The call of Kali

The Nut Graph by Eddin Khoo "...will you walk through your fears, to dance with me?" – from a hymn of Kali AS often as the story has been told, it can't be told enough. The narrative remains an essentially "modern account". It encapsulates the great transformations of the last century affecting human movement and encounter. For all that it tells of developments in communication, history and politics, it remains principally a narrative bound with the expression of individual faith and haunting hope. In the port of Madras, towards the end of the 1890s, young Tamil men and women awaited to board steamers that would bring them to the Malay peninsula. Here, they would serve as labourers, part of the kangany system in the newly cleared rubber plantations sprouting throughout British Malaya. This indentured workforce only had the promise of three square meals, a small plot of land at the end of the term's labour, or a pass for the steamer back home. Disembarkation at the ports of Penang and Klang was followed by resettlement throughout the Malay peninsula and the hapless task of clearing the land. It was the early experience of entering into darkness. A Tamil proverb cautions: "Settle not on land where there is no temple." The act of creating the estates and commencing cultivation of them was always then accompanied by the more personal effort of constructing a shrine and enacting religious observance. Whether driven by superstition or plain bhakti (devotion), the shrines served as the centre of activity and communion for these isolated communities. The deities who presided there, it was held, guarded their devotees' plight. By the early part of the 20th century, Indian immigration intensified in the urban centers of the peninsula where a principally Tamil workforce was assembled to help in railway construction and administration. Again, a similar process occurred. Urged by a dream or portentous incident, a shrine would be erected, a suitable mythology forged, a congregation gathered. The practice of faith in these shrines remained diverse, polyglot, demotic; expressed in the forms and rituals of a folk tradition far removed from the puritanical observances of an institutionalised faith. The choice of presiding deities reflected this. There was Muneeswaran, the cheerot-smoking Tamil folk god, sword in one hand, warding off evil; and Subramaniam, also known as Murugan, the archetype of Tamil consciousness whose trident brought light unto the world. And always Kali, mother goddess, goddess of death and destruction who ruled over this age, the age of Kali (Kali Yuga), characterised by its incessant stress, strife and endless turmoil. Kali the slayer The noted historian of Kali, David Kinsley, has written an evocative portrait of the mother goddess: "The goddess Kali is almost always described as having a terrible, frightening appearance. She is always black or dark, is usually naked, and has long, dishevelled hair. She is adorned with severed arms as a girdle, freshly cut heads as a necklace, children's corpses as earrings, and serpents as bracelets. She has long, sharp fangs, is often depicted as having clawlike hands with long nails, and is often said to have blood smeared on her lips. Her favourite haunts heighten her fearsome nature. She is usually shown on the battlefield, where she is a furious combatant who gets drunk on the hot blood of her victims, or in a cremation ground, where she sits on a corpse surrounded by jackals and goblins." Among the many myths associated with her is one that locates her in an age where evil forces reigned relentlessly. Responding to supplications from his followers, the god Shiva sent the goddess of war, Durga, to enter the battlefield and slay the demon king Rakavija. Unknown to the goddess was a boon that had already been bequeathed to the demon king by the god Brahma. Every time a drop of the demon's blood was spilt, he would be reborn a thousand times more powerful. Unable to quell the multitude and increasingly powerful incarnations of Rakajiva, Durga summoned pure shakti (energy) from her brow — Kali, the incarnation of destruction and eternal justice. Slaying the demon king with her sword, Kali placed her lips on the wound to drain his body of all blood. But drinking his blood sent her into an uncontrollable rage and she ventured to slaughter all who crossed her path until Shiva himself was forced to place himself at her feet, bringing a temporary calm. Transcending fear Philosophically, Kali devotion locates itself at the very centre of the Hindu belief system — the transcendence of spirit over body and matter. Confronting, worshipping and embracing the goddess in her dark Self serves as the act of transcendence over fear and illusion. Commonly associated with the rise over adversity, Kali worship naturally beckoned an ascendance among the working communities of the Malay peninsula. In estates, in the squatter areas of the menial workforce, where light was scarce and conditions intense, the appeal of the dark goddess was natural. Apparitions of her were frequent, and shrines, devoted to her presence, immediately constructed. So it was some 80 years ago when a dream inspired a railway worker to plant a trident at his home, break the ground, and invite the goddess Kali to enter. Bequeathed to his daughter Muniamma Superaian, and now attended to by her daughter Gowri Arumugam, this shrine, the Kuil Sri Padhpathira Kaliamman Alayam, located in Brickfields, attests to this lineage of faith. Home to an ever-growing, multiracial congregation, regular prayers and rituals — all the details of a living faith — are still held at this shrine, culminating each year, at mid-year, when the image of the goddess Kali is "taken for a walk" within the surrounding vicinity. That month is Amma (mother)'s month. The ritual ablutions and bath that precedes the walk serve as a symbol for the act of renewal and creation through destruction — according to the Kali way — of the individual ego, of self-delusion and the material. In a climate where the viability of modest, old shrines are being challenged, occasions such as the walk and the daily rituals remain testament to the particular histories of communal practice that have shaped our diversity. And in this age of formalising and institutionalising almost every aspect of human life, even the expression of faith is contained. Where belief was once expressed in the form of events and vibrant rituals conducted at modest local community shrines, these are now occasioned in grand structures replete with the solemn murmurings of an organised faith. Eddin Khoo is a poet, writer, translator and journalist. For a decade he has worshipped at the Kuil Sri Padhpathira Kaliamman Alayam.

Hindraf and the supremacy of State

NEW DELHI, Oct 27 — Of unusual international importance is the fact that Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has, with a topical political touch, extended Deepavali greetings to the Hindus among the country's ethnic Indian minority.

Unlike in India, where even the greetings of interest to only some sections are extended to all citizens regardless of their sub-national identities, it is customary in Southeast Asia to specify the target group on such occasions. This, of course, is not the real issue at stake now in Muslim-majority and multicultural Malaysia, insofar its two-million-strong ethnic Indians are concerned.

The relevant point is that Najib, who has been designated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to succeed him next year, linked the mystique of Deepavali to the challenges faced by the Indian-origin citizens today. Noting that the festival marked a traditional celebration of the triumph of good over evil, Najib expressed the hope that Malaysian Hindus would, in that "spirit," seek to "resolve any problem in the best way possible." Why has he chosen to strike this line? The answer is not far to seek.

Malaysian Indians, many of them mobilised by the recently-banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for over a year now, want to keep their grievances in global focus. And, Najib is equally determined to reassert the supremacy of the state. The authorities have recently taken actions that the opposition parties in the country see as a political "offensive" against an outfit with "a core human rights agenda."

An alternative view, favoured by the Malaysian government, is that Hindraf, which began making its presence felt at the time of Deepavali last year, is divisively communalist, as different from being merely ethno-centric. The country's social contract has fostered power-sharing among race-based political parties that are drawn from the ranks of either Malays or ethnic Chinese or, indeed, the people of Indian origin. However, these predominantly ethno-centric parties have, by and large, fought shy of readily accepting religion as the wellspring of a political or social outfit.

A striking example is the general hostility of race-based parties in the ruling coalition towards Pas. Over a noticeably long period, Pas stridently advocated Shariah-based Muslim polity as the best model for the country. In the run-up to the recent snap general election, though, Pas publicly gave up its political patent — the advocacy of an Islamic state. This aspect clearly helped the fast-changing party endear itself to secular voters across the spectrum. And today, Pas is a proactive member of the three-party opposition alliance, the Pakatan Rakyat, at the federal and state levels. Two of the PR's constituents are multiracial in outlook, while Pas fielded an Indian-origin candidate for a state seat in the last poll.

