Brazil beat resilient Koreans

Brazil secured a 2-1 win against Korea DPR but they were made to work extremely hard to secure maximum points after the Asian outsiders showed impressive resilience. The Koreans kept the Brazilians scoreless until ten minutes into the second half when Maicon scored a stunning goal from an outrageous angle. Elano doubled the lead midway through the second half and the contest appeared all over, but a late goal from Ji Yun-Nam ensured Brazil endured some nervy moments in the final minutes.

On paper the contrast between the pair could not have been starker, in what was the first match between the two nations. Five-time world champions Brazil, are currently placed at the top of FIFA Coca-Cola World Ranking while Korea DPR sit at 105. The Koreans came into the contest on a run of eight outings without a victory, while Brazil conversely, had won their previous four matches.

The first half was largely all Brazil, though they had very few clear sights of goal, and Korea DPR weren’t without their own lively moments going forward. Defender Cha Jong-Hyok fired a shot wide, while Japan-based striker Jong Tae-Se, who had tears streaming down his face as the national anthem played, looked particularly keen to offer drive in his role at the point of the attack.

Kaka made a dangerous run into the penalty area in the opening minutes, which seemed likely to set the tone for the match, but a Korean side which conceded just seven goals in their 14 qualifying matches are known for their swarming defence in their own third.

The nearest Brazil came to scoring in the first half was through a Michel Bastos drive from distance which clipped the roof of the net but, in truth, the shot never looked like dipping under the crossbar.

Korea DPR went into the half-time interval looking relatively comfortable, despite conceding 63 per cent of possession. The Koreans no doubt allowed themselves at least brief thoughts of repeating the heroics of their nation in that famous defeat of Italy at England 1966.

Brazil started the second half brightly, and a Bastos’ free-kick from a central position looked dangerous, but the blistering effort curved wide of the mark. As did Robinho's snapshot moments later, as Brazil were often forced to resort to shooting from distance.

Ten minutes after the interval, a moment of brilliance from Maicon broke the deadlock. There appeared little danger as he chased down a slightly overhit pass into the penalty area, and with the ball just about to roll over the byline, he blazed a shot between Ri Myong-Guk and the near post, in a goal reminiscent of fellow Brazilian right full-back Josimar at Mexico 1986.

The goal opened up the match as the Koreans started to show more endeavour with numbers going forward. Luis Fabiano looked set to take advantage midway through the second half after being set up by Robinho but the Sevilla man could not find the target.

The contest appeared over as Elano comfortably finished past an exposed Ri Myong-Guk with 18 minutes remaining, with Robinho the provider thanks to an exquisite pass that check-mated the entire Korean defensive quartet.

It was A Selecao who looked more likely to score, but with two minutes remaining Ji Yun-Nam burst into the penalty area and drove a memorable past Julio Cesar - Korea DPR's first goal at a FIFA World Cup™ for 44 years.

Honours even in Port Elizabeth

Although much has been said about the attacking power of Côte d'Ivoire and Portugal, the two Group G giants proved themselves solid at the back, cancelling each other out in a scoreless draw in Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth .

The first half at Nelson Mandela Stadium was one of the most even of the tournament so far, with both teams pushing forward but giving no quarter in defence or in the tackle. Côte d'Ivoire’s attacking triumvirate of Gervinho, Salomon Kalou and Aruna Dindane confirmed themselves to be full of pace and movement, but it was Portugal’s own fleet-footed forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, who had the best chance of the opening period.

The Real Madrid man turned something into nothing in the 11th minute when he smacked an unstoppable, dipping shot off the outside of the post to the goalkeeper’s right from 30 yards. But the Elephants were not fazed by the Germany 2006 semi-finalists, and shortly after Ronaldo‘s attempt, Siaka Tiene zipped a free-kick just past the post and Ismael Tiote fizzed a shot just over the bar.

If the two teams engaged in trench warfare for the rest of the first half, the second half burst to life early on. Two minutes after the break, Gervinho’s shot was flapped at by goalkeeper Eduardo, and from the resulting corner, Tiate rose, but couldn’t get a clean header on it. Half chances came fast and furious then, with Gervinho’s wayward header from Tiote’s cross on the hour mark being the pick of the bunch. The introduction of Didier Drogba in the 66th minute threatened to turn up the action even more, but as a heavy shower settled on the area, the match lost some steam.

As the clock ran down, Portugal went close from long range efforts from Raul Meireles and Ronaldo, while Kolo Toure might have done better at the far post with a header. In injury time, the west Africans pushed hardest and a chance finally came to Drogba, who clutched his injured arm throughout his time on the pitch, but the big Chelsea man hooked Kader Keita’s through-ball off target.

Côte d'Ivoire will now face group favourites Brazil in Johannesburg’s Soccer City on Sunday, while Portugal take on Korea DPR the following day in Cape Town.

All Whites snatch last-gasp point

A last-gasp Winston Reid header snatched New Zealand an improbable draw against a dominant Slovakia side in their Group F opener in Rustenburg. Robert Vittek had put the Europeans in front, also with his head, in the 50th minute but the All Whites hit back for a result that leaves the section's four sides level on one point – and goal difference – after Italy and Paraguay also drew 1-1 yesterday.

New Zealand defied their underdogs' status in the opening five minutes. First Chris Killen broke free from his marker just inside the Slovakia half, charged forward and unleashed a shot that flew over. Then the same player headed wide from an inviting Leo Bertos cross. That seemed to awaken the Europeans. Vladimir Weiss, son of the Slovakia coach, darted down the right flank before producing a low cross that Mark Paston did well to hold, before Robert Vittek cut inside before blazing a shot high and wide.
The flair of Weiss was thrilling the crowd and on 22 minutes, the Slovakia No7 found space down the left and threaded the ball through to Marek Hamsik, who curled it wide from inside the area. Weiss then craftily laid on a chance for Stanislav Sestak, who fired into the side-netting. Minutes later the No9 missed another chance, this time from a close-range header following a corner. With ten minutes of the half remaining, Vittek cut inside from the right and fired a fierce 20-yard shot wide.

New Zealand, who had been spectators for a period, then went close. Following a neat passing move, Smeltz played a give-and-go with Rory Fallon before shooting into the side-netting from a difficult angle. It proved a brief respite, as the Slovaks dominated possession for the remainder of the half, albeit without creating any meaningful opportunities. They did just that five minutes after the restart, though, and this time they took full advantage. Sestak crossed from the right, and Vittek powered his header into the bottom corner. It was just reward for Slovakia's relentless assault on the Kiwis' goal.

Rather than sit back, the team in blue went in search of a second goal. After 58 minutes Sestak held the ball up well and touched it into the path of Hamsik, who failed to keep his shot down from the edge of the area. Slovakia almost doubled their lead soon after. Zdenko Strba and Sestak exchanged passes, before the latter set up Vittek. However, Paston rushed from his line to make a smart block from the 28-year-old forward.

It took an alert Tony Lochhead to deny Vittek a clear sight on goal with 15 minutes remaining, before Smeltz headed wide from a rare New Zealand attack with just minutes remaining. It appeared then that their last chance had gone, but deep into injury time Smeltz crossed for Reid to steal in and nod home a dramatic equaliser.

Photos : Memo to PM Najib Razak at Parliament 15/6/10

SPM top Indian students segregation Memo to PM (15/6/2010). Abolish STPM. One Matriculation for One Malaysia. RM10 Billion scholarships and RM10 Billion loans for all One Malaysians.

HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY MALAYSIA
NO.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245 Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com
Your Reference     :
In Reply                 :
Date                        : 15^th June 2010
YAB. Dato’ Seri Najib Razak
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Blok Utama Bangunan Perdana Putra,                              BY HAND
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,                          Fax: 03-88883973
62502 Putrajaya                                            E-Mail: najib@pmo.gov.my

REF: 1)       ABOLISH STPM, CREATE ONE PRE-UNIVERSITY EXAM
                   FOR ALL IN ONE MALAYSIA
2)       STOP RACE BASED HIGHER EDUCATION ENTRANCE 
CRITERIA. PRACTICE NEEDS BASED CRITERIA
3)       SCHOLARSHIPS, MATRICULATION AND 
UNIVERSITY PLACES FOR ALL AND NOT EXCLUDING POOR INDIAN STUDENTS SCORING 7As’ AND ABOVE IN SPM
4)       PTPTN LOANS FOR ALL OTHER ESPECIALLY POOR MALAYSIAN INDIAN STUDENTS.
_____________________________________________________________
With reference to the above matter we are writing to your goodself to abolish the pre University STPM and create a one pre-university examination for all Malaysian students so that the higher education opportunities are given out fairly to all deserving students especially so as not to exclude the Indian poor.
2. As it is education, which is the responsibility of the federal government (and similarly by any other government in any other part of the world), it is not fair because it is race, supremacy and segregation based as opposed to what should rightly be needs based. Through one Google or Wikipedia search the whole world would know that our education system is not fair. How can it be fair when we have different pre-university programmes? Many qualified poor Malaysian Indian students have been denied their basic rights to higher education in contravention of Article 8 (Equality before the law and Article 12 (no discrimination in higher educational institutions entry financed by the government) of the Federal Constitution. They have to go through the tougher path of STPM without any guarantee of securing a place in the Universities. They are growing up with inequality and injustices in every corner of their lives. How then do they become a part of One Malaysia?
3. Whereas almost all Malay Muslim students opt for the matriculation programmes. Almost all of the over 40,0000 places in the eleven Matriculation colleges nationwide are reserved for malay muslim students in the 10 month course as opposed to the two year STPM course (Wikipedia). This has become a source of contention because matriculation students, who will enter university one over year earlier compared with their STPM peers, are considered on equal standing with STPM only in Malaysia for the purpose of university admission though it is significantly easier than STPM with a streamed down Form 6 syllabus.
4. Not all applicants for matriculation are admitted and the selection criteria have never been made public which has led to the perception that the entry has not been fair. The matriculation programme is not as rigorous as the STPM. The matriculation programme has come under some criticism as it is the general consensus that this programme is much easier than the sixth form programme leading to the STPM and serves to help malay muslim students enter the public university easily. Having been introduced after the supposed abolishment of racial quota based admission into local public Universities, the matriculation programme continues the role of its predecessor, albeit in a modified form. It is considered easier because in the matriculation programme the teachers set and mark the final exams that their students sit for whereas in the STPM the final exam is standardised and exam papers are exchanged between schools in different states to ensure unbiased marking. Also, the matriculation programme adopts a semester basis examination (2 semesters in the programme) whilst STPM involves only one final examination, covering all 2 years’ syllabus in one go. The scope and depth of the syllabus in matriculation is also lesser to that of STPM. The disparity between the programmes does not end there, for it is a known fact that in critical courses offered by local public universities (such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry and Law), almost 70% of the students comprise matriculation students. On the contrary, STPM students form the majority in courses which are less in demand, such as a Bachelor in Science. Defenders of the matriculation programme have described the two programmes as distinct and different, drawing the analogy of an apple and an orange. However, having served the same purpose (i.e. as an entrance requirement to Universities), we criticize the matriculation programme as a blatant practice of double standards.
5. For the year 2010, RM 2.44 Billion worth of JPA scholarships has been allocated for the 1,500 overseas University scholarships and 10,500 local University scholarships. Also in 2010 7,987 students scored all As’ in SPM, 214 scored all A+ (NST 13/6/2010 at page 20). Based on the above figures each and every student having scored 7As’ and above should have been granted scholarships for either overseas or local higher education. But scores of top and high achieving especially poor Indian students including some with 13A’s have complained to us that they have been denied the aforesaid higher educational opportunities and scholarships in JPA, Mara, Petronas, PNB, Khazanah, TNB, TMB, Sime Darby, Shell etc. Why is this so in One Malay-sia?
An initial list of 36 7As’ to 13As’ students rejected of the above is as per Enclosure 1 herein.
6. Our estimate is a mere 0.1% to 1% of these 12,000 and other scholarships  public University and matriculation places are granted to especially the poor and underprivileged Indian students.
7. The following is a fact – bright Indian students are systematically denied their entitlements for Government Scholarships, for admission to Public Universities especially in critical courses and for the Matriculation programme and this is becoming a more serious problem as more Indian students begin to excel academically as has been highlighted by HRP in the past few weeks.
8. Our sincere question is why does the Government not become transparent about the selection process? Why do we need double standards in 1 Malaysia? Why hasn’t the public Universities and scholarship list and it’s selection criteria not been made transparent and public?
9. This has become the very same recurring and repeating problem year in and year out in over the last 53 years since independence from Britian and we hereby call for an end to this race segregation and supremacist based higher education policy.
10. We hereby call for the end to this race segregationist and supremacist based higher education policy and for the implementation of needs based higher education policy where all the poor Indian, Orang asli, Kadazan, Iban, Malay and Chinese students are given in the right to equal access to higher education.
To this effect we propose that from the RM 191.5 Billion 2010 Budget an allocation is made for a total RM 10 Billion to cater for all the aforesaid proposed scholarships so that all students in particular the poor Indian students scoring 7As’ and above in SPM are granted scholarships in Higher Educational Institutions in the courses of their choice either in foreign Universities, local private Universities or the local public Universities in their order of excellence. And a further RM 10 Billion to cater for all the aforesaid proposed PTPTN government study loans so that all students in particular the poor Indian students would be granted loans in Higher Education Institutions in the courses of their choice in the local public or private Institutions of Higher Learning and not limited to the Ivy League of Universities. This way every citizen irrespective of their ethnic origin gets a fair place under the One Malaysian Sun.
We regret to note that unlike for the Gaza Flotalia issue both sides of the political divide ie the ruling Barisan Nasional and PKR, DAP and PAS did not jointly and amicably debate in a Special Motion this 53 year long outstanding Higher Education Policy problem affecting especially the poor Malaysian Indian students being denied equal higher educational opportunities.
Also regretted is to date there has been no Emergency or other Motions on this matter by even the opposition PKR, DAP and PAS as almost all the victims are “merely” the poor Indians.
Abolish STPM, create One pre-university for One Malaysia!
Kindly revert to us accordingly.
We hereby call upon the Prime Minister of Malaysia to also form a Royal Commission of Inquiry with the view to end this 53 year old race  segregationist and supremacist based higher education policy in Malaysia.
Thank you.
Your faithfully,
_______________
P.Uthayakumar
Secretary General (pro tem)
Note: The list of top and high achieving students that we have received to date is enclosed herewith as per Enclosure 2 together with the 10,000 signature petition calling for “Hindraf & Human Rights party (HRP) Petition to Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak demanding equal rights in JPA scholarships overseas & locally, Matriculation and University places especially in critical courses for all, in particular Indian students with 7A’s above in SPM. Also a Royal Commission of Enquiry to stop future such racially discriminatory, segregationist and supremacist practices by UMNO/BN” as per Enclosure 3 herein.
c.c     1)       Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim
                   Opposition Leader of Parliament,
                   A-1-09, Merchant Square,                   Fax : 78850531
                   No. 1, Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1         By Hand
                   47410 P.J
2)                 Lim Kit Siang
Adviser DAP
No. 24, Jalan 20/9,                    Fax : 03-79575718
Paramount Garden                    By Hand
46300 P.J
3)                 Dato Seri Hadi Awang
President PAS                          Fax: 03-26938399
318A, Jalan Raja Laut,               By Hand
50350 Kuala Lumpur

Education is a Human Right.

