Waytha wants to come home

SAD FAREWELL: A picture of Waythamoorthy and his daughter,taken after their breakfast in Singapore, before he departed for UK yesterday

SINGAPORE: P. Waythamoorthy, exiled in the United Kingdom, wants the Malaysian government to give him back his passport so he can come home and, if need be, face the music.

“I’m prepared to take responsibility for my actions. They can detain me under the ISA if they want to. But first, I want my passport back. And the government owes me an apology.”

Waythamoorthy said that he is not begging for his passport.

“What has been taken from me dishonourably must be returned to me in an honorable manner.”

Waythamoorthy holds Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, the former Home Minister, responsible for revoking his passport.

“The government owes me an apology. What they did to me on April 19 last year was the most humiliating thing in my life,” he said.

That day at Gatwick Airport in London, returning from a conference in Geneva, the British immigration authorities informed Waythamoorthy that the Malaysian government had revoked his passport.

“I could not believe it. In fact, I had to ask the British authorities to seek a confirmation with the Malaysian government that my passport was, indeed, being revoked.

“They did and two days later, on April 21, I was forced — because of the revocation and my stateless position
— to seek political asylum, which was duly given to me.”

Waytha is sore that the former Home Minister had continued to deny having revoked his passport.

He has written to the government to reinstate his passport “but the current government and the current Home Minister” have remained silent about it.

According to Amnesty International Director in Washington, Waythamoorthy was the first human rights lawyer to have his passport revoked while out of the country.

Waythamoorthy was in Singapore when he spoke to Malay Mail. He said he travels under the Geneva protocol now.

“I can go anywhere, including Israel, but I can’t return home to Malaysia.”

He spent nearly two weeks here when we secured the telephone interview. His family — wife, seven-year-old
daughter and his twin sister — had travelled from Malaysia to be with him in Singapore.

He left for London, where he is now based, yesterday, after seeing off his family to Malaysia.

Waythamoorthy also met P. Uthayakumar, another ringleader of the banned Hindraf, on Saturday night.

Uthayakumar was detained under the ISA for his role in a massive antigovernment demonstration in 2007
and a highly-provocative memorandum from Hindraf to the UK government alleging ethnic cleansing of Indians in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak released him and two other Hindraf leaders in May, a month after becoming Prime Minister.

Hindraf
30/09/09

Najib & the Makkal Sakhti Party - a loss cutting, money-greased ploy to split votes?

There are no less than 5 articles on MIC and the Makkal Sakhti Party this morning on Malaysiakini - a large part of the interest garnered by how Najib himself is set to launch the party.

I suppose Ben Suffian is closest to the money:

“Perhaps this strategy is meant to stem the flow of Indian votes to the opposition. If it means diluting the vote (in a three-corner fight), then so be it.”

We might even look at this positively. Perhaps no less than the PM himself has seen the futility of winning back the Indian vote, and has opted to try and split it instead.

I think it’ll get real interesting if we see him starting to prop up alternative Chinese parties with the same goal :P

Well, I’ll always support the right of any group to organise politically and pursue their agenda.

It’s obviously a bit sad to see ex-Hindraf elements suddenly cosy up to BN, but I think in my ‘older’ age, these things become less unexpected.

It may be my ‘older’ age as well that has a better appreciation of how easily people fall to temptation.



This picture of spic and span, suit-clad Thanethiran looks so different from his orange street fighting days.

I know not the insides of any man’s heart, and will be the first to admit that the following is all pure speculation, but I somehow find it easy to imagine conversations in some cozy office, with Najib saying all the right things about the Indian interest (to put the perhaps slightly guilty feeling man more at ease), making vague allusions to sums that would be confirmed by underlings later.

After Perak and all, one gets the feeling that Najib is a master of this game. Many suspect sums of money that the individuals involved would never, ever have comprehended before in their lives. I guess it’s not an easy thing to refuse (often, along with the carrot, there is also the stick - think MACC investigations).

So, we have another community crusader who has likely fallen. It’s sad, but we leave them behind and press on I guess.

I think there can be no compromise - all race based political movements must eventually go if the country is ever to really be united. Anyone who genuinely hopes Najib, Umno and gang will give two hoots about the genuine interests of others (while being part of an entire generation steeped in supremacist thinking) beyond fishing for votes, is in for a sad awakening.

I know it’s often more difficult in the Indian community, being the smallest minority on the Peninsular - but purely defensive, siege-mentality communal instincts will never surpass a certain limit of achievement.

Needless to say, Pakatan could do a *whole* lot more to address issues concerning such minorities, and put their house in better order to build a more overreaching confidence in the coalition and its prospects.

Malaysiakini
30/09/09

Hindraf name being exploited by MMSP, says Waytha

HINDU Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P. Waytha-moorthy is angry over news that there are plans to connect the movement with the newly-registered Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP), reported Malaysia Nanban.

He said in a statement that MMSP, to be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Oct 10, is capitalising on the term Makkal Sakthi (people power) that was popularised by Hindraf in November 2007.

Hindraf supporters took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in the thousands to press for the rights of the Indian community, he said.

Waythamoorthy added that Hindraf was instrumental in the political tsunami that resulted in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition coming to power in five states in the March 2008 general elections.

The Star
30/09/09

Home Ministry says Hindraf man's passport not cancelled

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 30 - Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today that Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) founder P Waythamoorthy’s passport had been neither confiscated nor cancelled.

Waythamoorthy had claimed he was victimised by the Malaysian government and that his international passport had been revoked.

The self-exiled leader has been living in London since the government crackdown on the organization in 2007 and has sought asylum in Britain.

Former Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had also refuted the allegations and said that Waythamoorthy’s passport and travel documents were still active in the Immigration Department of Malaysia database.

However Hishammuddin told reporters today that Waythamoorthy’s passport was, in fact, still in the custody of the Malaysian High Commission in London.

“His passport is still valid, his passports expires on Oct 17, 2010. As far as I am concerned, 2010 means that his passport has not yet ended and we did not confiscate his passport but he gave his passport to the our High Commission in United Kingdom,” he said.

Hishammuddin pointed that Waythamoorthy needed to only to return to the High Commission and claim his passport.

“Yes, he was the one who surrendered the passport,” he confirmed.

He added that Waythamoorthy should stop claiming that the government is stopping him from getting his passport.

“Why should we apologise to him? Would you? Of course, not,” he said.

Hishammuddin also added that Waythamoorthy could be too ashamed to go and get his passport because he had surrendered the document himself.

“Maybe he received a better offer at that moment, he felt that the grass is always greener on the other side but when he went to the other side, he felt that it was not worth it.

"Maybe he was ashamed because he himself surrendered the passport. That is why he claimed that we did not allow him to have his passport,” he said.

MI

30/09/09

mi1: Kerismuddin - How much do you want to lie to Malaysian Indians?

Plight of the Indian society

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir does not lwant to leave him alone. Dr Mahathir is sure that he, who is said to have taken a two-month leave because of pressure, is not going to resign from the party's president position. Instead, he “will definitely delay his resignation for 20 years”.

Malay mainstream media greatly criticised him.

Even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also does not give him face and has accepted the invitation to launch the newly-formed Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party.

Yes, I'm talking about MIC President Datuk S. Samy Vellu, who has been in the position for 30 years.

“The longer he remains in the position, the more people hate him!”


"It is a plight for Samy, as well as for MIC."

Dr Mahathir's comments on him are ruthless.

“Well, I think the influence of MIC has already been diluted. I think the formation of the party is a good thing because we don’t want to lose the support of the Indians.”

These are Dr Mahathir's heartfelt words. Perhaps, they are as well Najib's thought which is inappropriate for him to express it out.

Even though Najib did not put it in words, he has “explicitly” expressed it through actions. His acceptance of the invitation to launch the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party on 10 Oct seems to show Samy that the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party may replace MIC as BN's new allies.

Clearly, MIC has been seen as a “box office poison”. Meanwhile, Samy's power has been greatly diminished and he is now caught in a dilemma.

It is a plight for Samy, as well as for MIC. From another point of view, it can also be regarded as a plight for the Indian community.

The Indian community and the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) used to play a crucial role during the 8 March general elections. But they are now split apart.

