IMF warns of further recession risks

Banks round the world have still to reveal about half of their likely losses resulting from the financial and economic crisis, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday, warning that there was still a "significant" risk of another downward lurch in the global recession.

Protestors face policemen during an anti-International Monetary Fund demonstration in Istanbul.

The IMF described credit risks as remaining "elevated" even though financial conditions have improved significantly since spring.

It said these risks, alongside weakened banks, were likely to depress the availability of new credit and damp the global economic recovery unless significant additional capital was raised to improve the health and lending capability of banking systems.

In its twice-yearly Global Financial Stability Report, published on Wednesday in Istanbul, the IMF, estimated the ultimate losses in the financial system would total $3,400 billion between 2007 and 2010, an improvement from the $4,000 billion estimate it published in April.

The improvement in the prediction of likely losses reflects growing confidence in financial markets and higher assets prices, which have reduced mark-to-market losses on banks' books, and an improved economic outlook, with lowered estimates of credit losses.

Even so, the IMF warned that much still needed to be done to secure a recovery and to ensure that renewed stresses in the financial system did not restart the vicious spiral of banking losses, rationed credit, deeper recession, increased defaults and further banking losses.

Within the banking systems, the IMF estimates that losses will total $2,800 billion alone and that banks have so far recognized only $1,300 billion of those losses. "U.S. domiciled banks have recognized about 60 percent of anticipated writedowns, while euro area and UK domiciled banks have recognized about 40 percent," the report said.

The largest proportionate losses in banks are in the U.S. and UK, where losses on residential loans and commercial property, the loans with the highest default rates, account for a greater proportion of banks' balance sheets.

Although banks have been profitable this year as their borrowing costs have fallen with exceptionally low interest rates and the rates charged on lending have remained higher, the IMF warned that this happy position for banks might not last. "In the medium term, banks are likely to suffer reduced margins from paying more for deposits and incur higher interest costs," it said, so greater capital-raising measures were still necessary.

But the capital-raising exercises by banks and recapitalisation by government already undertaken have made banks more resilient to the losses they are likely to incur, the IMF added. Capital will be drained by future losses, but the emergency measures implemented so far meant that "banks in all regions have achieved a degree of stability in their capital positions".

Massive public deficits also complicated the financial stability picture, the IMF warned. They implied that total borrowing needs in certain countries, particularly the U.S. and UK, will exacerbate the difficulties in raising finance for the private sector, and imply the need to raise finance from abroad, potentially undermining the dollar and sterling, or raising long-term market interest rates.

"In terms of regional vulnerability, the UK appears most susceptible to credit constraints ... given its significant reliance on the banking channel and the projected sharp decline in domestic bank balance sheets, as well as substantial public financing needs," said the IMF.

Dozens dead as tsunami slams into Samoan islands

(CNN) -- A huge emergency effort is under way in the Samoan islands after tsunami waves triggered by an 8.0 earthquake left dozens dead and flattened or submerged entire villages.

At least 84 people are so far confirmed killed in American Samoa, neighboring Samoa and Tonga. Officials in the Pacific region have expressed fears the toll will rise as rescue workers struggle to reach outlying villages.

The quake hit the small cluster of Samoan islands in the South Pacific early Tuesday.

In Samoa, the death toll currently stands at 55, according to government minister Maulolo Tavita. But he said he feared the number of casualities would continue to rise.

Around 220,000 people live on the two main islands which make up the nation of Samoa. The population of the U.S. island territory of American Samoa is about 66,000.

At least 22 people were confirmed dead late Tuesday in American Samoa. Salamo Laumoli, director of health services at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in the capital, Pago Pago, said he feared more fatalities would turn up as rescue workers strived to access parts of the island severed by damaged infrastructure.

"I thought it was the end of the world," said Laumoli. "I have never felt an earthquake like that before."

In Tonga, Lord Tuita, the acting prime minister, said at least seven people had been confirmed dead on the northern island of Niuatoputapu. Three others were missing and four people were being treated for serious injuries, he said.

"The hospital on the island is reported to have suffered major damage; telephone communications has been cut as a result of damage to equipment and facilities on the island; homes and government buildings have been destroyed; the airport runway has been severely damaged making it impossible for any fixed wing aircraft to land," a statement from the Tongan prime minister's office said.

A series of aftershocks reverberated through the region Tuesday as reports emerged of entire villages flattened or submerged by the tsunami. The walls of water were so strong that they twisted concrete beams and mangled cars.

Laumoli said people in outlying villages on one end of the mainAmerican Samoa island had been cut off because the connecting bridge was washed away.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, has canceled tsunami watches and warnings for American Samoa. However, a tsunami advisory is still in effect for for the coastal areas of California and Oregon.

The Japan Meteorological Agency canceled a tsunami advisory along its eastern coast Wednesday. The precautionary alert meant forecasters feared a tsunami wave of less than a foot and a half was possible.

American Samoa Gov. Togiola Tulafono, speaking from Hawaii, said Tuesday's quake ranked "right up there with some of the worst" disasters on the island. He said he had spoken to the military about mobilizing reserve forces for assistance.

Tulafono was on his way back home from Hawaii on Tuesday night on one of two U.S. Coast Guard transport planes delivering aid. He told reporters Tuesday it had been hard being away from home as the disaster unfolded. It was a time, he said, for families to be together.

President Barack Obama declared American Samoa a major disaster area, ordering federal aid to supplement local efforts.

The Coast Guard is transporting more than 20 officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to American Samoa, said John Hamill, external affairs officer for FEMA in Oakland, California.

The FEMA team will include a variety of debris experts, housing experts, members of the Corps of Engineers, and other disaster relief specialists, Hamill said.

The quake generated three separate tsunami waves, the largest measuring 5.1 feet from sea level height, said Vindell Hsu, a geophysicist with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Preliminary data had originally reported a larger tsunami.

Tsunami alert for M'sia, Indonesia, India, Thailand - Malaysiakini

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Indonesia on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

(CNN)The quake was recorded about 33 miles from Padang, the capital city of West Sumatra, which is home to more than 800,000 people.

Several buildings were damaged, Metro TV reported. People were seen running out of their homes and toward the hills.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a tsunami watch for Indonesia, India, Thailand and Malaysia.

NOAA could not immediately say whether the quake generated a tsunami, but such advisories are issued when a quake has the potential to cause one.

On Tuesday, a magnitude 8.0 quake -triggered tsunami killed at least 84 in the Samoan islands and Tonga.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii has issued a tsunami alert for Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Thailand following a powerful earthquake in central Sumatra late this evening.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Indonesia's meteorological agency said the tremor had a magnitude of 7.6 with its epicenter just off the southern coast of Sumatra.

According to NOAA, the earthquake measured 7.9 on the Richter scale.

Tremors were felt as far as in Jakarta and in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore.

Office workers were evacuated from a number of high-rise buildings in Kuala Lumpur including KLCC.

"Earthquakes of this size have the potential to generate a destructive local tsunami and sometimes a destructive regional tsunami along coasts located usually no more than a thousand kilometers from the earthquake epicenter," said the tsunami warning centre.

“Areas further from the epicenter could experience small sea level changes and strong or unusual coastal currents.

