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Monday, 7 December 2009
UMNO cruel regime : 30 years later Indian couple gets citizenships.
The Utusan Malaysia on 4 / 12 / 09 at page 5 reports V . Saravanamuttu and V. Logeswary…
The Utusan Malaysia on 4 / 12 / 09 at page 5 reports V . Saravanamuttu and V. Logeswary who had to wait 30 long years to be granted their Malaysian citizenship. This is despite Article 14 of the Federal Constituition stipulating ….every person born on or after Malaysia Day…are citizens by operation of law.
Imagine the pain and sufferings losing out on their prime of their lives , loss of job opportunities and promotion prospects and bussinesses and licences opportunities lost.
But after these 30 years of misery and when they are already 79 years old UMNO Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein grants them citizenship and expects this coule to be grateful to UMNO.
UMNO yet again plays the politics of ” telur sebiji telur riuh sekampung !!!! ” Hishamuddin the Home Minister makes this ” fanfare ” announcement . But what about the announcement for the remaining estimated 299 , 999 Indian children and their parents who have been denied their birth certificates (BC) and Identity Cards (IC) with Malaysian citizenship. Not a single Indian born in Malaysia should be denied their Birth certificates (BC) and Identity Cards (IC). It is the job of the UMNO controlled Malaysian Government to ensure that not a single Indian is deprieved of their BC and IC.
What do you expect when 1, 016 , 799 civil servants and others have been trained by UMNO to implement UMNO ’s racist and religious extremist agenda for example this 299 , 999 children and adults being denied their rightful IC and BC.
P. Uthayakumar
Photos: HRP Teluk Intan forum & book launch 5/12/09 .
DAP and PKR S’gor Govt :Land for Chinese temple,no to hindu temples
DAP and PKR S’gor Govt :Land for Chinese temple,no to hindu temples
Not only this but the PKR and DAP led Selangor state government even (rightly) bends backwards to issue…
DAP and PKR S’gor Govt :Land for Chinese temple,no to hindu temples
Not only this but the PKR and DAP led Selangor state government even (rightly) bends backwards to issue a stop work order to stop the building of houses next to this temple. (refer The Star Metro 4 / 12 / 09 page M4)
But when it comes to hindu temples in Selangor the Tuan Menteri Besar and Towkay DAP gets their Selangor Indian EXCO Mandore to dish out peanuts of RM 10 000.00 and (empty) promises of land here and land there for tamil schools, hindu temples and crematoriums. But no Selangor State government land is granted to these hindu temples and which means they can be demolished at any time as has happened even at the rate of one hindu temple being demolished in every ten (10) days during the ex MB Khir Toyo’s regime . (This statistics is as per the reply by the present MB to the ADUN for Kota Alam Shah Y.B Manoharan Malayalam early this year) .
But for this Pasir Ambang , Kuala Selangor Chinese Temple , the Tuan and Towkay gets the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) to allocate land the to this Chinese temple , How then are DAP , PKR and PAS any different from UMNO vis a vis the Indians.
P. Uthayakumar
Why whack the Malays?
No, it is not the Malays who give Umno power. It is the Chinese, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. So, if you are in the mood to whack…
No, it is not the Malays who give Umno power. It is the Chinese, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. So, if you are in the mood to whack someone, don’t whack the Malays. Whack the Chinese, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
I have written about this before, many times. But sometimes we need to keep harping on the same old issue when people keep making the same unreasonable comments even after we have clarified the matter. As the Malays would say: tak paham paham lagi.
The matter I want to talk about is the Malay whacking. Malaysia Today appears to be a forum for Malay-hate postings. Sure, there is a lot to be desired about the attitude of the Malays. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said his biggest regret is that he could not change the attitude of the Malays in 22 years as Prime Minister of Malaysia. And he even cried like a baby in one Umno general assembly because he felt he had failed to change the Malays and Umno.
Nevertheless, the Malays are not to be blamed for everything that goes wrong in Malaysia. Sometimes the non-Malays too contribute to the problem.
Sure, Umno may be a problem. But Umno is a problem only because we have this animal called Barisan Nasional. Without Barisan Nasional Umno would be history. And while Umno may be Malay, Barisan Nasional is not.
First look at this.
7,944,274 Malaysians came out to vote out of about 10.8 million registered voters in the March 2008 general election. That was about 70% plus. This means just under 30% did not bother to vote. So that is the number of Malaysians who don’t care. And we are not yet including the 4 million plus who did not even register to vote. Add that to those who did not vote then about 7.5 million Malaysians did not vote because they don’t care.
