Uproot the core of gangsterism

Secret societies are backed by influential people in Malaysia, says NGO.

KUALA LUMPUR: The police are barking up the wrong tree on issues to curtail gangsterism, says a newly formed crime watch NGO today.

V Ravindran, the pro-term committee member of Malaysia Community Crime Care Association (MCCCA) recommends that the enforcement departments should instead look into prevention of crime rather than the gangsters themselves.

MCCCA is headed by the former inspector general of police Musa Hassan.

“Gangsterism is like a tree. Thus, the police should cut the ‘taproot’ of the tree. But, currently they are cutting only the twigs,” he told FMT.

He further added that shooting or arresting hundreds of gangsters is only a temporary measure. Such actions will not end gangsterism in Malaysia.

“There is no point arresting these small timers, also known as ‘runners’ or ‘semut’, who merely took instructions from their respective leaders,” said Ravindran.

“There are many more out there who are economically deprived ready to replace these ‘runners’”.

Secret societies

According to Ravindran, secret societies have been around since the 1850s.

“There are over hundreds of secret societies or gangs in Malaysia, comprising of all races; including natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Even foreigners have their gangs,” he said.

He added that several societies are well organised with their own flag, anthem, logo and in-house rules.

“Leaders of these secret societies are well connected with politicians, police and business people. These warlords are well respected in their community,” said Ravindran.

“Some of them even carried datukship titles. They are willing to spend millions of ringgit to recruit young members into the societies.”

“If the police are really interested in gangsterism prevention, they should first go after these people,” he added.

Ravindran believes that arresting the warlords is a better option in preventing gangsterism than going after the small timers.

Nevertheless, Ravindran admits that the police do find difficulties going after the big guns.

“Too much politicking on the issue of gangsterism by both BN and the opposition has hampered police efforts at times.”

He said the BN leaders have used the police for their personal agenda while Pakatan has been too critical on the enforcement agency.

“I’m not against criticism, but it should be constructive instead of destructive,” said Ravindran.

“It would be more helpful to police when politicians come out with suggestions instead of criticism and instructions,” he added.

DPM's silence blamed for 'rising racism' at Seri Pristana

Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's complete silence on the "bullying" at SK Seri Pristana is to be blamed for the exodus of non-Muslim pupils from the school, said DAP.

"It is worrying too that this whole problem may soon become a racial problem as the students who have been picked on and bullied happen to come from one race.

"There is no doubt that the person who must be held responsible for not nipping the bullying problem in the bud is the education minister.

"It is baffling and unbelievable that Muhyiddin could remain silent and do nothing till this day," said DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok (left) in a statement today.

As of Tuesday 10 pupils have asked to be transferred out of the controversial Sungai Buloh school following the arrest of V Kumancan, a father of a pupil at the school.

The school rose to infamy during the Ramadan period for allegedly making its non-Muslim students have their meals in a makeshift canteen in a shower room.

Kok asked what was to become of the upcoming education blueprint in light of the minister's inability to tackle the Seri Pristana situation, echoing former minister Zaid Ibrahim's sentiments.
Kok said that the matter requires the immediate attention of the cabinet, and also said that the police deserve to be criticised for questioning the school pupils.

“How could the police be so unprofessional and insensitive not to understand how primary school children will react to being ‘interviewed’ by police?” she asked.

“The police’s explanation that the pupils were ‘interviewed’ and ‘not questioned’ is weak and unacceptable,” she added.

She also urged the police to apologise over their actions, while asking authorities to provide counselling for the children who were affected by the incident.

SK Seri Pristana incident 'only a small problem'

The SK Seri Pristana incident where students were made to eat in changing rooms was only a “small problem” compared to other schools that have done well in integrating its students, said Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan.

“We have as of yesterday’s count 10,094 schools in this country. We have 90 to 95 percent of schools that have done very well on national integration.

“Here we have one school; one person, who did not follow the policy. We should not say that the entire schooling system is like that,” he said.

He added that the Education Ministry’s disciplinary division is investigating the school’s headmaster, Mohd Nasir Mohd Nor, over numerous complaints lodged against him over the incident, but he has yet to be briefed on its outcome.

Kamalanathan was speaking at a forum themed ‘Education as a leveller or divider?’ in Kuala Lumpur today, where the moderator, Noor Azimah Abd Rahim, asked him to comment on the issue.

[More to follow]

Toe the line, Najib tells Waytha

 

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today said Senator P Waythamoorthy should toe the government line as the latter is a member of the government.

"As a member of the government, you must be toe the line, you must have one voice," he said curtly during a press conference at his office in Putrajaya.

Najib's statement comes in the wake of three of his cabinet ministers urging Waythamoorthy's resignation after the latter released statements questioning police action.

Waythamoorthy was handpicked by Najib to be appointed as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

Previously, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had all asked Waythamoorthy to resign from his position if he can’t toe the government line.

The urgings came after Waythamoorthy openly questioned the police’s conduct in shooting dead five suspected gangsters, all of Indian descent, in Sungai Nibong, Penang last week.

Waythamoorthy leads the Indian rights NGO Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia after returning from exile in the United Kingdom late last year.

He went on a hunger strike for either BN or Pakatan Rakyat to sign Hindraf’s blueprint prior to the May 5 general election, and Najib finally agreed to sign the blueprint in April this year.

Following a public signing ceremony for the blueprint, Waythamoorthy (right) instructed Hindraf and its followers to campaign for BN in the May 5 general election, where BN won, though without a two-thirds majority.

After the election, Waythamoorthy was appointed a senator and subsequently appointed as a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department by Najib, meant to oversee Indian welfare issues.

Waythamoorthy previously vowed to step down if he is unable to fulfill his goals of being in the government - which is to improve the welfare of Indians.

Home Ministry declares war on 49 outlawed gangs

The Home Ministry today declared war on 49 gangs as unlawful under the Societies Act 1966, setting the stage for a possible clampdown.

The list includes some of the most active gangs concentrated in Kuala Lumpur and Johor, said the ministry in a statement today.

"The home minister declared 49 secret societies around the country as organisations that have contravened Section 5(1) of the Societies Act 1966 on August 28.

"These secret societies ... carry out activities that threaten the country's peace, such as drug syndicates, extortion, inter-gang confrontations, cause trouble and murder using firearms or sharp objects such as machetes, knives, nails and others," read the statement.

Among the actions that the ministry can take is seizure of the organisations' accounts and assets to be wound up by the Insolvency Department.

According to Bernama, he secret societies identified are:

- Gang 04 which is active in Kedah, Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur.

- Gang 08 which is active in Kuala Lumpur,  Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca.

- Double 7 which is active in the peninsula.

- Tige Line which is active in 20 areas in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kedah and Perak.

- Gang 30 which is active in the peninsula.

- Gang 38 which is active in 14 areas in Kepong, Jinjang and Setapak in the Kuala Lumpur and in Johor Baharu, Johor).

- Gang 24 (in six areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Perak and Johor).

- Gang 18 (in eight areas in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Perak and Johor).

- Gang 36 (Perak, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur).

Other secret societies identified in the peninsula are Gee Ah Eng, Loh Kuan, Tiang Yee Tong, Gang 21, Ang Soon Thong, Wah Kee, Sio Sam Ong, PNEH, Hong Hong San, Hai San, Sin Ang Bin, New Cell 20, Jit It Hai, Sio Koon Tong, Gee Lam Kor, Gee Leng Hor, Geng 35, Geng 303 and Geng Satu Hati.

In Sabah, the secret societies identified are ATAP, Hung Ann, Sui Yuk, Otai and Borneo Red EMP.

In Sarawak, they are Ah Ngau, Batu Tiga, Ah Feng, Batu 10, Sibu T, Ah Seng, Ah Chin, Lee Lung, Lo Han, Sg Merab, Sg Badut, Ting Ching Lee, Tua Cak Lee, Teksi Station, Pintu Merah and Krokop.

