johor Baru.
During the two-hour meeting, headmistress Siti Latifah Adnan explained that the toilet-cleaning activity was part of a cleanliness competition organised by the Johor Baru City Council.
The school even showed photos taken during the one-hour activity to convince the parents that the activity was not targeted at just a group of pupils. The parents refused to accept the explanation.
After the meeting, a teacher involved in the activity broke down and cried hysterically saying that she loved the children.
Other teachers consoled her and took her out of the meeting room.
Parent M. Anbalagan said instead of studying, his son and a group of other Year 6 pupils were washing toilets.
“This is an important year for the pupils and they should be revising for their UPSR,” he said.
B. Darshiney, 12, said the activity took place during the Moral Education period.
“Other students went for their religious class while we went to the toilet,” the girl added.
Mokhy who later met the press said the problem resulted from a misunderstanding among all parties.
SOURCE : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/29/nation/20154320&sec=nation
Children made to clean toilets
BY GLADYS TAY
gladys@thestar.com.my
JOHOR BARU: Angry parents held a meeting with a school in Taman Daya after their Year Six children were asked to clean the toilets on Friday.
They lodged a police report on the matter on Saturday, prompting the state Education Department to intervene.
Department director Mokhy Saidon together with the headmistress, teachers, and parents of the 20 pupils held a meeting at the school yesterday, with policemen on standby to ensure order.
Special session: Darshiney answering questions asked by Mokhy (sitting) during the meeting at the school in Johor Baru.
During the two-hour meeting, headmistress Siti Latifah Adnan explained that the toilet-cleaning activity was part of a cleanliness competition organised by the Johor Baru City Council.
The school even showed photos taken during the one-hour activity to convince the parents that the activity was not targeted at just a group of pupils. The parents refused to accept the explanation.
After the meeting, a teacher involved in the activity broke down and cried hysterically saying that she loved the children.
Other teachers consoled her and took her out of the meeting room.
Parent M. Anbalagan said instead of studying, his son and a group of other Year 6 pupils were washing toilets.
“This is an important year for the pupils and they should be revising for their UPSR,” he said.
B. Darshiney, 12, said the activity took place during the Moral Education period.
“Other students went for their religious class while we went to the toilet,” the girl added.
Mokhy who later met the press said the problem resulted from a misunderstanding among all parties.
SOURCE : http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/29/nation/20154320&sec=nation
Body Snatching: Malaysian Islamic authorities getting out of hand
Body Snatching: Malaysian Islamic authorities getting out of hand
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/77567
Omnu Martin | Jan 29, 08 4:43pm
I refer to the Malaysiakini report DAP calls for end to 'body-snatching'.
I think the Islamic authorities in Malaysia is getting way out of hand these days. We hear of so many cases of non-Muslim dead bodies being taken away from their families without the consent of the families.
With all this happening in Malaysia, I am just wondering if we are living in a civilised world. Why can't the Islamic authorities give some respect to the non-Muslims?
Even though a dead person has converted, so what? Unless he or she has left a will or told the family that he or she wants to be buried in a Muslim cemetery, the Islamic authorities should allow the family of the deceased to decide how he or she should be buried.
Why must the Islamic authorities inflict so much pain on the family of the deceased when the family is already in a state of grief? What kind of religion is this? Islam preaches compassion but where is the human compassion?
If this practice is not stopped, I fear that the non-Muslims in Malaysia will never ever feel secure living in Malaysia.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/77567
Omnu Martin | Jan 29, 08 4:43pm
I refer to the Malaysiakini report DAP calls for end to 'body-snatching'.
I think the Islamic authorities in Malaysia is getting way out of hand these days. We hear of so many cases of non-Muslim dead bodies being taken away from their families without the consent of the families.
With all this happening in Malaysia, I am just wondering if we are living in a civilised world. Why can't the Islamic authorities give some respect to the non-Muslims?
