Waythamoorthy to continue hunger strike

He will stop fasting if Prime Minister Najib agrees to endorse the Hindraf blueprint at a meeting slated for tomorrow noon at Putrajaya.

RAWANG: A three-man delegation from Hindraf Makkal Sakti will meet Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya on Monday at 12 noon for talks on the civil rights movement’s five-year blueprint alright.

But that does not mean Hindraf supremo P Waythamoorthy would end his hunger strike, which had completed 14 days. Neither would Hindraf throw its support to Barisan Nasional automatically.

Waythamoorthy today insisted that he would continue with his hunger virutham (hunger strike) until either political blocks – Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat, or both, endorsed Hindraf’s blueprint in writing.

He said Hindraf would meet the prime minister tomorrow to seek his written endorsement to implement permanent solutions as manifested in its blueprint for the marginalised Indians.

“We won’t settle for piece-meal solutions,” a resolute Waythamoorthy told FMT.

He is fasting in a Hindu temple here to compel BN and Pakatan to endorse its blueprint designed to uplift the downtrodden segment of ethnic Indians. He has been surviving only by drinking plain water and is physically weak.

Najib’s meeting with the Hindraf delegation – Waythamoorthy, his deputy W Sambulingam and the movement advisor N Ganesan – could be a crucial twist to the premier’s political plot to regain lost ethnic Indian electorate ground in the forthcoming general election.

No prime minister-cum-BN chairman-cum-Umno president has ever agreed to hold official talks with Hindraf anyway.

Just five years ago, BN federal government outlawed Hindraf for reasons best known to Putrajaya administration.

Prior to that, Putrajaya revoked Waythamoorthy’s passport, forcing him to live in Britain for four years under political asylum.

But things changed after Najib took over the premiership from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009.

Shortly after becoming the prime minister, Najib released the detained Hindraf activists under the now repealed Internal Security Act from Kamunting Detention Centre.

In July this year, Najib issued Waythamoorthy a valid Malaysian passport, allowing the Hindraf leader to return home. Two months ago, his government lifted the banned on Hindraf.

Now he wants to meet Hindraf officials to deliberate on the blueprint.

Ganesan told FMT that Najib’s invitation to Hindraf on March 22 for talks clearly showed that he recognised the movement as a powerful voice for the voiceless ethnic Indian working class.

Pakatan’s lost

Meanwhile, many Hindraf supporters and well-wishers have been visiting the ailing Waythamoorthy at the temple.

Some advised him to end his fast while others hailed him as hero for sacrificing his life for the ethnic Indian cause.

Among them were M Meenachi and K Kanimoli from Simpang Ampat, Penang, and T Saroja and M Punitha from Baling, Kedah.

They all supported Waythamoorthy’s hunger strike, saying that political parties cannot go on sweeping issues crippling the marginalised Indians under the carpet.

They said virtually all Indians have been affected by racism in both public and private sectors.

Given both BN and Pakatan failed to endorse Hindraf’s blueprint until today, they and other family members would abstain from the next election.

“We will support whoever endorses the Hindraf blueprint,” avowed the four ladies, who all voted for Pakatan in the last election.

A 65-year-old visitor, who wants to be named only as Ragu, said he and seven other family members have always voted for DAP in Rasah constituency.

But, he said Waythamoorthy’s hunger strike had made him realise that DAP was a chauvinistic party draped in a multi-racial veil.

“Why should we now give our votes to DAP?” he asked.

Observers insisted that if Najib takes the bold step to endorse Hindraf’s blueprint and vowed to implement permanent solutions to end working class Indian plight, BN could regain its traditional parliamentary two-thirds.

“Pakatan will be finished,” some said.

Hindraf and the crisis of conscience

COMMENT The Hindu Rights Movement (Hindraf) played an important catalytic role in waking up Malaysians to the dismal failure of the BN formula of race-based policy-making and its poor implementation.

It led the way and brought Malaysians to the streets. It contributed to wiping out BN's two-thirds majority.

Declared illegal, hounded and disempowered, its leader P Waytharmoorty (right) is in his second week of a 'hunger viratham'.

Although there are other groups of Malaysians in the same boat or in a worse state, the Indian poor has become a potent symbol of all that is wrong with Malaysia.

The bitter fruits of the corruption and systemic failure of the government's implementation of the NEP and the NDP is partially acknowledged by the Najib administration and addressed by generous handouts labeled as BR1M.
Struggling to make ends meet
After more than fifty years in power and especially decades of rapid economic growth, giving out BR1M because Malaysians are struggling to make ends meet is a terrible indictment for a country that is oil-rich, the 13th largest trading economy in the world, and one that is headed for developed status in seven years.

If inflation, as the mainstream press has reported, is at 1.2 percent and the economy is performing so well, income disparity remains a major problem.

Which brings us back to Hindraf and the problems the movement is highlighting about the Indian poor in Malaysia.

There is no disputing that there are other groups of Malaysians who are equally poor or even worse off.

The main argument put forward by Hindraf is that the situation for the Indian poor is more acute because it is a direct result of institutionalised racism and the failure of the government (whether BN or Pakatan) to address the issue.

The issue of poverty is intractable enough, its proponents claim, without being made worse by ethnicity-based policies, racism and religious discrimination.

In short, it is bad enough being discriminated against because of the colour of your skin but much worse to be stereotyped and despised because of your way of life, religion and culture.

It is more than a movement to highlight the discrimination by the government, it is a national struggle for dignity and respect from the wider Malaysian society.
Fasting in protest
One of Hindraf's leaders and some of its followers, including non-Indians, are now fasting to protest their situation.

They want the Hindraf Blueprint to be fully incorporated into the manifestos of the political coalitions contesting the 13th general elections.

It is, they argue, the only way to break the glass-walls of Malaysia's race-based policies, which is so pervasive that both coalitions are committed to upholding it.

There is also an additional class element that Hindraf is highlighting, the propertied and moneyed class that make up Malaysia's elite, who by and large want business as usual.

In going beyond ethnic politics, some in Pakatan have argued that one has to move away from policies that address one ethnic group alone.

Whilst Hindraf itself acknowledges that Pakatan has accepted some of their blueprint recommendations, the sticking point is Pakatan's refusal to promise enacting policies that are tailored to the Indian poor specifically.

This, Pakatan said, will be going back to square one.

Many overtures
The BN, through the initiatives of Premier Najib Razak, have made many overtures to Hindu Malaysians.

Brickfields in KL, for example, is now brightly lighted and has been spruced up and promoted as a national tourist destination.

It is "Little India" that, if the BN wins convincingly with Indian support, can be expanded throughout the country.

Tamil schools have been provided with bigger budgets although the carry-through has not met the mark.

The MIC, embattled since the 2008 GE, has been given the opportunity to deal directly with Indian Malaysians through BR1M and other 1Malaysia programmes.

All this, Hindraf and detractors of the BN claim, is mere window-dressing.

Can we expect the BN to re-structure and address the problems associated with Indian Malaysians more comprehensively? If it continues to outsource Indian issues to the MIC, can the problems ever be solved?

The problem with appealing with both coalitions is that one is at the tender mercies of politicians.

As individuals they may be decent and committed but once in a group, they have to make expedient decisions.

Hindraf will not get its desired objectives without support from all Malaysians.

Herein lies the rub, for is Malaysia really facing a crisis of conscience when they can see their fellow Indian Malaysians taking to the streets, filling up prison cells, dying in police custody, forcibly removed from plantations, drifting into the cities with no social security and being forced to accept BR1M and other handouts?

When the Sabah was "intruded" upon by foreign elements, Malaysians went ballistic with patriotism.

Some even suggested going into Mindanao to take out the Sulu sultanate.

But when the disenfranchisement of their fellow Malaysians happen gradually before their eyes, we see, hear and say "no evil".
Comprehensive solution
The solutions that Hindraf seeks will not be found on the political platform.

Yet, they are right to insist on a blueprint that will force the public eye on the problems faced by the Indian poor.

Malaysians have to do a lot of soul-searching to find innovative ways to come out with a comprehensive solution.

If we regard this as an "ethnic" issue, we might as well vote for the coalition that has the longest experience managing them.

Hindraf like other movements dedicated to the cause of a minority group has to be radical and aggressive.

So long as they keep within the law and do not resort to extra-constitutional means to achieve their goals, they have the right to fight their cause.

The government recognised that right recently when it declared that the movement was no longer illegal.

Whilst there is no denying that Hindraf is a ethno-religious movement focusing on the Hindu poor, solutions that they seek need not be based upon more "ethnic-based" policies.

I do not believe that more of the same will help the Indian poor.

It will take all the talents in Malaysia to figure out how to alleviate poverty, narrow the income gap and create a more equitable society.

Hindraf forced us to stare at inequality in Malaysia squarely in the eye but in finding solutions to the problems it highlights, we may yet find the solutions to intractable larger issue of Malaysia's unequal society.