Education is a basic human right. It not only gives you the knowledge of 3R’S, but also educates you morally, socially, religiously, culturally, and spiritually. It is the only path to get success in your life, to get a job with fatty packages, to make money, to fulfill all you desire and wishes, to convert your dreams into reality, to lead a respectable life.
To know the difference between right and wrong .It can convert your empty mind into an open mind. It makes you aware of your rights as well as duties. It is a powerful tool in the hands of a man to make his life better and worth living. So important is education in an individual’s life that the right to education is a fundamental human right.
Every individual irrespective of race, gender , nationality , ethnicity , religion or political preference is entitled to an  education. It is responsibility of the government of the day  to provide  education to all its citizens.
Everyone one of us has the right to education. Education should be fair and free at all stages . Technical and professional education should be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. This however does not seem to be happening in our country.
Education is strictly advocated on a race basis thus denying the non malays the right to education. By denying  the non malays the right to education, the UMNO govt. deliberate  aim  is to  systematically  keep the non malays  backward so that they are not able reduce their  social and economic disparity. Two groups that are most effected are the Indian rural community  and the indigenous community . Without investment in education for these communities they have remained suppressed and poor.
It all began in 1971 when the NEP was implemented .
The aim of the NEP was quite simplistic – affirmative action for the malays in all areas of life and marginalization and suppression for the non malay citizens in all areas of life especially in education. The government of the day has been so blatantly racist  in it education policies that The govenment has 2 separate exams for the university entry. STPM for non Malay and matriculation for Malays. The purpose for differential exams on race basis is yet again another tool on the part of the govt. to discriminate against the non malays.
The STPM exam that the non malays are required to sit for is so very much harder compared to matriculation. An A at the matriculation exam is equivalent to a C or D at the STPM exam. Yet at the point of university entry, Marticulation is given a higher preference over STPM. Most students today shy away from doing STPM.
This is perhaps the only country in the world where students are required to indicate on their exam paper whether they are bumiputra or not. This clearly shows the govts. intention to use education as a tool to discriminate against the non-Malays.
The education system has become so racially bias  that meritocracy is totally irrelevant. This has gone on for almost 40years. 
We are continuously faced with  a dilemma where many  students who have just completed their SPM  with excellent results are denied the right  to higher education. This is because they have  not been awarded scholarship nor places to do  matriculation. Their basic human rights under universal declaration of  human rights have been violated . 
Malay student even from rich and prestige’s families are awarded easy scholarship to study in expensive countries like UK US Australia Canada etc. Whist the poor non-Malay student are not even given the opportunity to study at local public universities.

Many good students come from poor families and do not have the financial means to peruse their undergraduate studies at private universities of overseas.  It is so obvious that the govt racist polices in education is a violation of human rights. It completely violates the United Nations  Universal Declaration of Human rights . 
What actually is the aim of the govt.to deny non Malays the right higher education. We can only conclude that the aim of the UMNO govt is to deprive the Non- Malays the right to education and the other component parties in the BN like MIC, MCA. PPP, Gerakan have all been a willing partner to this racist policy.
by Malini Dass

Hindraf HRP back on the streets. UMNO can no longer go on cheating the Indians unchallenged.

At 11.00am about 200 HRP, Hindraf,supporters with representatives from Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, K.L, N.Sembilan and Johor, were in attendance.
Also present were two FRU water cannons, two trucks of FRU riot policemen two trucks of light strike force and about 100 civil and uniformed policemen.
We were not allowed anywhere even near the Parliament gates as we were blocked by the riot police. Only four of us were invited and that too to only the Parliament gates to hand over our 750 page Memorandum containing our seven page letter to Prime Minister Najib Razak, dated 15/6/2010 48 students result slips, and 12,639 Petition signatures as at 15/6/2010.
But we instead insisted that the Prime Minister’s Representative come down to meet us as we were not allowed to go anywhere near Parliament and had to wait at the junction between the main road and the road leading to Parliament. There were two separate road blocks in the one hundred meters or so on the road leading to Parliament itself. The UMNO fear of Hindraf! As usual UMNO sent their ASP police Indian mandore to talk to us so that any quarrel, arrest or arguments would as usual become an Indian and Indian affair as UMNO had successfully been doing in the last 53 years. In the meantime we proceeded to brief the press on the contents of the seven page letter to Prime Minister Najib Razak. At this juncture HRP & Hindraf banners were unfurled with the words “1 MALAYSIA! KOSONG !!!, 10A, 11A, 12A& 13A! TAK DAPAT BIASISWA., INIKAH 1 MALAYSIA!, HAK MASY INDIA DITINDAS, JANGAN ANIAYA PELAJAR CEMERLANG INDIA, JANGAN KECAIKAN CITA- CITA KAMI, CITA-CITA KAMI BERHARGA., JANGAN TINDAS PELAJAR CEMERLANG INDIA, BERI HAK KAMI, KAMI PELAJAR CEMERLANG, WHAT ELSE YOU NEED FOR US TO BE QUALIFIED?, KATA MERITOKRASI! TETAPI BUKAN UNTUK MASY INDIA., MANA BIASISWA KAMI?, KAMI  ANAK  MALAYSIA,
Also “Memo to P.M. Najib Razak at Parliament 15/6/10. Abolish STPM: One Malaysia, One Exam, One Matriculation. HRP & Hindraf Makkal Sakthi”
“Prime Minister: Why Deny Top Indian Students JPA Scholarships, Study Loans, Matriculations, University & Critical Courses.”
“Abolish STPM 1 Pre-U Malaysia HRP & Hindraf.”
After we had repeatedly refused to go up (as only four were allowed), to the Parliament gates Prime Minister Najib’s Officer in charge of Special Functions (Pegawai Tugas-Tugas Khas Perdana Menteri) Dato’ Ghazali Ibrahim was forced to come down to where we were.
Even then he stood at a distance waiting for us to come to him but we refused to. To us we have to break the UMNO “tuan” and “kuli” mindset and send the message to these UMNO supremacist that we are not the Indian mandores that UMNO has been so used to dealing with in the last 53 years.
The trademark Hindraf & HRP song Tholvi Nelaiyana Ninaithal was sung by HRP and Hindraf members.
Finally the UMNO Dato’ come to us and introduced himself. We asked for his business card but he said he did not have one. P. Uthayakumar had asked Dato Ghazali if the Prime Minister or the Higher Education Minister or the Secretary General or the Deputy Secretary General of the Higher education Ministry would see us today as per our letter to the Prime Minister dated 11/6/10 to which he replied in the negative.
P. Uthayakumar then briefed him on the contents of the Memorandum despite the Dato saying never mind. We reminded him that we had given the UMNO led Malaysian government hundreds of previous memorandums over the last 20 years and nothing happens after that. We wanted action. P. Uthayakumar then asked for an urgent meeting to discuss our said Memorandum within one week either with the Prime Minister, Higher Education Minister, the aforesaid Secretary General or his Deputy the to which Dato’ Ghazali said he “would try”. At this juncture HRP and Hindraf National Adviser N. Ganesan suggested that in that case we shall not hand over the Memorandum today but at the meeting which he may have felt may not be honoured by UMNO.
After some consultation we handed over the Memorandum but insisted on an urgent meeting within one week as the top students would have to go to Universities failing which we would come back to Parliament for an answer.
Supporters then shouted Hindraf and was responded with “Valga” (long life) and HRP and Hindraf “Manitha Urimai and “Valga”.
S. Jayathas then led shouts of “ Jangan aniaya penuntut-penuntut India”, Satu Pre U, Satu Malaysia, Manushkan STPM, Kami tuntut biasiswa JPA”.
The Dato’ shoke hands with us but we made it very formal as in our minds we are most likely to be cheated again by UMNO.
Later P. Uthayakumar told reporters that this top students denied higher education and scholarships and the scores of the critical Indian problems is because of the very some UMNO government ruling for 53 long years in a row without a break in the chain. P. Uthayakumar reiterated that while HRP and Hindraf is committed to ending the 53 year UMNO/BN rule in Malaysia, we are not going to trust PKR, DAP and PAS by giving them a blank cheque to Putrajaya. We simply do not trust PKR, DAP and PAS with the welfare, well being and future of the Malaysian Indians as they have no history of seriously championing even the critical Indian issues. But they are instead only interested in the Indian votes. We would be the third force to check and balance PKR, DAP and PAS when they get to Putrajaya.
The latest being zero serious questioning, Emergency Motion or other Motions to end this 53 year racist, segregationist and supremacist education policy in Malay-sia. But both UMNO and also PKR, DAP and PAS with a breeze rightly did so for Gaza Flotalia issue PKR, DAP and PAS top leadership refused to call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry. All because almost all of the “victims” and aggrieved students are the poor Malaysian Indians.
And neither did PKR, PAS and DAP’s 11 Members of Parliament Indian mandores want to champion the above as they are bound by and have to “kow tow” to their Tuan Anwar Ibrahim, Towkay Lim Kit Siang and they do not have their parties mandate to speak up seriously on Indian issues. These PKR, PAS and DAP Indian mandores are mere showpieces like how MIC and PPP MP mandores had been showpieces for UMNO in the last 50 years.
These Indian MP mandores may fear losing the 80-90% Malay muslim and Chinese voters who had voted them in. They are over conscious not to be branded “racist” “extremist” or pro- Indian by their 80-90% Malay and Chinese voters.
This yet again reaffirms our Project 15/38 to create 15 Indian majority Parliamentary and 38 state seats to fight our own battle at the political front as even PKR, DAP and PAS is a lost hope for us.
For a start we have started with the opening of our Bilek gerakan in Tawan Puteri Wangsa/ Tebrau in Johor in March 2010, Tawan Sri Andalas/ Kota Raja in Selangor on 16/5/2010 and Tawan Prai/ Batu Kawan this weekend on the 20^th of June 2010 in addition to our HQ in Bangsar and to be followed by the other frontline states of Perak, N. Sembilan, Kedah and Pahang.
We have had four Think Tank training sessions and the fifth this weekend to train our very own MPs’ and State Assemblyman who would champion Indian causes without fear or favour or fear, upsetting 80 to 90% of their Malay and Chinese voters.
Today’s event ended peacefully.
But the 100 odd police presence, Water Cannons, FRU, Riot Police we thought was a very nice way the Polis Raja Di Malay-sia get to spend their RM 1 Billion allocation in the 2010 Budget.
Most of the HRP and Hindraf supporters from Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor, then adjourned to the HRP HQ at Bangsar.
At this meeting we finalized our next action plan in anticipation of UMNO doing zero to address this very serious higher education problem. Our next action plan will be revealed in our posting tomorrow.
S. Jayathas