Even though a dead person has converted, so what? Unless he or she has left a will or told the family that he or she wants to be buried in a Muslim cemetery, the Islamic authorities should allow the family of the deceased to decide how he or she should be buried.
Why must the Islamic authorities inflict so much pain on the family of the deceased when the family is already in a state of grief? What kind of religion is this? Islam preaches compassion but where is the human compassion?
If this practice is not stopped, I fear that the non-Muslims in Malaysia will never ever feel secure living in Malaysia.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Malaysian government like taliban; stop through trade and other means: HCUK
British Hindus liken Malaysian govt to Taliban
Tuesday, 29 January , 2008, 10:47
London: British Hindus are to hold a silent protest outside the office of the British premier this week to highlight the "new lite-Taliban" policies of the Malaysian government, an umbrella group for Hindus said on Tuesday.
The Hindu Council UK (HCUK) said Hindus would present a petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday to protest the condition of Malaysian Hindus, "who number two million and are suffering religious persecution" by the government in Kuala Lumpur.
Full coverage: Malaysian crackdown
It said Hindu temples have been razed and damaged in Malaysia, "irrespective of their age" but added that the silent protest was against human rights violations of not only Hindus but also other religious minorities of Malaysia.
The issue hit the headlines in November last year when Malaysian police used violence to break up a march by Hindus in the capital Kuala Lumpur and arrested 31 protesters, five of whom, HCUK said, were still in detention.
The police action was criticised around the world.
Last month, members of the British parliament demanded that the Malaysian government scrap plans to demolish Hindu temples and to allow legitimate protests against it.
In a strongly worded statement, they also urged the British government to take up the matter on their behalf and "make the strongest possible representation" to Kuala Lumpur.
HCUK general secretary Anil Bhanot, in a statement on Friday, likened the Malaysian government's attitude to that of "the Taliban ideology which destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas (in Afghanistan)," and said it needed to be "challenged for re-education."
"We appeal to world communities to help stop the lite-talibanisation of the Malaysia government through trade and other means," Bhanot added.
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14596509
http://sify.com/news/fullcover.php?event_id=14573019
Tuesday, 29 January , 2008, 10:47
London: British Hindus are to hold a silent protest outside the office of the British premier this week to highlight the "new lite-Taliban" policies of the Malaysian government, an umbrella group for Hindus said on Tuesday.
The Hindu Council UK (HCUK) said Hindus would present a petition to Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Friday to protest the condition of Malaysian Hindus, "who number two million and are suffering religious persecution" by the government in Kuala Lumpur.
Full coverage: Malaysian crackdown
It said Hindu temples have been razed and damaged in Malaysia, "irrespective of their age" but added that the silent protest was against human rights violations of not only Hindus but also other religious minorities of Malaysia.
The issue hit the headlines in November last year when Malaysian police used violence to break up a march by Hindus in the capital Kuala Lumpur and arrested 31 protesters, five of whom, HCUK said, were still in detention.
The police action was criticised around the world.
Last month, members of the British parliament demanded that the Malaysian government scrap plans to demolish Hindu temples and to allow legitimate protests against it.
In a strongly worded statement, they also urged the British government to take up the matter on their behalf and "make the strongest possible representation" to Kuala Lumpur.
HCUK general secretary Anil Bhanot, in a statement on Friday, likened the Malaysian government's attitude to that of "the Taliban ideology which destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas (in Afghanistan)," and said it needed to be "challenged for re-education."
"We appeal to world communities to help stop the lite-talibanisation of the Malaysia government through trade and other means," Bhanot added.
http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14596509
http://sify.com/news/fullcover.php?event_id=14573019
Samy Vellu should step down: Utusan Malaysia
Utusan Malaysia says Samy Vellu should step down
"But 'political talk' concerning Samy Vellu was really hot last year. The issue now is when will there be a transition of power in MIC," asked the columnist.
He pointed out that Umno, MCA and Gerakan have all seen the passing of the baton, but there were no such sign in MIC.