Ultimately, it is about dignity and respect.

Handouts, festivals, free food and patronage do not solve problems. They are in fact part of the problem.

To level the playing field, to provide a human being a proper head start, we need to restore to them a healthy sense of self-respect.

India has given the world some of its oldest religions. It is the land of the Buddha and of Gandhi.

If we have enough respect for each other, half the battle is already won. Unfortunately, we are not even near crisis point on this important issue.

Our conscience seems to have been seared.

It contains no impressions!

---

NEIL KHOR completed his PhD at Cambridge University and now writes occasionally on matters that he thinks require better historical treatment. He is quietly optimistic about Malaysia's future.

PM finally to meet Hindraf leaders tomorrow

(Malaysiakini) Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has finally scheduled to meet leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) movement tomorrow, two months after the government lifted its ban on the group.

As Hindraf is one of the best recognised groups speaking up on Indian-related issues, the meeting is likely targetted to help Najib shore up his Indian support prior to dissolving Parliament.

"(Hindraf chief) P Waythamoorthy has received an invitation from the prime minister on March 22 for talks on Hindraf's five-year blueprint.

"This has been discussed within the leadership of Hindraf and it has been decided to accept the invitation," Hindraf advisor N Ganesan told Malaysiakini.

The meeting is scheduled to take place tomorrow at the Prime Minister's Office at 12pm.
Ganesan said Hindraf would be represented by a three-man delegation, but did not name whom.

The meeting comes as Waythamoorthy enters his 15th day of his solo hunger strike to highlight the movement's blueprint.

‘Pakatan talks stalled’

Hindraf had previously met with Pakatan Rakyat's leadership to highlight its blueprint to uplift the Indian poor, but talks have stalled after the movement demanded seats to contest in the next general election.

PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim has also appeared reluctant to give a full endorsement of Hindraf’s blueprint, although he has since added some demands into the Pakatan manifesto.

Waythamoorthy in a recent interview with Malaysiakini dismissed any possibility of an electoral pact with BN, saying that the ruling coalition has "a long way to come" compared to Pakatan Rakyat.

However, he had said that he would still submit Hindraf's blueprint for endorsement should Najib meet with the movement.

Najib has been working hard to court the Indian community since taking office in 2009 and on Jan 25 lifted the over four-year ban against Hindraf.

The PM’s agreement to finally meet Hindraf comes as time runs out on Najib to call the next general election.

While Parliament will only expire on April 28, Negeri Sembilan will be the first state assembly to be automatically dissolve next Wednesday and analysts predict that the premier may call for polls before then, in order to not appear weak.

‘Outlawed under Abdullah’

Hindraf was outlawed on Oct 14, 2008 by then Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar under the administration of former PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The government had then described Hindraf as a threat to public order, the security and sovereignty of the country as well as the prevailing racial harmony if left unchecked.

Hindraf had earned the ire of the government after it mobilised more than 30,000 Indians onto the streets of Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25, 2007 in a bid to highlight the marginalisation of the community.

The historic street protest is credited as one of the contributing factors for the March 8, 2008 electoral setback for BN that saw Indian support for the ruling coalition dramatically reduced.

The BN lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament that it had held since the coalition’s creation in 1973.

Some two weeks after the 2007 rally, five Hindraf leaders were detained under the Internal Security Act for two years.  

Hindraf critics are demonizing the victims

Written by Dr V.S. Paraman

Nyam Kee Han may be young in age but the comment made by this activist of the ‘Sahabat Rakyat’ human rights group is mature. He had said: “Any real reform agenda could never be successful by ignoring, neglecting and sidelining a selection of marginalised citizens…”.

If only the many experienced governments had listened to the concerns of their marginalised and disgruntled groups, and practised policies of inclusion, they could have been avoided the high cost to lives and threat to internal security.

Below are examples albeit the list is not exhaustive:

Irish Republican Army and the British government

The dispute, which began as a struggle for home rule, was drawn out over many years. After it descended into an armed conflict and spread into England, extensive damage was inflicted on the UK economic structure and security. Although loathed by British public and politicians, the IRA enjoyed financial and moral support from the American Irish community. The then Prime Minister Tony Blair eventually brought the IRA to the discussion table to reach a settlement. Today, the Irish parliament includes elected ex-IRA members.

Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Turkish government

The PKK was a workers union outfit, which began as protectors of improvised ethnic Kurds in Turkey. When the authorities used violence to arrest, intimidate and harass the Kurds for pursuing their ethnic interests, the PKK started an armed campaign to counter the actions of the authorities. The European Union had tried to broker a peace deal but to no success. Although there is some improvement; the Kurds remain marginalised. The EU has used Turkey’s breach of human rights to forestall its entry into the union.

African National Congress and the former apartheid government

The appalling sufferings of the blacks during the white South African rule are well known. Malaysia staged an anti-apartheid concert to support worldwide campaign to free Nelson Mandela, who had run an armed struggle against the racist, ruling government. Following global condemnation of the white government’s apartheid policy, Nelson Mandela was invited to join the reconciliatory council to rebuild the country. Free after 25 years imprisonment, Mandela became the first president from the ANC of South Africa.

Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government

FARC grew from a small peasant organisation to its present unprecedented military strength, in part facilitated by its taxation of illicit drug production. FACR is a product of a lack of government response to the severe hardship faced by peasant farmers. On 27 August 2012, the Colombian government engaged in exploratory talks with FARC to end the internal conflict.

Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) and the Spanish government

ETA is an armed Basque nationalist and separatist organisation formed in 1959 with an aim to gaining independence for the greater Basque country. On 5 September 2010, ETA declared a new ceasefire and in the following month, the group announced a cession of its armed activity. In November 2012, ETA announced that it would disband its armed wing – a decision welcomed by the government.

Taliban and the Afghanistan government; Somali warlords and the transitional government in Somalia

In these two countries, the examples relate to majority clan warlords who engaged in armed activities to gain military power. After overthrowing their legitimate governments, the Afghan and Somalian warring militia groups had seized land rights from unarmed minority groups. After many years of violent conflicts which totally destroyed the infrastructure in their countries, transitional governments are only now installed to return stability.

Where does Hindraf sit?

Hindraf’s campaign for real freedom sits in line with two other groups that ran a non-violence campaign against its oppressors: the Indian National Congress led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British Empire and the black civil rights group led by Dr Martin Luther King Jr against racial discrimination exercised in southern states of America.

In the first instance, the British government had ridiculed, humiliated and imprisoned Mohandas Gandhi several times to break his resolve for India’s independence from the British.

Gandhi’s practise in truth and non-violence secured him a moral victory over the colonizers. The British was significantly condemned by the international community for being prepared to use violence against an unarmed and non-violent group. Gandhi’s passive resistance had succeeded to buckle a great empire and won India her independence.

In the US, Dr King and his supporters used Gandhi’s non-violence approach to reform the practice of racism. They withstood insults, violent attacks, threats and intimidation, loss of lives, humiliation, arbitrary arrests and detention in order to end racism in the US.

The above victories are significant because the people there were prepared to brave physical violence in pursuit of real reform.

Makkal Shakti in Malaysia



Whether one supports Hindraf or not, we must acknowledge the movement’s invaluable contribution to the birth of a true public and collective democracy. Malaysian political consciousness was awakened by Hindraf’s outcry for justice.

Makkal Shakti caught fire in Malaysia when in November 2007 a little known Hindraf organized a very large protest to signify the Indian community’s dissatisfaction with regard to their living standards and treatment in Malaysia.

Hindraf’s daring stance is historic in Malaysia because the group and its supporters were fearless in their public display of solidarity against a brutal government. They did this in the face of harsh reprisals from the government. Its many prominent activists and supporters had suffered bouts of imprisonment, detention and violence as well as slapped with multiple court charges.

But many remain steadfast in the struggle to further their cause.

Their resolve, hardened by an oppressive and racist government, won them a moral victory.

What ‘ubah’?

Opposition politicians and the opposition-supporting public alike are desperate for reform in Malaysia.

In their desperation for ‘change’, many fail to appreciate the young Nyam Kee Han’s view that any real reform cannot be “…successful by ignoring, neglecting and sidelining a selection of marginalised citizens.” Both novice and experienced politicians have a tendency to demonise victims to deflect from their own failings and responsibilities.

Senior politicians take the position that Hindraf’s campaign should be put on the backburner because its agenda is “racist”. They like to add that poverty and/or statelessness exist in the Malay and Chinese communities too.

It is not that these politicians dispute the merit of the Indian complaints. They are just saying that the suffering of the Indians is no greater and no worse than that of the Malays and Chinese.

In other words, such remarks can be loosely translated as “Take a number and sit down because there are others before you Indians”.

What is the truth of the situation?

Let’s examine the favourite argument by Hindraf detractors that there are other ethnic groups who have poor people too.

Since our Independence in 1957, Umno has prioritized care for the welfare of Malays and you have to admit that they’ve done so quite capably.