Got that? 7.9 million Malaysians care and 7.5 million Malaysians don’t care. So, do we blame the Malays for the problems facing this country or do we blame the 7.5 million who did not vote for change and are quite happy not doing anything and allowing what is happening to continue happening?
Now, out of all those who voted, 4,082,411 voted for Barisan Nasional and 3,796,464 voted for the opposition. That gives Barisan Nasional 50.27% of the popular vote and the opposition 46.75%. Yet, with just 50.27% of the votes, Barisan Nasional won 140 of the 222 parliament seats against the opposition’s 82.
Do we blame the Malays for this or do we blame the gerrymandering, postal votes and phantom voters that the Election Commission closed its eyes to?
Umno, on its own, garnered only 2,381,725 of the votes, which is less than 30%. And the number of seats it won was 79, now down to 78 with the loss of Kuala Terengganu in a by-election. This means Umno won only 35.6% of the seats and now less than that without Kuala Terengganu.
How can Umno form a government with only 29.33% of the votes and 35.6% of the seats? The three opposition parties combined garnered 46.57% of the votes and won 36.9% of the seats. This is higher than what Umno won. And one important point to note is that Umno’s 78 seats include 14 from Sabah. If not then Umno would be down to only 64 seats, even worse.
Well, if you want to know the answer to that question, then ask the Chinese, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. It is because of them that Umno, even though they did poorer than the opposition, can form the government. And because they can form the government with the help of the Chinese, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak they are also able to abuse their power, perpetuate corruption, implement racist policies, and demonstrate arrogance.
No, don’t blame the Malays. 51% of the Malays voted for Umno. This, I do not deny. But this also means that 49% of the Malays did not vote for Umno. But the 51% Malay votes are still not enough for Umno to form the government. That still gives them only about one-third the votes as well as seats respectively (and less without the 14 Sabah seats). What makes it possible for Umno to form the government is because of the Chinese, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.
No, it is not the Malays who give Umno power. It is the Chinese, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. So, if you are in the mood to whack someone, don’t whack the Malays. Whack the Chinese, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Those are the people who are to blame.
Kapeesh?
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No Holds No Barred
It’s not about Islam; it’s about religion
As much as PAS might argue that an Islamic system does not mean that Malaysia would transform into a theological state, the people will not buy this. They are still…
As much as PAS might argue that an Islamic system does not mean that Malaysia would transform into a theological state, the people will not buy this. They are still suspicious that an Islamic system translates to a theological state. And they remember what it was like in the old days when religion once ruled the world. That was the worst period in the history of mankind.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
For more than 20 years I used to live in what can be considered a PAS community -- PAS here meaning the Islamic Party of Malaysia. I had quite a number of PAS people as neighbours, leaders included, amongst whom were Mustapha Ali and Harun Jusoh. I was also the chairman of what Umno calls a ‘PAS mosque’. Further to that, I was involved in a few other mosques, all classified as ‘PAS mosques’. My thinking, therefore, was very much influenced by PAS, in particular as far as Islam is concerned. And this also means I know what makes the minds of the PAS people tick, being ‘one of them’, so to speak.
I disagreed with much of what PAS propagated and I did not hold my punches. In my speeches in the mosques I whacked some of the attitudes and actions of the PAS people and told them that what they were doing and saying actually puts people off Islam and PAS. If what they are doing and saying are meant to bring people to Islam and PAS, then the reverse is actually happening.
PAS is a political party, I said. So, if they want to win support, they need to think of a political strategy on how they can win over the people, in particular the non-Muslims. If all PAS can garner is 50% of the Malay support, how can PAS expect to win the support of the non-Malays, meaning also non-Muslims? PAS can’t even get more than 50% of the Malays to support the party.
PAS is not interested in garnering votes or winning the elections, they replied. PAS is only interested in propagating Islam.
If PAS is not interested in garnering votes or winning the elections, I told them, then why stand on the platform of a political party? Why not then PAS just become a missionary movement and spread the word of Islam and forget about the elections?
As a missionary movement PAS will not be free to speak, came the reply. PAS will have more freedom to speak as a political party. The government can silence a missionary movement but it can’t silence a political party.