With the announcement, Abdul Rahim said no person would be allowed to register the secret societies as an organisation.

Ministry: GST a must, not an option

 

Implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) nationwide is a must, not an option, says Finance Ministry secretary-general Mohd Irwan Siregar Abdullah.

Describing this as the ultimate objective of taking care of the country, he said the ministry would try its best to include the plan in the upcoming October Budget to tackle the fiscal deficit.

Irwan (left) revealed that there would be some sort of rebate for individuals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to ensure that the GST did not burden the people.

“We (the ministry) have identified a list of zero-rated items like basic necessities such as rice and milk powder,” he said.

Mohd Irwan said 14 months were needed for implementation should the GST plan be approved, and the taxes would be charged by 2015 nationwide.

“It’s a whole package. We look at the corporate sector, personal income tax and so on... nobody will be left out,” he added.

“More details will be announced next Monday after the fiscal committee meeting,” he said during a question-and-answer session at a briefing on the Economic Transformation Plan (ETP) at the Securities Commission today.

When later pressed for the proposed percentage of the GST during a press conference, Mohd Irwan refused to reveal the number.

Asked if the government would proceed with the subsidy rationalisation move, Mohd Irwan said this would be done "gradually".

He said the government had pledged to ensure the cut from subsidies would not impact the public.

Stating an example, Mohd Irwan said some people do not deserve to be subsidised, such as those owning five cars.

He added that rationalised subsidy enabled the government to have better savings, which could be allocated towards public aid.

"More details will be revealed after the fiscal committee," he said.

Vell Paari: Quizzing of pupils must be raised in cabinet

 

MIC director of strategy S Vell Paari has said that the police’s conduct in questioning SK Sri Pristana pupils recently must be raised in the cabinet as there is “no justification” for the authorities' conduct.

“I, for one, do not believe that there could be any justification for such a shameful act,” he said in a statement today.

However, Vell Paari (left) said that the matter must be raised in the cabinet as something has to be done about the incident.

“To come out and say that ‘it was not proper’ is not sufficient. Action must be taken so that such incidents would not recur in future,” he said.

Vell Paari said that he would be bringing the parents of the children who were questioned by the police to the Prime Minister’s Department to meet Minister Paul Low next week.

“We are talking about children, not criminals,” Vell Paari said.

Yesterday, Sungai Buloh district police chief Junaidi Bujang admitted that police had questioned the pupils over the shower room canteen controversy that erupted at the school late last month, though he claimed that police did not “harass” the children.

However, he had earlier denied interviewing the school pupils.

OCPD: Yes, we 'talked' to the kids but didn't harass them

‘Stop scaring the kids, parents’

MCA calls for the authorities to ensure an environment free from harassment and discrimination in all schools.

PETALING JAYA: MCA Publicity Bureau chairman Heng Seai Kie has today expressed her regret over the incident where police personnel allegedly questioned non-Muslim pupils of SK Seri Pristana without the permission and in the absence of their parents.

The MCA deputy national organising secretary had also voiced her disappointment as more and more parents are requesting for their children to be transferred to another school due to the bullying, which also involved the teachers, that is allegedly ongoing at SK Seri Pristana, in Sungai Buloh.

“What signal are the headmaster, teachers and PIBG of SK Seri Pristana sending to the would-be pupils and public (with the alleged bullying) following the press conference by the parents of the affected pupils.

“It appears that innocent children have been driven out of the school because they are facing harassment from the same people whom their parents entrusted them with,” she said in a statement today.

“Please protect, nurture and provide the pupils of all schools with an environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Only then, it is a safe and condusive for learning,” she said.

Heng adding that the school authorities were abusing their powers if they did the alleged act to punish the pupils after a parent posted pictures on social media of the school converting a changing room as a temporary canteen during Ramadan, which went viral and drew flak from the public.

Also, Bukit Aman has to probe the matter allegedly involving its men as there are laws that protect minors, she said.

“The parents have every right to be concerned over the incident where an unidentified man accompanied by the headmaster took photos of their children without the parents’ permission,” she said.

Heng strongly urged the Sungai Buloh police chief to investigate the matter, and also the Education Ministry to probe and take action against the headmaster.

She also questioned the police on the outcome of their investigation on the death and kidnap threat against the parent who posted the pictures on Facebook, Guneswari Kelly, and her daughter.

“Surely the OCPD does not want to be overwhelmed with allegations of practising double standard and being lackadisical despite receiving a death threat report,” she said.

“It is time to put an end to this entire situation before it jeopardises our national unity. All related authorities such as the Education Ministry and the police have to take serious measures to end all of these nonsense,” she said.

Sungai Buloh police chief Superintendent Junaidi Bujang yesterday denied the allegation that police questioned the children without their parents being present, while parents insisted that such an act had taken place.

BN leaders come to Waytha’s defence

But, they say the deputy minister must check his facts before making any future statements.

PETALING JAYA: There is no need for deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P Waythamoorthy to quit his government post over his remarks on the police killing of suspected criminals in Penang last week.

Several non-Umno BN leaders believed there was “no reason” for Waythamoorthy to resign despite calls to do so by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaffar.

“The only mistake he made was that he should’ve asked for a proper investigation over the matter before accusing the police of not following procedures when firing at those gangsters,” Kedah Gerakan Youth Chief Tan Keng Liang told FMT.

“I don’t think there is a need to step down. Why should he step down?” he asked.

“He should have checked his facts first before making accusations,” he reiterated.

Labis MP Chua Tee Yong said the progressing political scenario should enable Cabinet ministers to “state their stand” on an issue.

“However, he must also acknowledge collective responsibility. It is important that he makes statements after getting the facts,” he said.

Asked if Waythamoorthy should step down from his ministerial post, Chua said there was “no need to”.

“If he said it is based on the sentiments of the public, then it is not correct. But if he is highlighting a relevant issue, then it should be investigated,” he said.

Tan said there was no pertinent need for Waythamoorthy to resign as “people are bound to make errors in life and become emotional in a matter”.

“It’s a learning curve for him (Waythamoorthy) as a new deputy minister to check before barging at the police or some others in future,” he said.

“I don’t think there is a need for him to resign at this state. There is just no reason to.”

Umno man echoes leaders’ call

However, Cheras Umno division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee maintained that Waythamoorthy should step down from his post for speaking out against the police over the shootings.

“As a Cabinet minister, he should be open minded, not relate the issue to a certain race,” he said.

“This is not an issue of Indians getting shot at, but of law and the action of the police to combat crime. Why is Waythamoorthy acting like he is blaming the police?” he asked.

“If he cannot differentiate his role and responsibility as Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force) chairman and a Cabinet minister, then he should resign immediately.”

Gangsterism numbers have ministry scrambling for solution

Youth and Sports Ministry to organise a seminar soon in search of moves to curb ethnic Indian involvement in gangsterism.

PETALING JAYA: The alarming figure that 71 percent of gang members are Indians, has sent the Youth and Sports Ministry scrambling to come up with ways to arrest the numbers and eradicate the problem.

The ministry will be organising a national special forum soon which participants will comprise non-governmental organisations, political parties and government agencies.

During the special forum, the presenters and participants will discuss on the issues in a bid to come up with a short- and long-term solution to the social problem.

“Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin will give a keynote address at the special forum. We want to gather ideas on how to curb this problem on the short-term and long-term basis. For a start, let’s get all the proposals,” Youth and Sports deputy minister M Saravanan said today.

Speaking to FMT, the MIC vice-president said although there were many views on how to curb the problem, it must be put in perspective.

“Tackling this problem is not going to be an overnight affair. It takes the right strategy. As immediate measure, we must look at rehabilitation. We also need to concentrate on employment. This is where there government can come in.

“On the long term, we need to put in place a system for youth once they leave Form Five. We also need to educate children on gangsterism and its dangers as early as when they are in primary schools. I am aware that there are various views,” he said.