"However, it is not known that a tsunami was generated. This watch is based only on the earthquake evaluation. Authorities in the region should take appropriate action in response to this possibility.

"The watch will not expand to other areas of the Indian ocean unless additional data are received to warrant such an expansion.”

It said that the earthquake struck at 6.16pm Malaysian time and should there be a tsunami, it would reach Georgetown, Penang at 11.46pm and Port Dickson at 3.18am tomorrow.

However, according to Indonesian experts, the earthquake did not trigger any tsunami.

Tsunami hit Pacific islands

Meanwhile, at least 113 people are dead after another earthquake in the Pacific and tsunami hit the Samoan islands and Tonga.

"There has to be more than a hundred, the last count was at 2pm (9am Malaysian time) and there were 84 bodies," a worker at Samoa's Tupua Tamasese Hospital told AFP.

Officials said 22 had died in American Samoa and another seven in Tonga.

Dozens more people were missing and feared dead, but officials in South Pacific islands said communications were down to many outlying villages. Facts: Islands hit by tsunami

In American Samoa, about 100km from Samoa, Homeland Security director Michael Sala said the tsunami which followed about 20 minutes after the earthquake, did most of the damage.

"We have 22 confirmed dead and it could go much higher," said Sala, who added the wall of water, which he estimated at 7.5 metres high, swept ashore demolishing buildings.

The eastern part of American Samoa was without power and water supplies after the devastating earthquake, which struck at 6:48am (1.48am Malaysian time).

In Tonga, government officials said there were seven dead and three missing on the small island of Niuatoputapu.

The officials flew over the island from the capital Nuku'alofa but were unable to land because of damage to the airstrip.

They said they would make their way there by sea overnight to assess the full extent of the damage.

Home Ministry says Hindraf man's passport not cancelled

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani- The Malaysian Insider

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 30 - Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today that Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) founder P Waythamoorthy’s passport had been neither confiscated nor cancelled.

Waythamoorthy had claimed he was victimised by the Malaysian government and that his international passport had been revoked.

The self-exiled leader has been living in London since the government crackdown on the organization in 2007 and has sought asylum in Britain.

Former Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had also refuted the allegations and said that Waythamoorthy’s passport and travel documents were still active in the Immigration Department of Malaysia database.

However Hishammuddin told reporters today that Waythamoorthy’s passport was, in fact, still in the custody of the Malaysian High Commission in London.

“His passport is still valid, his passports expires on Oct 17, 2010. As far as I am concerned, 2010 means that his passport has not yet ended and we did not confiscate his passport but he gave his passport to the our High Commission in United Kingdom,” he said.

Hishammuddin pointed that Waythamoorthy needed to only to return to the High Commission and claim his passport.

“Yes, he was the one who surrendered the passport,” he confirmed.

He added that Waythamoorthy should stop claiming that the government is stopping him from getting his passport.

“Why should we apologise to him? Would you? Of course, not,” he said.

Hishammuddin also added that Waythamoorthy could be too ashamed to go and get his passport because he had surrendered the document himself.

“Maybe he received a better offer at that moment, he felt that the grass is always greener on the other side but when he went to the other side, he felt that it was not worth it.

"Maybe he was ashamed because he himself surrendered the passport. That is why he claimed that we did not allow him to have his passport,” he said.

Urgent need of fund to enter Oxford College of Dental Studies.

Urgent need of fund to enter Oxford College of Dental Studies.

If we do not help in this kind of situation, there is no point of us talking about Community Services and Fighting for the Community! A young boy is struggling even to enter College in this Country! PLease Help Him ! Change the situation in our Country!

On 19/9/2009 I received my offer letter to study Dentistry in Oxford College, Bangalore India, I have my Malaysian International Passport ready and visa is being processed by my agent. I am scheduled to fly to Bangalore via MAS on the 2/10/2009. Due to financial constraint, I am yet to pay the 1st year tuition fees and my agency fees totaling RM53,000.00. As my sister is studying Dentistry in Indonesia and my brother doing his pilot training in Australia, my father could not come up with so much cash almost instantly. We have approached the banks but no study loans available. We had tried MIC, they were of no help so far, we have tried our ADUN PKR in PJ but no help either, almost everyone we approach are just pushing us around. So I decided to solicit online help. To those who are kind enough to help me please do so.

Below I append my account number and other Details.

Thanking everyone in advance.

Name : Hare Krishnan JSR a/l Vejayan

IC No : 901104-14-6409

BSN A/C Number : 10126-29-00004766-5

Offer Letter from The Oxford Dental College dated 19/9/2009

Note : Any amount of donation, small or big into his account will help him fulfill his dream to become a doctor and serve the public...

Plight of the Indian society

©My Sinchew (Used by permission)
By Lim Mun Fah / translate by Soong Phui Jee

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir does not lwant to leave him alone. Dr Mahathir is sure that he, who is said to have taken a two-month leave because of pressure, is not going to resign from the party's president position. Instead, he “will definitely delay his resignation for 20 years”.

Malay mainstream media greatly criticised him.

Even Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also does not give him face and has accepted the invitation to launch the newly-formed Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party.

Yes, I'm talking about MIC President Datuk S. Samy Vellu, who has been in the position for 30 years.

“The longer he remains in the position, the more people hate him!”

"It is a plight for Samy, as well as for MIC."

Dr Mahathir's comments on him are ruthless.

“Well, I think the influence of MIC has already been diluted. I think the formation of the party is a good thing because we don’t want to lose the support of the Indians.”

These are Dr Mahathir's heartfelt words. Perhaps, they are as well Najib's thought which is inappropriate for him to express it out.

Even though Najib did not put it in words, he has “explicitly” expressed it through actions. His acceptance of the invitation to launch the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party on 10 Oct seems to show Samy that the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party may replace MIC as BN's new allies.

Clearly, MIC has been seen as a “box office poison”. Meanwhile, Samy's power has been greatly diminished and he is now caught in a dilemma.

It is a plight for Samy, as well as for MIC. From another point of view, it can also be regarded as a plight for the Indian community.

The Indian community and the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) used to play a crucial role during the 8 March general elections. But they are now split apart.

There are many Indian political parties in Malaysia and recently, a few more have been formed. Other than the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party, which had actively participated in the earlier Kampung Pala protection movement, there are also Malaysian Indian United Party and Human Rights Party.

Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party President R. S. Thanenthiran used to be a Hindraf coordinator. Meanwhile, another soul of Hindraf P. Uthayakumar has joined the Human Rights Party as the party's Secretary-General.

Samy will have to leave sooner or later and MIC can also be replaced. It is sad that instead of new hope, the more new parties, which have been labeled as Indian interest fighters, are formed, the greater division,chaos and no future they bring to the Indian Community! (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

Umno picks 'local hero' Isa

PAS decides on Zulkefly Mohd Omar

Murugiah between 'devil and deep blue sea'

T Murugiah, the former Youth chief of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), is said to be looking 'east' for his political survival after being sacked from the party for alleged misconduct.

But will it be Sarawak rather than Sabah that offers him a new lease on his political career and a second chance to climb the Barisan Nasional (BN) ladder?

