“Please don’t send us back to the Hell of Pakistan. We like to die here in starvation”, Pak Hindu refugees.

Deport our bodies to Pakistan, not us: Pak Hindu refugees staying in Bharat.
New Delhi | 8 April 2013 | IANS :: Fear of deportation looms large over a group of 479 Pakistani Hindu refugees as their visas expire Monday but they are firmly set against returning to Pakistan, saying they will prefer to die than go back.

“We don’t know what will happen to us but what we do know is that if we are deported, it will be our bodies not us. We will die but not return to Pakistan,” Dharamveer, a farmer from Pakistan, told IANS.

(What a crucial situation for these unfortunate and persecuted Hindus came to Bharat as their last refuge to get a relief from the brutal torture by fanatic Muslims in Pakistan. But through the nexus of regulations these Hindus are inhumanly sent back to a slaughterhouse named Pakistan. What now the BJP MPs in Delhi are doing their massive jobs in Parliament? - Ed. HE.)

He is one among the asylum-seekers who crossed over to India through Jodhpur in Rajasthan March 9 on the pretext of visting Maha Kumbh in Allahabad. The group reached Delhi March 10 and took refuge in a 28-room building owned by Nahar Singh in Brijwasan area in south Delhi.

“Hindus are not safe there. Daughters are abducted and forced to convert. We can’t perform even funeral by setting bodies afire on pyre as Pakistanis ask us to bury the corpses,” said Dharmveer, who fled Hyderabad town in Pakistan’s Sindh province with his wife and four children.

“What we want is Indian citizenship so that at least we can die here peacefully,” he said.

The group comprises 83 women, 86 men and 311 children – of whom one died a few days ago.

Nahar Singh, an ex-soldier, is looking after these refugees. He had also sheltered 146 Pakistani Hindu refugees in 2011.

(When 3.5cr Bangladeshi Muslims are staying in Bharat with undue rights and procuring ration cards, voter cards, land etc. with the connivance with the political parties, then why such a meager numbers, hardly 25,000 in total, of Hindus are being sent back to mouth of an Islamic demon? Ed. – HE).

“They knew that it was me who had arranged the stay of 146 Pakistani Hindu refugees in 2011 and came to my house. I am sympathetic towards them,” Singh told IANS.

Asked how he was managing the funds, he said that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and various NGOs were helping them.

(Please start indefinite sit in protest with chain fasting with the Hindu refugees from Pakistan, at Jantar Mantar. HJS, HND, BSKS, MSS, RGS please take the initiative. ED. – HE). 

Same News in Hindi: हमारे शव को पाक भेज दो, हमें नहीं: हिंदू शरणार्थी: जागरण डॉट कम 

मिलतीजुलतीखबरे:  पाक में हिंदूओं को शव दफनाने को किया जा रहा मजबूर हिंदू को मुसलमान बनाने का सीधा प्रसारण पाकिस्तान से आए हिंदुओं के साथ होगी रियायत पाक से आए हिंदुओं ने उत्पीड़न के खिलाफ किया मूक प्रदर्शन पाक हमलों के खिलाफ विहिप का प्रचंड प्रदर्शन अलविदा पाकिस्तान, बची परिवार की जान		Related news:  The Plight Of Hindus In Pakistan India speaks to Pakistan about Hindu persecution Persecuted Hindus fleeing Pakistan, Bangladesh: RSS Hindus from Pakistan flee to India, citing religious persecution 48 Pakistani Hindus arrive in India – determined never to return Pakistan

20 hurt in Bangladesh strike clash

At least 20 people have been injured in south-western Bangladesh as a hardline Islamic group enforces a general strike to back its demands for an anti-blasphemy law.

Police and Somoy TV station said today's violence took place in Chittagong city when activists from Hifazat-e-Islam clashed with ruling Awami League supporters.

Police official Abdullahel Baki said the Hifazat-e-Islam protesters threw stones at police and the ruling party supporters.

The TV station said one ruling party member was hit by a bullet, but it was not immediately clear who fired it.

The Hifazat-e-Islam protesters also blocked a railway line in eastern Brahmanbaria district to disrupt train services.

The government said it has no plans to enact an anti-blasphemy law or meet other demands from the protesters.

Punjab, convert to Islam or die: The 20 year long nightmare of a Christian family

by Jibran Khan
Since the late 1980s Sadiq Masih Zafar and his family have been living under the constant threat of Islamist groups. In 1998, his daughter was kidnapped and seriously injured. Today her sister is being threatened with a similar fate. Despite reporting these threats, the police has never intervened. Lahore Priest: extremists enjoy impunity.

