S'gor Umno: Probe canteen whistleblower for sedition

Selangor Umno has urged the authorities to investigate the parent responsible for highlighting the SK Seri Pristana ‘shower-room canteen’ controversy, and to apply provisions of the Sedition Act 1948 against her.

At the same time, liasion committee chairperson Noh Omar (right) also called on the state education department not to act against the school principal because he has “served well”.

According to Utusan Online, Noh said the principal had received death threats because the issue was "twisted" and taken out of context.

The Umno leader also demanded an apology from the parent responsible for this controversy.

"The parent who uploaded these pictures ... does not know the history of the school. The room has been used by students of all races," Noh reportedly said.

He was speaking after a visit to the school in Sungai Buloh this morning, along with Kuala Selangor MP Irmohizam Ibrahim.

Irmohizam said that matters of education should not be politicised as this could lead to parents distrusting the education system.

He claimed that even foreign media had reported the issue "wrongly", as though the country's education system is "weak and lacking in quality".
Conflicting accounts
The issue came to light last week after Facebook photos were posted by a parent who claimed that non-Muslim students are being made to eat in the shower room during recess, in view of the fasting month.

The school, however, claimed that the shower room has been used as a makeshift canteen since March, due to overcrowding in the canteen.

It also said the canteen is being renovated during Ramadan. As such, non-Muslim students have had to eat in the shower room, where tables and chairs have been set up.

Other parents, however, maintained that the shower room was only used three days into Ramadan.

Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan visited the school last Thursday and quickly declared that the issue was resolved by closing the makeshift canteen and telling the school management to allow students to eat in the canteen again.

Ministry to probe 'balik China, India' claim

The Education Ministry would probe the latest allegation concerning a secondary school principal who uttered racist remarks, said deputy minister P Kamalanathan today.

In a text message to Malaysiakini, he said that the matter had come to the ministry's attention and an immediate investigation would be initiated.

"We do not condone such behaviour... If the allegation is true, then action would be taken (against the principal)," he added.

Kamalanathan was responding to Shah Alam MIC deputy division chief A Prakash Rao, who claimed that parents had complained to him about the incident.

Prakash said the principal of SMK Alam Megah had berated her Chinese and Indian students, telling them to "balik India dan China" (go back to India and China).

According to the parents, the principal was furious that the students were making noise during her speech at the school assembly.

Earlier, Gerakan vice-president A Kohilan Pillay called for the principal's dismissal if investigations reveal that she had made those remarks.

He also warned that such remarks, if true, were a symptom of "overt racialism" in the civil service and amongst teachers, which was dangerous if left unchecked.

The latest incident comes hot on the heels of the shower-room canteen controversy at SK Seri Pristana.

Meanwhile, a SMK Alam Megah staff told Malaysiakini that the principal would not entertain queries from reporters.

"(The principal) will not take any calls from reporters as the school has decided not to make any statements through the telephone," she said.

She added that the principal had earlier attended a meeting outside the school and was now waiting for "an officer" for another meeting.

She, however, did not disclose if the officer was from the ministry.

Sanjeevan situation improving, says father

 

After 24 hours in the Serdang Hospital, the condition of NGO MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan, who was shot by assailants on Saturday, has improved, his father said today.

P Ramakrishnan told Malaysiakini that Sanjeevan's condition had improved slightly compared to yesterday but remains unconscious and not fully stable.

However, doctors have said that he is not yet ready for a critical surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his ribcage.

"Doctors have said that they need to stabilise him further, and only when he is fully stable can the surgery be done," Ramakrishnan said, adding that doctors have not given a definite time frame for the surgery to take place.

Sanjeevan, who is said to have been about to expose links between the police and the underworld, was shot in Jempol on Saturday by two assailants after months of death threats and assault attempts.

He was shot in his ribcage and has been transferred to four hospitals since, arriving in Serdang under heavy police escort yesterday evening to finally undergo an operation to remove the bullet.

He is said to be having high fever while remaining unconscious.

Only family members are being allowed to visit him in the hospital now amidst the tight police security.

Fourth suspect charged with Dhamendran's murder

Inspector S Hare Krishnan today became the fourth police officer charged with the murder of N Dhamendran, who died in police custody on May 21.

Hare Krishnan, 40, was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court, under Sections 302 and 34 of the Penal Code, which carry the mandatory death penalty upon convinction.
No plea was recorded.
Magistrate Nur A'minahtul Mardiah Md Nor said the mention date will be fixed upon availability of the post-mortem report, which is expected on Aug 2.

