Maniam kecewa niatnya diragui

Penulis bertemu Ketua Bahagian MIC Kota Raja untuk berbual tentang isu hangat dan terbaru dalam parti politik itu.
COMMENT

Isu dalaman MIC memang sedang hangat sekarang. Bernama (27 Mei 2013) melaporkan kemungkinan timbalan presiden, Dr S Subramaniam bertanding merebut jawatan presiden daripada G Palanivel; manakala The Star (30 Mei 2013) melaporkan ketegasan M Saravanan bertanding jawatan timbalan presiden.

Dalam pada itu, saya lebih tertarik untuk mengikuti perkembangan yang lebih dekat dengan saya, iaitu berkaitan Ketua Bahagian MIC Kota Raja, RS Maniam yang juga Penyelaras Barisan Nasional (BN) Kota Raja.

Saya berpeluang mengenali beliau pada Mei 2011 semasa isu sekumpulan ibu bapa mengadakan perhimpunan aman membantah pengetua rasis di sebuah sekolah menengah kebangsaan di Shah Alam.

Kemudian, pada 24 September 2011 apabila sekumpulan penduduk dan peniaga mengemukakan aduan berhubung tindakan Majlis Bandar Raya Shah Alam (MBSA) mengubah haluan jalan di Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam.

Pada pagi 31 Mei 2013 pula, saya bertemu beliau di Taman Sri Muda dengan harapan dapat meneliti surat tunjuk sebab yang dikeluarkan oleh Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Disiplin MIC, KS Nijhar, dua hari lalu.

“Saya sendiri hanya mendapat tahu mengenai hal itu menerusi laporan di portal berita Free Malaysia Today pada 29 Mei 2013. Saya sedang bermain golf sewaktu dihubungi rakan-rakan yang bertanya benarkan saya digantung. Saya sangat terkejut.

“Saya adalah ahli MIC sejak 32 tahun lalu. Saya tidak tahu apakah punca atau alasan saya mahu digantung. Sehingga saat ini, saya masih belum menerima sebarang surat tunjuk sebab daripada jawatankuasa disiplin,” kata politikus kelahiran Kuala Lumpur itu.

Mengikut prosedur biasa – setahu saya – jawatankuasa kerja pusat (CWC) akan menerima aduan dan kemudian mengarahkan jawatankuasa disiplin melakukan siasatan.

Lazimnya, individu terbabit akan dihubungi menerusi surat tunjuk sebab dan diminta memberikan alasan mengapa tindakan disiplin tidak boleh dikenakan terhadapnya.

Jawatankuasa disiplin pula akan mengemukakan laporan dan saranan kepada CWC. Keputusan akhir terletak pada CWC, sama ada mahu menerima saranan jawatankuasa disiplin atau mengetepikanya.

Dalam hal ini pula, Maniam mengesahkan tidak menerima sebarang surat tunjuk sebab mengikut prosedur dan perlembagaan parti. Maka tentulah beliau terkejut apabila dihubungi rakan-rakan dan wartawan yang lebih dahulu mendapat berita berikutan sidang media oleh Nijhar di ibu pejabat MIC, Kuala Lumpur.

Beri peluang pertahankan diri, beri penjelasan

Saya ada membaca kenyataan Maniam yang disiarkan di Free Malaysia Today (18 Mei 2013) di mana beliau menyokong gesaan Saravanan agar pemilihan parti diadakan segera sebelum berdepan risiko tindakan Pendaftar Pertubuhan (RoS).

Malangnya, Ketua Penerangan MIC Selangor, L Subramaniam didapati “memanipulasi berita tersebut serta menyatakan ia mencemarkan nama baik parti”. Maniam mempertahankan dirinya menerusi kenyataan balas dalam Malaysia Edition (21 Mei 2013).

Salah satu tujuan saya bertemu politikus berumur 59 tahun ini adalah untuk memberi peluang kepada beliau mempertahankan diri. Sekurang-kurangnya orang ramai berpeluang mendapatkan maklumat daripada kedua-dua pihak sebelum membuat penilaian sendiri.

“Berita-berita yang keluar sejak belakangan ini mungkin membuatkan orang fikir saya mensabotaj BN. Saya berani katakan bahawa saya lebih mencintai BN berbanding mereka yang menuduh saya macam-macam.

“Walaupun saya tidak dipilih menjadi calon dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU-13), saya tetap setia bersama MIC dan BN. Malah, saya menyertai 38 ceramah bagi calon Parlimen Kota Raja, T Murugesan dan calon DUN Seri Andalas, T Mohan,” kata Maniam yang tinggal di Klang.

Ahli politik ini yang memang terkenal dalam kalangan penduduk di kawasan Palimen Kota Raja menceritakan bahawa ramai yang bertanya kepada beliau, apakah beliau sudah digantung (suspended). Hal ini berlaku selepas mereka membaca berita mengenai sidang media oleh Nijhar.

“Berita yang disiarkan itu sedikit-sebanyak memberi kesan buruk pada imej saya sebagai seorang ketua keluarga, politikus dan pemimpin masyarakat. Maka saya berhak untuk berasa sedih. Orang ramai mungkin beranggapan saya telah melakukan sesuatu untuk mensabotaj MIC dan BN dalam PRU-13 sehingga menyebabkan semua ini berlaku,” katanya dengan nada kecewa.

Maniam menceritakan bahawa Murugesan dan Mohan turut menghubunginya kelmarin dan menyatakan sokongan. Secara logik, jika benar Maniam telah melakukan sabotaj sehingga menyebabkan kedua-dua calon itu kalah dalam PRU-13, masakan mereka akan menelefon Maniam untuk menyatakan sokongan sebaik keluar berita mengenai keputusan Jawatankuasa Disiplin MIC.

Dalam perbualan kami, Maniam turut menceritakan bahawa pada 15 Mei 2013, beliau menerima SMS mengenai mesyuarat khas MIC Selangor pada keesokan hari di ibu pejabat MIC.

“Kebetulan, akhbar Malaysia Nanban pada 16 Mei menyiarkan berita utama bahawa perubahan besar dijangka berlaku dalam MIC Selangor. Saya berasa gembira kerana memang mahukan perubahan positif demi menguatkan parti.

“Malangnya tidak banyak diperkatakan mengenai perubahan dan transformasi. Sebaliknya mesyuarat lebih menumpukan pada cadangan tidak harus ada pertandingan bagi jawatan presiden parti pada pemilihan akan datang,” beliau menghuraikan tanpa berselindung.

‘Komen saya demi memperkasakan parti’

Pandangan Maniam berhubung perkara itu turut disiarkan di Free Malaysia Today (18 Mei 2013). Beliau antara lain menyatakan dengan berani bahawa pencapaian MIC dalam PRU-13 adalah lebih buruk berbanding PRU-12. Malah, katanya, MIC lebih baik di bawah kepimpinan S Samy Vellu.

“Selepas PRU-13, saya mengirim SMS panjang kepada Palanivel untuk mengucapkan tahniah. Saya juga mencadangkan supaya beliau mengadakan sesi percambahan minda (brainstorming) melibatkan antara 150 hingga 200 pemimpin MIC pelbagai peringkat seluruh negara,” katanya sambil menunjukkan salinan SMS yang masih dalam simpanan.

Lalu saya mula tertanya-tanya apakah mungkin segala kenyataan, cadangan dan kritikan beliau yang sebenarnya berniat baik itu disalah tafsir pihak tertentu dan akhirnya menjadi punca segala masalah yang sedang dihadapinya sekarang?

Misalnya, seperti dilaporkan di Malaysia Edition (21 Mei 2013), Maniam menekankan pendiriannya bahawa MIC adalah parti tunjang yang memperkasa hak kaum India di Malaysia. Beliau juga meletakkan kepercayaan terhadap sistem yang dimiliki MIC di mana 3,700 cawangan, bahagian, badan perhubungan negeri dan kebangsaan mampu mentransformasikan parti ke arah yang lebih progresif.

“Saya kecewa kerana Subramaniam (Ketua Penerangan MIC Selangor) menghentam saya di akhbar-akhbar Tamil dengan menuduh saya sebagai punca kekalahan Murugesan dan Mohan.

