Pakatan failed to be alternative to Barisan, says Najib

Datuk Seri Najib Razak took a swipe at the opposition today, saying Pakatan Rakyat has failed in its attempt to be the alternative to the ruling coalition.

The prime minister said there is no “viable alternative” to the BN as the opposition has failed to copy the ruling party’s formula in promoting cooperation and mutual respect between all races.

"The opposition tried to imitate us. But in Selangor, the political understanding between the three parties has broken down," Najib said when opening Makkal Sakti’s annual meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Comparing Pakatan with BN, Najib said the ruling coalition has 13 parties and many other parties which it regarded as “friends of BN”.

"We are sincere and we want to achieve our mission together because we believe in power sharing, in the National Transformation policy, one Malaysia and New Economic Models," said Najib.

He said this is what BN is all about despite the accusations levelled at the coalition in social media and in the opposition’s campaign before and after the 13th general election.

"But today what we can see is they tried to be the alternative to BN but they failed," he said.

Najib said for a better future for the nation, there was no other viable option or alternative to BN.

"Imitation goods are not better than originals, originals are way better," he said.

Najib also said that he may not be able to fulfil all “requests” as he has to be fair to everyone.

“I may not able to satisfy and fulfil all but I have to be fair to every party. I have to take into consideration everything before making a decision. There are things that I can do and there are things that I cannot do.”

He said this was the way BN ruled the country.

The prime minister also touched on the goods and services tax (GST) which will be implemented next April. He said if the government raised more revenues, it was easier to help the people.

"Many of us are not paying tax. We cannot afford to sustain our increasing expenses. Our aim is not to burden the rakyat. GST is for the future of the rakyat. The more we make, the easier it is for us to channel aid to assist the rakyat.”

He pointed out that 162 countries have implemented the GST and Malaysia’s rate will be among the lowest at 6%.

"This is our way of managing the country. Having populist policies are not enough to rule the country.

"If we do business, we cannot give everything for free or else we will go bankrupt."

Najib said BN was a responsible party and even though it may not be able to fulfil all requests, it could ensure a brighter future for Malaysians.

Critics of the GST have claimed that the consumption tax would hit low- and middle-income earners but Najib’s administration claimed it was necessary to trim the national deficit.

Waytha betrayed Indians, says Makkal Sakti - FMT

'He didn't understand his job and refused to work with the system.'

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) has accused Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy of betraying Malaysian Indians by refusing to work within the Barisan Nasional system to improve the socio-economic status of the community.

Speaking at a press conference at PWTC today, MMSP president RS Thanenthiran said the former deputy minister had wasted a “golden opportunity” given by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak for him to pursue the Hindraf cause.

He said Waythamoorthy’s short stint in the Prime Minister’s Department was marked by his failure to understand his responsibilities and his adamant refusal to work with the system.

“He failed to understand his portfolio capacity and should have found ways to use the existing internal mechanism within the government system to solve Indian issues,” Thanenthiran said.

“His adamant character not to work along with the system has resulted in his exit.”
He said Waythamoorthy was not proactive in pursuing the interests of Indians. “He never once called other Indian political parties for discussion.”

He also questioned the rationale behind the Hindraf leader’s request for a budget of RM750 million for his department.

Thanethiran ticked off Waythamoorthy for asking Najib to resign, saying the statement was uncalled for.

He heaped praise on Najib, calling him a saviour of the Indian community. “There’s no better prime minister than him,” he said.

“Najib appointing Waythamoorthy into his administration was not a popular choice and he received much criticism for for doing so.

“This shows that Najib was caring for the Indians and had faith in him, but Waythamoorthy has failed.”

MMSP was formed in May 2009. According to Thanenthiran, it has nearly 100,000 members.

Tamil secondary school? DPM put on the spot

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was today put on the spot after he was asked to approve a Tamil secondary school when launching a Tamil literature event.

Makkal Sakthi Party president R Thanenthiran, who was the host of the event, had made the request during his opening speech. Muhyiddin, who is also the education minister, was the guest of honour.

"We have been independent for almost 57 years and there are so many Chinese secondary schools but not a single Tamil secondary school.

"I know Muhyiddin is sensitive and caring to the Indian community. Thus, I believe this request is something he will consider seriously," he said.

Muhyiddin who took the stage later after being garlanded with flowers that reached his feet acknowledged that the suggestion can become a bit of a hot potato.

"About the proposal for a Tamil secondary school, I need to be careful about this since there is already a national education policy.

"Whether a Tamil secondary school is needed and suitable has to be studied thoroughly," he said.