Tuesday January 29, 2008
Samy rapped in column
AN Utusan Malaysia columnist took a swipe at MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for insisting that he should contest in the upcoming general election and defend his Sungai Siput seat.
In the popular Bisik Bisik column, Awang Selamat said no doubt it was a practice in Barisan Nasional that component party leaders contest in the elections, but questioned if it was appropriate for the MIC president to make a brazen remark in such a tone.
The columnist said nevertheless “knowing Samy Vellu’s style,” the leader’s comments did not really come as a surprise.
“But ‘political talk’ concerning Samy Vellu was really hot last year. The issue now is when will there be a transition of power in MIC,” asked the columnist.
He pointed out that Umno, MCA and Gerakan have all seen the passing of the baton, but there were no such sign in MIC.
The columnist said he believed that Samy Vellu who had been Sungai Siput MP since 1974, Cabinet minister since 1979 and MIC president since 1981, was astute enough to “feel the signals.”
“The other question is if Samy Vellu is willing to let go,” said Awang Selamat.
The newspaper also front-paged a story yesterday of the 71-year-old Works Minister telling reporters that he must contest in the coming polls.
He was quoted as saying, “if the head (MIC president) is not there, how can the body function?”
"Soften" the hearts of two wives
> Harian Metro reported that a 30-something hospital attendant in Tampin asked a bomoh to “soften” the hearts of his two wives so that they would live with him in the same house.
But after the bomoh did a jampi (spell), the older wife started screaming, grabbed a kitchen knife and came after her husband, the younger wife and the bomoh, sending them scrambling for safety.
A neighbour called the police.
The daily said police managed to calm the older wife and got her to put down the knife.
The daily reported that the man had now decided to have two houses instead.
# Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a sub-heading, it denotes a separate news item.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/29/nation/20151691&sec=nation
"But 'political talk' concerning Samy Vellu was really hot last year. The issue now is when will there be a transition of power in MIC," asked the columnist.
He pointed out that Umno, MCA and Gerakan have all seen the passing of the baton, but there were no such sign in MIC.
Tuesday January 29, 2008
Samy rapped in column
AN Utusan Malaysia columnist took a swipe at MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for insisting that he should contest in the upcoming general election and defend his Sungai Siput seat.
In the popular Bisik Bisik column, Awang Selamat said no doubt it was a practice in Barisan Nasional that component party leaders contest in the elections, but questioned if it was appropriate for the MIC president to make a brazen remark in such a tone.
The columnist said nevertheless “knowing Samy Vellu’s style,” the leader’s comments did not really come as a surprise.
“But ‘political talk’ concerning Samy Vellu was really hot last year. The issue now is when will there be a transition of power in MIC,” asked the columnist.
He pointed out that Umno, MCA and Gerakan have all seen the passing of the baton, but there were no such sign in MIC.
The columnist said he believed that Samy Vellu who had been Sungai Siput MP since 1974, Cabinet minister since 1979 and MIC president since 1981, was astute enough to “feel the signals.”
“The other question is if Samy Vellu is willing to let go,” said Awang Selamat.
The newspaper also front-paged a story yesterday of the 71-year-old Works Minister telling reporters that he must contest in the coming polls.
He was quoted as saying, “if the head (MIC president) is not there, how can the body function?”
"Soften" the hearts of two wives
> Harian Metro reported that a 30-something hospital attendant in Tampin asked a bomoh to “soften” the hearts of his two wives so that they would live with him in the same house.
But after the bomoh did a jampi (spell), the older wife started screaming, grabbed a kitchen knife and came after her husband, the younger wife and the bomoh, sending them scrambling for safety.
A neighbour called the police.
The daily said police managed to calm the older wife and got her to put down the knife.
The daily reported that the man had now decided to have two houses instead.
# Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a sub-heading, it denotes a separate news item.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/29/nation/20151691&sec=nation
Malaysian Hindu demo at 10 Downing on 1 Feb. 11 am to 2 pm
Malaysian Hindu demonstration at 10 Downing on Friday, 1st February, at 11am to 2pm
Malaysian Hindus, a two million minority in Malaysia, are sufferring religious persecution under the new "lite-taliban" policies of the corrent Government. HINDRAF (Hindu Rights and Action Force) of Malaysia have organised a protest opposite Downing street at 11am this Friday to present a petition to the Prime Minister at 2pm.
Hindu temples have been destroyed and damaged, irrespective of their age. An EDM was raised by the Hon. Stephen Pound MP to raise the issue in the UK Parliament last month.
31 protestors were arrested in the peaceful march at Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007, of whom 5 still remain under detention.
HCUK requests all to support this silent protest against the human rights violations of not only the Hindu minority but other religious minorities of Malaysia also.
HCUK's General Secretary, Anil Bhanot, said that the Taliban ideology which destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas needs to be challenged for re-education. He said, "If God ever commanded not to worship idols then it was in reference to the idols in one's own heart, the idols of obsession to some self-centred ideologies and not those of selfless devotion to the wonderful facets of the all-loving one Absolute God."
We appeal to the world communities to help stop the lite-talibanisation of the Malaysia Government through trade and other means. Please come to the protest this Friday and if working then at least in your lunch hour.
Anant M Vyas
Executive Representative
Hindu Council UK
Note : Hindu Council UK (HCUK) is the foremost and largest national network of the Hindu temple bodies and cultural organisations co-ordinating all different schools of Hindu theology within the UK. HCUK is the representative umbrella body for the British Hindu issues for which a UK wide mandate was received during a two year consultation with the British Hindu public culminating in its launch in November 1994.
HCUK Admin Office:Boardman House, 64 The Broadway, London E15 1NG. T: 020 8432 0400 W: www.hinducounciluk.org F: 020 8432 0393
Malaysian Hindus, a two million minority in Malaysia, are sufferring religious persecution under the new "lite-taliban" policies of the corrent Government. HINDRAF (Hindu Rights and Action Force) of Malaysia have organised a protest opposite Downing street at 11am this Friday to present a petition to the Prime Minister at 2pm.
Hindu temples have been destroyed and damaged, irrespective of their age. An EDM was raised by the Hon. Stephen Pound MP to raise the issue in the UK Parliament last month.
31 protestors were arrested in the peaceful march at Kuala Lumpur on 25 November 2007, of whom 5 still remain under detention.
HCUK requests all to support this silent protest against the human rights violations of not only the Hindu minority but other religious minorities of Malaysia also.
HCUK's General Secretary, Anil Bhanot, said that the Taliban ideology which destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas needs to be challenged for re-education. He said, "If God ever commanded not to worship idols then it was in reference to the idols in one's own heart, the idols of obsession to some self-centred ideologies and not those of selfless devotion to the wonderful facets of the all-loving one Absolute God."
We appeal to the world communities to help stop the lite-talibanisation of the Malaysia Government through trade and other means. Please come to the protest this Friday and if working then at least in your lunch hour.
Anant M Vyas
Executive Representative
Hindu Council UK
Note : Hindu Council UK (HCUK) is the foremost and largest national network of the Hindu temple bodies and cultural organisations co-ordinating all different schools of Hindu theology within the UK. HCUK is the representative umbrella body for the British Hindu issues for which a UK wide mandate was received during a two year consultation with the British Hindu public culminating in its launch in November 1994.
HCUK Admin Office:Boardman House, 64 The Broadway, London E15 1NG. T: 020 8432 0400 W: www.hinducounciluk.org F: 020 8432 0393
Hindus, Muslims worship together in Malaysia
Hindus, Muslims worship together in Malaysia
28 Jan 2008, 1910 hrs IST,IANS
KUALA LUMPUR: A mosque and a Hindu temple located a few metres from each other in Kampung Baru, the oldest Malay residential area in downtown Kuala Lumpur, are making 'religious harmony' more than just a catch phrase, a media report said on Monday.
