Suspected Hands of Al Umma Jihadis in Bangalore blast. Why maximum terrorists are Muslim here?

3 Bangalore blast suspects arrested from Tamil Nadu
Interrogation May Confirm Link To Banned Outfit: Sources….

Arun Dev & A Selvaraj | TNN | Bangalore/ Chennai | 24 April 2013:: Three suspects arrested in connection with last Wednesday’s bomb blast near the BJP headquarters in Malleswaram, were brought to Bangalore on Tuesday morning. K Peer Mohiddeen, 39, and J Basheer Ahmed, 30, were nabbed at a Chennai lodge on Monday night, while Kitchan Buhari, 38, was picked up at the Mattuthavani bus stand in Madurai around 8.30 am Tuesday.

The three men were brought to Bangalore on Tuesday afternoon and produced before the chief metropolitan magistrate who remanded them in 14 days’ judicial custody. Sources told TOIthey were shifted to an undisclosed location where Bangalore police officers are interrogating them.
Sources also said a possible re-emergence of the banned Islamist outfit, Al-Umma, which planned the Coimbatore serial blasts of February 1998 targeting BJP leader LK Advani at an election rally, was seen during the investigation.

While addressing a gathering at the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday evening, Bangalore police commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar confirmed the arrests but declined to answer questions about motive and involvement of a particular terror group.
Another senior officer told TOI that based on the intelligence gathered from the interrogation, the manhunt may continue. “We’re keen on learning more about the motives and modus operandi of these men. We’re certain this interrogation will answer many questions,” he said.

Police sleuths zeroed in on these suspects as the IED used in the Bangalore blast was similar to the pipe bomb-like IED kept by suspected extremists on the route of Advani’s rath yatra near Madurai in September 2011 when he had another providential escape, another source said.

Police said the three men helped the bombers buy the motorcycle on which the IED was placed, adding that Buhari was arrested by Coimbatore police in connection with the 1998 bomb blast case that killed 58 people. They described him as a “hardcore” member of the banned fundamentalist organization Al-Umma.

Buhari was convicted in the Coimbatore bomb blast case and was released from prison in 2008. He was also involved in a few other cases in Tirunelveli after he came out of prison. Mohideen and Basheer are married and with families living in Melapalayam. Basheer works in a real estate office in Tirunelveli. Mohideen sold tea sachets in Bangalore, police said. Basheer, Mohideen and Buhari, had been in touch with the main culprit, cops said.

Boston Muslim Terrorist a Suspect in 2011 Triple Murder.

Boston Bomber ‘Wanted to Defend Islam’

Surviving suspect in Boston bombing says his older brother led the attack, ‘wanted to defend Islam.’

Police stand guard outside the hospital in which Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is held

By Maayana Miskin

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, the surviving suspect in the bombing of the Boston marathon, has confirmed that his older brother Tamerlan was behind the attack, CNN reports, citing a United States government source.

Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a shootout with police last week.

Dzhokhar has reportedly said little to investigators, but confirmed that Tamerlan was the leader and that he “wanted to defend Islam from attack.” The two carried out the attack on their own initiative and were not in touch with foreign terrorists, he said.

CNN’s source noted that the testimony is preliminary, and that investigators will carefully look into all of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s claims in the upcoming days and weeks.

Tsarnaev remains hospitalized for injuries sustained while fighting police during his arrest. He faces charges of using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death along with other terror-related offenses.

White House sources say he will be charged in a civilian court, and not in a military court as an enemy combatant. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen. His brother had filed a citizenship that was put on hold at the request of the Department of Homeland Security.

MIC set to make comeback with renewed aspirations

The MIC is ready to face the 13th general election (GE13) with renewed aspiration and determination to ensure greater victory both for the party and Barisan Nasional (BN).

The 67-year-old party is hopeful that it will be able to bounce back from the devastating 2008 general election outcome, where the party only won three of the nine parliamentary seats and seven of the 18 state seats.

MIC’s new confidence is based on the leadership’s belief that in the aftermath the party has become more assertive, and has been taking a strong stand on issues deemed unfair to the Indian community and solving many longstanding problems faced by the community.

Furthermore, MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam admitted that the 2008 general election was a bitter pill to swallow for MIC and surely, the party has learnt a good lesson since the political tsunami.

