Let me quote from the MK report, “Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak said the matter was settled after the government held discussions with family members and the cemetery committee. He said more than 100 graves had been relocated and work on the campus would continue and was expected to complete by 2012. The case is settled. We have also briefed the Hindu Sangam association and they understand," he told reporters today. He said each family was given RM3,000 to relocate the grave of their loved one to a new site about four kilometres away.”
Now let me quote from a report I have just received from Kuala Ketil from the Pengerusi of the Kuala Ketil Tamilar Association, the organization that has been administering the Burial ground all along: “The Kedah Goverment has threatened the families that if they do not remove the tombs they would all be covered up and buried over by earth. Each of the families were given RM3000/= immediately upon removal. A total of 80 graves have been dug and the remains were buried in another existing grave yard. No new location has been offered as promised by the state government (9 acre). There are still about 90graves left and the concerned families have decided to stay put.”
It is obvious from this report that the Kedah MB is lying. The problem is far from resolved. And the remains in the 80 graves have not been moved to a new site, they have only been moved to another pre-existing site. Shame on the PAS MB for lying and misleading the public.
Firstly ,the Kedah PAS government should stop trying to circumvent the wishes of the people by bringing in an organization which has never played a role in administering the burial ground, the Hindu Sangam, into the picture to help the PAS government usurp the rights of the poor Indians of Kual Ketil. This is outright treachery, manipulation and an anti democratic practice, the type of stuff that UMNO has been famous for, whom we ( including PAS) are striving to throw out.
Secondly, The Kedah State Government should stop using strong arm tactics saying that the burial grounds will be covered up and totally destroyed even if the people do not remove the tombs. This is the same nonsense that the DAP government did to the people of Kampung Buah Pala, bullying the people into submission. So, is this brand stuff for the Pakatan Rakyat Coalition. Is this what PR means in their recent Announcement in the CPF ““Pakatan rejects policies that allow for corruption and other financial crimes and abuse of power. In order to ensure sustainable growth, oppressive policies that had only enriched the few should be replaced with a policy that ensures that the poor are assisted regardless of race.” Or is this just another in a string of “unfulfillable” promises.
Thirdly, we would like to remind the MB that if the Kedah State Government or anyone else proceeds with the demolition of the Burial Ground they will be committing a crime under Section 297 of the Penal Code. Under this law, a person could be jailed for at least a year for trespassing, damaging and desecrating the burial places of any religion.
When are the people going to get to see some real democracy at work. We have not seen it under the BN for the last 52 years. Now in the last 2 years we are not seeing it in the PR controlled States either. If PR is serious about their CPF pronouncements, we insist that they immediately stop this bullying, manipulating and lying about the Batu Pekaka Hindu Burial Ground issue and sit down with the true representative organization, the Kual Ketil Tamilar Association and hammer out a mutually agreeable solution.
Failing which PR will be exposing their true nature.
Narayan Ganesan
Pro-Tem Central Committee Membaer and Advisor to the Human Rights Party
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