Situated at Lorong Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, the two shrines have had devotees of their religious faiths worshipping without any communal problems for the last four decades.
While the mosque began as a surau in the 1950s, the temple started off as a shrine in a simple wooden structure in 1968. It was built by Kannan alias Veerapan, in thanksgiving to goddess Kaliamman for healing V Rajeswary, his then 16-year-old daughter, The New Straits Times reported.
Rajeswary had been falling ill often and could not be treated, but recovered after going into a trance on several occasions. The shrine evolved into a temple with devotees comprising staff of the nearby hospital and occupants of the railway quarters in Sentul.
Rajeswary's husband, 68-year-old V Narayanasamy, who runs the temple, told the New Straits Times that the temple and mosque have been co-existing without any problems.
"Cooperation, freedom and mutual respect have been shown by Hindus and Muslims alike. We have lived in harmony and even helped each other during festivals," he said.
A senior Kuala Lumpur Hospital Mosque official, who declined to be identified, said only zinc sheets separated the two structures.
"What began as a surau in the late 1950s has flourished together with the temple over the years. Prayers at the temple do not bother us when we conduct our prayers. We have made some adjustments to accommodate the temple's wishes," he said.
He said there were "one or two" difficult moments, such as during the May 13, 1969 riots, when a flag of Barisan Nasional was set on fire and thrown at the main altar of the temple. The wooden structure was razed but the shrine survived the fire.
In 1979, floods in the city destroyed both structures.
P Vasudevan, 53, who was born in Kampung Baru and worships at the temple, said the religious institutions are a unique testament to unity in diversity.
http://tinyurl.com/yr779w
28 Jan 2008, 1910 hrs IST,IANS
KUALA LUMPUR: A mosque and a Hindu temple located a few metres from each other in Kampung Baru, the oldest Malay residential area in downtown Kuala Lumpur, are making 'religious harmony' more than just a catch phrase, a media report said on Monday.
Situated at Lorong Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, the two shrines have had devotees of their religious faiths worshipping without any communal problems for the last four decades.
While the mosque began as a surau in the 1950s, the temple started off as a shrine in a simple wooden structure in 1968. It was built by Kannan alias Veerapan, in thanksgiving to goddess Kaliamman for healing V Rajeswary, his then 16-year-old daughter, The New Straits Times reported.
Rajeswary had been falling ill often and could not be treated, but recovered after going into a trance on several occasions. The shrine evolved into a temple with devotees comprising staff of the nearby hospital and occupants of the railway quarters in Sentul.
Rajeswary's husband, 68-year-old V Narayanasamy, who runs the temple, told the New Straits Times that the temple and mosque have been co-existing without any problems.
"Cooperation, freedom and mutual respect have been shown by Hindus and Muslims alike. We have lived in harmony and even helped each other during festivals," he said.
A senior Kuala Lumpur Hospital Mosque official, who declined to be identified, said only zinc sheets separated the two structures.
"What began as a surau in the late 1950s has flourished together with the temple over the years. Prayers at the temple do not bother us when we conduct our prayers. We have made some adjustments to accommodate the temple's wishes," he said.
He said there were "one or two" difficult moments, such as during the May 13, 1969 riots, when a flag of Barisan Nasional was set on fire and thrown at the main altar of the temple. The wooden structure was razed but the shrine survived the fire.
In 1979, floods in the city destroyed both structures.
P Vasudevan, 53, who was born in Kampung Baru and worships at the temple, said the religious institutions are a unique testament to unity in diversity.
http://tinyurl.com/yr779w
Uthayakumar handcuffed in hospital, Makkal Sakti fever in Penang
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Uthayakumar Photo at Taiping Hospital
"PHOTO OF UTHAYAKUMAR IN HOSPITAL BEING HANDCUFFED TO BED AND SUPPORTERS OF HINDRAF HOLDING VIGIL OUTSIDE OF HOSPITAL AND PRAYING IN NEARBY TEMPLE"
http://hindraf4you.blogspot.com/2008/01/uthayakumar-photo-at-taiping-hospital.html
Makkal Sakthi fever hits Penang
Posted by chaanakyan on January 27, 2008
Anil Netto
“Makkal Sakthi (People Power)!” thundered speaker after speaker.