“Now, MIC has set a long-term plan and we will maintain the momentum and fighting spirit of party members until polling day. We (MIC) have changed, reformed and delivered.

“We have expressed our inner thoughts so that the government listens clearly and distinctly. The new MIC leadership is committed to continue speaking up on behalf of all Malaysians,” he said in an interview with Bernama recently.

As for the party’s prepartion for GE13, Dr Subramaniam, who will be challenged by Johor Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairperson Chua Jui Meng in a straight fight for the Segamat parliament seat, said MIC president G Palanivel had fielded winnable candidates.

“MIC is also working very hard to garner better support from the Indian community. Nonetheless, we have reasons to believe that the support has improved since 2008. With that, the party will do better than the previous election.

“Whether we can repeat our best election outcome in 2004, that is a challenge, but definitely, we will do better than 2008,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam, while denying any internal sabotage like those witnessed by many parties in GE13, explained that dissatisfaction and dissent could happen in any political party, be it BN or the opposition.

‘Sabotage has not been a problem’

“So far, in MIC’s history, this (sabotage) has not been a problem. Initially, there might be some dissatisfaction but this has never led to sabotage that prevented the party’s candidate from securing victory,” he said.

Political observers believe that although MIC has a better chance in GE13 as compared with GE12 in 2008, this will only happen if MIC’s candidates are seen as open-minded and pleasant people.

“Some areas such as Kota Raja, Kapar and Subang call for strong-willed candidates while strong personalities are needed for constituencies such as Sungai Siput, Cameron Highlands, Segamat, Telok Kemang and Hulu Selangor,” said Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

“If MIC candidates are able to perform better than in 2008, then MIC has made a comeback. But if it fails, the party might have to go through a drastic ‘revivalism’ process to remain relevant,” he noted.

Another political analyst with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, said coordination with good strategy and winnable candidates were the right ingredients for MIC to secure a big win.

“To secure a big win, the machinery must perform in unison, efficiently and effectively, involving MIC and other component parties,” said the dean of UUM’s School of International Studies.

To win, candidates must solve Kota Raja conundrum

GE13 WATCH Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar's decision to contest as an Independent for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat in the 13th general election means that MIC, which is trying to regain a seat that once used to be its stronghold, would need to appeal to non-Indian voters as much as it appeals to Indian voters.

Uthayakumar brings with him a long-standing reputation as a voice for marginalised Indians.

Though he's seen more as a lone ranger due to the separate factions of Hindraf, he looks set to pull some Indian votes in his direction in a constituency which has the largest Indian voter base in the country at 29 percent.

But Uthayakumar, who has admitted that he would be an "underdog" up against MIC secretary-general S Murugesan and PAS' Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, the incumbent here, will have his work cut out in pulling Malay and Chinese votes, which he would still need in order to cause an upset.

He continues to hold traction with the Indian community in Kota Raja, which belong to the lower income group and shares Uthayakumar's sentiments that they are not provided enough opportunities to be part of the mainstream development in the country.

But with Uthayakumar focusing mainly on the plight of the Indians, he is merely relying on the premise that Malays and Chinese in the constituency will support him based on humanitarian grounds.

"In developed countries, the majority takes care of and looks after the minority. It could happen here too," he said, remaining hopeful of an upset - drawing similarities with incumbent Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Samad's feat of winning as an independent back in 1988.

"I want to become a MP so that I can raise a motion in Parliament to criminalise racism and also get Malaysia to ratify the United Nations convention on eliminating all forms of racism," he added.

Murugesan's five pledges

But while Uthayakumar focuses on the Indian voters as he walks from one coffee shop to another conducting small group ceramahs and conversations, Murugesan needs to focus on a larger mix of voters if MIC were to deliver the seat back to BN.

Most of Murugesan's campaign workers, have only recently started work in the constituency - he hosts dinners, futsal tournaments, and events in order to draw crowds and use his appeal as a former TV show host and as a scandal-free leader to gain votes.

He has even come up with five pledges should he be given the mandate to be the MP for Kota Raja - improve public transportation, reduce crime, solve long-standing flood problems, build 5 1Malaysia clinics, and set up government childcare centres.

He is hitching on the popularity of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, perceived to be a popular leader for a largely unpopular government, to be given the mandate. In some parts of Kota Raja, banners appealing for BN votes merely says 'Undilah perdana menteri' (Vote for the prime minister).