Saravanan hoped that the government and especially Khairy and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak would pay personal attention to this problem, which threatens the safety of the people.

Police taking stern action

The social menace caused by Indian youth has become a national concern over the last few months with the police vowing stern action. Five men, suspected to be hardcore criminals, were shot dead in Penang earlier this month with weapons found on them.

This incident sparked a furore among the family members of the five, which the family members alleged that the suspects were asleep when they were ambushed and shot by the police in the wee hours of the morning when they could have been arrested instead.

Last week, police criminal investigations department head Hadi Ho Abdullah revealed that 71 percent of triad members were Indian with the Chinese and Malays trailing far behind. The Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has warned that the authorities will not hesitate to use firearms when tackling the problem.

The police have also started an operation dubbed, Ops Cantas to curb gangsterism and the number of those arrested is rising steadily, running into the hundreds. The police has also said the special operation does not have a life span.

He said the government should not only depend on the police to combat this problem but also solicit the help of the community.

Saravanan said a holistic effort was needed including holding talks with those involved in gang-led activities.

“We must also have a mechanism for those who want to repent and mend their ways. These should be handled by the police. The community too, has a big role to play. Lets hope that this seminar would be for better things to come,” Saravanan added.

MIC senator: Policies matter more than merging parties

Government policies are what will ultimately decide the Indian Malaysian community's support for the BN, not the merger of their political parties, says MIC's senator Jaspal Singh.

"The problem is beyond merger. Getting the support of the community depends on policies and a combination of many other things.

"Delivering on promises of the government to ensure that Indians no longer feel marginalised is more important than a merger," Jaspal (left), who is also MIC treasurer, told Malaysiakini today.

While acknowledging that a merger of Indian-based parties may give the community a stronger voice, he said the BN had to look beyond mergers, for this would not necessarily garner wider support for the ruling coalition.

Jaspal said this in response to BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor's call to Indian-based parties aligned with the BN to merge in order to consolidate the ruling coalition's support base.

Tengku Adnan also called on the MIC to reflect if it was doing something wrong that Indians would resort to creating so many political parties.

‘MIC is improving'
However, Jaspal denied that MIC was to be blamed for the large number of Indian-based political parties in the country.

"I think after the 2008 (political) tsunami, there were many new political parties, not only Indian parties. It happened across the board as the needs of the people have become complex.

"More traditional parties, like the MIC, Umno and MCA, are not attractive to some people because these parties are not able to change quickly to meet the needs of the people," he said.

However, since then the MIC has been doing a good job and the smaller parties are the ones that are now doing "soul searching".

Jaspal said even though BN only garnered 48 percent of the votes from the Indian Malaysian community in the 13th general election, it should not be viewed solely from a racial lens.

"In the non-urban areas, we got more than 48 percent of the Indian vote but the urban support is not along racial lines and here the voters did not support the government.

"So we cannot blame any one particular community," Jaspal added.

Unlike the other component parties of the BN, MIC managed to arrest its continued slide in GE13 by increasing its parliamentary seats from three to four.

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Parent: OCPD's denial of student questioning a lie

A parent whose child goes to SK Seri Pristana has refuted Sungai Buloh OCPD Junaidi Bujang’s denial that police did not interrogate pupils while at school over the makeshift shower room canteen case.

The marketing executive, who only wished to be known as Raj, 39, claimed his 9-year-old daughter was questioned by police officers twice within the school compound, between July and August.

"She (his daughter) was so scared after being questioned by the police and she cried, not wanting to go to school anymore.

"The OCPD is telling a big lie," the father alleged, adding that 10 parents also complained that their children were “harassed” by police.

"How can they (police) talk to our children without our presence?" he questioned.

Raj said this during a joint press conference with other parents, non-governmental organisations and Subang MP R Sivarasa today.

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'Waytha will not be pushed out by ministers'

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy will not be pushed out of the government by cabinet ministers bent on seeing him go, says Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia adviser N Ganesan.

"Waytha is not going to resign because of his cause. He is going to continue to try to materialise the memorandum of understanding (that Waythamnoorthy signed with the BN just before the 13th general election of May 5).

"That is what he is in government for. We consider these (calls by the ministers that he quits) as just incidents along the way," Ganesan (left) told Malaysiakini.

He added that Waythamoorthy, who was a founding member of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), remained steadfast that the ministers who were critical of him should instead work with him on the problems faced by Indian Malaysians.

Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, have called on Waythamoorthy to step down for criticising the police in their handling of five gang- members who were shot dead in Penang.

Waythamoorthy joined the government after he entered into a pre-election pact with the BN, under which the coalition agreed to implement Hindraf's five-year blueprint to uplift the Indian Malaysian community.
Ganesan said the only thing that would make Waythamoorthy resign would be if he failed to push the government into implementing the blueprint.

In a statement issued later, Ganesan called on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to expedite implementation of the blueprint.

He lamented that the unit headed by Waythamoorthy in the Prime Minister's Department has yet to be named; neither has its charter been publicly confirmed.

"Najib must expedite work on blueprint'

The government's expert steering committee, which is to propose specific plans for income opportunities, housing and skills training for displaced estate workers, has yet to be identified, Ganesan said.

Furthermore, he said, the unit's infrastructure had yet to be purchased and its budget allocation has not been deliberated, let alone the planning for next year's budget.

"The process seems to be painfully slow. It is ironical that, on the one hand we have this situation with regard to crime being addressed in a hurried manner with these shootings and arrests, and which do not assure sustainability anyway.

"On the other hand, we have a plan that promises to be a sure and sustainable remedy and which will have long-term positive effects that is being effectively delayed," Ganesan said.

He pointed out that the large involvement of Indian Malaysian youths in gangsterism was due to their displacement from their traditional abode in the estates.

He called on Najib to implement the blueprint with the similar rigour that the government now has in combating crime.
"The current lacklustre and half-hearted approach is not going to win the hearts and minds of the affected Indian estate workers whose expectations are sky high because of the public promises during the recently-concluded general election.

"If Najib fails to keep his promises, he is looking at the imminent resignation of Waythamoorthy from government and we believe this will permanently shift the Indian voter completely away from BN on a long-term basis," he said.

Ganesan added that a report card on the status of the implementation of the blueprint would be prepared next month to update the Indian Malaysian community on its progress.

Court: Sirul could have been framed for Altantuya murder

Hindu Rights violated in Ayodhya. Mulla Mulayam Singh regime returns in Imam Akhilesh Govt in UP. While anti Hindu cops counter VHP’s ‘guerrilla’ strategy to curb parikrama, VHP plans protests across country after foiled Ayodhya yatra.

Muslims can block the roads and street all over India in every Friday for Namaz, but Hindus cannot continue 84 kosi parikrama in Ayodhya, the ancient city of Lord Rama! 

