Still sore over cow head, Section 23 Indians to root for PAS in Bagan Pinang
SHAH ALAM, Sept 23 - Indian residents of Section 23 here and from other parts of the Selangor capital intend to ensure the cow head protest against the relocation of a Hindu temple here, is “prominently featured” in the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election.
Plans are under way to get the residents, who are still smarting over how the protest was orchestrated by politicians, to campaign on the side of PAS.
Some 20 per cent of the voters in Bagan Pinang in Negeri Sembilan are Indians and could prove crucial in a close contest.
“We will remind the Indians in Bagan Pinang what happened to the community here,” said resident K Raja, a draughtsman.
His remarks appear to suggest that Indians in Section 23 and in other parts of Selangor are blaming Umno for the cow head protest which caused race tensions and has resulted in a number of individuals charged for sedition.
On August 30, about 50 Malay-Muslim protestors marched to the state secretariat here after Friday prayers and desecrated a cow’s head to demonstrate their intolerance over plans to relocate a 150-year-old temple to Section 23.
Police allowed the protest to proceed, despite the fact that the animal is considered sacred by Hindus, but later bowing to public pressure, six men were charged for sedition and illegal assembly while another six for illegal assembly.
However the less than swift action against the protestors, who also disrupted a town hall meeting held by the state government to resolve the issue, has led to allegations of double standards by the federal government.
Raja said that besides a word-of-mouth campaign, plans are also afoot to distribute brochures about the incident during the Bagan Pinang campaign.
“So far, we have about five residents who are keen on going but we expect others to join us.”
He said the residents will join a bus load of others from the community, who intend to be in Bagan Pinang on nomination day.
Other residents who declined to be name told The Malaysian Insider that they were still very hurt over what had happened and are intent on repaying UMNO during the by election.
“We know PAS is facing an uphill task because of the postal votes but we will ensure they get the votes from the Indian community,” said one resident.
The trip to Bagan Pinang is being organised by the PAS supporters club of Shah Alam, who intend to fill a bus and several cars with supporters.
“We also have others things to tell the Indian voters there besides the cow head protest.” said club chairman N Nathan, without elaborating.
SHAH ALAM, Sept 23 - Indian residents of Section 23 here and from other parts of the Selangor capital intend to ensure the cow head protest against the relocation of a Hindu temple here, is “prominently featured” in the upcoming Bagan Pinang by-election.
Plans are under way to get the residents, who are still smarting over how the protest was orchestrated by politicians, to campaign on the side of PAS.
Some 20 per cent of the voters in Bagan Pinang in Negeri Sembilan are Indians and could prove crucial in a close contest.
“We will remind the Indians in Bagan Pinang what happened to the community here,” said resident K Raja, a draughtsman.
His remarks appear to suggest that Indians in Section 23 and in other parts of Selangor are blaming Umno for the cow head protest which caused race tensions and has resulted in a number of individuals charged for sedition.
On August 30, about 50 Malay-Muslim protestors marched to the state secretariat here after Friday prayers and desecrated a cow’s head to demonstrate their intolerance over plans to relocate a 150-year-old temple to Section 23.
Police allowed the protest to proceed, despite the fact that the animal is considered sacred by Hindus, but later bowing to public pressure, six men were charged for sedition and illegal assembly while another six for illegal assembly.
However the less than swift action against the protestors, who also disrupted a town hall meeting held by the state government to resolve the issue, has led to allegations of double standards by the federal government.
Raja said that besides a word-of-mouth campaign, plans are also afoot to distribute brochures about the incident during the Bagan Pinang campaign.
“So far, we have about five residents who are keen on going but we expect others to join us.”
He said the residents will join a bus load of others from the community, who intend to be in Bagan Pinang on nomination day.
Other residents who declined to be name told The Malaysian Insider that they were still very hurt over what had happened and are intent on repaying UMNO during the by election.
“We know PAS is facing an uphill task because of the postal votes but we will ensure they get the votes from the Indian community,” said one resident.
The trip to Bagan Pinang is being organised by the PAS supporters club of Shah Alam, who intend to fill a bus and several cars with supporters.
“We also have others things to tell the Indian voters there besides the cow head protest.” said club chairman N Nathan, without elaborating.
23/09/09
1 comment:
Both my parents are Indian and Hindu; and I am an evolutionist.
Malaysian voters must come of age. Look at India. The Republic of India maintains good relations with Russia, France, USA, Israel, etc. Similarly, I will continue to maintain that it will be in the best interests of the Malaysian people to maintain good relations with all nations.
Until year 1980's and 1990's Indian politicians too had the bad habit of blaming all their woes on the USA and the CIA. By year 2000 everything changed and in the new India very few politicians blame USA and the CIA anymore because the voters no longer believe such propaganda. Now the Indian voters have come of age. Similarly, I hope Malaysian voters too would change and come of age. See India video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP-TwHwLc98
JUST LIKE INDIAN VOTERS HAVE FINALLY COME OF AGE, IT IS TIME FOR MALAYSIANS TOO TO COME OF AGE. Politics in contemporary India is increasingly about economic developmental issues, not targeting a fictitious enemy like USA or CIA. Voters in India no longer want to hear about fictitious enemies like USA or CIA. Malaysian voters too must come of age.
Before year 2000 I used to deny that I was Indian. After year 2000 I am proud to be Indian. Before year 2000 was the old India; after year 2000 is the new India. Old India and New India are not the same. I have no problems with the new India. After year 2000 we can note that the Indian voters have come of age.
In September 2009, some Muslims in Malaysia paraded a cow's head. The media has the right to highlight it. What is news? When a dog bites a man, it is not news worthy. But when a man bites a dog, it is news worthy. The media makes news judgement. The media must be given freedom to decide what is news worthy or not. Please leave the media alone.
Some Muslims decided to protest by carrying a cow's head. So what? They can carry a cow's head if they want to. Nobody should be offended by it. The best thing to do is to play down on it and ignore it. The main thrust for Hindus should and must be in giving a good education to their children. The world will become more competitive. It is the duty of all Hindus in Malaysia to take care of their own families. Please do take care of your own family. If you can, please do work at two jobs so that you can get extra money. So the goal of Hindu Malaysians should be EDUCATION and WORK.
Parading a severed cow's head should not perturb you. If it does perturb you, then you have only yourself to blame. Those people parading a cow's head look like comedians any way. Why are you perturbed by comedians? They say that laughter is the best medicine. It is good to have some comedy.
Some people carry a handbag, some people carry a shopping bag, some people carry a mango, and some people carry an umbrella. Different people carry different things. Similarly, people do have the right to carry and parade a severed cow's head, or for that matter, chicken wings, pig's ears, goat's feet, turtle shell, cat's tail, etc.
If the intention of the Muslim protesters is to encourage beef consumption, then I can assure you that more Hindus in Malaysia consume beef and pork nowadays. If the Muslim protesters regularly parade a severed cow's head, it may encourage beef consumption, which is a good thing. I hope the Muslim protesters promote beef consumption by parading a severed cow's head regularly. Cattle farmers will be supportive of the idea of increasing beef consumption. In fact, you can even persuade the cattle farmers to pay the Muslim protesters.
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