What Murugesan does have in his favour are obviously resources and a well-equipped team to handle all of his events and his scheduling.

Najib recently made a trip to Kota Raja to endorse Murugesan and applaud his "pledges", which are emblazoned in huge billboards across the constituency.

Personal touch

But what might work against him is the lack of a personal touch, something that incumbent PAS' Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud definitely does not lack.

When she gets into her car to make some early morning visits to the more remote parts of the constituency which is divided between Klang and Shah Alam municipal council boundaries, she apologises curtly for the reading materials strewn in the backseat.

"Sorry, my car is my home," she said.

Though she said that she had started work from the first day of being elected in Kota Raja five years ago and has visited nearly all the localities here, she's not taking her challengers for granted, not even the other lesser known Independent Azman Idrus, whose posters are hardly visible in the constituency.

She has been sleeping in her office in Sentosa, Klang since nomination day to save travelling time as her family home is in Sungai Buloh, an arduous 45-minute drive away.

"At the end of the day, all votes matter. Not to forget, we have an increase of more than 30,000 new voters here. What worked with the voters in 2008 might not work with the new voters. So I need to meet them as well," she said.

"They (Uthayakumar and Murugesan) are going to pull away my Indian votes, as there are some ardent Hindraf supporters. The other Independent, Azman, is an Indian Muslim. He has a small following, so he will pull some Indian Muslim votes," she added.

But refreshingly, Mariah notes that the campaign period is merely "the last leg of a race".

"I don't think I can do anything spectacular to get people's votes. I think even the Indian voters have the trust in me," she said.

"I never ask people who they support. I serve everyone without asking. And end of the day, Najib is not going to come down and serve this constituency. I'm touching as much base as possible," she added.

'MIC is part of the problem'

Mariah is not a politician who minces her words, describing the pledges made by Murugesan as "bulls**t".

"We have improved the drainage system and have a retention pond to help alleviate the flooding problem. As for gangsterism and safety, MIC is part of the problem. Some MIC leaders are linked to the gangs that roam here."

"We already have a plan sketched out, with the approval with the Land Public Transport Commission to have local public transportation in these districts. There are already two 1Malaysia clinics here, and complaints were receive that these clinics to do not have medicines."

"You can't change everything overnight the moment you become an MP. An MP can only do so much. The central agency also plays a part, along with state agencies," she said.

"I show people why I can't solve certain things. I show them the parliamentary answer to where the MP allocation for here went to. And I tell people go and ask this person for the money, because the money doesn't come to me.

"But if you want to blame me for the shortcomings here, then go ahead," she said, speaking while having breakfast with her constituents.

But much of Kota Raja's unpredictability will come from the huge bastion of first-time voters. There were only 71,887 voters in 2008 when Mariah trounced MIC's then incumbent S Vigneswaran by a whopping 20,751-vote majority.

There are 105,995 registered voters, with 44 percent of them being Malay, 29 percent Indians, and 25 percent Chinese.

Kota Raja also has a heady mix of income groups - from the elite and affluent areas in Kota Kemuning, to the middle-range and heavily Indian-populated areas such as Sri Muda and Sentosa, and also the long barren roads where flocks of cattle are visible on the side of the road such as in Jalan Kebun and Bukit Kemuning.

Though located well within Klang Valley, this is not a typical urban seat where national issues take precedence over local issues - survival and bread-and-butter issues, as Mariah admitted, are what the majority of the electorate here look at.

And there's plenty of work ahead for all four candidates as they are make themselves visible to every nook and cranny of Kota Raja.

Zulkifli Noordin is remorseful, says Soi Lek

SELANGOR BN's decision to field controversial Perkasa vice-chairperson Zulkifli Noordin for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat has been widely criticised but MCA president Chua Soi Lek backs the coalition's choice.

"It's nothing. Zulkifli was (Pakatan Rakyat supremo) Anwar's good friend and used to be Anwar's lawyer.

"He had contested under PAS. He and PAS are very good friends, thus he internalised PAS values and culture.

"But now he is remorseful and repentant (insaf dan bertaubat)," Chua (left) told a press conference while campaigning for Pandan MCA candidate lawyer Gary Lim this afternoon.

On Monday, BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak attempted to douse the anger over Zulkifli Noordin's disparaging remarks about Hindus, claiming that Indians have now warmed up to him.