Viewed in this perspective, Hindraf leaders have not tried so far to distance their outfit from its religious mooring. They have instead specialised in using the Hindu temple as "a safe sanctuary" to carry forward their campaign for a "fair deal" for the Indian-origin minority. The temple, they say, is the only platform accessible to them in the face of a "state-sponsored crackdown."

Debatable as this argument might be, especially so in the eyes of the Malaysian government, the fact remains that Hindraf, proscribed with effect from Oct 15, had not adequately disputed its “religious orientation”. On the other hand, Hindraf activists are often accused of having capitalised on the sentiments that gripped the ethnic Indians when an “unauthorised” temple was demolished, for “development” purposes, before Deepavali last year. Soon thereafter, this outfit, led by lawyers and other professionals, began articulating an ethnic Indian political agenda of seeking rights "on par" with those of the other communities.

And, after Hindraf's campaign picked up momentum, evident during a mass protest rally in Kuala Lumpur last November, a senior Malaysian Minister apologised for the temple demolition which had served as a “flash point”.

Five proactive Hindraf leaders — P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganapati Rao (also known as Ganabatirau), M. Manoharn, T. Kengadharan, and T. Vasanthakumar — were served with two-year detention orders last December under the Internal Security Act. The law provides for detention for prolonged periods without any formal charges and judicial trial. Another leader, P. Waytha Moorthy, who was abroad at the time his colleagues were detained, remains in self-imposed exile.

Political speculation is rife that the current ban on Hindraf is an aspect of Malaysia's national security update, with or without reference to the ongoing preparations for a smooth transfer of power to Najib.

On a parallel track, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has publicised his "plans" to unseat the present Prime Minister and form an alternative administration. Sympathetic to the cause of ethnic Indians, Anwar wants the equality-agenda articulated in a non-polarising fashion in multi-religious Malaysia. In another development in the opposition camp, Pas, shedding its “Islam-exclusive” image, has now offered to mediate between Hindraf and the authorities. — The Hindu

தீபாவளி வாழ்த்துகள்

உங்கள் அனைவருக்கும் இனிய தீபாவளி நாள் வாழ்த்துகள்

Separation of Islam And Justice

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

It appears like Yang Berhormat Zulkifli Nordin, a Member of Parliament for Kulim has put his foot in his mouth again. After his very embarrassing performance at the Bar Council recently, one would imagine he would have learnt his lesson by now. Yesterday Zulkifli said he does not care about anyone’s opinion and he only cares about Islam. He gives an impression that he is an Islamic Mujahiddin who fights for Islam and who fights to uphold Islamic principles.

They say those who forget history are doomed to repeat its mistakes and I do not know whether Zulkifli Nordin is a student of history or not, but maybe he should brush up on his history, in particular history concerning Islam before he next opens his mouth and embarrasses the party that he is representing in parliament, which is Party Keadilan Rakyat. Party Keadilan Rakyat, as the name suggests, stands for justice. Islam and justice go hand in glove. You cannot separate Islam from justice or vice versa.

Let us look at just the last 50 or 60 years of Islamic history and try to get a good idea on what happens when Muslim leaders try to separate justice from Islam. Let us look at Algeria in the 1950’s and the 1960’s when they fought against French colonization or French occupation of Algeria. Both sides, the French colonists and the Muslim mujahiddins perpetuated crimes against humanity, to use the current key word that is banded about. Women were murdered. Women were raped. Children were murdered by bashing their heads on the wall. People were shot in cold blood and all sorts of crimes against humanity were perpetuated under the disguise of fighting for justice. What justice can there be when millions of citizens are killed in the struggle to gain a foothold in a territory? The French called it French territory and the Algerians said “This is free Algerian territory” and they wished independence. But in the fight seeking justice many, many people were massacred. It was almost like an ethnic cleansing.

Eventually the French decided to leave. Charles des Gaulle, the French who went on to become the French president made a decision that it was no longer tenable for the French to hold on to Algeria and they decided to give Algeria independence. But did the killings stop? No. A secular government was set up and the Islamists not being happy, decided they wanted an Islamic government. And the killing continued. This time it was no longer between the French and the Algerians but it was between the Algerians and the Algerians. And many Christians and many Jews were killed in the crossfire as well. Recently the FIS which is an Islamic party, won the elections and the military immediately walked in and took over and sacked the government. The killing continues into its 3^rd phase since the fifties and sixties.

Look at other countries, for instance in Iraq. When Saddam decided to oppose the Shia Islamic government of Iran, he moved his forces across the border and the 8-year war that ensued resulted in 1 million deaths. 1 million Muslims, Muslims killing Muslims. And today those deaths continue as Iraqis now fight against the American occupation of their country. Hundreds of thousands of Kurds were killed even before the American invasion of Iraq. And these Kurds were massacred, they were gassed. And entire colonies and community of Kurds who are Muslims were killed by their own Muslim government. The list continues. Afghanistan has resulted in 2 millions deaths. At first it was Afghans killing Afghans. Then it was Afghans killing Russians and vice versa. And now it is back to Afghans killing Afghans.

More Muslims have died in the course of struggling for justice. More Muslims have died in Muslim killing Muslim then in all the other Muslim-Christian wars over the last 1000 years.

Zulkifli Nordin is an Islamist. He probably claims he has been detained twice under the infamous ISA. The ISA is a law that stifles freedom of speech and freedom of association and Zulkifli Nordin says he does not care about other people’s opinions. The ISA therefore suits him well because the ISA also does not care about other people’s opinions. Does this mean that Zulkifli Nordin therefore supports the ISA? If so, let him speak now and make his stand clear as to what he thinks about the ISA. It is strange that a person like Zul who raids the bar council and who makes statements that he only cares about Islam and does not care about anything else would have that kind of mentality.

Was it not Abu Bakar, the first caliph of Islam who took out his sword and placed it before him and said, if he deviates from Islam, to take his sword and cut off his own head? Abu Bakar was responding to a question from the floor where one of the followers of Islam asked how can they be sure that Abu Bakar would be a good leader and will rule justly and will not deviate from Islam. And Abu Bakar’s response was, he offered his head to be executed with his own sword! That is a mark of a true Islamic leader, an Islamic leader who cares about other people’s opinion.

Zulkifli Nordin said he does not care about other people’s opinion. He is not a true Muslim and he is certainly not a true leader. He should redeem himself by resigning. Resign from the party and remain an independent candidate just like Ibrahim Ali who said he supports the ISA. Better still, Zulkifli Nordin should resign his seat in Kulim and allow for a by-election so that we can see whether the voters would like to continue to vote for a member of parliament who does not care about other people’s opinions. Zulkifli Nordin is a disgrace not only to Parti Keadilan Rakyat but also to Islam. A member of parliament who does not care about other people’s opinion should no longer remain a member of parliament.

Hindraf supporters released on police bail

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 26 - The 10 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supporters who were remanded for assembling in front of the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday, were released on police bail today.

They left the Putrajaya district police headquarters at 1.30pm, accompanied by their lawyers, led by Gobind Singh Deo and Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad, and Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkifli Ahmad.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Wira Mohammad Sabtu Osman said that the eight men and two women were released on police bail and had to report back on Nov 25.

Some 50 supporters and family members had gathered outside the police headquarters early this morning.

Eleven Hindraf supporters, including three women, were detained on Thursday after they tried to hand over to the Prime Minister’s office a memorandum calling for the release, before Deepavali, of the Hindraf leaders held under the Internal Security Act. They also brought along a six-year-old girl to display a poster promoting their cause.

One of the gr

Letter to Prime Minister of malaysia by 6 year old

The following is a threat to National Security in Malaysia:

Delegation invites PM to flowers and cakes - 11 people arrested, child taken to police station

(by Nathaniel Tan,jelas.info)I was pretty angry to read about the arrest of the delegation to the PM’s office earlier today.

