(Malaysiakini)The government has 'fed the opposition a big slice of cake' by banning the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), said Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) president P Sivakumar today.
Criticising the ban, he said the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat would capitalise on the issue and lure more Indian Malaysians into its fold.
Sivakumar also took Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar to task for claiming that Hindraf had incited hatred between the races.
"Miba is unhappy to learn of the minister's version that Hindraf has been inciting hatred. This is not true, the focal point is about rights and equal treatment for all," he told Malaysiakini.
Sivakumar also disagreed with the minister over his assertion that Hindraf had tarnished the nation's image in the international arena.
"Miba feels that the arrest and continued detention without trial of the five Hindraf leaders and others under the Internal Security Act is the main reason the international community looks down on Malaysia.
"This is what that has damaged the reputation of the country in the eyes of the world," he said.
Last December, five Hindraf leaders, P Uthayakumar, R Kenghadharan, T Vasanthakumar, M Manoharan and V Ganabatirau were detained under the ISA shortly after a mammoth protest which saw some 30,000 Indian Malaysians taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in protest
Recently, the movement came under fire after its leaders and supporters visited Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Hari Raya open house to convey their opposition against the security law.
Protracted dissatisfaction
Meanwhile, Sivakumar felt that banning Hindraf would do little good for the ruling coalition as it failed to address the core issues.
"Banning Hindraf is one thing, but the mother of all Indian protests which happened in the March 8 general election, the Makkal Sakthi (people’s power), is the feeling of being sidelined under the New Economic Policy for far too long.
"It is about the desire to be treated equally and to be given a fair share of opportunities in the civil, business and education sectors as well as the need to respect their places of worship in terms of indiscriminate demolitions," he said.
"These are the grouses of the community, no one can imprison this spirit," he stressed.
On the same note, the Johor-based businessman called on all state leaders to emulate Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman in dealing with the problems faced by the Indian community.
Although he is a BN leader, Sivakumar said, the menteri besar has taken a personal approach to the woes faced by the community by continuously meeting with Indian-based NGOs and resolving their grievances.
"This is the best method of approach which all state heads should adopt. They should try to solve the problems of the grassroots irrespective of ethnicity," he added.
Let police and court decide
In a related development, Syed Hamid said the government would let the police and court to decide on the action to be taken against Hindraf.
He said the police would carry out a thorough investigation and it was up to the court to pass sentence if they were found guilty.
The government would not tolerate any extremist group regardless of race or religious background as the government had taken action against Al-Arqam, Al-Ma'unah and Kumpulan Militan Malaysia in the past, he said.
"The government's priority is to protect the security of Malaysians," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
The home minister reiterated that Hindraf activities had consistently broken laws, and their illegal demonstrations turned violent and incited racial hatred.
On the open house visit, he said: "They disseminated messages that could cause racial and religious tension. They created fear among the people. They even threatened people's lives."
"Although the government is willing to listen to the people's grievances and even utterances of unpleasant words, it cannot tolerate groups that propagate extremism and stir up racial and religious tension."
He said the Indian community was not neglected in this country as they were quite well represented with 14 Indian members of parliament, 21.4 percent in the legal fraternity, 18.4 percent in the field of medicine and their overall income was 1.2 times higher than the income of the Malays.
With regard to those living under the poverty line, the Indians comprised 2.9 percent, Chinese 0.6 percent and Malays 8.3 percent, he said.
Syed Hamid added that there was a ratio of one temple to 149 Hindus and one mosque to 2,300 Muslims in this country.
Asked why only now the government banned the group, he said the government had to first carry out a thorough investigation.
On the timing of the ban prior to Deepavali on Oct 27, the home minister said it was the duty of the government to protect peace and stability in this country at all times.
Criticising the ban, he said the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat would capitalise on the issue and lure more Indian Malaysians into its fold.
Sivakumar also took Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar to task for claiming that Hindraf had incited hatred between the races."Miba is unhappy to learn of the minister's version that Hindraf has been inciting hatred. This is not true, the focal point is about rights and equal treatment for all," he told Malaysiakini.