  

News Flash [25.08.2013] Hindu Existence News Alert::  

1. VHP Leader Ashok Ji Singhal arrested and detained at Lucknow Airport at about 10 am. Police is unable to take away him from the airport as 10000 VHP supporters still surrounded by them and raising slogans to allow Shri Singhal to proceed towardsAyodhya. 2. Earlier in the morning, the respected Saints have offered Puja to Sarjuji to start 84 Kosi Parikrama in Ayodhya. 3. An anti Hindu and oppressive Akhilesh Yadav Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, has already arrested senior VHP leaders like Dr Pravin Togadia,  Dr Ram Vilas Vedanti and other 500 VHP activists, while Mahanta Nritya Gopal Das Ji &  Swami Chinmayanand are kept under house arrest. 4. Police and paramilitary forces are torturing the saints and pilgrims to attend the Ayodhya yatra. 5. No can can stop 84 kosi parikrama and Nationwide agitation will start from Monday – VHP. 6. Hundreds of VHP supporters have been brutally assaulted outside Lucknow Airport by UP (Akhilesh Yadav) Govt.  7. Shri Ashok Singhal ji is being taken out in an unidentified place. Who will take care? Oh Hindu! Protest, Protest and Protest. 8. Dogvijay Singh of Congress described the 84 Kosi Parikrama is a fixed match between SP (Samajwadi Party, actually Namazwadi Party) and VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad), as the VHP leaders met Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh Singh (CM, UP) to give intimation about the parikrama in  a very formal manner to get the administrative co-operation. 9. A reluctant father and son duo of Samajwadi leadership conveyed an apathy to such programmes by VHP. 10. The notorious Azam Khan, a cabinet minister in UP Govt retaliated vehemently to oppose such meeting of CM with Hindu orgs and demanded to stop 84 kosi Ayodhya Parikrama. 11. Mulayam and Akhilesh repressed all Hindu sentiment to appease Muslim fundamental power (read vote bank) and put a ban upon Ayodhya Parikrama violating the religious rights of Hindus. 12. When Muslims are allowed to offer Namaz on Friday on streets and roads by blocking in every city and metropolises, then why the Ayodhya Parikrama is being restricted by the anti Hindu SP-BSP-Congress joint conspiracy whether it is conducted in Sept or April.

WHO HAVE GIVEN THE POWER TO THE POLITICAL PARTIES LIKE SP-BSP-CONGRESS TO DECIDE THE SCHEDULE AND WAY OF HINDU FESTIVALS, CELEBRATIONS AND DHARMIK PROGRAMMES ? THIS IS TOO MUCH. HINDU BROTHERS STRENGTHEN YOUR ARMS TO FIGHT WITH SUCH ENEMIES OF HINDUS & HINDU RASHTRA. ~ Upananda Brahmachari, Editor, Hindu Existence.

Al-Qaeda’s Indecent Proposal to Widows

Al-Qaeda leaders called on widows of their slain militants to participate in Jihad al-Nikah and offer themselves to their militants who are fighting in Syria. 

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Governor of al-Khalis in Iraq’s Diyala Province, Oudai Al Khadran, was quoted by al-Sumeria news that "Intelligence cells commissioned with monitoring al-Qaeda’s activities within Diyala’s borders have reported that the highly-ranked officials in the organization urged the widows of the commanders and members to abide by the sexual Jihad Fatwa".

"This Fatwa allows al-Qaeda’s women to have sexual intercourse with members of the organization to lift their morale," he said.

"The attempt to implement the Sexual Jihad Fatwa issued by clergymen that support the armed groups in Syria proves that such laws are transnational. This also points out that al-Qaeda’s course of action in Syria or in any other country is closely related to the events that are taking place in Iraq," he added.

"Al Qaeda’s Fatwas issued in the previous years by crooked clergymen have done harm to Islam," Khadran said.

He further stressed the importance of "standing up to these jurists and fighting extremist tendencies that blemish the humanitarian values of Islam".

The sexual Jihad Fatwa made its first appearance in Syria a few months ago and it allowed for armed members to have sexual intercourse with women for a determined period of time as per a momentary contract that loses effect after a few hours.

This will allow other men to sign a similar contract and women to sleep with more than one man per day.

The call has been followed with several cases of rapes and sexual assaults on women and girls in Syria who fall victim to extremist al-Qaeda militants.

The insurgency in Syria which is going on with US strong support is showing vicious incidents of human rights violations, almost all ignored by the western and regional allies of Washington.

The fact that al-Qaeda and other extremist groups are gaining more attention in Syria has mounted worries among Muslim clerics and prominent figures who are concerned by the impressions left on the image of Islam world by the unacceptable acts of extremism done in the name of Islam.

Court: Sirul could have been framed for Altantuya murder

While the Court of Appeal last Friday detailed the non-calling of Najib Abdul Razak's aide-de-camp DSP Musa Safri as a factor in acquitting the two Special Action Unit officers, the written judgment also states that the second accused, Sirul Azhar Umar, could have been framed.

Sirul Azhar in his testimony from the dock had described how he had been made "a scapegoat" by the police, to be sacrificed in order to protect their plans.

In the written judgment released today, Court of Appeal judge Tengku Maimum Tuan Mat described why it was unsafe to accept the evidence from the police officers who went to Sirul Azhar's Kota Damansara home.

"There is thus a conflicting and inconclusive account of events as regards the discovery of the black jacket and (Altantuya Shaariibuu's jewellery). There is also no conclusive account of what exactly was said by Sirul as regards the jacket.

Justice Tengku Maimum said according to one of the police witnesses, ASP Zulkarnain Hassan, Sirul Azhar had told him he kept the items (jewellery) in the jacket, but the testimony of another officer did not disclose any such statement being made.

The judge said Sirul Azhar had contended that one of the police officers, who said the jewellery was kept in the black jacket, had asked the accused (Sirul Azhar) to hold the jacket for the purpose of him being photographed with it, twice.

"The same officer took out some items from inside the same jacket and placed them on the bed before forcing him (Sirul Azhar) to point, by his finger, at all those items again for his pictures to be taken.

"The second appellant is thus saying that the police had planted the jewellery in his house. Relevant to this issue is the fact that the keys to the house were in the possession of the police prior to the search for the black jacket from inside the unlocked cupboard in Sirul's unlocked room," Justice Tengku Maimum said.
Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar were discharged and acquitted last Friday, after the Court  of Appeal ruled there were serious misdirections by the court.

The appellate court also contrasted the evidence of Zulkarnain and the other officer who were in Sirul Azhar’s house and noted conflicting and inconclusive accounts of events with regard to the discovery of the black jacket and jewellery.

Justice Tengku Maimun said the trial-within-a-trial version conducted to determine this supported Sirul Azhar’s version that it was Zulkarnain who had directed him to show the items.

Conflicting police reports

The court also noted that Zulkarnain had interviewed Sirul Azhar prior to going to his house but what puzzled the court was why Zulkarnain had his own particulars wrong when lodging the police report on the interrogation.

“This is followed by another police report tendered by Sirul Azhar’s defence, purportedly by Zulkarnain with his name spelt wrongly, along with his date of birth wrongly stated and his rank as Chief Inspector (and not ASP).”

The two police reports had different versions and this, the court found, led to discrepancies.

Similarly, with the evidence on Azilah purportedly leading them to the crime scene in Puncak Alam, the court found it was unsafe to accept the testimonies of the police witnesses.

This follows the contradictory account where one police officer claimed Azilah had shown the crime scene where Altantuya was blown up, and the place where she was first shot.

However, another officer contradicted the testimony, claiming Azilah had shown the place where Altantuya was first shot. In addition, an officer claimed he had informed his superior officer about the crime scene discovery by calling him on the handphone. However, the superior said he had not received such a call from his subordinate.

“We find there is a non-direction by the learned trial judge in failing to evaluate the evidence before admitting the police statements (testimonies),” ruled Justice Tengku Maimun.

Blood-stained slippers planted?

Similarly with the blood-stained slippers found in Sirul Azhar’s car, the court said the accused left his car keys with one Sergeant Rosli as the accused was on overseas assignment, in Pakistan.

“Sergeant Rosli had testified that he had not seen the (blood-stained) slippers when he started Sirul Azhar’s car twice. What was important that Sergeant Rosli had also testified that one DSP Mohd Khairi Khairuddin had asked for Sirul’s car keys for some unknown reason and Khairi handed the keys back to him three days later,” he said.

The court noted that Khairi was not called by the prosecution to testify and hence there was no evidence as to what happened in the car while it was under that officer’s custody.

Non-calling of Musa Safri

Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail had defended the non-calling of Musa as irrelevant.

Justice Tengku Maimun said the court could not accept the prosecution’s logic on the non-calling of Musa, as political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda was jointly tried with Azilah and Sirul Azhar from the outset and it was the prosecution’s case that Abdul Razak had conspired with the two policemen to commit murder.