The arrest of a group that included an 11 year old child is infruriating enough.

Once again, the simple question was: were these guys doing anything rowdy? Illegal? Threatening national security?

All they wanted to do was give a letter to the PM. That’s all.

Was it a letter threatening violence? Sending ill will?

Malaysiakini:

Contacted on her handphone while waiting for police to record her statement, Shanti said the group had attempted to submit a handwritten letter calling on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release all those detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) .

“The appeal letter (in Vwaishhnnavi’s handwriting) asked the prime minister to release her uncle, (and other Hindraf leaders as well as) RPK (blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, among other ISA detainees,” said Shanti.

“She said that Deepavali would not mean anything to her and all Malaysians, if they are not released.”

Shanti said the letter also included a invitation for Abdullah to attend the family’s ‘open house’ in conjunction with Deepavali.

“(Vwaishhnnavi) wrote that she would be waiting with flowers and cakes,” she added.

A small group of 11, with a letter of appeal, and invitation to flowers and cakes.

The response? Arrests.

This government has got to go.

ps- and while millions of Malaysian Indians are facing real problems, the lovable Wong Chun Wai choses to blog about Mahathir and Shah Rukh Khan, sigh..

'Govt action not anti-Indian'

PUTRAJAYA: The action against the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) should not be construed as a clampdown on Indians or Hinduism by the government, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

He said the action taken so far against the outlawed movement was simply because of their association with militancy and their extremist views.

"We are very clear on this and I don't offer any apologies for taking action in order to protect the peace, security and harmony of the country," he said when commenting on the arrest of the 10 Hindraf supporters who had turned up outside the prime minister's office yesterday.

On another matter, Hamid said it was the British authorities who had seized the passport of Hindraf chairperson P Waytha Moorthy, who is currently in self-imposed exile in London.

Speaking at his ministry's Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering yesterday, Hamid said they had seized the passport in London upon Waytha Moorthy's return from an overseas trip and then sent it to the Malaysian High Commission.

"I have given the instruction for the passport to be returned to him. The travel document was never cancelled. It expires in 2010."

Asked why the passport was seized, he said the British authorities did so based on its police-to-police network information, which showed that Waytha Moorthy was under investigation and had charges levelled against him.

Hamid also lambasted Waytha Moorthy for labeling him a "racist, extremist and liar" in response to the minister's justification in banning Hindraf.

"I cannot be a racist as in my family there are Indians, Chinese and Malays."

- nst

Hindraf 10 could be jailed 5 years

PUTRAJAYA: The 10 supporters of the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) who were arrested for gathering outside the prime minister's office on Thursday face a maximum five years' imprisonment if convicted under the Societies Act 1966.

Under Section 48 of the Act, those convicted could also be slapped with a maximum fine of RM15,000.

The 10 were produced yesterday before magistrate Nurdiana Mohd Nazir who allowed police to detain them up to tomorrow to carry out investigations.

Earlier, investigating officer ASP Rajali Agong applied to the court for a 14-day remand order to enable police to find out the motives of the assembly and who the organisers were.

However, counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the court that amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code only allowed a magistrate to allow a maximum seven-day detention if the offence investigated was punishable with a jail term of up to 14 years.

Amer, instead, applied that they be freed on police bail pending investigation.

He also argued that the 10 be released on bail as Deepavali was on Monday.

During the remand hearing, one of the female detainees fainted while explaining the conditions of the lock-up to the magistrate. She was rushed to Putrajaya Hospital.

N. Surendran, a lawyer who appeared with Amer, said the detainee was a diabetic and her legs had swollen as she had been unable to obtain insulin since her detention.

Another male detainee, was also admitted to Putrajaya Hospital on Thursday night, due to medical complications.

Surendran said the 10 detainees and a six-year-old girl had gone to the prime minister's office to hand over a memorandum, seeking the release of all Internal Security Act detainees and to invite Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to their Deepavali open house.

Police released the girl last night but she chose to remain with her mother who was also detained.

The girl was handed over to a family member outside the court.

- nst

Not all NEP elements will go, Najib aide clarifies

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 —Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said he is ready to dismantle a decades-old policy favouring Malays, marking a significant change from the government's staunch defence of the policy in the past.

A close aide to Najib, however, told The Straits Times that the Deputy Premier had said there would be a “gradual liberalisation of some of the elements of NEP”, and not the entire programme.

This could take place in the “not-too-distant future”, Najib had earlier said of the New Economic Policy (NEP) set up in 1971 by his father, Tun Abdul Razak, the then-premier, to help the country's Malays.

His remarks appear to be aimed at appeasing disgruntled non-Malays as well as disillusioned Malay youth who say the NEP serves only the interests of a select few, say observers.

“If we do not change, the people will change us. In the not-too-distant future, we will see all the elements of the New Economic Policy being replaced,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg.

The policy favours ethnic Malays and indigenous groups, or Bumiputeras, in public offerings, housing, government scholarships, procurement and employment. It has repeatedly drawn criticism from non-Malays, who complain it has led to distortions in the economy and cronyism.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had also capitalised on unhappiness with the NEP while pushing his multiracial platform — which contributed to his coalition's surprise victory in the March polls — and said he would scrap it if he seizes power.

With his latest comments, Najib — who is slated to take over from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi in March — is beginning to sound like Anwar. His remarks could be part of Umno's efforts to stem a slide in support, which saw it suffering major losses at the polls.

Some analysts remained sceptical, however, over Umno's readiness to give up the NEP, noting that it has helped many of its members.

James Chin, political science lecturer at the Monash University Malaysia Campus, said Najib was simply making the right noises to impress the non-Malay electorate as well as the global business community.

“Najib's statement was aimed at the business community. He understands that with the financial crisis the world is facing, Malaysia has to reform, especially on its NEP in order to attract new foreign direct investment,” he told The Straits Times.

“‘Not-too-distant future’ can mean any time between now and 100 years.”

Najib yesterday was also quoted as saying it was time for Umno leaders to conduct themselves in such a way that they would appeal to a wider audience, if they wanted to stay in power.

He was responding to former deputy premier Tun Musa Hitam's stinging criticism this week that the party was “too introverted” and suffering from old-age sickness.

Another Umno politician who is now whistling a different tune is Khairy Jamaluddin, the 32-year-old son-in-law of Abdullah. A year ago, he was taking the ultra-Malay approach of many politicians but now he is all for multiracial politics.

“The level of multi-ethnic camaraderie within BN is still lacking. It is as though we come together only for electoral purposes because we are part of this pact, the same coalition,” he said in an interview published in The Sun yesterday.

“There is no genuine feeling of a shared destiny, of a common future. That's something we have to change and I feel very strongly about that.”

But critics say the change could be too little, too late to save Khairy's reputation.

Even within Umno, he is struggling to garner nominations in the race with Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, son of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for the post of chief of Umno Youth. — Straits Times

Waytha Live Speech Part 1

Click the link below:-)
Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

ISA memo handed over at PM's office

From right Lim Lip Eng,William Leong,Loh Gwo-Burne,Siti Mariah and Fong Poh Kuan holding the petition for a debate on repeal of ISA. - Photogrpah by Choo Choy May

By Debra Chong

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 - A group of opposition lawmakers today submitted a petition to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi at his office here as part of an effort to have a Parliamentary debate of the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA).

MP for Selayang William Leong told The Malaysian Insider: "We want a motion to debate the ISA. We are not asking even for a review or for it to be repealed, but to allow the matter to be debated in Parliament."

He explained that this was because Parliament was the "right place" to bring up the law that allows for detentions without trials.

Leong noted that the motion to debate the ISA had first been mooted since the first sitting of Parliament after the March general elections by Teresa Kok, the MP for Seputeh who herself had been detained under the Act for a week last month.

