Hanan Leshnovolsky, Israel
Allow me to quote your Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi:
‘Malaysia condemns the blockade imposed by the Israelis and the closing of all border crossings between Israel and the Palestinian territory in Gaza. The blockade has exacerbated the already worsening humanitarian crisis in the area and this will cause a humanitarian catastrophe. The Palestinians have the right of access to food, fuel and medicine. The inhumane action by the Israelis would make the living conditions of the Palestinian people even more unbearable.
‘The Israeli action contravenes international law and the collective punishment of the innocent civilian population of Gaza is unacceptable under any circumstance. Malaysia calls on the international community to force the Israelis to lift the blockade immediately and end the sufferings of the people in Gaza. Malaysia also calls on the UN secretary-general to hold an open ended session of the UN Security Council to enable other UN members to participate in the debate on the grave situation in Gaza’.
Firstly, how does he know that there is a blockade on Gaza? Has he visited that place? Or is his information from guided rumours supplied by Palestinians and the pro-Palestinian and Muslim media? Is he an eyewitness to the facts?
Secondly, let's assume that there is a blockade on Gaza by the Israelis. What do you expect from us? To supply fuel and electricity to the milling machines that are manufacturing rockets to kill Israeli civilians in Sderot, Ashkelon and the villages around there? Is he expecting the Israelis to feed the people that are wanting to slaughter us and voted for a terror organisation like Hamas?
Instead of using their engineering capabilities to improve their own lives, they prefer to use that skill to kill. They are sainting death instead sainting life and your prime minister is the most proactive supporter for that human shame.
As usual, you people are always condemning one side for what they are doing and it is always the Israeli side. Why aren't you condemning Hamas and the terrorists which are launching rockets on civilian towns .What would you do if Singapore launched rockets on Malaysian soil and on your people? Would you feed them with the water and agriculture products?
Malaysia is treating Israel as the worst enemy of human beings. Are you so sharp in reaction to condemn specifically Muslim terror organisations as you are so quick to condemn the Jewish state? Why aren’t you condemning the Al-Qaeda? I think that you are wise enough to understand that by condemning Al-Qaeda, you are risking your own head being executed by your own Muslim brothers.
I'm sorry to say that Malaysia’s contribution to achieve peace in the world is worthless because you are all one-sided and all your activities are just words and more words. Do you think that someone is counting the statements of your prime minister that are published from time to time? Statements are good for the papers but doing things proactively is valuable for the people.
Your prime minister is the last person on earth to teach the Israelis about humanity and equality while his regime is discriminating Malaysian minorities like the Indians in your country. I can prove many cases.
I wish I could have an opportunity to have a debate with your prime minister on the Israeli- Palestinian issue and may be afterwards Malaysian opinion will change.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Continue boycott of Batu Caves temple
I wish to salute those who gave a ‘pass’ on Batu Caves for Thaipusam this year to protest against the way the temple’s committee behaves like an MIC stooge. Devotees instead went to other temples to pray to Lord Muruga or simply prayed at home.
After all, prayer is a silent conversation between God and the devotee. Hindus believe that God is everywhere.
The MIC and BN and its spin media can say a million lies but the truth is a significant number of devotees avoided Batu Caves. Truth is defined as something that never changes and the truth will unavoidably come out in the end.
MIC president S Samy Vellu knows this and so do his goons in the Batu Caves temple committee.
The point I wish to make is that the Hindus should continue to boycott the Batu Caves temple and choose alternate places of worship until the current committee is forced out and a new, clean and God-fearing is set up - one with no ties to the MIC.
But if Hindus still wish to continue visiting Batu Caves, please do so as temples and prayers are individual and democratic choices. But make sure your cars are parked outside the temple premises to avoid payment of the parking fee to the temple committee.
Do not spend a single sen for any type of ‘pooja’, food and drinks, etc. Just pray to your hearts' content and go back.
According to Samy, Indians are ‘not fools’. He is absolutely right so let the Indians prove him right by withdrawing their support for MIC and BN.
After all, prayer is a silent conversation between God and the devotee. Hindus believe that God is everywhere.
The MIC and BN and its spin media can say a million lies but the truth is a significant number of devotees avoided Batu Caves. Truth is defined as something that never changes and the truth will unavoidably come out in the end.
MIC president S Samy Vellu knows this and so do his goons in the Batu Caves temple committee.
The point I wish to make is that the Hindus should continue to boycott the Batu Caves temple and choose alternate places of worship until the current committee is forced out and a new, clean and God-fearing is set up - one with no ties to the MIC.
But if Hindus still wish to continue visiting Batu Caves, please do so as temples and prayers are individual and democratic choices. But make sure your cars are parked outside the temple premises to avoid payment of the parking fee to the temple committee.
Do not spend a single sen for any type of ‘pooja’, food and drinks, etc. Just pray to your hearts' content and go back.
According to Samy, Indians are ‘not fools’. He is absolutely right so let the Indians prove him right by withdrawing their support for MIC and BN.
Batu Caves temple committee has to go
MIC should stop using the Batu Caves temple or any other temple in Malaysia as a place for their political campaigns. Yesterday, during his speech at the Batu Caves temple, Samy Vellu mentioned that he was the one who built everything for the temple and only Barisan Nasional and the MIC could bring all the development needed for the Indian community.
He also said the opposition parties could dream on in their bid to win the general election and eventually form a new government. Looks like Samy already knows the result of the coming elections.
Obviously with so many election frauds like postal and army votes and phantom voters, even I'm sure there will never be a day the opposition will be the ruling party.
I won't deny the fact that recent renovations at the Batu Caves temples are via the initiative of Samy Vellu and the temple committee but then were they using their own pocket money for Samy to be bragging about it?
It was the money collected from the devotees via donations and also allocations received from government which is actually our tax money. It looks like MIC is so desperate of late that they have to talk about the BN and MIC at every gathering. Samy, stop crying in public!
Politics and religion should not be mixed. The very first thing that should be done is to elect a new committee for the Batu Caves temple - one which is not a crony of any political party. Spare our gods from politics.
Samy even told the local media that the crowd for this year's Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves was the same with no drop in numbers. Samy, are you day dreaming or what? I live around Batu Caves and I was there almost all the time for past two days and I witnessed myself that the crowd was much less than previous years. So why lie Samy?
He also said the opposition parties could dream on in their bid to win the general election and eventually form a new government. Looks like Samy already knows the result of the coming elections.
Obviously with so many election frauds like postal and army votes and phantom voters, even I'm sure there will never be a day the opposition will be the ruling party.
I won't deny the fact that recent renovations at the Batu Caves temples are via the initiative of Samy Vellu and the temple committee but then were they using their own pocket money for Samy to be bragging about it?
It was the money collected from the devotees via donations and also allocations received from government which is actually our tax money. It looks like MIC is so desperate of late that they have to talk about the BN and MIC at every gathering. Samy, stop crying in public!
Politics and religion should not be mixed. The very first thing that should be done is to elect a new committee for the Batu Caves temple - one which is not a crony of any political party. Spare our gods from politics.
Samy even told the local media that the crowd for this year's Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves was the same with no drop in numbers. Samy, are you day dreaming or what? I live around Batu Caves and I was there almost all the time for past two days and I witnessed myself that the crowd was much less than previous years. So why lie Samy?
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Hindu devotees boycott Batu Caves
by Malaysiakini,
Thaipusam festivities at the Batu Caves Temple in Kuala Lumpur have been somewhat lackluster this year, marred by a below-average turnout believed to be attributed to an apparent boycott campaign.
Visitors to Batu Caves yesterday evening and this morning reported that the crowds were relatively thinner this year - numbering only in their tens of thousands - unlike previous years where devotees could reach more than one million.
One seasoned visitor, businessman S Babu, 32, said he was at the temple at 6am this morning and was surprised by the lack of congestion at the temple.