Murugiah (left) recently said he had received overtures to join two Sabah-based parties. However, there is persistent talk is that he may join Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) as head of a Peninsular Malaysia branch.

Asked if he would join SUPP, he would only say that the 21 conditions - under which Sarawak merged with the peninsula and Sabah in 1963 - would preclude his doing so.

"I cannot just go and join any BN component party without the blessings of the BN leadership and I have to also consult the (former PPP) members' views before committing myself to any party," he argued when pressed.

A BN source claimed otherwise, saying that the 21 conditions do not prevent SUPP from establishing branches in the peninsula.

"About two weeks ago, I went to meet Murugiah - it was a Tuesday which is set aside for him to meet the public - but was told that he had gone to Sarawak on urgent business. So, this strengthens my suspicion that he had gone to negotiate with SUPP," said the source.

"He is keeping a very low profile on this matter as many loose ends have to be tied up before he can make the official announcement. Also he does not want to jeopardise his political career with BN as he is caught between the devil and the deep (blue) sea."

Murugiah had previously said that he has given himself two months to decide on his future in BN.

The source explained that Murugiah has been told to wait for two months so that SUPP can amend its constitution in order to spread its wings to the peninsula.

"I do not think that Murugiah will go for a Sabah-based party as there are no Indian (Malaysian) members and there are no multi-racial parties (in the state). But Sarawak has SUPP (which has a multi-racial composition)."

Appeal pending

Murugiah has claimed to have the support of BN leaders Najib Abdul Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin and Hishammuddin Hussein for his political ventures.

Najib is said to be happy with Murugiah's work in addressing the problems of the public, viewing him as a potential leader in attracting the Indian Malaysian vote in the next general election.

Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon (right) had invited Murugiah into his party, purportedly on Najib's suggestion, but the party central committee rejected the idea.

Murugiah then claimed that he had received offers from PKR and two Sabah-based parties to join them, but rejected the notion of joining the opposition.

He similarly declined to join the Malaysian Makkal Sakti Party, saying his political vision lies with a multi-racial party within BN rather than a community-based group.

Murugiah is currently awaiting the outcome of his appeal against the decision of the Registrar of Societies to disqualify him as a PPP leader.

Chin Peng sues government for breach of contract

By Debra Chong - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Chin Peng, once Malaysia's most feared man, is suing the federal government for going against the spirit of the peace treaties signed in Thailand 20 years ago.

Those treaties promised that former communist cadres could return to their homeland and live the rest of their lives in peace. Earlier this year, he lost his last bid to return home in the country's top court.

Chin Peng, born Ong Boon Hua, claims that the government breached the two contracts it signed with the now disbanded Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) in Haadyai on Dec 2, 1989.

In a statement of claim first filed in June 2005, the Perak-born octogenarian accuses the government of continuing to persecute former CPM members in the media by publishing "slanderous" articles.

Now 85, Chin Peng, who was secretary-general of the CPM, wants the government to stop producing slanderous statements and pay damages but stopped short of stating the amount.

However, Chin Peng's quest for a peaceful retirement is littered with obstacles.

The lawyer from the Attorney-General's Chambers, Amarjeet Singh, representing the government, argued in the civil High Court here this morning that Chin Peng is suing for defamation and not breach of contract.

Amarjeet pointed out that the newspaper articles which Chin Peng is claiming to contain slanderous statements by the then Deputy Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin never singled him out by name and did not contain any slanderous words — said to be limited to “mass surrender” and “capitulations”.— spelled out in the treaties.

He added that under both common law and the Societies Act, no social body can sue for defamation. Instead, the society must do so through its appointed representative, who must be registered with the Registrar of Societies.

The senior federal counsel said neither Chin Peng nor the CPM is registered.

Amarjeet advised the High Court to strike out the suit because it was not supported by law and was an abuse of the court process.

Chin Peng's team of lawyers, headed by constitutional law expert Tommy Thomas, countered that the trial must proceed and they would prove their claims when they call their witnesses to testify.

Among the notable witnesses they plan to put on the stand are former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Noor, who was one of the people who signed one of the two formal treaties on behalf of the government with the CPM.

High Court judge Datuk Balia Yusof Wahi will decide at 2.30pm today whether to strike out the suit or allow Chin Peng's case to go to trial.

Victory... but at what cost?

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The justification for naming Datuk Isa Samad as the Umno candidate for the vacant Bagan Pinang state seat has started.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the party was paying heed to the wishes of the constituents, putting people first — pinching a line from the prime minister’s mantra.

In the days ahead, other Umno leaders will argue that Isa has already paid the price for being found guilty of greasing the palms of party delegates in the Umno elections five years ago. They will note that he has suffered enough as a political leper and point out that he took his punishment without much protest.

Others may even put a different spin on the second coming of Isa by saying that it shows what a forgiving political party Umno is, an organisation that has a track record of giving second chances to those who strayed. (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Datuk Zakaria Deros, Datuk Rais Yatim, Khairy Jamaluddin, Datuk Khir Toyo, Datuk Ahmad Ismail, etc.)

But few will venture to offer the real reason why Isa was picked. He was the only candidate who could guarantee them what Umno desires most — a resounding victory. Not any victory, a thumping show over PAS.

Party strategists believe that the Pakatan Rakyat alliance is fraying and the coalition will be pressured further if Umno/Barisan Nasional wins big in Bagan Pinang. They reason that every by-election victory since March 8, 2008 has been like a steroid boost for Pakatan Rakyat, buying time for leaders of PAS, DAP and PKR who have yet to work out a common platform.

At the same time, every defeat suffered by Umno/BN in the nine by-elections held since March 2008 has sapped the morale of ruling coalition members, sowing doubt on whether Datuk Seri Najib Razak and gang can reconnect BN with the Malaysian voter.

Najib and Muhyiddin appreciate that Isa’s return to active politics could complicate the Umno dynamics in Negri Sembilan with the enmity between the former mentri besar and the current chief executive of the state, Datuk Mohamad Hassan, an open secret.

But that is a problem for another time. Moreover, both these individuals may not figure prominently in any executive role when the next general election is held.

Former corporate figure Mohamad Hassan is viewed as an Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appointee and has not endeared himself to the warlords in Umno by appointing his brother to a senior position in the state Umno hierarchy.

Isa, while popular in Umno circles, is not likely to be in the running for the MB’s position, party officials tell The Malaysian Insider.

But those permutations can wait. What Umno needs now is a popular local candidate who can get the fickle Umno election machinery to work in unison and who can reach out to the non-Malay community, seared and singed by national issues.

Umno/BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor won the seat in Election 2008 by some 2,000 votes and Umno leaders believe that Isa will easily increase the margin of victory.

They believe that the fallout from his involvement in money politics will only last for a few months. By the time the next general election is held, all the barbs about Umno being a party without a moral compass will be forgotten.

Short-term thinking? Perhaps. But for a party which has not been able to emerge victorious in Peninsular Malaysia since Election 2008, long-term strategy is a luxury it believes it cannot indulge in right now.