However, the motion has been stagnating as the Speaker for the Dewan Rakyat has not allowed its debate.

Leong called on Abdullah "as a defender of democracy and human rights" to fulfil his promise to "liberalise the country's democracy" before his tenure as prime minister ends in March next year.

The petition bears the signatures of 85 out of the 222 MPs, with 81 from the triparte Pakatan Rakyat, the three independent MPs and one from Barisan Nasional.

Leong explained that they had only approached "20-something " MPs from the government coalition so far and would be mounting another session to persuade them soon.

None of the MPs were willing to disclose the identity of the sole BN MP who signed the petition. When asked, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng said: We cannot disclose. I can only tell you it is not from MCA."

Apart from Leong and Lim, the other MPs who were present included Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah), Dr Siti Mariah Mahmood (Pas-Kota Raja) and Loh Gwo-Burne (PKR-Kelana Jaya).

They handed over the petition to Datuk Ahmad Yaakob, the PM's chief senior private secretary at the Prime Minister's Office here today without much fuss.

Dim Deepavali as police remand 10 Hindraf followers

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 - Police have won a three-day remand until Deepavali on Monday for 10 followers of the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) arrested yesterday for trying to petition the Prime Minister to free their leaders held under the Internal Security Act.

Police earlier freed exiled Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy's wife K. Shanti and her six-year-old daughter Vwaishhnavi while another two of those remanded - coordinator S. Jayathas and Lourdes Mary - have been warded in Putrajaya hospital as they are unwell.

The 10 - eight men and two women - were taken to the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya as the Kajang court was sitting there due to renovations in its courthouse.

The Federal Reserve Unit threw a tight security cordon around the building from morning leading to complaints from lawyers and the public although the remand proceedings only began late evening.

Magistrate Nurdiana Mohd Nazari allowed the remand order under Section 48 of the Societies Act for assisting an illegal organisation, which carries a penalty of RM15,000 or five years' jail.

The government banned Hindraf on Oct 15 although it has never been registered.

One of the six lawyers representing the group, M. Manogaran, who is also Teluk Intan MP, criticised the heavy police presence in the court complex, saying he will lodge a complaint with the Bar Council.

"Why are there FRU personnel in a court of law? This is not the Government's court or (Home Minister Datuk Seri) Syed Hamid Albar's court?" he was quoted as saying by The Star.

"This is the first time where a lawyer is being asked to turn in his MyKad so that he can see his clients. They won't even accept my MP card," he said, adding that the supporters should not be remanded at a time when Deepavali was so near.

Several Opposition MPs - including Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan, Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng and Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam - were there to lend support to the Hindraf group.

Syed Hamid: NGOs involved in Hindraf activities face action

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 - Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar today warned that any non-governmental organisation (NGO) found to be involved in Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) activities would face the law.

He said this was because Hindraf was declared illegal by the government on Oct 15 for its militant activities, and that its actions contravened Section 5 (1) of the Societies Act 1996 and were a threat to public order, peace, civility and moral values.

“It doesn't matter what name they use, action will be taken...it's not an action against Indians or Hindus. This is action against groups that associate themselves with militancy and have extremist views,” he told reporters at the ministry's Aidilfitri open house, here.

The Kajang Magistrate's Court today ordered the remand for three days of 10 Hindraf followers arrested yesterday under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code and investigated under Section 48 of the Societies Act 1996 over an alleged illegal assembly to submit a memorandum to the prime minister.

On Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy who is now in Britain and claiming that the Malaysian government had cancelled his passport, Syed Hamid said Waythamoorthy could take back his passport at the Malaysian High Commission there.

The minister said Waythamoorthy's passport was taken by the British police when he entered the country due to the police-to-police networking as he had a case at that time.

Asked about the status of the Hindraf leader for staying in Britain without a passport, he said it was up to the British government to deal with him.

In another development, Syed Hamid said the cabinet meeting today was informed of the setting up of a task force under his ministry to look into delays in handling citizenship and identity card applications and problems involving birth certificates.

He said to date, there was a backlog of about 30,000 applications for citizenship and the cabinet was keen to see the problem resolved as soon as possible.

“I've already made a visit to Sabah and will be visiting Sarawak to look at the problems there. And I've ordered the formation of a mobile team to process the applications and I hope that we can buy a few vehicles for the purpose,” he added. - Bernama

Vwaishhnnavi, 6, released: Living in a topsy-turvy world

(anilnetto) P Vwaishhnnavi, the six-year-old niece of detained Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar, and her mother K Shanti were released today

But should they even have been held in the first place?

They were held until late last night. (But both didn’t want to leave their comrades after they were allowed to go, reported Malaysiakini.) For what? Reading out a memo, sending a greeting card and appealing for the release of ISA detainees ahead of Diwali?

And why were the other 10 arrested and now taken to court? To faciliate investigations, apparently. The KL police chief is reported in today’s Sun as saying they were detained for representing or acting for an outlawed organisation or group under Section 48 of the Societies Act.

We live in an upside-down world. In a functioning democracy, investigations are carried out first and only then are arrests made, if their are solid grounds to secure a conviction in court. Here it appears to be the other way round. Arrest first and then investigate later.

Would anyone in government care to look into the root causes of their unhappiness and grievances?

Membantah Penahanan Reman Aktivis Hindraf

Entah apa pertimbangan dan percaturan pimpinan Umno-BN tatkala saban tahun mereka melakukan penindasan ke atas masyarakat India. Tahun lepas kita menyaksikan perobohan Kuil Rimba Jaya menjadi ‘hadiah’ Deepavali Umno-BN buat masyarakat India.

Tahun ini, dalam keadaan beberapa hari saja lagi masyarakat India akan menyambut Deepavali, 11 individu ditahan - termasuk seorang anak kecil berusia 6 tahun - di saat mereka mahu menyerahkan memorandum secara aman di Pejabat Perdana Menteri semalam.

Hari ini Mahkamah Majistret Kajang menetapkan supaya 10 daripada mereka direman selama 3 hari sebermula hari ini. Sekaligus keputusan mahkamah ini menafikan hak mereka untuk merayakan Deepavali sebagaimana masyarakat India lainnya.

Saya berasa kesal dengan tindakan dangkal yang diambil oleh penguasa untuk menahan kumpulan 11 individu semalam. Hujahnya masih samar dan tidak jelas. Adalah menjadi tanggungjawab mereka untuk memberikan justifikasi dari konteks perundangan dan hak asasi, bukan mengambil tindakan cacamarba yang hanya memburukkan keadaan.

Kenyataan terdahulu Menteri Dalam Negeri bahawa Hindraf diharamkan atas alasan penganjuran demonstrasi yang menganjurkan keganasan adalah tidak munasabah. Waima ada pelanggaran undang-undang sekalipun, wajar bagi beliau membuktikan setiap butir katanya dengan fakta dan pembuktian jelas, bukan mengadu domba tanpa hala!

Saya menyeru agar Kementerian Dalam Negeri khususnya Menteri yang berkenaan tidak bersikap selektif terhadap berpuluh lagi gabungan dan pertubuhan yang acapkali berselindung di sebalik sentimen perkauman sempit, sekiranya mereka mahu membuktikan mereka adil di mata rakyat.

Kita tidak boleh terus berkompromi dengan slogan anti-keganasan dan anti-sentimen perkauman untuk terus menghalalkan kezaliman!

ANWAR IBRAHIM

A non-explanatory explanation

I'm not sure whether the Bar Council issued this press release to clarify the posting I made here or the articles that appeared in The Star or/and Utusan Malaysia. No reference is made in the press release to any of the above.