There are many Indian political parties in Malaysia and recently, a few more have been formed. Other than the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party, which had actively participated in the earlier Kampung Pala protection movement, there are also Malaysian Indian United Party and Human Rights Party.

Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party President R. S. Thanenthiran used to be a Hindraf coordinator. Meanwhile, another soul of Hindraf P. Uthayakumar has joined the Human Rights Party as the party's Secretary-General.

Samy will have to leave sooner or later and MIC can also be replaced. It is sad that instead of new hope, the more new parties, which have been labeled as Indian interest fighters, are formed, the greater division,chaos and no future they bring to the Indian Community!

My Sinchew

30/09/09

UMNO's Gimmicks again for the Bagan Pinang Indian votes - same stuff as in the last 52 years

HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY (HRP)
NO.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar,

59000 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5622

Fax: 03-2282 5245

Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

29th September 2009

YAB . Dato Seri Najib Razak
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Block Utama Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
By Post
62546 Putrajaya By Fax No: 03-5519 0032
Email: Najib@pmo.gov.my

Re: 1) Multi- racial hostel (The Sun headline 29/09/2009)
2) RM 100 Million allocation for Tamil schools, under the first and second economic stimulas packages. (But zero funds flowed down to the ground).
(The Star 29/09/2009 at page N2)
3) 5.1% intake of Indians in public sector (The Star 29/09/2009 at page 12). (Our finding is only 1%).
4) Tear down walls of Disunity (NST 31/08/2009 headlines). (But not in practice).

We refer to the aforesaid headlines.
We regret to note however that this is merely another form of ‘paper politics’ by the UMNO controlled Malaysian government. First your goodself on Malaysian’s 52nd Independence day said ‘Tear down walls of Disunity (NST 31/08/2009 headlines). And today your goodself are saying ‘Multi- racial hostel’ (The Sun headlines 29/09/2009).

But there are hundreds of fully residential MRSM and other fully residential secondary schools which have been excluded to the non Malay Muslims in Najib Razak’s One Malaysia.

As the famous words of the late President Ronald Reagan (to Russian President) ‘ Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall (Berlin wall). With these words the cold war ended and made this world a better place for all of us.

Similarly Mr. Prime Minister we now say ‘Najib, tear down walls of disunity, open up all fully residential schools also to also all Chinese and Indian Malaysians’ on a needs basis as opposed to racial and religions basis.

And not merely ‘puppet shadow’ play’ wayang kulit’ miserable one multi racial headlines catching hostel, and that too as usual which is ‘to be’ built next year and which as usual which may not actually take off like most other headlines catching such announcements.

We urge your goodself to do so as this would be the best opportunity to save Malaysia where pupils get to foster genuine multi-racialism, national unity, and co- existence.

A classical example is the newsreport in The Star 29/09/2009 at page N2 ‘Najib said the construction of new Tamil schools and buildings was on hold as the RM 100 Million allocation in the first and second economic stimulas packages was in adequate due to rising cost of building materials’. This is a classical example and the tip of the iceberg of the ‘paper politics’ played by UMNO. Why could not this RM 100 Million have been used for at least some of the said most deserving and cow shed looking Tamil schools first to kick to start the supposed Cabinet committee ‘noble initiatives’. We cannot help but to think that this cabinet committee on the usual Indians headed by your goodself lacks sincerely if not seriousness.

Mr. Prime Minister ‘Tear down the walls of disunity’ we don’t want the said RM 100 Million allocation and scores of other such ‘paper allocations’ which hardly ever flows down to the ‘Indian ground’. We want to be part of the national mainstream education policy and the national mainstream development of Malaysia. We want a wholesome solution to the Indian problem and not merely piecemeal and ‘peanuts’ solution using the Indian ‘mandore’ politicians.

On the intake of Indians at 5.1% in the public sector that was announced by your goodself. Malaysians today do not see it when they go to or deal with the various public services departments nationwide and will only believe the same not to be ‘ paper politics’ when the full list of the intake is made public and transparent in the Public Services Department’s official website IF the public service does not make it public who else will? Our estimate is only 1% of the civil service is made available to Indians. Malaysian Indian civil servants have been reduced from about 50% in the late 1960s to a mere 1% in 2008 (Refer Dr. Mahathir’s book The Malay Dilema page 78 and NST 13th June 2008, Page 14). In 2007 only (1%) of the 400 positions in the Inland Revenue Department were given to the Indians (NST 13th June 2008, Page 4) (Refer Malaysian Indian Minority & Human Rights Violations Annual Report 2008 to Pravasi Bharathiya Divas International Conference at Chennai, India 7th – 9th January 2009).

Mr. Prime Minister only you can make this genuine change for our country’s future. Only you can make this difference. So please help us Mr. Prime Minister.

Kindly revert to us accordingly.

Thank you.

Your faithfully,

________________________
P.Uthayakumar
Secretary General (pro tem)

MB vs MB:Final appeal on Nov 5

The Federal Court will hear an application by Pakatan Rakyat's Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin on the rightful menteri besar of Perak on Nov 5.

The Federal Court will hear an application by Pakatan Rakyat's Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin on the rightful menteri besar of Perak on Nov 5.

Mohammad Nizar's lawyer Leong Cheok Keng told Bernama that he
received a letter dated Sept 3, via fax from the Federal Court registry
in Putrajaya, informing his legal firm that the court had fixed Nov 5 to
hear Mohammad Nizar's appeal.

Mohammad Nizar is appealing against the Court of Appeal's decision which declared Zambry Abdul Kadir as the rightful menteri besar of Perak.

On July 9, the Federal Court granted Mohammad Nizar's leave to appeal after the respondent, Zambry, through his counsel Cecil Abraham and the intervernor, the Malaysian government which was represented by Attorney-General Abdul Ghani Patail, had no objection to the application.

The battle for the menteri besar's post began after three assemblypersons left the DAP-PKR-PAS alliance and threw their support behind Barisan Nasional in February.
High Court ruled in Nizar's favour

Mohammad Nizar, 52, then filed for a judicial review seeking a writ of 'quo warranto' to be issued against Zambry (left) to show-cause on what basis or authority he (Zambry) was the rightful menteri besar.

On May 11, the Kuala Lumpur High Court declared Mohammad Nizar as the legitimate Perak menteri besar, but the ruling was overturned by the Appeal Court on May 22.


The High Court ruled that the Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah could not dismiss Mohammad Nizar from his office because the latter (menteri besar) did not hold office at the pleasure of the ruler, and once a menteri besar was appointed, he and his executive council were answerable to the state legislative assembly and no one else.

The Court of Appeal held that Sultan Azlan Shah was right in appointing Zambry as the new menteri besar under Article 16(2) of the Perak constitution, after being satisfied that Zambry had the command of the majority of the Perak state legislative assembly.

Counsel Sulaiman Abdullah is lead counsel for Mohammad Nizar.

Malaysiakini

30/09/09

Sabah wrestles with ethnicity, citizenship issues

The Sabah National Registration Department (NRD) is once again in the limelight - for all the wrong reasons. In the latest spat, an enraged father has gone public after a run in with the NRD.

The department flatly refused to register his son as a Sino-Kadazan (urban Dusun) a recognised native group, as per the Sabah ordinance.

The father has since appealed to the NRD with Sepanggar MP Eric Majimbun (right) in tow, but to no avail.

The NRD is not budging and refuses to recognise, as per the federal constitution, any term which embraces both a native and a non-native group.

The NRD is, however, willing to exercise its discretion and register the boy as a KadazanDusun if the term Chinese is not acceptable to the father.

Ironically, nowhere is the term KadazanDusun recognised in law as a native term.

The flare-up has brought former Sabah attorney-general Herman Luping into the picture with his take on the matter and related issues on ethnicity and citizenship which continue to dog the NRD.

"This matter of the status of the children of native/non-native mixed marriages and other issues involving the NRD needs to be rectified by the authorities and community leaders," said Luping, a Kadazan who is himself of part-Chinese origin.

"The position of half-natives, for example, is not mentioned in the
Malaysia Agreement or the Federal Constitution."