“Hence it is incumbent upon the prosecution to adduce all available, relevant evidence against the third  accused. The affidavit by Abdul Razak, which has been taken by the learned trial judge to be part of the prosecution’s evidence, contains  prejudicial matters against the appellants and it tends to suggest the guilt of the appellants.

“In fact, since Abdul Razak was acquitted and discharged with no appeal lodged by the prosecution, it appears that whatever the appellants did in committing the crime was entirely on their own accord.”

Justice Tengku Maimun said it must not be overlooked that “this ugly and horrendous episode” started with Abdul Razak’s request to Musa, before the two accused came into the picture.

“The evidence established that the appellants’ task was to patrol Abdul Razak’s house and their presence on Oct 19, 2006, was upon the request for such assistance from the political analyst to Azilah.

“The trial judge is bound to view the whole of the evidence objectively and from all angles in finding whether the evidence or the  facts point to the irresistible inference and conclusion that both the appellants committed this crime or whether there are some other reasonably possible explanation of those facts.

“Now that the task of patrolling the house had ended with murder, we agree with Sirul Azhar’s lawyers  that only Musa can confirm the scope of the request,” the judge ruled.

The court in its judgment found that circumstantial evidence was insufficient and not strong enough to sustain the finding of guilt.

“We are conscious that a heinous crime has been committed but where the guilt of the appellants had not been satisfactorily proved, we are constrained to give the benefit of the doubt to the appellants,” she said in ending the 47-page judgment.

Kesilapan besar pendakwa kes Altantuya menyebabkan dua polis bebas

Azilah Hadri dan Sirul Azhar Umar, yang bebas dari pertuduhan membunuh Altantuya, Jumaat lalu.

Timbalan Superintendan Polis (DSP) Musa Safri yang tidak dipanggil oleh pihak pendakwaan adalah kunci untuk membongkar kes pembunuhan model Mongolia Altantuya Shaariibuu, menurut laporan penghakiman 47 muka surat yang dikeluarkan hari ini.

Laporan itu juga mendedahkan kegagalan hakim perbicaraan menimbang notis alibi sebagai punca kepada pembebasan dua komando polis, ketua inspektor Azilah Hadri dan bekas korperal Sirul Azhar Umar pada Jumaat lalu.

Kedua-dua tertuduh sebelum ini disabitkan dengan kes pembunuhan Altantuya pada 19 Oktober 2006.

Laporan penghakiman oleh salah seorang hakim, Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat juga menekankan wujud percanggahan dalam afidavit oleh penganalisis politik, Abdul Razak Baginda dengan keterangan Sirul di mahkamah berkaitan pembabitan Musa dalam kes itu.

"Ia tidak boleh terlepas pandang episod buruk dan dasyat ini bermula dengan permintaan Razak kepada Musa sebelum pembabitan Azilah dan Sirul.

"Bukti yang diperoleh menunjukkan tugas Azilah dan Sirul adalah meronda sekitar rumah Razak dan kehadiran mereka di sana pada malam itu atas permintaan Razak kepada Azilah," tulis Tengku Maimun dalam penghakimannya.

Hanya Musa akan membongkar semua ini, katanya.

Dalam pembebasan Azilah, Mahkamah Rayuan mendapati hakim perbicaraan Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yassin gagal menimbang notis alibi yang menunjukkan Azilah tidak mungkin boleh berada di dua lokasi pada suatu masa ketika malam pembunuhan Altantuya.

Mahkamah Rayuan berkata, rekod panggilan oleh syarikat telekomunikasi yang diberikan pendakwa raya bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti pergerakan Azilah pada hari pembunuhan Altantuya.

Berdasarkan kepada bukti yang diberikan itu, Azilah berada di Pekan Subang pada 10.15 malam dan di Kampung Melayu Subang pada 10.19 malam.

Bagaimanapun, diari balai Bukit Aman menunjukkan Azilah berada di sana mengutip senjatanya, Glock EAH 387 dan dua kelopak peluru pada jam 10.18 malam.

Beliau kemudiaan beredar ke Putrajaya dalam tugasan mengiringi Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Pegawai penyiasat dalam pembunuhan Altantuya, ASP Tonny Lunggan memberi keterangan dalam perbicaraan mengenai kebenaran diari itu dan ketepatannya.

Namun, Mahkamah Rayuan berhujah meragui ketepatan rekod panggilan telefon berkenaan.

"Hakim perbicaraan sepatutnya menfokuskan kepada dua bentuk bukti berbeza dan kegagalan bertindak sedemikian menyebabkannya tersalah arah. Setelah meneliti alasan penghakiman, kami tidak mendapati hakim perbicaraan dalam penghakimannya menimbangkan sama ada diari stesen dan bukti Azilah berada di Wangsa Maju dan di Bukit Aman pada waktu kejadian menunjukkan alasan beliau tidak boleh ataupun tidak mungkin berada di Puncak Alam.

"Dalam keadaan ini, hakim itu tersalah arah dirinya dengan cara bukan arahan gagal untuk mempertimbangkan bukti," katanya, merujuk kepada kegagalan hakim untuk mempertimbangkan pembelaan alibi.

Tengku Maimun berkata rekod panggilan dan jangkauan liputan adalah bukti penting untuk menyabitkan kehadiran Azilah di tempat kejadian.

"Ia adalah penting agar perbicaraan belajar untuk memfokuskan fikirannya terhadap cabaran bukti yang dibangkitkan oleh pasukan pembelaaan dan membuat penemuan sama ada sebenarnya berlaku satu perubahan atau penyalahgunaan data dan sama ada kesahihan data itu dipersoalkan atau sebaliknya," kata beliau.

"Malangnya, hakim gagal untuk melakukan ini, yang tanggungannya berat menjadikan ia tidak selamat untuk bergantung kepada bukti tersebut."

Mahkamah juga berkata hakim perbicaraan sewajarnya membuat pencarian terhadap hubungan antara bahan letupan dengan dua bekas anggota polis dan kegagalan memfokuskan dirinya terhadap hubungkait yang hilang mengakibatkan satu lagi tersalah arah berlaku.

"Kita tidak boleh mengatakan jika tribunal secara munasabah mengarahkan mungkin mensabitkan perayu berasaskan bukti yang ada. Mahkamah dibawah telah mengabaikan dan terlepas pandang fakta-fakta penting dan bukti yang memihak kepada perayu menyebabkan keadilan salah dilaksanakan dan sangat serius," katanya.

"Kesan terkumpul bukan arahan menunjukkan sabitan itu tidak selamat. Kami sedar bahawa jenayah kejam telah dilakukan tetapi jika perayu bersalah tidak dibuktikan dengan memuaskan, kami terpaksa memberi manfaat keraguan kepada perayu.

"Kami sebulat suara meluluskan kedua-dua rayuan. Sabitan dan hukuman oleh Mahkamah Tinggi diketepikan, perayu sewajarnya dilepaskan dan dibebaskan." – 26 Ogos, 2013.

Snatch thieves are cops!

Despite lodging a police report on the matter on July 3, B Saravanan claims that the police have yet to take action against the errant police officers.

PETALING JAYA: A lorry driver lodged a police report last month claiming that one of the snatch thieves he caught red handed was none other than a police officer.

In the report lodged at the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters on July 3, B Saravanan, 27, said that he was going out to lunch outside his office at Taman Mayang Jaya on that day, when he saw two men on a motorcycle trying to snatch a gold necklace from a foreign national.

“It was about 12 pm. I was going for lunch when I saw the thieves on a Yamaha LC bike attempting to snatch a necklace from an Indonesian lady.

“I immediately drove to the scene and rammed my car on their motorcycle, causing the duo to fall on the street,” said Saravanan.

He said that he got down from his car to face the thieves, getting into a scuffle with them. Unfortunately, the perpetrators overwhelmed him and even manage to snatch his gold chain.