The explanation does not explain why the Bar refused to give dispensation to Salleh Abas and apply its discretion through Rule 62 when it had done so with KC Vohrah. It is this apparent unwillingness to apply the same privilege to the former Lord President that has brought about the perception that the Bar practises double-standards.

If there had been a "mistake" in giving KC Vohrah dispensation, why is that mistake not being admitted here?

But then again, the precedence in the form of KC Vohrah is not even mentioned in the press release!

If the Bar Council is hoping to close the issue with this sorry excuse of a press release, I'm really disappointed with it.

SYED HAMID IS A RACIST, EXTREMIST AND LIAR

We refer to the statement by Syed Hamid justifying the HINDRAF ban.

The allegation that HINDRAF is an extremist group and allegedly caused to declare that Malays and Islam are their only enemy is absolutely ridiculous and a blatant lie.

We challenge Syed hamid to prove those speeches were evermade. We know he would not have the courage to do that but would continuously lie to enhance his ailing political career within UMNO. It has always been UMNO’s tactic to raise racial and religious feelings whenever there are problems within UMNO. History of Malaysia and the history of UMNO have proven this.

Each and every HINDRAF gathering and meetings are recorded and kept in safe. We knew these and many other dirty and cheap methods would be used by UMNO to demonise and paint an evil picture of HINDRAF and were ready for the negative propaganda campaign especially when the entire state machinery and media are controlled by them.

Recent deliberate negative publicity given by the Malay Dailies controlled by UMNO and mainstream TV3 are expected and we are prepared for worse to come. But nothing can stop our pursuit for justice and democracy.

Syed Hamid is no doubt a racist, extremist and Liar. There is no point asking for his resignation because this man does not have any moral dignity left in him. He would continuously lie and pretend as if he is the serving “justice”.

HINDRAF was never a religious body. It only raises legitimate rights of HINDUS and INDIANS to practise their Religion in peace and quiet under the Federal Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We have always maintained we never have any problems with Malays and Muslims but we have serious problems with UMNO, which is a bully, and practises racist and extremist divide and rule policies to survive and maintain its political rule in Malaysia.

P.Waytha Moorthy
CHAIRMAN
HINDRAF

Anwar now 'in no hurry' to topple BN

Syed Hamid: Utusan 'given warning'

Utusan Malaysia

MCPX

has been “given warning” by the government over some of the controversial articles which the Umno-owned newspaper has published, revealed Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

However, he did not elaborate on the issue after being asked to comment why action was taken against some newspapers and not Utusan.

The Malay daily has come under severe criticism for publishing a short story on the assassination of a politician modelled on opposition parliamentarian Teresa Kok.

The minister also said that the police are investigating Bukit Bendera Umno chief Ahmad Ismail for sedition and action could be taken against him soon.

Again, Syed Hamid did not divulge more details on the probe against his party colleague in Penang, stating that he would rather let the police do their job.

The minister nevertheless defended the police’s handling of the controversy which was sparked off by the allegedly racial remarks made by Ahmad against the Chinese community during the Permatang Pauh by-election in August.

After a public outcry, Ahmad was suspended for three years by Umno in September.

“The party has taken action against Ahmad Ismail and now he is being investigated under the Sedition Act,” said Syed Hamid in an hour-long exclusive interview with Malaysiakini at his ministry in Putrajaya on Tuesday.

He was responding to questions as to why no action had been taken against Ahmad while Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng was arrested under the Internal Security Act for reporting Ahmad’s alleged racial remarks.

“Don’t ask why this person is not arrested and why that person is. That sort of thing, the police has got their own reasons...,” said Syed Hamid tersely.

Tan was arrested on Sept 12 and was released less than 24 hours later.

At that time, Syed Hamid had said that Tan was arrested for her own safety and to maintain public order.

For her own protection?

However, it was his “for her protection’ remark which bemused many observers. When asked about this, Syed Hamid blamed the media for highlighting the matter.

“I think I would laugh at it, but I will tell you that it was not the core and fundamental reason (for her arrest).

“That was the reason that was highlighted by the media. If you listen to what I said – there is a threat and the police perception of this threat to public order, to security. That is the reason this person was (arrested under ISA).

“Maybe they want to bring her in to ensure that nothing happens to her. I mean this is not the (only) reason – surely you are matured enough to know that this is not the reason.

“A person like me would not use an irrational thing (like this) but I was hit very badly on this thing to say that ‘Oh, it is for her protection’ when it was never the core or the fundamental issue of her arrest,” he virulently defended himself.

Syed Hamid reiterated that Tan’s arrest was to maintain public order and security.

“Things were getting very tense, everybody was talking about it and it was becoming highly politicised, and the polemic was not productive and it was not contributing (to the situation),” he said.

Syed Hamid ended the interview by appealing to Malaysians to try to understand his difficult role as home minister.

“I am subjected to criticism, I do not need sympathy. I need a lot of understanding from people, that’s all,” he said.

Shanti: I stayed in police station in protest

K Shanti, wife of Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy, voluntarily spent the night at the Putrajaya district police headquarters in protest of the detention of her 10 friends and relatives.

MCPX

"I told them that I was not leaving without my relatives and friends, as a protest. I only left at about 7.30am today to go to court," said Shanti, who looked exhausted from lack of sleep.

She was among 11 individuals arrested yesterday evening when they accompanied her daughter, Vwashnnavvi, 6, to the Prime Minister’s Office to deliver a handwritten letter.

In it, Vwasshnnavvi invited the prime minister to her family’s ‘open house’ during Deepavali celebrations and appealed for the release of all Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees.

Police obtained a three-day remand order against the remaining 10 detainees, from Kajang magistrate Nurdiana Mohd Nazari this afternoon.

Met outside the court, Shanti said the police finished recording her statement at about 9.30pm yesterday and she was allowed to leave at about midnight.

Shanti also confirmed that she was informed earlier today that police were investigating her for alleged child abuse and would be taking statements from her at a later date.

"I don’t know. It seems so ridiculous," said Shanti, when asked for her reaction.

No statements recorded yesterday

Meanwhile lead counsel for the 10, Amer Hamzah Arshad, criticisised the police for denying the detainees their right to legal counsel up until remand proceedings.

He also criticised the police for seeking a long remand period of 14 days despite failing to record any statements from the detainees yesterday.

"If they deny the right to counsel, then they should have done their work and investigation during the first 24 hours. Instead, they now have the gall to come to court to seek a remand order," he said.

According to Amer Hamzah, the police had told the magistrate that they were trying to establish the purpose of the assembly and who was behind it.

He said the police did not argue on grounds that the suspects would abscond or tamper with evidence.

The police have the authority to seek an extension to the remand order when it expires on Sunday (Deepavali eve).

"Under the law, the police can seek a maximum three-day extension. We hope that common sense prevails and all will be released immediately," Amer Hamzah added.

Detainee collapses in court

The 10 are being investigated under Section 48 of the Societies Act for allegedly participating in an unlawful organisation.

Hindraf, an unregistered organisation seeking empowerment for marginalised Indians, has been banned since Oct 15 by the Home Ministry.

A minor commotion occurred during the remand proceedings when one detainee, Lourdes Mary, collapsed and had to be rushed to hospital.

Friends and supporters of the detainees demanded that the court police should call for an ambulance, but when it failed to arrive, they carried Lourdes Mary into a car and sent her to the Putrajaya Hospital. (See pix)

Court police initially tried to stop them from taking her away before the ambulance arrived, but a police officer eventually got into the private vehicle and accompanied her to the hospital.

An ambulance arrived 10 minutes later.

Police Watch and Human Rights Committee coordinator S Jayathas who is among the 10, was also warded at the Putrajaya Hospital for health complaints.

The magistrate is expected to read the remand order to both warded detainees later today.