“Previous years, we can’t even walk. This morning however, it was as easy as an evening stroll,” said Babu.
Another visitor to Batu Caves said an unusual message was played repeatedly on the public announcement system, referring to a boycott or sorts.
“The message express gratitude to those who came to Batu Caves despite SMS messages flying around (calling for a boycott),” he said.
Samy: No change in crowd
According to AFP, one SMS message had called on Hindu devotees who did turn up at Batu Caves to use their sandals to pelt political leaders including S Samy Vellu, leader of Indian-based MIC.
The veteran politician, who has sided with the government and been accused of neglecting the interests of his constituents, however insisted there were at least half a million people at the complex and a million the day before.
"I have come to Thaipusam since I was 11 years old. I know the crowd. It is the same as before," he told reporters at Batu Caves.
"I don't think religious people who went to pray to Lord Murugan will listen to all the naughty fellows," he said of the SMS campaign.
"Who can threaten us? Anyone who threatens us, we can find out where he is. It takes only five hours to find out where he is. They can't run away from us."
Since the Hindraf rally on Nov 25, calls to boycott Batu Caves temple committee have been making rounds through SMS.
The MIC-linked temple managers were blamed for allegedly assisting police who cracked down hard on a demonstration by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters there last November, using tear gas and water cannons.
When contacted, Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran denied suggestions that the movement was behind the boycott.
“No, we can’t tell people to boycott Lord Murugan... we can’t tell people to forgo their annual vows,” he said.
On the lower turnout at Batu Caves, Thanenthiran said it was a sign that people have not forgiven the Batu Caves temple committee.
“There were thousands at Batu Caves on Nov 25. They witnessed what happened and they will tell thousands more,” he added.
Lower fees
Till now, the actual events surrounding the Nov 25 incident are still unclear.
Some quarters claimed that the police locked several thousand ‘Hindraf supporters’ in the Batu Caves compound in the early hours of Nov 25 before firing tear gas and chemical-laced water on them.
The crowd had gathered at the famous temple before moving to the city to join other participants in the mammoth Hindraf rally later that day.
In an apparent reaction to the boycott campaign, the temple committee has made the RM10 fee to carry offerings in the temple optional.
“It’s up to you. But, if no one pays, how are we to celebrate Thaipusam? We need money for organising the celebrations and for cleaning up the temple surroundings,” said temple secretary M Devarajoo, according to The Sun.
Devarajoo added that the fee for children to carry offerings - milk pots (paal kudam) or kavadi - has been slashed from RM10 to RM5.
Several stallholders and devotees lamented the small turnout and said ethnic Indians should work together to promote their cause.
"The crowd is normally double or triple this size. Now it's so small, so there is not so much of a great mood this time," said N Kumaran, 41, a civil servant who has taken part in the festival for the past 14 years.
Sweet seller Joga Singh said that with the crowds so thin he and other vendors were not making any money this year.
"I think many people are afraid to come because of the SMS to boycott. Our business is suffering because of it," he told AFP.
Thaipusam festivities at the Batu Caves Temple in Kuala Lumpur have been somewhat lackluster this year, marred by a below-average turnout believed to be attributed to an apparent boycott campaign.
Visitors to Batu Caves yesterday evening and this morning reported that the crowds were relatively thinner this year - numbering only in their tens of thousands - unlike previous years where devotees could reach more than one million.
One seasoned visitor, businessman S Babu, 32, said he was at the temple at 6am this morning and was surprised by the lack of congestion at the temple.
“Previous years, we can’t even walk. This morning however, it was as easy as an evening stroll,” said Babu.
Another visitor to Batu Caves said an unusual message was played repeatedly on the public announcement system, referring to a boycott or sorts.
“The message express gratitude to those who came to Batu Caves despite SMS messages flying around (calling for a boycott),” he said.
Samy: No change in crowd
According to AFP, one SMS message had called on Hindu devotees who did turn up at Batu Caves to use their sandals to pelt political leaders including S Samy Vellu, leader of Indian-based MIC.
The veteran politician, who has sided with the government and been accused of neglecting the interests of his constituents, however insisted there were at least half a million people at the complex and a million the day before.
"I have come to Thaipusam since I was 11 years old. I know the crowd. It is the same as before," he told reporters at Batu Caves.
"I don't think religious people who went to pray to Lord Murugan will listen to all the naughty fellows," he said of the SMS campaign.
"Who can threaten us? Anyone who threatens us, we can find out where he is. It takes only five hours to find out where he is. They can't run away from us."
Since the Hindraf rally on Nov 25, calls to boycott Batu Caves temple committee have been making rounds through SMS.
The MIC-linked temple managers were blamed for allegedly assisting police who cracked down hard on a demonstration by Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters there last November, using tear gas and water cannons.
When contacted, Hindraf coordinator RS Thanenthiran denied suggestions that the movement was behind the boycott.
“No, we can’t tell people to boycott Lord Murugan... we can’t tell people to forgo their annual vows,” he said.
On the lower turnout at Batu Caves, Thanenthiran said it was a sign that people have not forgiven the Batu Caves temple committee.
“There were thousands at Batu Caves on Nov 25. They witnessed what happened and they will tell thousands more,” he added.
Lower fees
Till now, the actual events surrounding the Nov 25 incident are still unclear.
Some quarters claimed that the police locked several thousand ‘Hindraf supporters’ in the Batu Caves compound in the early hours of Nov 25 before firing tear gas and chemical-laced water on them.
The crowd had gathered at the famous temple before moving to the city to join other participants in the mammoth Hindraf rally later that day.
In an apparent reaction to the boycott campaign, the temple committee has made the RM10 fee to carry offerings in the temple optional.
“It’s up to you. But, if no one pays, how are we to celebrate Thaipusam? We need money for organising the celebrations and for cleaning up the temple surroundings,” said temple secretary M Devarajoo, according to The Sun.
Devarajoo added that the fee for children to carry offerings - milk pots (paal kudam) or kavadi - has been slashed from RM10 to RM5.
Several stallholders and devotees lamented the small turnout and said ethnic Indians should work together to promote their cause.
"The crowd is normally double or triple this size. Now it's so small, so there is not so much of a great mood this time," said N Kumaran, 41, a civil servant who has taken part in the festival for the past 14 years.
Sweet seller Joga Singh said that with the crowds so thin he and other vendors were not making any money this year.
"I think many people are afraid to come because of the SMS to boycott. Our business is suffering because of it," he told AFP.
Indians must not be hoodwinked
by Concerned Malaysian
The general elections are expected to be held between March 8 and 15. Surprisingly, our often too busy prime minister suddenly has so much time for the minority, marginalised Indian community as evidenced by the report above.
My questions is this: Is the Indian community so naïve and blind that it can be easily hoodwinked by such government tactics?
The prime minister said, ‘Indians can judge the MIC and BN through their track records’. What track records he is talking about? Does he mean the fact that Indian equity in national wealth had dropped from 3% to the present 1.3%?
Does he mean the fact the intake of Indians for government-sponsored higher education is a mere 1%?
Does he mean the fact that Indian representation in the government workforce is less than 5%? Has The MIC president himself managed to increase Indian representation in his own Works Ministry to above 5%?
In the first place, does he have real power like an Umno minister or he is just merely an Umno ‘mandor’ as declared by the Hindraf leaders?
PPP president M Kayveas PPP recently said that S Samy Vellu and MIC have failed the Indian community. Are MIC and Samy alone to be blamed? If all Indians joined the PPP, would our problems be solved?
Why doesn’t Kayveas blame the ruling BN government as a whole for the woes of the Indian community? Who is actually this Kayveas? Has he been placed there by Umno to split the Indian community with the aim of weakening our bargaining power?
Only action will bring results, not mere words or empty promises. Why has our PM never set up and ‘Indian Development Unit’ under the Prime Minister’s Department to act as an effective channel to overcome Indian community’s problems?