Adding that he tried his level best to apprehend them, Saravanan decided to back off as one started throwing stones at his car while the other threatened him with a knife.

Saravanan subsequently called up the police, who later arrived at the area to take pictures of the crime scene.

Suspects turn out to be policemen


“At 1pm, one Corporal Zamrus called me up to Kelana Jaya police station, asking my assistance to identify the thieves, which I did about three hours later.

“I managed to identify both men during the identification parade. To my shock, Zamrus told me that one of the suspects was a police officer,” alleged Saravanan in the report.

When contacted today Saravanan said that both suspects were indeed police officers. Saravanan further claimed that the investigating officer, known as Inspector Hasbullah, tried to talk him out of lodging a police report.

“I saw them both walking in and out of the Kelana Jaya police station together. So when I got to know that the suspects were officers from the same station, I decided to lodge the report at the PJ police headquarters instead,” said Saravanan.

He added that he was called to the Kelana Jaya police station for a second time on July 19 for another identification parade.

“I identified them again but after that I received no information from the Kelana Jaya police station on the status of the investigation,” said Saravanan.

However FMT learned today evening that Saravanan has been asked to be present at the Kelana Jaya police station to give a statement later tonight.

No comment from district chief

A police source meanwhile told FMT that he has yet to receive any updates regarding the status of the two police officers.

“I am not sure if they have been transferred to another desk or department or they have been suspended from the force. They are attached to a different police station thus I did not get any updates regarding their status,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya district police chief, Arjunaidi Mohamed when contacted refused to comment on the matter.

“You have to check with the Selangor police headquarters. I can’t comment on this,” he said briefly.

NIAT defends Waytha against quit call

“And why hasn't Najib spoken up?” asks the group's chairman.

PETALING JAYA: The National Indian Action Team (NIAT) today defended Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy against criticism for his comments on last week’s police killing of five suspected criminals.

Commenting on recent statements by Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, NIAT chairman Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim said: “They have no locus standi to tell Waythamoorthy to quit his job because it is the Prime Minister’s prerogative.”

Thasleem also remarked that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had the obligation to make public his views on the issue.

“The question now is, why is Najib being silent?”

Last week, Zahid ticked off Waythamoorthy for demanding an explanation from the police for the Penang killing. He said the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department was speaking like a Hindraf leader instead of a government official.

Hishammuddin was quoted by Bernama today as saying he agreed with Zahid that Waythamoorthy should resign.

“Indeed, I thoroughly agree with Ahmad Zahid,” Hishammuddin reportedly said. “What he said was 101% correct. As a member of the Cabinet, we cannot place our self-interest over our collective interest.”

Thasleem called for maturity among politicians, especially members of the Najib administration. He said they should welcome differences of opinion among themselves.

“Being in the government does not mean you cannot voice out the sentiments of the people,” he said.

Referring to killing of the five alleged guns for hire, Thasleem called it “a racially profiled shooting” and a case of “treating the symptom instead of the disease”.

He congratulated Waythamoorthy for questioning the propriety of the shooting. “It is good and I stand by him,” he said.

Two other Indian NGOs also commented on the issue today.

Blame MIC

Warga Aman urged the government to rehabilitate gangsters instead of killing them off.

“Indian criminal offenders should be given a thorough rehabilitation and the system should ensure that they lead a normal life after they have been released from prison,” said the group’s secretary-general, S Barathidasan.

“We do have a rehabilitation system in place to treat hardcore criminals, but why do we still have repeat criminal offenders?”

Tamilar Action Force (TAF) member and PKR Puchong division chief S Murali said MIC was partly to blame for gangsterism among Indian youths.

As a member of the ruling coalition, MIC had failed to address the issue, he alleged.

He said many Indian students who could not make the grade in school saw gangsterism as a way of making a living.

“Imagine a poor and jobless Indian youth being offered RM1,000 to commit a crime on someone’s behalf,” he said. “It’s big money to him. He might not think twice.”

Murali urged the police to go after the criminal syndicate bosses instead of “wiping out small fishes” in their bid to curb crime.

MIC vice president and Perak state assembly speaker SK Devamany has meanwhile urged Waythamoorthy, Zahid and Hishammuddin to talk out their differences.

“They are cabinet colleagues and their contradicting statements can create a negative perception on Najib’s administration,” he said.

Police report against racist FB postings

wo Indian NGOs want the authorities to haul up one Hanum Hizan for her racist remarks on the Indians and Chinese.

KUALA LUMPUR: Two NGOs, the Tamilar Action Force (TAF) and WargaAMAN, lodged a police report against one Hanum Hizan for posting derogatory comments over a news report in FMT yesterday.

TAF assistant secretary R Kannan said the comments posted by Hanum Hizan under a report headlined, ’71% gang members Indian because of racial profiling’ belittled the Indians and the Chinese.

“She also insulted the way Hindus perform their rituals at the Ganges in India,” said Kannan, who was accompanied by WargaAMAN sec-gen S Barathidasan and PKR Puchong division leader S Murali.

“We are very disturbed and angry over her comments. We want the police to take action,” added Kannan after lodging the report at 1.45pmat the Jalan Travers police station off Jalan Bangsar.
Hanum Hizan’s comments labeled the Indians as “kurang ajar pendatang”, and called them “pigs”. She also said that “150,000 illegal in the country should be pushed out of the sea before it is causing more trouble”.

Engaging other commentators who chided her, she hit back at them: “Low you are very dumb. The White American, The Australian and NZ will laugh at you. By the way Chinese has taken over from the white Australian and Sydney. I can smell trouble is coming if decide to migrate please dont go there.”

One FMT commentator, Contest Chris, reported her profile to the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Meanwhile FMT has barred Hanum Hizan from posting comments in the news portal.

India police arrest last of five wanted in gang-rape case

Police escort a suspect in the Mumbai gang-rape of a female photojournalist after his appearance in court today. AFP pic, August 25, 2013.

Mumbai police Sunday arrested the fifth and final member of a gang suspected of raping a photographer, a crime that reignited anger about women's safety in India following a similar attack last year.

The latest arrest came as the victim's family urged the nation, including the media, to continue to fight for justice "for all those victims and their families" who have gone through "the same hell as we have".

The family said it was "optimistic" their daughter's case would be fast -tracked and the "severest of punishments" handed down to those responsible, because of ongoing campaigns and a tougher sex crime law introduced earlier this year.

"This will ensure that even the most sick-minded think twice before they act in such an inhuman and insensitive way," it said in a statement.

The group allegedly trapped and repeatedly raped the woman, said to be in her early 20s, on Thursday in an abandoned mill in an upmarket district of central Mumbai, where she was on assignment for a magazine.

The attack rekindled memories of the fatal gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi in December. That crime sparked nationwide protests and brought to the surface seething anger about violence against women in India.

The outrage led to a tougher anti-rape law that included increased punishment for sex offenders, who face the death penalty if a victim dies, and a broader definition of sexual assault.

On Sunday a Mumbai police team arrested the fifth suspect in New Delhi over the brutal attack in which the woman's male colleague was allegedly tied up with a belt and the woman attacked nearby.

"Our crime branch team arrested the fifth suspect from New Delhi earlier Sunday and he is being brought back to Mumbai," a police official, who did not want to be named, told AFP.

The woman, reportedly an intern, is undergoing treatment at Mumbai's Jaslok Hospital, where staff said she was steadily improving.

"She is eating normally and her medical parameters are in control," the acting head of the hospital said in a statement.

The fifth suspect was tracked down after the arrest of four others since Friday, all in Mumbai. One arrested early on Sunday was identified by the Press Trust of India as Kasim Bangali.

Two of the suspects, their faces covered by black cloth, were remanded in police custody until August 30 after appearing in a Mumbai court on Sunday. On Saturday, two other suspects were also remanded in police custody.