Child, mother freed, 10 remanded

(Malaysiakini)P Vwaishhnnavi, the six-year-old niece of detained Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar, and her mother K Shanti were released late yesterday but opted to spend the night at the Putrajaya police station.

Mother and daughter were with 10 others arrested yesterday when they attempted to submit a letter at the Prime Minister Department's office in Putrajaya, appealing for ISA detainees to be freed.

The duo were released late last night but they refused to leave the police station and stayed with the rest.

The remaining 10 were taken to the Kajang Magistrate's Court this morning where the police have applied for a two-week remand to facilitate their investigation.

However, the magistrate only extended remand to three days till Sunday when hearing resumed in the afternoon following a lunch break. This means that the 10 will be able to celebrate Deepavali with their families on Monday.

Security was tight at the court complex, where six riot police FRU trucks as well as a water-cannon truck have been deployed. About 50 supporters and family members of those arrested have gathered outside the courthouse.

Journalists have also been barred from entering the court complex.

Police showed a document signed by Kajang magistrate Nurdiana Mohd Nazari stating that only the lawyer representing those arrested and their family members are allowed into the court.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad (left) from the Bar Council's Human Rights Committee, who is leading a six-member team on behalf of the 10, spend this morning arguing over the remand proceedings.

At 1.15pm, the court ended the arguments for lunch break. The magistrate announced her three-day remand decision at 2.30pm.

Detainees may miss Deepavali celebrations

According to lawyer N Surendran, the remand proceedings today were delayed because the legal team was not allowed to meet with the detainees prior to the proceedings.

“Police did not give the opportunity for the lawyers to meet with our clients last night and the court has to stand down in order for us to take instruction (from the 10),” he said.

According to him, the 10 are being investigated under Section 48 of the Societies Act for participating in an unlawful organisation.

“These people want to give a letter to the Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), what has that got to do with unlawful organisation?” asked Surendran.

He added that it is unlikely for the 10 to abscond since all of them have a permanent address and therefore releasing them on a police bail would suffice.

“Any attempt to remand is an attempt to punish them especially with Deepavali being around the corner,” he stressed.

During the remand hearing, one of the female detainee, Lourdes Mary, fainted in court while explaining the lock-up condition to the magistrate.

According to Surendran, the detainee is a diabetic and her legs have swollen twice the size as she was unable to obtain insulin since her detention yesterday.

“I have never seen this kind of neglect in court before,” lamented the lawyer.

Meanwhile, another legal team member M Manogaran criticised the police for demanding lawyers to register themselves before entering the court building and for barring journalists from entering the complex.

“This is a tragedy. As an officer of court, I have a statutory duty to go into the court [...] We will take this issue to Bar Council. It’s a breach of statutory duty,” said the lawyer, who is also the Teluk Intan MP.

Police: Vwaishhnnavi not arrested

Vwaishhnnavi is the daughter of Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy, who is currently in self-imposed exile in London.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman told Malaysiakini yesterday that eight men and three women were arrested during the incident.

He clarified that Vwaishhnnavi had not been arrested and was with her mother.

According to the police, those held are being investigated under the Societies Act following the Home Ministry's imposition of a ban on Hindraf on Oct 15, declaring it an illegal organisation.

The Home Ministry today clarified that Shanti (right) had her statement taken at the Putrajaya police district headquarters for "taking part in an organisation that has been banned under Section 48 of the Societies act and subsequently released the same evening".

"Her daughter, Vwaishhnnavi, chose to stay with her and was not questioned," said the statement, which was sent to Malaysiakini.

"Shanti and her daughter were not detained by the police last night but they still chose to stay at the police station and spent the night at the lobby lounge of the police station."

Police Watch Malaysia coordinator S Jayathas, who was also held, claimed that they had been told that they were part of an illegal assembly for having gathered near the entrance of the building.

"We were trying to obtain permission from the security guards for Vwaishhnnavi to submit her letter. They said that we were from Hindraf, but we insisted that we were 'concerned Indians' who were accompanying Vwaishnnavi," Jayathas had said yesterday.

Social contract must adapt to changed times

John Lee is a second-year student of economics at Dartmouth College in the United States. He has been thinking aloud since 2005 at infernalramblings.com.

OCT 24 — The social contract is something people tell us never to question. If at all we mention it, we are supposed to be deferent towards it, as a measure of the infinite wisdom of our forefathers. But the social contract, however wise it may have been five decades ago, is irrelevant to us today, at least as it is completely understood. The notion that some people are more worthy of being Malaysian than others, or that some Malaysians are innately more loyal to the country is complete nonsense today.

In the first place, what is the social contract? For every politician who has threatened to exile uppity non-Malays and denounce their citizenship, I've got some news: that's violating your precious "social contract". It's in the Constitution. If you want your worship of the social contract taken seriously, you have to be consistent: either you take the whole deal, or you don't.

And quite frankly, I don't see why we ought to accept this whole deal. Let's think about real contracts for a moment. Let's use a common analogy people love to bring up: the tenants sharing a home. First, let's be realistic: if there is a landlord at all, it is God — or fate, if you're an atheist. God let out this country to the Orang Asli first, and later he brought in the Malays. Then with a twist, he let the colonial powers invade us and brought in other peoples to join the Malays. We're all sharing the land now, on a lease from God, and of course to make the sharing fair and equitable, we need an agreement — a contract.

But like any human room-mates will, we often end up arguing about the agreement. Who is supposed to take out the trash? Is it okay for one tenant to take the other's leftover nasi lemak from the fridge? Who should oversee the renovations? Even if we sort these matters out in the contract, no normal or even reasonable human being will let that be the end of the matter. Circumstances change, and the reasonable thing to do is to adapt to change.

Let's make this even more personal now — let's make this a family. Because really, that's what we are — whether I like them or not, my parents are my parents and my siblings are my siblings. I may hate some of them, I may disagree vehemently with some of their views, but I still have to love and respect them.

That doesn't mean I will do whatever they tell me to do — if my father tells me to jump into a lake I won't do it. But what it means is that when we disagree, we try to do respectfully, and we try to work something out that works for everyone in the family. And realistically, there is no way we will be able to ignore, let alone toss out, whole swathes of Malaysia: you are not going to be able to deport the non-Malays or let the rural farmers and estate workers wallow in poverty, just as you can't disown your flesh and blood.

Now, as a parent or a room-mate, maybe you work things out by bossing everyone else in the house around — I don't know. But that strikes me as a particularly bad way to be running a household. If I share a house with someone else, I don't scream at them until they clean the toilet, even if it's their turn and I pay more than half the rent.

If my father told my mother exactly how to run her life, she would be mad as hell at him, and for good reason — my father shouldn't be ordering her to massage his feet or yelling at her to shut up. That's not how adults talk to each other. As a Malaysian, I don't like it when one of us talks down to the other, whether it's a Chinese CEO denigrating the abilities of his Malay colleagues or a Malay politician insulting the integrity of his non-Malay constituents.

But at the same time, adults also know that we have to deal with reality. If my room-mate breaks his ankle, I can't expect him to mop the floor. If my sister has an examination, I don't expect her to help hang the laundry. Yet, whenever we insist that the social contract must remain perpetually unchanged, we are insisting that we can never adapt to changed circumstances.

The simple fact is, the Malaysia of 50 years ago is not the Malaysia of today. Fifty years ago, most non-Malays could not read or write in the national language, and felt closer to China or India than they did to their homeland. Try today to find a Malaysian who roots for China or India in the Olympics, or who cares more about the fate of the Chinese Communist Party or Congress Party in India than he does about the Umno party elections. Fifty years ago, it was not unreasonable to assume a non-Malay did not feel very keenly loyal to the country; today, it's perfectly preposterous.