Islamabad (AsiaNews) - For more than 20 years, a Pakistani Christian family has been living in a constant state of fear, the victim of threats from extremist groups and under constant pressure from the radical fringe to convert to Islam. A tragic story in a country increasingly hostage to the Islamists, in which young people prefer Sharia law and the military to the democratic model proposed by the West and branded as "corrupt." In recent times, threats and pressures against the Zafar family have increased. And the father has been forced to lock one of his daughters indoors for fear she will become a victim of kidnapping, as was the case in 1998 when her older sister was abducted and subjected to torture.

Sadiq Masih Zafar, born in Muridke, a town in the district of Shaikhupur, in the province of Punjab, was appointed to oversee the construction of a church between 1988 and 1989, by the Lahore Church Council that had previously purchased the land. Since then Islamic extremist groups have showered him with threats and injunctions, ordered him to stop building places of worship and convert - with his family members - to Islam.

In 1990, a raid of fanatics led to the demolition of the structure and the confiscation of the land. In the context of the assault, the Islamists also violently attacked Zafar and some relativesHis reporting of the incident to police proved futile, who closed the case without proceeding to any investigation. A similar result, a few months later, when the man filed a complaint against the daily threats of fundamentalists who want him to convert to Islam.

In 1998, Zafar's daughter, Sarwat Naheed was kidnapped while returning home and subjected to violence and torture that resulted in the breaking of her legs and deep wounds to the head. The girl also had signs of strangulation and was found abandoned and unconscious in a field. A few days later his son Azeem Zafar was stopped by a group of people, who beat him up.

These two incidents prompted the Zafar family to flee to Lahore, in search of a quiet place. However the extremists hunted them down, and discovering their new home, continued to threaten them with death. On 27 March 2004 the threats became facts: masked men burst into the house and took the family members hostage, threatening them with death. The raid ended with no casualties or injuries, but even this time the police refused to open an investigation.

After a few years of relative calm, the nightmare of the extremist threat returned to haunt the Zafar family, forcing the father to isolate his daughter Asma Tosheeba at home for fear that she too could be kidnapped by criminals and suffer the same violence as her brother and sister. Speaking to AsiaNews, Fr. Suleman John, priest and activist in Lahore, appeals to the authorities to protect the safety of the family. "It's a very serious case - says the priest - and result of religious intolerance. Extremists do what they want, knowing they will go unpunished. Punjab remains the epicenter of sectarian persecution."

Pakatan and Hindraf - the missed opportunity

COMMENT I attended a Hindraf dinner a few weeks ago at which they explained their blueprint for GE13. After the presentation, I posed the hypothetical question which seemed a likely scenario: “What if the BN embraces your blueprint? What then?”

P Waythayamoorthy’s reply was “We would rather Pakatan Rakyat accepts our blueprint after all we have gone through under BN since Independence…,” or words to that effect.

Well, now the election has been called and what is the scenario? BN is at the point of embracing Hindraf’s blueprint, whether in toto or in part.

What is politically bewildering is that Pakatan has rebuffed Hindraf and has not included the proposals from the blueprint in its manifesto or that challenges the institutional racism (in particular, the NEP) that has been part of BN policy since 1971.
The rationale was that Hindraf’s blueprint was based on race while Pakatan's manifesto was based on need of all classes.

After Hindraf’s criticism of the Pakatan manifesto, the Indian Malaysian leaders in Pakatan gave the lame excuse that they were not in the drafting committee of the manifesto. This was hardly convincing, while giving the public a poor image of the way in which policies are made within Pakatan.

Soon after that, the DAP saw fit to include several proposals from Hindraf’s blueprint in its post facto ‘Gelang Patah Declaration”’ and after it did that, Hindraf accused the DAP of plagiarising the blueprint.

The bizarre and total inconsistency of this Gelang Patah Declaration is the fact that it was promulgated as a DAP rather than a Pakatan policy statement.

Why wasn’t it a Pakatan declaration? Is the declaration only acceptable by the DAP but not PKR and PAS? Why was this not ‘racist’ when Pakatan had said that the Hindraf blueprint was racist? Politically, it looked ridiculous while providing more grist for BN fire against Pakatan.

Whatever happens to this blossoming BN-Hindraf romance, we will have to see if the union is eventually solemnised. It should not if the Hindraf leaders have any political nous and honesty regarding Umno’s cynical use of institutional racism through its 56-year reign, which is the root cause of national oppression of the ethnic minorities.