"There are Indians who have even kissed him already," Najib said.

Zulkifli has apologised for the remarks which he said were made 10 years ago.
Correction made to ads
Meanwhile, Chua said that the correction of the MCA’s Chinese language advertisement of “Vote wisely: 1 vote for DAP, 1 vote for PAS” to “Wrong choice: 1 vote for DAP, 1 vote for PAS” on Monday was not due netizens making fun of it.
                 
In Chinese language, “vote wisely” could be read as “wise vote”.

“We are not doing this for the netizens’ pleasure. The purpose of the advertisement is to disseminate what MCA and BN have done,” he added.

Chua then turned his gun on DAP, criticising the opposition party for promoting “hate politics” by painting BN and MCA supporters as “traitors” to the Chinese race.

Najib mocks Pakatan on hudud dream

While the BN chief mocks Pakatan over their disunity over the hudud issue, Karpal Singh once again rejects agreeing to PAS' hudud plan.

KENINGAU: Najib Tun Razak describes PAS as being naive to believe that the DAP will receive the implementation of the hudud law just because of the party’s willingness to use the moon symbol in the 13th general election (GE13).

The prime minister said that PAS, which is championing for the hudud law, should not place any hope on the pact to implement the law because it was not included in the manifesto of the opposition pact.

“The PAS hudud law is not acceptable to everyone. We are not saying we are against it, but the time is not right under certain circumstances to implement it and there are still many issues that must be tackled.

“But when the election comes, the hudud law is still raised where it is merely an election gimmick,” he told a press conference, here today.

He is here to attend a gathering with the people which was among the programmes during his two-day visit to Sabah beginning yesterday.

Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman, said the matter was not just a question of the logo alone but also the PAS stand and ideology, which appeared to be unacceptable to the DAP.

In this regard, he said the DAP must give a response and clarify its stand concerning the implementation of the hudud law so that the rakyat would not be confused.

In the run up to the nomination day last Saturday, DAP had said that it would be using PAS’ symbol to contest in the general election in the event the Registrar of Societies deregisters the party over its alleged faulty party elections last December. However DAP eventually used its Rocket symbol when the ROS said that it was not stop the party from using its symbol.

No shift in DAP’s stance on hudud

In another development in GEORGE TOWN, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said the party has not changed its stance on rejecting PAS proposed hudud laws to be imposed in the country.

“PAS allowing us to use their party logo does not mean we have shifted our stand on the establishment of Islamic state or hudud laws,” he said at a press conference at his elections operations centre here today.

He said the introduction of hudud laws would mean a system with two laws, “which is impossible to impose.”

Karpal, who is the incumbent Bukit Gelugor MP, said this in response to PAS deputy spiritual leader Dr Haron Din’s statement recently that PAS was confident that the opposition pact, including DAP, would accept hudud law because it was willing to contest using the PAS logo.

“Although PAS has said hudud is only for Muslims, the implementation of two systems will cause conflicts and chaos,” Karpal reiterated today.

“If PAS wants to amend the Federal Constitution, DAP or PKR will not allow it. I don’t think PAS would insist on amending the Federal Constitution,” he added.

Pakatan has failed in Selangor

Meanwhile, commenting on the statement by Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim who conceded that many problems had yet to be settled in the state, Najib said:

“The five-year term was a long time for a leader to administer and resolve the problems of the people in the state.”

“Five years is a long time because if we plan, the first year is the planning stage, the second year is the implementation period and the third and fourth years we can see the outcome,” he said.

Najib, who is also the Selangor BN chairman, said the BN government succeeded in implementing its national transformation agenda by showing its outcome in the fourth year.

“That’s why we were not afraid to table the government’s report card for the people to judge the BN. After five years, Khalid should table his report card instead of asking for (a mandate of) another five years,” he said cynically.

Reject Waytha and vote Pakatan, say Indian NGOS

‘Hindraf is not Waytha’s personal property, it belongs to the tens of thousands who rallied in 2007.’
VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Indian based NGOs, pledging to vote for Pakatan Rakyat candidates in the May 5 election, has accused Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy of claiming personal absolute right over the Hindu group.

“Hindraf does not belong to any particular person; it belongs to the tens of thousands of Indians who rallied in the streets in 2007,” former Hindraf coordinator R Kannan told reporters today after a forum at Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, where the NGOs made their pledge.