“Dalam mesyuarat MIC Selangor pada 16 Mei lalu, saya menekankan pentingnya kita menumpukan perhatian pada isu-isu yang penting berhubung kekalahan dalam PRU-13. Saya cadangkan supaya kita kenal pasti punca sebenar dan punca-punca asas,” katanya.

Pada pandangan Maniam, ketua-ketua cawangan perlu mampu memberikan penjelasan dan penerangan kerana mereka lebih dekat dengan ahli dan penyokong pada peringkat akar-umbi.

“Saya tidak pernah mengeluarkan apa-apa kenyataan atau kritikan yang boleh menjejaskan imej parti. Segala komen saya berniat baik demi memperkasakan parti. Saya turut menekankan bahawa kita bukan hanya pemimpin dalam MIC tetapi juga pemimpin bagi masyarakat setempat.

“Seperti dikatakan oleh Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi BN, apa gunanya menjadi seorang pemimpin dalam parti jika masyarakat awam sudah tidak menghormati individu itu. Jika MIC mahu terus kekal sebagai parti paling unggul bagi kaum India, maka tindakan sewajarnya perlu diambil bagi membela masyarakat,” kata Maniam yang sentiasa sibuk kerana dikunjungi orang ramai di pejabatnya di Taman Sentosa, Klang dan Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam.

Uthaya Sankar SB adalah penulis sepenuh masa dan pemilik tunggal ‘Perunding Media, Motivasi dan Penerbitan Uthaya’.

Hunt for convict intensifies

Cops on lookout for duo who crashed car into wedding reception

by Reena Raj

POLICE have stepped up a manhunt for a convict who rammed his car into a wedding reception in Gopeng on Saturday resulting in the death of 18-month-old T. Thamilarasan. Several others were also injured.

The suspect, identified as C. Senguttuwan, 28, from Taman Gopeng, is likely to face a murder charge, Kampar OCPD Supt Ng Kong Soon said.

"We will see if we have sufficient evidence to investigate him for murder," he told reporters at the district police headquarters. "For now, we seek the help of the public to locate him."

Ng said the suspect had a criminal record for 13 offences since 2006.

He was also banished from Kuala Terengganu for two years from 2011.

He had also been involved in criminal intimidation, burglary, causing hurt, attempted murder and other drug related offences.

Police are also looking for an accomplice who was with Senguttuwan during the incident.

Senguttuwan crashed his car into a house filled with wedding guests in Kampung Baru New Kopisan, killing the toddler instantly.

Fourteen police reports have been lodged by family members and friends who witnessed the incident.

Ng also advised the family members of the victim to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands.

"We will have no choice but to take action on anyone who breaks the law. Retaliation is not of any help to the police," he said, referring to reports in which family members had allegedly stormed the suspect’s family house here and smashed window panes and a car windscreen on Sunday.

He said six men, including the groom, were remanded on Monday at the Kampar magistrate’s court for venting out their anger at the suspect’s family.

He said all six would be released once their statements were taken.

Uthayakumar plans to go to jail for Indian cause

Hindraf founder P Uthayakumar said he is prepared to go to jail for the Indian cause, as he has lost hope of seeking justice through the legal system.

He said he will not continue to defend himself against sedition charges against him at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Monday, although the court has already found a prima facie case against him.

“Let the court punish me, it is okay. For me, I look at this as another occasion to highlight the genuine grievances of the Indian poor.

“Of course somebody has to pay the price and unfortunately, I have to be that somebody again.
"In every struggle, there is a price to pay,” he said when contacted today.
Uthayakumar has been facing the charge since 2007 for allegedly writing a letter, deemed seditious, addressed to then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He complained that almost all his applications to the court had been turned down, whereas almost all of the prosecutor's were allowed.
Facing losing battle with system

Among other issues, he said he court had insisted that he only submit his original official letters on his campaign for his defence although he has only copies because the former had already been mailed to various individuals and organisations.

The last straw came, he said, when the court issued an arrest warrant for him in April for not appearing in court although his bailer has produced a medical certificate from a government medical specialist to the court.

"I had already started my defence and given half a day of evidence.
"I originally told the court that I have 70 witnesses, ranging from the Kampung Medan (‘ethnic cleansing') victims to those who were not given ICs and birth certificates and those who were denied Socso benefits.

"I have made the arrangements, but now I have lost confidence that justice will be served. So let them make a decision," he said.

His case is scheduled for hearing on Monday and Tuesday at  the KL Sessions Court, while submissions and sentencing have been fixed for June 5.

If found guilty of the charges under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act, he is liable to a fine of up to RM5,000, or a jail term of up to three years, or both.

Ironically, June 5 is also when his brother and Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy is expected to be sworn in as senator.

Uthayakumar said he hopes that he would be acquitted, but is prepared to be jailed and would refuse to pay any fine imposed.

"Why should I pay the fine when I am not guilty? I spoke the truth!" he said when asked why he would refuse to pay the fine.

Dharmendran's wife wants cops' immediate arrest

The wife of death in custody victim N Dharmendran is upset that the policemen linked to his death been given desk jobs with suggestions of them being suspended, when they should have been arrested from the beginning.

"They have murdered my husband. They should be in a lock up, not having a desk jobs. They do not deserve it. By right, they should be hung to death,” said S Marry.

"If the public were to kill someone, would they still be walking free? This is the police committing murder," said the teary mother of a two-year old son.
Yesterday Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was tentative with calls for the policemen being probed for the 31-year-old’s death to be suspended from duty instead of being assigned desk jobs, saying it had to be handled “delicately” lest the police force be demoralised.

Dharmendran had allegedly gone to the police station to lodge a report over a fight, but had ended up being detained and died in custody, initially said to be from “breathing difficulties”.

However an autopsy at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on May 22 concluded the cause of death as blunt force trauma.

Police have since classified Dharmendran's death as murder under section 302 of the Penal Code.

Marry's call comes after lawyer N Surendran made public Dharmendran's autopsy report at the PKR headquarters this morning, which suggested that he was handcuffed and brutality beaten to death.

Surendran, also the Padang Serai MP, said the police were already aware of Dharmendran's brutal cause of death when they handed over the autopsy report to the family's lawyer at 11am yesterday.

"Based on this report, legally it is adequate evidence to bring murder charges against all the police personnel involved under section 302 of the Penal Code.

Surendran, also the Padang Serai MP, said the police were already aware of Dharmendran's brutal cause of death when they handed over the autopsy report to the family lawyer at 11am yesterday.

"Based on this report, legally it is adequate evidence to bring murder charges against all the police personnel involved under section 302 of the Penal Code.

"But instead the four personnel are transferred to desk duty, this is a joke... We demand that all the police personnel involved be arrested immediately. I mean today - within the hour," he said
He said under Section 302 of the Penal Code, the accused cannot be granted bail and must be in detention until their trial concludes but yet the culprits were still "walking about freely".

Low adding to family grief

Surendran also described as a lie Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low's denial of seeking a secret meeting with the deceased's family through Dharmendran's father and claiming it was the family's representative who first sought the meeting.
Surendran confirmed that Dharmendran's father B Naraynasamy who spoke to Low's officer D Ravindran had asked them not to come to their home as emotions were running high, but denied the family engaged the Prime Minister's Department first.

"I am disgusted by Paul Low and his officers. Here is a family in sorrow and they decide to go about casting aspersions on a grieving family.

"Well done Paul Low, if this is the best you can do," he said sarcastically.
When pressed on Low's assertion that he merely wanted to help and his intention for a meeting had been misunderstood, an angry Marry retorted: "We did not misunderstand, it was the person on the phone who misunderstood. If they wanted to help we would've accepted".

"But why did they ask us to meet in secret and ditch our lawyers? That is not helping," she said angrily.

Surendran reiterated his call  for an explanation from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself as the call had came from his departmen which had a history of interfering in such cases such as blocking a Thai pathologist from conducting an autopsy in C Sugumar's death in custody case.
He also demanded that Home Minister Zahid Hamidi and inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar explain why Dharmendran's body was stapled repeatedly and riddled with cane marks.

'Apologise to family'
"There has not been a single word of apology to the family, instead they (government) are attacking the family, accusing them of making phone calls (to the Prime Minister's Department).

Surendran also blasted the government for debates over the forming of a panel to oversee death in custody and suggestions to install CCTV when it had yet to address the immediate matter - arresting those responsible.

"These are all distractions from the real matter at hand," he said.