If you insist on arguing that there poor Malays, then you should at the same time ask why the Malays are still poor after 53 years of NEP assistance. And the next question is where does this put the other non-Malay communities who have had no NEP assistance whatsoever for 53 years?

The opposition is deafeningly silent on the future of the NEP vis-à-vis the Malay ‘special position’ as highlighted recently bu Dr Kua Kia Soong.

As for the Chinese opposition, they have thundered that the NEP has failed and there exists Chinese poor too whom the affirmative action programme has not helped.

Do these Chinese opposition supporters expect Hindraf to take up the cudgels for the poor and disadvantaged Chinese in the name of colour blindness and the “beyond race” dogma?

Since the Chinese are a bigger minority and better organized and more well-to-do, isn’t the onus on the Chinese to “fight for all the poor (including Indians) regardless of race”?

And therefore, instead of criticizing Hindraf for not rising above a “race-based” focus, how about these Chinese critics show us that “they fight for all the poor irrespective of race”? Can they show that they’ve ever fought for the Indian poor?

Bukit Aman urged to re-open Altantuya death probe

PKR Youth yesterday filed a request with the police for the authorities to re-open the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case, following the revelations of lawyer Americk Sidhu at last week' Bar Council annual general meeting on private eye P Balasubramaniam's second statutory declaration.

Its chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin (right), who filed it at the Dang Wangi police station, also urged the police to call on prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, Americk and carpet businessman Deepak Jaikishian and senior lawyer Cecil Abraham to give their evidence.

"I will sent a memorandum to Cecil seeking an explanation from him on what were Najib's directives to him.
"I urge the police to re-open the police investigation papers. They can re-open investigations based on Americk's revelation during the 66th Bar AGM.

Americk had revealed that Cecil acted on Najib's orders to prepare the second SD for the late Balasubramaniam.

In a related development, a NGO submitted a memorandum to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) also urging the latter to re-open the Mongolian translator's murder investigations in 2006, because of  the latest revelations.

Jihad for Justice, led by its chairperson Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim, handed over the memorandum to DSP Anuwal Ab Wahab at the Bukit Aman police headquarters yesterday evening.

No follow-up by IGP

Thasleem (second from left in photo) said that the memorandum was a follow up to a letter to the IGP on Feb 21 on the same matter, which he claimed did not receive any response.

He said that he had met Balasubramaniam at a forum in Kuala Lumpur shortly after the latter's return from self-imposed exile in India, and was convinced that the detective was telling the truth about his first statutory declaration on Altantuya's death which implicated Najib.

"Bala's untimely death was a shock to the whole nation and I was quite badly shaken by it," Thasleem said.
He said that he had hoped that Najib would take court action against either Balasubramaniam or Deepak who had made similar allegations implicating him in the murder case.

"When that was not forthcoming, I was even more convinced that the files must be reopened," Thasleem said.

There must be a final closure on this matter and all those including police officers who covered up (on this issue) must be identified, he added.

PKR vice-president R Sivarasa and PKR's Human Rights and Legal bureau deputy chairperson S Jayathas were also present when the memorandum was submitted.

Altantuya was killed on the night of October 18, 2006.

Bersih to ‘name and shame’ candidates

Bersih says it will 'name and shame' candidates who condone political violence.

KUALA LUMPUR: Election reform watchdog Bersih today announced that it would “name and shame” politicians and election candidates who do not support its campaign against political violence.

“We’ll name and shame them. Silence is not an option. Vote against the MPs who encourage political violence and those who are silent about it.

“We will tell the public not to vote for them,” Bersih co-chairman, S Ambiga, said at the launching of Bersih’s “Reject political violence” campaign today.

The campaign kicked off with Bersih co-chairman A Samad Said sending SMSes to PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad (PAS), Batu MP Tian Chua (PKR), Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim and Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang.

Besides the SMS, Bersih hopes to use the social media and by word of mouth to spread the message.

Ambiga also said that Bersih would accept any invitation to any political ceramah and also to speak up against political violence.

She listed nine instances of political violence that have occurred since January this year.

The election reform watchdog also announced that it would be releasing a code of conduct for candidates and rules of a caretaker government next week.

On another issue, Ambiga criticised Election Commission deputy chairman, Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, for saying that the election would take place before the conclusion of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Sabah, and that the EC was powerless to act as the RCI has not ended.

He is also reported to have said that the EC could not do anything about the irregularities in the Sabah electoral list even though many immigrants have received identification cards.

Ambiga said that based on the Likas case in 1999, the EC is duty-bound to conduct a public inquiry on the matter.

(In that case, the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled that the electoral roll for the Likas constituency was illegal and accordingly declared the polls null and void. As a result, former Sabah chief Minister Yong Teck Lee had to vacate the seat. But despite the ruling, the EC did not act to clean up the roll.)

“I do not accept what the deputy chairman of EC is saying. It is unacceptable that the EC can’t do anything until the RCI is over. The EC’s failure to maintain a [clean] electoral roll makes the electoral roll illegal,” she said.

Ambiga also condemned the violence against blogger Papagomo yesterday.

“We condemn any form of violence as we condemn his [Papagomo's] type of politics,” she said.

The blogger, whose real name is Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, was beaten up by two unknown assailants and sustained minor head injuries yesterday afternoon.

He is known for publishing anti-Anwar Ibrahim materials on his blog. Anwar, who is PKR adviser and Permatang Pauh MP, filed a RM 100 million defamation suit against Papagomo on Thursday.

We’re only passing priority for political elites

Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy pens his political thoughts while on his 13th day of hunger strike.
COMMENT

By P Waythamoorthy

This is the 13th day of my hunger viratham (hunger strike). The visitors are streaming in and it is becoming more difficult to stay focused on my writing. It has somewhat slowed down my writing.

Still, therere is no let up in my resolve to achieve our goals of obtaining binding endorsement and commitment to implement Hindraf’s proposals and I continue with my hunger viratham.

More people are beginning to ask just where the Barisan Nasional and the Pakatan Rakyat political leaders are. Do they not care?

Well, I will let them answer the people.

For today I will discuss the question of the costs of implementation of Hindraf’s 5-year Blueprint proposals.

The politicians in power go to great lengths to propose, promote and implement mega project like the MRT, the High Speed Rail Link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and the Undersea Tunnel linking Penang to the mainland. These projects can cost from RM10 billion to RM80 billion.

The politicians will tell you that these are infrastructure projects that improve quality of life and which anyway has a multiplier effect on the economy. But what they will not tell you is how this also plentifully fills the pockets of the elites.

In these projects, there is abundant opportunity for rentier commissions, for bribes, for project super profit, for operational super profits, for high interests on low risk loans.

All these significant financial benefits just flow in the large part to the elites. They say it creates wealth for the country. That is great, watch the GDP numbers.

On the other hand spending on making the lives of the people at the bottom end of society becomes only a passing priority for the political elites.

The nation at large may benefit, but if the benefit is to be shared more equitably with the people, it becomes sacrilege – distribution of wealth cannot be a driver of policy.

Creation of wealth can be the only driver of policy. This is conventional wisdom with the elite. If it cannot be justified on the basis of returns on investment or on what is considered a pressing need by the elite, then the investment becomes a low priority project or a no priority project.

Projects on the backburner

RM4.5 billion, the annual budgetary need for five years for Hindraf’s blueprint proposals, is spread out on several key socio-economic projects which we say addresses a pressing need of our society.

We say there are significant returns in these investments for the nation as a whole. But it meets with significant resistance from the elite because it does not meet the resource allocation criteria of the elite.

The real issue is that the benefits from the projects are spread over too many people and becomes too thin. That does not serve the interest of the elite – they do not stand to gain from such allocations.

So it cannot be a good investment or allocation. Unfortunately for the nation, it is the elites who decide this. They have total control over national policy. So they try every argument in the book to put such projects on the backburner. And they succeed most of the time.

Look at it another way. The annual budget of the government is about RM250 billion. RM4.5 billion is only 1.8 % of that. That still leaves RM245.5 billion for everything else, while a critical problem of our society gets resolved.

In the last 47 years, RM1,155 billion have been spent on socio- economic development. If the Indian poor had got even 10%, that would be RM115 billion.

We surely would not be having the problem we have today had that expenditure been made. But it was not made. We have a problem today as a result and we need to solve it.

If that takes 20% of the allocation that should have been made, can that be considered excessive? It all depends on how you want to look at it.

To kill off the request, the elites do not look at it this way. They just play up the size of the absolute number without looking at it in all these other related ways.

National resources belong to the people

In the final analysis, allocation of the national resources all comes down to national priorities. Today these priorities are determined by the elites.

So, the system will continue to behave the way it does unless the decision makers change, The true representatives of the people or the people themselves have to become the decision makers for the national resources to be allocated more in the interest of the people.