DPM: Vernacular schools will remain

Although Muhyiddin was non-committal about the idea, he did highlight efforts made by the federal government to promote Tamil education, which includes building Tamil primary schools on its own initiative.

He added that he will use his authority as education minister to ensure that Chinese and Tamil schools continue continue to be part of the education system.

"I have included in the National Education Blueprint (NEB) - so long as there is the sun and moon, so long as this government is BN, Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools will remain in the country.

"Do not heed claims that such schools will be closed as it has never been the case and the NEB solidifies their (vernacular schools)  position in this country."

Part of Malaysia's heritage

Muhyiddin said such schools were part of Malaysia's heritage and thus should be preserved.

"Malays, Chinese or Indians, everyone have their mother tongue and are the country's asset.

"They must not be allowed to die and must be defended while the Bahasa Malaysia will remain the national language and English as the second language," he said.

Muhyiddin later officially launched ten Tamil literature books which he suggested to be translated to the national language by the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books.

"So even though I do not know Tamil language, I can still know what the Tamil writers are saying," he said.

The NEB had previously come under attack from Chinese educationist group Dong Zong, which claimed that the plan did not acknowledge vernacular schools.

Makkal Sakti aims to change youths mindset

Party president R.S Thanenthiran said young people need to realise that politics is not something "dirty".

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) will focus on political transformation among the younger generation in the hope of moulding them as effective leaders within culturally diverse communities.

Party founder and president, R.S. Thanenthiran said there was also a need to change the mindsets of young people that politics was not something “dirty” and ensure that more of them would support Barisan Nasional.

“We should mould them to suit our leadership capacity building to achieve goals such as creating a progressive Indian community by 2020,” he sad.

Thanenthiran noted that political transformation of youth would be among the agenda at the party’s annual general meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here today to be attended by about 1,200 delegates and observers.

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is scheduled to open the AGM.

Other issues to be touched at the PWTC gathering are building Sekolah Menengah Tamil in states with high Indian population, helping pupils at Tamil schools and owning a 20-storey building for the party.

-Bernama

Makkal Sakti: Indians' support for BN has risen to 80pct

The Indian community's support for Barisan Nasional (BN) has risen to nearly 80 percent following the BN government under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak always taking measures to improve the lot of the community, besides ensuring peace and prosperity in the country.

Makkal Sakti Party president RS Thanenthiran said the Indian community had largely returned their trust in the BN government as it had fulfilled the promises it made to the people, including solving problems faced by the Indian commmunity.

“The prime minister has given importance to winning back the support of the Indian community by taking various measures such as increasing the number of Tamil schools and upgrading the existing ones, while no Hindu temple will be demolished but the temples are getting tens of thousands on ringgit in aid instead.”

Thanenthiran said this to reporters after the opening of Makkal Sakti's 4th annual general meeting in Lumut today.

Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir who announced a RM100,000 allocation for the party to prepare for the coming 13th general election campaign.

Thanenthiran said the opposition, on the other hand, was trying to divide the Indians and was also only good at making empty promises.

“Pakatan Rakyat had promised to give seven cabinet ministerial posts to Indians (if it captures Putrajaya), but if you look at the Selangor government now, it only has one Indian exco member. I think the Indian community wont' fall for the opposition's empty promises any more,” he added.

Asked about the party's effort to get more Indians to register as voters, he said the party had worked hard including conveying BN's message to the grassroots.

He said Makkal Sakti's membership had now reached more then 100,000 and the party would strive at getting BN to look into the requests made by the Indian community pertaining to economy and education.

He also hoped that the Indians themselves undertake transformation such as getting employed or better jobs to reduce poverty in the community.

- Bernama

MIC, PPP, IPF and Makkal Sakti if they really have dignity as Indians, then they should resign en bloc from BN

SEREMBAN: Port Dickson state assemblyman M Ravi has called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to
consider quitting the Umno presidency over the “hang Ambiga” controversy.

He said Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz’s audacity in calling for the execution of the Bersih leader was proof that Najib had no control over Umno members.
“If he can’t control his own men, then it’s better for him to step down as Umno president,” the outspoken PKR leader said last night in a press statement.

Ravi was one of the latest to join the chorus of condemnation against Mohamad, who uttered the controversial remark in a speech in Parliament.

“If he said that Ambiga should be hanged for organising and participating in Bersih 3.0, then Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Bersih 3.0 co-chairman A Samad Said also should be hanged as they too were involved in the rally,” he said.

“If participating in Bersih 3.0 is an offence punishable by hanging, then the 250,000 Malaysians who participated in the rally, including me, should be hanged as well.