The family's lawyer Michelle Yesudas described the Dharmendran's death as an "execution".

"What we have here is an execution of a person even before he is brought to court.

"Every time the government fails to address death in custody, they are victimising every single victim who dies in custody (after that). We do not want this anymore," she said.

'A handcuffed Dharmendran suffered 52 injuries'

Death in custody victim N Dharmendran was defencelessly beaten to death while handcuffed, suggests the preliminary report of post-mortem examination revealed today.

The written report by forensic pathologist Dr Siew Sheue Feng from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) concluded that there were no defensive wounds found on Dharmendran’s body.

“It was quite clear that during his beating he was handcuffed, and in a lower position, possibly kneeling or something,” family lawyer N Surendran said at a press conference at PKR HQ today.

Dharmendran had sustained 52 marks of injury throughout his body, ranging from head to toe.

Surendran declared that this was “even worse than A Kugan’s case” in 2009.
According to the autopsy, a group of double ‘tram line' bruises, believed to be from rotan marks, were found in a parallel oblique pattern on his lower back and posterior.

"We can only speculate but these look like rotan marks, or something similar," Surendran said.

A patterned bruise, resembling an incomplete number 8 was found on his hip bone.

There was also another double ‘tram line' bruise on Dhamendran's wrist-hand consistent with handcuff marks.

The autopsy also reported numerous blackened bruises on his face, the chest area, shoulders, legs, scalp and back, which Surendran described as "overlapping bruises".
His abdomen, below the kidney area, loins, and navel also carried similar marks.
'Stapler used as torture instrument'
Both Dhamendran's ears were found with staple wounds with the staples still there while his legs had puncture wounds, also believed to be from staples that had been removed.

"These are consistent staple wounds, and this indicates that they had used a stapler to torture him," Surendran said.
Some other bruises found on Dhamendran's body were: A thick blood clot on his lower right thigh, measuring 28 x 20cm.

• An extensive blood clot on his left thigh, measuring 50 x 31cm

• Bruise measuring 23 x 14 cm on lower left leg

• Blood clots measuring 9 x 6.5cm on left half of his face

• Patchy bruises on his neck and upper chest, measuring 13 x 8cm

While the police have classified Dharmendran's death as murder under section 302 of the Penal Code, the four officers being probed are still serving desk duties.

Today Dharmendran’s widow took offence that the perpetrators were still walking free and demanded they be immediately arrested.
Dharmendran's death recalls similar circumstances surrounding 22-year-old A Kugan's in 2009 (right).
The youth was detained over alleged car theft and died in custody of horrific mulltiple wounds to his entire body and internal organs, although police originally claimed he died of an asthma attack.
Dr Siew concluded in her report that the overall pattern of these injuries revealed that they were neither self-inflicted nor accidental in nature.

Surendran also concluded that it means Dhamendran had been in good health when he first entered the lockup.

"Dhamendran was beaten on every part of his body, and not one inch was spared," he added.

"We can only imagine the pain and agony he endured during the last moments of his life as he was (allegedly) handcuffed and beaten to death.

"He was a man with hopes and dreams, a heart and a family. And they (police) took everything away from him."

Waytha wants to work with DAP

As both Hindraf and DAP’s Gelang Patah Declaration are for the betterment of the marginalised Indians, why not work together, asks Waythamoorthy.

GEORGE TOWN: Incoming deputy minister P Waythamoorthy aims to work with the DAP to implement Hindraf’s five-year blueprint for the betterment of the Indian community in Penang and nationwide.

Waythamoorthy, who takes office as Senator and deputy minister on June 5, said he will imbibe DAP’s Gelang Patah Declaration (GPD) and will engage Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang, and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to explore ways and means to work together to implement the proposed policies to uplifting the marginalised Indian community.

Kit Siang launched the 14-point GPD during his election campaign in Gelang Patah on March 31.

“Since Kit Siang has now won Gelang Patah and Guan Eng had retained his Pakatan Rakyat government in Penang for second consecutive term, I would like to engage both father and son to implement Hindraf’s blueprint together with their declaration.

“After all the declaration was for Indians. Why not work together for betterment of Indian community?” Waythamoorthy told FMT.

He said he was willing to work with everyone and anyone, including political parties, NGOs and individuals, so long as they were committed, honest, sincere and serious about resolving Indian issues.

Hindraf blueprint is a written proposal to execute permanent solutions to resolve major issues affecting the marginalised segment of the Indian community. It is not meant for those living in comfort zones.

Barisan Nasional endorsed and agreed to implement the blueprint on April 18, 2013 while Pakatan rejected it outright despite having 24 meetings.

Waythamoorthy said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had, during Hindraf’s negotiations with BN, made his own commitments to implement permanent solutions to resolving socio-economic issues plaguing the Indian community. This was unlike Pakatan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who dismissed it.

“Najib, compared with others, was frank, committed and serious to resolving problems faced by marginalised Indians,” said Waythamoorthy.

‘Don’t judge me yet’

The DAP’s 14-point GPD is essentially a package of election promises to empower and improve the lot of poor Indians.

In the declaration, DAP promised to resolve a myriad of issues that plague the Indian community.

Among the issues were poverty, joblessness, statelessness, inaccessibility to higher education and lack of representation in local councils and the civil service.

Other matters included the community’s susceptibility to extrajudicial killings and other forms of oppression, problems they faced in acquiring land and other facilities for Tamil schools, Hindu temples and burial grounds.

Critics have jibed the GDP as “DAP’s instant noodles” to counter the comprehensive Hindraf’s blueprint.

Waythamoorthy, who will assume his responsibilities in the Prime Minister’s Department next Wednesday, said many people failed to comprehend the actual problems faced by poor Indians and the extent of the community’s predicament.

He said the special unit for Indian affairs, which he will head and which will come directly under Prime Minister Najib, aims to address and resolve the unique, peculiar and complicated Indian issues.

Waythamoorthy sees himself as a “human rights defender and advocate, not a politician” like others.

He relishes his new role in the government, although he acknowledged that it will be a challenging and uphill task.

“I will need time adjust and set up the unit. Government administration is a whole new thing for me.

“I would prefer to let my actions do the talking. Let me deliver than judge me. Don’t prejudge me.

“This will be the dawn of a new era for the human rights cause in the country,” he said.

'Waytha did speak out on Dharmendran's death'

I refer to the article that was published in Malaysiakini titled ‘Kula flays Waytha for silence on custodial death' on May 27, 2013 written for him by the PKR herald Terence Netto.

The article is entirely baseless. Its basic premise is false. Its arguments are at best nothing more than self-serving political opportunism.

It is written by Terence Netto who claims a career of 40 years in journalism. It is shameful what that 40 years has come to be.

The comments section of the article and the Red Bean Facebook circuits will just amplify these lies and perform the greatest disservice to our country, spreading untruths in volumes.

Kula for his part, supposedly a senior legislator, exposes his shallowness and his political opportunism in the untruths in his utterances. It all ill-portends a Goebbellian new world for Malaysia.

Terence Netto quotes Kula about Waytha's ‘deafening silence'. I wonder what they really mean.

They should refer to the article ‘Lame excuses from the cops' in another online portal FMT on May 23, a full four days before Terence's and Kula's article in Malaysiakini.

Waytha makes it plain in that article just where he stands on these unacceptable acts of deaths in custody. Just for the record, here are a few key things that Waytha mentioned in that article.

Waythamoorthy also called on Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to immediately suspend all those suspects allegedly involved in the death of Darmindran, 32.

He said the police cannot go on giving lame excuses on such incidents because there were one too many deaths in police custody.

"Public will no longer entertain such lame excuses," he told FMT here today.

He said it was time for the police to implement preventive measures to stop these deaths such as installing closed circuit television cameras in all police stations and lock-ups.

He also called the government to amend the law to allow formation of area citizen groups who would be given round-the-clock access to their respective neighbourhood police stations and detainees in police lock-ups.

Citing several countries which practiced it, he said these groups shall be made of neighbourhood residents with good and credible public standing, and not necessary they have to be educated or professional persons.

He said citizen groups shall be allowed to visit police stations and detainees at any time to have first-hand look at their captive conditions.

"It's important for the police to take these pro-active steps immediately to restore waning public trust and confidence in the force," said Waythamoorthy.