Other lawyers in the know, requesting anonymity, have suggested a simple definition for a native: "A native is an issue of either parent who is a native."

This would mean the insertion of also a list of linguistic groups in Sabah which can be recognised as native to the state.

Matters are complicated, according to Luping, by the fact that there are two definitions of native in the state i.e. in the federal constitution and the other in the Sabah ordinance.

The father is the most important factor in the definition of a native, as per the federal constitution, while the position of the offspring of native/non-native mixed marriages is defined in the Sabah ordinance.

In addition, the natives of the southern Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Sarawak, Malaya and Singapore are also recognised as natives of Sabah, provided their stay in the state is not limited in any way by the provisions of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

In short, since the federal constitution and the Sabah ordinance seem to differ on the definition of native, the supreme law prevails and the inferior law (the latter) has been rendered null and void to the extent of its inconsistency with the former.

Colonial legislation

The NRD, being a federal department, is not willing to make an exception for Sabah. (An ordinance is a colonial piece of legislation while an enactment is state law, the federal law being known as an Act.)

"It seems that the interpretation of native in the federal constitution, as per Article 161A, was the agreed interpretation at the Malaysia talks," said Luping.

In the past, a half-native could go to the native court and apply for a Sijil Anak Negeri (native certificate). But this is no longer the case following widespread abuse by corrupt court officials in the 1970s and 1980s. Applications for SAN have been frozen.

Half-natives, however, can apply to the native court for a verification letter "to enable them to enjoy privileges meant for the Bumiputera".

Clear-cut cases need not go to the native court but instead get the verification letter from the director of the Sabah native affairs office. The director, at the same time, is also secretary of the Sabah native affairs council. Verification letters do not mean recognition as natives.

Luping considers the issue of half natives as rather ironic considering that the chief delegate from Sabah at the Malaysia talks was Donald Stephens, whose only link with the natives was a Kadazan maternal grandmother.

However, that didn't prevent Stephens from emerging as the Huguan Siou (paramount chief) of the KadazanDusuns.

The former Sabah AG notes that Article 161A of the federal constitution further compounds matters by denying the children of a Sabah female native married to a foreigner the privilege of not only native status but also citizenship by operation of law.

Luping considers this as blatant discrimination in this age and notes that in fact any Malaysian woman, native or non-native, married to a foreigner cannot register her children automatically as Malaysians.

At the same time, the same privilege is available to a Malaysian man, both native and non-native, married to a foreign woman.

Strangely, Malaysian Muslim women married to foreign men may not be in the same predicament as their non-Muslims sisters.

Their children, by the definition of Malay in the federal constitution, are recognised as Malays and by extension citizens by operation of law.

Citing a recent Lebanese case, Luping figures that if anyone is willing to go to the federal court for a ruling on the matter, as a test case, the law against the children of Malaysian women married to foreign men can be overturned.

"The situation in Lebanon is the same as in Malaysia and the court ruled in favour of the woman," said Luping who advocates making similar arguments in the Federal Court.

Again, many Sabah natives have not only been denied native status but also citizenship by operation of law merely because their fathers were not domiciled in the state on the 1^st Malaysia Day i.e. Sept 16, 1963.

They hold permanent resident status in Malaysia and have been applying for their citizenship for years, in most cases, without seeing any light at the end of the tunnel.

"Many of these children were born in Brunei and continue to hold red identity cards," said Luping.

Malaysian law states that children of male citizens born overseas must have their birth particulars registered at the nearest high commission or embassy.

In the event of the failure to do so, the child can only qualify for permanent resident status. The child is considered a citizen of thecountry where he or she was born.

However, in the Brunei case, Malaysia did not have a high commission there when the affected children were born.

Tip of the iceberg

While genuine Sabah natives find themselves being denied native status and Malaysian citizenship, a sore point is that many people from outside Sabah continue to hold native certificates issued to them by the native court.

The consensus of public opinion is that such certificates should be revoked and the holders deported unceremoniously.

"Many of the houses built on Kepayan Ridge - in Kota Kinabalu - for example, were built on native land bought cheaply by a person from Penang who obtained a native certificate," said Luping.

Another person from Malacca, according to Luping, "even built a bogus tombstone of his mother in a village in Kiulu to get his hands on a native certificate".

Both cases appear to be the tip of the proverbial iceberg in Sabah.

The importance of the native status issue in Sabah, as elsewhere in Malaysia, only arises because of the existence of native title land, native communal title land and the special privileges (also meant for the Orang Asli and Malays in Peninsular Malaysia), according to senior lawyers.

One senior lawyer begs to differ. "Even without these factors," said Martin Idang, "It's important to define who is a native?" He finds it difficult to reconcile his stand with the concept of an otherwise colour-blind federal constitution.

The special privileges cover four key areas viz. representation in the civil service, representation in government-owned institutions of higher learning, representation in the award of government scholarships and representation in the award of government contracts and other business opportunities created by the government.

The special privileges, however, are not meant to deny non-natives from taking part or being represented fairly in the four key areas

Malaysiakini

30/09/09

NO END FOR CORRUPTED LEADERS IN UMNO, keep on emerging

Isa is BN’s man for Bagan Pinang

PORT DICKSON, Sept 29 – Umno’s central leadership bowed to pressure from the Negeri Sembilan party grassroots and picked Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad (picture) as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election.

The by-election is expected to end Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) winning streak in all by-elections in the peninsula since the last general election.

The announcement was made at the BN main operation centre near here and was attended by some 10,000 party loyalists.

BN election director Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described Isa, who was the Negri Sembilan mentri besar for 22 years until 2004, as a grassroots leader who has worked hard for the party.

“This by-election is about the people, people first,” said Muhyiddin citing the 1 Malaysia campaign slogan to loud cheers from the crowd.

“Whoever the people want, we will grant the people their wish,” he added.

In his acceptance speech, Isa said he felt rejuvenated by the announcement.

“God willing, with the support of Negri Sembilan mentri besar and other component party leaders, we will retain the seat,” said Isa as he struggled to hold back his tears.

Isa’s selection today marks his second attempt at making a comeback after failing to defend the Umno vice-president post during the party election last April.

His candidacy was also opposed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who had advised the Umno leadership to consider the long-term consequences of fielding Isa as he was found guilty of money politics by the Umno disciplinary board in 2005.

Earlier this month, the Teluk Kemang Umno division had insisted on proposing only the name of its chief – Isa – to the supreme council to be considered as the candidate, but Muhyiddin requested that the division submit more than one name.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin told reporters that the division had indeed submitted more than one name, resulting in a minor revolt in the Teluk Kemang division when banners threatening to boycott the by-election was put up across the state constituency this morning.

The Bagan Pinang by-election was made necessary following the death of BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.

It is situated within the Teluk Kemang parliamentary constituency represented by PKR’s Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas.

Apart from Bagan Pinang, Umno also won the neighbouring Linggi state seat in last year’s election, while PR controls three other state seats in Teluk Kemang — Chuah (PKR), Lukut (DAP) and Port Dickson (PKR).

In March last year, Azman defeated Ramli Ismail of PAS, by some 2,000 votes.

BN is currently ruling the state with a simple majority after winning only 21 out of the 36 state constituencies.

MI
29/09/09

Boycott threatened unless BN nominates Isa

PORT DICKSON, Sept 29 — Just hours before the announcement of the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election, several banners declaring support for Tan Sri Isa Samad and threatening a boycott have been put up in the state constituency.

One banner threatening a boycott if the former Negeri Sembilan mentri besar is not fielded was put up just next to the BN operation centre in Batu 6 here, where Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin are scheduled to name the coalition’s candidate later today.

Just yesterday, Muhyiddin who is also the BN election director revealed that the Teluk Kemang Umno division led by Isa had submitted more than one name to be candidate, suggesting that the former Umno vice-president was not the only name being considered by the party’s central leadership.

Commenting on the appearance of the banners, Teluk Kemang Umno division deputy chief Datuk Ismail Taib said he had directed party workers to bring them down.

“This is the work of mad people, even Tan Sri will not agree to this. I have asked my boys to tear down the banners,” Ismail told The Malaysian Insider.