List of 48 top and high achieving Indian students denied JPA scholarships, University and Matriculation places submitted to Prime Minister Najib Razak today (15/6/2010)

NO		NAME	IC		ADDRESS		RESULT
1		Deborah Anne a/p John Philip	920608-14-5120		SMK Covent Bukit Nanas		13 As
2		Mohana Priya a/p Kasanathan	920122-14-5390		SMK Ibrahim		13 As
3		Shobanaa Rubini a/p Ganesarao	920305-08-6522		SMK Perempuan Methodist, Ipoh		12 As
4		Elwinder Singh a/l Jasvir Singh	920121-14-6017		SMK Sri Dasmesh KL		12 As
4		Sasvin a/l Manimaran	920816-10-5717		SMK Taman Sea		11 As
5		Sharmalla a/p Subramaniam	921218-05-5124		SMK Senawang Seremban		11 As
6		Gomalah a/p Ganeswaran	920728-05-5082		SMK Tuanku Jaafar Seremban		11 As
7		Sangitha a/p Elango	921218-05-5474		SMK King George V Seremban		11 As
8		Thenmoli Hanbrasi a/p Jothy	920520-08-5180		SMK Tawar		11 As
9		Deepashini a/p Rajindran	921106-08-5580		SMK Methodist (ACS), Sitiawan		11 As
10		Arvind a/l Rajan	920605-14-5045		SMK Kepong		11 As
11		Santhini a/p Ramani	921012-10-6096		SMK Pusat Bandar Puchong 1		11 As
12		Shivanashini a/p Mathiyalagan	920428-02-5914		SMK Covent Father Barre		11 As
13		Prabagaran a/l Kanapathy	920829-08-5539		SMK Anderson Ipoh		10 As
14		Santhira a/p Vijaya Kumar	920814-14-5156		SMK Tengku Ampuan Rahimah		10 As
15		Divya Mala a/p Shanmugam	921118-10-5358		SMK Tawau		10 As
16		Serena Susan a/p Peter Manickom	920528-01-5078		SMK Iskandar Shah		10 As
17		Eiswaran a/l Ramasamy	920125-05-5227		SMK King Gedage V Seremban		10 As
18		Komathi a/p Muniandy	920719-02-5094		SMK Kulim		10 As
19		Pavithiraen a/l Segeranazan	921225-08-5903		SMK Dato’ Haji Hussein		10 As
20		Jayasri Nair a/p Janardanan	921219-07-5338		SMK Bedong		10 As
21		Ravind a/l Amaresan	920928-14-5867		SMK Ibrahim		10 As
22		Prabagaran a/l Kanapathy	920829-08-5539		SMK Anderson, Ipoh		10 As
23		Mogan a/l Mahadevan	921022-07-5641		SMK Datuk Haji Abd Kadir P.Png		10 As
24		Yuana Rooja a/p Murugah	921002-02-6092		SMK Ibrahim		10 As
25	Moganpriya a/p Thillamuthu			920924-02-5868		SMK Covent Fat .+her Barre		10 As
26	Thulasi a/p Palakrisnan			920310-08-6412		SMK Sains Raja Tun Azlan, Taiping		9 As
27	Uneshddarann a/l Nagandran			921125-01-5123		SMK Buloh Kasap		9 As
28	Nageeshvari a/p Tachinamurti			920129-14-6142		SMK Damansara Damai 1		9 As
29	Kesevaan a/l Morgan			920717-14-5947		SMK Raja Abdullah KL		9 As
30	Ghaithrie a/p Subramaniam			920312-01-5140		SMK Tinggi Kluang		9 As
31	Pavitra a/p Sehalinggam			920926-07-5658		SMK Convent Pulau Tikus Pinang		9 As
32	Priyatharisan a/l Balaraman			920609-05-5153		SMK Bukit Mewah Seremban		9 As
33	Yogeswary a/p Gunasegaran			920808-14-5416		SMK Convent Jalan Peel KL		9 As
34	Nandarcobini a/p Rajendran			920917-01-5662		SMK Dato Penggama Timur		9 As
35	Tarashini a/p Suthesan			920228-14-6682		SMK Convent Kajang		9 As
36	Lingeswaran a/p Ratnam			921110-01-6027		SMK Dato’ Penggama Timur		9 As
37	Rupini a/p Manoharan			920418-04-5428		SMK Undang Rembau N. Sembilan		9 As
38	Narmatha Darshini Nanthini Subramaniam			920903-14-5238		SMK (P) Sri Aman		9 As
39	Pavitra Sri a/p Ramaya			920202-02-5866		SMK Taman Ria Jaya		9 As
40	Parthiban a/l Perumal			920520-07-5105		SMK Kulim		9 As
41	Yasheera a/p Vasudevan			920103-14-5950		MAKTAB		8 As
42	Thennarasei a/p Pannir Selvam			920373-07-5018		SMK Tinggi Bkt Mertajam P. Pinang		8 As
43	Saraniah a/p Kalidasan			920624-08-5324		SMK Covent Father Barre		8 As
44	Kogulavarman a/l Asokan			920302-14-5195		SMK (L) Bukit Bintang		7 As
45	Dineshwary a/p Nadthan			920121-10-5370		SMK Subang Jaya		7 As
46	Kalaimalar a/p Perumal			921113-14-5502		SMK Seri Garing		7 As
47	Gadura Kishdra a/l Viswenaden			921103-14-5015		SMK Hillcrest		7 As
48	Navindren a/l Murugasen			920614-14-5135		SMK (L) Bukit Bintang		7 As

PKR and UMNO denies poor and sickly Indian single parent with two toddlers job and welfare help

K.Sarojini (31) started becoming sickly after the delivery of her second child when her small intestines was also cut as a result of the doctor’s negligence. Sarojini now suffers from muscle disorder and is unable to do heavy work.
She gets a token (we estimate RM200) per month to feed herself, her ageing mother and her two toddlers M.Thavin (3) and Dharwin (1). Though UMNO acknowledges the Urban Poverty Line Index household income at RM687 per month, (The Star 24/10/09 at page N6) RM3,000 per month as the low income households (The Star 29/1/10 at page N41).
UMNOs’ welfare department grants only a mere RM200 or so to this Indian family which may not even be  enough to pay her house rentals.
Had Sarojini been a poor Malay, Orang Asli, Kadazan or Iban she would have a village or some ancestral land to go back to or fall back on as her social safety net.
Had Sarojini been a poor Malay, Orang asli, Kadazan or Iban her village community if not her relatives would take care of her.
Had Sarojini been a Malay muslim some Pusat Urus Zakat, Jakim, Tabung Haji, Perkim or some giant corporate like CIMB Foundation or so would have helped her out financially and on a permanent month to month basis.
Had Sarojini been a Chinese some Chinese Clan Association, business or corporate company would have bailed her out.
But her already poor relatives and the poor Indian community have their own monthly family expenses and are in no position to help Sarojini So Sarojini lives on the mercy of her neighbours for her daily rice and food.
It is a pity that Sarojini only at 31 years of age has to undergo this level of hardships, indignity and misery in prosperous Malay-sia. This is an moral indictment of the conscience of the majority Malay and Chinese communities who uphold these irresponsible governments!
The UMNO Federal and PKR Selangor State government could help give her a permanent job with any of the local councils or SEDCs which has free babysitting facilities.
But both UMNO and PKR would not do it. And neither would the Penang DAP or Kedah PAS state government help Sarojini out. Simply because Sarojini is Malaysian Indian, and the minorities can be ignored.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of the plight of hundreds of thousands of other Indian poor suffering and living in misery on a day to day basis.
This level of racism meted out on the Indian poor does not happen in any other part of the world except in UMNO’s One Malaysia, PKR, DAP and PAS’ ‘multi-racial’ ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ states!
S. Jayathas