“The organisation he registered is called Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia, not Hindu Rights Action Force, which yields the acronym Hindraf.

“It is thus clear that Waytha has no power over the original Hindraf movement.”

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia was registered last month, years after the name Hindraf had been stamped onto the public mind as a movement fighting for the rights of Malaysian Indians, particularly those members of the community who have been sidelined in the nation’s economic and social development.

According to news reports, Waythamoorthy has warned that he would sue anyone claiming a right to Hindraf.

One of the NGOs at today’s forum was the National Indian Rights Action Team (NIAT). Its chairman, Thasleem Mohamad Ibrahim, said the memorandum of understanding signed recently by Waythamoorthy and BN chairman Najib Tun Razak was “nothing but a farce”.

Citing the four points in the agreement, Thasleem said that there was nothing in them that was not covered in a blueprint that MIC submitted to the government in 1974.

Thasleem showed the 1974 document to reporters, pointing out that Waythamoorthy’s demands were already in it. That document was prepared by former MIC vice-chairman K Padmanathan.

“So, what is BN’s point in inking a new MOU with Waythamoorty when it has already received those demands?” he asked.

A Rajaretnam, who leads WargaAMAN, urged Malaysian Indians to vote out BN in the coming election.

WargaAMAN is coalition of 20 civic groups representing Malaysian Indians.

“By fielding Zulkifli Noordin as a BN candidate, Najib has sent a clear message that he is a Perkasa supporter,” he said.

Zulkifli, notorious for his racially insensitive statements, is a vice president of Perkasa, a group that is equally notorious for the same reason. He is fighting PAS’ Khalid Samad in Shah Alam as a candidate sponsored directly by BN instead of one of its component parties.

Rajaretnam also urged the Christian community to vote for Pakatan to show their disappointment with BN for similarly sponsoring Perkasa supremo Ibrahim Ali for Pasir Mas.

Ibrahim came under fire recently following his call on Muslims to burn copies of the Bible that use “Allah” as God’s name and contains other religious terms derived from Arabic.

Petrol bombs hit BN ops centre

An unidentified explosive device went off at a BN ceramah in Penang last night, and early today two petrol bombs were hurled at a BN centre in Sekinchan.

SHAH ALAM: Unidentified people hurled two petrol bombs at the Barisan Nasional (BN) election operations room in Sekinchan near here early today, triggering a fire at the front portion of the building in Parit 9, Baroh, Sungai Leman, police said.

Selangor police election spokesman SAC Hasanuddin Hassan said the 4am fire destroyed some BN flags and banners.

The police found two glass bottles with petrol at the scene but there was no attempt to break into the building, he told a news conference at the Selangor police headquarters here.

Villagers woken up by the incident notified the owner of the building located on private land, he added.

This is the second case of an arson attack on a BN election operations room.

Last night, an explosion occurred near the Nibong Tebal BN election operations room in Penang.

Hasanuddin advised all quarters involved in the 13th general election (GE13) to inform their supporters not to resort to criminal activities in the run-up to polling day on May 5.

He said that since nomination on April 20, the police had launched investigation into 44 minor cases related to the election, such as removing and damaging flag poles and torching and tearing up party flags.

The police also received 14 reports on political ‘ceramah’ held without a permit, he added.

- Bernama

Memorandum of Understanding between Barisan Nasional and Hindraf – Part 1

Much has been said about the signing of the MOU, and a lot of what was said has been in the realm of conjecture as well as emotional reactions to the signing. Hindraf finds the reactions understandable, though it does not share them, which should be just as understandable to the reader.

Hindraf Economic Unit

This is the first of a series of articles which will be released heading up to the Polling day and beyond. The articles are targeted towards Malaysians in general and Indian Malaysians specifically.

The main purpose of these articles will be to set a standard of reference for what needs to be done to uplift the Indian poor. Along the way, the articles will also try to give Hindraf’s perspective on why the MOU has been chosen as the way forward.

Much has been said about the signing of the MOU, and a lot of what was said has been in the realm of conjecture as well as emotional reactions to the signing. Hindraf finds the reactions understandable, though it does not share them, which should be just as understandable to the reader.

Indians make up 7.3% of Malaysia’s population according to the Department of Statistics.

We all know that except in crime statistics, Indian Malaysian do not have a 7.3% share of any cake in this country, be it as a part of the annual budget for education, or job opportunities or business licenses.

If the fact that Indian Malaysians are usually allocated about 1% of the total annual education budget (excluding higher learning) seems fair to you, then read no further. But if it seems a tad unfair, then ask yourself this question: How can this be challenged, and changed?

The same applies to all areas where the Indian Malaysian citizen has been excluded from, or has been deprived of.

How can this unfair state of affairs be challenged, and changed?

This does not only apply to the areas which fall under the control of the federal and state governments, but also in the private sector. As a quick exercise, imagine yourself to be an Indian Malaysian youth, of between 19 to 22 years of age, who is looking for some suitable part time or temporary employment. Now go to a popular job site like asiaparttime.com and see for yourself what percentage of the hundred odd new jobs advertised on that site daily will even accept an application from an Indian Malaysian like you.

The only area where an Indian Malaysian is automatically an equal to any other citizen in this country is when it is time to vote. An Indian vote is counted as one, just as a Malay or a Chinese vote is.

And it is from that position of equality, namely the vote, that Hindraf challenges and changes what is wrong, to what is right.

Now, some of you may say that it is the individual that determines his or her success in life, and not the circumstances that surround the individual’s particular race.

To this, we ask you to do another simple mental exercise. Give away all your possessions, empty your bank accounts and liquidate your investments, sell your properties and start from zero. But before you start, also burn your birth certificate and diplomas and degrees, destroy your passport and mykad and driving license. Once you are standing there with no document which identifies you as so and so, with no money or wealth, with no right to apply for a bank account or a driving license, to make a police report when someone assaults you and leaves you for dead, no means to obtain medical care in even a government clinic, no right to marry or have children, unless you want your children to share your fate, no way to enroll in school or apply for a job, with no right to property or security.

Once you stand there just like a stateless Indian Malaysian does, please show us how you will achieve everything you have achieved so far in life.

Even Einstein would have become a beggar, if he had been born as a stateless Indian Malaysian in this country.

This brings us to the first point from the MOU which we will address.

Statelessness among the Malaysian Indian poor shall be addressed by the following programs:

i) Identify all Stateless ethnic Indians as ethnic Indians without Birth Certificates and Blue Identification cards and those with Red Identity Cards.

ii) Develop Common Sense and transparent proposals to address the problems of Malaysian Indians who claim to have been born and raised in Malaysia but who do not have any documentary evidence whatsoever of their birth and residency.

iii) Develop policies including those that may allow defined local persons of repute who are given official standing to issue Statutory Declarations conveying their opinion that a said stateless person was indeed born and raised in their locality in Malaysia.

iv) Develop streamlined and transparent policies to resolve the large problem of all persons who only hold Red Identification Cards.

v) Differentiate a system that can differentiate legitimate from non-legitimate citizenship applications from ethnic Indians in Malaysia.

vi) Ensure that the common sense and transparent proposals developed should strictly adhere to the provisions of the Federal Constitution.

Point number three simply means this. A retired headmaster, or some other figure of local repute, can make a Statutory Declaration, which can lead to the stateless Indian Malaysian being released from the nightmare that is his nameless condition.

Now, we issue a real challenge to the reader who believes that Pakatan Rakyat is the salvation for Malaysia. Can you guarantee that Pakatan will at least match the criteria listed above, and eradicate the problem of the stateless Indian Malaysian once and for all?

We in Hindraf are not interested in your curses or your personal attacks. The people that lead and make up Hindraf are fighters, and we will take full responsibility to hold Barisan Nasional to what has been agreed in the MOU. What we are interested in is whether all of you who believe that there exists both the political will and moral backbone within the Pakatan Rakyat coalition to address the question of statelessness among the Indian Malaysian, to hold Pakatan Rakyat to the same standards by which we in Hindraf now hold Barisan Nasional.

If you cannot see the pragmatism that is the basis for the question above, then let it be forever beyond you. But if you understand the import, are you then prepared to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that Pakatan does what is right? If your answer is no, then please find other matters to occupy you, and leave the task of bringing the Indian poor to the mainstream development of Malaysia, to those that can.