The attack, which dismayed a city seen as far safer for women than the capital, sparked protests in Mumbai and uproar in the national parliament.

The woman was attacked while she was taking photos of the abandoned Shakti Mills factory compound next to a fashionable area of apartment and office blocks, shops and restaurants, police said.

They said the victim and her male colleague were approached by some men and told they should not be there, before being attacked.

The woman's family pleaded with the media for privacy as they try to recover from this "nightmarish phase".

"We hope and pray you will empathise and adhere to our humble request while continuing your support for justice, not just for my daughter but for all those victims and families who have gone through the same hell as we have," they said.

The woman was earlier quoted by The Times of India as saying "rape is not the end of life" and she wanted to return to work.

The incident comes eight months after the student was gang-raped in a moving bus in New Delhi, while her male companion was beaten up. She died two weeks later from severe injuries.

A trial is in its final stages in that case, which sparked massive and sometimes violent protests.

It prompted soul- searching about whether India can protect its women, in a country where fear of social stigma, a hostile police reaction and an inadequate judicial process mean many sexual assaults go unreported.

Since the December incident, dozens of rapes of women - including foreign tourists - have been highlighted in the media. - AFP, August 25, 2013.

Waytha determined to stay in government, calls on minister to help Indian community

Two Umno ministers have warned him to follow the government line but P. Waythamoorthy (pic) is not backing down.

Waythamoorthy has little to lose in making his stand because if he is kicked out of Cabinet, he will be given the credibility he does not have in the Indian community.

Today he asked if crime should be tackled by shooting all gangsters.

“Every major town in the west coast, I am sure has several gangs and probably as many members as in Penang. That is a large and disturbing number. Is anyone suggesting we shoot off all these wayward youngsters to clean the streets of crime?" he questioned in a statement.

Labelling it a crisis in the Indian community, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said there was a need for urgent and positive intervention, adding that a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the Barisan Nasional and Hindraf before the elections for a 5-year blueprint for the advancement of the Indian community.

He called on his critics in the Cabinet to work with him to solve the problems of Indian youths involved in crime rather than call for his ouster from the government.

Waythamoorthy said Putrajaya needed to address the root cause of the issue, which was a symptom of socio-economic malaise affecting the Indian community.

"In my discussions with the Prime Minister, I had it made very clear that my role is to deliver comprehensive and permanent solutions to the longstanding socio-economic problems of the Indian community and nothing else. I have chosen to come into government primarily for this purpose," he said in a statement today.

Over the weekend, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Defence Minister Datuk Hishamuddin Hussein told the former Hindraf leader to quit his Cabinet position after the deputy minister had questioned the police shooting of five alleged gang members in Penang last Monday.

"In the war against crime, there should be no quarter given to criminals," Ahmad Zahid said.

Hishammuddin told him to “think rationally before making statements now that he is in government".

The five shot dead – J. Gobinath, 31, R. Ramesh, 27, N. Rakan, 25, M. Suresh, 25, and M. Gobinath, 21 – were believed to be linked to nine shooting cases this year, according to police.

They were in an apartment in Sungai Nibong when the police moved in.

Waythamoorthy, explaining the reason he spoke out on the shooting, said it may have resulted in the five being taken off the streets, but did nothing to solve rising crime.

He noted that at the funeral of one of those who died that day, the newspapers reported about 800 Indian youths, many purportedly 04 gang members, were in the procession.

He added that it was also reported that the director of criminal investigations (CID) Bukit Aman, Hadi Ho Abdullah, said police records of known gang members revealed that 71% were Indians.

In April, Waythamoorthy, on behalf of Hindraf, had signed a 5-year blueprint with the government to bring the Indian poor into the mainstream of national development.

"When realised, it will certainly help wean these wayward Indian youth from crime and into productive economic activity. That will really be a win-win approach. I have chosen to come into government primarily for this purpose," he stressed.

He pointed to a study done by ACP Amar Singh Sidhu titled "the rise of crime in Malaysia", which said the main cause of the violent crime and gang-related activities was urban poverty.

In the study, Amar noted that Indians in urban squatter areas had developed a sub-culture alienating them from mainstream Malaysian society. This subculture mindset was besieged by hopelessness, was captive to low self-esteem, and low self image coupled with the lack of opportunities to pursue education and employment.

"I make this call again to the Home Minister to work with me in a holistic manner to address this complex problem through the implementation of the plans in the 5-year blueprint," he said. - August 26, 2013.

Waytha: Shall we shoot all gangsters to end crime?

The Indian community is facing a crisis in rising gangsterism, and violence is not the answer said Deputy Minister in Prime Minister's Department P Waythamoorthy.

"Every major town on the west coast, I am sure has several gangs and probably as many members as in Penang. That is a large and disturbing number.

"Is anyone suggesting we shoot off all these wayward youngsters to clean the streets of crime?" said Waythamoorthy (left) in a statement today.

He was responding to criticism of his earlier statement against the recent shooting of five youths in in Sungei Nibong, Penang.

"That particular episode may have taken the five off the streets in the way it did, but will it really solve the problem of crime?" he asked.

He acknowledged the police's remark on Saturday that the Indian community was facing a serious threat in rising gansterism.

"At the funeral procession of one of those who died that day, the newspapers reported about 800 Indian (Malaysian) youths many purportedly 04 gang members in the procession.

"Yesterday it was reported that the director of criminal investigations (CID) Bukit Aman Hadi Ho Abdullah (left) said the police records of known gang members revealed that 71 percent were Indian.

"There is a crisis within the Indian community. We need urgent and positive intervention to stop the slide," said Waythamoorthy.
Told off twice

Last week Waythamoorthy, who is also Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) chief, was told off by Home Minister Zahid Hamidi for criticising the Nibong Tebal shootings.

“If you like to criticise the police, if you like to give negative comments to the police, please resign and lead your own NGO. Be the NGO leader," the home minister said on Saturday alluding to the PHM leader.

Today Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein backed Zahid's call saying the latter was "101 per cent correct".

Waythamoorthy defended himself saying the problem of gangsterism was "multi faceted" and only symptomatic of a larger problem, the socio-economic malaise affecting the Indian community

"Shooting these youths is shooting at the most visible portion jutting above the water, but which is only a very small fraction of the problem," he said.

"30 years ago the statistics would have read very differently – there were nowhere near these numbers of Indian youth involved in crime.

"They have come about as a direct result of the massive forced displacement of estate workers into the urban areas beginning circa 1980s."

He repeated his call for the home minister to work with him to find a "holistic" solution by implementing the blueprint that PHM signed with Prime Minister Najib Razak before the general election.

Waytha caught between devil and deep blue sea

YOURSAY 'Waytha, you are a real idiot since you thought you could change the system. The system is insisting you change.'

Zahid advises Waytha to toe gov't line

 

Rahman Putih: It is refreshing to hear an unconventional stand taken by Deputy Minister in the PM's Department P Waythamoorthy within the BN administration.

PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) has been providing flimsy justification with over 22 suspicious killing since April this year.

The call for an inquest is necessary to ensure impartiality is maintained rather than pandering to PDRM's reckless attitude like how the home minister is acting in this instance.

Kingfisher: One can well imagine that PM Najib Razak had a good reason to invite Waythamoorthy's to join his administration.

It would seem from Waythamoorthy's cautionary reference to the unfortunate incident that he has not necessarily challenged government policy but has expressed some reservation on the modality of police action.

The IGP (inspector-general of police) has made a statement clarifying that PDRM's SOP (standard operating procedures) were adhered to in this instance.

Some of us are prepared to acknowledge the IGP. Waythamoorthy may have been indiscrete on this occasion. Look at many other examples of YBs.

Zahid however seems to enthusiastic if not irrational to demonstrate his power by this "bullying" threat on a newly appointed colleague. It would make the PM look a fool if Waythamoorthy were to resign his position abruptly.