“Mohamad’s remark proves that the prime minister is unable to control his own people.”

Ravi also demanded that Mohamad apologise not only to Ambiga, but also all Malaysian Indians, and he called on Indian-based BN parties to make the same demand.

He said the MP’s speech clearly showed up his prejudice against Indians.

“MIC, PPP, IPF and Makkal Sakti are Indian-based BN component parties. In fact, MIC has claimed that they are the guardians of the Indians. All these parties should pressure Mohamad to apologise to Ambiga and Indians,” the statement said.

“If all these four BN components parties and their leaders fail to do so and if they really have dignity as Indians, then they should resign en bloc from BN.”

Senawang state assemblyman P Gunasekaran of DAP has also accused Mohamad of harbouring prejudice against Malaysian Indians.

He said yesterday that Mohamad and other Umno members should be reminded that Ambiga was instrumental in fighting for justice for former Lord President Salleh

Abas and five other judges, who were controversially dismissed from their positions in 1988. That proved, he said, that the Bersih leader’s passion for justice had nothing to do with race. In 2008, the government made ex-gratia payments totalling RM10.5 million to Salleh and the other five other judges.

Zefry Dahalan – FMT

Makkal Sakti To Help Publish 5,000 Tamil Books

SHAH ALAM, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) will extend assistance to Tamil book writers in the country to publish their works, said its president Datuk R.S.Thanenthiran.

He said the move was in line with Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz's call in wanting book writers and publishers to produce more works in Tamil to enhance the use of the language.

"For a start, the MMPSP through Yayasan Sakti will help publish 5,000 books in Tamil," he told Bernama.

Thanenthiran said all the 5,000 books, comprising novel and poems would be be distributed for free at a function to be held at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya at 7pm tomorrow.

He said at the function, five Tamil book writers would receive cash rewards of RM2,000 each to encourage them to produce more books in the language.

Thanenthiran said the programme was supported by the Prime Minister's Department.

‘Makkal Sakthi’ mantra abused by splinter groups in party

The party's former youth leader says there are three splinter groups within the party and this is confusing its members.

GEORGE TOWN: Depending on who you believe, Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) is in disarray. Its former youth chief N Ramu says all is not well within the party.

Ramu says the party is riven with factions. The splinter groups in the party are led by RS Thanenthiran and A Vathemurthy and now there is a new player -Venason Michael.

He said when MMSP was originally formed by 14 Hindraf defectors in 2009, the party was meant to champion the Indian cause independently.

But now, he said separate factions formed by self-acclaimed leaders have strayed from its original goals.

He said each faction leaders have recruited and appointed their cronies into respective leaderships to strengthen their political positions and bargaining power.

“I am ashamed to say that the splinter groups have messed up MMSP and everyone wants to be the leader,” Ramu told FMT. He was accompanied by former MMSP Penang Youth chief K Apana Raja.

Ramu called on all MMSP factions to either close shop or unite under one umbrella organisation to avoid more embarrassment.

He blasted the faction leaders for hoodwinking the MMSP’s genuine members and Indian community as if they were serving the people.

“In reality they are all untrustworthy and dishonest,” he said.

A new team in the fray

He chided the faction leaders for blatantly abusing the magical mantra ‘Makkal Sakti’ (people’s power), which was Hindraf’s battle cry during the 2007 – 2008 period, to justify their crooked ways.

Shortly after its official launching by Barisan Nasional chairman and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in October 2009, MMSP split into two.

One faction was headed by its founder president Thanenthiran and another by Vathemurthy.

Vathemurthy’s group has also a filed a case in the court to challenge Thanenthiran’s legitimacy.

Thanenthiran’s group has remained Barisan National-friendly while the Vathemurthy faction is now backing Pakatan Rakyat after a brief spell of supporting BN.

Now Venason, a largely unknown former CWC member of the original MMSP, has formed his own faction of the party.

He conducted his faction annual general meeting in Seremban on Sunday. What irked Ramu most is that he has been unwittingly appointed as Venason’s faction CWC member.

“I have nothing to do with it and was caught unaware.I don’t even recognise Venason splinter group,” said Ramu.

Report lodged against Thanendran, ROS

Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party members want MACC to investigate its president and the ROS for fraud.

SHAH ALAM: Embattled Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) members today lodged a report against party president RS Thanendran with the MACC here at Shah Alam, Selangor.

They were led by the party’s incumbent acting president A Vathamoorthy, R Kannan (secretary-general) and Youth wing chief N Ramu.

In their report, they alleged that Thanendran colluded with the Register of Societies (ROS), who they also named in the report, of fraudulently amending the party’s constitution.