Terence nor Kula cannot be excused for non-knowledge of this article. After all this is in the public domain and they are clearly operators in this domain.

I have therefore to conclude that they are the ill-intentioned ones, whose job now, it seems to be, to spread untruths and outright lies and try and politicise and make political capital out of every misfortune that befalls the Indians in the country.

It is time that Malaysia and Malaysians rise above the grips of a new trend arising where minds will be controlled by lies in the social media, by distortions of truths, by half-truths and just by repetitions and intensity of misinformation.

We all need a better Malaysia. The Malaysia we all need is one where truth will prevail. Not one in the grips of these untruths.

We do not need to descend down this path shown us by opportunistic leaders and pied pipers like Kula and Terence Netto whose job now it seems to be to mislead.

Hindraf for its part will continue not only to campaign against deaths in police custody, but also to understand the root causes of these occurrences and to seek permanent solutions to prevent such deaths.

Waytha's new position in government will open up new possibilities for addressing problems of this nature and we will pursue permanent resolutions through these new possibilities.

---

N GANESAN is Hindraf national adviser.

CCTVs will not stop deaths in custody

Custodial death cases will not be solved by merely having CCTVs, says PKR's N Surendran and Latheefa Koya.

PETALING JAYA: PKR leaders N Surendran and Latheefa Koya have panned the government’s plan to install closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in police stations, saying it will not resolve death in custody cases.

On Tuesday, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the ministry plans to install CCTVs in police lock-ups to enhance detention procedures, in the wake of the latest death in custody case.

“The home minister is playing dumb,” said Surendran, who is also the lawyer representing the family of N Dhamendran, 32, who died in custody on May 11.

“He should first answer whether the proposal to have CCTVs installed in police stations was implemented or not.

“Even so, custodial death cases would not be solved by merely having CCTVs. Instead, immediate action must be taken, to arrest and charge those involved,” added the PKR vice-president.

Instead of talking about CCTVs, Surendran said the authorities must do the necessary, which was to arrest the culprits.

“And before talking about CCTVs again, can the government explain why those previous proposals [on installing CCTVS] came to nothing?” he added.

Modernise investigation methods

Similarly, Latheefa said that the issue was not about the number of CCTVs, but accountability.

“What is more important is to arrest and charge those who did it and not cover up. That would put a stop to using torture as a way to interrogate,” added the PKR central leadership council member.

Latheefa, who is a lawyer, also stressed on the importance of modernising investigation techniques.

“It should not be the old fashion way of beating and threatening suspects. Also, investigating officers must be properly trained. Ultimately, no amount of CCTVs would help if there’s no accountability as footage can be easily erased,” she said.

DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng on the other hand stressed on the need for CCTVs to be installed in interrogation rooms in police stations.

“I recall there was a plan by the government a few years ago, to install CCTVs in interrogation rooms at police stations to ensure all investigations are done properly. But since then, we don’t know what was the outcome of the proposal,” he said.

In view of this, Lim said CCTVs must be installed not only in police lock-ups, but all interrogation rooms as well.

“Also, CCTVs must be installed at the entrances too, to see who goes in and out of the police stations,” he said.

In 2009, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Zinin, who was then the federal CID director, announced that the police would install CCTVs in interrogation rooms at all police stations.

He said that the installation would be done in stages, with state police headquarters and district headquarters as priority areas.

FMT Interview with Waytha [Part 3]

Death in custody,only in Malaysia

Tame these Islamic Propagators at any cost. No Muslim Reservation will be allowed in India.

UP Cabinet minister Azam Khan (Deptt. of Minority Welfare), UP CM Akhilesh Yadav and Union Minority Affairs Minister K Rehman Khan, in Lucknow on Tuesday. Photo: Vishal Srivastav.

While bloody swines are taking, red hot iron rods are needed to prick their tongues – Jebril.
Bring Muslim quota Bill, will back it: Akhilesh to UPA

Express news service : |Lucknow | Wed 29 May 2013:: Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday asked Union Minister for Minority Affairs K Rehman Khan to bring in a constitutional amendment Bill for providing reservation to Muslims.

“Providing reservation to Muslims without amendment to the Constitution is not possible. We are ready to support it whenever you bring such a Bill,” Akhilesh stated at a joint press conference with the Union minister at his official residence.

In its manifesto of Assembly elections, the SP had promised reservation to Muslims in proportion to their population. The issue cropped up when Khan was highlighting the achievements of his ministry. He mentioned that the Sachar Committee made 72 recommendations for the uplift of Muslims. “From these, the Union government did not accept three and could not implement three others. But we have implemented the remaining 66 recommendations,” he said.

At this, state Minister of Minority Welfare Azam Khan slammed the Congress for doing lip service towards Muslims for the past six decades. “Reservation to Muslims is the soul of the Sachar Committee recommendations. We understand that you do not have a majority, but at least bring the Bill,” he said.

Khan responded: “You tell me any recommendations of Sachar Committee which has been left out and it will be implemented within 24 hours.”

Khan added he was happy that the issue of Muslim reservation has been raised. “It is our right. But unfortunately Muslims are being referred to as a religious group instead of a social one. We need to rectify that,” he stated.

He claimed it was due to his efforts that Karanataka had a provision of 4 per cent reservation for Muslims for the past 20 years. “It was in the manifesto of the Congress in the 2009 elections, but it has been delayed due to legal issues. You favour it and we also favour it. We are waiting for the court’s judgment,” he added. [Courtesy: Indian Express.)

Hindu Existence Post Script by Upananda Brahmachari: 1. In such a secular country like India, why these initiative for Muslim reservation?

2. India was divided upon ‘Two Nation Theory’.  Muslims got Pakistan exclusively. Then why India is not a land of Hindus? Why Hindusthan is not a exclusive land for the Hindus?

3.  Hindus in Pakistan are almost finished. (Hindus reduced from 16% to less than 2%). The eastern part of Pakistan, i.e. Bangladesh is now under a fanatic Islamization and Hindus have been reduced to 8% from a high of 27%. On the other hand, Muslim population  in India has been boomed from a leas than 4 crores in 1947  to a high of 20 crores in 2013 (including illegal infiltrator Muslims from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, Afghanistan etc.). Compilation of reports from Govt. census and other reports show that there are 19,48,41,141 Muslims in India in 2011. Muslims in India are well protected and they are flourishing in every fields. All the prime posts are/were adorned by Muslims. As per Govt. statistics, no Muslim has been died in starvation so far, but all the people died under starvation are Hindus, tribes or non-Muslims. Muslims are well protected under laws of the land, then why a hue and cry for such a Muslim reservation?

4. The role of Muslims in Indian Freedom Movements is always questionable. As the morphine of ‘Divide and Rule Policy’ was injected in the minds of Muslims, they have always betrayed with the Hindus and Struggle of Freedom Movement. The  Muslim settlers in India after 1947, have not changed their mind-set. They are always trying to change the Hindu Majority and Multi-Cultural Identity of India in various modes including establishment of Shariah and Shariah Courts in India, challenging Indian Constitution, slaughtering cows, grabbing Hindu lands, properties and women, opposing Govt.’s Family Planning and Pulse Polio Programmes and even denouncing National Song of India.  When Muslims in India have been contradicting the Nationality of India and its Holy Constitution and National Song, then why this dangerous move to give reservation to the Muslims time and again? 

5. There are so many ethnic and religious groups in India. Then why these crazy creatures viz. Mamata Banerjee (CM West Bengal), Akhilesh Yadav (CM Uttar Pradesh) only bark for the Muslims in the name of Minority Welfare?  These venomous Islamic supporters  in the helm of Talibanic Political Affairs are trying to bite the Indian Constitution and population for their fatal finish. It is no sin to send some sinners for a silent sleep to save the sanctity and sovereignty of Hindus in Bharat. Muslim Reservation in Bharat (India) means the violation of Hindu Rights in India. And Hindus have the rights to stop Muslim Reservation in India at any cost. 

Italy: Muslim Attacks Sex Shop Then Shouts About the Glory of Islam

He had had enough of the "decadence of western morals". So the "young North African" put an enormous paving stone into his rucksack. In mid-afternoon, he went to throw it through the window of the sex shop "Sex appeal" in Bolzano, in Trentino-Alto Adige. He then remained, calmly awaiting the arrival of the police "while shouting about the glory of Islam". Between shouts, he puffed on his cigarette.