The accused was represented by S Kavita and N Kalyana Sundaram.

Hare Krishnan was charged less than 24 hours after surrendering to the police at the Dang Wangi police district headquarters yesterday morning.

The police have stated that he has been in hiding since June 15, a claim which the accused and his family have since rebutted.

Hare Krishnan has claimed innocence in Dhamendran’s death, alleging he is merely a scapegoat to “protect certain parties”.
Drama outside courtroom

Hare’s partner, Shaarmini Balakrishnan, broke into tears once she left the courtroom, but the drama did not stop there.
Dhamendran’s wife S Marry Mariay, who was present, started shouting at Hare’s lawyers for claiming that he was “never in hiding”.

Dhamendran’s lawyer Latheefa Koya was giving a press conference on Hare’s charge when G Sri Kumar, who is part of Hare’s defence team, intervened and asked Latheefa to stop referring to Hare as someone who was “in hiding”.

“He was not in hiding. So I would appreciate if you stop using that word,” he said.

This prompted Marry to raise her voice, demanding that Hare reveals the culprits behind her husband’s death, if Hare himself was not the culprit.

“They say he was never in hiding. So where was he all this while?” she asked emotionally.

She had to be calmed down by family-members as she walked away shortly after.

Latheefa had earlier questioned the reasoning behind the police not charging Hare along with the three other accused officers on June 5.

“If they can find the homes of 40-odd people who participate in a rally, they can’t find him?” she said, referring to police claim that Hare had been in hiding.

Jaffri Jaafar, Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman, and Mohd Haswadi Zamri Sahari were all charged with a similar offence on June 5.

The offence was allegedly committed between 12.20pm and 5.20pm at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters lock-up on May 21, 2013.

The Hospital Kuala Lumpur pathologist report on May 22 stated that Dhamendran died due to multiple blunt force trauma. His ears were also found to have been stapled.

The police had earlier said that Dhamendran died due to breathing difficulties.

Guru tampar anak murid tanpa alasan munasabah

Anak saya ditampar atas alasan duduk tanpa kebenaran sedangkan pelajar lain diarah berdiri

SEREMBAN – Seorang ibu kesal dengan sikap seorang guru sekolah menengah dari Mantin, Seremban dan mendakwa guru tersebut menampar anak lelaki beliau tanpa alasan munasabah.

Dalam satu sidang media yang diatur oleh Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Nilai, J Arul Kumar (DAP); ibu pelajar terbabit, Tai Wai Sin, 42, berkata anak lelaki beliau merupakan pelajar Tingkatan Satu di sekolah tersebut.

Tai mendakwa kejadian itu berlaku minggu lepas waktu persekolahan, apabila anaknya sedang mengikuti kelas Geografi di bawah guru tersebut. Anak saya ditampar atas alasan duduk tanpa kebenaran sedangkan pelajar lain diarah berdiri.

“Saya dimaklumkan oleh anak saya kira-kira jam 8.45 pagi. Seorang guru wanita yang mengajar subjek Geografi masuk ke kelas untuk memulakan pelajaran.

“Ketika guru tersebut masuk ke kelas, beliau meminta semua pelajar berdiri dan kemudian guru tersebut keluar untuk pergi ke tandas tanpa meminta pelajar duduk.

“Walaubagaimanapun disebabkan kaki anak saya cedera selepas bermain bola sepak, anak saya duduk sementara menunggu guru wanita Geografi tersebut masuk semula ke kelas.

“Sebaik sahaja guru wanita itu masuk dan mendapati anaknya sedang duduk bersama pelajar lain, guru wanita itu menghubungi seorang guru lain.

“Selang beberapa minit datang seorang guru lelaki dan memanggil anak saya keluar dari kelas dan tanya apa yang berlaku.

“Sebelum itu anak saya nampak guru wanita itu menangis. Anak saya kurang fasih berbahasa Melayu, maka dia menerangkan kepada guru lelaki tersebut sambil menggunakan isyarat tangan.

“Tiba-tiba guru lelaki tersebut naik marah dan menampar pipi serta memukul kepala anak saya,” jelas Tai.

Tai berkata guru terbabit berterusan mahu memukul anaknya namun dihalang oleh guru wanita tersebut.

Tai kecewa apabila guru yang menampar anaknya menafikan insiden itu sementara guru wanita terbabit cuba menyembunyikan kejadian sebenar.