My Indian brothers and sisters, please do not let yourselves be fooled and swayed by all these empty political promises. Fifty years is enough. Your action in our coming elections is very crucial.
Do not jeopardise the future of our beloved younger generations. Please exercise your voting right wisely.
The general elections are expected to be held between March 8 and 15. Surprisingly, our often too busy prime minister suddenly has so much time for the minority, marginalised Indian community as evidenced by the report above.
My questions is this: Is the Indian community so naïve and blind that it can be easily hoodwinked by such government tactics?
The prime minister said, ‘Indians can judge the MIC and BN through their track records’. What track records he is talking about? Does he mean the fact that Indian equity in national wealth had dropped from 3% to the present 1.3%?
Does he mean the fact the intake of Indians for government-sponsored higher education is a mere 1%?
Does he mean the fact that Indian representation in the government workforce is less than 5%? Has The MIC president himself managed to increase Indian representation in his own Works Ministry to above 5%?
In the first place, does he have real power like an Umno minister or he is just merely an Umno ‘mandor’ as declared by the Hindraf leaders?
PPP president M Kayveas PPP recently said that S Samy Vellu and MIC have failed the Indian community. Are MIC and Samy alone to be blamed? If all Indians joined the PPP, would our problems be solved?
Why doesn’t Kayveas blame the ruling BN government as a whole for the woes of the Indian community? Who is actually this Kayveas? Has he been placed there by Umno to split the Indian community with the aim of weakening our bargaining power?
Only action will bring results, not mere words or empty promises. Why has our PM never set up and ‘Indian Development Unit’ under the Prime Minister’s Department to act as an effective channel to overcome Indian community’s problems?
My Indian brothers and sisters, please do not let yourselves be fooled and swayed by all these empty political promises. Fifty years is enough. Your action in our coming elections is very crucial.
Do not jeopardise the future of our beloved younger generations. Please exercise your voting right wisely.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Hindraf funds: ISA detainee denies misuse
Hindu Rights Action Force secretary T Vasanthakumar has denied that public funds collected by the movement have been misused by its legal adviser P Uthayakumar.
Vasanthakumar, who is being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), also denied lodging a police report to that effect at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak on Jan 10.
The five had responded immediately to the report with a statement issued through their lawyers, also denying that there was a split in their ranks.
“The report was lodged to place on record as to who holds all the money that was collected from the public. It was not an accusation of embezzlement against Uthayakumar,” said Vasanthakumar through a message carried by his wife K Vikneswary, 35.
She told Malaysiakini yesterday: “He told me that the report was made as an insurance policy to protect themselves against police claims that they are seeking funds from terrorist organisations.”
She said their plan was to make it clear that funds collected locally was not used for any alleged terrorism activities, but rather for the community activities.
“He was shocked by (the news report stating) that he had lodged a report against Uthayakumar. He wants to stress that he only named Uthayakumar in the report as a strategy for the five detainees not to be arrested and charged for funding alleged terrorism,” she said without elaborating.
“All five of them agreed that such a report was to be made and my husband was chosen to make it.
“He wants everyone to know that they are very united - there have been no open arguments as claimed in certain (text-messages). And that the report was made in consideration for their own safety in the future.”
Vasanthakumar, Uthayakumar and three other Hindraf leaders - M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabathirau - were detained on Dec 13 on grounds that they were a threat to national security. They are serving out a two-year detention order.
‘Not a cop’
Vikneswary further denied that her husband is a police Special Branch officer who has been tasked with undermining Hindraf, as alleged by some supporters after the news report was published.
“That’s not true at all. If he was a police (officer), he would not be in Kamunting. He quit his full-time job in the private sector to concentrate on Hindraf. He was truly passionate about helping the community,” she said.
She said that four of the Hindraf ISA detainees have started their hunger strike, with the exception of Uthayakumar.
“Uthayakumar is unwell and he has diabetes. The four managed to convince him that he should not be putting his health at risk by taking part in the hunger strike,” she said.
The five-day hunger strike began at 7.30am yesterday and will end at 7.00pm on Saturday.
Vikneswary revealed that her husband, too, is not in good health but has insisted on observing the fast.
“He is under tremendous pressure. I can see that he is being mentally tortured, but he is putting on a brave front. His friends there have also been a help to him,” she said.
A habeas corpus application is before the Kuala Lumpur High Court for the five detainees and is scheduled to be heard on Thursday.
“They are confident that the decision will be in their favour,” said Vikneswary.
Plea to the PM
Vikneswary also made an emotional plea to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release her husband.
“Please release him. He is not a criminal. He is not a terrorist. He was only involved in fighting for the (Indian Malaysian) community. I visited him last Sunday. He looked tired and unwell. I am worried for him. He is innocent,” she said.
“I hope the prime minister will show some mercy and release him. They must know that he is innocent. His detention has been a nightmare for me and our two daughters.”
She said the children - aged five and three respectively - miss their father and are longing to be with him.
“I can’t explain to them why he was detained. I have to lie to them that he is in hospital. But when we visited him on Sunday, my elder daughter wondered why there were policemen,” she said.
Vasanthakumar’s absence has also placed a huge burden on her finances.
"He was the main earner. With him not around, it is very difficult,” she said.
Vikneswary visits Vasanthakumar every Sunday and is disappointed that she can’t even offer him home-cooked food.
“They do not allow us to bring food for them. We can’t even have a private conversation as there is always someone there with him,” she added.
“I miss him. I am also emotionally affected. I need my husband. My daughters need their father. I hope the prime minister will release him and the other four Hindraf leaders as well.”
Vasanthakumar, who is being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), also denied lodging a police report to that effect at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak on Jan 10.
The five had responded immediately to the report with a statement issued through their lawyers, also denying that there was a split in their ranks.
“The report was lodged to place on record as to who holds all the money that was collected from the public. It was not an accusation of embezzlement against Uthayakumar,” said Vasanthakumar through a message carried by his wife K Vikneswary, 35.
She told Malaysiakini yesterday: “He told me that the report was made as an insurance policy to protect themselves against police claims that they are seeking funds from terrorist organisations.”
She said their plan was to make it clear that funds collected locally was not used for any alleged terrorism activities, but rather for the community activities.
“He was shocked by (the news report stating) that he had lodged a report against Uthayakumar. He wants to stress that he only named Uthayakumar in the report as a strategy for the five detainees not to be arrested and charged for funding alleged terrorism,” she said without elaborating.
“All five of them agreed that such a report was to be made and my husband was chosen to make it.
“He wants everyone to know that they are very united - there have been no open arguments as claimed in certain (text-messages). And that the report was made in consideration for their own safety in the future.”
Vasanthakumar, Uthayakumar and three other Hindraf leaders - M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan and V Ganabathirau - were detained on Dec 13 on grounds that they were a threat to national security. They are serving out a two-year detention order.
‘Not a cop’
Vikneswary further denied that her husband is a police Special Branch officer who has been tasked with undermining Hindraf, as alleged by some supporters after the news report was published.
“That’s not true at all. If he was a police (officer), he would not be in Kamunting. He quit his full-time job in the private sector to concentrate on Hindraf. He was truly passionate about helping the community,” she said.
She said that four of the Hindraf ISA detainees have started their hunger strike, with the exception of Uthayakumar.
“Uthayakumar is unwell and he has diabetes. The four managed to convince him that he should not be putting his health at risk by taking part in the hunger strike,” she said.
The five-day hunger strike began at 7.30am yesterday and will end at 7.00pm on Saturday.
Vikneswary revealed that her husband, too, is not in good health but has insisted on observing the fast.
“He is under tremendous pressure. I can see that he is being mentally tortured, but he is putting on a brave front. His friends there have also been a help to him,” she said.
A habeas corpus application is before the Kuala Lumpur High Court for the five detainees and is scheduled to be heard on Thursday.