Vote to ensure a better Malaysia (UPDATED WITH TAMIL VERSION)

Press statement of Group of Concerned Citizens on the General Election

We are a group of Malaysians from diverse ethnicities, religions and backgrounds including military, academic, business, professional and the not-for-profit sector. We have been drawn together by our love for our country and our concern that this general election may see further setbacks in our aspiration for a better society.

Malaysians need a better government and good governance, especially in these tumultuous times of heightened racial discord and religious hatred and extremism.

If we succeed, we can be a modest example for the rest of the world in the way we tackle our racial and religious differences and in our resolve and actions to ensure social justice and the fair distribution of the wealth of our land.

Past governments and politicians have too often failed us by abusing the public treasury for private gain, by concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few, and by debasing our democratic rights. For some years now, we have been one of the top countries in the world in terms of illicit outflows of money. According to Global Financial Integrity, the total 10-year estimate of financial outflow for Malaysia was RM871.4 billion for 2000-2010. No country in the world can afford such a high level of capital flight.

The coming elections provides us an opportunity to exercise our individual and collective right to decide on who will lead this country in the next five years and manage our finances, economy and society in a fair and just manner. If we choose badly we will have only ourselves to blame.

click on picture to enlarge

click on picture to enlarge

We wish to share with voters in this election pamphlet, which is being disseminated throughout the country, our concerns as well as our position on the principles and values that can propel our country towards that better society that we seek and which all Malaysians deserve and can be proud of. We believe that most Malaysians share not only these concerns but also our expectations of the high moral and ethical standards from the parties and politicians that will soon come into power. 

We hope that this election message – a non-partisan one – will be etched in the minds and memories of those who will shortly take political office as well as of all voters so that the promise of moral and good governance is in the forefront of national priority, not just during the election campaign period and particularly on election day but every day during the next four or five years.

Other citizens and civil society organisations wishing to endorse this or a similar message are free to adopt or adapt it, and disseminate in their own names.

Civil society leaders endorsing this message:

Ahmad Farouk Musa
Arshad Raji
Azmi Sharom
K J John
Koon Yew Yin
Lim Teck Ghee
Masjaliza Hamzah
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Ramon Navaratnam
Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh
Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim
S Thayaparan
Zaid Ibrahim

Satu lagi fitnah UMNO tentang 13 Mei untuk menaman rasa benci orang Melayu terhadap DAP; tetapi orang Melayu sudah bersedia untuk perubahan bersama Pakatan Rakyat dalam PRU13.

DAP menjadi mangsa fitnah Berita Harian, akhbar harian kawalan UMNO, hari ini Rabu 24 April 2013 apabila ruangan Rencana di muka surat 25 yang ditulis oleh “Lanang” telah mendakwa, tanpa sebarang bukti, bahawa DAP adalah “parti perkauman yang memperalatkan hak sama rata”. Malah rencana itu menuduh “Masa kempen pilihan raya 10 Mei 1969, DAP ghairah mainkan isu perkauman. Hasilnya sengketa 13 Mei 1969”.

Satu lagi fitnah UMNO tentang 13 Mei untuk menaman rasa benci orang Melayu terhadap DAP; tetapi orang Melayu sudah bersedia untuk UBAH bersama Pakatan Rakyat dalam PRU13. Semakin ramai orang Melayu sedar bahawa DAP bukan pencetus tragedi 13 Mei 1969.

Saya ingin jelaskan bahawa ini adalah pembohongan dan penipuan. Saya telah banyak kali jelaskan bahawa tuduhan itu tidak benar sama sekali kerana DAP tidak mencetuskan peristiwa 13 Mei 1969. Malah saya telah menuntut kepada kerajaan Malaysia supaya membuat siasatan terbuka dan pendedahan awam sepenuhnya tentang rusuhan kaum 13 Mei 1969 kerana masih banyak rahsia yang tidak didedahkan oleh pihak berkuasa. Tetapi sehingga sekarang tidak ada mana-mana pemimpin kerajaan BN yang berani berbuat demikian.

Kemudian, tulisan Lanang itu dalam Berita Harian mendakwa pula “DAP hanya benarkan PAS dan PKR bergasak sesama sendiri di tujuh kawasan. Yang untungnya DAP kerana berjaya melihat Melayu pecah” dan “Akhirnya yang rugi adalah Melayu. Yang berkuasa dan memencilkan kuasa Melayu adalah pihak lain. Kita dapat tulang, depa dapat isi.”