The manager, Giovanni Lo Iacono, is still terrified of it: "It was 5.30 pm on Friday afternoon, I was chilling inside the ship when I heard a terrible crash and I saw the shop window explode. At first I though a car had smashed into it. If the rock had fallen on my head, it would have killed me."

"Outside," he said, "the street was full of people. The shop window might also have fallen on someone. It's very heavy, made with anti-burglary double glazing. We needed a crane to install it."

Waytha wants police quartet suspended

Soon to be deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy has lambasted the seemingly tame action taken against the police personnel being investigated over N Dharmendran’s death-in-custody case, saying such steps can only serve to undermine public faith in the force.

Pointing out that murder is a non-bailable offence, Waythamoorthy (left) said the four policemen should have been suspended and held in remand until investigations were completed, instead of merely being assigned to desk duties.

He said this in a statement issued today in his capacity as Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (Hindraf) chairperson.

“The law is equal for police personnel as well as for the general public. Therefore any lesser action will only further frustrate the general public in the double standards practised against these police officers with such blatant immunity provided to them.

“Such ineffectual action as this by their superiors in the police force will only further demean the confidence of the public in the police force and their integrity in carrying out their responsibility in the interest of public,” the statement says.

Waythamoorthy also questioned how the police expect to restore public confidence in their “professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness” in reducing crime, if they are unable to take stern actions against their own suspected police officers.

He added that such action reflected the lack of respect the police force hold for the “fundamental rights and the value for human life”, as enshrined in the federal constitution.

Cessation of Indian custodial deaths were among the demands dropped by Hindraf when signing its historic pact with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak-led BN in April, a move which earned the movement much criticism.
IPCMC the only way

Meanwhile, the Stop State Violence Movement, a coalition of 30 NGOs, in its statement urged the authorities to seek the root causes of custodial deaths instead of the “cosmetic move” taken by way of the special committee on custodial deaths headed by Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar (below).

“We as members of civil society are simply fed up with such cosmetic reforms implemented by the government, which have not realised any positive outcome of eliminating custodial deaths.

“It still continues to remain a state-sponsored form of violence, where the perpetrators are able to act with impunity,” the movement said.

It stressed that the only way to make perpetrators accountable and ensure effective check-and-balance would be through an “independent mechanism” such as the rejected proposal for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

Stop State Violence Movement said the need for the IPCMC was "very clear", based on the experience learnt from the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission Bill (EAIC), which replaced the controversial Special Complaints Commission (SCC) Bill, that the current proposal to establish a national team "will be another failure of another cosmetic reform".

“The only way to end torture and deaths in custody is to make all enforcement officers conscious that non-compromising actions will be taken and perpetrators made accountable.”

Dr M, Daim will decide debate on Najib’s future, says veteran newsman

 

Najib still has influential backing and may experience less opposition from those trying to take him down.
KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — Any open debate on Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s future as Umno president and prime minister will be driven by the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Daim Zainuddin, veteran journalist Datuk Abdul Kadir Jasin said today.

Following the May 5 polls where Najib led his Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition to victory, observers have said that he is now seeking to secure his position as the party leader in the Umno elections that are expected to take place this year.

“Dr Mahathir, Daim and several independent bloggers will determine whether Mohd Najib’s future as Umno President and Prime Minister will be openly debated,” Abdul Kadir wrote in a blog post titled “Kesan Positif Sekatan dan Imbangan Selepas PRU13” (The positive effects of checks and balance after GE13), referring to former Umno minister Daim.

Abdul Kadir said that the two veteran Umno leaders had even met and drawn up an action plan following the 13th general election where BN managed to hold on to power with a smaller haul of 133 federal seats, fewer than its 140-seat win in 2008.

“Daim met Dr Mahathir in Putrajaya few days after the May 5 general election where they were said to have made a ‘review’ of the results and the short-term and medium-term measures that they will take,” Abdul Kadir said.

Abdul Kadir also said that BN’s war room should acknowledge that it had lost out to Najib’s predecessor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his advisers, referring to the former BN chief who had retained power in 2008 despite his coalition losing its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time in history.

“Whatever it is, Abdullah can now hold his head up high because the accusation that his performance in PRU 2008 was hambar is no longer accurate because Mohd Najib’s achievement was even worse despite support by Dr Mahathir and Daim. Looking at Mohd Najib’s achievement, I myself feel that (I had) over-criticised Abdullah after GE 2008.

“Like it or not, Mohd Najib and his staff that run the ‘Bilik Perang’ (War Room) BN should sincerely, openly and transparently admit that their boasts had memakan diri (failed) and they lost to Abdullah and his Fourth Floor Boys.”

The Malaysian Insider previously reported that sources within BN had questioned the strategies used by the BN war room, but BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor reportedly denied on May 15 that the war room had failed to achieve its targets, pointing out that BN had won the mandate to form the federal government.

On Monday, Abdul Kadir’s blog carried a transcript of Daim’s interview with local daily China Press, where the former finance minister blamed Najib’s advisers for BN’s failure to regain a two-thirds parliamentary majority, claiming that they had used the wrong strategy to drive BN’s election campaign.

In the same blog post today, Abdul Kadir noted that Najib still has backing from the influential Dr Mahathir and may experience less opposition from those trying to take him down.

“In the political arena, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak’s position will continue to be disputed. Just maybe not as outspoken as what happened to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after PRU 2008 because Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is lebih mesra (more friendly) with Mohd Najib and many of the bloggers that used to be anti-Abdullah are now pro-Mohd Najib. They may not support any negative moves towards Mohd Najib, and may even demonise anyone that tries to bring down Mohd Najib.”

He said many harsh comments have been directed at Daim since his interview criticising Najib and his men was published.

Dr Mahathir has said BN has no choice but to throw its weight behind Najib, who will likely survive his second term as prime minister due to a lack of an alternative, international business newswire Bloomberg reported on May 25.

“I think the party will support him because of a lack of an alternative,” 87-year-old Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying in Tokyo in a speech at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.

Observers have said BN’s performance will likely affect 59-year-old Najib’s bid to stay on as Umno president, with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, 66, seen as a possible contender for the post.

Despite the BN’s poorer overall electoral results, Najib’s leadership had ensured Umno succeeded in netting a significant nine more seats in Election 2013, giving the Malay party a total of 88 in the Dewan Rakyat compared to 79 in Election 2008.

No need for IPCMC, says minister

Minister in PM's Department Paul Low says that the existing EAIC is a sufficient channel to handle cases of police abuse.

KUALA LUMPUR: There is no need to establish the Independent Police Misconduct and Complaints Commission (IPCMC), said Minister for Governance and Integrity Paul Low.

He said there is an existing channel called the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) that would perform the same duties as the IPCMC.

“There is no need to form the IPCMC, we already have a channel that allows the public to lodge complaints with regard to the enforcement agencies called the EAIC,” he said.

“There is lack of awareness. I believe that the only thing left to do is to educate the public on how one can lodge a complaint via the EAIC,” he added.

Meanwhile, Low also said he had brought up N Dhamendran’s case at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday.

Dhamendran, 32, died in police custody on May 21. The post-mortem reported concluded that he had died of blunt force trauma and the case has been classified as murder.

The police headquarters in Bukit Aman has since established the case as murder and had set up an independent task force to investigate the issue.

“We as the government, need to act on this issue urgently. I brought it up at the Cabinet meeting yesterday and the outcome was positive,” Low told a press conference.

He said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has agreed to cooperate and work with the relevant people.

“The minister has also promised to urge the police to hasten their investigations in Dhamendran’s case,” he added.

Also present at the press conference was Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) director D Ravindran, whom Dhamendran’s family accused of harassing them.

Ravindran explained that there were no conversations hinting towards a settlement nor asking the family to disengage their lawyers.

“I only called the father V Narayanasamy to tell him that a minister with the PM’s Department would like to meet the family to convey his condolences and offer help to seek justice for the deceased,” he said.

“The father kept telling me that they were too busy and were unable to meet the minister. I even offered to bring the minister to the Bukit Aman police headquarters where the father said they were going to lodge a report,” he added.

Genuine in wanting to help family


Ravindran said he later managed to speak to the PKR MP R Sivarasa with the help of Bersih chairperson S Ambiga.