If BN can accept Hindraf’s blueprint, something’s wrong with the blueprint

I have pointed out previously that the main failure in Hindraf’s blueprint is its failure to demand the eradication of institutional racism.
I have shared several fora with Hindraf leaders at which we have condemned institutional racism in Malaysia. And despite their efforts in recent years highlighting the entrenchment of racial discrimination in the constitution, I am surprised that the Hindraf blueprint does not call for the abolition of the NEP.

Pakatan cannot claim to be holier than thou because it does not condemn this institutional racism or announce readiness to abolish the NEP in its manifesto.

Change approach

Any corrective action in all economic and education policies must be based on need or sector or class and not on race with priority given to indigenous people, marginalised and poor communities.

Since its blueprint extols human rights, Hindraf should put forward its demands for all minorities and not just the Indian Malaysian community. Thus we find a gaping ‘disconnect’ between Hindraf’s noble challenge to racial discrimination entrenched in the constitution and its ‘Indians only’ proposals.

And because the blueprint is couched in terms of ‘Indian demands’ as MIC has traditionally done, it is easy for BN to accede to the blueprint. In fact, it is back to the quintessential ‘Alliance formula’ of 1957 except that BN will then (if they accept Hindraf) have a new associate tagged onto the MIC.

I have also earlier pointed out that to be consistent in its human rights stand, Hindraf should also urge:

• Repeal of Amendment (8A) of Article 153 that was passed during the state of emergency in 1971 and was not in the original 1957 federal constitution;

• Institutionalising means testing for any access to scholarships or other entitlements;

• Implementing merit-based recruitment in the civil and armed services;

• Enacting an Equality Act to promote equality and non-discrimination irrespective of race, creed, religion, gender or disability with provision for an Equality and Human Rights Commission;

• Institutionalising equality and human rights education at all decision-making levels, including state and non-state actors/institutions; and

• Ratifying the Convention on the Eradication of Racial Discrimination.

If the Hindraf blueprint was couched in these human rights terms, do you think BN would accept it? Certainly not, because BN has always been a ‘racial formula’. The coalition is the sum of its racialist parts - Umno, MCA, MIC and associates”.

Core issue

Is Pakatan suffering from a mental block on the national question? Why is it averse to coopting Hindraf’s blueprint, thereby losing the opportunity of an historic alliance with Hindraf? Is it because Pakatan is more purist than BN on the national question?

I don’t think so because, if the Pakatan manifesto can take into account Felda settlers, there is no reason why it cannot make considerations for displaced plantation communities or the stateless, among others, that are in the post facto Gelang Patah Declaration. The DAP, as usual, are ‘wise after the event’, a euphemism for opportunism!

Or could it be that incorporating Hindraf’s proposals would pose a threat to the jostling for seats among the Indian leaders in Pakatan? If this realpolitik is indeed one of the reasons for the Pakatan-Hindraf fallout, it is a let down of serious proportions for all Malaysians who hope for change in GE13.

And having been spurned by the Pakatan manifesto, we could only expect the fury of the Hindraf backlash against the DAP’s ‘plagiarism’.

No, in the end it boils down to Pakatan’s failure to come to terms with the national question, and that involves taking a stand on the NEP.

Isn’t it time for real change that will set our nation on a new footing of reconciliation and reconstruction, when we are no longer divided into ‘races’ and progressive policies can be put in place to help the truly needy?

Alas, I am afraid the ‘Ubah’ in Pakatan does not go far enough. (And I would ask all the homespun political philosophers to spare me their pearls of wisdom about the ‘pragmatic’ reasons for ‘not frightening the Malays’ in GE13).

Ultimately, a nation that is unequal can never be free or be at peace. Hindraf has already announced that it will be fielding candidates in several seats. Likewise, Pakatan’s ambivalence toward the left, namely PSM, will likely see three-corner contests in those constituencies that PSM contests.

I am afraid this historic non-compromise between Pakatan and Hindraf in GE13 will probably go down in Malaysian history as one of the most unfortunate missed opportunities in the overthrow of BN rule.

---

DR KUA KIA SOONG is director of human rights NGO Suara Rakyat Malaysia, a former member of parliament and former principal of New Era College, Kajang.

PAS says will field non-Malays in GE13 despite difficulties

SHAH ALAM, April 8 – PAS today gave a committment that it will field non-Muslim candidates in Election 2013 despite saying that it faced difficulties finding suitable seats for them.

Its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today that seat allocations talks with its allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was virtually complete but most of the seats deemed suitable for the party’s non-Malay candidates had been taken up by the DAP or PKR.