“Valga (Long live)!” roared back the crowd.
I thought I would check out the atmosphere at the DAP ceramah at the Penang Chinese Town Hall in George Town tonight to gauge the mood among voters. The theme: “Bebaskan Hindraf 5 (Free the Hindraf Five).”
When I arrived at the hall at around 8.00pm, it was full. More people were arriving and soon they were spilling out of the hall, where two screens had been put up for those outside to watch the proceedings.
The total turnout was around 3,000, including the few hundred outside the hall.
This was not your typical DAP ceramah. I had covered ceramahs in Penang, including those held at the Chinese Town Hall, for some years - but this was unlike anything I had seen. Instead of an 80 per cent ethnic Chinese crowd, this time Indian Malaysians made up more than 90 per cent of the crowd. Instead of speaking in English and Chinese, the DAP speakers spoke largely in Malay and Tamil and some English.
The Chinese Malaysians who turned up looked bemused and a bit taken aback to find themselve in a minority this time. One Chinese woman, a stranger, turned to me and remarked, “After 50 years of Independence, you have finally woken up” - which sounded a bit strange; she was talking as if I represented the entire Indian Malaysian community in the country!
I was more interested in observing the crowd. Of course, the middle-class were represented, but I saw many, many men and women who looked like they had come from tough or difficult backgrounds, the lower-income group. Were they manual labourers, casual workers, factory workers or unemployed, I wondered.
Many of them looked like they were coming to a political ceramah for the first time. How many of them were actually registered voters? All the same, they seemed eager to snap up reading material such as The Rocket and Aliran Monthly, which were being sold outside. I saw a few young Indian Malaysian men wearing the familiar red and pink Abolish ISA badges.
You could almost feel the air of excitement hanging over the crowd.
The DAP made a conscious effort to project the Indian Malaysian faces in their ranks such as Karpal, Kula, Prof Ramasamy, Guna, Sivanesan and Rayan. Also on stage were Kit Siang, Guan Eng, Chong Eng and was that Jeff Ooi?
Guan Eng told the crowd he had asked quite a few Hindus what they were praying for on Thaipusam and they replied, “For the release of the Hindraf Five.”
“But what did Abdullah Badawi give you?” he asked. “A public holiday!”
He also poked fun at Lingam’s “it looks like me; it sounds like me”.
The crowd laughed, knowingly, at the farce.
As for the detained Hindraf leaders who are now on a hunger strike, the joke going around is that if ever Uthayakumar, who is a diabetic, needed a blood transfusion, the authorities would be wary of appealing to the public for blood donations. That’s because they might have to call in the FRU to control the thousands who would turn up to donate blood!
All the DAP speakers received a rousing welcome as they entered the hall, including a big cheer for Karpal, who is the senior lawyer for the detained Hindraf leaders. Karpal, speaking while seated on stage, told the crowd the DAP was “adopting” Makkal Sakthi.
To me, there are pros and cons of a popular movement such as Makkal Sakthi being institutionalised as or within a political party. We saw that during Reformasi, when Keadilan was set up to institutionalise the movement and take the struggle to a political level.
An anonymous popular movement is spontaneous, dynamic and organic, representing “people power” from the bottom up.
In contrast, a political party tends to be structured and organised while decisions are made at the top. This makes it less spontaneous and more predictable. It also makes it easier for tacticians in the Barisan Nasional, who have mastered the art of our unfair electoral process and campaigning, to read and analyse and deal with during the general election.
That is why reformasi was exciting and unpredictable and dynamic, but once it was institutionalised within a political party (Keadilan), the movement lost some of its dynamism and spontaneity. In fact, my guess is that the BN would be much more comfortable dealing with opposition parties than with anonymous popular movements such as Reformasi and Makkal Sakthi.