“That was when I contacted Sivarasa to express our willingness to work together with anyone for that matter to help the grieving family find justice,” he said.

Low added that they would not “harass” the family any further and would maintain Sivarasa as their only point of contact.

“If we continue to call the family, they are going to say that we are harassing them again. We want to avoid this,” he said.

“From now on, we will only keep in touch with Sivarasa but we are still willing to help the family in any way possible,” he added.

Low also pleaded to the media and all political parties to help the family sincerely if possible and not politicise the issue.

“We have a grieving family here, we should not use them for political benefit. We are sincere in helping the family, we hope others who want to help are on the same wavelength,” he said.

The police’s ‘seditious lack of speed’

A MIC leader says while the police can act with speed against those who allegedly make seditious statements, it however drags its feet on more important matters.

PETALING JAYA: There seems to be a ‘seditious lack of speed’ in the police’s investigation concerning the death of N Dhamendran, said a MIC leader.

Vexed over the feet-dragging, S Vell Paari called on the police to be as swift on this case as it was in arresting opposition figures under the Sedition Act.

Furthermore, he said Dhamendran’s death in the hands of policemen was a more serious crime than that of calling for street rallies.

“When the police can work with such ferocity in arresting people on sedition charges…Why is it taking so long to disclose who was responsible for Dhamendran’s death?” he asked.

The MIC strategy director was also disappointed that the policemen involved had been re-assigned to desk duties, and called for their suspension pending the completion of the investigation.

“Going by this logic, would the police also find desk jobs for other murder suspects as well?

“This is preposterous! Dhamendran’s ears and ankles were stapled, what kind of animal would do this… Definitely one which belongs in a cage and not behind a desk,” he added.

Push for IPCMC


Vell Paari said while he welcomed Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar’s move to set up a committee to probe custodial deaths, he however stressed on the importance of establishing the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

“With due respect to Khalid, how is it proper for the accused [the police] to investigate itself? To be transparent and to avoid conflict of interest, it must be an independent probe.

“How long more would custodial deaths continue without proper action?” he asked.

In view of this, Vell Paari said he would write to MIC secretary-general A Shaktivel to convene an emergency Central Working Committee meeting to table the IPCMC proposal.

Instead of being caught up in the jostling for positions in the upcoming party polls, he called on MIC state chiefs, division and branch chairmen as well as members to back this proposal.

“We should raise the IPCMC issue in Parliament. With our four MPs, we should also seek the support of MCA, Gerakan and parties from East Malaysia to support this motion. I am certain that for the sake of justice, they would do the right thing,” he added.

Vell Paari, who commended PKR leaders such as N Surendran for taking up Dhamendran’s case, was also confident that Pakatan Rakyat and certain Umno MPs would back the IPCMC proposal.

“If this motion is supported and carried forward then we would set a precedent for a very interesting chapter in Malaysia’s political evolution… Where parties from both sides of the divide join hands for the common good of the nation.

“Since the Umno leadership has already started the ball rolling on a single party… I think there is no harm for other Barisan Nasional component parties to roll the ball further with an alliance amongst us and others in doing what is right for Malaysia and all Malaysians.

“This is not about overthrowing the government but seeking justice for lives that have been lost in the custody of those who are assigned to protect us,” he added.

Vell Paari, who also called on all Indian-based political parties and NGOs to support the proposal, said that if the move to push for the IPCMC failed to prompt the government to set it up, then he would tell Malaysians to heed Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s advice.

“If such a pressing issue is not supported… Then I suppose Zahid was right in saying that those who have no confidence in the political system here should emigrate. I wouldn’t blame those who do so for the sake of their children’s future,” he added.

Hold suspects in remand


In a related development, Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy said he was aghast that the policemen involved in Dhamendran’s case had been given desk jobs.

“Murder is a non-bailable offence in Malaysia, the suspected police officers should be suspended and held in remand until the investigations are over.

“The law is equal for police personnel as well as for the general public therefore any lesser action would only further frustrate the general public in the double standard practiced against these police officers with such blatant immunity provided to them,” he added.

Waythamoorthy, who had been appointed as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, said such ineffectual action would only further erode public confidence in the police.

“How does the police expect to restore public confidence in their professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness of the police service to reduce crime, reassure the people about the safety of the streets, public spaces and homes if they are unable to take stern actions against their own suspected police officers?” he asked.

The post-mortem report stated that Dhamendran died of blunt force trauma and the police have classified the case as murder.

Cops accused of baiting violence

An activist lawyer explains her uncomplimentary picture in Utusan Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: Police tried to provoke aggression from the participants of a candle light vigil outside the Jinjang detention centre a week ago, according to activist lawyer G Sivamalar.

“They were provoking and shouting at us,” the Lawyers for Liberty activist told FMT in explaining a news picture showing her in confrontation with a policeman. Utusan Malaysia published the picture on its Page 8 today.

“The picture was taken intentionally to intimidate lawyers,” she said.

“And yes, I am the one who shouted at the police constable. The police kicked my friend, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, and pushed a student activist. I told them not to touch him.”

Fadiah is a prominent member of Suaram.

The constable in the picture, Muhalim Osop, yesterday received a commendation letter from Kuala Lumpur’s deputy police chief, Amar Singh.

Sivamalar said she went to the scene of the May 22 vigil to represent vigil participants whom the police had arrested.

“I arrived there only after receiving news that 18 people were detained,” she said, contradicting the Utusan description of her as an opposition supporter and a participant in the vigil.

The vigil was held for student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim, who was detained for four days on suspicion of making seditious statements at a forum early this month.

Fadiah has lodged a police report over the alleged kicking incident. The report also directed a complaint against a senior investigating officer identified only as Othman.

“I am lodging a report against SIO Othman, to be investigated by an independent team from Bukit Aman, for abusing his power by denying the right to have legal representation in accordance with Section 28 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution,” she said in the report.

“I am also lodging this police report because a policeman abused his power and kicked me at the entrance of the police station.”

Others lawyers have also lodged police reports against being barred from meeting the detained participants of the vigil.

The 18 suspects were released after interrogation.

‘Once in a while think of the people’

This is the advice R Ramanan offers to those in MIC who are jostling for positions.

GEORGE TOWN: Upset with the infighting in MIC, the party’s strategy bureau vice chief R Ramanan has called on those jostling for posts to “once in a while think of the people you represent and not yourselves.”

Instead of crossing swords, he urged his colleagues to spend their resources to reconcile, recuperate, recover, restrategise and revitalise the battered party.

He slammed those aspirants vying for top positions in the coming party polls as selfish opportunists for putting their political interests above party and community interests.

He called on these opportunists to focus on the betterment of the Indian community, rather than themselves.

Ramanan said his colleagues should take a six-month break to allow peace and unity to prevail in MIC before they eye for positions in party polls.

“This kind of internal squabbling and jostling for positions at this time is downright disgusting. We have just emerged from a grueling and bruising general election.

“Everyone should give the party time to heal. They should spend their resources to resolve pressing Indian issues, not on politicking and bickering.

“The community wants MIC leaders to fight for Indian rights, not among themselves. Once in a while, please also think of the people you represent and not only of yourselves.

“Let us be united and not divided,” he told FMT.

Ramanan said he found it odd that MIC leaders have started fighting for posts now when the party polls would only take place sometime next year.

Since Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had formed his Cabinet, he reminded MIC government appointees to cooperate and get on with their respective jobs to address public grouses.

From now until the next election, he reminded MIC leaders that they faced tough political challenges and to keep the party relevant.

Or else, he warned MIC would suffer the same fate of MCA and Gerakan.

“It seems some MIC leaders’ obsession for posts have blinded them from their duty to uplift Indians from their woes.

“If this obsession persists, the community indeed faces a bleak future with our priorities being upside down. MIC can be wiped out in next round,” he warned.

DAP reminded of pledges to Indians

A branch leader says the party must make good on its Gelang Patah Declaration.

GEORGE TOWN: A local DAP leader today urged the party to use its influence in Pakatan Rakyat state governments to fulfill the promises it made to Malaysian Indians in its Gelang Patah Declaration.

G Asoghan, who heads the party’s Jalan Bagan Luar branch, said at least the Penang government must pursue the vision stated in the declaration, which DAP leaders affirmed in the run-up to the recent general election.