UMNO's Gimmicks again for the Bagan Pinang Indian votes - same stuff as in the last 52 years

HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY (HRP)
NO.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5622 Fax: 03-2282 5245 Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

29th September 2009

YAB . Dato Seri Najib Razak
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Block Utama Bangunan Perdana Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
By Post
62546 Putrajaya By Fax No: 03-5519 0032
Email: Najib@pmo.gov.my

Re: 1) Multi- racial hostel (The Sun headline 29/09/2009)
2) RM 100 Million allocation for Tamil schools, under the first and second economic stimulas packages. (But zero funds flowed down to the ground).
(The Star 29/09/2009 at page N2)
3) 5.1% intake of Indians in public sector (The Star 29/09/2009 at page 12). (Our finding is only 1%).
4) Tear down walls of Disunity (NST 31/08/2009 headlines). (But not in practice).

We refer to the aforesaid headlines.
We regret to note however that this is merely another form of ‘paper politics’ by the UMNO controlled Malaysian government. First your goodself on Malaysian’s 52nd Independence day said ‘Tear down walls of Disunity (NST 31/08/2009 headlines). And today your goodself are saying ‘Multi- racial hostel’ (The Sun headlines 29/09/2009).

But there are hundreds of fully residential MRSM and other fully residential secondary schools which have been excluded to the non Malay Muslims in Najib Razak’s One Malaysia.

As the famous words of the late President Ronald Reagan (to Russian President) ‘ Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall (Berlin wall). With these words the cold war ended and made this world a better place for all of us.

Similarly Mr. Prime Minister we now say ‘Najib, tear down walls of disunity, open up all fully residential schools also to also all Chinese and Indian Malaysians’ on a needs basis as opposed to racial and religions basis.

And not merely ‘puppet shadow’ play’ wayang kulit’ miserable one multi racial headlines catching hostel, and that too as usual which is ‘to be’ built next year and which as usual which may not actually take off like most other headlines catching such announcements.

We urge your goodself to do so as this would be the best opportunity to save Malaysia where pupils get to foster genuine multi-racialism, national unity, and co- existence.

A classical example is the newsreport in The Star 29/09/2009 at page N2 ‘Najib said the construction of new Tamil schools and buildings was on hold as the RM 100 Million allocation in the first and second economic stimulas packages was in adequate due to rising cost of building materials’. This is a classical example and the tip of the iceberg of the ‘paper politics’ played by UMNO. Why could not this RM 100 Million have been used for at least some of the said most deserving and cow shed looking Tamil schools first to kick to start the supposed Cabinet committee ‘noble initiatives’. We cannot help but to think that this cabinet committee on the usual Indians headed by your goodself lacks sincerely if not seriousness.

Mr. Prime Minister ‘Tear down the walls of disunity’ we don’t want the said RM 100 Million allocation and scores of other such ‘paper allocations’ which hardly ever flows down to the ‘Indian ground’. We want to be part of the national mainstream education policy and the national mainstream development of Malaysia. We want a wholesome solution to the Indian problem and not merely piecemeal and ‘peanuts’ solution using the Indian ‘mandore’ politicians.

On the intake of Indians at 5.1% in the public sector that was announced by your goodself. Malaysians today do not see it when they go to or deal with the various public services departments nationwide and will only believe the same not to be ‘ paper politics’ when the full list of the intake is made public and transparent in the Public Services Department’s official website IF the public service does not make it public who else will? Our estimate is only 1% of the civil service is made available to Indians. Malaysian Indian civil servants have been reduced from about 50% in the late 1960s to a mere 1% in 2008 (Refer Dr. Mahathir’s book The Malay Dilema page 78 and NST 13th June 2008, Page 14). In 2007 only (1%) of the 400 positions in the Inland Revenue Department were given to the Indians (NST 13th June 2008, Page 4) (Refer Malaysian Indian Minority & Human Rights Violations Annual Report 2008 to Pravasi Bharathiya Divas International Conference at Chennai, India 7th – 9th January 2009).

Mr. Prime Minister only you can make this genuine change for our country’s future. Only you can make this difference. So please help us Mr. Prime Minister.

Kindly revert to us accordingly.

Thank you.

Your faithfully,

________________________
P.Uthayakumar
Secretary General (pro tem)

Uthaya’s bid fails again

Hindraf name being exploited by MMSP, says Waytha

(The Star)

HINDU Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman P. Waytha-moorthy is angry over news that there are plans to connect the movement with the newly-registered Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP), reported Malaysia Nanban.

He said in a statement that MMSP, to be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Oct 10, is capitalising on the term Makkal Sakthi (people power) that was popularised by Hindraf in November 2007.

Hindraf supporters took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur in the thousands to press for the rights of the Indian community, he said.

Waythamoorthy added that Hindraf was instrumental in the political tsunami that resulted in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition coming to power in five states in the March 2008 general elections.

UMNO: ‘Indian issues to be looked at urgently’

Indian issues to be looked at urgently (The Star 30/09/2009 page N18).But the Indians no longer buy this false, empty promises and perceptions by UMNO. UMNO is still making it’s pre 25^th November 2007 political calculation. The Indians in the post 25^th November 2007 era have their eyes wide open and can no longer be mislead and cheated by UMNO. UMNO has been saying this for the last 52 years and succeeded in keeping the Indians out of the national mainstream development of Malaysia. We now ask UMNO not to deal with ‘Indian issues’ separately but to include especially the working class Indians into the national mainstream development of Malaysia. (Posted by P. Uthayakumar).

(The Star) - Page N18

Wednesday September 30, 2009

Indian issues to be looked at urgently

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has directed the relevant government departments and agencies to address several long-standing social, economic and educational issues affecting the Indian community.

“We raised several issues for approval and many of them received the nod from the Prime Minister,” said MIC vice-president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.

He said in a statement that Najib, who chaired the special Cabinet Committee on Indian Affairs on Monday, had directed the relevant departments and agencies to deal with the issues urgently.

Dr Subramaniam, who is also Human Resources Minister, said his ministry, as secretariat for the Cabinet committee, would take follow-up action immediately.

On the redevelopment of Tamil schools, he said Najib had approved in principle an extra allocation in view of the increased costs incurred.

He said the Prime Minister had directed the relevant ministries to discuss with the Economic Planning Unit ways to meet the extra RM65mil spent above the RM100mil that had been initally allocated for the purpose.

He said Najib had also asked the Higher Education Ministry to consider recognising other existing pre-university courses to enable more Indians to enter public universities.

He said that the target of a 7.4% intake of Indians into the civil service would be expedited, adding that more employment and promotional opportunities would be created for Indians in government-linked companies (GLCs).

Kg. Pandan to be demolished ala Kg. Buah Pala

The last Indian traditional village in Kuala Lumpur ie Kg. Pandan to be demolished ala Kg. Buah Pala. This time by UMNO and not DAP. Why doesn’t UMNO demolish Kg. Baru in Kuala Lumpur or the scores of other Malay villages and Chinese’s New Villages? Because the Indians have neither the political or economic strength. (Editor comment)

The four faces of 1Malaysia

By Wong Chin Huat
thenutgraph.com

(Mooncake image by Mingwei / Dreamstime)

DEPENDING on how you look at it, this article on national independence is either two weeks too late or 50 weeks too early.

The two weeks after Malaysia Day on 16 Sept 2009, coupled with the Hari Raya mood, seemed peaceful and even boring by Malaysian standards. That is, except for Selangor religious exco and PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali's unusual attack on the state's Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency, and PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan's standard attack on concerts.

While most Malaysians are either calendar-, crisis- or event-driven, I ask your permission to indulge in some reflections on our nationhood. Amid Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's plan to build "1Malaysia hostels" to promote national unity, I feel compelled to point out we cannot have "unity" because Malaysia consists of not two, or three, but four classes. And these four classes will not go away unless the current political order — which is a combination of ethnocracy and a one-party state — goes away.

So, unless the Barisan Nasional (BN) is willing to reform its political base, there will be 4Malaysias out there no matter how many 1Malaysia hostels, F1 teams, songs, dances, lanterns or mooncakes we construct.

Unlike the rigid ancient Hindu four-caste system, our four-class system is a flexible one. It fluctuates between two tracks with two different hierarchies.

The ethnoreligious hierarchy

The first track is on Malay- or Islam-related issues, where the hierarchy is

1. BN-aligned Malay-Muslim Malaysians;

2. Pakatan Rakyat (PR)-aligned Malay-Muslim Malaysians;

3. BN-aligned non-Malay, non-Muslim Malaysians;

4. PR-aligned non-Malay, non-Muslim Malaysians.

That is the "ethnocracy" side of Umno-BN's dominance which dictates identity politics. In practice, it is often conveniently collapsed into the dichotomy of bumiputera/Malay/Muslim Malaysians and the "nons", by both proponents and opponents.

The simplified dichotomy explains why many Umno and PAS leaders like to talk about Malay/Muslim unity, why the keris needs to be raised from time to time, and a cow head needed to be stomped on. It is why public forums on the constitution needed to be threatened with violence, and why churches needed to be surrounded or trespassed to stop or investigate alleged mass apostasy plots.

To this end, a Malay Malaysian leader needs to be labelled a traitor of the race or religion for advocating race-blind public policy, or for giving land to the non-Malay Malaysian poor, or for safeguarding the right of religious minorities to have their own places of worship.

The non-ethnoreligious hierarchy

The obsession with the ethnoreligious divide results in many Malaysians forgetting that Malay-Muslim Malaysians are often discriminated against, too. That is the "one-party" side of Umno/BN's dominance. In situations where ethnoreligious issues are not evoked, the second 4Malaysia hierarchy kicks in:

1. BN-aligned Malay-Muslim Malaysians;

2. BN-aligned non-Malay, non-Muslim Malaysians;

3. PR-aligned Malay-Muslim Malaysians;

4. PR-aligned non-Malay, non-Muslim Malaysians.

To be more specific, the BN-aligned Malay-Muslim Malaysians are not equal among themselves. After all, siding with the right faction is what will give an individual a larger share of economic perks. Such inequality is, of course, also found in other BN component parties. This explains why Umno, MCA, MIC and other BN component parties need to have periodic civil wars to determine who shall get the lion's share within the one-party regime.

The greater evil

Neither of these hierarchies is right, but where do we go from here to attain an egalitarian nationhood? How do we prioritise which hierarchy to abolish first?

Both hierarchies contain discrimination on ethnoreligious and partisan bases, just in different orders. The question we really need to ask is, which is the greater evil — ethnoreligious discrimination or partisan discrimination?

For many Malaysians, especially the "liberal-minded" and the non-Malay non-Muslims, the BN's biggest sin is the communal divides it creates. But let's just say the one-party state manages to be inclusive. By this logic, those citizens who join the opposition should not complain about being discriminated against.

In fact, the entire idea of Najib's 1Malaysia aims to persuade the third- and fourth-class citizens that their grievances are being addressed so that they continue supporting BN rule. Behind this logic is a simple worldview — singularity is good and, by derivation, political competition is inherently bad. Or rather, political competition is bad if and when a "good" singularity is achieved.

The origin of Umno's racism

For me, Umno is not a truly racist party. Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin or even Datuk Ahmad Ismail — these are not real racists. I am sure that they have good non-Malay, non-Muslim Malaysian friends. But like most other politicians, they are purely opportunists.

They advocate for exclusive rights for Malay and Muslim Malaysians because that is the only way to justify Umno's claim to monopolise political representation of Malay Malaysians. And their exclusive claim as Malay-Muslim champions is driven by none other than the perks — legal and illegal — provided by the one-party state.

In other words, as long as opposition members can be discriminated against, it pays for these Umno leaders to glorify political unity and construct political monopoly. And often, it is convenient and even effective to use slogans like Malay or Muslim unity. This means some ethnoreligious boundaries, and by derivation, ethnoreligious discrimination needs to exist to perpetuate such one-party dominance.

And thus, there cannot be a truly egalitarian "1Malaysia" unless it is accompanied by full democratisation.

Democracy and ∞Malaysia

So what will happen if Malaysians fight for interparty equality to ensure no citizen is discriminated against because of peaceful political beliefs? Would it mean that we will start seeing ethnoreligious equality?

No. Most democracies, from the US to India, debate over equality all the time. There will never be a consensus. This is a cruel reality that Malaysians against racism should now learn to avoid disappointment after democratisation. Some ethnoreligious discriminations are here to stay even under the PR.

Societies take time to become more equal. Social equality therefore can and should wait. But democracy — or political equality in this sense — must not.

One might ask: what good is democracy if I will still be treated like some second-class citizen? The answer: in a democracy, you can complain about being treated as a second-class citizen. You can also hope that your complaint can influence the minds of enough citizens to warrant a change. No one — not the government or non-governmental organisations or angry individuals — can threaten violence to make you shut up.

With democracy, we will be further from 1Malaysia because everyone might have a different voice. It will be an Infinite Malaysia, or ∞Malaysia. Isn't that better than the 4Malaysias we have now?

Heritage lost? - Anil Netto

Is this what a heritage city is about – derelict land, decaying buildings and a high-rise construction site?

Photo by a Penangite

The sign just about sums it up.

It reads “George Town, Penang – Unesco World Heritage City”

Samy: Don't monkey around with us

No-show in prosecution of Kugan death

Cow Head and Kugan BANNED from Bagan Pinang - Mp Kapar

Remember how “Altantuya” was barred from Bukit Gantang , Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai by-elections by Home Ministry for simple reason the matter current under court purview. However, during Permatang Pauh by-elections UMNO play and play hundred of thousand time “Sumpah Saiful” at every operations centers. Not to forget privately owned television too replayed the scene despite hatred been build against them.

Though the prosecution failed to haul anyone to the court in connection Kugan Ananthan’s deaths while under police custody, we should expect that to happen prior Bagan Pinang nomination day. The authority wants myself to fall on their trap, or prevent Pakatan Rakyat from raising Kugan and Cow Head issues during the impending election campaign.

UMNO simply need a FAKE election Victory in Peninsula Malaysia just to boost up their morality. Already their President announce additional RM1 billion stimulus package to satisfy UMNOputrans ,named Port Dickson as Army Town while bowed down to his members pressure by nominating Toothless Tiger whom earned corrupt person title their own party as their choice candidate .

Though the path of victory still far away, Indian voters plays significant role to decide whom to be their next elected representative. For that, Najib’s administration need the curb Pakatan rakyat leaders from capitalising Cow Head Incident and Kugan’s death . They may deceive some for some time but not all for all the time.

The might steal the Rising Sun “Orange ” colour synonym with Hindraf and having a party named after Makkal Sakthi but they failed to realise that each time a Malaysian or Indians looks at the colour or hears Makkal Sakthi it means we want freedom from marginalisation. That’s been proven at Bukit Selambau by election when MIC youth wears Orange T Shirts in support of their candidates.

They had caught into their own trap, Banning Kugan and Cow Head possible but not MAKKAL SAKTHI and Rising Sun “Orange” colour from Bagan Pinang. The more the orange clad T Shirts or Uniform campaigning either by TRUE HINDRAF MAKKAL SAKTHI or by the fake Makkal Sakthi, the better chances for Pakatan’s PAS Candidate.

If Barisan Nasional wins Bagan Pinang , current Menteri Besar may shown exit path much earlier the anticipated. If BN loss, that’s signal for nations next general election.

How does corruption affect us? Let me count the ways

But PAS does not declare war on corruption. PAS declares war on beer and sexy women. PAS does not understand that corruption and poverty is the real enemy. Poverty enslaves us. Corruption makes us even poorer.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Most Malaysians don’t think twice about the level of corruption in this country. Some even welcome it. How many times have you illegally parked your car or dashed through a red light and paid the policeman a bribe of RM50 or RM100 to save paying a RM300 fine if you are issued a summons?

And that is cheap, mind you. In the police lockup, we have to pay the policemen RM100 for a three-minute local phone call and RM10 for a stick of cigarette. So that comes to RM200 per packet. I paid RM200 for one night’s ‘protection’. For RM200 I was placed in a ‘special’ lockup where a detainee awaiting trial for murder took me under his wing so that the others could not get at me. He even threw in a cigarette as part of the ‘package’.

And it costs RM250,000 for a drug dealer to escape the gallows.

My wife, who in 2001 was detained overnight in the women’s section of the police lockup, the same night I was arrested, spoke to one Indonesian woman who was on her second drug dealing arrest. The first time she and her husband were arrested they had to pay RM500,000 for both of them to get released. They were trying to arrange another RM500,000 to get out of this second arrest. So that came to RM1 million for two arrests. Imagine how much they must be making dealing in drugs. More importantly, imagine how much the police are making each time they get arrested.

I spoke to many of my Chinese businessmen friends and they admitted that it is easier to do business when corruption is involved. This saves time since you can bypass the normal requirements and get your applications approved much faster by just bribing the government officers. Sometimes, when you are not ‘eligible’, you can become eligible by paying bribes. So bribes actually help when faced with certain obstacles -- and there are definitely many 'obstacles' when dealing with governments in third world countries like Malaysia.

When corruption does not affect you directly you are not too concerned about it. It is like crime. As long as the robbers do not break into your home to rob you and rape your wife or daughter then who bothers too much about the high level of crime? It is when it is you that is hit that you become outraged about the high crime rate and the low level of police enforcement and lack of effort to combat crime.

Is it not those who suffer or suffered from cancer, or have lost a loved one to cancer, who gets involved in anti-cancer movements or associations? How many of us who never had to face cancer would want to donate generously to the anti-cancer effort? We never bother about something that does not affect us. And the same goes for other things as well, such as corruption and whatnot.

But corruption does affect us, contrary to what many may be thinking. Sometimes it affects us directly. Most times, indirectly.

An average of ten people die each day on Malaysian roads. Many more are seriously injured or maimed, sometimes resulting in them no longer being able to work and earn a living. The main reason for this is that Malaysians do not know how to drive.

Now, let there not be any confusion over this statement. Malaysians may have a valid driving licence. But Malaysians do not know how to drive. Do you know that in some European countries you can exchange your Singapore driving licence for a driving licence of your host country? But they will not accept a Malaysian driving licence. Malaysian driving licences tak laku (have no value).

I know someone, now deceased, who had a driving licence but could not even reverse her car out of the driveway. How in heaven’s name did she pass her driving test and get a licence if she can’t even reverse her car? And for sure she can’t drive.

Well, she told me. The driving school has two schemes. One is the ‘guaranteed to pass your driving test’ scheme -- which means you will pass your driving test and get a driving licence even if you can’t drive. The other scheme involves you taking the driving test and passing it all on your own.

The trouble with this legitimate scheme, though, is that even if you know how to drive they will still fail you as ‘punishment’ for refusing to participate in the ‘guaranteed to pass’ scheme. So it is better to pay, even if you can drive, and especially if you can’t, to be assured off a driving licence.

So, about ten people a day die on Malaysian roads because most of them have a driving licence but do not know how to drive. And those who die could be you, a family member, an office colleague, or a close friend. In short, that person who died in the traffic accident could be someone you know or someone close to you.

Therefore, corruption does affect you when you lose someone because of corruption -- or if it is you who dies. If this person were forced to learn how to drive properly before being given a licence then maybe he or she would still be alive today. I have personally lost scores of friends and relatives due to traffic accidents over the last 50 years or so. Sometimes it is their fault. The sad part is when the accident is someone else’s fault and you are a victim of reckless or inconsiderate drivers who have absolutely no road sense whatsoever.

I have also lost people dear to me due to poor medical facilities. There are not enough hospital beds in the intensive care unit or not enough dialysis machines or whatever, which results in poor medical facilities. And these people had to die because of this.

It is not that Malaysia does not have enough money to improve its medical facilities. It is that Malaysia spends the money for the wrong reasons -- and spends too much on top of that because there are kickbacks and commissions involved in every project and procurement. So medical facilities take a back seat and many of us have lost friends, colleagues and relatives because they were denied prompt or proper medical treatment.

If the money had not been wasted and had instead been spent for the right purposes -- medical and education being the two most important -- then Malaysia would be a much better place. As it is, our medical and educational facilities are below the so-called first world infrastructure that we are so proud of.

We have the best weapons. We have fantastic bridges, buildings and roads. Heck, we even have submarines now. But we are extremely lacking when it comes to medical and educational facilities. And health and education are far more important than all those white elephants and monuments that swallow billions but bring no income to the country, as would most white elephants and monuments.

Cars cost a lot in Malaysia. That, again, is due to corruption. If the government allowed a free-for-all in the car industry then cars would cost much cheaper than they do now. But they can’t allow a free-for-all. They can’t because cronies of those who walk in the corridors of power are making a lot of money from the car import permits and whatnot. So Malaysians have to pay double what they should actually be paying for their cars. But their salaries are not double what they should be.

So you end up a slave of your car instead of the car being your slave. You work for your car when your car should instead be working for you. And because of the sorry state of public transport you have no choice but to own a car. You just can’t get around without a car like you can in so many other countries.

After paying for your car what do you have left at the end of the day? Most times, because of your car, you can’t afford a decent home. Malaysians are actually very poor. The cost of living is so high while the salaries are very low. And corruption keeps Malaysians poor.

So perish the thought if you thought corruption does not affect you. It does, in more ways than you realise. And only naïve people would believe that corruption does not personally affect them or is actually beneficial to business. Malaysians are paying a heavy price for corruption. And the worse thing is we do not even realise we are paying.

Malaysians pay billions in all forms of taxes. But a lot of this money does not come back to us. It gets flushed down the toilet. Billions are lost -- RM30 billion by some estimates. And this is our money. Imagine if we had to pay only RM0.30 for a litre of petrol or RM1.80 for a packet of cigarette or RM50,000 for a Honda Civic. Would you not have more money left in your pocket? Nowadays, your money is finished by the tenth day of the month and you have to wait another 20 days for your next paycheque.

Don’t even start talking about saving money for a rainy day. This is just not possible. Corruption has taken away all your money whereas considering how rich this country is we should not even be asked to pay taxes or, even if we are, it could be a very minimum level that hardly hurts us.

For decades, the opposition has been fighting for the government to set a fair minimum wage appropriate to the cost of living. But the government does not agree to the RM900 per month minimum wage proposal.

In fact, even RM900 is still too low. Countries like the UK have announced that the minimum wage will now be adjusted to about RM35 per hour. That is what some Malaysians earn in a day. Yet the price of cigarettes in the UK is almost the same as in Malaysia. And so goes for many other things as well -- while cars are half the price or less compared to Malaysia.

No, Malaysians are poor. You earn so much less and have to pay so much more. Then corruption takes away what little you have left. And Malaysians still believe that corruption does not affect them directly.

And that is why I am of the opinion that PAS is not focused. They should be addressing the core issues. And the core issue here is corruption and how it affects us. Banning beer or sexy singers from appearing on stage does not offer Malaysians a better life. Even if beer and sexy singers are banned Malaysians will still remain poor. And we will remain poor because our money is being plundered and our low salaries and high taxes do not allow us a decent life.

Prophet Muhammad declared war on riba’ (usury). Riba’ basically means making money from no effort of your own. And, according to Sheikh Imran Hossein, there are 80 levels of riba’, corruption being one of them (since corruption involves making money in a dishonest manner and from no effort of your own).

But PAS does not declare war on corruption. PAS declares war on beer and sexy women. PAS does not understand that corruption and poverty is the real enemy. Poverty enslaves us. Corruption makes us even poorer.

PAS should take up the Prophet’s real fight, the fight against corruption and poverty. And poverty is the breeding ground of corruption. When you are broke one week after receiving your salary you need to resort to corruption to survive.

Negri PAS chief Zulkefli to contest in Bagan Pinang

Zulkefli Omar has contested and lost three times. – Picture by Jack Ooi

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

PORT DICKSON, Sept 29 – PAS today named its Negri Sembilan chief Zulkefli Omar as the candidate for the Bagan Pinang by-election.

Tha announcement was made at a public rally in the Chinese-dominated Batu 9 town near here by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

“The candidate represents all Malaysians and the people of Bagan Pinang,” Hadi told the multi-racial crowd.

Zulkefli, 45, a communication graduate had contested and lost three times before.

During the last year’s general election he lost Lenggeng state seat in Kuala Pilah by some 1,000 votes.

Speaking to reporters after the announcement Hadi said he was confident of PAS's chances of winning the seat.

"We have won seven out of eight by-elections, we are confident," said Hadi.

"He is our best candidate - young and educated."

Hadi also dismissed the suggestion that the infighting within Pakatan Rakyat in Selangor would affect the coalition's chances of winning the seat.

During the last general election PAS lost 12 out of 13 state constituencies it contested in Negri Sembilan.

The Islamist party only won the Paroi seat, situated within the Rembau parliamentary constituency.

To a question on the Barisan Nasional's (BN) decision to field Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad as the Bagan Pinang candidate, Zulkefli said he would let the people decide on the former Negri Sembilan mentri besar's ability to represent them.

"We contested to fulfil the people's wish not for other reasons," said Zulkefli.

The Bagan Pinang by-election was made necessary following the death of BN’s Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.

In March last year, Azman defeated Ramli Ismail of PAS by some 2,000 votes.

BN is currently ruling the state with a simple majority after winning only 21 out of the 36 state constituencies.

P. Uthayakumar’s Appeal at Kuala Lumpur High Court on the Ethnic Cleansing Sedition case

(28/09/2009)

In P. Uthayakumar’s ‘ethnic cleansing’ Sedition trial by Civil Sessions Court Judge Sabariah binti Othman today (28/09/2009), the Judge had refused to recluse herself despite submissions of a perception of biassness by Counsels M. Manogar, N. Surendran and the accused P. Uthayakumar also representing himself as submitted hereinbelow:-

1) The Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail who is a member of the Legal and Judicial Services Commission is also an employer of the said Sessions Court Judge. The Attorney General also decides on her promotion, demotion, salary increase, transfer etc. Despite appearing in person to ‘vindictively prosecute P.Uthayakumar under UMNO’s instructions, the Attorney General was allowed to conduct the proceedings by the said learned Judge. It was submitted that the Judge may not have been able to decide without fear or favour.

2) On the date of charging on 11/12/2007 the bail allowed at RM 50,000 and P. Uthayakumar’s International passport impounded was excessive. This Bail sum was ten (10) times the maximum fine under this Sedition charge which is highly unusual and unprecedented. This was rightly turned down on appeal subsequently by the High Court Judge to RM 10,000.00 and the return of his pasport. Also submitted was the fact that in Karpal Singh’s Sedition case a bail of a mere RM 2,000.00 was imposed and Karpals’ passport was never impounded.

3) No submissions were heard or allowed especially to P. Uthayakumar’s Defence Counsel on this excessive bail sum and the impounding of the passport condition.

4) In Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s case all proceedings in the Sessions Court was stayed pending the disposal at the High Court but which was denied by this Sessions Court Judge in P.Uthayakumar’s case here despite having been informed that an application had on 10/9/2009 been filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court but still then no adjournment was allowed on this ground.

5) Counsel M. Manogar had informed the Court that another application had also been filed for amongst others the first information report, Investigation papers on the Kg Medan ‘ethnic cleansing’ case and the Attorney General’s conclusion that there be no criminal prosecution for murder of the five innocent Indians of Kg Medan who had been murdered and the 100 over inflicted with grievous bodily harm by a mysterious malay muslim mob believed to be sponsored by UMNO and who are from outside Kg. Medan in 2001.

6) The ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Kg. Medan has to do with P. Uthayakumar’s ‘ethnic cleansing’ letter to the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the subject of the charge against P. Uthayakumar.

7) This is a criminal prosecution but why is this civil court Judge hearing the same especially so when this is not a part heard case.

8) In the authority of Lennon v Metropolitan Properties 19691 QB 577, it was held by Lord Denning that on the mere perception of biasness by the members of the public or the accused the Judge ought not sit in the case. IF the judge sat his decision cannot stand. Despite the above the learned Judge had from 9.30a.m onwards insisted and persisted in going on with the proceedings ‘at any cost’ and had refused to grant an adjournment despite being informed that the High Court Judge who is scheduled to hear this appeal was still on leave and would be back tomorrow and that the High Court file No 44-157-2009 had already been opened. Counsels M.Manogar and N. Surendren after a lengthy persuation process managed to see the Judge in Chambers with the Deputy Public Prosecutors but had not made any headway with this ‘bioused’ Judge.

When the matter resumed at 2.30p.m and after lengthy submissions the Judge however had refused to recluse herself and insisted that the matter go on. Further submissions were also made by both Counsels and also P. Uthayakumar right up to about 5.00 p.m. Despite giving an undertaking that an appeal would be filed first thing tomorrow morning to the Kuala Lumpur High Court and for a stay of proceedings until the appeal at the High Court is heard and disposed off, this Judge refused to grant the adjournment but insisted in proceeding tomorrow (29/09/2009) at 12.00p.m.

Justice must not only be done but manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done. This is the case in the England and almost all other civil societies but this may not apply to Prime Minister’s Najib’s One Malaysia.

Posted by Editor.
Human Right Party

“Bioused” Judge. High Court Appeal letter

P.Uthayakumar-”Blank ” High Court rejection letter 29/9/09

When Najib’s proposal for a “multi-racial hostel” could make front-page headline news in mainstream media

By Lim Kit Siang,

When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s proposal for a multiracial hostel to foster better national integration among pupils in secondary schools under the 1Malaysia spirit could make front-page headline news in the mainstream media, it is testimony of how far Malaysian multiracial nation-building had deviated and failed in the past five decades.

As Malaysia is internationally publicized as “Malaysia truly Asia” show-casing multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual unity in diversity, multiracial hostels should have long become an accepted part of national life.

Instead, they seem to have become an increasingly extinct species after over five decades of nationhood to the extent that Najib’s proposal for a multiracial hostel in Kuala Lumpur appeared to be a great brain-wave of his 1Malaysia slogan.

Malaysia has traversed the road from multiracial hostels in the early decades of nationhood, celebrating Malaysia’s diversity of races, languages, cultures, religions, cuisines to increasingly mono-ethnic hostels where tolerance and acceptance of unity in diversity have assumed decreasing importance.

Is there a political will under Najib’s 1Malaysia to examine why Malaysia’s multi-racial nation-building had gone so wrong in the past five decades in failing to take full advantage of the rich diversity of ethnicity, religions, languages, cultures, cuisines and customs in the country?

Will Najib’s proposed multi-racial hostel be truly multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual where the new generation of Malaysians can meet, live, learn and play in the hostels to appreciate Malaysia’s multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual unity in diversity in everyday life – the greatest and richest assets of the country?

Or will it end up as another manifestation of empty sloganeering without seriously addressing the acute and complex problems of nation-building and national unity in Malaysia?

MIC Warns Of Disciplinary Action Against Errant Members

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- The MIC on Tuesday gave a warning that disciplinary action would be taken against any of its members who tried to sow discord or tarnished the good name of the party.

Its president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said several MIC members were involved in a meeting in Klang on Sunday and were said to have claimed that MIC was no longer relevant as a component party representing the Indian community in the Barisan Nasional (BN).

"MIC's disciplinary committe will act against any member (who attempts to tarnish the image of the party) irrespective of their status," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the party's central working committee (CWC) here.

Samy Vellu said legal action would also be taken against veteran MIC leader Datuk V.Govindaraj, who has been sacked, for making remarks that brought the party into disrepute ahead of MIC's general assembly on Sept 12.

On claims by some losing candidates of irregularities in MIC's polls held the same day, Samy Vellu said they had been given the opportunity to file complaints within one week of the polls.

"They had witnessed for themselves the conduct of the polls and had signed letters vouching the results," he said.

Samy Vellu said the party had also set up special committee headed by Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria to collect information to be submitted to the government for the formulation of the Tenth Malaysia Plan.

He added that the committee would work together with non-governmental organisations and other related parties in the matter.

-- BERNAMA

Rebel Leader and MIC CWC Member K P Samy speaking to media after the meeting

********
The Malay Mail

MIC leaders stand up for party

Submitted by pekwan on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

But Samy Vellu has to go, says senior leader

NAJIAH NAJIB

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

DESPITE the seeming disarray in the Indian political landscape, Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) leaders remain optimistic about the future of the community.

Their fiery spirit of nationalism is strongly felt and projected. They believe in standing and fighting for what is right.

Yesterday, we highlighted Human Rights Party Malaysia’s (HRP) call to the Indian community to boycott the Oct 11 Bagan Pinang by-election, a call that has not gone down well with MIC leaders.

Another issue highlighted in yesterday’s Malay Mail was the MIC’s “relevance survey” held in Klang by the so-called “Subramaniam supporters ad-hoc committee” two nights ago.

On this, two of the three political figures we spoke to deemed the survey as invalid as it failed to capture the overall sentiment of the Indian community, while the other fully agreed that MIC was no longer relevant.

This was what they had to say: MIC vice-president, Datuk S. Sothinathan On the Bagan Pinang by-election boycott: It is wrong of HRP to call on the Indian community not to vote. By saying this, it means you are telling people to forego their fundamental right! That is not the right thing to do. It is an individual’s right to vote for whoever they want, or if they want to vote at all.

On the MIC “relevance survey”: The survey may have only involved a small group, so it may not represent
the actual sentiment of the entire party, let alone the Indian community. If it was a random survey conducted among the people and party members, then maybe it would have some substance.

The fact that there is no unifying factor in the MIC is not a healthy sign. There is a strong call for changes in the Indian community and leaders must go to the ground to study the matter more closely and solve their problems. Only then will the community be able to unite again.

MIC Youth chief, T. Mohan On the Bagan Pinang by-election boycott: I don’t consider HRP a real political party in the first place, due to the lack of credibility of its founding members. HRP has no right to tell people not to vote. The people of Bagan Pinang are mature enough to know what is best for the community there. It is up to them to decide on who their leader should be. They don’t need to have other people, especially those who are of no concern to the area at all, to tell them what to do.

On the MIC “relevance survey”: Many of those who took the survey weren’t even party members, so the exercise doesn’t capture the sentiments of the entire Indian community.

All political parties have problems and MIC is not spared. Do you think Umno or MCA will agree to have another race-based party within the coalition? I doubt it. Not only would it be redundant but it would further segregate the members. I have a strong feeling the survey was not done to capture the sentiment of the Indian community but more of an indirect attack against Samy Vellu (MIC chief Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu), whom they clearly dislike. I don’t consider this a proper survey.

Senior MIC leader, Datuk V. Govindaraju On the Bagan Pinang by-election boycott: I disagree with the call by HRP. The voters should not boycott the election, simply because it is their responsibility to the country to carry out that duty. I still believe that we have a stable government in Malaysia, with all major races participating in the administration. All this bickering should be kept in check and not cause further stress to the country and the rakyat.

On the MIC “relevance survey”: I have to agree with the survey’s outcome that MIC is no longer relevant, solely because of Samy Vellu’s leadership, or lack thereof. It is because of him that the Indian community is shattered to pieces and right now, everyone is trying to pick up the pieces. The way I see it, MIC lacks a true leader and that has caused the party to become irrelevant. Now, it is crucial for other Indian leaders to find a unifying factor for the community because Samy Vellu has failed drastically.