Still, I suppose political parties have a role to play in putting across the people’s aspirations into the official policy formulation process. But it would be a great pity if the politicians were to take over in such a way as to leave the people - who have only just tasted a sense of liberation from their metaphorical shackles - feeling disempowered once again.
Okay, back to the ceramah: Karpal also informed the crowd that there was a high probability that Guan Eng would stand as a candidate in Penang in the general election.
Outside the hall, a couple of DAP volunteers at a desk were giving out forms to those who wanted to sign up as polling day volunteers to assist the party. About half a dozen young Indian Malaysians were busy filling up the forms.
I asked the DAP volunteer at the desk how many people had signed up. She flicked through the stack of forms and counted around 30. Others had taken forms, promising to return them later, she said.
From the back of the hall, I could see the a sprinkling of folks who had come in the orange attire of Makkal Sakthi, including the Makkal Sakthi T-shirts.
A visitor from KL marvelled at the mood here in Penang, which he said seemed more enthusiastic than in KL. “Perhaps it’s because the folks over in KL have quite a few different events to choose from.”
I left the ceramah before it ended, convinced that there has been a major swing within the Indian Malaysian community.
On my way back, I walked past the Pitt Street Corner Bar, a stone’s throw from the Chinese Town Hall. It is usually an oasis for those seeking “refreshments” on a Saturday night. Today, it looked rather quiet - a few empty seats around metallic tables inside - despite the presence of a large crowd nearby.
Even as more Malaysians were being detained in KL earlier today, the mood in Penang - at least among these 3,000 people - was one of newfound strength and solidarity in a community that has awakened from it slumber. More than that, a sense of empowerment has descended on the people - a feeling that I can and will make a difference, and what I do really does matter.
And this mood was infectious. Even the Chinese DAP volunteers outside the hall found themselves calling out, “Makkal Sakthi!“
Valga!
Source: Malaysia Today
Posted in Articles, HINDRAF, Letters | Tagged: HINDRAF, makkal sakthi, Malaysia, Malaysia Today, Malaysian Indians | No Comments »
HINDRAF PRESS STATEMENT 26th JAN 2008
Posted by chaanakyan on January 27, 2008
HINDRAF
135-3 Jalan Toman 7
Kemayan Square
70200 Seremban
Malaysia.
Re : SPECIAL BRANCH OFFICERS COLLUDING WITH DOCTORS TO PREMATURELY DISCHARGE UTHAYAKUMAR
ROYAL POLICE FORCE UNEASY WITH LARGE PRESENCE OF HINDRAF SUPPORTERS AT TAIPING HOSPITAL.
HINDRAF WOULD LAUNCH 1000 POLICE REPORTS AGAINST POLICE SHOULD UTHAYAKUMAR BE PREMATURELY DISCHARGED .
It has come to our attention the Police Special Branch is colluding and exerting pressure on doctors at Taiping Hospital to immediately discharge Uthayakumar from Hospital as they are “uneasy” with the large presence of HINDRAF supporters and steady flow of supporters throughout the day at Taiping Hospital.
25th and 26th January 2008 saw huge numbers of HINDRAF supporters holding candlelight vigil at the Hospital and hundreds of devotees held special prayers for Uthayakumar at most of the temples in Taiping vicinity.
We have received reliable insider information the Special branch officers are exerting pressure on Doctors to certify Uthayakumar is fit to be discharged despite doctors earlier informing Uthayakumar and his family members that he would be continuously monitored until he breaks his fast on Monday due to his health condition.
HINDRAF warns the Royal Police Force that we would have no choice but to lodge at least 1000 Police reports against the police should Uthayakumar be prematurely discharged and seek the urgent help of the International Red Cross to send a fact finding mission to Malaysia to assess the situation.
P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF
Currently in London.
http://malaysianindiantoday.wordpress.com/2008/01/27/makkal-sakthi-fever-hits-penang/
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