“There will be (non-Muslims), we are working towards it and inshallah, there will be non-Malay candidates,” he told reporters after attending a dialogue on PAS’ “welfare state” push here.

“The problem is a lot of the non-Muslim majority seats have been taken up by other parties but we will look for suitable seats,” Hadi (picture) said.

Three days ago PAS’s Hu Pang Chow had confirmed that he would likely be contesting in Ayer Hitam, a MCA stronghold in Johor, but said that he is still waiting for the Islamist party’s official confirmation and announcement.

“I was told by PAS central committee, ‘get ready to contest in Johor for Parliament seat’,” Hu, 58, leader of the PAS Supporters Congress (PSC), told The Malaysian Insider.

“Likely in Ayer Hitam but I’m still waiting for the official letter,” added the Kedah-born Chinese, who has a few decades of experience as a campaign worker under his belt, but will be contesting for the first time.

If fielded in Ayer Hitam, Hu will have to face off against MCA Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong, who has proved popular in the Malay-majority seat, twice beating PAS candidates by a strong margin of 15,763 votes and 13,909 votes in the 2004 and 2008 elections respectively.

Hu also said three other PSC members will be contesting in Election 2013, with PSC women chief Kumutha Rahman going for a state seat in Johor, an Iban in a parliamentary seat in Sarawak and a PSC central committee leader in a Malacca state seat, with the latter two also first-time candidates.

PAS appears to be banking on its non-Muslim candidates to broaden its support base in Election 2013, with the party’s election director saying that the move will signal to voters that the party is “open and democratic” and supported by Malaysians of different races.

Hu, and other Muslim leaders in PAS had said that they were confident of strong support from the Malays.

“There’s no reason for them to give their votes to a Chinese-based party, MCA,” he said, before indicating that he will be riding on Chinese voters’ anger against the MCA and Barisan Nasional (BN).

“I will get at least 70 per cent of Chinese votes,” he said, saying that he will explain to the community the slogan of “PAS for all”, insisting “there’s no conflict between the Islamist party and Chinese voters”.

Blogger Papagomo to stand against Anwar

The blogger says he is contesting so that he can expose more alleged sex tapes of Anwar.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, who blogs as Papagomo, will contest as an independent candidate against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in Permatang Pauh constituency.

Wan Muhammad Azri also promised to expose more alleged sex videos of Anwar during the campaigning period.

NGO Nadi Rakyat Malaysia president Mohd Rafi Awang Kechik, who represented Wan Muhammad Azri at a press conference today, read out a text message of Wan Muhammad Azri which declared his intention to stand in the election.

Wan Muhammad Azri said he decided to contest because the opposition leader has refused to step down despite repeated call from “all quarters” including former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom the blogger warmly referred to as his source of inspiration.

“Though my defeat is almost certain, at least it will provide an opportunity for Permatang Pauh electorate to better know who Anwar Ibrahim is,” he said.

Mohd Rafi said Wan Muhammad Azri was absent today because he “was not ready” to appear in public just yet.

“He will show up on nomination day, and after that he will start campaigning in the constituency using my NGO machinery” he said.

Wan Muhamad Azri had previously produced a series of lewd photos and videos depicting a man resembling Anwar in various sexual acts.

Anwar always maintained that he is not the man in the photos and videos, and has recently filed a suit against the blogger in court.

PKR at a press conference recently accused the blogger of being a phantom voter and a former policeman convicted for bribery offences.

Showing true colours


Mohd Rafi said Wan Muhammad Azri would be releasing many videos which “may be recorded” in Johor or Penang.

“Anwar has been cheating the orang kampung; now election is a suitable platform to show the people his true colours,” he said.

When asked whether Wan Muhammad Azri’s candidacy will spoil BN’s votes in Anwar’s favour, Mohd Rafi said they would have their strategy.

“But what is more important is to expose Anwar’s true character,” he said.

Mohd Rafi also disagreed that Wan Muhammad Azri’s bribery convictions would tarnish his image as a candidate.

“Anwar has been jailed for six years, what is the difference? Papa Gomo was only jailed for two weeks,” he said.

Pengundi India tolak calon HRP di Kota Raja

Kebanyakan penyokong Hindraf di kawasan tersebut kecewa kerana kehadiran Uthayakumar hanya untuk memecah undi

SHAH ALAM: Hasrat pemimpin Parti Hak Asasi (HRP) P Uthayakumar untuk memiliki kerusi Parlimen Kota Raja tidak mungkin tercapai kerana majoriti pengundi India di situ menolak kepimpinannya.