The Hindraf blueprint is a bottom up document and an attempt to make the people the decision makers for the allocation of the resources needed to open up new life opportunities, by the members of a segment of society. This is a first of its kind. Others will soon follow suit, if this attempt is successful.

This is also a major worry of the elites and an oft repeated argument that if we do this for one minority or marginalized community, then the others will also start making similar demands.

How can we deal with that? Simple, allocate resources truly on the basis of need – do not just say it, do it. But that will not happen.

The elites will say it, but they will not do it. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with all such segments making such demands.

We just have to plan the demands in and allocate the resources appropriately. The people are the true owners of the resources of the nation. They have every right to make these demands.

RM 4.5 billion for the resolution of the socio-economic woes of the impoverished Indian community cannot be excessive. It is an important allocation and has significant positive implications for our society.

All those who block it or argue against it are doing it because of faulty and self serving economic logic.

It is not as if they are right and we are wrong. They are wrong and they are deceitful.

P Waythamoorthy is the Hindraf chairperson. He has been on his hunger strike since March 10.

DAY 13: Waytha ‘physically weak but mentally strong’

After 13 days, P Waythamoorthy is still determined to carry on with the hunger fast.

PETALING JAYA: As he enters his 13th day of hunger strike, Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy remains firm in his cause for the Hindraf blueprint to be endorsed.

Hindraf deputy chairman and spokesperson for Waythamoorthy, W Sambulingam, however, admitted that the former is getting weaker by the day.

“Physically, he’s getting weaker by the day, but mentally, he’s still strong. He has no plans on giving up.

“Right now he is on drips and has lost 5kg.

“This morning, there was a surge in his pressure, now we are waiting for the doctors to come in,” said Sambulingam.

When asked how long will Waythamoorthy continue with his hunger strike, he said that Hindraf members will be with him until the end.

“It was a firm decision made by him to continue with the hunger strike for as long as his body can take it,” said Sambulingam.

Waythamoorthy’s hunger strike which started on March 10 is taking place at the Arulmigu Agora Veerabathrar Sanggili Karuppar Temple in Rawang.

He is undergoing the hunger strike in the hope that the Hindraf blueprint will be endorsed by the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat faction.

Waythamoorthy’s demands include endorsing his organisation’s policies which will benefit the Indian community.

He has been visited by several Pakatan Rakyat leaders, such as Selayang MP William Leong, Kuala Selangor MP Dzulkefly Ahmad and Kapar MP P Manikavasagam.

“People have been coming from all over the country supporting the cause. And yesterday, Kota Raja MP Siti Mariah Mahmud came to visit.

“However, politicians just coming and going is not going to help. The end-result should be that the Hindraf blueprint gets endorsed,” said Sambulingam.

Anwar files defamation suit against Papagomo

Pro-Tamil and Anti-Lanka activists attack Aurobindo Ashram with an ugly face.

Members of the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam damage flower pots in the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry on Thursday. Photo: T. Singaravelou.   Photo Courtesy: The Hindu.

SHAME! SHAME!! Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam (TPDK) supporters attack Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducherry.

BOSCO DOMINIQUE, TNN & PTI | PUDUCHERRY | 21Mar 2013:: Pro-Tamil activists attacked the Sri Aurobindo Ashram on Thursday, ransacking its office and damaging glass panes to condemn West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s remark that her party will not comment on issues relating to foreign countries. In a surprise show of support, the CM and Trinamul Congress leader, whose party had quit the UPA last year, had said she will back the Centre on whatever stand it takes.

More than a dozen protestors, owing allegiance to the Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam (TPDK) barged into the ashram located in the heart of the tourist town adjacent to a police outpost and damaged flower pots near the Samadhi (memorial) of the revolutionary-turned-philosopher. The agitated mob also ransacked the ashram office, damaging the glass panes that contained the symbol of Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual collaborator, fondly referred to as ‘Mother’. A police team rushed to the spot and arrested 15 protestors. The ashram is a popular destination for tourists from across the country and the world.

Mamta Banerjee had, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said, “We leave it for the Central Government to decide on such issues. However, the concerns of the state and the sentiments of the people must be kept in view by the Centre, before taking any decision pertaining to foreign country,” she said. “We are deeply concerned about the atrocities meted out to a section of Tamil population in a foreign country,” she said.

PTI REPORTS IN HT :: A group of pro-Tamil activists today barged into the Aurobindo Ashram, damaged furniture and smashed glass panes after reportedly attacking and injuring the watchman.

Police said activists of the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) also smashed flower pots and damaged the notice board, a clock and the ashram emblem atop the main gate.

They also raised pro-Tamil slogans, police said, adding that the reason for the attack was not known.

Ashram sources said the activists hit the watchman on the head before forcing their way into the Ashram. No devotee was present inside as the visiting time had ended, they said.

Police said 20 PDK activists were arrested in connection with the incidents. Cases were registered against them under various sections of the IPC relating to unlawful assembly, causing hurt and damage to property, they said.

Indonesian Christians protest church demolition

Around 100 Indonesian Christians begged the government Thursday to halt the demolition of their church, as hundreds of Muslim protesters branded them "infidels" and demanded the building be torn down.

While dispirited church members dressed in black gathered outside the building and sang hymns, police held back hundreds of Muslims who chanted "knock the church down now" -- in a sign of increasing intolerance in the country.

The church congregation flew the Indonesian flag at half mast and children clutched signs reading "please do not dismantle our church" as preparations began to demolish the building, at the centre of a planning row.

"Oh Jesus, please send us a miracle. This church is not a place of evil," a woman in tears yelled as a large, yellow excavator appeared at the scene. "We just pray here in our church, we don't commit any crime."

Police in Bekasi city on the outskirts of the capital Jakarta told AFP they planned to help knock down the partially-built Taman Sari Batak Christian Protestant Church on Thursday, at the city government's request.

They said the church did not have a legal building permit, while the congregation argued that it was unfairly rejected after they had spent 13 years worshipping in a temporary shelter on the land.

Reverend Advent Nababan, who leads the congregation, said the church had obtained 82 signatures of support from the community before building started, above the 60 required by law.

"We can't possibly perform our religious duties without a church building," Nababan told AFP. "We obtained signatures of support from more than enough people in the neighbourhood."

Only 500 metres (550 yards) away, some 200 Muslim protesters staged a demonstration, blocked by police from getting any closer.

"They're infidels and they've built their church without permission," a protester shouted over a loudspeaker, while others chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) and "Knock the church down now" in response.

Ninety percent of Indonesia's 240 million people identify as Muslims, and the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion.

The Setara Institute of Peace and Democracy, however, says cases of intolerance in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation are on the rise, with 543 incidents reported in 2011, up from 491 cases in 2009.

More than 300 incidents were recorded in the first half of 2012.

Christians are among the main targets, along with worshippers who follow the Ahmadiyah and Shiite Islamic minority sects.

prm-ad/lv/ami

Joseph Colony: Cheques handed out by Punjab govt bounce

Punjab government had distributed 265 cheques to the victims of the attack. 

LAHORE: The cheques distributed among victims of the Joseph Colony attack by the Punjab government bounced, Express News reported Thursday.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had announced Rs0.5 million in compensation for each of those affected in the mob attack. However, the 265 cheques distributed by the government have bounced.

According to reports, the finance ministry had issued the amount promised. When the cheques bounced, the victims started protesting.

On March 9, an over 3,000-strong mob had set ablaze more than 150 houses of Christians in the Joseph Colony over alleged blasphemous remarks against Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by Sawan Masih, a 28-year-old Christian sanitation worker.

Lawyers' group wants duo in corruption video probed

The Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) wants the two lawyers implicated in the recent Global Witness video alleging corruption in the state to be investigated for possible professional misconduct.

Its president Khairil Azmi Mohd Hasbie said the association has decided to refer the two lawyers to the Advocates Inquiry Committee, an independent disciplinary body separate from the AAS.

He said, in a statement today, this is so that the committee can “conduct its inquiry into possible instances of professional misconduct under laws and regulations governing the legal profession in the state.”

“The inquiry committee is a statutory body established under the Advocates (Inquiry Committee) rules 1988, with its panel members consisting senior advocates appointed by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

Khairil Azmi said that the AAS has also lodged a police report on the matter this afternoon to enable the authorities to investigate the content of the expose and to take further action upon finding any criminal infractions.
Although the statement did not name the lawyers, the two implicated in the video were Huang Lung Ong and also Alvin Chong Chee Vun.

The AAS president said the matter was now in the capable hands of the relevant authorities.

“Until investigations are concluded and more facts come to light, the AAS advises the public at large to allow the law to take its course and to refrain from speculation,” he said.

The videos which were reported by Global Witness, along with Malaysiakini and Al Jazeera on Tuesday, show them being allegedly involved in a land deal involving Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s first cousins and close associate.

It depicted Huang, of Huang & Company Advocates, a representative of Billion Venture Sdn Bhd, as stating that the owner of the company is his (Huang’s) uncle, prominent Sarawak timber tycoon Hii Yii Peng.

Hii is allegedly very close to Taib. Huang divulges that Hii is expected to pay Taib a kickback of approximately 10 percent of the licence value in return for the directive from Taib’s ministry to issue the logging licence.

The other involves Chong, who is said to represent Taib’s first cousin Norlia Abdul Rahman, and the company, Ample Agro Sdn Bhd, alegedly proposeing that the sale of the company land to the “foreign investor” cum investigator, be executed in Singapore to evade real property gains tax and the 51 percent equity requirement.

Taib’s lawyers deny allegations

Taib’s lawyer Mishcon de Reya, in an immediate response, told Global Witness that the NGO’s allegations “are entirely untrue”, and they “call into question our client’s personal and professional integrity and seek to say that he is unfit for the role he holds within Sarawak”.

The Sarawak chief minister has also denied that his first cousins acted as his brokers as well as claims he  had quarrelled with their father Abdul Rahman Ya’akob, a former chief minister.

Huang, in yesterday’s report which appeared in The Malay Mail has denied such conversation took place, citing it was mere coffeeshop talk and that he was trapped into being consulted on legal matters regarding land.

“Why should I speak about the chief minister?” a partner of law firm Huang & Co fumed.

“I may have uttered some words out of frustration as he (the ‘foreign investor’) kept on asking me many questions. I was pressured,” Huang was quoted to have said.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigation director Mustafar Ali was also quoted as saying that the graft busters would “act accordingly”, following the Global Witness revelation.

Lagi skandal video ‘Anwar’ didedah

Video selama 1:20 minit itu disiarkan penulis blog pro-Barisan Nasional Papa Gomo dengan audio dan berwarna.

PETALING JAYA: Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dikaitkan lagi sebagai individu dalam satu skandal video dengan seorang lelaki yang didakwa seorang mahasiswa berumur 19 tahun.

Video selama 1:20 minit itu disiarkan penulis blog pro-Barisan Nasional (BN) Papa Gomo dengan audio dan berwarna memaparkan individu mirip Anwar berbual dengan lelaki yang dipercayai memasang rakaman kamera secara tersembunyi.

Anwar: Susah la you…you know I tolak dari Segambut immediate…?

Lelaki: Ada apa kat Segambut?

Anwar: Daripada rumah I lah (ketawa)

Lelaki: Yalah betullah mana boleh percaya. You fikir kalau you in my shoes percaya tak?

Anwar: …Walaupun kadang-kadang I punya twitt banyak masuk

Lelaki: Hah yalah tu la I cakap betul ke you punya twitt…

Ini merupakan pendedahan rakaman kedua yang cuba mengaitkan Anwar dengan skandal salah laku dalam tempoh seminggu selepas beberapa gambar sepasang lelaki berpelukan yang didedahkan dalam blog rajagoyang360 Sabtu lalu.

Tindakan menyiarkan video terbabit juga dikatakan selepas Papa Gomo mendakwa Anwar tersalah memfitnah dirinya sebagai pemilik blog Raja Goyang dan enggan menarik balik saman RM100 juta.

‘Saman RM100 juta’

“Saman RM100 juta yang difailkan Anwar Ibrahim memberikan satu peluang besar buat Papa Gomo untuk mendedahkan lebih banyak kegiatan jijik Anwar serta membawa saksi saksi lain dalam perbicaraan ini termasuk Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, China Doll, dua orang mahasiswa yang diliwat, Zulkifli Nordin, bekas pengasas PKR Ng Lum Yum, Zahid Mat Arip, Datuk S Nallakaruppan, N Gobalakrishnan dan seorang pemimpin kanan PAS,” katanya dalam blog beliau.

Anwar melalui peguam N Surendran pagi tadi memfailkan saman RM 100 juta terhadap Papa Gomo di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur selepas gagal menarik balik tuduhannya dalam tempoh 48 jam.

Sementara itu penulis blog (Papa Gomo) mendakwa, beliau telah menemui mahasiswa tersebut pada Februari lalu dan telah mengaku melakukan perbuatan suka sama suka.

Beliau turut mengaku bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya dengan pendedahan skandal terbabit tanpa bantuan mana-mana pihak dalam kerajaan.

“Gomo nak tegaskan di sini kepada semua. Ianya bukan soal wang kerana walaupun RM10 juta atau RM1 billion Anwar cuba tawarkan hakikatnya apa yang dilakukan Gomo adalah untuk rakyat agama, bangsa dan negara.

“Gomo bukan pemimpin politik atau berjawatan besar tetapi Gomo mewakili jutaan rakyat Malaysia yang mahukan kebenaran dalam memilih pemimpin yang benar dan bukannya jijik,” katanya.

Temple committee puzzled over ‘half-lot’

How is it that the Selangor Land Office gazetted only half a temple area when the entire land 'owned ' by the trustees covered 22,000 sq feet?

PETALING JAYA: The 41-year-old Sri Kumaravel temple committee in Desa Mentari, Selangor is perplexed over why only half of their 22,000 sq feet temple land has been gazetted by the Selangor state government as place of worship.

Expressing their puzzlement, the temple committee secretary SG Rajoo said in 2006 the Mentari Properties Sdn Bhd had given them nearly half-an-acre or about 22,000 sq feet of land for the temple.

“Since 2008, we’ve met Dr Xavier (Jeyakumar, state executive councillor) and his assistants several times to get the state government’s nod to gazette the whole temple land.

“We were therefore shocked when we recently received the letter from the Land Office gazetting only 10,000sq feet when the total temple land is 22,000sq feet,” said Rajoo.

Rajoo showed reporters copies of the letter dated Jan 4, 2013 from the Land Office. The letter also indicated that the remainder portion had been marked as reserve land.

“This is ridiculous. Why gazette only part of the temple land? Wouldn’t it be better to gazette the whole temple land and solve this issue once and for all?” Rajoo asked.

Demanding an explanation from the state government, Rajoo said the committee wanted Xavier to resolve the issue before the dissolution of the state assembly. The Selangor Legislative Assembly’s term ends April 22.

The Sri Kumareval temple was originally situated at PJS 6, before it was moved to its current location in Desa Mentari, Sunway in 2007.

The temple committee had in 2007 applied to the previous state government to gazette the land.

“However, the application went to the Pakatan state government after BN was defeated in Selangor in 2008 general election.”

Rajoo claimed that at a recent meeting, Xavier told the temple committee to re-apply for the remaining land from the state government.

“When we met him, he told us that under the previous BN government, the policy was that any non-Islam place of worship is only given 10,000sq feet.

“I’m surprised why the Pakatan government is still following BN policies. Worst still, the so called policy applies only to temples. Something is not right with this,” he said, adding that he did not discount the possibility of hauling the state government to court over the matter.

Meanwhile, Kelana Jaya BN facilitator Loh Seng Kok urged Pakatan government to gazette the land immediately.

“The so called reserve land belongs to the temple. So, give it back to them,” he said after visiting the temple.

Ex-CID chief accuses AG of ‘hiding facts’

Mat Zain Ibrahim says the AG had neglected in his duties in informing the severity of the Sulu invasion to the Agong and the Cabinet.

PETALING JAYA: Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail was today slammed for not immediately reacting to the Sulu invasion in Sabah which led to deaths of 10 Malaysian security personnel.

Former KL CID chief Mat Zain Ibrahim today said Abdul Gani should have immediately advised the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and Cabinet ministers on the legal aspects as stated in the constitution.

“If from the first day the AG had advised the Agong that the actions of more than 150 armed intruders can be classified under the law as waging a war against the Agong, then the latter would not have hesitated to command his troops to launch a suitable retaliation to save the country and himself,” Mat Zain said in an open letter to IGP Ismail Omar.

“The first information received on the invasion… is more than enough to erase all doubts that they were waging a war against the King and not for any other reason,” he added.

Mat Zain accused Abdul Gani of knowing that the intruders’ actions were against the constitution, but had deliberately refused to advise the Agong.

“Gani’s deliberate delay in advising the Agong and Cabinet is not only irresponsible, but can be classified as high treason,” Mat Zain said.

He claimed this was not the first time Abdul Gani had “hidden real facts from the Agong”, and said this was “becoming a norm” for the latter to not disclose information to the rakyat.

“Moreover, despite all the testimony on Abdul Gani, the prime minister (Najib Tun Razak) refuses to take action against him for reasons unknown,” he said.

“However, now that the intrusion has been classified as waging a war against the Agong, the PM has no choice but to advise the Agong to set up a tribunal to scrutinise Abdul Gani’s behaviour for failing to perform his duties as AG,” he added.

Uninformative statements

Mat Zain then blamed Abdul Gani for the deaths of the 10 Malaysian policemen and said their sacrifices could have been avoided if the former had reacted to the situation immediately.

He also blamed their deaths on uninformative statements issued by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Sabah chief minister Musa Aman on the invasion.

“Their decision to hide the real situation was deliberate and had led to the deaths of 10 of our men,” he said.

“(Their statements) would have affected the troop’s cautiousness and readiness to fight.”

Yesterday, a high-powered prosecution team led by Abdul Gani had put forward its case against several members of the detained Sulu armed group involved in the intrusion into Sabah.

Eight people from southern Philippines were charged in the makeshift court with engaging in terrorism and waging war against the Agong.

Anwar fail saman fitnah ke atas Papagomo

Ketua pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim memfailkan saman fitnah ke atas penulis blog Papagomo selepas individu yang dikaitkan dengan Umno itu gagal memohon maaf dan menarik balik satu siri gambar lucah.

Penulis blog itu yang nama sebenarnya Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, mendakwa foto berkenaan merupakan ramakan daripada video yang didakwa menujukkan keintiman Anwar dengan seorang lelaki.

Peguam dan naib presiden PKR N Surendran ketika memfailkan saman itu berkata notis 48 jam untuk Papagomo menarik balik dan memohon maaf atas penerbitan berkenaan telah tamat dan penulis blog tersebut mengancam untuk memuatkan video terbabit.

Peguam itu berkata Anwar juga tidak akan membuat laporan polis atau aduan kepada Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia memandangkan tindakan itu sudah banyak kali dilakukan sebelum ini.

“Nampaknya agensi ini tidak akan bertindak ke atas aduan keran mereka adalah alat Umno dan BN. Memfailkan tindakan di mahkamah adalah lebih baik,” katanya.

Anwar menamakan Wan Muhammad Azri sebagai defendan tunggal. Selain kuantum, MP Permatang Pauh itu turut menuntut ganti rugi am, teruk dan teladan.

Beliau juga memohon injunksi untuk menghalang Papagomo daripada mengulang semua atau menerbitkan kenyataan serupa.

BN has delivered – A Nation Most Vulnerable to an Economic Storm!

by Martin Jalleh

Umno Warns Saboteurs

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- With the 13th general election around the corner, Umno Disciplinary Board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen has reiterated his call to members to refrain from sabotaging the party.

He said the board would take stern action against Umno members who betrayed the party in the run-up to the general election.

"Tough action, including possible dismissal and suspension from the party will be taken against saboteurs," he said in a statement.

Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said the board had appointed a watchdog in every parliamentary and state constituency to monitor and report any elements of sabotage in the party.

He said Umno had also set up a special committee to speed up cases against errant party members suspected of being involved in acts of sabotage and treachery, and violation of party discipline in the run-up to the general election.

The committee is made up of four supreme council members and four disciplinary board members, he added.

Most States Record Excellent Results In SPM 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- Most states recorded good results for the 2012 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination that was announced Thursday.

In Kuala Lumpur, 914 students achieved the perfect score of A+ for all subjects compared to only 885 in 2011.

Its Education Director Abdullah Mad Yunus said, the number of students scoring A+, A, and A- had increased but overall results had dipped when 18,211 candidates obtained their SPM certificates compared with 18,545 in 2011 SPM.

The state's Grade Point Average (GPA) also dipped to 4.71 compared with 4.68 the previous year.

According to Abdullah, overall achievement of schools increased with 28 schools in 'Good' category and 63 schools ranked in 'Fair' category.

Abdullah also said the top achieving schools were SM Sains Alam Shah, SM Sains Seri Puteri, SM Sains Selangor, SMA Majlis Agama Islam WPKL and SMK Aminuddin Baki.

According to Abdullah, 78 candidates with special needs sat for SPM exams last year and nine scored excellent results.

Meanwhile in Kuching, Sarawak, 35 students scored the perfect score of A+ in all subjects.

Sarawak education Director, Abdillah Adam said, one student, Ngu Lih Bin scored 12 A+ from Sekolah Menengah Bantuan Methodist, Sibu, which is the best among 38,344 students from the state.

Top schools in Sarawak were SM Sains, Kuching SM Sains Miri, Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Betong and Maktab Rendah Sains MARA Mukah.

Seremban ranked third in the country after Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur in the 2012 SPM.

Negeri Sembilan Education Director, Kalsom Khalid said the state's GPA was 4.86 compared with 4.82 the previous year.

Meanwhile, SM Sains Tuanku Munawir, Kolej Tunku Kurshiah, SM Agama Persekutuan Labu, SM Sains Rembau, Sekolah Datuk Abdul Razak dan SM Sains Tuanku Ja'afar were among 20 top schools in the state.

A total of 15,938 candidates from government schools sat for the 2012 SPM and 90.9 percent of them passed.

In Shah Alam, Selangor Education Director Mahmud Karim said 2,616 students out of 74,747 candidates scored a combination of A's in all subjects.

However, Mahmud added the number of schools that achieved 100 percent passes increased from 37 to 44, and 1,183 students scored a combination of A+,A,A- for all subjects with 41 students achieving the perfect score of straight A+.

Meanwhile in Tapah, Perak, Education Director Muhamat Roli (rpt Roli) Hassan said the overall score for students in Perak dipped with 34,949 students having passed compared with 39,770 in 2011.

Among the top schools in Perak were Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Taman Tasik, Taiping, Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integrasi Gopeng, SM Sains Tapah, SMK Tarcisian Convent Ipoh and SMK Ave Maria Ipoh.

In Jitra, Kedah Education Director Mansor Lat said 31 students scored A+, compared with only 19 in 2011.

Overall students who achieved all A's in the 2012 SPM dropped by 132 to 558 candidates compared with 690 students in 2011 SPM. "Three schools that obtained 100 percent passes were Sekolah Menengah Sains Kubang Pasu, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Abdul Halim and Sekolah Menengah Agama Sik," he said.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, 19 out of 22,274 candidates scored straight A+ in all subjects that they sat for.

Terengganu Education Deputy Director Hashim Mohd Zin said, the number of students scoring straight A's increased to 513 compared with 408 the previous year.

"For candidates with special needs, 17 out of 32 candidates obtained their SPM certificate with one candidate achieving an excellent 10A and 1B," he said.

Meanwhile in Melaka, 409 candidates from government schools scored straight A's, a drop from the 2011 SPM that had 428 students.

Melaka Education Director, Kasim Mohamad said, 21 students scored straight A+ which was a drop from the 26 candidates recorded in 2011.

"One student achieved 11A+ and 10 others scored 10A+ and 9A+ while the state's Grade Point Average (GPN) dropped 0.1 percent to 5.01 compared to 4.91 the previous year," he said. In JOHOR BAHARU, 58 candidates scored the highest score of straigh A+ compared with 77 in 2011.

Johor Education Director Mohd Nor A.Ghani said 1,333 scored either A+.A,or A- in all subjects, and overall performance of students in Johor remained the same.

Forty-nine schools in Johor scored all passes while the state's GPN was 4.99 compared with 5.0 in 2011 SPM.

Meanwhile, 56 candidates with special needs sat for SPM last year and two of them scored excellent results.

"Ting Kai Li from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Perempuan Temenggong Ibrahim, Batu Pahat (8A+2A) and Teo Guo Sheng from SMK Tinggi Batu Pahat (8A+,1A,1A-) were top students in special needs category," he said.

Meanwhile in Kota Baharu, 432 students achieved the perfect score of all A's from the government schools compared with only 358 students the previous year.

Kelantan Education Director, Hussain Awang said only 15 students achieved A+ for all subjects compared with 18 students in 2011.

The state's GPA dipped in the 2012 SPM at 5.01 compared with 4.97 in the 2011 SPM with 21 schools achieving 100 percent pass.

In Kangar, the number of students who scored straight A's increased from 59 in 2011, to 74 in the 2012 SPM.

Perlis Education Director, Dun Kasa said out of the 74 students, five from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Derma, here scored straight A+ in all subjects.

"The percentage of students who qualify for the SPM certificate was at 90.31 while the state GPA remained at 5.46," he said. In the east coast, Kuantan saw 490 of the 2012 SPM candidates scoring all A's for all subjects compared to only 413 the previous year.

Pahang Education Deputy Director Rosdi Ismail said, from the 490 students, 11 attained the perfect score A+ for all subjects and 93.24 percent of the students passed their exam.

SMK Abd Rahman Talib in Kuantan recorded the highest number of top students in the state with 61 students.

Jumpa kepala tanpa badan

Polis bersama anjing pengesan untuk mencari badan warga emas yang dipotong kepala. Gambar Kecil: Ketua Polis Daerah Kluang, Asistan Komisioner Abdul Majid Mohd Ali

 

KLUANG - Polis menjumpai kepala tanpa badan milik seorang warga emas dipercayai dijadikan pemujaan di dalam Kuil Muniandy yang terletak di kawasan Ladang Coronation, Sri Lalang di sini, semalam.

Ketua Polis Daerah Kluang, Asistan Komisioner Abdul Majid Mohd Ali berkata, pihaknya mendapat maklumat kejadian itu lebih kurang jam 7.30 pagi daripada orang awam.

Beliau yang mengesahkan kejadian berkenaan berkata, kepala lelaki berusia 62 tahun itu ditemui oleh penjaga kuil terbabit.

“Pada masa ini polis sedang berusaha mencari bahagian badan mangsa dan siasatan awal mempercayai lelaki itu dibunuh di tempat lain.

“Selepas itu kepala mangsa yang telah dipotong dengan senjata tajam di letak di kuil yang sudah berusia lebih 70 tahun itu untuk tujuan pemujaan,” katanya dalam sidang media yang diadakan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Kluang, semalam.

Abdul Majid berkata, hasil siasatan mendapati warga emas itu merupakan seorang gelandangan dan sering tidur di sebuah tokong di Sri Lalang selepas isteri dan anaknya berpindah ke Johor Bahru.

Polis masih belum menemui senjata yang digunakan untuk membunuh warga emas berkenaan.

"Pasukan forensik Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Johor setakat ini percaya lelaki itu dibunuh kira-kira lapan jam sebelum kepalanya ditemui berdasarkan titisan darah yang ada di tempat kejadian.

“Polis percaya lebih dari tiga suspek terlibat dalam kejadian bunuh ini malah dipercayai suspek sempat mengadakan upacara pemujaan menggunakan kepala terbabit sebelum melarikan diri.

“Polis sedang mengesan kesemua suspek yang berumur 30 hingga 50 tahun itu dan empat kenderaan yang digunakan mereka bagi melarikan diri.

“Apa yang penting, kejadian ini bermotifkan pemujaan dan bukannya perkauman mahupun gangsterism. Kita tidak mahu orang ramai membuat pelbagai spekulasi mengenainya kejadian ini,” katanya.

Abdul Majid berkata, kes tersebut akan disiasat mengikut Seksyen 302 Kanun Keseksaan.

"Manakala kepala terbabit dihantar ke Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom Kluang dan polis juga meminta bantuan orang ramai yang mempunyai sebarang maklumat mengenai kejadian itu supaya menghubungi pegawai penyiasat Asistan Superintendan Ahmad Zamry Marinsah di talian 019-7266998 bagi membantu siasatan.

Hindraf providing CPR for Indians

Wealthy, middle class, and educated Indians must find ways to help Hindraf solve the problem of working class Indians.
COMMENT

By Suguman Narayanan

The best analogy that I can provide to illustrate the situation of working class Indians is that of a man who just experienced a heart attack. When someone suffers a heart attack, he or his family will channel all resources to saving his or her life, other concerns become secondary, at least for the moment.

That is exactly what Hindraf is doing—providing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) for working class Indians. Can Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat see themselves doing anything like this?

In the past, some Indians have fought for Indian rights. Some went unnoticed while others gave up half way because of fear or were bought-over.

Today one man took it beyond limits never experienced before. One man decided to sacrifice his life for the cause.

That man spent five years away from home, lonely and cold in a little cramped apartment. He could not watch his kid growing up. How many of us are willing to be physically separated from our spouses and kids?

This man took the challenge. He never gave up. Today he has decided to give his life for the cause. He is no other than Hindraf chairperson, P Waythamoorthy, who is currently staging a hunger strike.

The strike is in its 10th day and is fast taking a toll on his health. Soon his organs will fail!

Hindraf is merely asking for the minimum. The request for a RM4.5 billion budget to solve immediate problems faced by Indians may seem like a huge amount.

If you read the Hindraf Blueprint, you will realise that the demands are extremely minimal. For instance when RM4.5 billion is spread across 57 years (due to 57 years of neglect), it amounts to RM79 million a year.

The annual national budget of the federal government is RM250 billion. Can you honestly say that what Hindraf is asking for is excessive– hardly 2% of the annual national budget.

It is not about race

Is what Hindraf asking for unreasonable? I do not need to elaborate on what this means compared to the enormous amounts spent elsewhere. It’s a no-brainer.

Now, is it unreasonable for Hindraf chairperson Waythamoorthy staging a hunger strike? Is it too much to demand for a 1.8% budget for a community of 8% (The percentage of Indians in Malaysia could probably be larger than 8%)?

Wealthy, middle class, and educated Indians must find ways to help Hindraf solve the problem of working class Indians. The working class scruffy Indian defines the Indian in Malaysia.

You will never be able to run away from that. All of us must look at this as a cause for a group that is in dire need for help.

It is not about race. It is about justice, it is about fairness. It is about support for a fellow human. It is about rights for all. Natural law dictates that every citizen is entitled to justice and human rights.

Now is the time to unite for the cause. Support my call to unite. Provide the overwhelming support we need to force both Pakatan Rakyat and/or Barisan Nasional to take this seriously. Pass this message to all.

Lets not play the blame game. When one starts the blame game the other will react. It will go on forever. There is no end to this.

What I propose is forget the past and work on a concrete solution to the Indian problem now. Even if you are against Waythamoorthy’s hunger strike idea, please support the cause because the Indian community must survive the heart attack it has sustained.

I travelled 16,000 kilometers to visit Waythamoorthy in Rawang. Will you travel 16 kilometers to gather for a demo in support?

Malaysian-born Suguman Narayanan is a political science professor at a state university in Texas, USA. He is an expert in civil wars/rebellions and the field of political conflict. He is also a board member of the Malaysian-American Foundation based in San Francisco, California.

BN's appeal

Ignoring Tamil Hindu Genocide in SL is a sin of Indian Politics. Delhi to Geneva all should make a ‘Justice to the 150000 Tamil victims’.

India must stand against Sri Lanka, vote for US resolution with all necessary amendments to restore the infringed Tamil Rights in SL.

Upananda Brahmachari | New Delhi | 20 March 2013 :: On the day of 22nd March 2013, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) will be voting on a resolution urging Sri Lanka to carry out an internal investigation. Obviously, an independent international investigation against these human rights violations is the need of the hour.

As a key stake holder of World Peace and a neighbouring country, India has a responsibility towards the ethnic Tamil people (MOSTLY HINDUS by faith) in Sri Lanka who faced human rights violations during the civil war.

That’s why many urgent appeals have been reached urging the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister of India to take a strong stand for this ethnic minority at the UNHRC. But, the activities of Indian Government and most of the Political Parties in Indian Parliament reflect a gross ignorance and apathy to this deadly State oppression on Tamils in Sri Lanka by a ‘Buddha Shasana’ in its gory steps.

While an independent and fair probe into the human rights violations, and fixing accountability are crucial necessity of the towards the rehabilitation of the affected people in war-ravaged Sri Lanka, how can India indulge into a formality bashing without a strong step with out its heart felt sympathy to our victimized Tamil brothers in Sri Lanka?

Though the Italian heart of Indian Politics, Sonia Gandhi blasts Sri Lanka over ‘unspeakable atrocities’ on Tamils in a high drama (never she had view or review the matter) after DMK quit out the UPA and Congress Govt on Tamil Issues and finally a teething reaction in Indian Politics is hitting its snubbing consciousness within for the last couple of days.

While the Indian envoy to UNHRC, Mr Dilip Kumar Sinha was instructed to immediately attend South Block in Delhi rightly flown towards Indian Capital from Geneva, 525 colleges under Annamalai University shut in Tamil Nadu over Sri Lankan Tamils issue for an indefinite period. It was the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to rock the Centarl Govt of India in the same issue of Atrocities upon Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

But, what is most disgusting in this picture of worldwide protest and consensus over the Tamil Issue of Sri Lanka and to corner the perpetrators of 150,000 Tamil victims so far after revealing all truths, some sections of Indian Politics, Hindu Activists and Bigot Journalists still finding friendship of Sri Lankan Government at the cost of probable Total elimination of Tamils from Sri Lanka.

This series includes Dr Subramnian Swamy of Janata Party, one Dr Shrinivasan Kalyanraman of RSS fold and another Kanchan Gupta of Niti Central Digital and columnist in Daily Pioneer, Delhi and many others who are yet to drop a shy even for the killed, looted, raped, uprooted and virtually erased Tamil people of Sri Lanka in the last two decades.

When I urged ”India must stand against Sri Lanka, vote for US resolution” against Kanchan Gupta’s article “ India must stand by Sri Lanka, vote against US resolution“, Mr Gupta asked me “to provide me with a list of 150,000 Hindus killed in Sri Lanka — names, gender, age, address”.

When I asked Mr Gupta, “Would you be able to give the total list of Great Calcutta Killing or Noakhali Carnage as a fashion you demanded?”, he replied, “Actually list of those killed in 1946 exists on Govt records.”

I was stuck in the manners, apathy in the issue and faith upon the British records by a Macaulian breed of contemporary Indian.

As a reply I send him a collage as under. He didn’t get any time to make a reply to it.