Also present were former Hindraf ISA detainee VGanapathy Rao and PKR Puchong divison chief S Murali.

“MMSP was formed by 10 key Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) members to uplift the Indian community and strive to meet their aspirations,” said Kannan.

Just three months into the party’s official launch by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in mid-2009, MMSP was split into three rival camps.

One was led by Thanendran, and the other two by former deputy chief (and a claimant to the top post now) Vathamoorthy and Kannan respectively.

Kannan and Vathamoorthy collectively accused Thanendran of misleading members and also misusing party funds.

According to Kannan, Thanendran and his brother RS Ramesh, a former vice president, spent an estimated RM500,000 on the party’s official launch.

When the MMSP central committee urged Thanendran to reveal the accounts, the latter refused to disclose details of the expenditure.

“When the committee was about pass a vote of no confidence against Thanedran, it also found out that he had colluded with the ROS to amend the party constitution,” said Kannan.

He added that the new constitution amended between Dec 19, 2009 and Jan 4, 2010 gave the party president absolute power to sack and increase the central committee members.

Kannan also accused Thanendran of forging the former’s signature to support the ammendments to the constitution.

“We believe that ROS also played a major role in this matter when it approved the new constitution without referring it to member at the party’s AGM,” said Kannan.

‘Unexplained new-found wealth’

“The ROS also kept mum and did not intervene to resolve the matter,” he added.

Kannan who claimed to represent 12,000 party members said that MACC should move to take action against Thanendran (photo) and the ROS.

Meanwhile, Youth chief Ramu also lodged a separate report against Thanendran over the latter’s alleged ‘new-found’ wealth.

“How did Thanendran, a former Hindraf national coordinator, who was once an odd-job worker become a multi-millionaire within a short period of time?” he asked.

During the Thaipusam festival in Sungai Petani, Kedah earlier this year, thousands of leaflets with details of Thanendran’s alleged wealth surfaced.

His detractors are also claiming that the federal government had awarded hefty contracts to Thanendran for throwing his support behind Barisan Nasional and Najib.

“We want MACC to investigate Thanendran immediately and allow him the chance clear his name,” Ramu told FMT.

Thanendran could not be reached for comments.

‘MMSP, Gerakan derailed efforts to unite Indians’

Former ISA detaineee and PKR member K Vasantha Kumar is upset that a temple in Kedah revoked its permission to hold a Deepavali festival.

PETALING JAYA: Former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee K Vasantha Kumar today accused the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) president R S Thanenthiran and several Gerakan leaders of derailing efforts to unite the fragmented Malaysian Indian community.

He alleged that the MMSP chief and several Gerakan leaders had instigated a temple president in Sungai Petani, Kedah not to give permission for the temple premise to be used for the gathering of Indians, which he had organised.

Vasantha Kumar said in view of the Deepavali celebrations next week, a group of concerned Indians, headed by him, had planned to organise a Deepavali cultural programme on Oct 22 at the Sri Subramnaniya Swami Devasthanam temple.

As a PKR member, Vasantha Kumar said he had also invited the party’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to officiate the event.

“The main purpose of the event is to unite the Indian community, expose our culture and explain the true meaning of Deepavali,” he told FMT.

Vasantha Kumar said he wrote a letter to the temple chairman S Doraisingam on Aug 16 seeking permission for the use of the temple premise.

‘Why can’t we invite politicians?’

In a letter dated Aug 30, the temple chairman agreed to the request but only to rescind the offer in another letter dated Oct 11.

“In a second letter, the temple chairman stated that the temple committee had decided to revoke the earlier permission because the organisers of the event had strayed from its original purpose of uniting the Indian community.”

“The letter also stated that the event would be graced by political leaders and furthermore the event did not have a police permit.”

“This is strange, why can’t we invite a political leader for a Deepavali function?” he questioned.

He further argued that a police permit is not required for national festival celebrations or for an event held inside a hall.

Vasantha Kumar said since the temple was located in the Sidam state assembly seat, which was traditionally contested by Gerakan under the Barisan Nasional’s seat allocation system, several local Gerakan leaders played their part in preventing the event from taking place.

He accused Thanenthiran of playing a “dirty game” behind the scene.

“Recently MMSP was able to assist the temple by giving it RM1 million as allocation from the Prime Minister’s Office. I believe the temple chairman and committee are desperate in trying to please these BN politicians,” he added.

Thanenthiran and the temple authorities could not be contacted.

‘They have no right to question me’

Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party president RS Thanenthiran says allegations that he misused party funds does not stand to scrutiny as it was made by disgruntled party members.