Banners threatening a boycott were put up near BN’s operation centre.
Isa is widely expected to be named the BN candidate, a decision backed by Negri Sembilan Umno warlords and also the majority of the electorate according to a survey commissioned by PAS.

If Isa is fielded in Bagan Pinang, it will be his second attempt at making a comeback after failing to defend the vice-president’s post during the party elections in April.

The Bagan Pinang by-election was triggered by the death of BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.

It is situated within the Teluk Kemang parliamentary constituency represented by PKR’s Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas.

Apart from Bagan Pinang, Umno also won the neighbouring Linggi state seat in last year’s elections, while PR controls three other state seats in Teluk Kemang — Chuah (PKR), Lukut (DAP) and Port Dickson (PKR).

In March last year, Azman defeated Ramli Ismail of PAS, by some 2,000 votes.

BN is currently ruling the state with a simple majority after winning jsut 21 out of the 36 state constituencies.

MI
29/09/09

No-show in prosecution of Kugan death

The fizz over the expectation that a police officer would be charged this morning for the death of detainee Kugan Ananthan has dissipated.

Thus far, there is no sign that the case will come up at the Petaling Jaya Magistrate's Court today, as anticipated.

Tun Majid Tun Hamzah, the head of prosecution in the attorney-general's chambers, said “nothing has been confirmed” at this point.

Kugan's uncle V Raviroy, who arrived at the court at 8am, said he is uncertain if the police personnel involved will be charged.

"I found out about this from (Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson and lawyer) M Manoharan, but up to 11am today, there has been no sign (of the police officer)," he said.

He and another of Kugan's uncles, N Ravi, were accompanied by Manoharan and Kapar parliamentarian M Manikavasagam.

Reporters too had been waiting as early as 8am, only to find out that the case may be postponed. However, they are on standby for any developments.

Contacted this morning, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar indicated that he is in the dark.

"I haven't any news about this and I am not sure what is happening at the moment," he said.

Kugan, 23, died on Jan 20 at the USJ Taipan police station, five days after he was picked up in connection with a car theft case. His family has accused the police of foul play.

Two post-mortem examinations were conducted. The second of these revealed that Kugan had been beaten, burnt and starved prior to his death.

Concerned groups have long complained about the lack of action in the case, which exploded into a national issue after a video recording revealed severe lacerations on Kugan's body.

MK
29/09/09

WAYTHA’s PASSPORT : WHO IS DECEVING?

Waythamoorthy’s International Passport has been revoked by Government of Malaysia that’s for 101% sure , if not why he uses travel documents issued under Geneva protocol. I have run through his travel documents and letters from UK Government confirming his Malaysian passport revocation.

Who is Deceving Malaysian Now ? Malaymail Sept 28 ,2009 reported denial of Syed Hamid Albar former Home Minister . Who is Syed Hamid Albar now? Why present Home Minister keep his lips zipped? Whom they try to protect, the civil servants whom blindly follow instructions from master or civil servants that overwrite their matters order? This is their nature of DENYING everything including tthe current pathetic status of Malaysian Indians. Not only on Indians, they did that when our Economy was trembling by none other than current 1Malaysia PM.

After Chennai, I got a chance to met Waytha at Singapore last friday off course with party leadership’s knowledge where he brief out the matter and requested myself to find out status of his Malaysian passport . We discussed some issues pertaining to Malaysian Indian pleads. The answer why Malaysian Indian clearly reported here “Najib continues courting Indians”. Again , they trying to throw bones and peanuts by mere RM100 million allocation which subsequently freezed and planned to charge so call murderer among themselves after almost 8 months.


If they desperately need Malaysian Indians vote at just one State Assembly seat that shows the real value of it. We don’t need pleadges any longer? Stop deceving the Indians? If you’re sincere, simply reissue Waytha’s International passport and let him return home to answer all allegations against him.

Surely, Waytha’s passport will not solve the Indians problem here in Malaysia as long as government don’t embark a clear policy of up lifting the community economically. ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT is the prime answer to problems faced by Malaysian Indians.

MP Kapar
29/09/09

Suspects in Kugan’s death remain free

Manikavasagam called the move to charge those involved in Kugan’s death now a ploy to pacify the Indian community.

The long wait for justice for the family of A. Kugan, who died while in police custody in January, did not end today as the suspects were not charged as widely expected.

His two uncles, who arrived at the magistrates’ court here at 8am in anticipation of seeing the suspects being finally charged, left the courtroom disappointed.

“Of course we are upset, we all work and had to take time off to come here,” said Kugan’s uncle V. Raviroy.

He said they have all been kept in the dark about the case and any information was through the lawyers and the media.

The press yesterday reported those responsible for the death would be charged today or within the week.

A total of 11 rank and file policemen had been transferred to desk duty at the Selangor police headquarters, following his death on Jan 20.

Lawyer M. Manoharan, who is acting for Kugan’s family, described the eight month delay in the case as a “sandiwara” or drama. He accused the Attorney-General (AG) and police of double standards.

“If it had been anyone else, including Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers, they would have been charged in full view of the media,” the Kota Alam Shah assemblyman said.

Manoharan said he was surprised to read the headlines in the press today, which indicated a single “cop” would be charged.

“What about the others and the investigating officer?” he asked.

“I am also here to ensure the suspects are charged with murder; anything else would be unacceptable to the family,” said Manoharan.

Kugan’s mother N. Indra, who works as a hotel housekeeper, also wanted to be in court today but her employers had threatened to sack her if she took any more leave.

“This case has dragged on for too long and she has exhausted all her leave trying to push for justice for her son,” said Manoharan.

Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam told reporters that he intends to hand a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Oct 10 over Kugan and other death in custody cases.

He said the first attempt last Saturday was aborted after police intervened.

He pointed out that Kugan’s case was not the first and added that there were others cases of death in custody where no inquest had been carried out.

He said all the suspects in the case should be charged with murder, which carries the death penalty, and added the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) should be sacked if those involved are only charged with what he described as a “petty offence”.

Police initially said there was no foul play in Kugan’s death, which was attributed to water in his lungs according to a first post mortem.

Following public outcry, the case was investigated as a murder and a second post mortem, which was conducted on the insistence of his family, detailed numerous injuries on his body.

However, his family now fears the suspects would be charged for voluntarily causing hurt to extort a confession, where those convicted face a seven year maximum jail sentence or fine.

The 22-year-old Kugan was detained to aid investigations into luxury car thefts, at the USJ Police station in Subang, before he died in the lockup.
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His death caused wide spread resentment within the Indian community and called into question police interrogation methods.

Manikavasagam said he believed the move to charge those involved in Kugan’s death now is a ploy to pacify the Indian community, who make up 19 per cent of the voters in the up-coming Bagan Pinang by-election.

“I will definitely raise Kugan’s death as well as the recent cow-head protest by residents of Section 23 Shah Alam.

“I will also raise the issue in the next parliamentary sitting and will ask the minister why no one has been charged after eight months,” he added.

He also said Kugan’s family is also planning to file a civil suit against the AG, IGP and others whom they are holding responsible for the young man’s death.

MI
29/09/09

Serve all communities

SELANGOR PAS Commissioner Dr Hasan Ali’s problem with Selcat (Select Committee for Competency, Accountability and Transparency) smacks of a power struggle. He behaves like the mentri besar of Selangor.

He showed no respect for other races when he ordered the confiscation of alcoholic drinks like beer in Malay majority areas of Shah Alam. He has forgotten that he begged for Chinese and Indian votes when he stood for the Parit Buntar parliamentary seat in 1999 and won with their support. He has conveniently forgotten about the minority groups in Shah Alam. Majority or minority, everybody has their rights, their freedom and purchasing power. Everyone can make decisions about what is right and wrong and what to buy. One man shouldn’t call the shots

Even the former Barisan Nasional state government was sensitive towards this issue. Moreover, His Royal Highness, the Sultan of Selangor, summoned Hasan to the palace for overstepping his boundary.

It is better for the mentri besar to relieve Hasan of his exco posts because there seem to be two voices to every issue with him around. Hasan portrays himself as being only concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of one community.