Selangor PKR land gone to waste. But NO NO to Indian poor and landless

“Farmers allocated state land in Ladang Sungai Blankan, Sepang, may lose their plots if found to be left idle.” (Star Metro 4/6/2010 at pages M 1 and 2)
But like UMNO which had denied the Indian poor and landless lots in the 442,000 ten acre land ownership schemes like in Felda, Risda, Fama, Mardi, Agropolition (BH 25/2/2010 at page 4) and the hundreds of thousands more of acres in the 13 parallel state government schemes, PKR too would rather this and other land go to waste rather than granting the same to the Indian poor and landless. They would not reallocate this idle land to Indians.
P. Uthayakumar

MSU takes in 10,000 students per year but almost zero Indians. UMNO refuses disclosure of student list.

The Management and Science University (MSU) will increase their intake to 10,000  per year, almost all of whom would be malay muslim students. (BH 9/7/10 at page 24).
We are yet to hear of Indian students in this University.
Some 0.1% ‘showcase’ cases may have been taken in. But UMNO will get their MIC and PPP mandores to make Tamil newspaper statements that there are not enough qualified Indian students to qualify into this and the 20 other public universities.
But they have no answer when HRP points out the estimated 2,237 top and high achieving Indian students who have been denied places in universities.
Why don’t the UMNO led Malay-sian regime publish the full list of the student intake eact year in each university?
P. Uthayakumar

Small Malay protest and PKR stops 25 storey project. But Indians denied even basic drinking water but PKR cares a damn

 
For the small Malay protests MPAJ decides to hold dialogue after residents. (Starmetro 10/6/10 page M10). This is the extent of UMNO racism that has spilled over to even PKR led Selangor State government.
In One Malay-sia even in One Selangor if you are a victim your ethnicity matters, ie., whether you are a Malay muslim or an Indian!
In Coalfield Estate the Indians have been denied even clean drinking water under the two over year old rule of Selangor. Is PKR waiting for the recently elected Hulu Selangor MP Kamalanathan to fix the water problem in Coalfield Estate?
What more PKR Selangor refused to honour even the long overdue Estate Workers Housing Scheme.
Where is the change promised by PKR, DAP and PAS?
-
Karunai Nithi @Compassionate Justice

Nizar: Pakatan not engineering defections

Malim Nawar state rep quits DAP, now Independent

HRP goes to Parliament

Najib reaffirms commitment to Bumi equity target

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak tonight dismissed claims that the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP) was inconsistent with the New Economic Model (NEM) for maintaining the 30 per cent Bumiputera equity target.

“There is no conflict. We must understand the presentation by NEAC was their report. The presentation in Parliament was the government’s position,” the prime minister said referring to the National Economic Action Council (NEAC) chaired by Tan Sri Amirsham A. Aziz.

Najib added that he had never proposed for the Bumiputera equity target to be dropped saying that it was a misunderstanding.

“I did not promise for the affirmative action to be abolished. I only said the affirmative action policy would be made market-friendly and based on merit, better than before,” he said after chairing the Barisan Nasional (BN) supreme council here.

He also added that government will continue to provide assistance to the bottom 40 per cent of households.

Since unveiling the NEM last March the Najib administration has been under pressure from Malay rights groups Perkasa and the Malay Consultative Council to maintain pro-Bumiputera policy.

The government however was accused by the opposition for being inconsistent for maintaining the 30 per cent equity target in the 10MP, tabled last week.

When tabling the 10MP, Najib also announced the formation of a high-level council to be chaired by him to plan, co-ordinate and monitor the implementation of the Bumiputera development agenda.

361 Indian students got PSD scholarships

PUTRAJAYA: The Public Service Department (PSD) has awarded scholarships to 361 Indian students for this year, said MIC vice-president Dr S Subramaniam today.

The human resources minister said the number included those who applied for the overseas degree programmes or PILN (Program Ijazah Luar Negara) and local public and private universities.

“Of the figure, 161 Indian students have been offered scholarships under the PILN, an increase of 25 students from the earlier figure of 136 students as announced recently,” he said in a statement.

He said 3,750 places made available for both the PILN and local public and private universities.

“The increase in the number of Indian students for the PILN scholarship this year was made possible after the students’ appeals were considered favourably by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

“It is to be noted that a total of 1,011 Indian students were interviewed for the PILN scholarships this year (2010),” he said.

200 given scolarships to study locally

Subramaniam said another 200 Indian students have been offered scholarships to pursue their studies at local public and private universities this year.

“As such, a total of 361 Indians secured the PSD scholarship for this year (2010), compared to 354 students last year (2009).

“In 2008, some 159 Indian students secured the PILN scholarship, while 111 Indian students were successful in their applications for the PILN in 2007,” he said.

On the courses offered for the 2010 PSD scholarship for the PILN, 81 Indian students have been offered to do medicine, an increase of 11 Indian students from the list of students announced earlier, while another 45 Indian students offered the same course (medicine) in local public and private universities, he said.

“There have been a lot of speculations on the actual number of Indian students offered the PSD scholarship, and I hope with the release of the latest official figures by the PSD, it will put to rest all speculations.

“I wish to thank our prime minister and the government for providing additional scholarships for the Indian students,” he added.

New twist: Keshvinder was 'blackmailed'

By G Vinod - Free Malaysian Today

KUALA LUMPUR: The latest defection to hit Pakatan Rakyat is shaping out to be a tale of intrigue, peppered with allegations of theft and blackmail.

And as usual, the alleged chief antagonist is Umno.

The plot centres around RM45,000 which purportedly went missing from the law firm of Keshvinder Singh, the Malim Nawar state assemblyperson who quit DAP this afternoon.

While Keshvinder denied Umno having a hand in this, Perak DAP vice-chairman A Sivanesan however claimed otherwise.

According to the Sungkai assemblyman, Keshvinder had related his ordeal when the two met some three weeks ago.

“He told me that one of his clerks in the law firm had embezzled RM45,000 of his client's money and he was in a fix.

“Unfortunately for him, the news reached Umno. From then on, they used this issue against him and coaxed him into defecting,” he said, adding that he had advised Keshvinder to file a police report.

Sivanesan said that Keshvinder had revealed this to several other DAP leaders, including Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran.

He also challenged Keshvinder to deny that he had informed him and the rest about this issue.

'Umno-linked clerk'

Contacted later, Kulasegaran not only confirmed this, but added another twist to the plot, claiming that the clerk who had allegedly absconded with the money was linked to Umno.

“Keshvinder told me that the Umno-linked clerk had not only run off with the money but also took along the client's receipts.

“He was worried that the receipts could be manipulated to tarnish him,” he said, adding that he too had advised Keshvinder to lodge a report with the authorities.

“He (Keshvinder) went missing yesterday and we feared the worst,” he said.

Kulasegaran also urged Keshvinder “to do the honourable thing” and resign as state assemblyman since he had won the seat under a DAP ticket.

Perak fell into the hands of Barisan Nasional after the defection of several Pakatan MPs, leading to the allegation that they were paid a hefty sum to abandon ship. A charge which BN has denied.

On Feb 25, 2009, Keshvinder himself filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission claiming that he was offered RM20 million to defect to BN.

In a related matter, Sivanesan lashed out at Keshvinder for accusing DAP of not supporting him in serving his constituency.

“ When he was offered to contest in the 2008 general election, we told him clearly that the BN government may not provide allocations to constituencies under opposition control.

“At the time he said that he understood the situation and was ready to contest. Opposition reps in Malacca, Johor and Negri Sembilan are also not getting proper allocations but we find ways to raise funds to serve our constituencies,” he said.