PETALING JAYA: This could very well be a case of sour grapes.

Eight disgruntled and former members of Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) are now accusing the president of misusing party funds.

But MMSP president RS Thanenthiran argued that they don’t have a leg to stand on and he maintained that only party members could question him.

“I’ll sue them. They have no right to question me. Only party members can question me,” he said.

Thanenthiran was responding to allegations made by a coalition of eight NGOs called Anti-Thanentiran United Machinery (Jebat) which is led by former MMSP youth chief, N Ramu.

Thanenthiran also revealed that Ramu was booted out a month after the party was formed.

Jebat is made up of an eight man committee, all of whom were former MMSP state and national level leaders.

“There are allegations that Thanenthiran is squandering party funds as many complained that they have not been issued with receipts for annual party membership payment,” said Ramu.

Earlier this month, Ramu also questioned how central working committee member RS Ramesh had received a license to operate a shipping business in Port Klang. Ramesh is Thanenthiran’s brother.

Ramu also queried about Thanenthiran’s lavish lifestyle and his silence over issues concerning the Indian community such as Interlok and 10 subjects in SPM.

Ramesh said that he has been in business for more than 20 years and all the issues raised were resolved within a year after the party was formed.

MMSP submits war crimes memo to UN

The Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party wants the UN to act on the war crimes in Sri Lanka and Palestine.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) led three busloads of people today to submit a memorandum to the United Nations, urging the latter to act against the war crimes in Sri Lanka and Palestine.

Party secretary-general R Kannan led the group to hand over the two-page memorandum to Devendre Patel, the head of security at the UN office here.

Kannan said the memorandum contained data collected on the war crimes and genocide against the Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka under the government of President Rajapakse.

The MMPSP leader said independent UN reports revealed shocking evidence of numerous human rights violations there.

“Based on the reports, UN can bring Rajapakse and his government to the international court like what was done to Slobodan Milosevic,” he said.

Kannan said MMSP was also concerned about the recent Gaza blockade against UN humanitarian support missions.

“There is a serious need to support the war victims in Gaza for their health and basic needs including food. But the continuous harassment by Israel only makes the situation worse,” he added.

Don’t practice double standard

Also present were MMSP deputy president Vaneson Micheal, Youth wing chief N Ramu and some 80 party members.

Meanwhile, Kannan also urged the Malaysian government to apply pressure on Sri Lanka with regard to the persecution of Tamils there.

As Sri Lanka’s third-largest investor, he said, Malaysia must act against the nation over the cases of war crimes.

“We talk about Palestine and Bosnia-Herzegovina but sideline Sri Lanka,” he said adding that the government cannot practice double standard.

Hindraf Rally planned to be hijacked by Najib Makkal Sakthi Party, UMNO and Police Special Branch.

The Police Special Branch & UMNO plot grants police permit to Najib Makkal Sakthi Party MMSP- to confuse and hijack this Hindraf Rally after arresting the real Hindraf & HRP leaders.

This morning we received a phone call that the Najib Makkal Sakthi Party or MMSP has applied for a permit also for the 27th Feb 2011 Hindraf Rally at KLCC at 9.00a.am.

When Lans Constable Mohammad arrived at our HRP HQ at 12.00p.m. to serve the Letter of rejection of police permit on HRP CEC Member S.Thiagarajan we saw the Najib MMSP letterhead in his file but did not ask why.

At about 2.00p.m. we received a phone call from one of our supporters that the Hindraf Rally police permit has been issued to Najib’s MMSP and not to the real applicants ie Hindraf and HRP.

If true, we believe that this is a top Police Special Branch and UMNO conspiracy to arrest the real Hindraf and HRP leaders way before the 27th Feb Hindraf Rally, create confusion and allow the Najib Makkal Sakthi UMNO Indian mandores hijack the 27th Feb 2011 Hindraf Rally.

Just as they did in the post 25th November 2007 Hindraf Rally by planting even a police Special Branch E3M ASP to emerge as one of the five Hindraf leaders under Ops Padam Hindraf especially to confuse and divide Hindraf. And then turning over the then Hindraf newcomers to lead the Najib Makkal Sakthi Party which was hastily approved within two weeks. We then were not ready with our second line leadership. But today we are.

With unlimited government funds, the Police top special Branch brains and the full UMNO government machinery, UMNO succeeded to a great extent in creating confusion, dividing and weakening Hindraf using their print and electronic media and the three Tamil dailies.

But today we can see through UMNO, their Special Branch planners and plotters and the UMNO Indian mandores. All what we can say at this juncture is today we are far better prepared.