I urge the PAS national leadership to state whether it is serious in respecting the beliefs of other races and working with them because presumption is extremely important in politics. Furthermore, I feel the PAS leadership is sending wrong signals through its leaders. Otherwise, PAS should just leave Pakatan and stop misleading the non-Muslims.

I believe that Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim is doing a great job in defining competency, accountability and transparency in Selangor. Malaysians don’t need politicians who play to the gallery.

Vijay Shanmugam
28/09/09

Higher Education Minister: Are you sure "No fake PhDs" in Malaysia!!!

No public institution of higher learning (IPTA) or private institution of higher learning (IPTS) is involved in issuing fake PhD degrees.

There are also no lecturers with fake doctorates teaching in any of these institutions.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Khaled Nordin gave this assurance today when commenting on a call by Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to the Attorney-General's Chambers to act against those who bought titles like "Datukships" and PhD degrees from overseas.

Rais said this was neccesary as such activities could create a generation of "fake intellectuals".

Khaled said his ministry has strict procedures in the recruitment of lecturers and checks are conducted on the qualifications of candidates.

He said Rais' statement could give a negative perception of Malaysian education and urged him to explain so that it could be discussed by the cabinet.

Bernama said Khaled spoke to reporters at an Aidilfitri function organised by the Pasir Gudang parliamentary constituency here.

Khaled also said the question of relocating the Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) campus to Kuantan, Pahang "will have to wait".

He said the immediate concern is to provide teaching and learning facilities.

"We are constructing new buildings at the UPNM campus in Kuala Lumpur to house the faculties," he said.

"UPNM is a new university and needs to be strengthened. The question of relocating the campus to Kuantan will have to wait," he said.

In Mentakab yesterday, his deputy, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, said Pahang will have its second university when the permanent campus of UPNM is built in Kuantan under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

He said the university is in discussion with the Pahang government on all aspects of the construction, including suitable location and construction costs.

Saifuddin said UPNM selected Kuantan because it had the defence logistics required by the university for its teaching purposes.

The Sun
28/09/09

Acid test for Umno and Najib in Bagan Tiang

KUALA LUMPUR - The clock is ticking down for Umno at Bagan Pinang, where a by-election is due to take place that many of its own leaders say will have crucial implications for both the party and its president Najib Abdul Razak.

Will Umno be able to prove that it still owns the hearts and minds of the Malays? Does Najib still have over-arching control over the party's powerful warlords?

Malaysian Mirror spoke to several grassroots leaders, both within and outside the constituency, to get a feel of how they think the party should act.

According to them, the first question can only be answered on Oct 11, the balloting day for the 13,664 voters in Bagan Pinang.

Although Umno is expected to thump arch rival Pakatan Rakyat, the key question is - can it keep or enlarge its 2,333-votes majority?

Then only can the party claim it is still the preferred choice of the Malays, they say.

Anything less and especially in the worst-case - a shock loss - will spark a reaction that will rock the party to the core.

"We are aware that a lot rides on this election. We must win, we don't have a choice," Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin said just a day ago.

Najib's grip on Umno

So crucial is a morale-boosting victory for Umno, which has lost seven of the past eight by-elections, that a huge fight-within-a-fight has erupted over the choice of candidate.

And this is where the answers to the questions about Najib's grip on his party will lie. And this will also be known much sooner - on Sept 29, when the party officially names its flag carrier.

Will the Prime Minister be forced to pick former menteri besar Isa Abdul Samad, the Teluk Kemang division chief, whose supporters insist is the only man who can deliver victory to Umno?

Bagan Pinang falls under the umbrella of Isa's division and hardly anyone there has not met him at one time or another.

Yet party elders such former party president Mahathir Mohamad and Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh have publicly advised against Isa because of his corruption and vote-buying record.

"If Umno cannot find enough candidates, just choose me,” said the 84-year old Mahathir.

Long-term or plumb for a 'sure-win'

But the long-term good of the party may be a luxury Najib cannot focus on right now. Not only does he have to appease party members who perhaps don't mind victory at any cost, but he has to satisfy the local warlords.

If Isa is not picked, there is fear that his supporters may boycott or even sabotage their party's chances at the by-election. So if Najib cannot persuade them to a wiser view, he may have to select Isa after all. Or Isa's proxy - his son Mohd Najib.

But whether father or son - the signal is clear. Just six months into the top job, the Umno president and Prime Minister may have lost sway.

The chieftains in Umno will read it that way. As it is, they already smell blood and the going can be expected to become even tougher for Najib in the months ahead.

"If I am Isa, I will urge the party not to make me the candidate. Then I will work hard to campaign for another candidate that is chosen. With that, it will boost his reputation," advised Manathir. But other party members say he may be wearing rose-tinted glasses.

More than meets the eye

The stakes are definitely much higher than meets the eye at Bagan Pinang. So much so, few really care about who Pakatan's PAS will field. No doubt, a dangerous oversight but nevertheless the focus - right or wrong - has been on a grand Umno triumph and Isa or not Isa.

He was sacked as vice president and his membership suspended for three years from June 24, 2005 for involvement in money politics during the 2004 party election.

"In my personal opinion, I know Umno has other candidates but it is better to field a person who is well-known and well-liked by his people in his constituency, rather than just putting an unfamiliar face to fill in the blank,” PJ Utara Umno information chief Abdul Malik Shahir told the Malaysian Mirror.

"Isa Samad has done his time. If the leaders want him to run for the candidacy, I will support him. He has experience and was well-respected by friends and foes alike.”

Mixed views

Yet, others agree with Mahathir. By nominating Isa, Umno may be seen as reverting to its bad old ways and giving lip service to fighting corruption. Even if Isa wins, Umno leaders have to consider what the rest of Malaysia thinks of their party.

They said Umno should be mindful of the signal sent by the voters of Permatang Pasir, who rejected its flag carrier because he was a disbarred lawyer, found guilty of misapporpriating clients' funds.

“This time around Umno should be more selective in choosing the right candidate," Mas Normah Mas Junid, a Wanita division chief told Malaysian Mirror.

"We don’t want another case like Rohaizat in Permatang Pasir to resurface."

Postal voters

Bagan Pinang is a Malay majority seat with a mixed populace. It consists of 63 percent Malay voters, 21 percent Indian, 11 percent Chinese and 5 percent other races.

There are also some 4,600 military-based postal voters and these alone can swing victory for Umno. But the same questions remain, can Najib afford to take this leeway for granted? Will upset Isa's camp? Can he control them?

“The leaders have been put in a very tight spot. After all that has been said about Isa's tarnished image. If the leaders do choose him, the opposition will also make it seem like Umno is short of new blood and have to cling to Isa just to secure votes," said Abdul Malik.

"At the end of the day, whether or not Isa Samad is chosen, it is still up to the Bagan Pinang people to cast their votes and select the best person to represent their rights.”

Malaysian Mirror
28/09/09

IPF prepared to remain a 'UMNO coolie'

KUALA LUMPUR - The Indian Progressive Front (IPF) has pledged its support to the government even though it had yet to be accepted as one of Barisan Nasional's (BN) component parties and is being labelled as BN coolie by the opposition.

IPF president Jayashree Pandithan said the party's pledge of support to the government was not made for fun, but was prompted by the commitment shown by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to uplift the status of the Indian community in the country.

"Though the opposition parties have labelled us as BN Gurkha or coolie and said that we will never be part of the coalition, we will wait patiently until our application to join BN is finally accepted.

Will submit application again

"In fact, we will submit another application to join the BN soon and we are confident that the BN leadership will give it a fair consideration," she told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the party's 17th general assembly here Sunday.

When asked whether IPF, which has 300,000 members nationwide, would join the opposition pact if the application was rejected by BN, Jayashree said such an idea had never crossed their minds as they would continue supporting BN.

"We are a strong supporter of BN. No doubt about that because (the late) Tan Sri MG Pandithan (IPF founder and former president) had supported BN and we will follow in his footstep.

"There is no question of going to any other party or the opposition pact. We are loyal supporters of the BN," she added.

Bernama
28/09/09

MP Gobalakrishnan arrested for 2004 case

PENANG - Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan was arrested outside the Magistrates Court in Bukit Mertajam Monday morning for a case that has been pending since 2004.