Isu menjadi calon pun mahu dijadikan isu perkauman? Berita Harian bersikap hipokrit kerana isu pertindihan kerusi Pakatan Rakyat hanya berlaku di tujuh kawasan sedangkan ia melibatkan 61 orang di kawasan-kawasan BN! Sehinggakan UMNO terpaksa memecat 58 pemimpin dan ahlinya yang menjadi calon bebas! Malah, orang penting seperti Naib Ketua Wanita UMNO Datuk Kamalia Ibrahim pun menentang parti dengan bertanding sebagai calon bebas di Parlimen Kuala Kangsar.

Beranikah Berita Harian, sebagai alat propaganda UMNO, mengatakan “MCA dan MIC untung kerana berjaya melihat Melayu pecah” kerana 61 ahli BN berebut kerusi menjadi calon bebas menentang BN? Atau adakah Berita Harian hanya berani memfitnah DAP dan Pakatan Rakyat kerana ia cukup yakin bahawa Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) dan pihak polis tidak akan berani mengambil apa-apa tindakan terhadapnya kerana ia adalah alat UMNO-BN?

Rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya orang Melayu, sudah bosan dan marah dengan ketidakadilan dan kezaliman yang berlaku. Mungkin hanya UMNO dan Berita Harian belum sedar tetapi ramai orang Melayu sudah mula condong ke arah Pakatan Rakyat. Kita rakyat Malaysia sudah bersedia untuk UBAH.

Ini kali lah!

PM Calls For Healthy GE Campaign After Arson Attacks

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged all quarters, including political parties, to ensure a healthy campaign for the 13th General Election, following two arson attacks within a spate of 24 hours.

An explosion occurred near the Nibong Tebal Barisan Nasional (BN) election operations room in Penang last night, causing minor leg injury to a man, and this morning, two petrol bombs caused a fire at the BN operations room in Sekinchan, Selangor.

The police, who found two improvised explosive devices at the scene, believed the Nibong Tebal incident was aimed at creating tension in the state.

"Political parties vying for parliamentary and state seats should compete in a healthy manner, in tandem with democratic practices," Najib said on the second day of a whirlwind visit to Sabah.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has asked the police to nab the culprits swiftly because voters might worry about coming out to vote or attend ceramahs by political parties.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar has ordered the police to step up checks and patrols near ceramah locations to prevent a recurrence.

"All political parties are reminded to cooperate and apply for ceramah permits from their respective district police chiefs to enable the police to make early preparations to ensure the safety of all," he said after inspecting preparations at the Perak police contingent headquarters.

Najib, who is BN chairman, returned to Sabah yesterday for his second visit in less than a fortnight, to meet locals including Chinese, Kadazandusun, Murut and Bajau communities in the west coast and interior highlands to campaign after launching the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in Lahad Datu on April 13.

He unveiled a supplementary manifesto outlining development plans of the state in Tenom earlier today, assuring the people of Sabah that a BN government would fulfill its pledges.

Najib also reiterated that the BN government would do all it could to protect Sabah's peace and sovereignty, in the wake of the Lahad Datu terrorist intrusion.

"The BN's commitment can be witnessed through the decisions and actions taken," he said after attending a lunch gathering with the people at the Keningau Sports Complex.

Najib, who is leading BN into the general electon for the first time as prime minister, praised Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan Pairin for his people-first approach and urged the local community to support BN candidates, including Pairin, who is defending the Keningau parliamentary seat and the state seat in his Tambunan hometown.

The prime minister is confident that the people of Sabah would continue to support the BN.

Speaking at a press conference, Najib said the opposition DAP should clarify its stand on the implementation of the hudud law so that the rakyat would not be confused.

PAS Deputy Spiritual Leader Datuk Dr Haron Din said yesterday that hudud laws would be implemented if the opposition formed the new federal government.

Sungai Siput: Jeyakumar rebuts allegations (Video)

Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj’s campaign in Sungai Siput has been blacked out by much of the BN and even some opposition media, making it difficult for him to respond to allegations.


Here he is attempting to dispel criticism that he and his colleagues advocate violent behaviour, discourage religious beliefs and practise racism.

Anyone who knows Jeyakumar will know he is one of the most ethical and upright politicians around, deeply concerned about the impact of neoliberal economic policies on the people.