‘Pisang tidak akan berbuah dua kali”.

And 100% of the blame should any untoward incident happen on 27th Feb 2011 Hindraf Rally would squarely be on UMNO and their police Special Branch Operatives, Perkasa, Pekida, UMNOs’ underworld Tiga Line and UMNOs’ Indian mandore gangsters.

Rights Not Mercy.

Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

24/2/2011

Poser over ‘multi-millionaire’ Thanendran

A former Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanendran has allegedly amassed wealth much to the shock of his ex-comrade KVasantha Kumar.

KUALA LUMPUR: How did former Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanendran, who was once an odd-job worker, become a “multi-millionaire” within a short period of time?

It’s a question which is bothering his former colleague K Vasantha Kumar.

Both have since moved out of Hindraf. Thanendran double-crossed Hindraf when Vasantah Kumar and four other Hindraf leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

He aligned himself with the Barisan Nasional (BN) and went on to quickly establish Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP), which was launched by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

According to Vasantha Kumar, Thanendran, who was recently awarded a datukship by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, was planted by Umno to confuse the Indian community.

“He is an Umno plant to confuse the Indians. He succeeded in confusing the community. But my question is, how did he become a multi-millionaire in a short time?

“It is not possible to become a multi-millionaire overnight, especially if you know his background… I want to challenge him to an open debate. Let him clear his name,” said Vasantha Kumar who is with Kedah PKR.

According to him, Thanendran, a son of a plantation worker who at one time was doing odd-jobs to survive before he eventually ended up in the restaurant business, was now rolling in millions.

Millions revealed
Vasantha Kumar said that thousands of leaflets with details of Thanendran’s alleged wealth had surfaced in Sungai Petani during the Thaipusam festival.

According to the leaflet, Thanendran allegedly renovated his house which was worth RM800,000. He is also said to allegedly own a RM1.4 million house in Penang and a Mercedes Benz car worth RM800,000.

The leaflet also disclosed that Thanendran allegedly owned 80 hectares of an oil palm estate in Kedah, a 25-hectare land in Hulu Selangor and another 10 hectares in Bagan Pinang.

It was learnt that the federal government had awarded RM25 millions worth of contracts to Thanendran under his brother Ramesh’s name. Ramesh is also the vice-president of MMSP.
The revelation has shocked Hindraf and members of Thanendran’s own MMSP party which incidentally is mired in internal conflict.

Said Vasantha Kumar: “Thanendran must explain his wealth to the public, especially the Indians.
“He is not from a wealthy background… his family is poor. But today there are allegations that Thanendran is a multi-millionaire.

“I challenge him to a debate. Let him explain to the public and Indians about his wealth.
“I am giving him one week to reply to my challenge. If he fails to reply, I will expose his malpractice one by one,” he said.

"Makkal Sakti will always support Barisan Nasional"

(Malaysian Digest) - Malaysia Makkal Sakti president, R S Thanenthiran today lodged a police report against Kannan Ramasamy who allegedly has been masquerading as the party’s president while campaigning for the Opposition in the Tenang by-election which will be held this Sunday.

Thanenthiran said Kannan’s alleged action was intended to mislead voters and irresponsible.

“We (Makkal Sakti) will always support Barisan Nasional (BN) and will make sure that its candidate (Azahar Ibrahim) wins this by-election,” said Thanenthiran.

“This is a dirty trick practiced by the Opposition in this by-election. They want to mislead voters with hope that they will vote Normala (PAS candidate),” he added.

Thanenthiran stressed that he is the legal chairman of of Makkal Sakti while Kannan is a former secretary general of the party who was one of the 13 members who was sacked on 20 January last year for violating party’s constitution.

He said he decided to lodge a police report after reading reports from newspapers that mentioned Kannan making a statement admitting that he is Makkal Sakti’s president and declared that the party supports the Opposition.

“Police report has been lodged and I hope that the authorities will take appropriate action against him (Kannan). We (Makkal Sakti) hope for a clean by-election. Our machinery will work to help the BN candidate and we will explain to voters about the exact fact on this matter,” he added.

Makkal Sakti will not seek for seats, says president

Thanenthiran said Makkal Sakti wants to be a BN member. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Makkal Sakti president R.S. Thanenthiran said today that his party will not demand any seats from Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 13th general election but aims to be a component party in the ruling coalition in the near future.

Thanenthiran also thanked BN for inviting the party to attend the coalition’s first convention last Sunday and its decision to open itself to other political parties.

“I don’t know when Barisan is going to accept us but I will leave it to the prime minister and the coalition to decide. Now we have a sense of direction of where we are.