“Guru tersebut memberitahu saya anak saya pula yang membuat cerita. Jika anak saya duduk tanpa kebenaran sekalipun, ia bukanlah satu kesalahan yang besar.

“Jika betul anak saya nakal atau buat salah, guru tersebut boleh mendenda anak saya. Tetapi tidak perlu sampai menampar atau memukulnya,” katanya.

Sementara itu Arul Kumar yang juga merupakan seorang bekas guru berkata adalah tidak munasabah untuk menampar dan memukul seorang pelajar di atas kesalahan kecil seperti itu.

“Tidak boleh tampar pipi atau pukul kepala pelajar.

“Hanya boleh rotan di tangan atau kaki, itupun mengikut keseriusan kes disiplin tersebut,” kata Arul Kumar.

Unresolved issue spurs ‘em to go on camping

The meeting between the residents and the housing ministry today on the promised terrace houses to replace the dilapidated flats has not made headway.

PUTRAJAYA: Some 100 residents of Taman Permata flats, Dengkil will continue to camp beside their dilapidated homes after 50 days of doing so in protest of the lack of action from the federal and Selangor governments in resolving their housing problem.

The former estate workers who were evicted from their homes in 1998 to make way for the Putrajaya project are temporarily housed at Taman Permata flats while awaiting the authorities to build the promised terrace houses.

However, their meeting today with the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry was futile despite the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) having declared block 5 of the Taman Permata flats unsafe for habitation last month.

The BN-led federal ministry is supposed to construct the houses while the Pakatan-led Selangor government is to allocate a plot of land for the purpose.

Taman Permata residents’ advisor S Arutchelvan told reporters that the ministry officials only said they have sent a letter to the state, informing that the plot of18-acre land previously allocated by them is not suitable for building the terrace houses.

This is because, the officials said, the plot of land is located at a water catchment area, and that they are still awaiting the state’s reply.

However, when told that the state has announced last week an allocation of another piece of land measuring 30 acres, the ministry said they have not received an official letter on this.

“There is completely no coordination between the federal government and the state government. One party is sending the letter, the other is awaiting the same. So bureaucratic,” said Arutchelvan who is also the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general.

“After this, we have to go to the state to check whether they have sent the letter. This is very unbecoming,” he added.

Some 30 residents have also rallied outside the ministry building today and displayed banners that read “Politics Aside, Make Building the Terrace Houses Priority” and “Leaders in Putrajaya, We Are On the Road (Jalanraya)”.

Block 5 of Taman Permata flats is in a ramshackle condition with cracks appearing on beams and land sinking at the car park area causing a human-size pothole.

The flats are also without certificate of fitness and proper drainage and sewage system.

Some residents, fearing for their safety, have been staying in tents since early June after the local

Parent targets HM; Umno targets parent

Selangor Umno meanwhile wants action against the parent who uploaded photos of non-Muslim pupils eating in the school shower room.

SUNGAI BULOH: A parent lodged a police report against the headmaster of SK Seri Pristina in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, today for taking photographs of pupils who allegedly reported him.

Kumancan Veeriah said headmaster Mohd Nasir Mohd Noor had gone to the school, while he was on leave last week, and taken photographs of some non-Muslim students who he suspected had leaked the news that they were asked to have their meals in the school changing room, near the toilets.

“I am worried about the safety and security of my daughter who is in Year Four. The headmaster was supposed to be on leave. Why did he come to the school and take photos of the non-Muslim students?” asked Kamancaan who is a mechanic.

“The police need to investigate the matter. If anything happens to my child then the police and the headmaster will be held liable,” Kamancan told reporters after lodging the report. He was accompanied by about 10 people.

Last week, a parent uploaded photographs of non-Muslim pupils having their meals in the changing room next to the school toilet.

The issue blew up with various parties voicing their dissatisfaction over the matter. Initial reports revealed that the students were given the space to have their meals due to the fasting month.

However, the headmaster later clarified that the students were asked to use the changing room because the canteen was under renovation.

Photographs of the school and its canteen carried in newspapers showed no renovation work being carried out.

Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan, who then visited the school and donated RM10,000 for extension to the school canteen, said the issue was closed after meeting the headmaster and the Parent-Teacher Association.

Protest planned

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation said it would organise a protest outside the Education Ministry in Putrajaya if the police and the ministry did not act against the headmaster.

Malaysian Tamilian Today secretary K Gunasegaran, who accompanied Kumancan today, said the organisation would organise the protest onAug 15.

“The police must act and be transparent in their investigations. We want answers and results. Please do not just give us lip service by saying we are investigating,” he added.