Gobalakrishnan was at court on Monday for a mention with regards to the Aug 18 case in which he was charged with using criminal force to prevent a policeman from discharging his duty during nomination for the recent Permatang Pasir by-election.

Appearing with his family and lawyers in front of the media, the MP was taken by surprise when a police team from Perak arrested him, citing a warrant of arrest issued by the Tapah Magistrates Court on Aug 20.

He was accused of ramming into a roadblock and fighting and quarrelling with a police officer in the 2004 incident in Perak.

The Star reported that earlier in the court, defence counsel JM Martin made an application to magistrate Mohamed Azhar Hamzah for the return of Gobalakrishnan’s torn pants and the belt that he had worn during the Aug 17 incident in Permatang Pasir.

Martin also told the court that he was making the application under Section 20 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Using criminal force

Gobalakrishnan is alleged to have committed the offence in front of the Youth Skills Development Institute in Bukit Mertajan at about 11am on Aug 17.

He was charged with using criminal force to prevent sub-inspector M Karunamuthi from discharging his duties. Gobalakrishnan claimed trial.

Mohamad Azhar had earlier rejected an application from the defence team for the police to surrender to the court the pants and the belt belonging to the accused, saying they feared the police might tamper with the evidence.

However, the prosecution requested the court not to entertain the request and said the items would be displayed as exhibits during the proceedings.

The court will study the section an fixed Oct 28 for the case to be rementioned.

MM
28/09/09

Ibrahim Ali a load of rubbish, says Nik Aziz

KOTA BAHARU – When maverick Kelantan politician Ibrahim Ali opens his mouth, it seems that everything he says is about old issues.

At least, this is what Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat thinks.

Yesterday, Ibrahim and the PAS spiritual leader and Kelantan menteri besar engaged in one of their regular spats with both being very loose with their tongues.

Ibrahim had again asked Nik Aziz to step down as menteri besar as he was too old.

In reply, Nik Aziz dismissed the resignation call as an old issue.

The menteri besar also said that the PAS administration had brought development to the state, including in backward districts like Gua Musang, Tanah Merah and Jeli.

"The people can judge for themselves the changes that had taken place under my leadership since PAS came to power in 1990," he said at the party's Aidilfitri open house at the Sultan Mohamed 1V Stadium here on Sunday.

Ibrahim was quoted by a Malay tabloid as saying that Nik Abdul Aziz should step down as he was already old and had failed to develop Kelantan.

Young but a load of rubbish

The PAS spiritual leader should make way for younger leaders, said Ibrahim in reply to Nik Aziz's call for him to step down for not being in line with the party, which had backed him in the 2008 general election.

"What is wrong with being old. What is the use of being young but a load of rubbish?" Bernama quoted the PAS veteran as saying.

"I had asked him to resign as the Pasir Mas MP as he won the seat under PAS banner. When Pasir Mas PAS told him to step down, he should do so.
"The money he is earning is not right, his prayers will not be accepted by the God," said Nik Aziz.

Ibrahim, 57, won the Pasir Mas parliamentary seat in 2004 as an Independent candidate but stood on PAS ticket.

He was removed as the Pasir Mas Umno division chief in 2003 and sacked from the party for contesting as an Independent candidate in the 2004 general election.

In 2005, he was not only defeated in the Pengkalan Pasir state by-election but also lost his deposit. The seat was wrested by Barisan Nasional's Hanafi Mamat.

MM
28/09/09

Another UMNO's son of a bitch (Hamid Albar) making a false statement

HRP

29/09/09

Waytha: Makkal Sakthi is no Hindraf

HRP
28/09/09

Bagan Tiang by-election - Indians Boycott

HRP
28/09/09

Justice for Kugan petition to DYMM YDP Agong 26/09/09 - what I observed

This is what I observed at the peaceful assembly in front of the Istana Negara on 26 September 2009, which was called by Hindraf and the Human Rights Party Malaysia to deliver a petition to the the DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. The petition, which you can download and read here, pleads to the YDP Agong for justice for Kugan and his family. Eight months after his death in police custody, the killer/s of A. Kugan, have yet to be arrested and brought to justice.

I tried to get to the Istana Negara at about 10.30 a.m., but there was a police roadblock where Jalan Dewan Bahasa joins Jalan Istana, and the police were not allowing any cars to get past. I made some calls and found out that the petitioners were meeting at Naga's Restaurant in Brickfields, which is where I headed to.

Members of Kugan's family were already there, including Madam Indra (his mother), sister, brothers and uncle. With them were a small group of Hindraf and MHRP folks; MP for Kapar YB S Manikavasagam, MP for Puchong YB Gobind Singh Deo, and ADUN for Kota Shah Alam YB M. Manoharan were also there. Soon, Human Rights Party Malaysia pro-tem secretary-general P. Uthayakumar and Hindraf coordinator Mr. Jayathas arrived, and the group organised themselves for the trip to the istana.

Some of Kugan's family members waiting for transport to the Istana

I hitched a ride in one of the cars carrying some of Kugan's relatives. We set of towards the Istana, but somehow got separated from the lead cars. We parked before the roadblock at Jln Dewan Bahasa, and began walking towards the Istana proper.

Members of the police manning the roadblock blocked our way and told us that we could not pass.

The police stop us from proceeding

We told them that we were going to deliver a petition to the Istana, and that Kugan's relatives were with us. The policeman asked us to wait while he radioed his superiors for permission. He took an inordinate amount of time doing this.

Asking for instructions, or delaying tactics?

After about ten minutes of waiting with no indication of any permission forthcoming, our group decided not to wait there any longer, but to get back into our cars and try another route. By 11.30 we were walking towards the group of petitioners in front of the Istana.

The petitioners outside the Istana, outnumbered by the police, reporters and cameramen. By what stretch of the imagination could they have been considered a threat to public security?

As I approached this group at 11.33 a.m., a policeman was already ordering the crowd to disperse. This is what I managed to record:

Thus the people's attempt to express their plea for justice to their King was foiled by the police. The people there made their way back, and as you can see in the video above, their frustration and disappointment was evident.

The petitioners leaving the Istana area

The leaders of the petitioners had a quick discussion, and decided to hold a press conference back at Naga's Restaurant.

These are the people who prevented the rakyat from presenting their petition to DYMM YDP Agong. They are supposed to protect and serve the rakyat, but whose interests are they protecting now? Whose orders were they following?

Kugan's mother and other family members waiting by the roadside of Jalan Istana, having been chased away from the Istana area itself. Don't they have a right to plead for justice from their King, when the Malaysian AG and police have denied them justice for eight months? Why must they be treated so?

We got back into our cars and headed back to Naga's, where the impromptu press conference was held. Here are some video clips from it (apologies for the poor audio quality):

YB Gobind Singh Deo

YB M. Manoharan

Mr. Uthayakumar, YB Manickavasagam, YB Manoharan and lawyer Mr. N. Surendran

During the press conference, there were three gentlemen who were hanging about the restaurant, with a video camera. here they are, numbered accordingly:

I cannot verify this, but I was told that they were special branch officers. Here is another shot of them:

Here is number 3 recording the press conference from up close:

According to this Bernama report of the event:

Brickfields police chief ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said police managed to disperse the gathering without any untoward incidents.

"No arrests were made. Police were on duty in front of Istana Negara to prevent incidents as the group comprised Hindraf members and politicians.

"The public should respect the residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the laws of the country," he said when contacted today.

Reading his statement, and having seen the events unfold for myself, these are the questions and thoughts that come to my mind:

1) What "untoward incident" was he expecting? Was he afraid that Kugan's mother was going to assault him with a deadly petition?

2) Why are Hindraf members and politicians singled out for "special treatment", when the cow head protestors get a free pass? Blatant double standards at work!

3) What did any of the petitioners do there, which can be construed as disrespecting the YDP Agong or his residence? Palace officials had already been informed and were prepared to accept the memorandum. Isn't DYMM YDP Agong the King for all Malaysians, including for Kugan and his family? Wasn't His Majesty's palace built and maintained with their blood, sweat and tears as well? What laws did they break? Why is the Brickfields police chief slandering them?