“They are confident that the decision will be in their favour,” said Vikneswary.
Plea to the PM
Vikneswary also made an emotional plea to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release her husband.
“Please release him. He is not a criminal. He is not a terrorist. He was only involved in fighting for the (Indian Malaysian) community. I visited him last Sunday. He looked tired and unwell. I am worried for him. He is innocent,” she said.
“I hope the prime minister will show some mercy and release him. They must know that he is innocent. His detention has been a nightmare for me and our two daughters.”
She said the children - aged five and three respectively - miss their father and are longing to be with him.
“I can’t explain to them why he was detained. I have to lie to them that he is in hospital. But when we visited him on Sunday, my elder daughter wondered why there were policemen,” she said.
Vasanthakumar’s absence has also placed a huge burden on her finances.
"He was the main earner. With him not around, it is very difficult,” she said.
Vikneswary visits Vasanthakumar every Sunday and is disappointed that she can’t even offer him home-cooked food.
“They do not allow us to bring food for them. We can’t even have a private conversation as there is always someone there with him,” she added.
“I miss him. I am also emotionally affected. I need my husband. My daughters need their father. I hope the prime minister will release him and the other four Hindraf leaders as well.”
MIC's An Evening With Prime Minister "Made Possible By HINDRAF" ?
Since the HINDRAF mass rally protest over allegations of marginalization of Indian communities in Malaysia by the government , Barisan National politicians seems to be working hard to win back Indian support/vote for the coming election.
Samy Vellu who in his 28 years as the sole cabinet Minister had never arranged for such a gathering with our country premier previously and only now after feeling threatened and exposed by HINDRAF he had arranged for this event. Kudos goes to the organizers of HINDRAF rally for being the eye opener of Indian's plight.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s announcement yesterday of Thaipusam as a public holiday is seen as highly opportunistic and self-serving to salvage Samy Vellu’s political life and Barisan Nasional’s political fortunes in the coming polls than the start of a serious and genuine national commitment to end the long-standing marginalization of Malaysian Indians as the new underclass in the country.
I was there yesterday at the Stadium and had actually witnessed the whole event.
The only reason I went there was because a good friend of mine needed to fulfill his quota. As a MIC branch chairman my good friend needed to bring a number of people for the event. This rule applies to every branch/division chairman and committee members. They had actually been forced to act and obviously this people who are very ambitious in being somebody in MIC in future could not resist.
By now everyone should be able to make out on how MIC manage to gather the crowd for this event and believe me the whole crowd was less than 10,000 but our media had actually announced/published it to be more than 20,000.Most of the crowd members were old citizen and some children’s who tagged along with their parents. There were also few of them who were talking about HINDRAF who later got removed from the stadium by the event security.
The sad part is how Media's in Malaysia seems to be misguiding us on their reports. Everything that been shown to public or projected in the newspaper/television is always beneficial to the ruling party.
At this point I would like emphasize I’m not a member of any political party neither opposition nor BN and what I say here is as a concerned citizen and as tax payer who have the right to voice out my dissatisfaction .
After the event many people actually lined up to meet our Prime Minister and Datuk Seri Samy Vellu but due to security concerns, police and Rela had to take control of the situation. At this time I had also witnessed few people waiting in the line to pass some memorandum to Pak Lah but too bad all this memorandums were collected by Police officers who told them that this letters need to be screened and only then it will be passed over to PM. Only GOD KNOWS if it will end up in PM's hand or at our local Municipal garbage collection centers. PM is not aware of these memorandums as he was still in the press conference during this time.
Lastly I wonder how many people like me who had actually been in the event yesterday just because their friends are MIC member.
Samy Vellu who in his 28 years as the sole cabinet Minister had never arranged for such a gathering with our country premier previously and only now after feeling threatened and exposed by HINDRAF he had arranged for this event. Kudos goes to the organizers of HINDRAF rally for being the eye opener of Indian's plight.
Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s announcement yesterday of Thaipusam as a public holiday is seen as highly opportunistic and self-serving to salvage Samy Vellu’s political life and Barisan Nasional’s political fortunes in the coming polls than the start of a serious and genuine national commitment to end the long-standing marginalization of Malaysian Indians as the new underclass in the country.
I was there yesterday at the Stadium and had actually witnessed the whole event.
The only reason I went there was because a good friend of mine needed to fulfill his quota. As a MIC branch chairman my good friend needed to bring a number of people for the event. This rule applies to every branch/division chairman and committee members. They had actually been forced to act and obviously this people who are very ambitious in being somebody in MIC in future could not resist.
By now everyone should be able to make out on how MIC manage to gather the crowd for this event and believe me the whole crowd was less than 10,000 but our media had actually announced/published it to be more than 20,000.Most of the crowd members were old citizen and some children’s who tagged along with their parents. There were also few of them who were talking about HINDRAF who later got removed from the stadium by the event security.
The sad part is how Media's in Malaysia seems to be misguiding us on their reports. Everything that been shown to public or projected in the newspaper/television is always beneficial to the ruling party.
At this point I would like emphasize I’m not a member of any political party neither opposition nor BN and what I say here is as a concerned citizen and as tax payer who have the right to voice out my dissatisfaction .
After the event many people actually lined up to meet our Prime Minister and Datuk Seri Samy Vellu but due to security concerns, police and Rela had to take control of the situation. At this time I had also witnessed few people waiting in the line to pass some memorandum to Pak Lah but too bad all this memorandums were collected by Police officers who told them that this letters need to be screened and only then it will be passed over to PM. Only GOD KNOWS if it will end up in PM's hand or at our local Municipal garbage collection centers. PM is not aware of these memorandums as he was still in the press conference during this time.
Lastly I wonder how many people like me who had actually been in the event yesterday just because their friends are MIC member.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Like Air Asia…Now Everyone Can Vote !!!!
Phantom Voters
Check here
http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/
Check these IC below and yourself,or your parents one;
IC: 991214740101
IC: 910815750017
IC: 981231081137
Hey what the hell is this? the IC number provided here are
the people who were born after 1991 in which their ages are 8
year old, 16 year old and 9 year old, how is this happening?
I checked on the website and their names are registered as
eligible voters. Whats is happening in our Election Commission ?
Check here
http://daftarj.spr.gov.my/
Check these IC below and yourself,or your parents one;
IC: 991214740101
IC: 910815750017
IC: 981231081137
Hey what the hell is this? the IC number provided here are
the people who were born after 1991 in which their ages are 8
year old, 16 year old and 9 year old, how is this happening?
I checked on the website and their names are registered as
eligible voters. Whats is happening in our Election Commission ?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Political meddling in Penang Hindu temples
A Hindu organisation has taken the Penang Hindu Endowments Board to task for acting beyond its jurisdiction and becoming a political tool of the MIC and Gerakan.
The United Hindu Religious Council (UHRC) president S Mugunthan alleged that the board's nine commissioners were appointed yearly based on their political affiliation rather than their knowledge on Hinduism and administrative skills.
He said that the political-based appointment for the board's commissioner position had become a norm since the 1980's.
"It is obvious that the present commissioners were appointed due to their political allegiance with certain parties or leaders notably the MIC and Gerakan,” he said.
Sources close to the endowments board told Malaysiakini that MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu and Gerakan president and Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon were the most powerful influence behind the appointment of the commissioners.
The source revealed that MIC and Gerakan had been using the commissioners’ position as a political gift to their local leaders.
The present chairman of the endowments board is the state MIC deputy chairperson and executive councillor PK Subbaiyah.
Over the past 20 years or so, many commissioners were appointed from political ranks of MIC and Gerakan.
"This is unwarranted," added Mugunthan.
The statutory powers
Under the Section 3(1) of the Hindu Endowment Ordinance 1906, the state governor on the advice of the state executive council shall appoint a board of commissioners, in which one of whom shall be a government officer.
Under Section 6 of the HEO, the board of commissioners shall appoint an endowment management committee consisting members of public professing the religion applicable to the endowment.
UHRC deputy president K Suppayah, who was appointed as assistant secretary to the commissioner board for more than 20 years (1970-1993), said there was no provision under the ordinance that empowered the board to appoint the management committees to manage any Hindu temples, organise Hindu religious festivals, govern tanneer panthals (refreshment sheds), collect donations and charge devotees with prayer fees of any form.
"The board is only a trustee of Hindu endowments of five temples," he said, while stressing that he had clarified the matter with the Attorney-General Chambers.
At present Hindu endowments belonging to the Waterfall hilltop Sri Balathandayuthabani Kovil , Sri Ramar Kovil in Dhoby Ghaut, Sri Kunj Bihari Krishan Mandir, Lebuh Queen's Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil and Butterworth Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil come under the jurisdiction of the endowments board.
Although it's merely a board of trustees to safeguard and manage the endowments of the five Hindu temples, the statutory body has, however transformed itself into a religious authority to appoint, control and dictate the management committees of the five temples, religious festivals and tanneer panthals (refreshment sheds).
"This clearly contravenes Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which was unambiguous that the government shall not handle religious affairs pertaining to religions other than Islam.
"Since the board is a statutory body, it shall not encroach into Hindu religious affairs," said Suppayah, while adding that the management of the five temples should be left to Hindu public, especially Hindu organisations.
Legal action possible
If the letter of law were to be enforced strictly, the board had no powers to manage temples, interfere in organising of the Thaipusam or Chitra Paruvam festivals and tanneer panthals.
As such, the board would have no authority to stop tanneer panthals from playing their own music during the Thaipusam festival and install a 3km-long single public address system between the Waterfall hilltop temple in Jalan Air Terjun and the Jalan Brown – Jalan Utama.
It also cannot impose charges on devotees for prayers of any form at the five temples.
Technically and ideally, said Suppayah, either existing Hindu organisations shall be allowed or new independent organisations shall be registered to manage each of the temples and organise religious festivals and functions associated with the temples.
"However, the board has now usurped a non-existent power by directly interfering with Hindu religious," he said.
Mugunthan said his council would carry out awareness campaign on the real position and powers of the endowments board since many Hindus were either ignorant and naive about the whole issue.
He did not rule out legal redress on the issue to stop the board from overstepping its judicial boundary thus committing unlawful acts.
"We have to take court action to right the wrong then we will do it," he said.
The United Hindu Religious Council (UHRC) president S Mugunthan alleged that the board's nine commissioners were appointed yearly based on their political affiliation rather than their knowledge on Hinduism and administrative skills.
He said that the political-based appointment for the board's commissioner position had become a norm since the 1980's.
"It is obvious that the present commissioners were appointed due to their political allegiance with certain parties or leaders notably the MIC and Gerakan,” he said.
Sources close to the endowments board told Malaysiakini that MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu and Gerakan president and Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon were the most powerful influence behind the appointment of the commissioners.
The source revealed that MIC and Gerakan had been using the commissioners’ position as a political gift to their local leaders.
The present chairman of the endowments board is the state MIC deputy chairperson and executive councillor PK Subbaiyah.
Over the past 20 years or so, many commissioners were appointed from political ranks of MIC and Gerakan.
"This is unwarranted," added Mugunthan.
The statutory powers
Under the Section 3(1) of the Hindu Endowment Ordinance 1906, the state governor on the advice of the state executive council shall appoint a board of commissioners, in which one of whom shall be a government officer.
Under Section 6 of the HEO, the board of commissioners shall appoint an endowment management committee consisting members of public professing the religion applicable to the endowment.
UHRC deputy president K Suppayah, who was appointed as assistant secretary to the commissioner board for more than 20 years (1970-1993), said there was no provision under the ordinance that empowered the board to appoint the management committees to manage any Hindu temples, organise Hindu religious festivals, govern tanneer panthals (refreshment sheds), collect donations and charge devotees with prayer fees of any form.
"The board is only a trustee of Hindu endowments of five temples," he said, while stressing that he had clarified the matter with the Attorney-General Chambers.
At present Hindu endowments belonging to the Waterfall hilltop Sri Balathandayuthabani Kovil , Sri Ramar Kovil in Dhoby Ghaut, Sri Kunj Bihari Krishan Mandir, Lebuh Queen's Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil and Butterworth Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil come under the jurisdiction of the endowments board.
Although it's merely a board of trustees to safeguard and manage the endowments of the five Hindu temples, the statutory body has, however transformed itself into a religious authority to appoint, control and dictate the management committees of the five temples, religious festivals and tanneer panthals (refreshment sheds).
"This clearly contravenes Article 11 of the Federal Constitution which was unambiguous that the government shall not handle religious affairs pertaining to religions other than Islam.
"Since the board is a statutory body, it shall not encroach into Hindu religious affairs," said Suppayah, while adding that the management of the five temples should be left to Hindu public, especially Hindu organisations.
Legal action possible
If the letter of law were to be enforced strictly, the board had no powers to manage temples, interfere in organising of the Thaipusam or Chitra Paruvam festivals and tanneer panthals.
As such, the board would have no authority to stop tanneer panthals from playing their own music during the Thaipusam festival and install a 3km-long single public address system between the Waterfall hilltop temple in Jalan Air Terjun and the Jalan Brown – Jalan Utama.
It also cannot impose charges on devotees for prayers of any form at the five temples.
Technically and ideally, said Suppayah, either existing Hindu organisations shall be allowed or new independent organisations shall be registered to manage each of the temples and organise religious festivals and functions associated with the temples.
"However, the board has now usurped a non-existent power by directly interfering with Hindu religious," he said.
Mugunthan said his council would carry out awareness campaign on the real position and powers of the endowments board since many Hindus were either ignorant and naive about the whole issue.
He did not rule out legal redress on the issue to stop the board from overstepping its judicial boundary thus committing unlawful acts.
"We have to take court action to right the wrong then we will do it," he said.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
No freeze on Indian workers, says gov't
By Malaysiakini,
Malaysia has today denied it had frozen the recruitment of workers from India, after reports quoted officials saying a ban was in place as the government cracks down on dissent by ethnic Indians.
"Let me categorically state that the Ministry of Home Affairs has never come out with any rulings or circulars that we have stopped taking foreign workers from India," Home Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad told a press conference.
Radzi said he was shocked at news reports of the freeze, which quoted a Home Ministry official who cited government documents and said the measure covered unskilled labourers as well as priests, sculptors and musicians.
The news caused waves in India, which has already expressed concern over the heavy-handed treatment of ethnic Indian activists in Malaysia.
Religious leaders had condemned the apparent decision, which came after unprecedented protests by ethnic Indian Malaysians last year and the jailing of prominent activists under laws that provide for detention without trial.
Radzi said that the intake of workers from Bangladesh was frozen last October "because it did not benefit us and many agents cheated the workers."
But he insisted that "we are not also tightening the intake of workers from India. There is no decision to stop taking workers from India."
The nation's top non-Muslim religious body - the Malaysian Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism - said yesterday the government had already been refusing to issue new visas for foreign priests.
Foreign priests already in the country have only been given six-month renewals and told they must leave after expiry, it said, complaining there would now not be enough Hindu priests to conduct prayers at important temples.
No applications from foreign priests rejected
Radzi insisted that no applications from priests had been rejected, but admitted the government was trying to reduce foreign labour, with 2.1 million foreign workers already here among a population of 27 million people.
"Our policy is we want locals to take up the jobs as priests, musicians and sculptors," he said.
"We need to take action to ensure there are not too many foreign workers, and at the same time ensure our industry does not suffer. The government target of foreign workers in the country is 1.8 million."
A row over race and religion has gripped Malaysia in recent months, triggered by a mass rally last November when protesters alleged ethnic Indians faced discrimination at the hands of majority Muslim Malays.
Indian workers are the third-largest foreign workforce in Malaysia, numbering almost 140,0000, most of them hired by restaurants.
About 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims while the rest are mostly ethnic Indians and Chinese who are largely Hindu, Buddhist or Christian.
Malaysia has today denied it had frozen the recruitment of workers from India, after reports quoted officials saying a ban was in place as the government cracks down on dissent by ethnic Indians.
"Let me categorically state that the Ministry of Home Affairs has never come out with any rulings or circulars that we have stopped taking foreign workers from India," Home Minister Radzi Sheikh Ahmad told a press conference.
Radzi said he was shocked at news reports of the freeze, which quoted a Home Ministry official who cited government documents and said the measure covered unskilled labourers as well as priests, sculptors and musicians.
The news caused waves in India, which has already expressed concern over the heavy-handed treatment of ethnic Indian activists in Malaysia.
Religious leaders had condemned the apparent decision, which came after unprecedented protests by ethnic Indian Malaysians last year and the jailing of prominent activists under laws that provide for detention without trial.
Radzi said that the intake of workers from Bangladesh was frozen last October "because it did not benefit us and many agents cheated the workers."
But he insisted that "we are not also tightening the intake of workers from India. There is no decision to stop taking workers from India."
The nation's top non-Muslim religious body - the Malaysian Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism - said yesterday the government had already been refusing to issue new visas for foreign priests.
Foreign priests already in the country have only been given six-month renewals and told they must leave after expiry, it said, complaining there would now not be enough Hindu priests to conduct prayers at important temples.
No applications from foreign priests rejected
Radzi insisted that no applications from priests had been rejected, but admitted the government was trying to reduce foreign labour, with 2.1 million foreign workers already here among a population of 27 million people.
"Our policy is we want locals to take up the jobs as priests, musicians and sculptors," he said.
"We need to take action to ensure there are not too many foreign workers, and at the same time ensure our industry does not suffer. The government target of foreign workers in the country is 1.8 million."
A row over race and religion has gripped Malaysia in recent months, triggered by a mass rally last November when protesters alleged ethnic Indians faced discrimination at the hands of majority Muslim Malays.
Indian workers are the third-largest foreign workforce in Malaysia, numbering almost 140,0000, most of them hired by restaurants.
About 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims while the rest are mostly ethnic Indians and Chinese who are largely Hindu, Buddhist or Christian.
Cops go after Hindraf donors
Malaysikini.com,
If you have made a donation to the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement, the police may be knocking on your door soon.
The Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) has sent letters to individuals summoning them to give statements at the Bukit Aman police headquarters over a possible offence of funding a terrorist organisation.
The letter stated that the police are investigating this offence under Section 130N of the Penal Code - the funding of terrorist activities.
If found guilty, the person can be punished with death (if the terrorist act results in death), imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but not exceeding 30 years and a fine.
“The police believe that you can provide a statement about funds given to Hindraf Enterprise,” read the letter signed by investigating officer ASP Rozeni Ismail.
A donor who received the letter and was quizzed by the police recently said references were made to a RHB bank account registered under the name ‘Hindraf Enterprise’.
The donor, who requested anonymity, said the police recorded statement in relation to some other offence - non-terrorism related - committed by the company.
“It is odd that the matter is being dealt by the Commercial Crimes Department because during questioning, they made no reference to the terrorist offences. They said the company could be charged for impropriety in soliciting donations and funds.
“It is also very alarming that the banks can give information about their clients and their transactions to the police without the need for a court order.”
Under the Section 16A of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958, banks are permitted to convey any information in relation to any offences to the police or affected financial institutions.
Many being summoned
However, the donor pointed out that the recording of the statement took only 30 minutes and the police were pleasant throughout the period.
“I don’t think I am the only one. When I asked if there were others, the officer said there were many other people being summoned,” the donor added.
Hindraf gained fame when it organised a protest that saw 30,000 people hit the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.
This was followed by the movement’s leaders and supporters being charged for a slew of offences including sedition, causing mischief and attending an illegal assembly.
On Dec 8, 2007, the Companies Commission of Malaysia revoked the registration of Hindraf Enterprise for using the company for unlawful purposes and purposes prejudicial to national security and public order.
The company at that time had set up a bank account for the public to donate money to the cause and for those incarcerated in need of bail money.
At the height of enforcement action, enigmatic Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar with R Kenghadharan, M Manoharan, V Ganabathirau and T Vasanthakumar were arrested under the Internal Security Act on Dec 13 last year.
They have been detained for two years without trial.
CCID director ACP Mohd Kamarudin Md Din was unavailable to comment on this investigation when contacted.
If you have made a donation to the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement, the police may be knocking on your door soon.
The Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) has sent letters to individuals summoning them to give statements at the Bukit Aman police headquarters over a possible offence of funding a terrorist organisation.
The letter stated that the police are investigating this offence under Section 130N of the Penal Code - the funding of terrorist activities.
If found guilty, the person can be punished with death (if the terrorist act results in death), imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but not exceeding 30 years and a fine.
“The police believe that you can provide a statement about funds given to Hindraf Enterprise,” read the letter signed by investigating officer ASP Rozeni Ismail.
A donor who received the letter and was quizzed by the police recently said references were made to a RHB bank account registered under the name ‘Hindraf Enterprise’.
The donor, who requested anonymity, said the police recorded statement in relation to some other offence - non-terrorism related - committed by the company.
“It is odd that the matter is being dealt by the Commercial Crimes Department because during questioning, they made no reference to the terrorist offences. They said the company could be charged for impropriety in soliciting donations and funds.
“It is also very alarming that the banks can give information about their clients and their transactions to the police without the need for a court order.”
Under the Section 16A of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958, banks are permitted to convey any information in relation to any offences to the police or affected financial institutions.
Many being summoned
However, the donor pointed out that the recording of the statement took only 30 minutes and the police were pleasant throughout the period.
“I don’t think I am the only one. When I asked if there were others, the officer said there were many other people being summoned,” the donor added.
Hindraf gained fame when it organised a protest that saw 30,000 people hit the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year.
This was followed by the movement’s leaders and supporters being charged for a slew of offences including sedition, causing mischief and attending an illegal assembly.
On Dec 8, 2007, the Companies Commission of Malaysia revoked the registration of Hindraf Enterprise for using the company for unlawful purposes and purposes prejudicial to national security and public order.
The company at that time had set up a bank account for the public to donate money to the cause and for those incarcerated in need of bail money.
At the height of enforcement action, enigmatic Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar with R Kenghadharan, M Manoharan, V Ganabathirau and T Vasanthakumar were arrested under the Internal Security Act on Dec 13 last year.
They have been detained for two years without trial.
CCID director ACP Mohd Kamarudin Md Din was unavailable to comment on this investigation when contacted.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Conflict of interest alleged over police choppers
Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan and a member of the powerful Police Force Commission (SPP), Othman Talib, have been implicated in allegations of power abuse involving a company linked to the latter.
Web Power Sdn Bhd, a company that lists Othman as one of their directors, is said to be currently engaged in negotiations with the police to rent 31 helicopters - a lucrative business deal that will generate RM400 million annually for the company if sealed.
In making the charge, DAP MP Teresa Kok said she had run a check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and confirmed that Othman is indeed one of the four directors of Web Power.
She said that there was suspicion of foul play as Othman was appointed as a member of the SPP last year after he became the director of the company on June 2, 2006.
The SPP is the body responsible for the appointment, confirmation, promotion and transfer of all members of the police force. Disciplinary action against errant policemen also comes under its purview.
The commission has four permanent members including the IGP and the Internal Security Minister, his secretary-general and a member of the Public Services Commission. There are up to six non-permanent members appointed by the King on advice of the government.
“Those who appointed him as an SPP member knew from the beginning that Othman had a stake in Web Power and yet approved of his appointment,” said Teresa at a press conference held at party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
IGP’s ‘enthusiasm’
Aside from that, Web Power is also alleged to have been picked by the police force as the service provider the latter’s sophisticated e-Police Force Solution, a digital wireless networking system.
This system is said to be able to provide voice, data, graphic, biometric and DNA data and assist the police in solving and preventing crime.
Though having the system is a positive move, Kok said there was suspicion over the police chief’s “... display of unrelenting enthusiasm to have a company owned by a member of SPP appointed the service provider for the e-Police system”.
Kok said this ‘enthusiasm’ was evident as the IGP did not undertake the necessary procedures when awarding the e-Police system to Web Power.
“Musa had addressed the Letter of Intent and Letter of Award directly to the prime minister when he was supposed to have addressed it to the chief secretary of the government,” noted Teresa.
According to her, the procedure for a business transaction involving the Internal Security Ministry - under which the police force is under - is for it to first write a Letter of Intent to the chief secretary.
The latter will send the Letter of Intent to the finance minister and only after approval by the finance minister can the Internal Security Ministry begin to announce the tender.
No answers
Kok, member of parliament for Seputeh, said Musa (right) bypassed this procedure and had asked Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to directly issue a Letter of Award handing over the tender to Othman’s company.
She also said she had requested answers from the Deputy Internal Security Minister Foo Ah Kiow during Parliament’s sitting in December last year but has yet to receive any explanation regarding the discrepancies.
“I questioned whether a conflict of interest is implied when a member of the SPP whom is listed as a director of the company is currently in business talk with the police?”
During the last Parliament sitting, Kok had also demanded explanations for why was there a need for the police to rent 31 helicopters when they had only asked for eight under the Ninth Malaysian Plan.
Kok said the deals involving the police choppers and computer system were a blatant case of power abuse and said the prime minister himself should look into the matter.
“I urge Abdullah recommend to the King to terminate Othman’s services as a member of the SPP,” she said.
Web Power Sdn Bhd, a company that lists Othman as one of their directors, is said to be currently engaged in negotiations with the police to rent 31 helicopters - a lucrative business deal that will generate RM400 million annually for the company if sealed.
In making the charge, DAP MP Teresa Kok said she had run a check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia and confirmed that Othman is indeed one of the four directors of Web Power.
She said that there was suspicion of foul play as Othman was appointed as a member of the SPP last year after he became the director of the company on June 2, 2006.
The SPP is the body responsible for the appointment, confirmation, promotion and transfer of all members of the police force. Disciplinary action against errant policemen also comes under its purview.
The commission has four permanent members including the IGP and the Internal Security Minister, his secretary-general and a member of the Public Services Commission. There are up to six non-permanent members appointed by the King on advice of the government.
“Those who appointed him as an SPP member knew from the beginning that Othman had a stake in Web Power and yet approved of his appointment,” said Teresa at a press conference held at party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
IGP’s ‘enthusiasm’
Aside from that, Web Power is also alleged to have been picked by the police force as the service provider the latter’s sophisticated e-Police Force Solution, a digital wireless networking system.
This system is said to be able to provide voice, data, graphic, biometric and DNA data and assist the police in solving and preventing crime.
Though having the system is a positive move, Kok said there was suspicion over the police chief’s “... display of unrelenting enthusiasm to have a company owned by a member of SPP appointed the service provider for the e-Police system”.
Kok said this ‘enthusiasm’ was evident as the IGP did not undertake the necessary procedures when awarding the e-Police system to Web Power.
“Musa had addressed the Letter of Intent and Letter of Award directly to the prime minister when he was supposed to have addressed it to the chief secretary of the government,” noted Teresa.
According to her, the procedure for a business transaction involving the Internal Security Ministry - under which the police force is under - is for it to first write a Letter of Intent to the chief secretary.
The latter will send the Letter of Intent to the finance minister and only after approval by the finance minister can the Internal Security Ministry begin to announce the tender.
No answers
Kok, member of parliament for Seputeh, said Musa (right) bypassed this procedure and had asked Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to directly issue a Letter of Award handing over the tender to Othman’s company.
She also said she had requested answers from the Deputy Internal Security Minister Foo Ah Kiow during Parliament’s sitting in December last year but has yet to receive any explanation regarding the discrepancies.
“I questioned whether a conflict of interest is implied when a member of the SPP whom is listed as a director of the company is currently in business talk with the police?”
During the last Parliament sitting, Kok had also demanded explanations for why was there a need for the police to rent 31 helicopters when they had only asked for eight under the Ninth Malaysian Plan.
Kok said the deals involving the police choppers and computer system were a blatant case of power abuse and said the prime minister himself should look into the matter.
“I urge Abdullah recommend to the King to terminate Othman’s services as a member of the SPP,” she said.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Who is Khairy to tell everyone including Ministers to stop speculating on when the general election would be held?
Who is Khairy Jamaluddin to tell everyone, including Ministers, to stop speculating on when the general election would be held when he has not even been elected as Member of Parliament?
Of course, everybody knows that he is the most powerful man in the country, presiding over the fourth storey of Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya and who controls and manipulates the Prime Minister’s moves and decision-making.
But such unaccountable and even unconstitutional exercise of power should not get to his head to make him publicly rebuke Ministers for speculating when the next general election would be held, although his statement was specifically directed at the Election Commission and made no mention of Cabinet Ministers.
However, when Khairy called on all parties, including the Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman , to stop speculating on when the general election would be held, claiming that “it was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s sole prerogative on when to call for the election”, it was clear that he was carrying out an Umno proxy war and his target was not Rashid but Cabinet Ministers like the Home Minister and Umno Secretary-General Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid.
It was only three days ago that Azmi said publicly that the general election was near – and in the past ten days, Radzi had been declaring that “It’s time for a leadership change in Perlis”, openly advocating that the current Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim should be replaced by Azmi.
However, standing in the way of Radzi and Azmi is Khairy, who is aligned with Shahidan as the Umno warlord in Perlis who could deliver what Khairy needed in Umno power stakes – to the extent that the scandals of Shahidan which Radzi had brought to the personal attention of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been completely neutralized by Khairy.
Khairy is wrong however when he claimed that everybody should stop speculating on when the next general election would be held. This is because it is the right and even prerogative of every Malaysian to speculate as to when the next general election would be held, although it is the Prime Minister’s prerogative to decide when to call for the election.
The Prime Minister’s prerogative does not extend to denying Malaysians, in whatever capacity, the right to speculate as to when the next general election would be held.
Of course, there will be those who will argue that this prerogative of the Prime Minister to decide when to call for election has been usurped by Khairy. Whatever the truth, there can be no doubt that next to Abdullah, Khairy would be the first to know when the next general election would be held.
Why should the date as to when Parliament would be dissolved for general election to the held be kept in such high secrecy, causing enormous inconveniences all round – when in first-world developed countries where there is more developed sense of fairplay and justice, like the United Kingdom and Australia, greater notice is given as to when a general election would be held.
Since Abdullah is a proponent of a “First-World Infrastructure, First-World Mentality” concept, is he prepared to adopt such best international practices and give proper and adequate notice to all concerned about the holding of the next general election?
Considering that the Umno general assembly could be held on Deepavali, utterly insensitive of the religious festival of the Hindus, I do not rule out Parliament being dissolved during the Chinese New Year, even before Chap Goh Mei on February 21, 2008.
Of course, everybody knows that he is the most powerful man in the country, presiding over the fourth storey of Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya and who controls and manipulates the Prime Minister’s moves and decision-making.
But such unaccountable and even unconstitutional exercise of power should not get to his head to make him publicly rebuke Ministers for speculating when the next general election would be held, although his statement was specifically directed at the Election Commission and made no mention of Cabinet Ministers.
However, when Khairy called on all parties, including the Election Commission Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman , to stop speculating on when the general election would be held, claiming that “it was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s sole prerogative on when to call for the election”, it was clear that he was carrying out an Umno proxy war and his target was not Rashid but Cabinet Ministers like the Home Minister and Umno Secretary-General Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid.
It was only three days ago that Azmi said publicly that the general election was near – and in the past ten days, Radzi had been declaring that “It’s time for a leadership change in Perlis”, openly advocating that the current Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim should be replaced by Azmi.
However, standing in the way of Radzi and Azmi is Khairy, who is aligned with Shahidan as the Umno warlord in Perlis who could deliver what Khairy needed in Umno power stakes – to the extent that the scandals of Shahidan which Radzi had brought to the personal attention of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been completely neutralized by Khairy.
Khairy is wrong however when he claimed that everybody should stop speculating on when the next general election would be held. This is because it is the right and even prerogative of every Malaysian to speculate as to when the next general election would be held, although it is the Prime Minister’s prerogative to decide when to call for the election.
The Prime Minister’s prerogative does not extend to denying Malaysians, in whatever capacity, the right to speculate as to when the next general election would be held.
Of course, there will be those who will argue that this prerogative of the Prime Minister to decide when to call for election has been usurped by Khairy. Whatever the truth, there can be no doubt that next to Abdullah, Khairy would be the first to know when the next general election would be held.
Why should the date as to when Parliament would be dissolved for general election to the held be kept in such high secrecy, causing enormous inconveniences all round – when in first-world developed countries where there is more developed sense of fairplay and justice, like the United Kingdom and Australia, greater notice is given as to when a general election would be held.
Since Abdullah is a proponent of a “First-World Infrastructure, First-World Mentality” concept, is he prepared to adopt such best international practices and give proper and adequate notice to all concerned about the holding of the next general election?
Considering that the Umno general assembly could be held on Deepavali, utterly insensitive of the religious festival of the Hindus, I do not rule out Parliament being dissolved during the Chinese New Year, even before Chap Goh Mei on February 21, 2008.
Samy Vellu response on Hindraf to India NDTV TV
In an exclusive interview to NDTV Malaysian Indian Congress leader and Public Works Department Minister Dato Samy Vellu admits that his government has no concrete evidence to suggest that Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force), a coalition of 30 Hindu organisations in Malaysia, has links with the LTTE and explains his Cabinet colleague’s recent outburst against the Tamil Nadu chief minister.Following is the excerpts from the interview
NDTV:Do you have any evidence to back your government’s charge that the Hindraf has links with terrorists?
D S Vellu:Hindraf said they would fight like the Tigers, the way the Tigers are fighting in Sri Lanka. It was by Vedamurthy. After he talked like that, we did an investigation and it was felt that he may have gone there for training.
NDTV: Do you have evidence of this?
D S Vellu: No. It is our suspicion.
NDTV: The Tamils were protesting with pictures of Mahatma Gandhi. It was a peaceful demonstration.
D S Vellu: I don’t think it was peaceful. They started at 4 am and broke the temple door and shops and stoned policemen and broke the heads of 4 policemen. Is that called peace?
NDTV:Do you think the statement of your colleague in the Cabinet asking the Tamil Nadu CM to lay off, could have been avoided?
D S Vellu:When two or three opposition parties got up in Parliament and said the Tamil Nadu government wants the Indian government to interfere in Malaysia’s internal affairs, my colleague had answered them, and interference is different from using diplomatic channels.
NDTV:But the Tamil Nadu CM didn’t ask the Indian government to interfere.
D S Vellu: My colleague didn’t mean any disrespect.
NDTV:Do you have any evidence to back your government’s charge that the Hindraf has links with terrorists?
D S Vellu:Hindraf said they would fight like the Tigers, the way the Tigers are fighting in Sri Lanka. It was by Vedamurthy. After he talked like that, we did an investigation and it was felt that he may have gone there for training.
NDTV: Do you have evidence of this?
D S Vellu: No. It is our suspicion.
NDTV: The Tamils were protesting with pictures of Mahatma Gandhi. It was a peaceful demonstration.
D S Vellu: I don’t think it was peaceful. They started at 4 am and broke the temple door and shops and stoned policemen and broke the heads of 4 policemen. Is that called peace?
NDTV:Do you think the statement of your colleague in the Cabinet asking the Tamil Nadu CM to lay off, could have been avoided?
D S Vellu:When two or three opposition parties got up in Parliament and said the Tamil Nadu government wants the Indian government to interfere in Malaysia’s internal affairs, my colleague had answered them, and interference is different from using diplomatic channels.
NDTV:But the Tamil Nadu CM didn’t ask the Indian government to interfere.
D S Vellu: My colleague didn’t mean any disrespect.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Hindu Sangam to Khir: What about us?
The Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) is the rightful body for the Selangor state government to consult in regards to Hindu temples, said its deputy president Thiagaraja Ratnasamy today.
Thiagaraja was responding to news reports that Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo had a meeting “700 temple representatives” to discuss the controversial state demolition of temples.
Formed in 1965, MHS is the biggest Hindu temple umbrella group in the country and had a track record of handling such issues, said Thiagaraja.
This includes liaising with the late K Sivalingam who was a Selangor state exco member in charge of non-Muslim affairs and drawing guidelines for Kuala Lumpur City Hall regarding demolition of temples.
“Before the Menteri Besar implements any guidelines in Selangor, he must first have an actual and meaningful dialogue with the actual representatives of temples.
“With 1,802 temples nationwide as members of the MHS, it would appear that we are best placed to assist the state government in this,” said Thiagaraja in a statement today.
Politically motivated?
MHS’ role as an umbrella body for Hindu organisations looks shaken with the establishment of the Malaysian Hindu Council (MHC) and its influence on Hindu temple affairs.
MHC is headed by Jalan Bandar Maha Mariamman temple and Batu Caves temple president R Nadarajah. Nadarajah is a notable businessman who is also known for his close links with MIC president S Samy Vellu.
The meeting with the temple representatives was facilitated by the MHC yesterday, where Khir announced that the state government would not demolish any Hindu temples over the next six months.
During that time frame, the temple committees within Selangor have to form a self-regulatory body to deal directly with the state government on erecting, demolishing and relocating temples.
Observers note that the move by MHS and Khir to set up the committee was likely to drum up support for the Barisan Nasional in the upcoming general election.
Thiagaraja was responding to news reports that Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo had a meeting “700 temple representatives” to discuss the controversial state demolition of temples.
Formed in 1965, MHS is the biggest Hindu temple umbrella group in the country and had a track record of handling such issues, said Thiagaraja.
This includes liaising with the late K Sivalingam who was a Selangor state exco member in charge of non-Muslim affairs and drawing guidelines for Kuala Lumpur City Hall regarding demolition of temples.
“Before the Menteri Besar implements any guidelines in Selangor, he must first have an actual and meaningful dialogue with the actual representatives of temples.
“With 1,802 temples nationwide as members of the MHS, it would appear that we are best placed to assist the state government in this,” said Thiagaraja in a statement today.
Politically motivated?
MHS’ role as an umbrella body for Hindu organisations looks shaken with the establishment of the Malaysian Hindu Council (MHC) and its influence on Hindu temple affairs.
MHC is headed by Jalan Bandar Maha Mariamman temple and Batu Caves temple president R Nadarajah. Nadarajah is a notable businessman who is also known for his close links with MIC president S Samy Vellu.
The meeting with the temple representatives was facilitated by the MHC yesterday, where Khir announced that the state government would not demolish any Hindu temples over the next six months.
During that time frame, the temple committees within Selangor have to form a self-regulatory body to deal directly with the state government on erecting, demolishing and relocating temples.
Observers note that the move by MHS and Khir to set up the committee was likely to drum up support for the Barisan Nasional in the upcoming general election.
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