“The people know and understand our predicament. That is why they believe in our cause” he added.

Karpal's take on Dr M, Pak Lah and Najib

By S Rutra - Free Malaysia Today,

FMT EXCLUSIVE In the final part of an exclusive interview with FMT, DAP stalwart Karpal Singh compares the leadership styles of former premiers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as well as current premier, Najib Tun Razak.

While acknowledging Mahathir's contribution to the nation, Karpal however suggested that the doctor-turned-politician had caused more harm than good during his 22-year watch.

“We cannot deny the facts, Mahathir did achieve something. He came at the right time when the economy was doing well. One of his first steps was also to release political detainees at the time,” he said.

However, things took a drastic turn when former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah challenged Mahathir for the top post in Umno in 1987.

“When this happened, Mahathir diverted the attention from his own problems by launching 'Operasi Lalang' where a total of 106 people were detained under the Internal Security Act,” said Karpal, who was one of those thrown behind bars as well.

The 1987 crackdown set the tone for the rest of Mahathir's years in office (until 2003), where he was accused of being a dictator who had little tolerance for dissent.

In the folllowing year, Karpal said Mahathir went after the judiciary.

“In fact, he had single-handedly emasculated the judiciary,” he said, referring to the removal of the then Lord President Salleh Abas.

“He used the King, the Sultan of Johor at that time, to set up the tribunal and eventually sack Salleh for misconduct,” he added.

During Mahathir's reign, Karpal said, Malaysia's human rights record was at its lowest ebb and the nation's image took an international beating.

Even after stepping down, he said, Mahathir continued to intervene in the administration of the government and played a pivotal role in driving out his successor, Abdullah.

“He was angry because Pak Lah (Abdullah) did not carry out the projects he (Mahathir) wanted him to. For example, the crooked bridge between Johor and Singapore. This is because many of Mahathir's cronies were involved in that project,” he added.

Pak Lah lacked the strength

As for Abdullah, Karpal said the former premier had lacked the capacity and strength to initiate reforms during his five-year tenure because he was one of those “50-50” people.

Abdullah had come into power with grand promises, among which, was to go after the big fish involved in corruption. But this failed to materialise.

He was also ovsershadowed by his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, whom critics, including Mahathir, called the de-facto prime minister.

Karpal noted that Abdullah will be remembered as the Barisan Nasional leader who scored the biggest ever mandate in the 2004 general election.

“And of course, he will also be remembered for BN's worst ever (election) result in 2008. He was clearly a man of extreme ups and downs,” he said.

Altantuya still haunts Najib



Meanwhile, Karpal said the country's sixth prime minister Najib is attempting to win over the people through his so-called walkabouts.

“But I don't think this will have any significant impact; a walkabout is a walkabout and nothing beyond that,” he added.

Stressing that Najib has been unable to distance himself from the Altantunya Shaariibuu murder case, the DAP leader said the son of thd second prime minister moved into office with “adverse political baggage”.

“For example, the Altantuya issue; he is just unable to clear the mind of the rakyat on some parts he might have played. This could have been easily cleared at the trial itself.

“He should have come as a witness and explained the fact that Abdul Razak Baginda went to see him and they were close associates,” he said.

“Although there was no direct involvement, the fact remains that his people had directed the police officers to go to Abdul Razak's house and take away Altantuya.

“He (Najib) should have explained this in court and cleared the air,” he added.

Abdul Razak, an academic with close ties to Najib, was initially charged with abetting the murder. He was later acquitted.

Two special operations force police personnel were found guilty of murdering the Mongolian national.

1Malaysia means equal treatment

Karpal is also not convinced about the impact of Najib's brainchild, the 1Malaysia concept, arguing that it was a rip-off from DAP's Malaysian Malaysia slogan.

“Our Malaysian Malaysia concept has been in existence since 1965 after Singapore separated from us. Even his (Najib) own people don't understand what this (1Malaysia) concept is all about.

“If it is 1Malaysia, then there should be equality. I have been saying that 'one' means everybody is treated as one and so Najib should tell when the special privileges for the Bumiputera will end,” he said.

The DAP leader also took a swipe at Perkasa and its chief Ibrahim Ali, saying that extremism has no room in any political party in Malaysia.

He also noted the double standards in dealing with remarks, percieved as seditious.

“We (the opposition) are charged (under the Sedition Act) for the slightest matter, but when it comes to open seditious remarks like what Mahathir has said in support of Perkasa (there is no action).

“Although I feel the Sedition Act is outdated, why is that they use it against us but not them? All should be given the same treatment,” he said.

Judiciary has not recovered

On another matter, Karpal, who is a renowned criminal lawyer, was also asked about the state of the judiciary in Malaysia today.

The veteran politician lamented that the institution has yet to recover from its 1988 injury, and public confidence has declined further, especially with cases concerning the ruling government.

He cited Anwar's case and the MB vs MB case over the legitimacy of the Perak government as examples.

“I think the attempts by the current chief justice to restore credibility in the judiciary has fallen flat. There should be separation of powers, not just lip service,” he said.

Is there anybody at the wheel in Putrajaya?

The national joke is that the only place where one can truly observe 1Malaysia is at Sport Toto, the national lotto operator. Everyday Malaysians of all races flock to Sports Toto for a punt on something with the odds of winning at about one in twenty million.

David D. Mathew, Sinchew 

One day we will be bankrupt in 2019. The next day we won’t be.
One day we have to remove subsidies to stay afloat. The next day we are thinking about building a new Parliament house at the cost of RM800 million.
One day the core proposals of the New Economic Model (NEM) are outlined to great fanfare. The next day these proposals are labelled as a mere trial balloon.
One day sport betting is allowed. The next day nobody is sure anymore.
One day the prime minister pledges to assist youths who are willing to work hard to succeed. The next day it seems that the government does not have the money to do so.
Hello, is there anybody at the wheel in Putrajaya?
Last week, the prime minister announced that the government will give aid to youths who are willing to work hard to succeed until they become global champions.
“Have no fear, the Barisan Nasional is here,’’ he said adding that if our youths “are determined, the government will assist them.”
The prime minister apparently had not cleared this with Nazri Aziz, a minister in his department.
On Monday, Nazri was reported to have said that the government did not have the capacity to finance the studies of the growing pool of bright students in the country.
“We have to tell the truth. We just cannot afford it. Just like how a parent cannot afford to send their children abroad to further their studies, the government cannot afford it,” Nazri said, adding that the goal was to keep the good students at local universities so that they remain here permanently.
All this comes from the same man who, last week, announced that the government was considering building a new Parliament house in Putrajaya.
“We would need RM150 million for upgrading works like fixing the roof improving electricity supply. For the construction of a new Parliament house, we would need RM800 million. So, we will consider the best option,” Nazri said.
We will consider the best option?
Is there a committee sitting around somewhere pondering this great predicament of whether to spend RM150 million only to upgrade the current Parliament house or to go for the more fun RM800 million option?
The best option Mr Minister is to take whichever route that costs less and in this case that would clearly be to upgrade the current Parliament house at a cost of just RM150 million.
After that, you take the RM650 million saved and pour it into the brightest of our youths so that they can pursue studies at the best universities in the world.
We would have to keep sending our best minds abroad until the day comes when Malaysia has universities ranked at least in the top 50 of the world university rankings.
As it stands, we can’t even break into the top 30 in Asia. In the 2010 QS Asian university rankings, Universiti Malaya dropped two places to 41 this year from 39 last year, while Universiti Sains Malaysia only managed to maintain its ranking at 69.
So Mr Minister, keeping our best minds here is not the best option.
And how about a little more of that “Have no fear, the Barisan Nasional is here,’’ spirit instead of the defeatist and wavering we can no longer afford it attitude.
Speaking of wavering, why does it take so long to clarify the whole sports betting issue?
This is a country where all kinds of betting are allowed. From horse racing to the big casino up the hill, Malaysians gamble. Every other office right about now has one or more World Cup office pools running.
The national joke is that the only place where one can truly observe 1Malaysia is at Sport Toto, the national lotto operator. Everyday Malaysians of all races flock to Sports Toto for a punt on something with the odds of winning at about one in twenty million.
In the circumstances, the whole flip-flop controversy concerning Vincent Tan’s sports betting license is rather puzzling.
Some states have come out to say that they are banning sports betting. Other types of betting such as Sports Toto and horse racing will, however, be allowed to remain.
It is really one or the other. Either you allow betting or not. There should be a consistent and uniform policy and no discrimination against a particular type of betting.
Some might say that RM10 on South Korea to win a game at the World Cup is way better than RM10 on four random numbers from one to nine.
The country clearly cannot afford to fiddle around when it comes to business, scholarships and spending silly money on new buildings no one needs.
So could somebody take charge at the wheel at Putrajaya and stop vacillating over every single thing?
This is important. We need to get our act together because according to Idris Jala, the person appointed by the prime minister himself to be chief executive officer of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu), Malaysia may be bankrupt by 2019.
Oh yes. I forget. The Finance Ministry has already come out to say that Idris had overstated his case for subsidy cuts with flawed statistics and that Malaysia will not be bankrupt in 2019.
Does anybody check with each other in government anymore before speaking to the people?
I guess not.