He told FMT it was important for the Chinese-dominated DAP to prove that the declaration was more than just a gimmick to woo Indian voters.

The declaration, which is essentially a package of promises aimed at improving the lot of poor Indians, was first declaimed on March 31 in Gelang Patah during an election campaign rally for DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang.

Several groups immediately dismissed it as an imitation of the Hindraf demands that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak eventually endorsed, also in the run-up to the election.

Asoghan criticised DAP leaders for finding fault with the Hindraf blueprint, saying they seemed to be trying to divert public attention from the party’s own pledges to the Indians.

“Stop harping on the Hindraf blueprint,” he said. “Walk your talk on your own declaration before criticising others. Indians are waiting for your mee segera (instant noodles).”

He said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng must consider it his duty to make good on the Gelang Patah Declaration.

“Guan Eng has a public duty to implement the declaration made by his father,” he said.

“He should walk his talk on multiracial politics by empowering the marginalised Indian community in Chinese-dominated Penang.

“Since Kit Sing’s declaration promised so much for Indians, ideally the DAP-helmed Penang Pakatan government must fulfil those pledges.

“It will be an opportunity for Guan Eng to change the public perception of DAP as a Chinese chauvinist party.”

In the declaration, DAP promises to resolve the myriad of issues that plague the Indian community, including poverty, joblessness, statelessness, their lack of access to higher education, their lack of representation in local councils and the civil service, their susceptibility to extrajudicial killings and other forms of oppression, and the problems they face in acquiring land and other facilities for Tamil schools, Hindu temples and burial grounds.

Police panel on custodial death draws more flak

Gobind Singh Deo questions the lack of action on the part of the police over previous recommendations to stem out deaths in police custody.

PETALING JAYA: The suggestion of a special police panel on custodial death is receiving more flak. The latest criticism against the panel was made by Puchong MP, Gobind Singh Deo on the grounds that the previous recommendations were brushed aside by the police force.

“There has been a RCI which resulted in the proposal of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission. Even after this, there have been deaths in police custody which have become the focal point of anger of the nation against the police such as the case of Kugan, Ahmad Sarbani and Teoh Beng Hock.

“In Teoh Beng Hock’s case, there was also a RCI which came out with specific criticisms and suggestions to solve these problems, to ensure deaths like these do not occur again in custody.

“In addition to this, this matter has been raised in Parliament many times and in the last session, the Home Ministry assured the house that steps were being taken to solve the problems,” said Gobind who is also DAP’s national legal bureau chief in a statement today.

On Tuesday, Bukit Aman management director Mortadza Nazarene announced that the police would be setting up a special committee led by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar to curb deaths in police lock ups.

The committee that is expected to start functioning soon will among others, monitor the safety aspects and health condition of those detained by police in lock ups.

Central lock ups in five locations have already been equipped with CCTV cameras, intercom, lawyers room, court room, identification parade room for suspects and a pantry.

On that note, Gobind also challenged Khalid to reveal the measures undertaken by the police to stop the recurrence of deaths in police lock-ups.

“The IGP should take the challenge and tell us, until now, what steps have been taken to improve, to ensure deaths in custody does not occur again?

“How much of the suggestions and recommendations from the RCI’s of the past have actually been implemented? He should also outline the number of deaths and what action has been taken against officers concerned,” said Gobind.

He also said that Khalid should be in the forefront to push for the implementation of IPCMC if he truly wanted to end deaths in custody instead of forming panels that are a waste of time and contribute to the decline of public confidence in the police force.

Khalid shouldn’t lead the committee

PAS central commitee member Dzulkefly Ahmad also criticised the idea of Khalid leading the committee.

“One cannot be a judge for his own cause. He would be partisan for the police force. It would be better if a respectable personality with sterling character such as a former judge or a law professor leads the committee,” said the former Kuala Selangor MP.

Yesterday, PKR vice president N Surendran who is also the legal counsel to Dharmendran’s family criticised the move as an attempt to cover up by the police.

He also questioned Khalid’s competency to lead the special committee.

While commending the move, Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong reiterated calls for IPCMC and the formation of a Coroner’s Court.

The rising dangerous trend of misinformation

Hindraf slams those who have chosen purposefully to spread untruths and create a myth and let it go viral spinning off the social media network.
COMMENT

By N Ganesan

There is a dangerous trend developing in the public information domain that bodes ill for us all Malaysians.

We used to criticize the mainstream print media for its untruthful and biased reporting of events and occurrences around the country. Now it looks like that is coming full circle with the online media, social media all resorting to similar yet more vicious campaigns of untruths and distortions of truths.

For a clear example of this kind of falsehood I refer to a recent article that was published in a widely read online portal titled, ‘Kula flays Waytha for silence on custodial death’ on May 27, 2013, quoting DAP’s M Kula Segaran extensively.

There is vicious untruth in the article and it was penned and published by noteworthy individuals and organization.

That article is entirely baseless. Its basic premise is false. Its arguments are at best nothing more than self serving and opportunistic rhetoric.

It is written by a journalist, who claims a career of 40 years in journalism. It is shameful what that 40 years has come to be. The comments section of the article and the Red Bean Facebook circuits will just amplify these lies and perform the greatest disservice to our country, of spreading untruths in volumes.

It all ill-portends a Goebbellian new world for Malaysia.

The writer of that article quotes Kula Segaran about Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy’s ‘deafening silence’ .

I wonder if they know what that really means. They should refer to the article ‘Lame excuses from the cops’ in the Free Malaysia Today online portal on May 23, full four days before the article.

Waythamoorthy makes it plain in that article just where he stands on these unacceptable acts of deaths in custody.

This is Waythamoorthy’s stand

Just for record, here are a few key things that Waythamoorthy mentioned in that article:

“Waythamoorthy also called on Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to immediately suspend all those suspects allegedly involved in the death of Darmindran, 32. He said the police cannot go on giving lame excuses on such incidents because there were one too many deaths in police custody.

“Public will no longer entertain such lame excuses,” he told FMT here today. He said it was time for the police to implement preventive measures to stop these deaths such as installing closed circuit television cameras in all police stations and lock-ups.

He also called the government to amend the law to allow formation of area citizen groups who would be given round-the-clock access to their respective neighbourhood police stations and detainees in police lock-ups. Citing several countries which practiced it, he said these groups shall be made of neighbourhood residents with good and credible public standing, and not necessary they have to be educated or professional persons.

He said citizen groups shall be allowed to visit police stations and detainees at any time to have first-hand look at their captive conditions.“It’s important for the police to take these pro-active steps immediately to restore waning public trust and confidence in the force,” said Waythamoorthy.”

Spreading untruths on purpose

Both Kula Segaran and the writer is the first article cannot be excused for non-knowledge of this article. After all this is public domain and they are operators in this domain.

I have therefore no choice but to conclude that they have chosen purposefully to spread untruths and create a myth and let it go viral spinning off the social media network.

Their job in this episode, seems to be to initiate untruths and let black become white in the intensity of what ensues, and to cast themselves as the heroes of the victims and to cast others equally in the scene as villains. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

It is time that Malaysia and Malaysians become aware of this dangerous new trend arising where minds will continue be controlled, by lies, by distortions of truths, by half truths and just by repetitions and intensity in the social media and all in the name of a new morality of the underdog’s truth.

We all need a better Malaysia. The Malaysia we all need is one where truth prevails, regardless. Not one in the grips of vicious untruth spread by wolves in sheepskin.

We do not need to descend down this path shown us by opportunistic leaders and pied pipers whose job now it seems to be to lead this new variety of misinformation.

N Ganesan is Hindraf’s national advisor.

‘Dharmendran not given legal aid after arrest’

The Star
K Pragalath and G Lavendran

The police failed to ensure that Dharmendran had sufficient legal representation, says Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Bar today pointed out that the police failed to comply to procedures in arresting N Dharmendran, who died in police custody last Tuesday.

“The police is required to inform the family of the suspect. They are also required to inform the National Legal Aid Foundation (YBGK) so that the suspect will have sufficient legal representation,” the Malaysian Bar said in a statement.

It added that the guidelines for enforcement officers stipulated that as soon as an arrest has been made, and before the suspect is questioned, the police officer must inform the suspect’s family (or friend) of the arrest.

The police must also provide details of the suspect and the arrest to YBGK, who will then dispatch a lawyer to offer legal representation to the arrested person.