4) Why aren't Malaysians allowed to exercise their right to assemble peacefully? Were these folks in any way or form a threat to public safety and security? If peaceful assemblies like these are broken up by the police, how else are Malaysians going to express their views and feelings? IMHO, all the while our 1Malaysia government is embarking on a "feel-good" PR campaign, they are severely eroding our rights to assemble peacefully, amongst many others. We need work urgently to re-establish our rights, before we lose them altogether.

5) Why was it that the people who showed up in support of the petition were virtually all Indians? In the past (for example during Kugan's funeral), there was heartwarming and encouraging support from all communities; we must never let such cooperation and understanding die away. Kugan's case, just like Adi Anwar Mansor's and Teoh Beng Hock's, is a serious issue for all Malaysians. If we only fight for justice when our own race is involved, then Umno/BN will win, because we cannot defeat them by ourselves. Civil society and progressive groups must work together to find common ground and strive for change with a united voice. This will require high quality, principled leaders. United we stand; divided, we'll all die with Umno/BN in power for the next 52 years. Please people, we must break down the racial walls that Umno/BN have built between us!

6) We must ensure that the IPCMC is formed. IMHO, the police have become an instrument for the oppression of Malaysian's political expression and aspirations. If we are to have any hope of change in Malaysia, we must reform the police into an organisation that serves the rakyat, and not the political purposes of the party which happens to be in government.

The pain and anguish that our mothers bear for us, transcends time, language, race, and religion. Paradise lies beneath their feet, but all we give them in return is suffering. May God have mercy on us.

Sincerely,
Malaysian Heart

http://malaysianheart.blogspot.com/2009/09/hindrafs-petition-to-dymm-ydp-agong.html

Please read more reports of the event here, here, here and here.

Hindraf

28/09/09

Malaysia - "Truly Asia"? Or a Cynical Marketing Ploy?

For many years, Malaysia has enjoyed an image that suggests it to be a rapidly developing prosperous nation that is liberal and modern in its outlook and charitable towards all its residents.

Indians particularly marvel at its bright and clean cities with their many examples of modern construction. They also have the impression that unlike the Islamic states of the Gulf, Malaysia is a "secular" country. As a consequence, Malaysia attracts Indian tourists in very large numbers and is a particular favorite with the Gliterati Bollywood crowd.

But sadly, it has taken the HINDRAF (Hindu Rights Action Force) only one rally to expose the myth that is Malaysia. For all its pretence of being a secular nation, the despotic and heavy-handed manner in which a peaceful march was repressed - the cynical manner in which its brave and patient organizers were arrested (without charge and without recourse to due process) exposes the utter hollowness of Malaysian claims to "democracy". Democracy is not merely about rubber-stamping an election ballot every few years. It is also about a process in which all citizens must be free to communicate their genuine concerns - epsecially if they are as systematically discriminated against as are Malaysians of Indian (and mostly Tamil) descent.

Contrary to what one would normally expect from a genuinely secular and democratic nation, Malaysia has systematically practiced institutionalized religious, legal, economic and educational favoritism on behalf of its Malay "UMNOputras". Under the garb of "affirmative action" - Malaysians of Indian origin (who were brought to Malaysia by the British Colonizers as indentured servants - i.e. semi-slaves to work on the plantations) are systematically denied a comparable level of funding for educatiotion at all levels. Whereas "UMNOputras" are given prefential treatment in government jobs and business contracts, Indo-Malaysians have to fend entirely for themselves.

Considering that the Indians arrived in Malaysia as near-slaves and performed all the most undesirable work, if anyone should have been beneficiaries of affirmative action, it should have been the Indo-Malaysians. To go on and on about the "poverty" of the "UMNOputras" while ignoring the far greater historic and present disadvantages of the Indo-Malaysian is simply a cover for closet racism and religious chauvinism and intolerance (since the vast majority of Indo-Malays are Hindus). In fact, as the Star Online (Sep 30, 2005) revealed, Indians continue to earn much less than the national average. Several poor Indian families survive on less than 4$ a day (i.e. less than a third of the average per capita income). The Economist (22/2/2003) revealed that Indians comprise 60% of urban squatters and 41% of all beggars.

Yet, Muslims and Hindu liberals of the Indian sub-continent often point to Malaysia as an example of an Islamic-majority nation that can also respect its minorities. Indeed?!

Consider that when UMNO Youth wanted to have a raucous protest (without permits) just a few days before the HINDRAF protest -they were allowed to have their way on the streets. No one was arrested, there was no teargas, and no governamental outrage. Whereas at entirely peaceful HINDRAF rallies, the government has used teargas right from the get-go and police have beaten participants including women and children. When young girls tried to present roses as peace offerings to the violent policemen, they were coldly refused and the beatings on the rallyists continued. So much for Malaysia's liberal image.

However, police brutality towards Indians is hardly new. Every year, one reads of Indians working in Malysia who are sumamrily rounded up as though they were illegal aliens even when they had all their documents and were hired by government-approved Malaysian corporations. Rarely ever have such Indians even recieved a formal apology let alone compensation for the insult, inconvenience and psychological terror meted out on them.

But police brutality is a life-threatening reality of Malaysia's citizens of Indian-origin. HINDRAF has noted how 60% of crime "suspects" shot dead before trial by the Malaysian police have been Indians. 60% of custodial deaths (of citizens detained without charge or trial) are of Indians. The suicide rate of Indians is ten times that of Malays.

Unfortunately the mainstream Indian media has done a very poor job of exposing the systematic ethnic discrimination that takes place in Malaysia. Consider the facts: Of the 5 major Malaysian banks, only ONE is multi-racial. The rest are controlled by the "poor" UMNOs.

Between 1968 and 2000, 144 Indian primary schools and 48 Chinese primary schools were deliberately closed. Of Malaysia's education budget, less than 1% goes to Indian schools even though Indians comprise approximately 8% of the population - a sharp drop from 12% in 1957. In other words in 50 years, Malaysia's racism has driven out every third Indian from the country. The Chinese-origin population has meanwhile dropped by half to now roughly a quarter. In the period that half a million Indians left Malaysia, 3 million Indonesian citizens were naturalized and given "UMNOputra" status. In other words, Indians who had been in Malaysia for almost a century are still not considered sons (or daughters) of the soil, but Indonesians not even born in Malaysia can be considered "bumiputras".

Every Malay (rich or poor) is given a 5-15% discount to buy a home. The Malaysian government has never built a church or a temple in housing estate. But every housing estate that it builds comes with a mosque.

Taken in its totality, one cannot but help observe that the economic practices of the Malysian government greatly resemble the medieval practice of Jizya that Islamic invaders imposed on all "infidels". In fact, this is not surprising because every Muslim Malay is subject to the Shariat code. In case of disputes between Islamic Malays and non-Muslims, Shariat law takes precedence. This means that even Hindu or Buddhist or Christian or non-religious Indians and Chinese must submit to the Shariat if they ever have the misfortune of displeasing a Muslim Malay.

Malaysians Citizens Against Racism and Discrimination have noted how the Malaysian government has repeatedly refused to accede to demands to abandon its systematic policies of discrimination towards non-Malays and non-Muslims.

Hindus in Malaysia are particularly incensed that even as the Malaysian government has a policy of building mosques in every housing estate it builds for the Malays, it has torn down hundreds of temples built by Tamils on private or plantation lands that were built by their own sweat and by their own initiative. Temples have even been demolished while devotees were still praying inside.

As many on-line bloggers note: "Malays automatically get on a platter what is denied to other communities."

Perhaps, the real tragedy of Malaysia's Indians is not just that they have been victims of such pervasive discrimination but that it has taken so long for it to be revealed to the whole world. What must be especially galling for Malaysia's Indians must be how they have received so little support and help from their mother country. Even as the brave and courageous leaders of HINDRAF languish in custody, the Indian government has remained cynically silent and is on the verge of negotiating a "Free Trade" deal.

This abominable betrayal of a community in distress typifies the present political make-up of the Indian nation. The Congress and its allies and all the liberals in the mainstream media bend over backwards to hide the truth and keep trumpeting how the Malaysian state is a "liberal", "secular" and "friendly" state. Perhaps it says something about how the Indian Congress views "secularism". Positive discrimination in favor of Muslims is fine, but god forbid if non-Muslims - whether they be Hindus, Buddhists or non-religious demand fairness and justice.