Ketua Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS (DHPP) Selangor S Letchumanan berkata, kebanyakan penyokong Hindraf di kawasan tersebut kecewa kerana kehadiran Uthayakumar hanya untuk memecah undi Pakatan Rakyat.

“Banyak penyokong naik marah dan koyak banner dia,” katanya dalam sidang media di Pejabat Parlimen Shah Alam di sini hari ini.

Menurut Letchumanan, Uthayakumar pernah meminta bantuan kepadanya menjadi orang tengah untuk meminta PAS memberikan kerusi Parlimen Kota Raja dan PKR bagi kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Seri Andalas.

Katanya, Uthayakumar bertegas tidak mahu ke tempat lain kerana yakin beliau mampu menang hanya berdasarkan pengundi India.

“Kota Raja mempunyai bilangan pengundi India paling ramai di Malaysia sebab tu dia yakin boleh pecahkan undi,” katanya.

Tidak selari

Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam Khalid Samad berkata, Pakatan Rakyat sukar menyokong Uthayakumar sebagai calon kerana tidak selari dengan perjuangan mereka.

“Kita bukan memperjuangkan hanya satu kaum jadi perjuangan mereka sukar nak diselarikan dengan Pakatan Rakyat,” katanya.

Uthayakumar dilaporkan akan bertanding di dua kawasan tersebut menggunakan slogan “Undi MP Hindraf Pertama ke Parlimen” dan “Peluang Terakhir Hantar Calon Hindraf Pertama ke Parlimen”.

Tindakan beliau itu bagaimanapun mendapat pelbagai respon kerana melihat ia akan memecahkan undi sekaligus membuka laluan mudah untuk calon pihak ketiga, Barisan Nasional (BN) meraih undi majoriti.

Sementara itu, Pesuruhjaya PAS Selangor Dr Abdul Rani Osman berkata calon Parlimen dan DUN Selangor akan diumumkan esok sejurus selepas selesai Mesyuarat Tertinggi PAS Pusat.

Katanya, PAS Selangor akan kekal dengan status quo dengan meletakkan 20 calon DUN dan 7 calon Parlimen bertanding Pilihanraya Umum (PRU) 13 nanti.

DAP to reduce Indian MPs?

DAP has been accused of sidelining its Indian leaders by reducing the number of MP seats to be given to them for the GE.

PETALING JAYA: Indian leaders in DAP are deeply concerned and worried that the party would reduce the number of seats given to them for the coming general election.

Their fear stems from movements within the party to allocate seats, especially parliamentary seats, to parachute candidates and new faces who are mostly Chinese.

The Indian leaders who spoke to FMT on condition of anonymity for fear of party reprisal said todate the party has not made any moves to dispel their fears.

“Instead, based on what we are hearing and seeing, it looks clear that the party leadership is seriously thinking of dropping some of the incumbent Indian MPs,” said a party leader.

The leaders told FMT that the DAP leadership could only offer four to five MP seats at most to Indian leaders, including to the incumbents.

“Parliamentary seats that could be taken back to be given to non-Indian candidates include Batu Kawan, Seremban, Teluk Intan and Klang,” said the source.

Batu Kawan was won by P Ramasamy, Teluk Intan by M Manogaran, Klang by Charles Santiago and Seremban by John Fernandez in 2008. They are all first-time MPs.

The other MP seats held by Indians in DAP are Puchong (Gobind Singh), Bukit Gelugor (Karpal Singh) and Ipoh Barat (M Kulasegaran).

“The party leadership has been silent on the fate of these MPs. From what we gather, some of them could be dropped,” said the source.

Lost Indian support

However, another Indian leader in the party said not all four of the leaders could be dropped.

“Maybe two, and the other two could be reassigned to contest elsewhere,” he said.

DAP Indian leaders also pointed out that not only incumbents were in danger, but also several grassroots leader who were promised seats and now told that those seats would be allocated to others.

“These grassroots leaders had been working in their respective areas for almost three years, but now they are being told by the party leadership to give way for the sake of party’s unity.

“The problem is that after 2008 general election, the party had attracted so many new faces, mostly from the Chinese community, and now they feel that it is their right to contest in the election.

“The party leadership is also seemingly in support of this move. DAP is proving itself to be just another Chinese party,” said an Indian leader from the party.

Indians were given 10 parliamentary seats in the 2008 general election although only eight were taken up. Of the eight, the Indian candidates won seven, losing only in Cameron Highlands.