I did not buy that argument. There is much jostling for power in PAS. If all they are interested in is to spread the word of Islam then why all this jostling for party positions? Why do the PAS people seek party positions? Is a party position crucial to the task of spreading the word of Islam? The actions of the PAS leaders give an impression that it is all about politics and the pursuit of power. It is not at all about spreading the word of Islam.
We need to get into power to be able to spread Islam, again, came the reply. So we need to win the elections and hold high office in the party as well as the government to meet our objective of spreading Islam.
Again, this statement did not make sense. Politics and elections and party positions are about attaining power. Maybe PAS is an Islamic party. But it is still a political party. And the job of political parties is to get into power. The only thing is PAS stands on the platform of Islam. But it is still a political party, nevertheless, and it seeks what all political parties seek; power.
It is time that PAS is honest with itself as well as with the voters and supporters. There is no problem with using Islam as a political platform. After all, in other countries there also exist political parties that stand on a religious platform whether it is Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism or whatnot. So having Islam as a political platform is no crime. They just need to be clear on what they are and what they seek. And it is clear that PAS is a political party and what it seeks is power.
There should be no confusion about this.
Most voters, non-Muslims included, have no problems with an Islamic party. They can accept the fact that PAS is an Islamic party and support it for what it is. What they can’t accept is insincerity and hypocrisy. Until PAS can be honest, not only to itself but to the general public as well, then expect Malaysians to be suspicious of the party.
Most people understand that in politics they normally say one thing but do the opposite. There is much hypocrisy and insincerity in politics. And politicians don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say. People can accept this from politicians and political parties. It is in their nature. But they expect the opposition to be better than this, in particular PAS, which stands on the platform of Islam and is therefore supposed to be nobler in its cause.
Once PAS can be clear and honest about what it is, which is a political party, and once it openly and honestly declares this and understands that the job of political parties is to seek power, then maybe it can start saying and doing the right things.
I repeat: people have no problems with a religious based party, Islamic or otherwise. It is when these parties say one thing but do the opposite is when the people have problems with it. So if PAS can declare that it is a political party and that its objective is to form the next government, then even non-Muslims can give the party its support.
People do not have any problem with Islam per se. It is when Muslims impose Islam on non-Muslims that the problem arises. So it is not about being anti-Islam. It is about religion being forced onto one, any religion for that matter. Even if it were a Christian party or a Hindu party the voters would still reject it if the objective of the party were to impose Christianity or Hinduism on the population.
In short, the people are not against Islam. The people are against religion being imposed on those who wish to be free of religious domination. This does not mean that they are anti-religion, though. They just do not want religion being forced onto anyone. They want freedom of choice when it comes to religion. They want to decide whether to be religious or not. They want religion to be something they choose and not something that is forced upon them.
And herein lies the problem. Muslims say that there is no compulsion in religion. They even quote verses of the Quran to support this statement. But the actions of Muslims are opposite to what they say. And this frightens most people. They see Muslims as dominating although Muslims may say Islam is about choice and not about compulsion. So how can they trust Muslims when Muslims say one thing but do the opposite?
The best form of propagation is to lead by example. You do the right thing according to what your religion teaches and you let your actions speak for itself. The proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating. People will trust you based on what you do rather than on what you say. And if you do the opposite of what you say then people will distrust you even more.
Unfortunately, the majority of the civil servants and government officers -- including those in the police, anti-corruption agency, judiciary, and whatnot -- are Muslims. And Muslims have this holier-than-thou and high-and-mighty attitude. But the highest incidences of abuse of power, corruption, racism, arrogance, and whatnot, are from these same agencies where the majority are Muslims.
How can non-Muslims trust Muslims when the majority of those perpetuating crimes are Muslims themselves? And when Muslims talk about the virtue and fairness and justice of Islam, and yet Muslims themselves are the worse scum on earth, then expect non-Muslims to distrust Muslims. Muslims suffer from the bikin tak serupa cakap disease.
Muslims must first clean up their act. They must first live the life of a true Muslim and adhere to the proper teachings of Islam. Only then will non-Muslims become impressed with Islam and start trusting Muslims. And when Muslims propagate Islam and Islamic politics by demonstration rather than rhetoric, non-Muslims would begin to accept it as the best alternative and the best example of good governance.
As I said, it is not about Islam but about all religions. All religions have gone through a history of violence. The Jews before Christ were violent. They exterminated non-Jews. Then the Romans almost exterminated them in return. Then along came the Christians and they soon did the same thing -- exterminated non-Christians and each other as well. The Muslims throughout the last 1,400 years killed more Muslims than non-Muslims -- right up to the time of Wahab’s movement less than 100 years ago when the entire Muslim city of Medina was wiped out; every man, woman, child, camel, goat and chicken.
Even the English and French kings plus the Popes in Rome engineered ethnic cleansing of fellow-Christians. No one is exempted from this history of brutality, bloodshed and ethnic cleansing. It is only when the Monarchs and their lackeys in the religious hierarchy -- the so-called representatives of God -- were overthrown in favour of a peoples’ government did the situation change.
People still remember the brutal history of religion, all religions. They still shudder when they remember the times when religion ruled the world and much injustice was perpetuated in the name of God. They do not wish to return to those times.
It will take a long time before people can again trust religion to rule over them. Until then they do not want religion as the government or religious laws as the laws of the land. They want freedom to choose their own destiny, not their destiny to be decided by religion.
PAS must not take this as a personal attack against the party or a demonstration of anti-Islam sentiments. It is nothing personal or targeted merely against Islam. It is just that people have lost trust in religious people. While they may believe in God and subscribe to a certain religion doctrine, they do not trust those who claim to be doing God’s work and who try to impose the word of God on their daily lives.
PAS can continue standing on the platform of Islam. It can continue being an Islamic party. There are no problems with that. But PAS must declare that it is a political party, and not a missionary movement, whose objective is to form the next federal government.
And it must not harbour ambitions of abolishing the current secular system in favour of a theological system. As much as PAS might argue that an Islamic system does not mean that Malaysia would transform into a theological state, the people will not buy this. They are still suspicious that an Islamic system translates to a theological state. And they remember what it was like in the old days when religion once ruled the world. That was the worst period in the history of mankind.
Of course, PAS can still claim that its objective is to abolish the secular system in favour of a theological system. That is not a problem and it is absolutely within PAS’ right to harbour these aspirations. After all, it is a free country. But then PAS can’t also expect those who are suspicious of theological states to continue supporting it.
I am not saying that PAS should drop Islam or the Islamic State agenda. This can still be the aspiration of the party. No problem with that. But PAS can’t also aspire to form the next federal government because they will not win enough votes to do so.
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No Holds No Barred
Pakatan continues to hound Najib over BTN
One or the other. Pakatan will not allow Najib to walk away from the BTN issue. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR,…
One or the other. Pakatan will not allow Najib to walk away from the BTN issue. — file pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders say they want Datuk Seri Najib Razak to set the record straight by stating the government’s stand on the controversial National Civics Bureau (BTN).
Despite confirmation by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, on Monday that the Cabinet had agreed to revamp BTN courses and disclosure that the Chief Secretary had been instructed to oversee BTN’s overhaul, a number of ministers and Umno leaders have continued to defend the programme which has been described as racist by the opposition and some participants.
The prime minister’s silence on the issue has added to the confusion over his administration’s position.
BTN chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan also defended the civics course and insisted that it would be “upgraded” instead of “revamped.”
“The issue here is very clear. It is either Nazri or Ahmad Maslan who is wrong and now Najib is keeping quiet. He can’t keep quiet. As prime minister he must set an example as to whether he is prepared to stand by his 1 Malaysia context and slogan or it is just empty talk.
“His silence on the whole issue speaks very poorly on the seriousness and commitment on the 1 Malaysia concept,” the DAP’s Lim Kit Siang told The Malaysian Insider.
Seri Setia assemblyman, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad from PKR, also questioned the government’s sincerity on BTN and 1 Malaysia.
“Najib has been taking about 1 Malaysia and all this while we can see that its either a good cop or bad cop routine, or he does not know how to control his deputy because he has been saying the right things but his deputy has been talking the Malay line.
PR leaders Lim (left) and Nik Nazmi (centre) want to know Najib’s stand.—file pic
“We have no issues with programmes that instil loyalty, promote history and the constitution but it must be done in a frank and open manner [while] respecting the different communities in the country,” Nik Nazmi explained.
The programme has come under fire from various groups, with PR leaders branding it a tool to spread racist propaganda.
While the government insists BTN courses are meant to instil patriotism in the participants, testimonials by former attendees indicate otherwise — that they are instead used to maintain Malay support for Umno through cultivating racial hatred and concepts like “Ketuanan Melayu” (Malay supremacy).
These testimonials have been used as fodder by PR leaders to demand BTN’s closure.
The PR-led Selangor government has already imposed a ban on its civil servants and students within its state-run educational institutions from attending BTN courses, while Penang — another PR- governed state — is said to be considering similar action.
But the hawks in Umno, through Malay-based dailies like Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, have moved to defend BTN and attack its critics as “traitors” who are trying to politicise the issue.
Good cop, bad cop routine? — Picture by Choo Choy May
Lim agreed that the government should not “bow down” to the PR but to the truth and national interest.
“The question is not to bow down to the opposition but it whether it is the right and wrong. Whether it is against the 1 Malaysia concept, nation building, national unity or it is in line with 1 Malaysia, it does not promote national hatred and it is offering national unity. It is one or the other,” Lim said.
Nik Nazmi added that Utusan should not divide the community.
“What is needed is honesty and sincerity towards the Malay community, that these lies cannot go on. It does not teach the Malays to face the 21st century and all it does is make you think that you can blame everyone else for your problem,” Nik Nazmi said.
Dr M: Don’t mess with BTN
No need to revamp BTN, says Dr Mahathir. — file pic
No need to revamp BTN, says Dr Mahathir. — file pic
The former prime minister was also of the opinion that the BTN curriculum had helped foster unity as the courses conducted by the agency were attended by Malaysians of all races.
“I do not see any reason why the modules have to be revamped... I think it is better to retain the modules,” he told reporters after opening the World Aids Day 2009 here today.
Prior to this, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz had said that BTN training modules would be revamped to better reflect the 1 Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The matter came into the spotlight when Pakatan-ruled Selangor recently prohibited state civil servants and students of higher educational institutions owned by the state from attending BTN courses, claiming that they were an indoctrination process by the Barisan Nasional government and aimed at brainwashing Malaysians to hate opposition parties.
Commenting further, Dr Mahathir said he too had given talks at courses organised by the BTN and among the subjects touched on were Malaysian history.
“Sometimes, people cannot understand the underlying value of BTN courses. I do not see anything bad about it, it explains the nation’s history,” he said.
Asked on Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for independent observers from Australia to monitor the next general election in the country, Dr Mahathir said: “If it is the white man, he will trust. If its Malays, it is otherwise.”
On the government’s plan to introduce the goods and services tax (GST), he said a comprehensive study must be made on it so as not to burden the people.
However, he said it was needed in the long term as the country had to find alternative sources of revenue and not be overly dependent of the petroleum sector. — Bernama
Be Rational, Leave It To PM, Says Samy Vellu
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu has asked all parties disputing the Education Ministry's latest Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) ruling to give time to…
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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu has asked all parties disputing the Education Ministry's latest Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) ruling to give time to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to resolve it.
"Let us be rational and leave the matter in the hands of the Prime Minister as he has been fair to us (the Indian community) all this while," the former Works Minister told reporters here on Sunday.
He was commenting on the front page reports in all local Tamil dailies today on Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement that despite the government's decision to allow SPM students to take 12 instead of 10 subjects, only the results of the 10 core subjects would be considered for government scholarships and others.
On Friday, Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, in announcing the Cabinet's decision, said that while the 10 core subjects would remain, flexibility would be given to SPM students to opt for Mandarin or Tamil and Chinese Literature or Tamil Literature papers.
Muhyiddin also said the students could sit for additional subjects other than the 10 core subjects but the results would not be taken into account in the award of scholarships and other matters.
This caused several Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to question the rationale behind the move with some NGOs describing it as "rubbish".
Samy Vellu said while he too did not agree with the move, the Indian community should allow Najib to resolve it.
"Let us deal with issues one at a time. We have already passed the first hurdle that is to allow students to sit for 12 subjects instead of 10, and we are very grateful to the government.
"Now, the issue is that the two additional subjects (Tamil Language and Tamil Literature) will not be taken into consideration for government scholarships and others. Let us (the MIC) negotiate with the government just as we did on the 12 subject issue," he said.
Samy Vellu said the Indians had to be fair to the prime minister and allow him to discuss the matter with MIC's sole representative in the Cabinet, Datuk Dr. S.Subramaniam, who is also the Human Resources Minister.
"I have already instructed him (Dr. Subramanim) to work on it. The MIC believes in negotiations and not street demonstrations," he said.
-- BERNAMA
MIC's 5R To Create People-Centric Leaders
The party would kick off the second phase of its rejuvenation process with a "Re-invent and Re-connect" workshop on Dec 27 aimed at changing party leaders' mindset in carrying out their responsibilities more effectively and in facing a challenging situation, Samy Vellu said.
He said the workshop was crucial as the MIC, being a people-centric party, must allay fears among the Indian community that the party was losing its influence and remain relevant.
"The workshop will teach the grassroot leaders to master the 5R (Read, Report, Revive, Reflect and Recharge) to become people-friendly leaders," he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Indian Youth Council's (MIYC) 16th general meeting here on Sunday.
He said the first phase involved the re-branding workshop involving the party's 150 divisional leaders and 3,600 branch chairmen.
Samy Vellu said there was a new feeling and thinking among the Indian community about the MIC, triggered by a series of community problem-solving methods adopted in the past 18 months.
He said the MIC's healing and reconciliation process, adopted soon after its disastrous performance in the last general election, had generated renewed interest in the party among the Indian community, especially the younger and more educated groups.
While almost 800 new branches were awaiting approval from the Registrar of Societies, more than 300,000 people had visited the MIC portal since its launch in May.
Party observers said the largest Indian-based political party's image was further boosted when it delivered 70 per cent of the Indian votes for the Barisan Nasional in the recent Bagan Pinang by-election.
They felt that with almost every other small Indian-based political parties in the country facing power struggle or internal problems, the latest being the newly-formed Makkal Sakti Party, a splinter group of the banned Hindraf movement, the MIC had been attracting new members.
Samy Vellu said he and the other party leaders had been engaging with all the Indian non-governmental organisations and meeting the Indian community for the past 18 months to stress to them the importance of staying united.
Party insiders believed that the MIC supremo was serious in "walking the talk". They said that initially, many believed that Samy Vellu would rid the party of his political nemeses, including former MIC deputy president Datuk S.Subramaniam, after the party elections last September, but "it never came".
A party source said plans were also underway to invite small-based Indian political parties to join the MIC under Samy Vellu's greater unity plan.
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"Let us be rational and leave the matter in the hands of the Prime Minister as he has been fair to us (the Indian community) all this while," the former Works Minister told reporters here on Sunday.
He was commenting on the front page reports in all local Tamil dailies today on Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement that despite the government's decision to allow SPM students to take 12 instead of 10 subjects, only the results of the 10 core subjects would be considered for government scholarships and others.
On Friday, Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, in announcing the Cabinet's decision, said that while the 10 core subjects would remain, flexibility would be given to SPM students to opt for Mandarin or Tamil and Chinese Literature or Tamil Literature papers.
Muhyiddin also said the students could sit for additional subjects other than the 10 core subjects but the results would not be taken into account in the award of scholarships and other matters.
This caused several Indian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to question the rationale behind the move with some NGOs describing it as "rubbish".
Samy Vellu said while he too did not agree with the move, the Indian community should allow Najib to resolve it.
"Let us deal with issues one at a time. We have already passed the first hurdle that is to allow students to sit for 12 subjects instead of 10, and we are very grateful to the government.
"Now, the issue is that the two additional subjects (Tamil Language and Tamil Literature) will not be taken into consideration for government scholarships and others. Let us (the MIC) negotiate with the government just as we did on the 12 subject issue," he said.
Samy Vellu said the Indians had to be fair to the prime minister and allow him to discuss the matter with MIC's sole representative in the Cabinet, Datuk Dr. S.Subramaniam, who is also the Human Resources Minister.
"I have already instructed him (Dr. Subramanim) to work on it. The MIC believes in negotiations and not street demonstrations," he said.
-- BERNAMA
MIC's 5R To Create People-Centric Leaders
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 (Bernama) - After having restored stability and the next line of leadership, MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu is gearing the party to "re-connect" with the grassroots, a crucial move that will make or break the MIC.
The party would kick off the second phase of its rejuvenation process with a "Re-invent and Re-connect" workshop on Dec 27 aimed at changing party leaders' mindset in carrying out their responsibilities more effectively and in facing a challenging situation, Samy Vellu said.
He said the workshop was crucial as the MIC, being a people-centric party, must allay fears among the Indian community that the party was losing its influence and remain relevant.
"The workshop will teach the grassroot leaders to master the 5R (Read, Report, Revive, Reflect and Recharge) to become people-friendly leaders," he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Indian Youth Council's (MIYC) 16th general meeting here on Sunday.
He said the first phase involved the re-branding workshop involving the party's 150 divisional leaders and 3,600 branch chairmen.
Samy Vellu said there was a new feeling and thinking among the Indian community about the MIC, triggered by a series of community problem-solving methods adopted in the past 18 months.
He said the MIC's healing and reconciliation process, adopted soon after its disastrous performance in the last general election, had generated renewed interest in the party among the Indian community, especially the younger and more educated groups.
While almost 800 new branches were awaiting approval from the Registrar of Societies, more than 300,000 people had visited the MIC portal since its launch in May.
Party observers said the largest Indian-based political party's image was further boosted when it delivered 70 per cent of the Indian votes for the Barisan Nasional in the recent Bagan Pinang by-election.
They felt that with almost every other small Indian-based political parties in the country facing power struggle or internal problems, the latest being the newly-formed Makkal Sakti Party, a splinter group of the banned Hindraf movement, the MIC had been attracting new members.
Samy Vellu said he and the other party leaders had been engaging with all the Indian non-governmental organisations and meeting the Indian community for the past 18 months to stress to them the importance of staying united.
Party insiders believed that the MIC supremo was serious in "walking the talk". They said that initially, many believed that Samy Vellu would rid the party of his political nemeses, including former MIC deputy president Datuk S.Subramaniam, after the party elections last September, but "it never came".
A party source said plans were also underway to invite small-based Indian political parties to join the MIC under Samy Vellu's greater unity plan.
Public Forum: Whither the Constitution? Lessons to be learnt from the Perak Crisis
Date: 9 Dec 2009 (Wednesday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: MBPJ Civic Centre Auditorium, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya
Time: 8pm
Venue: MBPJ Civic Centre Auditorium, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya
Speakers:
(1) Professor Kevin Tan – from Yale University and author of…
Date: 9 Dec 2009 (Wednesday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: MBPJ Civic Centre Auditorium, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya
Time: 8pm
Venue: MBPJ Civic Centre Auditorium, Jalan Yong Shook Lin, Petaling Jaya
Speakers:
(1) Professor Kevin Tan – from Yale University and author of numerous books and articles on the Malaysian and Singapore Constitutions. Besides lecturing in Singapore, he has also given lectures in constitutional law to students in Monash University in its campus in Kuala Lumpur.
(2) Professor Dato’ Shad Faruqi – the author of “Document of Destiny” and a constitutional law expert, he has taught for many years in local universities and is a regular columnist for the STAR.
(3) Dato Seri Nizar Jamaluddin – MP for Bukit Gantang, Pakatan Rakyat MB for Perak
Organised by:
Merdeka Review http://merdekareview.com/
Enq: 03 7981 2831 / editorial@merdekareview.com
Muslims Urged To Accept Minorities
MELBOURNE, Dec 6 — Muslims must tackle injustices and corruption in their own countries before they can point a finger at the West, Australia’s The Age…
MELBOURNE, Dec 6 — Muslims must tackle injustices and corruption in their own countries before they can point a finger at the West, Australia’s The Age newspaper quoted opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as saying yesterday. ”How Islam treats minorities is excessive, no question — Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Jews. We cannot condone injustice. We must condemn atrocities against minorities in Muslim societies and against Muslims in Christian societies,” he told the Parliament of the World Religions. He has repeatedly said this in many international conferences leading to the Foreign Policy magazine naming him one of the most influential thinkers in the world. In Malaysia, however, he faces a second sodomy charge a decade after being convicted for the first.
Anwar said Muslim countries faced huge Islamophobia, including an unequal American approach to Israel and Palestine and concerns about nuclear non-proliferation with some countries but not others (a reference to Israel). But he told the key session on Islam and politics: ”You can’t talk all the time about the injustice of the West if you have injustice in your own land, such as Christians and Hindus in Muslim countries. ”Muslims were upset about the treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib [in Iraq], but what about conditions in Muslim prisons. If you refuse to talk about that you have no standing to talk about the first.” The parliamentary opposition leader said there was no reason why Islamic parties should not contest elections. ”There is suspicion that Islamic political parties will use democracy as a vehicle and, when they come to power, marginalise other groups and cancel elections.