The truth is that the Malaysian state - beneath a veneer of "democracy" is actually far more autocratic than Indians realize. It is practising the same type of "divide and conquer" stratagems that the British so perfected during colonial rule. The silence of Malaysia's ASEAN neighbors is also perhaps revealing - how ASEAN is mostly about capitalism and helping the region's capitalists thrive. It is not about ensuring the human rights and dignity of all of the citizens of the ASEAN countries.

ASEAN countries have yet to chastize Malaysia for the enormous inequities that exist in the country. For instance, Islam is the ONLY official state religion. While Malaysia's Muslims are free to propagate Islam and convert non-Muslims to Islam, non-Muslims are provided no such freedoms. In fact, they are strictly enjoined NOT to try and convert Muslims to other faiths. In most provinces, attempting to convert a Muslim can lead to lengthy jail terms and whippings.

Children of inter-faith marriages are automatically treated as Muslims. What is more , in most cases, a Muslim Malaysian cannot even voluntarily give up his or her Islamic faith. In a Nov 19, 2006 article in the New Straits Times, it was reported that in Perak, Malacca, Sabah, Trengannu and Pahang conversion is a criminal offense even punishable by a jail term. In Pahang, converts may even be punishhed by being caned.

Mosques routinely use loudpseakers to call Muslims to prayer which can be at 5:30 in the morning - hours before offical businesses open. When the Malaysian Bar Council described this practice as unnecessary and disturbing, this was condemned.

The Malaysia tax code is also discriminatory. Muslims are given tax breaks that other communities do not get. Moreover, in most provinces, a Muslim may not make a will that favors any person "opposed" to Islam. The latter prescription is easily distorted to prevent non-Muslims from inheriting anything from a Muslim.

The Shariat laws also permit widespread censorship on any film or literature that might even indirectly annoy Muslim sentiment. Malaysian law also requires mandatory IDs that state a person's religion. Recently, a Malaysian Minister decried how too many "effeminate" men were entering Malaysian universities. Some fear that it was presumably to lay the ground for mandatory beards on campus. Others fear that this was intended intimidate ir target young men who might be perceived as gay or bisexual.

But discrimination at Malaysia's Universities extends at many levels. For instance, Malaysia's Open University has weaker admission requirements for "bumiputras". Some years back, it was revealed that Malaysia's universities rejected 500 top-scoring non-Malays, even as it failed to fill 7000 slots that had been reserved exclusively for Malays. For instance, Malaysian universities have a goal of ensuring that 75% of their students are "bumiputras" even though their total population is only now roughly 60%. Websites for several universities openly state their pro-bumiputra focus. According to some studies, non-Malay faculties have shrunk to possibly as low as 5%. Because of negative admission quotas imposed on Indians, a medical education for an Indian in Malaysia is almost impossible.

SEAPA (South East Asian Press Alliance) has noted how the atmosphere at Malaysian universities stifles any form of legitimate dissent. Malaysian laws allow universities to prosecute students merely for speaking to the media without permission from designated authorities. They may not join political parties, or even start their own political action groups. On entry, they must take a pledge of obedience to the government.

In 2003, the Chinese Language Society was suspended because its members campaigned against a law that permitted detention without trial. Students were suspended for expressing their views on native language education. In 2001,
Choo Chon Kai - a chemistry topper was suspended for possessing and selling badges to protest the detention-without-trial law. The same law that has been used against HINDRAF leaders. Unfortunately, there is also a huge paucity of lawyers to defend Indians who are arrested far more frequently than any other Malaysian.

As things stand, the Indian community in Malaysia faces enormous obstacles in its struggle for justice. Without support from its Indian brethren and genuine human rights activists around the globe, their battle is likely to be a very arduous one.

We can only hope that more Indians begin to express solidarity with Malaysia's Indians and other discriminated communities and call upon the United Nation to exert maximum pressure on the Malaysian government to reform itself. Malaysia's odious practices must be widely exposed and the government lambasted for its obnoxious treatment of its Indian citizens.

28/09/09

High stakes as Malaysia turns 52

Malaysia celebrated 52 years of independence in August 2009, wracked by economic woes and political uncertainty over fears that a resurgent opposition could topple a government in GE 13 that has ruled since 1957, when British colonial rule ended.

The world "is impressed with Malaysia because not many countries with a multiracial population exist with tolerance, peace and harmony," "A united people is a strong national bulwark against any threat, whether from within or outside the country,"

While a slowing economy, dwindling investments, spiraling inflation and a lackluster stock market are major concerns for the country, the nation's attention has been riveted this year by the political fireworks surrounding the 62-year-old Anwar.

Anwar is posing a serious challenge to the government, accusing it of corruption and subverting the civil service, the judiciary and the police. He also says minorities are treated unfairly.

28/09/09

'Too many Malay-Indian political parties will make Indians suffer'

The formation of too many political parties representing Malay Indians will only harm the community.

"Many of those who form these smaller parties are doing so for their personal interest only. Makkal sakthy party who claimed have Indian supporters would be of of the ''hard nuts'' can go on forming parties but in the end, it will be the Indians who suffer,"

Things have changed since the 2007 protest by the outlawed Hindraf, and a majority of those who had left the MIC to join opposition parties.

Most faction of the community are still in the opposition and number of those who were part of the Hindraf demonstrations in 2007 expressed hope that the Pakatan would be able to effectively represent their interests in the government.

Various small parties claiming represent the Indian community had been formed and failed in the past and these new parties will suffer the same fate. The formation of so many parties simply will not work. This trend will eventually lead to the downfall of the community,".

28/09/09

UMNO, Isa Samad & Mahathir: A big mess in Bagan Tiang

Umno leaning towards Isa for Bagan Pinang

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — On the main roads and thoroughfares just outside Port Dickson near here, banners backing Tan Sri Isa Samad are already lining the streets.

The banners are the clearest physical evidence that as far as Umno’s Teluk Kemang division is concerned, the only man they will consider as candidate for the Bagan Pinang division will be Isa.

And The Malaysian Insider understands signs are that Umno’s top leaders are leaning towards making Isa the candidate as well.

Deputy Umno president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to make a formal announcement on Tuesday.

They believe Isa should not be punished twice for his past infractions.

In short, the prevailing argument is that he has served his time, paid the price and should be allowed to stand as a candidate.

Umno leaders are favouring this argument despite some concerns brought up over Isa being perceived as a tainted candidate.

Among the most vocal critic of the idea of fielding Isa has been former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir has argued that Umno’s image would be affected because it would be regarded as not being serious in fighting money politics if it chose as candidate someone who has been found guilty of political corruption.

The former PM said the public would view Isa’s potential candidacy as a reflection of Umno’s stand on corruption.

Isa was suspended for three years from Umno from June 24, 2005, for money politics in the 2004 Umno elections. He was originally suspended for six years but it was reduced after he appealed.

Nomination for the Bagan Pinang by-election has been fixed for Oct 3 and polling on Oct 11. The seat fell vacant following the death of Barisan Nasional incumbent Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.

Bagan Pinang is situated within the Teluk Kemang parliamentary constituency of which Isa is the leader of the Umno division there.

Isa, who was Negeri Sembilan mentri besar for over two decades, is extremely popular in Teluk Kemang.

“He is so influential that if he tells people not to vote for Umno, they will not vote for Umno,” a local resident in Port Dickson told The Malaysian Insider.

His influence, and the unprecedentedly strong campaign to put him as a candidate, has caused top Umno leaders to favour Isa’s candidacy.

Party leaders here feel that it is important for Umno to send out a message that those who own up to their mistakes and remain loyal to the party must also be given recognition.

But they also feel that if Isa is nominated and wins the seat, as is expected, it will not mean that he is an MB candidate.

There will be no executive role for him, said Umno sources.

But Isa’s supporters are likely to make a case for him to replace Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan as MB again.

The Malaysian Insider understands that at least five of the eight Umno divisions in the state are in favour of fielding the former mentri besar in the seat

MI

27/09/09