(Malaysiakini) The Human Rights Party (HRP) today proposed to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on
Presenting their views, its pro-tem secretary general, P Uthayakumar (right), said this is because the voter make-up in present state and parliament constituencies make Indian voters the minority and as such their rights are not championed in the assembly houses.
HRP called for at least 15 new parliament seats and 38 state assembly seats which are “at least 70 percent Indian majority, with 20,000 voters for parliament and 10,000 for state assembly seats”.
This was, however, rebutted as “backward” by committee member Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) who said that Malaysia should strive to see “any candidate able to stand in any constituency regardless of its voters’ racial make-up”.
But this was contested by Uthayakumar, who said that if Malay and Chinese politicians champion Indian and minority issues, there would be no need for the formation of such constituencies.
“In leading democracies, the majority bend over backwards to lend their voice to the minority,” said the leader of the party, which has its roots in the Hindraf movement.
‘Neglect Indians to our peril’
Uthayakumar’s statement was also not received well by Fong Chan Onn (BN-Alor Gajah) who said that Indian issues do not get overlooked as this would be to a politician’s peril.
“In my constituency, Indian voters make up 15 percent of the voters while in Rasah it is more than 20 percent. We take these voters very seriously. Candidates would probably not be elected if they neglect the poor and needy of other communities,” he said.
However, the HRP chief replied that if Indian issues were prioritised then the 54 HRP activists arrested for demonstrating to highlight such issues would have their charges dismissed like those arrested in the lead-up to and during the Bersih 2.0 rally.
“(Those arrested in relation to Bersih 2.0) are not prosecuted... because Malay and Chinese politicians brought up the issue in parliament and placed pressure,” he said.
Uthayakumar also alleged that 300,000 Indians are “denied identity cards, birth certificates and citizenship”, but this was refuted by a National Registration Department official present, who said that their outreach programmes find that the numbers are far lower.
To this, the HRP secretary-general said that they currently about 200 applications which have the NRD Putrajaya office has failed to process despite multiple attempts to register.
“All sorts of excuses were given... the NRD should advertise their outreach programmes in newspapers and set up a hotline,” he said.
HRP called for at least 15 new parliament seats and 38 state assembly seats which are “at least 70 percent Indian majority, with 20,000 voters for parliament and 10,000 for state assembly seats”.
This was, however, rebutted as “backward” by committee member Dr Hatta Ramli (PAS-Kuala Krai) who said that Malaysia should strive to see “any candidate able to stand in any constituency regardless of its voters’ racial make-up”.
But this was contested by Uthayakumar, who said that if Malay and Chinese politicians champion Indian and minority issues, there would be no need for the formation of such constituencies.
“In leading democracies, the majority bend over backwards to lend their voice to the minority,” said the leader of the party, which has its roots in the Hindraf movement.
‘Neglect Indians to our peril’
Uthayakumar’s statement was also not received well by Fong Chan Onn (BN-Alor Gajah) who said that Indian issues do not get overlooked as this would be to a politician’s peril.
“In my constituency, Indian voters make up 15 percent of the voters while in Rasah it is more than 20 percent. We take these voters very seriously. Candidates would probably not be elected if they neglect the poor and needy of other communities,” he said.
However, the HRP chief replied that if Indian issues were prioritised then the 54 HRP activists arrested for demonstrating to highlight such issues would have their charges dismissed like those arrested in the lead-up to and during the Bersih 2.0 rally.
“(Those arrested in relation to Bersih 2.0) are not prosecuted... because Malay and Chinese politicians brought up the issue in parliament and placed pressure,” he said.
Uthayakumar also alleged that 300,000 Indians are “denied identity cards, birth certificates and citizenship”, but this was refuted by a National Registration Department official present, who said that their outreach programmes find that the numbers are far lower.
To this, the HRP secretary-general said that they currently about 200 applications which have the NRD Putrajaya office has failed to process despite multiple attempts to register.
“All sorts of excuses were given... the NRD should advertise their outreach programmes in newspapers and set up a hotline,” he said.
1 comment:
Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin desires a unified school system for Malaysia. What it means is that Barisan Nasional will be willing to become one party with membership open to all races and religions in Malaysia. In return, the Malaysians must allow a unified school system in Malaysia. In Malaysia they have national schools and national type schools. Whatever Khairy wants to comment about should be confined to national schools, not the national type schools. As regards to national type schools, Khairy should hold his tongue and mind his own business.
It does not matter what Khairy Jamaluddin says or does not say. In the world of the future we will see China growing stronger socially, politically, and economically. That’s it. With every passing day both China and India are growing stronger socially, politically, and economically. Khairy Jamaluddin’s statements will not make any changes. In the world of the future it may be an asset to know Chinese language. Khairy should encourage more Malays to send their children to Mandarin medium schools.
Some how, Khairy Jamaluddin is trying to create a link between the UMNO-BN on the one hand and Chinese medium and Tamil medium schools on the other hand. Who cares about the future of UMNO-BN? Nobody. Whether UMNO-BN wins or loses the next elections, the Chinese and Tamil medium schools should and will survive. No political party should touch the Chinese and Tamil medium schools. Whatever changes that the political parties want to make in the education sector should be regarding the national schools, not national type schools.
Who cares whether Barisan Nasional is divided into numerous component parties or becomes a singular multi racial and multi-religious party? It will make no difference because with every passing day both China and India are strengthening socially, politically, and economically. This is the future. The future is not Khairy Jamalludin. Khairy is too small for China. The future is China and India; and both nations are non-Muslim nations. The Chinese in Malaysia should continue to send their children to Chinese medium schools. Penang, Sabah, and Sarawak deserve greater autonomy. Furthermore, Philippines claims Sabah. Does Sabah belong to Malaysia or Philippines? We need one nation with several systems in Malaysia. One nation with one system will not work in a multi-religious and multi-lingual nation like Malaysia.
In the 1960's and !970's, many Chinese Malaysians spoke English among themselves. In year 2011, Chinese Malaysians speak Mandarin among themselves. I would like to commend UMNO-BN government for strengthening and consolidating the Mandarin language in Malaysia. UMNO-BN should be credited for increasing Mandarin usage in Malaysia. What ever changes in the education sector that UMNO brought about is indeed on the right track because Mandarin usage has increased. Furthermore, UMNO has been visionary because she has been able to predict the rise of China in the 21st century. Increasing Mandarin usage will benefit Malaysia because China is a rising power in this world. If only UMNO continues her pro-Mandarin policy, it will augur well for Malaysia in the long run. It is time to consider making Mandarin an official and national language in Malaysia.
Yes, one nation with one system will not work in a multi-religious and multi-lingual nation like Malaysia. All the three languages, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, are different niches in Malaysia. They all contribute to Malaysia. Please ask Khairy to hold his tongue and mind his own business as regards to Chinese medium and Tamil medium schools.
The bottom line is that, no matter who says what, the future is that with every passing day both China and India are growing socially, politically, and economically.
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