Ruben: Well Waythamoorthy, you deserve it. If you say anything that your Umno masters don't like, you need to shut up.

After all, you decided to be subservient to them. So put your tail between your legs and act like an obedient boy.

Gods Messenger: Come on, Zahid, you must also look up at Waytha's position and as a deputy minister. The blueprint was signed between Najib and Waytha.

Waytha is still the leader of Hindraf. It was Persatuan Hindraf's Waytha that signed the blueprint with the PM. Please respect and give face to the PM who put Waytha as deputy minister in his department.

He is only voicing out what he feels. He can't keep quiet too. You must be fair to him. The marginal Indians are waiting for their leader to say something and not just keep quiet.
Please put yourself in his shoes and you will understand it better. Voicing out is not contradicting government policy.

A Selangor Voter: Waytha, you are a real idiot since you thought you could change the system. The system is insisting you change. Imagine, you were asking the Indians to give Najib a two-thirds majority.

SS Dhaliwal: So Zahid are you acknowledging that Waytha was brought over as a cabinet minister to silence him and Hindraf? By the way, what is government policy?

To be unquestionable on any issue even on police shootouts involving innocent civilians and/or criminals followed by the standard explanation of self-defence and denials?

Waytha is now learning the hard way that his ideals is never going to be implemented nor taken seriously by Umno. He is clearly a misguided politician under illusions of grandeur or is his personal agenda already been met?

Son of PJ: What the majority of Malaysiakini commenters are saying here is that Hindraf had lost the moment when it could have made an even bigger impact if did not join ranks with the time-tested corrupted BN regime.

Oh well, you know what they say about spilled milk.

I cannot just be an observer, Waytha tells Zahid

 

Shanandoah: If the government really wants to help the Indian community they must set up an Indian Economic Policy like the NEP and leave it in the hands of the community to deal with the matter.

The community has been marginalised far too long. We are seeing the result now. The community is being destroyed beyond repair.

Robert Lim: A genuine leader is a molder of consensus not an antagonist. With such a leader like Waytha at helm for the Indian community, we may see the renaissance of the Indian community after all.

 

Mamadias: It's not about just MIC or Waytha. It's about a segment of the society within the Indian community that needs help in the long-term so that we do not have young Indians boys whom are marginalised and become victims of poverty.

But in the short-term, we need to deal with real issue, which is the hardcore criminal gangs that have become extremely violent. So we need to hit back hard, and in the long-term create a programme that will uplift the economic well being of the society.

It's better to let the police do their job while politicians and the elite members of the society work behind the scene with the community to ensure a long-term sustainable programme is created.

Onyourtoes: Waytha, please don't simply make claims; you are no leader of the poor and marginalised Indian community any more. You are no serious observer either; you are a non-consequential observer.

’71% gang members Indian because of racial profiling’

PKR vice-president N Surendran says since Indians only make up seven percent of the population, we have a national crisis if the number is accurate.

PETALING JAYA: The police’s announcement that 71 percent of gang members in Malaysia are Indians had been met with disbelief and had triggered allegations that the men in blue are practising racial-profiling.

PKR vice-president N Surendran said in a statement today the figure was inconceivable given that Indians make up only seven percent of the population.

“If this figure is true, it is nothing short of a national crisis involving the Indian community. If true, why has this astonishing figure not been revealed to the public earlier?” he asked.

He said PKR believed that the high figure could be due to the police and other enforcement officers’ targeting ethnic Indian in their operations.

Surendran thus, demanded that the government set up an independent inquiry to determine if the law enforcers were indeed racial profiling ethnic Indian.

“If there is such a practice, it could lead to harassment, unlawful arrests and breaches of fundamental rights. More dangerously, it could also result in callous treatment of the detainees while in police custody. Francis Udayappan, Kugan, Sugumar, Darmendran, Karunanithi were some of the Indian detainees who died while in custody while recently, five young Indians were shot by the police in Penang,” said the Padang Serai MP.

However, police had said the five were gang members linked to at least 10 murders, and that four of them had multiple criminal records for drug offences, causing hurt using a weapon, and rioting.

Surendran had also claimed that the majority of those arrested in the ongoing Ops Cantas were Malaysian Indians.

Makkal Sakti aims to change youths mindset

Party president R.S Thanenthiran said young people need to realise that politics is not something "dirty".

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party (MMSP) will focus on political transformation among the younger generation in the hope of moulding them as effective leaders within culturally diverse communities.

Party founder and president, R.S. Thanenthiran said there was also a need to change the mindsets of young people that politics was not something “dirty” and ensure that more of them would support Barisan Nasional.

“We should mould them to suit our leadership capacity building to achieve goals such as creating a progressive Indian community by 2020,” he sad.

Thanenthiran noted that political transformation of youth would be among the agenda at the party’s annual general meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here today to be attended by about 1,200 delegates and observers.

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is scheduled to open the AGM.

Other issues to be touched at the PWTC gathering are building Sekolah Menengah Tamil in states with high Indian population, helping pupils at Tamil schools and owning a 20-storey building for the party.

-Bernama

Another minister tells Waytha to go if he can’t toe the line

 

Hishammuddin escorting Hagel to their meeting today. The Malaysian Insider 

pic by Nazir Sufari, August 25, 2013.

The Defence Minister has joined a growing chorus calling on Deputy Minister P Waythamoorthy to resign from his Cabinet position if he wants to act like a representative of a non-governmental organisation.

Echoing Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who made the same call yesterday, Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein said Waythamoorthy, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, should think rationally before making statements now that he is in government..

“Being emotional on it is not the right way of a leader. I support Datuk Zahid….101 percent. As Cabinet ministers we have to be responsible.

“We cannot place our personal political interest above the collective interest of the government,” he said after meeting US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel in Kuala Lumpur today.

Ahmad Zahid had told the former Hindraf leader to quit his Cabinet position after Waythamoorthy had questioned the police shooting of five alleged gang members.

"In the war against crime, there should be no quarter given to criminals," Ahmad Zahid had said.

Waythamoorthy had said he will not be silent on issues just because he is in the government.

"In fact, it is to the advantage of the government that I voice out the true sentiments of the people on the ground so that I can contribute positively to the objectives and good governance of the government," he had said in a statement after the shooting last Monday.

The five who were killed – J. Gobinath, 31, R. Ramesh, 27, N. Rakan, 25, M. Suresh, 25, and M. Gobinath, 21, - were shot dead by police during a raid as they were believed to be linked to nine out of 19 shooting cases this year.

They were in an apartment in Sungai Nibong when the police party moved in.

The families of the dead have lodged four police reports demanding an inquest into their deaths.

Yesterday, several Malay non-governmental organisations called on the former Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader to leave the government if he wanted to speak against it.

Right-wing Malay NGO Perkasa said the chairman of Hindraf should make private inquiries about the incident rather than doubt the credibility of the police force.

“Our security forces are scrambling to reduce the public’s ire towards the increasing number of armed criminals but Waythamoorthy here is questioning the actions of our forces,” said Datuk Zulkifli Noordin, who is Perkasa vice- president.

“We do not deny his right to fight for the Indian community but he needs to know his position. If he still wants to have the mentality of an NGO leader, it is best that he resigns and focuses on building the Indian community,” he told the Umno-owned Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia.

Another group known as Tolak Individu Bernama Anwar Ibrahim (TIBAI) also asked the deputy minister to respect the police.

The group’s adviser, Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, said Waythamoorthy is looking at criminal activities from a very narrow scope and as such he should be dropped from the Cabinet.

“This is not a race issue but it is about national and public security. I urge the prime minister to remove Waythamoorthy from his position,” he added.

Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president Azwanddin Hamzah cautioned Waythamoorthy from acting so quickly on his own to defend the Indians.

“Criminals are still criminals and the police know what they are doing. He should have discussed this first instead of impulsively releasing a statement,” Azwanddin was quoted as saying. - August 25, 2013.