Sungai Buloh OCPD Supt Junaidi Bujang meanwhile told reporters that the police had wrapped up investigations on the initial police report against the headmaster.

“That (police report against the headmaster for asking pupils to eat in the changing room) has been completed. Now we have a fresh report against the headmaster. We will start work on this immediately.

“Since a report has been lodged, we will leave no stones unturned,” he added.

Umno wants action against parent

Meanwhile, the Selangor Umno wanted the police to charge those responsible for uploading photos of the non-Muslim pupils eating in the school shower room with sedition.

Its liaison committee chairman, Noh Omar, who visited the school today, said the headmaster, Mohd Nasir, had lodged a police report against the parent who had posted the pictures on Facebook for creating tension.

“If possible, I want the police to investigate the headmaster’s report and action taken under the Sedition Act,” he said at a press conference in the school’s canteen.

Noh also urged the police to expedite investigations into the matter.

He also criticised the parent who had highlighted the issue without checking the facts of the matter first.

He said the school administration had resorted to using the shower room as the canteen because it did not have sufficient space for its increasing student population.

“If parents have a problem, they should refer to the PTA and not make a big issue of things like this.

“The parents of the child (who had posted the picture) had just enrolled the child in this school for a week and posted the pictures.

“Surely, she would not have known about the school’s decision to use the shower room as an extension to the canteen in March,” he said.

You have our support, Kayveas tells Hindu Sangam

PPP chief is willing to lend a helping hand to bring about good governance and transparency in the management of the Batu Caves temple.

KUALA LUMPUR: People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas urged the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam to show greater transparency in managing Batu Caves and other temples under their jurisdiction.

According to Kayveas, the Malaysia Hindu Sangam was seeking political support to back them in their call for the Batu Caves temple committee to be transparent in their management of the Batu Caves temple.

“As long it is a public matter, we can throw our support behind the Hindu Sangam,” said Kayveas. “I’m not interested in who runs the committee, but how they manage the temples under their jurisdiction.”

The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevasthanam currently manages the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves, Kottumalai Pillaiyar Temple in Pudu and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun HS Lee.

Last week, The Star reported that several Indian NGOs were unhappy with how the three temples in Klang Valley were being managed and expressed a willingness to work with any party to bring about changes.

They claimed that a change was needed in the current committee to promote good governance and better transparency in the management of the Batu Caves temple.

“Batu Caves is an important tourist destination. It is our heritage and national pride but the way things are being run, maybe it is time for a change. What was good in the old days may no longer be relevant today,” said Kayveas.

As an example, Kayveas suggested that businesses and eateries within the Batu Caves compound be relocated to the perimeters of the area.

“To me, we should maintain Batu Caves purely as a place of worship. Businesses can be located outside the Batu Caves entrance,” he said.

He added that he felt embarrassed during the Thaipusam whereby stalls which allowed to be set up in the temple compound played loud and inappropriate cinema songs.

Uthaya given medical treatment

The Prisons Department refutes allegation that P Uthayakumar was not given proper medical treatment

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prisons Department has denied that prisoner P Uthayakumar is not given proper treatment and facilities as claimed by a certain newspaper and blog.

The Deputy Director of Prison Policy, Supri Hashim said Uthayakumar was a prisoner who was undergoing a jail sentence at the Kajang Prison following a valid court order.

“The subject is not a political prisoner or political detainee as described by a certain party and should not be given special treatment compared to the other prisoners as requested by a certain party,” he said in a statement, here today.

He explained that the place for serving a sentence and rehabilitation, treatment including medical care given to the convict must be based on the stipulation contained in the Prisons Act and Regulation.

“The treatment is given to a particular convict based on the advice and recommendation of the medical officer treating the convict and not based on the personal requirement of the convict concerned,” he said.

Supri said the food and other facilities given to Uthayakumar were based on the recommendation of the doctor who examined and treated him.

Between May 5 and July 23, he had received nine medical examinations and health treatment from the prisons’ panel of doctors and outside hospital because of several ailments he had complained of.

“Like other convicts who need medical facilities, Uthayakumar is also provided the same right, in fact he had received special food as a diabetic patient,” he said.

Supri also advised Uthayakumar’s wife and certain parties against issuing inaccurate statements or that contradicted the actual move taken by the Prisons Department.

He said it was the responsibility of the prison staff in managing the convict Uthayakumar and more than 39,000 other inmates and the department would not neglect their rights and requirements.

- Bernama