“However, we understand that YBGK did not receive any notification from the police about Dharmendran’s arrest.

“We regret to note that this is the second occasion that we are aware of where YBGK was not notified of an arrest, and the detainee later died in police custody,” said Bar president Christopher Leong.

Dharmendran was arrested on May 11 and died 10 days later. Last Thursday, his death was classified as murder.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Salleh confirmed that an independent task force has been set up at Bukit Aman to probe the death.

Prior to this, the police also failed to inform YGBK on the death in custody of 32-year-old K Nagarajan. He was found dead on Dec 24, 2012 in the Dang Wangi police station lockup.

Leong also reiterated calls for the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission as well as the formation of a specialised Coroner’s Court to probe into deaths in police custody.

On another note, he also welcomed Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar’s role in heading a special committee established to take measures to prevent deaths in police lockups.

“Such measures provide some assurance of the level of seriousness being accorded to the grave issue of deaths in police custody,” said Leong.

Yesterday Bukit Aman management director, Mortadza Nazarene said that the committee would among others monitor the safety aspects and health condition of those detained by police in lock ups which would also include the setting up of closed circuit televisions (CCTV).

“Police are concerned with a spate of incidents involving deaths in police lock ups and we are viewing such matters very seriously to prevent similar cases,” he said.

‘Just another cover up’

The setting up of the special committee was however criticised by PKR vice president N Surendran who is also the legal counsel to Dharmendran’s family.

“The police came up with these suggestions right after A Kugan’s case in 2009, none of it has been implemented till today,” he said.

“This is just to show the public that the police is concerned and that they are taking action. But this is really just a cover up to hide the truth from the people,” he added.

Surendran also rubbished Khalid’s competency in heading the special panel.

“Khalid is not the right person to lead this special squad, he is incompetent and not worthy for that post. He was the Selangor police chief when Kugan and Aminulrasyid were found dead, he has done nothing to fight for the justice of those people.

“If he disagrees or is not happy with my statement, I challenge him to take me to court. I will still stick to my words that he is incompetent,” he said.

UMNO/BN “war room” strategists and propagandists thought rakyat are suckers but it is UMNO/BN leaders like Zahid who prove to be real “suckers”

The 13GE UMNO/BN “war room” strategists and propagandists thought the rakyat are suckers who could easily fall victim to their lies and falsehoods concocted about the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat, but it is UMNO/BN leaders like the UMNO Vice President and new Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Zahid Hamidi who prove to be the real “suckers”.
Before I am accused of using foul or indecent language, let me give one definition of “sucker” which is “Informal. a person easily cheated, deceived, or imposed upon.” http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/suckers?s=t
A case in point is the lies the UMNO/BN “war room” strategists and propagandists concoct and weave about the DAP’s so-called “Red Bean Army” of cybertroopers to demonise the Umno/Barisan Nasional leaders.
The trouble about the allegations about the so-called DAP’s “Red Bean Army” of cybertroopers is that they are so wild and reckless that there is no effort on the part of the UMNO/BN “war room” strategists and propagandists to present a consistent and credible version.
Instead, everyone who jumped on the bandwagon to tell lies and falsehoods about the so-called DAP “Red Bean Army” of cybertroopers had the liberty to develop their own version – which is why the number of “Red Bean Army” varies from 200 to 2,000 and even 3,000; and the monthly payment could vary from RM3,000 a month to even up to RM10,000 a month; and the period of existence of the “Red Bean Army” ranging from four to six years.
This is why the range of expenditures for the alleged “Red Bean Army” could vary from:
(i) RM108 million (based on 200 cybertroopers being paid RM3,000 a month for six years with a RM1.5 million monthly budget, i.e.RM18 million a year or RM108 million in six years); to
(ii) taking an average of RM5,000 a month for 3,000 cybertroopers (the allegation is that the 3,000 cybertroopers are paid from RM3,000 to RM10,000 a month!) which will work out to RM1,080 million in six years.
Only crazy people like those who run the Umno/BN “war room” and who concoct the lies about the “Red Bean Army” can believe that the DAP has RM108 million to RM1,080 million to employ an army of cybertroopers to spread lies and falsehoods about UMNO/BN!
The imagination of these concocters of the “Red Bean Army” just ran riot, not only about the astronomical numbers and budgets but also the centres of operation, claiming that the “Red Bean Army” operates from various centres throughout the country, specifically naming two places – Komtar in Penang and Hotel Concorde, Kuala Lumpur.
I cannot help laughing when I am told that these wild allegations have even forced the Hotel Concorde management to come out with a denial, as reported in yesterday’s New Straits Times “Hotel says it does not know of group’s activities”.
Malaysian journalism is blazing new frontiers, concocting lies from whole cloth, then publishing clarifications and denials in such fictitious plots. If the the New Straits Times is honest, ethical and truthful, its report yesterday should be: “Hotel says there is no such group activities”!
I am reproducing the NST report, for it deserves a permanent place in the history of Malaysian journalism to show the depths Malaysian journalism had descended in the service of the 13GE Umno/BN “war room” strategies:

29 May 2013| last updated at 12:12AM
Hotel says it does not know of group’s activities
By AMIRA ZULKIFLI | news@nst.com.my
RED BEAN ARMY: Concorde concerned over claims it is operating from its premises
KUALA LUMPUR: CONCORDE Hotel Kuala Lumpur has no knowledge of the existence of the DAP-funded Red Bean Army (RBA) cybertroopers or their activities in its premises.
In a statement to the New Straits Times, hotel general manager Gary Lee said the hotel’s owners and management were deeply concerned over recent media reports claiming that a certain group out to incite hatred against the government was operating from the hotel.
“As a legitimate and reputable corporate entity, Concorde Hotel wishes to state emphatically that the owners and management are totally unaware of the existence of such a group or movement mentioned in these news reports, much less the activities carried out by the unknown parties within the hotel’s premises.”
“From the day it opened in 1991, Concorde Hotel Kuala Lumpur has never wavered from its main role as a hospitality service provider in the local tourism industry.
“As a responsible business entity that strictly adheres to all the rules and regulations governing the local hospitality sector, it has never condoned any unlawful business transactions or illegal activities of any kind in the hotel.
“We are solely focused on the business of providing accommodation and food and beverage options to all guests who walk through our doors.”
Ex-PKR Youth Information bureau secretary Nordin Ahmad had been quoted in the media, including the New Sunday Times on May 26, as saying that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was utilising a band of cybertroopers, known as the Red Bean Army, to incite hatred against the government by spreading falsehoods over social media.
He also claimed that Anwar had employed services of the RBA, which he claimed to be funded by the DAP, after Pakatan was formed in March 2008.
Nordin had alleged that about 3,000 members of the RBA had been operating for the past six years.
He had claimed that RBA worked with a dedicated network purportedly at the hotel, as well as the Komtar building in Penang.
He had also claimed that the group’s propaganda had managed to influence many Malaysians into thinking that the 13th General Election was fraudulent.
This, he had alleged, enabled Anwar to stage a series of rallies called Blackout 505.
Nordin had pointed out several of the RBA’s alleged postings, which included rumours of price hikes, had been proven to be mere hoaxes.
He added that the rumours were meant to deceive the public and stir up hatred against the government.
Read more: Hotel says it does not know of group’s activities – Latest – New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/hotel-says-it-does-not-know-of-group-s-activities-1.288760#ixzz2UlpwLPMP

I must congratulate the Umno/BN “war room” strategists and propagandists for not being complete failures – for although they failed to entrap the Malaysian rakyat as “suckers”, at least they caught UMNO/BN leaders like Zahid to be the “suckers” who believed their tales and concoctions and even want to move the entire government agencies and personnel to act on them!
These UMNO/BN “war room” strategists and propagandists would not admit that they had been responsible for trying to concoct the most despicable and unethical of lies – and in order to salvage their reputations, they are continuing to concoct and weave more lies and falsehoods in the hope to get more “suckers” to believe them.
Their latest work is the report “Guan Eng ‘much feared in DAP’” with the by-line of Syed Umar Ariff – containing a new pack of lies and falsehoods.
NST is not training a new generation of journalists but a new generation of liars!
Let us see who are the new “suckers” in the Umno/BN leadership who could believe these new lies and falsehoods about the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat.