MIC’s muted response to deaths irks members

MIC members want the party president to be more vocal is addressing the recent spate of deaths in police custody

PETALING JAYA: MIC president G Palanivel’s muted response to custodial deaths is riling-up party leaders and members alike. They want him to be more action oriented rather than issuing watered down press statements.

“Grassroot leaders are members are thoroughly disappointed with him. They want the president to be more vocal,” a party central working committee (CWC) member who did not want to be named told FMT.

He said although there were three reported custodial death cases in the past two weeks, Palanivel could only issue a press statement wanting the government to investigate the deaths.

To make matters worse, the president is also keeping mum on a call by party strategy director, S Vell Paari, who wanted Palanivel to summon an emergency CWC meeting to discuss the issue.

“Last week, Vell Paari, who is also a CWC member, sent a (sms) message to secretary-general A Sakthivel requesting for an emergency CWC meeting.

“Instead of replying to the request, Sakthivel said that the death of N Dhamendran (who died while in police custody two weeks ago) was discussed at the cabinet meeting,” said the highly placed source.

He said although it was right for the cabinet to discuss the matter, the MIC being the largest Indian based political party in the country, should have taken a stronger stand on the matter.

Press statements no good enough

There have been 2,571 deaths in police custody between 1999 and 2009.

The source said the case of C Sugumaran, who died in police custody a few months ago was also discussed in the cabinet but until today no solution had been found to the problem.

“MIC taking this matter to the cabinet is just a political stunt to pacify the Indians. Palanivel has been using this line countless times but without any tangible result. How long is he going to cheat?” asked the source.

Sugumaran was allegedly beaten by policemen and the public after being handcuffed and waiting to be taken to the police station. Sugumaran succumbed to injuries and died at the scene in the incident in Hulu Langat.

His family members are still waiting for a second autopsy by independent experts, after the first post mortem report by the Serdang Hospital attributed the cause of death to heart attack.

The party source said MIC must take drastic action to curb deaths in custody as 80% of such cases involved Indians.

“It is not good enough issuing press statements when the people want action.

Late last week, Palanivel said a press statement on the matter was enough as the issue was being handled by the authorities.

Dhamendran died at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters lock-up on May 21, followed by R Jamesh Ramesh who was found dead at the Penang police headquarters on May 26 while 42-year-old former engineer P Karunanithi died while in police custody in Tampin on May 30.

‘Only IPCMC can end custodial deaths’

Crime watch group calls for immediate establishment of IPCMC amid mounting reports of custodial deaths.

PETALING JAYA: Only the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) would put an end to custodial deaths and disciplinary issues of PDRM.

The Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) said today the independent, external oversight body should consist of “high ranking PDRM officers, retired police officers, judges and a few representative of NGOs”.

“(The) committee established by PDRM which headed by IGP himself is not good enough which may subject to many cover ups,” MyWatch chairman R Sri Sanjeevan said in a press statement.

“(We) would like to offer ourselves to be part of IPCMC, being a crime watchdog with former IGP (Inspector-General of Police) Musa Hassan as our patron,” he added.

Sanjeevan commended Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement in which the latter said his ministry and PDRM “will never tolerate officers who do not follow the standard operating protocols of PDRM”.

“We believe that the Inspector General’s Standing Order (IGSO) which is the SOP for PDRM shouldbe reviewed if made know to public for awareness as there is no secrets in it,” he said.

“(We also) support the move of IGP Khalid Abu Bakar to form a new Crime Prevention Department and merge existing NKRA (National Key Result Areas) department and hope they’ll be more focused and fight crime,” he added.

Sanjeevan then hoped the “new leadership of PDRM” would engage with his group on crime prevention matters as MyWatch “would like to bring forward more grievances of Malaysians to their attention”.

“MyWatch has collected many evidences of wrong-doings of PDRM officers in many police contingents as well as Bukit Aman level, which will be passed on to the IGP and Home Minister to be taken action without fear or favour,” he said.

“We believe in the new leadership therefore we’re prepared to work with them as we’re serious on fighting crime.”

Don't practise double standards, Waytha tells police

The Malaysian Hindraf Association has urged the police to stop practising double standards in investigating its own officers over deaths in police custody, which have been on the rise in recent weeks.

The association’s chairperson P Waythamoorthy said in a statement today that the Home Ministry should also immediately sanction an independent inquiry into the three deaths in custody which have taken place in the last 11 days.

P Karuna Nithi, a 42-year-old former engineer, was the latest death-in-custody victim who died in a lock-up in Tampin on Saturday.

This follows the death of N Dhamendran, 32, who died at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters on May 21, and the death of R Ramesh Jamesh, 40, who died at the Penang police headquarters on May 26.

"Though the police claim to be investigating a murder case (over Dhamendran’s death), none of the suspects have thus far been arrested and remanded pending completion of investigations.

"This has raised suspicion amongst the public as ordinary suspects are normally arrested and remanded on the flimsiest accusations.

"Aren’t the police practising double standards?" Waythamoorthy, who was recently appointed deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said in his statement.

"The police can never go on giving flimsy excuses for these mysterious deaths and apply double standards in the investigations involving their own men."

BN men also condemn deaths

Meanwhile, MIC president G Palanivel urged a neutral body to be set up to oversee detainees being held in police custody.

"All persons who are detained should not be locked up in local police stations.

"They should be immediately transferred to the respective state police headquarters,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the detainees should be treated fairly and any form of punishment meted out should be by the courts and not the police.

In another statement, Gerakan vice-president A Kohilan Pillay, who described the deaths as "unacceptable", said  the police should not act as executioner.

"I hope that action will be taken immediately to find those who are truly responsible for the death of the three men.

"At the same time, swift preventive measures must be taken to curtail any future deaths in custody as it will only tarnish the already stained image of the police force," he said.

However, both of the BN men made no specific mention about an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) which the opposition said it will push for in the coming Parliament sitting and has asked for the ruling coalition’s support.

In a separate statement, NGO Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) claimed that Karuna Nithi’s death was the eighth death in police custody this year alone.

"Unfortunately the list is sure to grow longer by the end of the year. Interrogation methods and the standard operating procedure (SOP) in handling suspects must be urgently reviewed and reformed.

"The police force must undergo an immediate overhaul and provide urgent training in basic human rights and the proper and humane treatment of prisoners and detainees," said Suaram coordinator R Thevarajan.

It demanded an end to these "serious violations of human rights".

Cops in Dhamendran's case will be suspended

Police personnel allegedly involved in the death in custody of N Dhamendran will be suspended from daily duties, said Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“It’s in the process,” he answered briefly when asked about the demands for the suspension of the four police personnel who were only reassigned to desk duties following Dhamendran's death.

Zahid was responding to the call after meeting with Jeremy England, the head of regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross at the ministry in Putrajaya today.

Malaysiakini was barred from covering the event, but was able to obtain a recording of Zahid's brief interview at the doorstep to his office.

This is the first time ever that Malaysiakini has been barred from covering a Home Ministry event.
Incidentally, the Defence Ministry began barring Malaysiakini from covering its events only after Zahid became defence minister in 2009.

On the three deaths in police custody within 11 days, Zahid defended the police on grounds that it was not fair to blame the police force as a whole.

He said should some police personnel go beyond the standard operating procedure for interrogation, then they should bear the responsibility, not the entire police force.

“So, to blame the entire police force as a form of protest is not fair,” Zahid said, adding that there would be no compromise on any case of death that takes place during police investigation.

The standard operating procedure may need to be reviewed, he said.
When asked about MIC director of strategy S Vell Paari who, along with Indian-based NGOs, was considering to hold street protests due to the cases, Zahid suggested that they do otherwise based on the same reason.
'Deeply concerned'

“My deputy (minister) and I are deeply concerned regarding this matter, and this not just based on the capacity of myself as a person who was given the responsibility to head this ministry, but we also stressing the humanitarian aspects,” he said.

He also believed that the special committee led by inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar, which is to curb incidents involving deaths in police lock-up, will do a good job for the sake of the whole country.

On May 21, N Dhamendran, 31, was found dead after being remanded at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters. Police said he died of breathing difficulties.

However, the case was classified as murder after a post-mortem found that his body had marks of torture.

Jobless man R Jamesh Ramesh, 40, was found dead in a police station lock-up in Penang on May 26. Police said he died of liver failure.

Two days ago, engineer P Karuna Nithi became the third person to die in police custody in less than two weeks.

Despite the family members of the deceased claiming that injuries were found on his body, Negri Sembilan police chief Osman Salleh said that there is no sign of foul play involved.

Custodial deaths: Street rally mulled

WargaAman and S Vell Paari are considering holding a rally to drive home the point that custodial deaths cannot be tolerated and that the IPCMC must be formed.

PETALING JAYA: A MIC leader and a coalition of Indian-based NGOs are mulling a street rally to protest against custodial deaths.

Speaking to FMT, WargaAman secretary-general S Barathidasan said that the idea was mooted by MIC strategy director S Vell Paari.

“We held a discussion on the matter and both WargaAman and Vell Paari agree that custodial deaths are becoming rampant and require drastic action. If we can hold rallies for political, religious and racial reasons, why not this?” he added.

Barathidasan said that WargaAman would meet with other NGOs and invite them to participate in the protest as well.

He stressed that both WargaAman and Vell Paari also wanted this to be a bi-partisan effort, with the involvement of Pakatan Rakyat politicians as well.

“Political differences must be set aside for this issue. This is also not a racial matter. It is a Malaysian issue and Malaysians of all races must come together.

“We must send a strong message to the authorities that we do not condone such violence, and the police must learn to investigate crimes as opposed to beating suspects to death,” he added.

Barathidasan said the protest wold also highlight the need to establish the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

“This is simply disgusting. Are the lives of Indians in this country so cheap and worthless that at least one Indian should die in police custody every other day?” he asked.

“During the arrest, the detainees were in good health, after being remanded in a police lock-up, the families are informed that the detainees died of heart failure, due to illness and so on,” he added.

Barathidasan said since Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was appointed home minister, there have been a spate of custodial deaths.

“He has failed in his duty, Zahid must resign if he cannot solve this problem,” he added.

‘Why is the probe taking so long?’

Recently, the police landed in the limelight following the death N Dhamendran, 32, whose remains were found to be covered in bruises, while his ears and ankles were stapled.

Following the post-mortem report that the victim died from blunt force trauma, the police classified the case as murder, and those involved have been re-assigned to desk duties.

On Saturday, a 42-year-old former engineer P Karuna Nithi suddenly died while in police custody in Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, and bruises were found on his body.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Hindu Movement leader S Sanjay also pledged support for the protest and vowed to mobilise the people.

“This is a serious issue and all Malaysians must lend their support. We must take to the streets to seek justice,” he added.

On the same note, Sanjay said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Deparment P Waythamoorthy must resign for failing to take a stronger stand apart from asking for the policemen involved to be suspended.

“He used to make so much of noise about custodial deaths when he was on the ‘outside’ but now, when he is on the ‘inside’, he seems to have toned down,” he added.

Sanjay also criticised the police for dragging its feet in the investigation concerning Dharmendran’s death.

“Why is it taking the police so long to investigate? Why don’t the police beat up the cops involved to extract a confession… Isn’t that their stand procedure,” he said.

The Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) has also backed the call for a protest, stating that Malaysian police do not conform to international standards.

Its president P Sivakumar said that the police showed little if no signs of changing despite the high number of custodial death cases.

“There is no change despite the pledges from the police and home minister… it seems the prevailing attitude is like ‘after all, only Indians have died,” he added.

Why the double standard?

Contacted later, Vell Paari said he was disappointed with the authorities and therefore decided to push for the protest.

“Custodial deaths are becoming a constant event. They are always followed by a big hue and cry… Then all is forgotten until another death happens. Is there no respect for life?

“Our government can grief for Palestinians, can demand the United Nations to intervene and even risk death by sending ships with aid through the Israeli naval blockade. But it can’t seem to do or feel the same for our citizens who die in custody. Why this double standard?

“In what way is the grief of the mothers of those custodial death victims different to the cries of the mothers of Palestinian victims?” he asked.

Vell Paari said that it was the Hindraf rally that changed the government’s attitude towards the community.

“So if it takes another rally to bring about the setting up of IPCMC, so be it. I have spoken to WargaAman to coordinate this rally and I would support and work with them,” he added.

Commenting on Zahid’s statement that the police must not be demoralised, Vell Paari said: “The demoralised can be ‘re-moralised’ but can a life lost be returned, Mr Minister?”

The MIC leader also reiterated his stand that those involved in Dhamendran’s case must be suspended and arrested pending investigation.

On the same note, he questioned if outside parties, with an interest in the respective cases, were influencing these policemen to mete out violence on the victims.

Sacked branch chief sues DAP

G Asoghan says the disciplinary panel has no authority because it was appointed by a CEC whose election is under dispute.

BUTTERWORTH: A former DAP branch leader is seeking a court order against his expulsion from the party.

G Asoghan, who was chairman of the Jalan Bagan Luar branch when he was sacked last April, filed a writ this afternoon at the High Court here.

He named as defendants five members of the party’s disciplinary committee—Tan Kok Wai, Tan Siang Piau, M Kulasegaran, P Ramasamy and Lim Hock Seng—as well as the party itself.

“I am seeking a court declaration that the decision taken by the first five defendants was null and void,” he told a press conference here.

“I am seeking a declaration to invalidate the termination letter against me. I also want the court to order the sixth defendant, the DAP, to reinstate me as a rightful party member.”

He is also claiming damages, costs and other reliefs deemed fit by the court.

Asoghan had been a party member since 1992. Last April 23, the head of the disciplinary committee, Kok Wai, issued him a termination letter for his “act of standing as an independent candidate in the Bagan Dalam state constituency”

The letter said the offence was a “serious breach of party discipline”.

Asoghan said the termination letter was invalid because the disciplinary committee was formed by a central executive committee whose election last Dec 15 was under dispute.

The Registrar of Societies (ROS) is yet to recognise the validity of the election following reports of vote rigging.

In line with this, Asoghan said, the party’s candidature letter for the 13th general election was also null and void.

He also said there were rumours that party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng would like DAP to be deregistered because he did not want a re-election conducted by ROS.

Deregistration would also help Lim get rid of 1,300 delegates who were against him, Asoghan alleged.

“Lim and his cronies are not bothered about the party,” he said. “They are keen only to protect their selfish interests.”

Enam laporan polis terhadap wanita didakwa hina yang di-pertuan agong

(Bernama) - Polis Kuala Lumpur menerima enam laporan berkaitan tindakan seorang pemilik akaun Facebook yang didakwa menghina Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah.

Timbalan Ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur SAC Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh berkata semua laporan itu dibuat di Balai Polis Dang wangi oleh individu yang mewakili enam pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO).

"Wakil-wakil NGO ini telah membaca laman Facebook atas akaun nama seorang wanita yang telah mengeluarkan komen menghina Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan berkecenderungan menghasut," katanya dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Beliau berkata kes disiasat mengikut Seksyen 4 (1) (b) Akta Hasutan 1948. Sehubungan itu Amar Singh menasihatkan orang ramai agar menghormati undang-undang negara demi memelihara keharmonian sejagat dan berkata polis tidak akan teragak-agak mengambil tindakan sewajarnya ke atas mana-mana pihak yang cuba mengganggu-gugat keselamatan negara.

Sirul Azhar claims mistrial, seeks acquittal

(Bernama) - Former police Special Action Unit personnel Sirul Azhar Umar, who was convicted for Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder, filed an application to the Court of Appeal here today seeking for his acquittal, claiming there was a mistrial by the Shah Alam High Court.

A notice of motion filed by legal firm The Chambers of Kamarul Hisham and Hasnal Rezua at the Court of Appeal registry here was in an attempt to include additional grounds of appeal.

In the application, former Corporal Sirul Azhar claimed that he was exposed to extensive "adverse publicity" during the trial which was misleading and prejudicial to him, thus denying him a fair trial. He is seeking for the Court of Appeal to declare the trial a mistrial, his conviction be set aside and he be set free.

Sirul Azhar, 39, claimed the adverse publicity he received had caused a probability that the high court judge was biased, rendering his conviction unsafe.

Sirul Azhar claimed he was exposed to adverse publicity through three statutory declarations, two made by private investigator the late P. Balasubramaniam and one by Raja Petra Kamarudin.

He said Balasubramaniam's first statutory declaration, made after the prosecution closed its case on June 23, 2008, contained matters prejudicial to him as those matters were not disclosed in his (Balasubramaniam's) testimony at the trial. He said Balasubramaniam had, on July 4, 2008, made another statutory declaration stating that he was withdrawing his first statutory declaration.

Sirul Azhar said the declarations were extensively uploaded in various websites and had been the subject of various speculation, debate and extensive commentaries from the general public, legal practitioners and leaders which were interpreted as questioning the veracity and authenticity of the declarations.

He said the principal questions hovering in the minds of readers having access to the materials would be, "What prompted the appellants to kill the victim" and "Who gave instructions to have the killing carried out by the appellants".

Sirul Azhar said Raja Petra had, on June 21, 2008, uploaded the latter's statutory declaration on an Internet website stating that three other people were also present when the victim was killed, which was interpreted to mean that he (Sirul Azhar) was the killer.

He claimed Raja Petra had also uploaded a copy of a caution statement believed to be his (Sirul Azhar's) stating that he (Sirul Azhar) had admitted to killing the Mongolian woman.

Sirul Azhar and former chief inspector Azilah Hadri were found guilty and sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court in 2009 for killing Altantuya, then 28, at Mukim Bukit Raja in Shah Alam between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006.

Former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who was charged with abetting them, was acquitted by the high court on Oct 31, 2008 after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against him.

Their appeal against their conviction and death sentence is scheduled to be heard by the Court of Appeal on June 10.
Sirul Azhar's lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamarudin said a copy of the notice of motion would be served to the prosecution.

Waytha calls for suspension of police officers

In the wake of recent custodial deaths, Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy has urged the IGP to immediately suspend all police officers involved.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy today called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar to immediately suspend all police officers involved in the interrogation of suspects who died while in police custody.

On Saturday, there was yet another death in police custody, involving 42-year-old former engineer P Karuna Nithi in Tampin. This was the third custodial death in 11 days, with the first being N Dhamendran who died at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters on May 21, followed by R Jamesh Ramesh who was found dead at the Penang police headquarters on May 26.

The deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department also urged Home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to take steps in implementing the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) or risk losing the people’s confidence in the police force.

“The public is very much disturbed by this continued trend of deaths in custody, ironically mostly involving Indians,” he said in a statement today.

He added that an immediate independent inquiry sanctioned by the Home Minister pending the implementation of IPCMC is required, with members consisting of civil societies, human rights organisations, the Bar Council, top police officers and the AG’s chambers.

On the case of Dhamendran, the deputy minister questioned whether the police are practising double standard.

“Though the police claim to be investigating a murder case, none of the suspects have been arrested and remanded pending completion of investigations.

“This has raised suspicion amongst the public as ordinary suspects are normally arrested and remanded on the flimsiest accusation. Aren’t the police practising double standard?” he asked.

Waythamoorthy added that it is “amazing” for ordinary citizens who had been walking freely all this while to suddenly die after being locked up by the police.

“Police can never go on giving flimsy excuses for these mysterious deaths and apply double standard in the investigations involving their own men,” he said, adding that the police force must take full responsibility over this “unhealthy trend of suspicious deaths in custody”.

“The utmost right among all human rights is the right for a life to live under the grace of God. Hence, no one has the right to take away another’s life,” said Waythamoorthy.

Man Dies In Custody, 'marks on body'

Alternative media running amok for no rhyme or reason

by Joe Fernandez

COMMENT It's not surprising that malaysiakini has incurred the renewed displeasure of Umno Government supporters in the wake of GE13 on 505. http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/231538, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/231652

Aug 2010, to the best of my recollection, is the month malaysiakini did an about turn in its "making a difference for the better" editorial policy and began emulating the racist Malay media like Utusan Malaysia to degenerate into mindless rhetoric and polemics, often downright news manufacturing under the guise of straight news reporting, instead of contributing in a healthy manner like before to the debate. Janji Di Capati!

Going back and forth between trouble-creators, instigating or provoking them in the process, is not journalism. Journalism is following the news as it happens, not making things up. Why canai or goreng stories, adding sambal and belacan? We have better things to do in this country than indulge in endless politicking.

An example is shameless Anwar Ibrahim apologist Terence Netto writing a story alleging that Hindraf Makkal Sakthi chairman and Deputy Minister-designate P. Waythamoorthy was maintaining an ominous silence on the death of a Dharmendran in police custody.  http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/231260

The May 27 story, complete with quotes in Netto's highly indisciplined language, but attributed to Opposition MP Kulasegaran, was obviously an attempt to blacken Waytha's image as much as possible. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) still seems to be smarting from the Hindraf leader's move to sign a non-political Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Barisan Nasional (BN) on the eve of 505.  http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/231592

In fact, Waytha did issue a stern statement on the incident on May 23 i.e. before the so-called Kula story. It was carried in Free Malaysia Today whose senior journalists were once with malaysiakini before they were hounded out of existence one by one. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/05/23/lame-excuses-from-the-cops/

Hindraf has an important role to play in Barisan Nazional, for want of a better term, re-inventing itself and re-emerging as Barisan Nasional through every component party in the coalition opening its doors to all races.

Hindraf activists, for example, could join Umno if they are interested in politics and strive to change the racist party from within to accept that there must be no deviations and distortions in the implementation of Articles 153 and 3 of the Federal Constitution and the New Economic Policy, among others.

Needless to say the onus is on Hindraf, as 3rd Force allies of Sabah and Sarawak, to ensure that the parti parti Malaya keep out of Sabah and Sarawak in line with the Malaysia Agreement.

The most dangerous trend in malaysiakini is to hype up the rhetoric and polemics on a particular issue for no rhyme or reason until things reach an explosive point.

A case in point is an ex-Judge citing the Federal Constitution to state that government schools must be in the Malay medium. What the Judge seemed to be suggesting was that the Government stop financing Tamil and Chinese schools. Of course, the Judge could have better articulated his presentation.

malaysiakini mindlessly went to town with the ex-Judge's remarks just as they did before GE13 with remarks by Mahathir, Ibrahim Ali of Perkasa and Zulkifli Noordin. The more the trio opened their mouths under malaysiakini's insatiable hunger for rhetoric and polemics, the worse for the BN if not Umno in Malaya.

Again, rhetoric and polemics is what malaysiakini is all about.

Good bullshit we can understand. At least, if for nothing else, it's entertaining.

But malaysiakini is just plain bad bullshit and it's getting to be more than boring and certainly dangerous.

They seem to begrudge giving even a little space to Sabah and Sarawak -- even for carrying Kaamatan and Gawai Dayak greetings on May 30/31 and June 1/2 respectively --  although these two nations will decide the future of politics in Malaysia. Witness the fact that PR obtained 80 parliamentary seats in Malaya and nine in Borneo, and BN obtained 85 parliamentary seats in Malaya and 48 in Borneo.

I can speak with some authority on the subject. I used to be the Sabah correspondent for malaysiakini from 2008. This was despite myself telling them in 2000 that they were not functioning like how an alternative media should, apparently toeing the dictates of its then known foreign backers and investors, and ticking them off for exploiting Indian journalists as cheap labour.

While it lasted, I seemed to have a carte blanc to publish anything in malaysiakini and Sabah and Sarawak got some space. Anything I contributed was uploaded within minutes. Of course, these were all initially non-political stories.

But it was not until Jan 2011 that I received an email from Editor in Chief Steven Gan laying out the new "more exciting" editorial policy.

Subsequently, malaysiakini first banned me from writing on PKR, next Dap, then Sapp, and thereafter on Jeffrey Kitingan and Hindraf Makkal Sakthi. I was banned from writing about Hindraf after P. Uthayakumar accused malaysiakini and Steven of being racists for not highlighting Indian issues especially deaths in police custody.

malaysiakini's agenda was clear: no adverse reporting on Pakatan Rakyat and no space to be given to any movement from Sabah and Sarawak towards a 3rd Force in the Malaysian Parliament or any alliance between Hindraf and Sabah, Sarawak activists. All that was deemed to be counterproductive for PR.

Finally, they placed a moratorium – whatever it means -- on my political stories for malaysiakini. I was not in the mood to go back immediately to writing non-political stories although I began with malaysiakini as a non-political writer. The political situation was building up towards 505.

malaysiakini, the last I know, also did not pay a lawyer who defended it and me in Sabah on a defamation case. The malaysiakini lawyer has only collected RM 1, 000 so far.

I prepared the entire case myself under the oversight of the lawyer who appeared in court for us and worked out an out-of-court settlement with the concurrence of malaysiakini. The lawyer decided that I could present the case better. He stuck to authorities i.e. looking for the law and pointing it out to the Court and citing decided cases for principles.

I advised the lawyer, on behalf of malaysiakini, to file contempt of court charges against the other side and the Court, as a result, struck out the case without a hearing. malaysiakini was upset over the contempt of court filing and took the view that I had “exceeded” the bounds of my authority.

It seems that as in the Taib case, they rather cringe, crawl and grovel sadistically before the other side and apologise profusely in the local media and malaysiakini.

I was hoping that sanity would return to malaysiakini after GE13. No such luck since the politicking in the country continues and provides even more cannon fodder for malaysiakini. Even so, it did publish my pieces earlier this year on the Royal Commission of Inquiry in Sabah and other issues.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/219442, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/219964, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/220024, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/222048, http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/222853,

We don't need an online version of the mainstream media from the Opposition angle.

The rot in malaysiakini began when Pakatan Rakyat leaders, especially one who thinks that he's god's gift to politics -- not Anwar Ibrahim -- began influencing the online news portal's editorial policy in the wake of Jeffrey's departure from PKR.