To say that the social contract of 50 years ago remains completely applicable and is thus completely non-negotiable today is to deny that anything about Malaysia has ever changed and will ever change. If you do not see the insanity inherent in this position, that is like saying when I am 70, I should still be expecting my parents to be cooking my meals and paying my bills. People change; countries change. Our social contract, whether it is in the home or in the public sphere, must adjust accordingly.

Now, inherent too in the social contract is the principle that the disadvantaged must be helped to stand on their own two feet. I don't think any person can be against that. But again, times change, and needs change. When I was three years old, I needed knee guards because I kept falling down. Should I still be wearing them now? Of course not — I don't need them now. Some members of our family need more help than others, and it is only fair that they be helped. But those who by now clearly do not need any more assistance — the Nazir Razaks and Ananda Krishnans — they shouldn't be counting on any help from the "social contract”.

The level of discourse when it comes to the social contract in our country is pathetic, because we refuse to talk like adults about the agreements we have made. We refuse to adjust to changing circumstances, we refuse to accept that reasonable adults can disagree respectfully about controversial things. A husband and wife can argue about their marriage without getting divorced. Why can't Malaysians talk about the founding basis of our nation without threatening to throw one another out of the country?

Police truly barbaric: 6 year old arrested

This is way TOO much and shocking. And there’s really no justification for this act by the government. Really shame on you, Mr Abdullah!

What kind of government arrests kids or takes them to police station? A barbaric one, is all I can say!

What kind of report you want from a six year old? All she wants is to see her daddy! Deepavali’s coming, remember?

Those who have kids or have a little heart should really know! But I guess the Malaysian police is heartless and hopeless.

Malaysia truly barbaric. Read her about Malaysia’s propaganda on Child Rights. And read inside how this child was arrested yesterday.

READ MORE HERE: http://sloone.wordpress.com/2008/10/24/polic-truly-barbaric-6-year-old-held-by-police/

Task force to look into Indians without papers

©The Star (Used by permission) KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will set up a task force to look into the problems faced by Indians born in Malaysia who have no birth certificates and identity cards, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The Deputy Prime Minister said there were 20,000 to 30,000 Malaysian Indians who had no documentation and that he had raised the issue at last week’s Cabinet meeting. “Malaysians born in this country must be given ICs and birth certificates. We have decided that the Home Ministry will set up a special task force to provide genuine citizens with proper documents,” he said yesterday in his speech at the Bazaar Deepavali in Brickfields. He stressed that this applied to only Malaysians of Indian origin born here, and not those who came from India for work or other purposes. Najib said Malaysia was a unique country with its multi-religious and multi-racial nature and it was important to respect each other. He, however, pointed out that of late, there had been some efforts to cause racial problems in the country. “I invite all Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, to return to our basic principles of mutual respect. Do not make statements that would hurt another race. And do not act in a way disrespectful of other races or religions or others’ festivals and celebrations,” he said. “We have to work together, all communities, all walks of life,” he said, adding that he felt very welcomed in Brickfields and thanked the Indians there for garlanding him more than 25 times. “I smell sweet from all the garlands and when I go home my wife is going to ask me why. And I will say it’s because I went to Brickfields and not because of anything else!” he joked. He said that as a Malaysian, he wanted to feel very much at home, regardless of whether he was in Brickfields, Kampung Baru or Petaling Jaya. Najib also supported the proposal to develop Brickfields into a “Little India”. “Brickfields is a unique place because it is a microcosm of the Indian community,” he said, adding that in the past the Government had acquired three pieces of land in the area from Tenaga Nasional Bhd to erect Hindu temples. “We will continue to develop this area. It is important for us to be one,” he said. Earlier, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique said Brickfields had a 100-year history and suggested that it should be developed into a Little India like those in Vancouver, London and Paris. Also present at the Bazaar Deepavali were MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan.

Hindraf leader calls Syed Hamid a racist and extremist

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Hindraf chairman P. Waytha Moorthy has called Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar a “racist, extremist and liar”.

He said this in a press statement in response to Syed Hamid's justification for the ban on Hindraf which was that the group promoted extremism and named Malays and Muslims as its enemies.

“The allegation is absolutely ridiculous and a blatant lie,” Waytha Moorthy said and challenged the minister to prove these statements were ever made.

But he added that "we know he would not have the courage to do that but would continuously lie to enhance his ailing political career within Umno."

"There is no point asking for his resignation because this man does not have any moral dignity left in him. He would continuously lie and pretend as if he is the serving 'justice'," said Waytha Moorthy.

This outburst from the group's leader, who is currently exiled in the UK, comes on the back of yesterday's arrest of his six-year-old daughter Vwaishhnnavi along with 11 other Hindraf leaders who attempted to submit a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi demanding the release of the five Hindraf leaders currently held under the Internal Security Act.

They, however, claimed they were just ordinary citizens and not representing the banned group.

Waytha Moorthy also accused Umno of using "tactics to raise racial and religious feelings whenever there are problems within Umno. The history of Malaysia and the history of Umno have proven this."

Najib ready to end special privileges for Malays

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is ready to end the special privileges for the Malays, but stressed that this must be done gradually.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, the Prime Minister-designate said "if we do not change, the people will change us".

"In the not-too-distant future, we will see all the elements of the New Economic Policy being replaced." He didn't say when that might occur.

"It's a huge challenge," Najib said in the interview yesterday. "There must be this political will and desire to change within Umno. I don't think we can expect people to look at us in more favourable terms unless we change, unless we rectify our weaknesses."

The Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition used the scrapping of the NEP as a campaign pledge to inflict record losses on the ruling Barisan Nasional in the March general election.

The NEP was devised by Najib's father, Tun Abdul Razak, when he was Malaysia's second prime minister to boost the Malays' economic status — through job allocations, cheaper homes and other benefits — in a country where ethnic Chinese had long been more prosperous and remain so. About 65 per cent of country's 27 million people are Malay.

According to Bloomberg, by offering to scrap the NEP, at an unspecified time, and replace it with a needs-based system, Najib is moving closer to the stance of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who also supports a system based on economic need.

Anwar is trying to seize power but said on Wednesday he is finding it difficult to woo ruling coalition lawmakers to his side.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi plans to step down in March and has named Najib, his deputy, as his successor. Abdullah sped up his planned 2010 exit from the political stage as racial tension increased.

Some analysts Bloomberg spoke to expressed doubt that Umno, the leading party in the ruling coalition, is ready to give up a programme that helps its members. Political consultant Karim Raslan said Umno hasn't fully accepted how much it needs to change.

"I don't see enough frankness in terms of challenges facing the party," Karim said. "Many of the party leaders feel that by replacing Abdullah they will overcome these weaknesses. I have to disagree with them. I don't see many signs of revival," Bloomberg quoted him as saying.

Najib's family has held top positions in politics and business for generations. His father led Malaysia from 1970 to 1976. Najib's cousin is the current education minister. His younger brother Nazir Razak runs the country's second-biggest bank CIMB Group Bhd.

Abdullah picked Najib to succeed him despite misgivings by some over controversies surrounding the deputy prime minister.

Najib has denied suggestions that he is linked to the murder of a Mongolian woman in 2006, and that he had an affair with the victim. A political analyst who worked for Najib is on trial for abetting two police officers in the murder.

Anwar also has accused Najib of profiting from defence contracts and of being behind criminal charges that the opposition leader had sex with a man. Anwar denies the sex charge, and Najib denies both being involved in bringing the case against his opponent and making money from defence contracts.

Bloomberg also quoted former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as saying that Najib has to explain all things that are said about him. "Unfortunately, we don't have any other candidate. We have no choice but to choose Najib," Dr Mahathir said.'

In the interview, Najib called the allegations against him baseless.

"I'm telling you, I wouldn't stay in office a day longer if I knew I am involved in these allegations," he said. "There's no proof, no basis. I can sue people, but it's going to be a tedious process in court."

Vwaishhnnavi and mum freed, 10 in court

P Vwaishhnnavi, the six-year-old niece of detained Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar, and her mother K Shanti were released today after spending a night at the Putrajaya police district headquarters.

Mother and daughter were with 10 others arrested yesterday when they attempted to submit a letter at the Prime Minister Department's office in Putrajaya, appealing for ISA detainees to be freed.

The duo were released late last night but they refused to leave the police station and stayed with the rest.

The remaining 10 were taken to the Kajang Magistrate's Court this morning where the police are expected to apply for further remand to facilitate their investigation.

Security was tight at the court complex, where six riot police FRU trucks as well as a water-cannon truck have been deployed. About 50 supporters and family members of those arrested have gathered outside the courthouse.

Journalists have also been barred from entering the court complex.

Police showed a document signed by Kajang magistrate Nurdiana Mohd Nazari stating that only the lawyer representing those arrested and their family members are allowed into the court.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah from the Bar Council's Human Rights Committee, who is acting on behalf of the 10, is currently in court arguing over the remand proceedings.

Police: Vwaishhnnavi not arrested

Vwaishhnnavi (left) is the daughter of Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy, who is currently in self-imposed exile in London.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman told Malaysiakini yesterday that eight men and three women were arrested during the incident.

He clarified that Vwaishhnnavi had not been arrested and was with her mother.

According to the police, those held are being investigated under the Societies Act following the Home Ministry's imposition of a ban on Hindraf on Oct 15, declaring it an illegal organisation.

Police Watch Malaysia coordinator S Jayathas, who was also held, claimed that they had been told that they were part of an illegal assembly for having gathered near the entrance of the building.

"We were trying to obtain permission from the security guards for Vwaishhnnavi to submit her letter. They said that we were from Hindraf, but we insisted that we were 'concerned Indians' who were accompanying Vwaishnnavi," Jayathas had said yesterday.-Malaysiakini

Uthaya's niece, 11 others held

The six-year-old niece of detained Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar was with 11 people arrested when they attempted to submit a letter at Prime Minister Department’s office in Putrajaya today.

MCPX

P Vwaishhnnavi (right) is the daughter of Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy who is currently in self-imposed exile in London. Her mother K Shanti was among those arrested.

Police Watch Malaysia coordinator S Jayathas, who was also held, claimed that they had been told that they were part of an illegal assembly for having gathered near the entrance of the building.

“We were trying to obtain permission from the security guards for Vwaishhnnavi to submit her letter. They said that we were from Hindraf, but we insisted that we were 'concerned Indians' who were accompanying Vwaishnnavi,” Jayathas when contacted.

They are currently at the Putrajaya district police headquarters, but police chief Abd Razak Abd Majid declined comment when contacted.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman confirmed the arrest of eight men and three women during the incident. He clarified that Vwaishhnnavi has not been arrested and is in her mother’s care.

He also said the 11 are being investigated under the Societies Act. (The Home Ministry had imposed a ban on Hindraf on Oct 15, declaring it an illegal grouping.)

Waythamoorthy furious

Contacted on her handphone while waiting for police to record her statement, Shanti said the group had attempted to submit a handwritten letter calling on Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release all those detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) .

“The appeal letter (in Vwaishhnnavi’s handwriting) asked the prime minister to release her uncle, (and other Hindraf leaders as well as) RPK (blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin), among other ISA detainees,” said Shanti.

“She said that Deepavali would not mean anything to her and all Malaysians, if they are not released.”

Shanti said the letter also included an invitation for Abdullah to attend the family’s ‘open house’ in conjunction with Deepavali.

“(Vwaishhnnavi) wrote that she would be waiting with flowers and cakes,” she added.

Contacted in London by phone, Waythamoorthy expressed outrage that his daughter, wife and supporters had been picked up by police.

“It’s ridiculous to arrest [sic] a child who has come to deliver a Deepavali card and a letter to the PM asking him to release all ISA detainees,” said an obviously incensed Waythamoorthy.

“This only shows that the PM is not telling the truth when he said he is a PM for everyone. He is not!”

On Dec 13 last year, five Hindraf leaders - Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar - were slapped with a two-year detention order under the ISA. They are being held at the Kamunting detention camp in Perak.

Meanwhile, about a small crowd of about 30 people had gathered outside the Putrajaya police headquarters from 7pm to find out the latest on the plight of those detained.

As of 11pm, all 11 and Vwaishhnnavi are still being held at the Putrajaya police station.

Zulkifli Nordin attacks everyone over Islam

Zulkifli Nordin accused several parties including his own party members of disrespecting or insulting Islam in Dewan Rakyat today.

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 - Pakatan Rakyat MP Zulkifli Nordin accused several parties including his own of disrespecting or insulting Islam in Dewan Rakyat today.

"This pillar is being challenged from left, right, above, below, behind or in front, whether from the ruling party or from this side," he said, referring to the opposition benches.

His statements are set to reignite speculation that he is ready to crossover to Umno as PKR have constantly been criticised for not punishing Zulkifli despite the party's principles of multicultural tolerance.

The Bar Council bore the brunt of his outburst as he accused it of insulting Islam by supporting apostates in Dewan Rakyat today and called for a separate Bar Council for Syariah laywers to be established which will protect those who practise Syariah law.

"In the case of Azalina Jailani, the Bar Council sent a representative to be present in court to ensure she became an apostate," he added while debating the 2009 Budget.

Azalina, also known as Lina Joy, however, had failed in her attempt to have the Federal Court rule that her religion be changed from Islam to Christian in May last year.

The Kulim Badar Baharu MP also said that a recent forum by the Bar Council to discuss Islamic matters openly, caused racial and religious tensions.

Zulkifli had led a protest against the "Conversion to Islam" forum in August but insisted that he was there in his capacity as a Lawyers in Defence of Islam (Pembela) exco member, not an MP for PKR.

He reiterated his stand today, saying "There are those that speak as if I am supporting another party but I am actually fighting for Islam. I do not care about what other people think of me because I will have to answer to Allah."

Zulkifli proceeded to attack the suggestion that surfaced during the MCA General Assembly last weekend where delegates had called for the appointnment of a second Deputy Prime Minister who would be a non-Malay, calling it another challenge to Islam's position.

"It insults Islam when parties go to court insisting they have the right to use the world Allah like Muslims do," he said in reference to the ongoing case where local Catholic weekly The Herald is attempting to get a court order to allow it to use the word Allah.

Zulkifli also said that certain groups did not respect Muslims by disrupting Hari Raya celebrations by making unsuitable requests, an apparent reference to Hindraf's presence at the Cabinet open house where they lobbied Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to release the Hindraf 5 detained under the Internal Security Act.

He further claimed that the undermining of Islam had occurred since the time of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"This man had tried to expel a mufti who wanted to defend Islam. He soiled the institution of the Malay rulers with his deeds. He should be the last person to defend the Malays, after what he did. His hands are soiled," he said.

Zulkifli then asked for a mosque to be built specifically for the Chinese Muslim community in Kuala Lumpur as more Chinese were converting to the faith.

"I suggest the Pudu prison site be used for this purpose," he told Dewan Rakyat.

He suggested also for certain articles in the Federal Constitution be amended "so that Islam is not challenged by irresponsible parties."

Article 11(4) allows for state law and federal law in respect of the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Labuan, to restrict the propagation of any religious doctrine or belief among persons professing the religion of Islam.

Zulkifli called for this clause to be passed into all state constitutions.

Article 3 protects freedom of religion which Zulkifli wants amended so that Muslims specifically be subject to the regulations of Islam.-themalaysianinsider