FMT learnt that this time around, the Indian leaders had actually asked for 17 MP seats, only to be shocked by the party’s decision to cut it drastically to only four or five at most.

“The DAP leadership realises that Pakatan has lost the Indian support. It has also lost the Hindraf support. As such, they feel there is no need to cater for the Indian community. That is why they are reducing the number of Indian candidates,” claimed a party leader.

“So far they have not announced a single Indian seat that would be contested in this GE. Why the delay if they have no issues about retaining the very least the seven seats won by Indians in the last general election?” asked an MP whose own position in still unknown.

When contacted, a party official said these Indian leaders should wait for official announcement from the party before jumping to any conclusion.

Better chances for BN in GE13, says Dr Mahathir

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says that the Malay votes in Perak are back in BN's pockets.

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad predicted that the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional would have a better chance to regain the states that it had lost in the 2008 general election.

The states are Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Perak and Kelantan. In 2008, BN lost the states and its traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament.

BN took over Perak a year later, in 2009, when three Pakatan Rakyat State Legislative Assembly members quit Pakatan Rakyat to be Barisan Nasional-friendly independents.

“I see [BN's position in] Kelantan as 50-50 similar to Penang. Kedah and Perak are 55-45,” said Mahathir in an interview with Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia.

He based his confidence on BN retaining Perak on the shift of Malay votes back to BN.

“At one point of time, in Perak even the Malays supported the DAP but now the situation has changed,” Mahathir said.

He is also confident that BN would retain Negeri Sembilan as long as there is no infighting.

“To me, Negeri Sembilan is still safe, provided they don’t quarrel among themselves. Problems arise when they quarrel but I don’t think they would,” said the former premier who led this nation for 23 years.

Mahathir, however, is not confident of a similar victory in Sabah and Sarawak.

“We still can win but not as many as we did in 2008,” he said.

He also urged voters to vote based on the party, not the candidate.

“Do not hesitate to support the candidate. Do not support because the candidate is my favourite or someone’s favourite. This is a competition between parties, not individuals.”

Pakatan’s missed opportunity with Hindraf

By failing to compromise on the Hindraf blueprint, Pakatan has wasted an excellent chance to overthrow the BN rule.
COMMENT

By Kua Kia Soong

I attended one of Hindraf’s dinners a few weeks ago at which they explained their blueprint for the 13GE.

After the presentation, I posed the hypothetical question which seemed like quite a likely scenario: “What if the BN embraces your blueprint? What then?”

Waythamoorthy’s reply was clear: “We would rather Pakatan accepts our blueprint after all we have gone through under BN since Independence…” or words to that effect.

Well, now the election has been called and what is the scenario? BN is at the point of embracing Hindraf’s blueprint, whether in toto or in part.

What is politically bewildering is that Pakatan has rebuffed Hindraf and has not included any proposals from the blueprint in their manifesto or that challenges the institutional racism (in particular, the NEP) that has been part of BN policy since 1971.

The rationale was that Hindraf’s blueprint was based on race while their manifesto was based on need of all classes.

After Hindraf’s criticism of the Pakatan manifesto, the Indian leaders in Pakatan gave the lame excuse that they were not in the drafting committee of the Pakatan manifesto.

This was hardly convincing, while giving the public a poor image of the way in which policies are made within the Pakatan coalition.

Soon after that, the DAP has seen fit to include several “pro-Indian” proposals in their post facto “Gelang Patah Declaration” and after they had done that, Hindraf accused the DAP of plagiarising from their blueprint.

The bizarre and total inconsistency of this Gelang Patah Declaration is the fact that it was promulgated as a DAP rather than a Pakatan policy statement!

Why wasn’t it a Pakatan declaration? Is the declaration only acceptable by the DAP but not PKR and PAS?

Why was this not “racist” when the Pakatan had said that the Hindraf blueprint was racist? Politically, it looked ridiculous while providing more grist for BN fire against the Pakatan coalition.

Hindraf accepting BN

Whatever happens to this blossoming BN-Hindraf romance, we will have to see if the union is eventually solemnised.

It should not if the Hindraf leaders have any political nous and honesty regarding Umno’s cynical use of institutional racism through their 56 year reign, which is the root cause of national oppression of the ethnic minorities.

If BN can accept Hindraf’s blueprint, something’s wrong with the blueprint.

I have pointed out in an earlier article that the main failure in Hindraf’s blueprint is its failure to demand the eradication of institutional racism.

I have shared several fora with Hindraf leaders at which we have condemned institutional racism in Malaysia. And despite their efforts in recent years highlighting the entrenchment of racial discrimination in the constitution, I am surprised that the Hindraf blueprint does not call for the abolition of the “New Economic Policy”.

Pakatan cannot claim to be holier than thou because neither does Pakatan condemn this institutional racism and announce their readiness to abolish the NEP in their manifesto.

Any corrective action in all economic and education policies must be based on need or sector or class and not on race with priority given to indigenous people, marginalised and poor communities.

Since their blueprint extols human rights, Hindraf should put forward their demands for all minorities and not just the Indian community.

Thus we find a gaping “disconnect” between Hindraf’s noble challenge to racial discrimination entrenched in the constitution and their “Indians Only” proposals in the blueprint.

And because the blueprint is couched in terms of “Indian demands” as MIC has traditionally done so, it is easy for BN to accede to their blueprint.

In fact, it is back to the quintessential “Alliance formula” of 1957 except that BN will then have a new associate tagged onto the MIC.

I have also earlier pointed out that to be consistent in their human rights stand, Hindraf should also call for:

the repeal of Amendment (8A) of Article 153 that was passed during the state of emergency in 1971 and was not in the original 1957 federal constitution;

institutionalising means testing for any access to scholarships or other entitlements;

implementing merit-based recruitment in civil & armed services;

enacting an Equality Act to promote equality and non-discrimination irrespective of race, creed, religion, gender or disability with provision for an Equality & Human Rights Commission;

institutionalising equality and human rights education at all decision-making levels, including state and non-state actors/ institutions;

ratifying the Convention on the Eradication of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

If the Hindraf blueprint was couched in these human rights terms, do you think BN would accept it?

Certainly not because BN has always been a “racial formula”, the coalition is the sum of its racialist parts – “Umno, MCA, MIC and associates”.

Is Pakatan suffering from a mental block?

But why is Pakatan averse to coopting Hindraf’s blueprint and now losing the opportunity of a historic alliance with Hindraf?

Is it because Pakatan is more purist than BN on the national question? I don’t think so because if the Pakatan manifesto can take into account “Felda settlers”, there is no reason why it cannot make considerations for “displaced plantation communities” or “the stateless”, etc. that is in the post facto Gelang Patah declaration.

The DAP, as usual, are “wise after the event”, a euphemism for opportunism!

Or could it be that incorporating Hindraf would pose a threat to the jostling for seats among the Indian leaders in Pakatan?

If this “realpolitik” is indeed one of the reasons for the Pakatan-Hindraf fallout, it is a let-down of serious proportions for all Malaysians who hope for change in the 13GE.

And having been spurned by the Pakatan manifesto, we could only expect the fury of the Hindraf backlash against the plagiarism by DAP.

No, in the end it boils down to Pakatan’s failure to come to terms with the national question, and that involves taking a stand on the NEP.

Isn’t it time for change? Isn’t it time for real change that will set our nation on a new footing of reconciliation and reconstruction, when we are no longer divided into “races” and progressive policies can be put in place to help the truly needy?

Alas, I am afraid the “Ubah” in Pakatan does not go far enough. (And I would ask all the homespun political philosophers to spare me their pearls of wisdom about the “pragmatic” reasons for “not frightening the Malays” in this 13GE!)

Ultimately, a nation that is unequal can never be free or be at peace. Hindraf has already announced that they will be putting up candidates in several seats.

Likewise, Pakatan’s ambivalence toward the left, namely PSM, will likely see three-corner contests in those constituencies that PSM will be contesting.

I am afraid this historic non-compromise between Pakatan and Hindraf in the 13GE will probably go down in Malaysian history as one of the most unfortunate missed opportunities in the overthrow of BN rule.

Kua Kia Soong is human rights watchdog Suaram’s advisor

Ex-IGP: Enough evidence to reopen Bala's SD2 probe

There is sufficient evidence to reopen the investigation into private investigator P Balasubramaniam's second statutory declaration (SD2), former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan said today.

"The person involved, I think this is new evidence... If there is new evidence then investigations should be re-opened," Musa told a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

He said this when asked for his evaluation whether the claim by lawyer Americk Sidhu (right) that Cecil Abraham was responsible for Balasubramaniam's second SD was enough to re-open police investigation into the matter.
Malaysiakini had approached Cecil but the senior lawyer had declined to comment.

Balasubramaniam's second SD, which disclaims his first one signed a day earlier that links now caretaker premier Najib Abdul Razak to murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, was said to have been drafted under duress.