There's public suspicion that many malaysiakini reporters are on the take. Such perceptions, in any case, go with the job.

In line with the new editorial policy, a "racist" editor in malaysiakini allegedly began getting rid of the online news portal's Indian journalists. Perhaps they could now afford to pay more and no longer wanted cheap labour. They cannot afford to be stingy with non-Indians and get away with it. Those victimised, exploited for so long as cheap labour, have their own stories to tell.

Now, there appears to be moves afoot within the Najib Administration to act against malaysiakini.

If the Government can succeed with this move, the country can avoid the prospect of the people, especially the Malays, turning against each other. This is no exaggeration.

If any action is taken against malaysiakini over its editorial policy and direction, similar action must be taken against Utusan Malaysia.

However, while Utusan Malaysia has been a miserable failure in that the Malays are turning against it, malaysiakini has succeeded, and that's another reason to incur the wrath of Umno and the racist Malay media.

FMT, known to be run by moneybags who claim links with Daim Zainuddin, is no better. They wanted me to whack the shit out of PR.

malaysia chronicle is under the direction of the Chinese in Parti Keadilan Rakyat. They once rewrote a Jeffrey Kitingan piece that I did for them at their request. Black came out as white and white came out as black. The greys were removed. That was the first and last Jeffrey piece I did for them. They wanted me to whack the shit out of BN and the Kitingans. Obviously, they think that Sabah is their grandfather's property!

Malaysia Today, financed by moneybags linked to Umno warlords, is into post-GE13 bullshit to disorient and confuse non-Malay politics.

It must reckon that all Chinese are stupid. The Chinese can buy MT at a loss and sell it at a profit.

In a bizarre post-505 claim recently, MT said that Umno, BN and the Malays were light years ahead of the Indians and Chinese in politics. I suppose MT couldn't resist exposing its stupidity in this manner. Sometimes, one can be one's own worst enemy.

MT removed my login recently, insist that my comments be first screened by their so-called administrators, and no longer use my articles and now, it seems, my comments as well are no longed published. Others seem to have a licence to post their comments, unmoderated, complete with vulgarities.

This was after I posted an unmoderated comment identifying the moneybags who financed their so-called study on the ground conducted a year before GE13.

Daim Zainuddin's forecast of the GE13, indeed so-called prophecy, was based on the outcome of a year-long study.

I told Malaysia Today in my comment that I forecast the GE13 results, the cheating excluded, without being financed by any moneybag. The only error I made was that PKR, on the wave of a two-party/coalition system, collected the seats in Sabah which I had expected to fall to Star.

Daim’s concern, behind the MT hype, is understandable. The corporate sector has been contributing heavily to the Umno/BN coffers for GE purposes. The Opposition is making every GE an increasingly expensive outing for Umno/BN. Henceforth, the corporate sector would probably refuse to contribute even a sen to the ruling coalition. Umno is already in big trouble financially because of GE13.

MT doesn’t want to hear that Umno/BN is also in trouble on two other fronts: (1) the veterans and young Malaysians, especially Malays, who find themselves left out as candidates by a small clique in the ruling coalition are flocking to the Opposition; and (2) fewer and fewer Malays are registering themselves as voters and even when they do, they don’t turn up to vote because they see it as an exercise in futility.

Raja Petra Kamaruddin no longer seems to be in control of MT. He didn't seem to mind publishing things that he didn't agree with.

Other online news portals and Blogs are linked to various political parties on both sides of the political divide.

Their common enemy is the emergence of a Borneo-based 3rd Force in the Malaysian Parliament. Why should the people of Borneo be held to ransom by a struggle for power in Malaya?

No alternative media is truly free, fair and independent.

In that sense, they are no better than the mainstream media.

Again, while the mainstream media has been an appalling failure in recent years, the alternative media has had some dubious success to the alarm of Umno.

Ex-engineer dies in police custody

The victim, who was about to be bailed out tomorrow, died suddenly last night at the Tampin district police headquarters.
UPDATED

SEREMBAN: A 42-year-old former engineer has suddenly died while in police custody in Tampin last night.

The family of P Karuna Nithi from Gemencheh, Tampin, was informed by a police personnel at about 9.45pm last night that he has died suddenly in Tampin district police headquarters.

His body has been sent to Hospital Tuanku Jaafar (Seremban General Hospital) last night for post mortem, the outcome of which will be known later today. Negeri Sembilan police chief Osman Salleh is expected to hold a press conference on this matter later today.