Sivakumar also disagreed with the minister over his assertion that Hindraf had tarnished the nation's image in the international arena.
"Miba feels that the arrest and continued detention without trial of the five Hindraf leaders and others under the Internal Security Act is the main reason the international community looks down on Malaysia.
"This is what that has damaged the reputation of the country in the eyes of the world," he said.
Last December, five Hindraf leaders, P Uthayakumar, R Kenghadharan, T Vasanthakumar, M Manoharan and V Ganabatirau were detained under the ISA shortly after a mammoth protest which saw some 30,000 Indian Malaysians taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in protest
Recently, the movement came under fire after its leaders and supporters visited Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Hari Raya open house to convey their opposition against the security law.
Protracted dissatisfaction
Meanwhile, Sivakumar felt that banning Hindraf would do little good for the ruling coalition as it failed to address the core issues.
"Banning Hindraf is one thing, but the mother of all Indian protests which happened in the March 8 general election, the Makkal Sakthi (people’s power), is the feeling of being sidelined under the New Economic Policy for far too long."It is about the desire to be treated equally and to be given a fair share of opportunities in the civil, business and education sectors as well as the need to respect their places of worship in terms of indiscriminate demolitions," he said.
"These are the grouses of the community, no one can imprison this spirit," he stressed.
On the same note, the Johor-based businessman called on all state leaders to emulate Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman in dealing with the problems faced by the Indian community.
Although he is a BN leader, Sivakumar said, the menteri besar has taken a personal approach to the woes faced by the community by continuously meeting with Indian-based NGOs and resolving their grievances.
"This is the best method of approach which all state heads should adopt. They should try to solve the problems of the grassroots irrespective of ethnicity," he added.
Let police and court decide
In a related development, Syed Hamid said the government would let the police and court to decide on the action to be taken against Hindraf.
He said the police would carry out a thorough investigation and it was up to the court to pass sentence if they were found guilty.
The government would not tolerate any extremist group regardless of race or religious background as the government had taken action against Al-Arqam, Al-Ma'unah and Kumpulan Militan Malaysia in the past, he said.
"The government's priority is to protect the security of Malaysians," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
The home minister reiterated that Hindraf activities had consistently broken laws, and their illegal demonstrations turned violent and incited racial hatred.On the open house visit, he said: "They disseminated messages that could cause racial and religious tension. They created fear among the people. They even threatened people's lives."
"Although the government is willing to listen to the people's grievances and even utterances of unpleasant words, it cannot tolerate groups that propagate extremism and stir up racial and religious tension."
He said the Indian community was not neglected in this country as they were quite well represented with 14 Indian members of parliament, 21.4 percent in the legal fraternity, 18.4 percent in the field of medicine and their overall income was 1.2 times higher than the income of the Malays.
With regard to those living under the poverty line, the Indians comprised 2.9 percent, Chinese 0.6 percent and Malays 8.3 percent, he said.
Syed Hamid added that there was a ratio of one temple to 149 Hindus and one mosque to 2,300 Muslims in this country.
Asked why only now the government banned the group, he said the government had to first carry out a thorough investigation.
On the timing of the ban prior to Deepavali on Oct 27, the home minister said it was the duty of the government to protect peace and stability in this country at all times.
1 comment:
It is strongly proven that the present governtment is a very good fabricator.They can fabricate anything under the sun as they like.Even my little son could justify that the present leaders are cowards and they are shitting bricks when they think of our heros in ISA.If they are true leaders they should face our heros face to face and lay out the problems faced decently with integrity. What else can they do if not to ban HINDRAF?Easy way out though. Banning HINDRAF is surely a plus point to the opposition.Well! Hail The Opposition.
Anyway as what been said by Guan Eng : WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GETS GOING.
I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT I AM A HINDRAF SUPPORTER AND WOULD GO ALL OUT TO FIGHT OUR WAY THRU WITH INTEGRITY .
HAIL HINDRAF!!!!!!
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