Musa's successor, current IGP Ismail Omar, had said police would not re-open the investigation if it was "something old being said in a new way", unless there truly was new evidence.

"I don't know what he meant when he said ‘old things said in a new way'. But why not (re-open investigation)? There is new evidence," Musa said.
On a separate matter, Musa (right in photo) noted that there had been an increased in public shootings.

“There were random shootings in Johor Baru, people eating at a restaurant in Penang were shot at, in Seremban, a police officer’s house was shot at, I view this very seriously. If it’s so easy to shoot people, then we’re becoming like Mexico,” he said.

He added this frequency of public shootings was not seen during his tenure.

Asked if he had an explanation, he replied: “If you let illegal activities spread, of course you will face more (gang) fights for territory until they become emboldened that they are daring enough to attack the police.”

“As long as activities like gambling, prostitution, human trafficking, gangsterism, loan sharks are allowed to rule, eventually they will not be afraid of police any more,” he added.

Musa acknowledged that there could also be weaknesses in curbing arm smuggling that led to possession of these weapons.

'Intelligence failure'

On another matter, Musa said the police should investigate claims that there were local politicians involved in the Lahad Datu incursion by Filipino intruders.

“Investigation should be done, there should be proof, just simply making accusations is inappropriate, that would be slander,” he said.

Weighing in on the conflict, Musa said it was well-managed, albeit being delayed too long by the government.

However, he said ultimately, there was an intelligence failure that allowed the intruders to penetrate the country’s borders.

“I don’t know if the Special Branch received any information beforehand, but failure to act even if there is such information still counts as an intelligence failure.

“For example, the Americans had intelligence that the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbour but they did not believe and did not act on it, therefore there was an intelligence failure,” he said.

Musa urged the formation of a committee to investigate how eight police officers were killed during the clashes in Sabah.

“Section 39 of the Police Act requires an investigation committee to be formed when there is loss of life or accidents among the police force, be it on duty or off duty or when there is loss of government property.

“This should be set up so that it will serve as a lesson and will not happen again,” he said.

27 Years Later…Electoral Reforms Still Remain But An Illusion For The MCA?

by Martin Jalleh

Honour And Dignity Cannot Be Bought, Says Najib

PUTRAJAYA, April 8 (Bernama) -- Honour and dignity cannot be bought though there are those who make all kinds of promises, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The prime minister said that even if a person had lost everything, people would still respect him or her because of the principle of loyalty.

"Maybe two or three may have gone astray to become opposition candidates, but the majority is with us. I know who are to be fielded (in the general election) on the other side.

"I know their background and I know why (they have opted to go across). Actually, they have problems. Everyone in MINDEF (Ministry of Defence) knows," he said in an apparent reference to several retired senior army officers who may be fielded as opposition candidates in the coming general election.

"The Westerners say you come to the office with honour and dignity and you leave the office with honour and dignity.

"Honour and dignity cannot be bought even if people promise all sorts of things. Respect accorded to us by the people cannot be bought. That is why we must have principles in our struggle, we must safeguard our honour," he said when addressing a get-together of government retirees at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), here.

Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Dr Ali Hamsa, Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Datuk Mohamad Zabidi Zainal, Putrajaya Corporation president and president of the Senior Government Retirees Umno Club Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat were also present at the event.

More than 3,000 retirees, comprising those from the military, police, Prisons Department and Immigration Department from all over the country, attended the event. There are about 700,000 retirees in the country.

Najib said retirees, as experienced and knowledgeable individuals, would better understand that the future of the country could not be gambled away or experimented with.

"If we make the wrong choice, we will suffer, and not only us but also our children and grandchildren. This does not mean that it is mandatory for us to support the government, but we want to support because it is the best choice," he said.

Najib said the opposition could not be trusted because of its inconsistent talk and direction. For example, he said, it had proposed auctioning off Putrajaya at one time but now coveted the federal government administrative centre.

"Inconsistency in direction can lead to chaos in the national administration," he said.

Najib said that if the Barisan Nasional (BN) helmed by him was returned with a huge majority, the country would achieve more success and the deeds of the retirees would not be forgotten.

He said the current minimum two per cent annual increment in pension enjoyed by retirees could be raised depending on the financial capability of the government.

"Rest assured. If you support the government of today, we will chart more success. I will work even harder. I give the undertaking to work wholeheartedly with all my strength," he said.

Live – Ambiga, Simon Sipaun discuss what’s at stake (Video)

Ambiga and Simon Sipaun will be on air at 9.00pm to discuss what’s at stake in the coming general election.