Actually, a great conspiracy in Indian Politics always alive to divide Bharat in the North-South-East-West lobby to disunite the Hindu force in Bharat. Gupta, Swamy and Ramans are being plotted by that central Anti Hindu Force knowingly or unknowingly. A series of betrayal to Tamil Hindu people is on in the Political scenario in India. It is now suspected that the ruling Congress is trying to downplay the GENOCIDE and have good relations with the Brutal Regime of Mahinda Rajapaksha who is now a darling of China.

As a matter of fact, political leaders in Tamilnadu and South have called on the Indian Government to take a “historic, strong, and courageous stand on the issue”. But is it an issue of the Tamil people of Tamilnadu or the Tamil victims of Sri Lanka or an Extinction Malady of Tamil culture and heritage from the Lankan island? Why RSS, VHP or BJP could be able to address this important issue in right forum well in advance for stopping such a horrible genocide in a neighbouring country, they claim a good relation and Hindu legacy?

Actually, some Hindu Intellectuals, Politicians, Statesmen, Columnists all went to sleep when the Tamil Hindus were being tortured ruthlessly and more than 150000 Tamil Hindus were killed by SL Govt in last two decades. But they wake up only when somebody rise their voice a genocide of Tamil Hindus in Sri Lanka.

They only see some LTTE Conspiracy and Christian Bogey in it.

What a tragedy for Sub Continental Hindus. But, Hopefully a resurgent Hindu force in Bharat and abroad is now fighting for a Tamil Hindu Cause on a very humanitarian rights ground. In no way we support any menace or overtone as perpetration by LTTE. But why our sensation got a total paralysis on the matter of Tamil Genocide in Sri Lanka. Mind it the Sri Lankan lobby is also vocal for the retaliation of Colombo people as did in front of Indian High Commission there on 19 March to pressurize the Indian Govt to support a blood thirsty Rajapaksa.

I should not forget one octogenarian Tamil Rights Crusader of Canada, Sri Kumarathasan Rasingam, who relentlessly keep these issues on and appealed to all only to Save the Tamil Hindus’ Rights in Sri Lanka as a right wing of Hindu Existence Forum. We have a joint appeal to all concerned.

To whom it may concern as Tamils in Sri Lanka are Human beings and not the slaves of Sri Lankan Buddhists.

We feel most of the Hind Organizations, Hindus, Hindu Leaders, Hindu Politicians are not fully aware of what happened and what is happening in the Traditional and historical homeland of the Tamils [Tamil Eelam] Please note that before the British captured Sri Lanka in 18th century there was Hindu Tamil Kingdoms existed and ruled by Hindu Kings. But when the British gave independence to Sri Lanka [then called Ceylon] in 1948 the powers were handed over the majority Sinhalese. Since then Hindu Tamils are treated as slaves. Now there is no one to give protection to the Hindu Tamils.

Hindu Tamil women and girls are raped by the army of occupation. Tamil homeland colonized by Sinhalese. In time to come there will be no land for Hindu Tamils and will be completely wiped out. Kindly read, watch the two attachments below for evidence and facts.

We most respectfully and most humbly request you to highlight the real plight of Tamil people in Sri Lanka. It is suspected that the ruling Congress is trying to downplay the GENOCIDE and have good relations with the Brutal Regime of Mahinda Rajapaksha who is now a darling of China.

We are disappointed, dismayed, worried to understand that the Congress [anti -Hindu] party has forced United States to dilute further the UNHCR resolution that has been submitted yesterday in Geneva at the UNHCR meeting. But why `

A. There is no mention about the Independent Investigation in to the Killings of 150000 Hindu Tamils ?

B. There is no protection to the Tamil women and girls under an army of occupation ?

C. There is no mention about demilitarization and resettling the people back to their own land?

D. There is no mention for a political solution to the Hindu Tamils with their rights of self-determination?
Now mischievously the ruling force in the center, Congress and UPA in India have watered down the US resolution to give more time and space to Sri Lanka to wipe out the remaining Hindu Tamils in Sri Lanka. At the original draft the following were included…
…………………
1. Appoint Independent International Investigation on War Crimes, Crimes against humanity rapes of Tamil women and girls.
………………
2. Political solution to the Hindu Tamils so that they can look after their affairs.
…………..
Kindly request/force the Indian Parliamentarians to include these two important points in the Final resolution to be submitted tomorrow and act India accordingly in UNHRC.

In the service of Hindu Existence in this world,

Upananda Brahmachari, Kumarathasan Rasingam,

Hindu Sadhna Kuthir, Pickering, Ontario,

Haridwar, Bharat. Canada.

In fine I have only one appeal to all. That is: India must stand against Sri Lanka, vote for US resolution with all appropriate amendments in favour of infringed Tamil Rights restoration in Sri Lanka and obviously open the truth of perpetration for the 150,000

Please see these two pages to get into the real Hindu Plight of Tamil People in Sri Lanka.

Pages are dedicated to all 150,000 Tamil people laid their life and dedication for a strive to uphold the Tamil ethnicity in Sri Lanka.

Page 1. FACTS AND EVIDENCES OF GENOCIDE OF HINDU TAMILS IN SRI LANKA.

Page 2. THAT KILLING FIELD OF TAMIL PEOPLE IN SRI LANKA THAT WE DON’T KNOW.

Textbook biases show when Muslim students ask non-Muslim high achievers to convert

National Commission for Justice and Peace holds a talk on biases in textbooks.

KARACHI: Intellectuals from a number of fields came together to point out the horrifying prejudices found in text books in Pakistan at a talk on ‘Biases in Textbooks and Education Policy’ organised by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) on Monday.

“I have heard of cases where Muslim students ask non-Muslim high achievers: Why don’t you convert to our religion,” recalled Karamat Ali, the executive director of the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research. “And it is not just Muslims and Hindus, but also Shias who are given this treatment. This is because of the horrifying myths about people of other faiths that we fill our children with.”

Ali criticised political parties for having a narrow vision. “Every party says that they’ll bring ‘roti, kapra and makaan’. What about the freedom to practice your religion?”

Dr Bernadette Dean, the principal of St Joseph’s College for Women, spoke about the religious and gender biases found in text books in Pakistan. “In the curriculum, Islamiat was included in the ‘general knowledge’ taught to children and was made compulsory for students in classes one, two and three,” she pointed out.

“This goes against Article 22 of the Constitution, which states that no person will be forced to attain religious education.”

Dean found religious biases in textbooks written for English, Urdu, Pakistan studies and social studies. “Teachers have to teach these textbooks because students are tested on them in the examinations. They don’t have the choice of breaking out of the system,” she said, adding that the cherry on top is the system of rote learning.

“Imagine thousands of students all over Pakistan rote learning biases against people of other religions by heart and then regurgitating them.”

Quoting acclaimed works, such as K. K. Aziz’s ‘Murder of History of Pakistan’ and Nayyar and Salim’s ‘A Subtle Subversion’, she went on to explain how Pakistan’s history is subverted by “omissions and additions”. “Our students aren’t taught that the first chief justice of Pakistan was a Christian,” she said. “Neither are they told that there were more Hindus than Muslims in Karachi at the time of partition.”

The partition is a tricky topic. “When I asked my students to write about the problems faced by Pakistan during partition, they said: Hindus are bad because they didn’t want to give us the Rs200 million promised to us at partition,” she said.

She then spoke about how textbooks fail to represent gender in a fair manner. “Our text books are full of great men,” she explained.

“You hardly ever come across any great women and when they do turn up, you find them in stereotypical roles, as mothers and housewives.” Dean stressed that textbooks need to be rewritten to reflect the changing times.

The executive director of NCJP, Peter Jacob, also wondered that if the study of religion is so important as to be included at every stage in the curriculum, then why does it only focus on Islam. “Why not include other religions as well.”

Sharing her views with The Express Tribune, Dr Nuzhat, the former principal of Government College, Karachi, felt the discussion was particularly saddening if the history of education in Pakistan, and Sindh in particular, was kept in mind.

“Why do we forget that all great schools in Karachi, including Karachi Grammar School and Mama Parsi, were built by non-Muslims? Muslim parents have been dying to get their children admitted into these schools ever since they were built around 100 years ago.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2013.

Tunisia:Muslim preacher issues fatwa against Femen activist

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, MARCH 19 - Tunisian high school student Amina, 19, has joined the Femen credo of protest through nudity, and a Muslim cleric has issued a fatwa calling for her to be flogged then stoned to death.

Amina posted a topless picture of herself with the words ''my body is mine and no one else's'' written on her skin on the Tunisian Facebook fanpage of Femen, a social movement and provocative women's movement founded in 2008 in the Ukraine. The page got 3,700 supporters and also a lot of insults and protests against what some deem is mere exhibitionism.

Fatwas are rulings on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority, and are sometimes not justified based on the Koran. But the fatwa against Amina could be risky for the student in contemporary Tunisia, where religious fundamentalism often exploded into violence. (ANSAmed).