Judi: Mahathir fitnah PAS, prejudis pada Cina

(Harakahdaily) - PAS kesal dengan komentar bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berhubung dengan isu judi yang dihalalkan oleh kerajaan Umno BN.
“Tuduhan beliau bahawa PAS hanya mengharamkan judi bola sahaja adalah suatu fitnah yang jelas dan isu judi bukanlah isu politik seperti apa yang beliau fikirkan," kata Ketua Penerangan PAS Pusat, Ustaz Idris Ahmad (gambar) dalam kenyataannya kepada Harakahdaily.
Tegasnya, PAS menolak dan mengharamkan semua aktiviti judi di negara ini dan bukan melibatkan perjudian bola sahaja.
Katanya, PAS jauh berbeza dengan Umno di mana walaupun Umno telah memerintah negara selama 12 penggal, namun belum ada usaha dilakukan bagi menghapuskan judi.
Jelasnya, selepas PAS memerintah, Kelantan berjaya menutup premis-premis judi, sementara di Kedah pula usaha menghapuskan judi berjalan secara berperingkat, begitu juga dengan Selangor dan Pulau Pinang yang diperintah Pakatan Rakyat.
“Kita serius untuk menghapuskan judi dan mendidik rakyat ke arah kehidupan yang bebas dari maksiat,” ujarnya.
Beliau menambah, rakyat juga tahu bahawa lesen perniagaan judi diluluskan oleh Kerajaan Pesekutuan, bukan kerajaan negeri.
Katanya, kerajaan negeri hanya meluluskan lesen premis dan iklan yang kebanyakannya diperolehi oleh tauke judi semasa zaman pemerintahan BN.
Baginya, Mahathir sebenarnya dibayangi dosa-dosanya yang meluluskan judi di negara ini semasa pemerintahannya dan rakyat akan terus mengingati beliau sebagai tokoh pemimpin yang memimpin negara dengan duit hasil judi.
“Beliau mungkin berfikir, jika beliau tidak menyokong dasar Najib hari ini, pastinya orang-orang dalam kerajaan akan mengutuk beliau kerana selama ini beliaulah orang nombor satu yang membantu membangunkan industri judi dalam negara ini,” kata Idris lagi.
PAS juga, katanya amat kesal kerana Mahathir masih bersikap prejudis kepada masyarakat Cina di negara ini yang dalam pemikirannya dianggap sebagai kaum yang suka berjudi.
“Beliau hadir dan berucap dalam perhimpunan 'Melayu Bangkit' di Kuala Terengganu semalam dan mencipta prasangka buruk terhadap orang Cina. Perkara ini tidak wajar kerana masyarakat Cina juga bukanlah masyarakat yang suka berjudi dan ucapan beliau ini adalah satu penghinaan,” ujarnya.
Menurutnya, tabiat judi adalah masalah yang dicipta dalam masyarakat bagi melalaikan mereka dan kerajaan mengambil kesempatan daripada golongan yang tidak berilmu itu dengan mengeluarkan lesen bagi mengaut hasil perjudian.
Justeru, kata beliau sewajarnya kerajaan memberikan pendidikan kepada rakyat, memberikan maklumat dan berusaha memerangi gejala judi dalam masyarakat sama macam memerangi gejala dadah.
“Bila judi diharamkan maka rakyat juga tidak akan berani berjudi. Aktiviti judi haram perlu dilihat sama seperti sindiket pengedaran dadah dan hukuman berat wajib diberikan kepada penganjur aktiviti judi,” katanya lagi.
Idris menambah, rakyat perlu diberitahu akan keburukan judi dan mengajak mereka bersama-sama memerangi judi.
Katanya, kerajaan harus menjadi kerajaan yang membantu membina rakyat dan masyarakat ke arah yang lebih positif dan proaktif, bukannya menjadi kerajaan yang meruntuhkan akhlak rakyat.
Justeru, ujarnya lagi, jika kerajaan BN dikekalkan, maka sampai bila pun masyarakat di negara ini akan terus dipersendakan dengan dasar-dasar yang tidak progreasif dan hilang sifat holistiknya.

Cash Vendor Sings the blues no more in Malim Nawar

Addendum : Malaysianinsider reports that ‘it is understood that the first-term assemblyman has personal money issues and his car had been repossessed after defaulting on the month(ly) repayments’.
______________________________
25th February, last year, Malam Nawar state assemblyman, Cash Vendor, alleged that he had been propositioned by certain quarters with the sum of RM20 million and a state executive councillor post as inducement to quit his party, DAP, and become an independent or join BN.
And if he joined BN, the Perak MIC head’s post could also be his.
Cash said then that these offers were made by agents claiming to represent then DPM Najib.
“I urge Najib to come forward and explain the matter because this shows that the federal government is corrupt and desperate,” , Cash said.
Malaysiakini has that story HERE.
Ah, but that was then.
Cash has since seen the bright lights of BN.
Today, Malaysiakini reports that Cash announced that he was calling it quits on DAP.
He is now an independent who supports BN.
Yes, the same BN that he said last year was resorting to corrupt practices to garner his support.
His reason : DAP has not helped him in his constituency, and that he has had to use his own funds.
A matter of cash, Cash?
Cash says he’s clean, though, and denies that cash was involved in his decision to quit DAP. If we are in doubt, he says, then feel free to check his bank accounts.
And he says he did it for the well-being of the people of Malim Nawar.
“I know the initial response from my constituents won’t be good, but I will go to the ground to explain to them that I did this for their good,” , Cash says.
Gues what, Cash?
We’re going to go to ground, too, to explain to your constituents what a political whore you are!

“Diam, pondan!”

By Shanon Shah - The Nut Graph,

IN part three of The Nut Graph’s series of interviews with victims of state-appointed moral police, we speak to a transsexual who works in Seremban, who says she was assaulted by Negeri Sembilan Islamic religious enforcers in March 2010.
Rina, 27, a part-time wedding hairdresser, tells The Nut Graph of her experiences in this 31 May 2010 exclusive phone interview. We agreed to keep her identity anonymous in the interest of her safety.

(Wiki commons)

TNG: Boleh awak ceritakan apa yang awak sedang buat sebelum operasi oleh pegawai jabatan agama tersebut bermula?
Rina: Kejadian berlaku kira-kira pukul 1 pagi. Saya tengah berjalan dengan seorang kawan yang juga merupakan mak nyah. Kami berjalan berdekatan dengan tempat letak kereta di Taman AST, Seremban. Tiba-tiba datanglah sebuah kenderaan besar, seperti van atau Pajero. Pintunya dibuka dan keluarlah seorang lelaki yang terus mengejar saya dan kawan saya. Saya pun lari sebab saya ingat dia peragut. Kemudian saya terdengar dia bercakap di dalam walkie-talkienya, “Suspek melarikan diri.” Barulah saya tahu bahawa dia pegawai jabatan agama. Tapi dia memakai pakaian biasa. Dia tidak mempamerkan apa-apa dokumen pengenalan sebagai pegawai jabatan agama, atau mengumumkan kepada kami bahawa dia dari jabatan agama.
Lepas awak sedar yang dia penguatkuasa jabatan agama, apa yang awak buat?
Mula-mula saya lari ke belakang sebuah restoran. Tetapi akhirnya saya berhenti dan keluar menyerah diri. Kemudian dia menyentap rambut saya dan menarik kepala saya ke depan dan ke belakang. Akibat perbuatannya itu, saya tersungkur. Bila saya tersungkur dia cepat-cepat melipat tangan saya ke belakang dan memijak-mijak muka saya. Saya menjerit, “Kenapa kamu buat saya begini?” Dia menjawab, “Diam, pondan!” Barang-barang saya pun semuanya terjatuh ke dalam longkang.
Kawan awak pula macam mana?
Dia sempat menyorok di bawah salah sebuah kereta di tempat parking itu dan tidak ditangkap.
Masa awak diberkas oleh pegawai penguatkuasa itu, ada atau tidak saksi di sekeliling?
Masa itu, kami berada di perkarangan rumah kedai, jadi adalah kawan-kawan mak nyah saya yang memerhati dari tingkat atas rumah kedai tempat mereka tinggal.
Kemudian?
Kemudian kami dibawa masuk ke dalam van tadi.
Ada berapa orang di dalam?
Empat orang – pemandunya, seorang di sebelah pemandu, seorang wanita, dan orang yang mengejar saya.
Awak dibawa ke mana?
Ke jabatan agama Islamlah. Dalam van lagi mereka meminta IC saya, tapi saya hanya ada salinan fotokopi. Lalu saya diperintah meminta sesiapa yang rapat dengan saya membawa IC dari rumah. Saya pun menghubungi kawan saya melalui telefon bimbit. Sebaik sampai ke jabatan agama, ada kawan-kawan mak nyah saya yang turut ke sana tapi mereka tidak dibenarkan masuk menemani saya. Namun mereka membawa IC saya.
Di jabatan agama, saya mengadu kepada pegawai lain yang saya cedera dan tidak diberikan apa-apa rawatan. Saya juga mengadu kepada mereka bahawa saya telah dikasari oleh pegawai penguatkuasa tadi. Mereka yang lain menggeleng-geleng kepala, saya rasa sebab mereka pun jijik dengan pegawai yang mengejar saya tadi. Tapi mereka tidak berkata apa-apa, sebaliknya pegawai yang menyerang saya mengugut saya lagi sekali depan mereka semua. Yang lain hanya memberi tisu kepada saya untuk mengelap luka.
Kemudian?
Saya dikurung seorang diri dalam sebuah bilik, dengan seorang pengawal berdiri di luar. Pegawai-pegawai tadi berkata bahawa mereka kena keluar lagi untuk operasi seterusnya. Sementara itu, mereka telah membawa lagi seorang “mangsa” operasi yang lain dan meletakkannya dalam bilik yang sama.

Kami disimpan dalam bilik itu lebih kurang dua jam. Saya dilepaskan kira-kira pukul 4:30 pagi setelah mereka mendapat jamin mulut daripada seorang kawan saya. Kemudian mereka memberikan saya tarikh untuk menghadap mahkamah.
Mahkamah mana?
Mahkamah Syariah Seremban. Saya didakwa atas jenayah syariah iaitu di bawah Seksyen 66, “lelaki berlagak seperti perempuan”.
Tapi memang ada kawan-kawan awak yang menunggu untuk membantu awak ketika itu?
Ya, memang ada kawan-kawan mak nyah saya yang cuba untuk membantu dan berada di jabatan agama waktu itu. Tetapi mereka tidak dibenarkan masuk untuk melihat saya.
Apa yang berlaku di mahkamah?
Saya diarahkan untuk hadir di mahkamah pada pukul 10 pagi, tapi sesi saya hanya bermula pada pukul 3 petang.
Awak sempat mendapatkan bantuan peguam?
Tidak. Tarikh mahkamah yang diberikan kepada saya hanya empat hari selepas saya ditahan, jadi saya tidak sempat membuat persediaan semacam itu. Sebenarnya saya mahu memberitahu hakim tentang kecederaan saya dan kelakuan pegawai jabatan agama yang menyerang saya. Tetapi ada empat orang pegawai jabatan agama yang juga hadir ketika itu di mahkamah, jadi saya hanya berdiam diri sebab saya takut.
Saya tidak mahu memanjangkan cerita, jadi saya terus mengaku bersalah dan dijatuhkan hukuman denda sebanyak RM700. Hakim memberitahu saya, “Kalau tak bayar RM700, awak masuk penjara tiga bulan.” Jadi saya membayar denda tersebut.
Adakah ini kali pertama awak ditangkap dalam operasi jabatan agama?
Tidak, tetapi sebelum ini, kalau jabatan agama membuat operasi dan mendapati bahawa kami tidak berbuat apa-apa, mereka hanya akan menasihati kami. Mereka akan berkata, “Buat baik-baik, ya? Lain kali jangan kena tangkap.” Paling teruk dulu pun mereka akan menghantar kami untuk sesi kaunseling selepas ditangkap.
Contohnya untuk saya, dua kes saya sebelum ini digugurkan – saya tidak perlu pun menghadap mahkamah. Tetapi saya kena menghadiri kaunseling di Pusat Kaunseling Majlis Agama Islam Negeri Sembilan di pusat membeli-belah Terminal One.
Tapi dengan pegawai kaunseling itu memang senang saya nak berbual. Kita boleh berunding dengan dia. Contohnya dia akan kata, “Kalau boleh, awak tolong berubahlah. Jangan buat perangai macam ini.” Saya pula akan menjawab, “Tapi memang saya dah macam ini.” Dia akan ketawa, bergurau dan akhirnya berkata, “Tapi tolonglah elakkan berpakaian seperti perempuan.”
Jadi bulan Mac lepas ialah kali pertama operasi jabatan agama menjadi ganas?
Ya, dalam pengalaman saya, memang ini kali pertama saya diperlakukan dengan ganas.
Awak tidak membuat laporan polis tentang kelakuan ganas ini?
Saya takut mahu buat laporan polis. Kalau ada staf jabatan agama yang tahu saya membuat laporan, mungkin mereka akan mark saya dan membalas dendam. Malang tidak berbau.

Awak tiada kepercayaan dengan pihak polis?
Bukan begitu. Polis dekat Seremban lain daripada polis dekat KL. Contohnya, masa mereka meronda, kalau mereka terserempak dengan mak nyah, mereka akan menegur dengan baik, “Jaga diri elok-elok, sekarang banyak operasi.”
Tetapi pada masa yang sama, kalau ada kes ragut contohnya yang melibatkan mak nyah, polis akan mengambil kenyataan sahaja dan jarang mengambil tindakan.
Adakah pengalaman ini memberi apa-apa kesan terhadap awak sekarang?
Memang. Saya pun kurang keluar pada waktu malam sekarang. Dan tiap-tiap kali saya keluar, saya memang rasa takut, walaupun saya tidak mengenakan makeup atau apa-apa. Saya sentiasa tengok kiri kanan, tak kira siang atau malam. Kalau saya pakai macam mana pun, memang saya sudah macam perempuan. Jadi apa yang nak dibuat?

Ekonomi Negara Semakin Merudum – Pakar Ekonomi Antarabangsa, Prof Jomo Kwame Sundaram

Part 2
Part 3

7,000 Counsellors To Come Under One Roof

KUALA TERENGGANU, June 15 (Bernama) -- More than 7,000 counsellors nationwide will come under one roof after the government agrees to the setting up of the Counselling Department.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the establishment of the department would enable counsellors to pool their energy and expertise, hence bringing their career to another level and with a clearer direction in tackling social ills.

"It's high time for such a department to be set up with standards and a specific code of ethics drawn up to provide better counselling service to the community," she said after closing the three-day National Counselling Convention 2010 organised by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, here, Tuesday.

Shahrizat said her ministry would invite relevant parties like the National Board of Counsellors and Malaysian Counselling Association to study the setting up of the Counselling Department.

She said after the study had been completed, the matter would be brought to the Cabinet for further action.

"We have organised a number of programmes this year where we received feedback from counsellors for a counselling department be set up to help in their career in terms of standards, code of ethics and training."

Shahrizat said currently there were 5,000 counsellors in schools and 1,827 registered ones nationwide, besides 350 at public and private higher learning institutions, 126 with non-governmental organisations and 99 with private organisations.

In a related development, Shahrizat said the ministry would invite counsellors to together go to the ground to tackle social problems at the grassroot level.

The National Counselling Convention with the theme, "Quality Counselling Service the Foundation for Community Development", was attended by about 200 people from throughout the country.