“Let’s go step by step, and don’t ask me if we are going to ask for seats in the next election because it is too early for our party. We are prepared in fact but we are not going to demand for it,” he told reporters at a press conference here.

However, he said there was a possibility of a Makkal Sakti candidate contesting on a BN ticket.

“He (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) was very clear that Barisan Nasional would choose a candidate that is popular with the people and not because he is favoured by the president or secretary-general. He was very clear about it (during the BN convention). If he feels that Makkal Sakti has a good candidate, then why not? But we not going to demand and pressure Barisan Nasional,” he said.

He believed that Makkal Sakti would be accepted as a component party in BN.

He said the party was ready to mobilise its members for a snap polls expected to be called in the first quarter of next year.

“With our support in the 13th general election, the victory for Barisan Nasional will be more meaningful to all the Malaysian people. Our party may only be one year old but we will be a significant contributor,” he said.

Umno leaders had proposed amending BN’s consensus decision-making and the rule that presidents of component parties select candidates for the general election so as to allow the party direct say in candidate selection.

The ruling Malay party believed the new rules were more realistic considering its partners like the MIC have suffered major setbacks during the previous election.

However, the proposal was rejected when BN leaders recently agreed that associate members would not be given voting rights in the ruling coalition.

BN component parties rejected the proposals as they feared they would lose their seats in the general election.

In the 2008 general election, the MIC only managed to retain three out of nine parliamentary seats and six from 19 state seats that it contested.

Thanenthiran said the MIC must realise that the party was no longer the sole Indian party in the country.

“In the past they (MIC) felt that only they could represent the Indians but things have changed now. People are now more accepting of other leaders. In the recent convention, I saw LDP, SUPP, Gerakan and MCA representing the Chinese.

“So I think Indians should be given more platforms because if they don’t like A then they can choose B. As long as they are in the Barisan Nasional coalition because we do not want the Indian community to run away,” he said.

Makkal Sakti was launched by Najib on October 10 last year and is seen as a catalyst to regain declining grassroots Indian support for the ruling coalition.

Political leaders, both from BN and PR, have agreed that the Indian community, which had abandoned the ruling coalition in Election 2008, was now returning to their fold.

PR leaders had gone as far as to predict losing 60 per cent of Indian support to its BN foes, admitting that Najib’s brainchild of 1 Malaysia, his transformative policies and promises of inclusiveness had successfully impressed the electorate.

Additionally, the exit of MIC’s longest-serving president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has also been lauded by the community which is now said to be more hopeful that BN is finally hearing their cries to be noticed.

Makkal sakthi or what not, Indians will not be fooled

 

It was the 'makkal sakthi' awakening and the civil society's overwhelming contribution that made March 08 a reality for Pakatan. Not denying their efforts but the win was definitely to their disbelief.

The later events of Hindraf's destruction to pieces were sheer disappointment or rather a stab in back for the Indians. Since the Pakatan take over it's been a tussle between the two sides of political arena, in an area of limited Indian issues hence forgetting or simply evading the many issues that Hindraf had once put forward.

British masters used the different peoples of Malaya for different purpose, some collaborated with them to pave their way into the heartland of Malaya, some simply wanted them in for their changing lifestyle; yes, money was the game even then.

However for most Indians it was pure indented labour for the British to reap the benefits of the land, denying the fact that Indians helped create the most important commodity for the future Malaysia's success and survival.

British masters always had someone doing the dirty job for them; as for the Indians they had a small group of Indians to control the bigger. Somehow the Indians from those days were appeased simply by the protection of the Tamil language and ironically toddy shops!.

However Indians did find a brief taste of freedom in new Malaya or Malaysia, however though it seemed like they were relieved of the oppression of the estates they were actually displaced to urban slums.

Struggling Indians found their success even then as education was by merit and there were government jobs. Like slumdog millionaires (the movie) it was survival of the fittest and the luckiest.

Futhermore they did well in education and managed to climb up the economic ladder. For all these hopes they always fell back to their religion and ancestral respect by maintaining the many places of worship that had given their ancestors courage during the time when the British masters forced them to clear the jungle to create townships.

Till today most others have been reaping the benefits of Malaysia's economic wealth without a single thought or sense of gratitude for this historic Indian contribution to nation building. Indians and the rest of the other communities found and maintained good friendships along the way and they were together in the politics of this country.

The free will was however short lived as the British master's cancer started creeping into the soul of the politicians. Indians needed to be marginalised, again with small group Indians doing the dirty job of their masters or simply closing one eye towards the calculated and slow measures that brought about marginalisation while camouflaging with it with the Tamil agenda; not to mention also the protection of toddy shops and further helped by samsu haram and “not haram”.

Unlike their British masters this new breed of masters found the other area Indians could be manipulated or distracted while they continuously marginalised them. Yes, religion and the place of worship that even the cruel British displayed some sensitivity in handling, which for the new masters and their subordinates has been the greatest playing field.

They plan the destruction and they come to save them in the nick of time, the sentiment which for common Indians will bring them down to their knees…. These deceitful tactics have been like a political mantra to all future politicians, while the Indians started losing their government jobs, their chance for higher education, their oppression in many ways in business ventures, leaving only a handful that managed. And the Indians slowly lost whole lots of other things that Hindraf has pointed out

Then the makkal sakthi awakening of 2008…then what changed after that?

The cancer spread into 'makkal sakthi' with similar modus operandi; the shattered movement has killed the enthusiasm of the majority Indians and they are slowly falling prey again to their political masters.

Now the gullible politicians on both ends are working on the same module that has ruled over the Indians for decades. Yes, back to issues of Tamil schools, temples and nobody give a damn about minority protection.

Oh God!!! Politics will change the man and not otherwise; this is strongly proven in the Malaysian scenario. And now there is a 'third force' hovering over the horizon……is there yet hope for Indians in Malaysia?

Will the politician ever walk the talk? Will there be a ministerial post specifically for minority protection and sensitive issues? Will any right minded politician take the lead? If there is, then it's time again for the majority Indians to awaken and to make a point, “DON'T TAKE INDIANS FOR A RIDE” no matter what you call yourselves. We know!!!!

The writer is chairman of Malaysia Hindu Sangam of Penang.

Forget Manmohan, let Najib open Little India

By Athi Shankar - Free Malaysia Today

IPOH: The Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) Youth wing does not want Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to open the “Little India” in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

According to MMSP Youth, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak or the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin was more qualified for the task.

The wing's chief N Ramu said Manmohan was not the right person because of his government's failure to protect the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

“We feel the New Delhi administration virtually did nothing to protect Sri Lankan Tamils. He just folded his hands and watched thousands of Tamils being killed.

“His government’s non-action has seriously hurt the sentiments of Malaysian Tamils, who make up 85% of Malaysia's Indian population,” he added in a statement.

Urgent action

Ramu pointed out that even though numerous reports from the United Nations and independent human rights groups called for urgent action to save the Tamils, “Manmohan was voiceless, action-less and care-less to save the besieged community”.

“He simply ignored and neglected his duties to intervene and stop serious violations of human rights taking place right at his doorstep.

“Until today, thousands of Tamils are suffering without shelter, food and safety but India’s political leadership remains deaf, dumb and blind,” he said.

The Youth wing plans to submit a protest memorandum to the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

Given Brickfields' strong link with the Tamil diaspora, Ramu said Manmohan opening the township would draw condemnation from Tamils around the world.

“We hope Manmohan would self-restrain from officially opening Little India to avoid hurting Malaysian Tamils' sentiments,” he added.

Makkal Sakthi Party rivals keen to close ranks

By B Nantha Kumar

SHAH ALAM: Embattled Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP) central committee members (CCM) recently endorsed a call for unity talks among the two rival factions of the party.

MMSP secretary-general R Kannan said members want peace for the sake of party unity and are keen to see the factions led by founding president RS Thanendiran and suspended deputy president A Vathemurthy sit down for talks.

"The unity talks are very important for the benefit of the party and Malaysian Indians," he said. "As the secretary-general of the party, I've been appointed by central council members to get both sides to the table."

MMSP is facing a leadership crisis with its senior leaders deciding to take over the party from Thanendiran over claims that he was running the party in dictatorial manner.

On Jan 18, 2010, 14 out of 27 CC members of the party, led by deputy president Vathemurthy, voted to revoke the membership of Thanenthiran.

The decision was later declared invalid by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) because proper procedures were not adhered to.

Party image sullied

Meanwhile, according to Kannan, CC members also want action to be taken against Vathemurthy who they claimed was running the party in violation of the constitution.

At a CC meeting last April, Vathemurthy appointed himself president of MMSP and subsequently sacked four CC members who were against him.

Kannan also explained that Vathemurthy confused the party members and the ROS by submitting minutes of meetings without proper endorsement.

"MMSP was officially launched by the Prime Minister. It will not be good if we allow the party's image to be sullied," he said. "I will do whatever I can to unite the factions."

The Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party was founded on May 11, 2009 led by Thanenthiran, a former national coordinator of the Hindu Right Action Force (Hindraf).