According to Karuna’s brother Elam, the former was arrested on May 29 following a misunderstanding with his wife. Karuna and his wife have two children, aged 13 and 15.

He was then remanded for three day before being charged at the Tampin magistrate’s court on May 31.

“He claimed trial and was allowed bail of RM4,000. The family was unable to raise the money immediately, so he was taken back to be remanded at the Tampin district police headquarters,” Elam told FMT.

“We were supposed to pay the bail amount tomorrow (Monday) morning to secure his release but last night we received a call about his sudden death,” he said.

The family does not know the cause of Karuna’s death yet.

However they claimed that they found blood at the back of Karuna’s head and that there were marks on his left arm.

Former Kapar MP S Manikavasagam is with the family to offer support.

Breach of procedure?

On related matter, Negeri Sembilan MIC chief S Rajagopalu questioned as to why Karuna was sent back to be remanded at the Tampin district police headquarters when he should have been sent to prison pending the payment of bail money.

“The procedure is that the police should have sent Karuna to a prison, not police lock up, while awaiting his family to raise bail money. So who’s negligence is this, the court or the police?” asked Rajagopalu.

He added that the deceased’s brother, P Tamilanban, Gedduk MIC branch leader, was mulling legal action against the police on the matter.

Rajagopalu later urged the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry to investigate all death in custody cases as it was becoming increasingly rampant.

“It’s also time for the government to establish the IPCMC as well,” he said.

Karuna’s sudden death while in police custody comes just weeks after two other cases which had reignited calls for the setting up of the Independent Police Misconduct and Complaints Commission to monitor the police.

R Jamesh Ramesh, 40, was found dead in a police lock up at the Penang police headquarters on May 26, after being detained for a drug offence.

Prior to Jamesh’s death, the nation was rocked by the death of N Dhamendran, 32, at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters on May 21.

In response, the police has set up a special committee headed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar to curb incidents involving deaths in police lock ups.

Karuna is third death-in-custody victim in 11 days

Engineer P Karuna Nithi has become the third person to die in police custody in less than two weeks. The family was informed of his death in Tampin last night.

Karuna's family was informed by telephone at 9.45pm yesterday that he had "suddenly died" about 7pm at the Tampin district police headquarters, former Kapar MP S Manivasagam said today.

Manivasagam, who accompanied the family to Hospital Tuanku Jaafar in Seremban this morning, said the family found injuries on Karuna's body.

"Only two persons were allowed to see the body. I was not allowed as I am not a family member, so I told the family to check the body.

"The family was not allowed to move the body but there was blood on the tray where the body was placed," Manivasagam (left) told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Karuna's brother P Ilam said when contacted that he saw bruises on Karuna's arms and blood on his head.

"He was bleeding from the back of his head and there were bruises on his left and right arms.

"The doctor said something may have happened to him in the lock-up but we are not sure what," he said.

Close to 1pm today, Manivasagam said the post-mortem was still going on and the family would claim the body later today.

"The family will take the body for special prayers tomorrow, outside the police station where Karuna was killed," he said, adding that they will also lodge a police report.

According to Manivasagam, Karuna had gone to see his estranged wife about their two children and an a scuffle took place.

Karuna later went to lodge a police report on the incident, but was instead arrested by police and remanded for three days.

He was on May 31 charged in the magistrate's court in Tampin with "causing hurt".

"At that time, the family members were there and they said he was in good health when in court," said Manivasagam.

Karuna was to be out on bail tomorrow

Karuna was granted bail at RM4,000 but was unable to immediately raise the sum.

The family had plan to post bail on Monday but were instead informed of his death last night.

"I call Home Minister Zahid Hamidi to take immediate action. Karuna was a well-educated person, an engineer who had no previous criminal record. It was just a small family dispute.

"Don't let this be another Dhamendran case where those responsible were put on desk duty.

"This is double-standard. When police commit murder they get desk duty but when anybody else is accused of this, they get charged," said Manivasagam.

Jobless man R Jamesh Ramesh, 40, was found dead in a police station lock-up in Penang on May 26. Police said he died of liver failure.

On May 21, N Dhamendran, 31, was found dead after being remanded at the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters. Police said he died of breathing difficulties.

However, the case was classified as murder after a post-mortem found the body to have been tortured.

The full autopsy report released yesterday revealed Dhamendran suffered 52 injuries, ranging from his body parts being stapled, rattan-like marks throughout his body and even an incomplete number "8" mark on his hip.

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.