Malaysian government revokes rights activist's passport: Amnesty

Source : Yahoo News
Image : M'Kini


WASHINGTON (AFP) - The Malaysian government has revoked the passport of a Malaysian human rights lawyer campaigning for minority rights and the abolition of a tough security law, Amnesty International said.

Ponnusamy Waytha Moorthy, the chairman of the Malaysian rights group Hindraf who has been living in London since he fled the country in December, has sought asylum in Britain, Amnesty's Washington-based Asia-Pacific advocacy director T. Kumar told AFP.

The activist had planned to visit Washington for talks with leaders of the US Congress and Amnesty and other rights groups, "but it has been put off because of his passport's cancelation," Kumar said.

Waytha Moorthy had sought the talks to highlight alleged discriminatory policies against minority ethnic Indian Malaysians as well as the arrest under the powerful Internal Security Act of five senior Hindraf members at home.

The five, who led a massive anti-discrimination rally in Kuala Lumpur in December, are being held without trial and for an indefinite period.

Kumar said Waytha Moorthy only became aware of his passport's revocation when he returned to London from Geneva after talks recently with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"He was shocked to be informed by British immigration officers that Kuala Lumpur has revoked his passport," Kumar said. "This makes him de facto stateless."

"This is the first time I have heard of a political activist's passport being revoked by his own country's government," he said.

Kumar called on Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to give a "full explanation on the rationale for the cancellation."

The British authorities will hold hearings to consider Waytha Moorthy's application for political ayslum, he said.

Waytha Moorthy said in a statement to Amnesty that the Malaysian government revoked his passport in the belief that the British authorities would deport him to Kuala Lumpur where he could be arrested under the Internal Security Act.

"This unwarranted act has given me greater 'inner' strength to continue to struggle for the Malaysian Indians and for the unconditional release of my fellow brothers held unjustly under the Internal Security Act," he said.

Malaysia's highest court on Wednesday refused to release the five activists, including a newly sworn-in state lawmaker.

Ethnic Indians make up less than eight percent of the 27 million population of the mainly Muslim-Malay country.

Lawyers for the five said they would appeal on Monday for the Federal Court to review its decision.

Rights groups say 70 people, mainly alleged Islamic militants, are being held under the Internal Security Act.

Hindraf rally turned Malaysian Indians against government

Source : Thethaindian.com


Kuala Lumpur, May 14 (IANS) Malaysia’s ethnic Indians staged “a silent revolution” against the government, “triggered” by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), during the March general elections, a minister has said. Malaysian Human Resource Development Minister S. Subramanian Tuesday described a rally organised by the Hindraf in November last year as the “trigger factor” that turned the Indian community against the government.

Hindraf had organised the protest rally on behalf of Malaysia’s two million Tamil Hindus. The rally of an estimated 10,000 people was declared illegal and forcibly dispersed by police using water cannons. Five Hindraf leaders were jailed for two years for organising it.

“They were listening all this while and we were just oiling the spring. But the bursting point arrived. We have to rectify this fundamental problem to regain their support,” Subramanian told members of his Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) at a party meet in Malacca.

The MIC, part of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, lost badly in the March polls. The BN itself lost the two-thirds majority advantage, emerging victorious but weaker with simple majority.

The simmering of discontent had been going on for a long time. The MIC was aware of the discontent but could not do much, except to manage it, the minister said.

Subramanian urged BN leaders to accept “the new reality” and change their mindset to ensure that ethnic minorities did not feel “not equal” to majority Malays, he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.

“There must be a massive change in the mindsets of BN leaders, particularly those from the United Malay Nasional Organisation (Umno), for the coalition to regain the people’s support,” Subramanian said.

“There must be a conscious effort to provide this sense of equality. This is the secret recipe to solve the problem. The thinking of all leaders should be this: I must be multi-racial in nature,” he added.

He urged MIC leaders at the grassroots level to hold dialogues with the leaders of Umno and other component parties “on the need to change their political thinking in line with new realities”.

FAMILIES OF HINDRAF,ISA DETAINEES SAY DETENTION CENTRE IS UNSAFE.

Source : New Kerala.com
Image : Net


Kuala Lumpur, May 13 : Families of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees have said that the Kamunting Detention Centre in Putrajaya is unsafe, and have demanded that Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi visit the place to assess the conditions for himself.

Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) national co-ordinator R.S. Thanenthiran led a group of supporters and family members of several ISA detainees to the Prime Minister's Department yesterday to hand over a memorandum, urging Abdullah to abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA).

The memorandum was received by Abdullah's special officer, Ravin Ponniah.

Thanenthiran claimed the conditions at the camp were not healthy, not only for the detainees, but also for the camp personnel.

"The water is filthy while shrubs and bushes are overgrown and not maintained. The overall condition is inconducive and no longer safe for both the detainees and security officers there," the New Strait Times quoted him, as saying.

Asked if he had evidence or photographs to show the condition of the camp, Thanenthiran said he did not bring the photographs.

"The PM should spare some time to check on the condition at the camp and visit the detainees. The families of ISA detainees are appealing to him to visit the camp. We believe that he has been misinformed on the conditions at the camp," he added.

The memorandum also seeks the abolition of the ISA and the release of the five Hindraf leaders -- M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kengadharan, and K. Vasantha Kumar. The five were detained under the ISA by the Home Ministry for their involvement in a street demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on November 25 last year.

Malaysian Indian youth groups seek education funds

Source: Indian edunews


Kuala Lumpur: A coalition of Indian youth groups is asking the Malaysian government to fund their social education programmes that would help curb unrest in the community.

The coalition, headed by the Malaysian Indian Youth Council (MIYC), will be submitting its requests to the government through Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu within the next two weeks.

MIC vice-president S. Veerasingam said the MIYC, together with other Indian-based groups, held a seminar on Sunday where issues pertaining to education, employment, social problems and the economic status of Indians were discussed, the Star newspaper reported on Monday.

Veerasingam, speaking at a Hindu New Year carnival in Brickfields, said the group wanted Tamil schools to become fully-aided government schools - a move that would necessitate the various state governments to allocate land for building the schools.

"They also spoke about the need for providing proper places of worship, especially where new developments are coming up".

"Promises and pledges made during the election campaigns should also be carried out," he said. IANS

Correct, correct, correct, it's Fairuz

Source : M'Kini via AFP


A royal inquiry has identified a former Malaysian chief judge as the man involved in a video clip allegedly showing a senior lawyer brokering judicial appointments, reports said today.

In a front page headline, the influential Star newspaper said the inquiry panel identified former chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim as the man on the other end of the line with senior lawyer VK Lingam in the 2001 clip.

The five-man inquiry panel, which submitted a lengthy report to the Malaysian King on Friday after a long hearing, found the clip to be authentic and the conversation to be true, the paper reported, quoting commission sources.

Commission chairman Haidar Mohamed Noor has called for the full findings of the report to be made public but Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had yet to read the report so could not yet decide on its release, the paper reported.

Drunk or bragging

Commission officials could not be reached for comment.

Former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim unleashed a furore last year by releasing the clip, which apparently showed the lawyer telling a judge over the phone that he would put him forward for a top job.

The government then set up a royal commission to investigate the tape, with prominent witnesses like former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a cabinet minister and several former high-ranking judges taking the stand.

Lingam has refused to confirm he is the man in the video, and said that if it was him he must have been drunk or simply bragging.

The scandal has affected the image of Malaysia's judiciary and questions have been raised over the outcome of legal cases involving figures implicated in the scandal.

LETTER : HINDRAF CHAIRMAN'S FORMAL COMPLAINT TO UNCHR

Source : MakkalSakti

Hon. Madam Louise Arbour
United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
17th April 2008.

Dear Madam,

RE: SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AFFECTING THE ETHNIC INDIAN MINORITY COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIA.
50 YEARS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND THE ETHNIC COMMUNITY REMAINS A PERMANENTLY COLONIZED COMMUNITY.
APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AFFECTING THE ETHNIC MALAYSIAN INDIAN COMMUNITY.

I write both in my personal capacity as well as chairman of the above-mentioned organization.

Malaysia achieved independence in 1957 from the United Kingdom Government. 200 years ago the British colonial masters exported indentured laborers from South India into then Malaya and when the country achieved independence these ethnic Indians were left behind without their rights being adequately protected in the new Federal Constitution that was then drafted.

Over the last 50 years the ethnic Indian minority community has suffered various Human Rights violations under the hands of the majority Malay UMNO led political party who controlled other coalition political parties within the Government. Amongst the violations are as follows:

FREEDOM OF RELIGION

No Freedom of Religion, thought or conscience. Citizens are denied their right to renounce their religion or to revert to their original religion/faith.
Demolitions of places of worships particularly belonging to Hindus, which has been in existence since the time, they were imported as indentured laborers. It is believed that about 10,000 temples have been demolished over the last 50 years.
No new allocations in terms of funding and grant of land for erection of places of worships for the benefit of non-Muslims.
Christian churches are particularly targeted in that they are not allowed to build new churches though they have the necessary funding and land for those purposes.
Non- Muslims are compelled to seek redress in the Muslim syariah courts should either one of the spouse convert to the Islamic faith.
Islamic laws are deliberately imposed on non-Muslims.

EDUCATIONAL RIGHT
80% of the 523 Ethnic Tamil schools are poorly maintained and hundreds remain in a dilapidated condition. The Government has failed to take the responsibility for the Ethnic Tamil schools after independence and there is a silent agenda to permanently phase out these ethnic Tamil schools, which provided education in the mother tongue language of the Tamil community in Malaysia. Similar fate befalls the ethnic Andra, Malayali and Punjabi ethnic schools in Malaysia. No new Tamil schools are built by Government in new townships despite the ethnic Indian population increasing threefold since independence.

Indian students are denied places in Local Universities and higher educational institutions under the quota system which favors the Malays Muslim community which regard themselves as BUMIPUTRAS ( sons of soil) and hence they fill up most places of universities though they do not qualify for the respective courses.

No scholarships grants for education for ethnic Indian community either locally or overseas as provided for the Malay community.
No adequate grant/allocations in the annual budget for the building of new Ethnic Indian Schools or maintenance of those.

INTERNALLY DISPLACED COMMUNITY

The majority Indian community who belonged to the plantation sectors become internally displaced persons when their traditional plantation land is acquired by Government for purposes of development and their very social living lifestyle are disrupted. They are not provided adequate compensation for their contributions for the country’s economy over the last 200 years, not provided new job opportunities, training programs ect. No permanent alternative is given to resolve their housing problems and ultimately they end up as squatters in Urban and remain poor, underclass and neglected. No programs and schemes are introduced to uplift their economic condition as compared to what is done to the Malay community. When their plantation land is taken they lose their land, houses, temples, schools and end up a new poor class neglected society.

UNDOCUMENTED ETHNIC MINORITY MALAYSIAN INDIANS

Despite 50 years of independence, there are thousands of ethnic minority Malaysian Indians left being undocumented, without birth certificates, identity cards, marriage certificates ect. This in effect precludes and excludes them from even the formal primary schooling structure, obtaining licenses to run a business or from securing employment.

PATHETIC MONTHLY WAGES

After 46 years of independence the State has finally capped the monthly salary of the plantation workers at RM 325.00 (USD85.00) and RM 350.00 (USD 92.00) per month for rubber tappers who are mostly ethnic Malaysian Indians.

NO BUSINESS LICENCES/OPPORTUNITIES

Mearge or no business licenses, permits, business loans, opportunities, small businesses, commercial licenses for Malaysian Indians to run businesses resulting in less than 1% Indian participation in the country’s economic wealth.

KG. MEDAN “GENOCIDE”

The genocide by a state sponsored mysterious mob against the innocent and unarmed people of Kg.Medan in 2001 left 100 over killed and / or seriously injured still remains a mystery. The Malaysian Human Rights Commission refused to hold an inquiry while the state refused to hold a royal commission of inquiry. The Courts/Attorney General refused to hold inquests into the deaths contrary to Article 5 of the Federal Constitution and section 339 of the criminal procedure code. Worst still only USD 526 to a maximum of USD 6,578 for some victims being permanently maimed and/or loss of life cases was awarded for the said victims though RM136.8 billion was approved for the 2006 budget.

VICTIMISATION BY POLICE STATE

Indians formed about 60% of suspects shot dead by the police including an 8-month pregnant Indian lady, 60% of innocent people dying in Police custody, lockups and other detention centers.

The above are meant to give you an overview on the situation affecting the ethnic Indian community who has suffered for the last 50 years since Independence.

The Government of Malaysia portrays to the world that Malaysia is a multi racial and multi ethnic society that lives in peace and harmony. Unfortunately peace and harmony in Malaysia means the ethnic Indian community is compelled to remain silent on the atrocities that befall them and should they protest in a peaceful manner the Government takes severe action against them.

The recent attempt by HINDRAF to raise the violations against the Ethnic Indian community was seen as attempt to challenge the Malay Muslim supremacy UMNO led Government and hence our Organization was branded as an extremist organization. HINDRAF organized a peaceful gathering on the 25th November 2007 to submit a petition to Her Majesty The Queen of England and the event saw an unprecedented crowd of more than 100,000 people coming to the streets to protest the marginalization, oppression and suppression they suffered. This was seen as a threat and immediately within days our organization was accused falsely of having links to terrorists organizations.

On the 13th December 2007 5 key leaders of HINDRAF was detained under the draconian Internal Security Act which means detention without trial. This was deliberately done to instill fear onto the ethnic Indian community and to suppress the emerging “new voices of democracy” and to stamp out the democratic Movement.

We have suffered in silence thus far and when finally we came out to voice our dissatisfaction the Government attacked us with tear gas, chemical laced water cannons and baton beatings by the brutal Royal Police Force. Hundreds our peaceful protesters were arrested manhandled, beaten up, thrown into lock ups, humiliated for belonging to the ethnic Indian community, and slapped with trumped up criminal charges of attempted murder and denied bail. The State Attorney General took the trouble to personally attend these cases to show to the whole country how serious they are if their “might” is challenged.

The Malaysian ethnic Indian has no other choice but to seek redress and solutions at the doorsteps of the United Nations. On behalf of all those oppressed suppressed and marginalized ethnic Indian community I formally request that you exercise all powers conferred upon you by this most supreme world democratic organ to appoint a SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS AFFECTING THE ETHNIC MALAYSIAN INDIAN COMMUNITY who are and remain a permanently colonized community in Malaysia.

Thank you

Yours in service


P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF

Hindu Gymkhana to be handed over to Hindu community: Sassi Palejo

Source : The News.com


Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism, Sassi Palejo, has declared that the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) will be shifted from the premises of the Hindu Gymkhana. The historical site will then be handed over to the Hindu community as it was a hub for the minority community.

She said that the Jinnah Courts Hostel, Karachi, will also be vacated by the Rangers and this historical building would be preserved as a cultural heritage site.

The provincial minister said this while talking to a delegation of the Pakistan Film and TV Journalists Association (PFTJA) on Thursday who called on the minister at her office. The delegation comprised of President, PFTJA, Abdul Wasee Qureshi; General Secretary, Athar Jawed Soofi; and other members of the association Qaiser Masood Jaffery and Zeeshan Siddiqi.

She said that there was no doubt that the Napa had been serving its cause to a great extent, and personalities such as Zia Mohiuddin, Talat Hussain and Rahat Kazmi were working hard for the promotion of performing arts.

However, she said, this place belonged to the Hindu Gymkhana and the Hindu community was a peaceful one and the government would have the site vacated by Napa and hand it over to the minority community so that they could take part in their cultural activities.

She said the Napa would be shifted to another place as the government did not want to create a conflict with the Presidency.

Sassi Palejo said that steps were being taken to vacate the Jinnah Courts Hostel of the Rangers. The minister said that India made all efforts to promote its culture across the globe, and assured that the PPP government would also take steps to reconsider the cultural policy of the country to promote Pakistani culture in the world.

She claimed that there was massive corruption in the culture and tourism department and the government was taking steps to investigate this corruption. She assured that stern action would be taken against the corrupt officials that were found guilty.

Palejo said that the government was planning to introduce a policy to connect all libraries, including Liaquat National Library, through the internet and that all the libraries would be equipped with DVD and VCD facilities as well as other modern equipment.

She said that the government would also build a museum and cultural complex each at Sehwan Sharif and Bhit Shah.

HINDRAF PRESS STATEMENT 15 APRIL 08

Source : makkalSakti.blogspot
Image : BMahendran

PRESS STATEMENT

HINDRAF views the current medical onslaught by the Kamunting Prison Authorities against Human Rights Defender and Prisoner of Conscience P.Uthayakumar seriously and believe this is deliberately calculated to harm and cause serious health damage to Uthayakumar .

For more than a month prior to April 7th 2008 Uthayakumar was denied his diabetes medication and attempts by his family members to hand over the necessary medications to him directly has been hampered. Medications that were handed over to prison officer En Shaharam on 13th March 2008 by his lawyer went mysteriously missing. 6 attempts/ written requests by Uthayakumar to meet the Prison director to discuss the issue of medication was ignored . He was continuously served high sugar content diet despite his vehement objections but had no choice but to consume those under protest.

The Prison Hospital does not have a qualified full time doctor of even a visiting doctor. On 18th March 2008 a Prison Hospital assistant was (HA not a qualified doctor) pestering Uthayakumar to take some other medications instead of his regular prescriptions but Uthayakumar refused.

The following incidents that took place at the Taiping Hospital remains a puzzle:

Uthayakumar was deliberately chained to the bed like a common criminal.
Premature discharge ( after 2 days) despite his high sugar level and damage to heart muscles Other tests results unknown i.e. kidney and liver functions

In light of the above circumstances HINDRAF calls upon the Prime Minister to immediately accede request made by the mother of Uthayakumar to immediately refer him to the National Heart Institute or other private Hospital chosen by the family.

HINDRAF is of the opinion that there is a silent agenda and plot to cause harm to the health of Uthayakumar and urges the Prime Minister to intervene immediately before matters turn worse.


P.Waytha Moorthy
Chairman
HINDRAF.

Tamils Ignore Government Order to Not Celebrate Tamil New Year

Source Link Thaindian

CHENNAI, INDIA, April 13, 2008: Even as several major temples “obeyed” the diktat of the Tamil Nadu government and avoided special worship, the laity here celebrated Tamil New Year with usual gaiety Sunday. Just as the biggest Hindu Shiva temple in Mylapore area here allowed people to offer special prayers, the famed Vishnu shrine at Srirangam, 300 km south of Chennai and considered a “heaven on earth”, celebrated the occasion with pomp. The Meenakshi Amman temple at Madurai, 400 km south of here, steered clear of controversy and avoided any special prayer.

The government early this year declared that from now on, Pongal, the harvest festival falling Jan 14, would herald the Tamil New Year. It prohibited special prayers on the traditional Tamil New Year day in all government-controlled temples. It also banned the reading of the Tamil almanac on the traditional New Year day in shrines. Hindus across the state, however, celebrated the occasion regardless of the government’s fiat. Festoons were seen everywhere and feasts were held at almost every home.

A leading Hindu priest explained why the masses ignored the wishes of the DMK government. “This is as per the Hindu calendar’s 60-year cycle that has been in vogue since the time of the Vedas, of which astrology and astronomy are essential parts. And it is not just the Tamils - several Indian subcultures have a New Year almost at the same time,” said Shankara Shastri, a priest consulted by many leading business houses here.

Hindraf Leaders' Wives Oppose Anti-government Rally

Source : News Post India
Sunday 06th of April 2008

The wives of four detained Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders in Malaysia have urged their supporters and well-wishers to stop public protests against the government as it may jeopardise chances of the four leaders' release.

The wives of the four leaders were reacting to an SMS campaign asking ethnic Indians to gather outside the home affairs ministry Monday as a sign of protest against the Hindraf leaders' detention.

The wives of detained Hindraf leaders - M. Manoharan's wife S. Pushpaneela, V. Ganabatirau's wife B. Buvaneswary, K. Vasantha Kumar's wife K. Vikneswary and R. Kenghadaran's wife M. Kalaivani said they didn't want their husbands to suffer the consequences of such an act.

'We would like to humbly request all Hindraf supporters not to participate in any demonstration or rally,' urged Pushpaneela.

She said many elected leaders were working hard for their husbands' release and 'it would be best to wait patiently for the outcome of their collective efforts', the New Straits Times said Sunday.

The four men and another Hindraf leader P. Uthayakumar were held under the Internal Security Act at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak, after they organised a protest rally in Kuala Lumpur Nov 25, 2007.

The Hindraf claims to speak for the over two million Tamil Hindu settlers who came here during the British era, and now allege discrimination in jobs and education for the ethnic Indian community.

Kalaivani said the proposed gathering might jeopardise their husbands' chance of being released if it got out of hand and turned ugly.

Teacher Buvaneswary concurred and urged Hindraf supporters to remain calm and not aggravate the situation. Vikneswary said she appreciated the care and concern shown by Hindraf supporters but the best thing to do was to wait patiently.

'This is not the time to gather in big groups and protest,' she said.

Meanwhile, Hindraf national event coordinator Kannan Ramasamy said the protest Monday was merely a submission of a memo by Hindraf lawyers to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

'Only a few of our lawyers and several immediate family members of the detainees would be there,' he clarified.

'We are requesting Datuk Seri Syed Hamid to be more responsive as he is the one who has the authority to release them in his capacity as home minister,' said Ramasamy.

Albar has said that he would 'not be swayed by sentiments' and decide on the issue 'in the best national interests'.

Rights Group Slams Malaysian Elections

Source : AP


An international human rights group said Wednesday it fears Malaysians will not get a fair vote in this week's general elections because of an uneven playing field favoring the ruling National Front coalition.

New York-based Human Rights Watch urged Malaysia to eradicate bias from the electoral process. Opposition and activist groups say the process is rife with irregularities including government control of the media, restraint on opposition rallies and names of dead people on voting registration lists.

"Once again, elections in Malaysia are grossly unfair to the opposition," Elaine Pearson, the group's deputy Asia director, said in a statement. "Malaysia's ruling coalition is too comfortable with the status quo to allow reforms that would level the playing field."

Malaysian Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz denied the allegations, accusing Human Rights Watch of trying to discredit the elections because "they know the National Front will win."

"To me, Human Rights Watch is biased. They are not important at all. It's only their opinion," Nazri told The Associated Press.

He said the opposition parties' active participation they are contesting almost all the 222 parliamentary and 505 state legislature seats shows the elections "are free and fair."

The polls Saturday will be a crucial test of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's popularity amid mounting complaints over corruption and racial and religious discrimination. These grievances led to rare protests by tens of thousands of people in Kuala Lumpur in November.

Abdullah's National Front won 91 percent of parliamentary seats in 2004 polls, but it has acknowledged it may win fewer seats this time.

The opposition hopes to deny the National Front a two-thirds majority, which allows it to amend the constitution.

Election Commission chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman says cheating has never been proven.

Human Rights Watch called on poll monitors to probe claims of fraud and irregularities and post vote tallies outside polling stations for greater transparency.

The rights group also called on the government to ensure equal state media access for all parties, saying television and radio gave no time to opposition candidates and newspapers report on the opposition "at their own risk."

In Malaysia, almost all media outlets are linked to parties in the ruling coalition, and publications need government printing licenses that must be renewed annually.

Deputy PM defends Malaysia system...yeah rite...!!!

Source : BBC
Image : Net


Malaysia's deputy prime minister has hit out at critics who say the country is not truly democratic, ahead of Saturday's general election. (correct,correct,correct,correct...VK Lingam style...!!!)

Najib Razak's opponents point out that the National Front coalition and its forerunner have won all general elections since British rule ended.

But he insists elections are free and fair and that democratic systems do not require regular changes of government.

Analysts expect the coalition to win easily in Saturday's polls.

Currently the National Front controls all but one of Malaysia's 13 states and three federal territories.

'Complex situation'

In an interview with the BBC's Robin Brant, Mr Razak also addressed the issue of ethnic tension in Malaysia.

A series of demonstrations by Hindu activists in recent months has highlighted the grievances felt by ethnic Indians.

They argue that ethnic Malays are given preferential treatment when it comes to jobs and access to services.

Race relations is a prominent issue in the election, and the deputy prime minister said there had been progress.

But he likened the situation to the history of Northern Ireland, which was blighted by sectarian violence between Catholics and Protestants for three decades.

"In Malaysia, it's a much more complex situation.

"How long did it take to resolve the Irish problem?

"There you're just talking about the difference in being Roman Catholic or Protestant. "Here you are talking about difference in skin colour, you're talking about difference in race, you're talking about difference in religion, culture. It will take time."

Five ethnic Indians who helped organise a large protest march last November are still in jail, indefinitely, deemed a threat to national security.

But Mr Razak rejected the suggestion that their imprisonment without trial is a stain on the country's democratic credentials.

About 10m of Malaysia's 26m population are registered to vote on Saturday.

Although the level of support for the National Front is expected to fall, our correspondent says the outcome is already a certainty.

But he says the coalition may face a country increasingly divided along racial lines.

Anti-bias votes may reduce Abdullah’s power in Malaysia

Source : Bloomberg
Image : Net


After Vella Murugan’s third application for a government-subsidized mortgage was turned down in September, he decided he would back the opposition in Malaysia’s March 8 election.

He blames the rejection on his Indian ancestry. “I see my Malay neighbors with the same salary as me getting loans all the time,” said Vella, 38, a laborer from a Kuala Lumpur suburb who earns about 800 ringgit ($245) a month, just above the official poverty line. Indians “have a lack of opportunities.”

Malaysia’s biggest minorities — Indians and Chinese — have become more vocal in airing such grievances, taking a toll on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s support. In November, Vella joined 10,000 other Indians to protest Malaysia’s legalized discrimination system, the largest ethnic demonstration in Kuala Lumpur since 1969.

“We love being part of Malaysia, but the government has to know how we feel,” Vella said.

Come election day, “some non-Malays might feel that they need to vote for the opposition because of what they have seen and felt,” said Mohamed Mustafa Ishak, international studies dean at Universiti Utara Malaysia.

Indians and Chinese together are a third of Malaysia’s population of 27 million. If enough vote against the ruling coalition, it would lose the two-thirds parliamentary majority it has had for more than 30 years — a free hand that consolidated Malay power.

Emboldened Opposition

Even if Abdullah’s super-majority remains, a close call may embolden the opposition. The coalition won 64 percent of the vote and 90 percent of the parliament’s seats in 2004, and it is unlikely to lose control completely.

Approval for Abdullah, 68, among Indians fell to 38 percent in December, from 79 percent in October, according to a survey published by the Merdeka Center, an independent Malaysian research group.

Malaysia's opposition tempts voters with promises of handouts, matchmaking...

Source : Herald Tribune




Malaysia's opposition sought to attract voters Tuesday by pledging to eliminate corruption, provide handouts to poor families and even help unmarried women find husbands if it wins March 8 general elections.

Opposition parties acknowledge they have little hope of defeating Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition, but their electoral pledges underscore their allegation that Abdullah presides over a graft-plagued government that neglects ordinary people.

The Democratic Action Party announced an election platform titled "Just Change It," promising to ensure that government contracts are awarded fairly and to give 6,000 ringgit (US$1,860; €1,260) a year to cash-strapped households if the opposition wins power.

"To many Malaysians, this election is the last hope for change," said party chairman Lim Kit Siang. "It will be the clincher in ... whether there is hope to build a democratic, just and competitive Malaysia."

Lim's group has made a pact with the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, better known as PAS, and the People's Justice Party to field only one candidate in each constituency to avoid splitting the opposition vote.

PAS pledged Tuesday to build more low-cost homes and help villagers set up small businesses if it retains control of northeastern Kelantan state, the only one of Malaysia's 13 states not ruled by the National Front.

The party's election platform for Kelantan also vowed to "overcome the issue of women who marry late" by promoting matchmaking facilities and encouraging a lower dowry, but gave no details. It also plans to boost maternity leave from 60 days to three months.

The People's Justice Party, led by prominent politician Anwar Ibrahim, announced a platform that could entice ethnic minorities by promising to dismantle a decades-old affirmative action policy that benefits the Malay Muslim majority.

"Affirmative action based purely on race ... has been shown to be too vulnerable to abuse," the manifesto said. "It is pointless and divisive to insist that each racial group has its own economic solution."

Prime Minister Abdullah insisted Monday the opposition is making "empty promises" to voters. His coalition's own platform promises to create 2 million new jobs in five years and slash the percentage of people living in poverty from 3.5 percent to 2.8 percent by 2010.

The National Front won 199 of 219 parliamentary seats in 2004 polls. It has acknowledged it will likely win fewer seats this time amid complaints over rising inflation, crime and racial and religious tensions.

CAMPAIGN OF ROSES:INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE.

Source : roses4pm.blogspot.com

A summary of International media updates on the rally: Sify News : 60 held as Malay police stop ethnic Indians' rally Reuters : Tear gas scatters Malaysian 'flower power' protest Also check out BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia for the stories.Malaysiakini and NST had their news reports updated as well.

Thumbs Up to Raajarox, for his great effort...!!!

Source : http://www.roses4pm.blogspot.com/


Raajarox (http://raajarox.com) has sent a copy of this press invitation to all main media around the world.

Dear Journalist,

On February 16, 2008, HINDRAF is planning a peaceful rally in which 100 children will hand over roses to request the Prime Minister of Malaysia to release five (5) detainees of HINDRAF, who are currently detained under the Internal Securtiy Act (A draconian law which allows for indefinite detention without trial). These five detainees had earlier voiced their concern in the ever deteriorating state of the Indian minority in Malaysia and in a broader sense to provide equal platform for all Malaysians for the enhancement of society.This peaceful gathering is legal and is in accordance to Article 10 of the Malaysian Federal Constitution.

We invite foreign press/media and international human rights groups to Malaysia to witness the rally in person. The rally is also being held simultaneously in the following venues:

Malaysia
Date : 16th February 2008 (Saturday)
Venue : Parliament House Kuala Lumpur

Los Angeles, California, USA
Date: February 16, 2008
Venue: In front of Consulate General of Malaysia, Los Angeles
Address: 550 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

New York, USA
Date : 16th February 2008 (Saturday)
Venue : Malaysian Consulate General of New York

Belgium
Venue: 414A, Avenue de Tervuren 1150 Brussels, Belgium

Northern Ireland
Address : Level 3A - 5A Shelbourne House, Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Indonesia
Venue: Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav. X/6, No.1-3 Kuningan, Jakarta Selatan 12950

London
Date : 16th February 2008
Venue: High Commission of Malaysia, London
Address: Malaysian High Commission 45-46 Belgrave Square London

New Delhi, India
Venue : In Front Of Malaysian Embassy
50-M, Satya Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021

Mumbai, India
Venue: 4-B, 4th Floor, Notan Plaza, Turner Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai 400050.

New Zealand
Venue: HIGH COMMISSION OF MALAYSIA IN WELLINGTON
Address : No. 10 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, P.O. Box 9422, Wellington, New Zealand

Australia
Chancery: 7 Perth Avenue
Yarralumla ACT 2600

We look forward to seeing you on February 16

Yours Sincerely
Raaja
http://raajarox.com

List of media
World News

CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form11b.html?2

Al Jazeera
press.int@aljazeera.net

International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com/pages/asia/index.php

BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ifs/hi/newsid_4000000/newsid_4000500/4000545.stm

Fox News
Fncspecials@foxnews.com

Asia News Network
anneditor@nationgroup.com

MediaCorp News (Channel News Asia)
reporting@channelnewsasia.com.

Time Magazine (Asia Edition)
letters@time.com

Indian Media
Sifydavid_appasamy@sifycorp.com

NDTV
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/feedback.aspx

News Channel India
http://forms.wn.com/form/wn-feedback/

Hindustan Times
http://www.htmedia.in/news/specials/htmedia/contact/index.shtml

Tamil Media
Dinamalar
coordinator@dinamalar.in

DinaThanthi
support@dt.co.in

Sun News
queries@sunnetwork.in

Makkal TV
raj@makkal.tv

Chennai Online
cibs@chennaionline.com

Vijay TV
http://app.indya.com/feedback/starfeedback.asp?channel=star

Tamil Canadian
http://www.tamilcanadian.com/news/

Prime minister of Malaysia dissolves Parliament...pls read the bold items

Source : The Herald Tribune




BANGKOK: Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia dissolved Parliament on Wednesday, paving the way for what is likely to be a rancorous election campaign amid ethnic tensions, scandals in the country's judiciary and concerns over corruption and rising food prices.

The election commission is due to announce later this week the date for elections, which must be held within 60 days.

There is little risk that the governing National Front coalition led by Abdullah, which has held power without interruption for five decades, will lose. But analysts expect the coalition to win fewer seats than the crushing majority it gained when the last national elections were held in 2004.

Abdullah, whose popularity has fallen sharply in recent months as ethnic tensions have worsened, said Wednesday he hoped for a two-thirds majority. With anything less he might face pressure from his party to step down, analysts say.

The elections will also be a test of the popularity of Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy prime minister who is now the government's most vocal critic. Although barred from running for office in this election because of a 1999 conviction for abuse of power in a highly political trial, Anwar has been campaigning vigorously against the government in recent months and his party, Keadilan, is hoping to capitalize on the frustration with Abdullah's administration.

Indians and Chinese, the country's two main minority groups, are angry over a spate of religious disputes and an affirmative action program that favors the Malay majority. Abdullah, a Malay Muslim, is likely to fall back on support from his own ethnic group.

Abdullah's coalition has the advantage of flattering press coverage - the country's main newspapers are effectively controlled by the parties in the coalition - and an electoral system that handicaps the scattered strongholds of the opposition, partly because of gerrymandering. In 2004 the ruling coalition's 64 percent of the popular vote translated into a win of 90 percent of the seats in Parliament.

A survey released last month by the Merdeka Center, an independent polling agency, showed that only 54 percent of Chinese and 44 percent of Indian voters were "satisfied with the way things were going" in the country. This was down from 65 percent and 86 percent respectively a year earlier.

A series of controversies over the demolitions of Hindu and Buddhist temples as well as disputed religious conversions have angered Chinese and Indian voters. But non-ethnic issues have also soured the national mood.

A videotape released last year of a leading lawyer apparently discussing judicial appointments with a top judge in the country has led to a series of stunning revelations pointing to deeply imbedded corruption in the judiciary.

Witnesses speaking at a commission of inquiry into the videotape testified this week that the lawyer, V.K. Lingam, vacationed with a chief justice who was hearing one of his cases and that Lingam wrote parts of a judgment in a libel case in which he was representing one of the parties.

The government has also been tarnished by an ongoing murder trial in which an aide to Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak is accused of abetting the slaying of his mistress. The killing was allegedly carried out by two police commandos who also serve as bodyguards to Malaysia's top leaders.

Frustration at the government's policies has spilled onto the streets. In a series of rare demonstrations, lawyers have protested the lack of judicial independence, Indians have called for equal treatment and opposition parties have rallied against what they say are illegal election practices like applying mailed-in ballots to whichever district the government finds to its advantage.

Abdullah's term does not expire until May 2009, but among the possible reasons for early elections is the urgency of cutting fuel subsidies, a politically damaging move the governing coalition would prefer to take after elections. The subsidies cost the government three times what the government spends on education and health care.

HAF supports rally before Malaysian consulate

Source : The Indian Post

FREMONT, CA: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF), a US based human rights group, threw its support behind a rally planned to take place in front of the Malaysian Consulate in Los Angeles, California on Saturday, February 16. The rally, organized by American Hindus with familial ties to Malaysia, is to support human rights in Malaysia.

The peaceful rally will take place between 10am and 2pm in front of the Consulate of Malaysia, 550 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles. The organizers are calling for an end to the apartheid policies of the Malaysian government that favor ethnic Malay Muslims over other ethnic groups. The rally will focus attention on five leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) that have been jailed under emergency laws considered draconian by most human rights observers.

The five were jailed after they led a non-violent protest in the nation’s capital in late November. HAF had been in touch with some of these leaders prior to their arrest, but they have been prevented from communicating with supporters since their incarceration. "Current Malaysian policies effectively discriminate against Malaysian Hindus of Indian ethnicity, who are the poorest ethnic group in Malaysia—we want equality and dignity!" said Bhuvan Govindasamy, the main organizer of this rally. "Malaysian Hindus have been opposing the insidious violation of their rights for many years now, but the latest spate of Hindu temple demolition by the government, and the arrest of the five HINDRAF leaders are only the latest miscarriages of justice."

The Hindu American Foundation has launched a campaign to support the Hindu protests in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, and has released several statements calling for an end to the destruction of Hindu temples and for the protection of human rights of Malaysian Hindus. The foundation’s most recent annual human rights report entitled, "Hindus in South Asia and the Diaspora: A Survey of Human Rights 2006," devoted an entire section highlighting violations of human rights of Malaysian Hindus.

"The jailing of the ‘HINDRAF five’ without any charge or hearing using extra-constitutional powers is not something we expect in a civilized country, and our concerns as to their treatment is growing as reports of their solitary confinement, psychological abuse and failing health trickle out," said Mihir Meghani, M.D., President of HAF.

"The Malaysian government must understand that the world is watching and tepid actions by the government to gloss over the very real issues Malaysian Hindus are facing will not suffice." Waytha Moorthy, principal leader of HINDRAF, was the first to be arrested during government sweeps after the rally, but left the country when he was briefly released.

He is waging an international campaign to bring global attention to Malaysian atrocities and is currently in London. He is in close communication with the HAF and is supporting the Bay Area rally. He expressed concern that the Malaysian government’s recent suggestion that it understands the concerns of Malaysian Indians and supports improving the rights situation is really an effort to distract global attention when it is needed most.

"It makes no sense that when the Malaysian Prime Minister acknowledges the veracity of the neglect of Malaysian Indians, he sees it fit to imprison the very five individuals who conveyed that message to the nation," said Moorthy. "HINDRAF leaders were at all times propagating peaceful democratic rights as enshrined under the Federal Constitution and had been raising the issue of oppression suppression and marginalization of the Indian community—their arrest was ludicrous and does not augur well for a democratic and civil society."

To PM with Love, Peace and Equality....

Source : bmahendran.com



There will be simultaneuos ’show of love’ in major cities in the world, starting from our Kuala Lumpur. Most probably there will be no one in the Parliament (again) as it is most likely to be dissolved in February 13, for the election. Nevertheless, its all about rights, standing up for what is right...and for the future of our next Generation of MALAYSIAN....

Kuala Lumpur

Venue : Parliament House Kuala Lumpur
Address: Jalan Parlimen, 50680, Kuala Lumpur
Time : 11.00 am

London

Venue: High Commission of Malaysia, London
Address: Malaysian High Commission 45-46 Belgrave Square London
Time: 10am

Los Angeles

Venue: In front of Consulate General of Malaysia, Los Angeles
Address: 550 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071)
Time: 10am - 2pm

New York

Venue : Malaysian Consulate General of New York -313 East,43rd Street, NY,
Nearest Subway – Grand Central, New York
Time : 11.00am – 1.00pm

Contact Ravi Shan at MalaysianinNewYork@gmail.com or 1(917) 443 1250

I have been informed that few other bloggers will also be updating on this Campaign and YennaMike will do it's best to get as many coverage as possible.

I have just been informed that the following blog was created by a group of bloggers for the Campaign of Roses, CLICK HERE

HINDRAF PRESS STATEMENT 6th February 2008

Source : http://hindrafinternational.wordpress.com
Image : Net


Re: GOVERNMENT’S SILENT ADMISSION ON ITS FAILURE AND NEGLECT OF MALAYSIAN INDIANS- TIME TO RELEASE THE BRAVE MESSENGERS OF TRUTH

Whilst the Government accepts the reality of the woes of the Malaysians Indians as raised by HINDRAF and promises to act on them, but strangely the Prime Minister has incarcerated the 5 messengers of truth – P.Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, V Ganabatirau, R Kengadharan , T.Vasanthakumar under the ISA. It makes no sense when the Prime Minister and his Cabinet Ministers acknowledges the veracity of the neglect of Malaysian Indians but he see it fit to imprison the very 5 who conveyed this messages.

Last Thursday in his address to the Malaysian Associated Indian Chamber of Commerce he was quoted to say, “I have listened to the problems addressed by every sector of the Indian community ….and I will do everything to improve the situation from on,”

If the Malaysian Premier Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi is sincere in his intentions to improve the social, economic, educational and cultural conditions of the Malaysian Indians he would move to release the 5 HINDRAF leaders immediately, as it is blatantly obvious there is no justification for their detention.

The 5 HINDRAF leaders were exercising their social conscience in raising the plight of the 70% poor Malaysian Indians within the democratic process of basic human rights. They posed no threat to National Security for detention under the ISA.

The continued detention of the 5 leaders will not assure the 8 per cent of the Malaysian Indians that the BN government is honest about addressing the grievances of the ethnic Indians when the proponents of the concern are continued to be unjustly and inhumanely detained.

The immediate release of the 5 will demonstrate to the Malaysian Indians that the Prime Minister is serious about what he says; otherwise it will be seen as empty promises.

There is no integrity on the Prime Minister’s promises if he does not release the 5 harbinger of the message.

P.Waytha Moorthy

Chairman

HINDRAF

Currently in London.