There will be a 100 per cent vote, one time.” But there were Christian Democrat parties, Hindu parties and Buddhist parties, while Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey had clear constitutional guidelines. ”So why must Muslims have a secular fundamentalist position? What is important is to ensure that Islamic parties are not factional or unjust when in power.” Abdullah Saeed, professor of Islamic Studies at Melbourne University, said the question of Islam and politics had been one of the most hotly debated topics for Muslims since the middle of the 19th century. ”At one end of the continuum is the view that it’s absolutely essential for Muslims to establish an Islamic state, that Islam is a religion and a state, though Muslims have never experienced this ideal. ”At the other extreme, Islam is simply an ethical and moral system, a relationship between the person and God, with no need for politics.” Saeed said critics pointed out that an Islamic state was not a traditional idea but a 20th-century construct, while Muslim governments tended to oppress women and non-Muslims, were autocratic and did not respect rights.
Tariq Ramadan, one of Europe’s leading Muslim spokesmen, said democracy and Islam were fully compatible, but many Muslims misunderstood secularism as meaning no religion. Secularism in Muslim-majority countries did not mean democracy, but the opposite: dictators. ”It’s a question of authority. When it comes to the private sphere, the authority God has over you is private. When it comes to the public sphere, it should be negotiated among the public.” Ramadan said the idea of collective negotiated authority went back to the Prophet Muhammad, who more than once followed the majority against his own opinion. Iranian delegate Mahdi Mostafavi said governments should fulfil the main purpose of man’s creation and ensure society was obedient to God. He said Muslims should not be subservient to any power that went against the will of God, who gave governments their legitimacy. ”The government should strive for material prosperity but also for man’s exaltation in his humanity. Unfortunately this is neglected by most governments. Within the framework of God’s laws, people should be free.” Questioned by a leading Melbourne Muslim, Rachel Woodlock, about the treatment of Baha’is in Iran, Mostafavi simply denied that any minorities in Iran faced ill-treatment. Woodlock replied: ”You have no credibility at all.’
ROS Approves New Umno Constitutional Amendments
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has approved the new Umno constitutional amendments effective Nov 10, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.…
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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has approved the new Umno constitutional amendments effective Nov 10, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
The Umno president said the party would find ways to clean-up the membership list to come out with the latest one.
"Based on the new Umno constitution, we don't need to collect the annual fees. As such we have to ensure that the members are genuine.
"Umno headquarters will contact all divisions to explain the clean-up to be done by the party," he told reporters after the Umno Supreme Council (MT) meeting here Friday night.
The three-hour meeting which began at 9pm also approved Umno programmes with the theme 'Umno Juara Rakyat' (Umno The People's Champion) which would be introduced in January.
"Although the theme is 'Umno Juara Rakyat', Umno will continue to be with other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in implementing various programmes at division level in line with the concept.
"The programmes cover activities on education, religion, spiritual, economy, entrepreneurship, social, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and other programmes already approved by MT," Najib said.
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The Umno president said the party would find ways to clean-up the membership list to come out with the latest one.
"Based on the new Umno constitution, we don't need to collect the annual fees. As such we have to ensure that the members are genuine.
"Umno headquarters will contact all divisions to explain the clean-up to be done by the party," he told reporters after the Umno Supreme Council (MT) meeting here Friday night.
The three-hour meeting which began at 9pm also approved Umno programmes with the theme 'Umno Juara Rakyat' (Umno The People's Champion) which would be introduced in January.
"Although the theme is 'Umno Juara Rakyat', Umno will continue to be with other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in implementing various programmes at division level in line with the concept.
"The programmes cover activities on education, religion, spiritual, economy, entrepreneurship, social, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and other programmes already approved by MT," Najib said.
Prayer For 'Bloated Stomach': Don't Know What To Say - Muhyiddin
PUTRAJAYA, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he did not know what to say with regard to the Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul…
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PUTRAJAYA, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he did not know what to say with regard to the Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's prayer for the Barisan Nasional (BN) government leaders to suffer from a bloated stomach (pecah perut) over the royalty payment.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the statement by Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also Pas spiritual leader, did not reflect the Islamic sentiment, and he was also shocked that it had been made by someone considered to be a spiritual leader.
"What we know previously, as Muslims, we never pray for the destruction of other Muslims just because of certain conflicts, and in this case, it's over the oil royalty for Kelantan.
"So, this has been decided by the Cabinet. So, I don't know what to say because this is not the first time, it has been repeated many times," he told reporters after chairing the 65th meeting of the National Land Council, here on Friday.
He said this when asked to comment on the statement by Nik Abdul Aziz on a website that stated his intention to pray for such misfortune in reaction to the refusal of the Federal Government to make oil royalty payment to Kelantan, but handing over only the compassionate payment.
In November, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government would make compassionate payment to the Kelantan state government through Petronas beginning next year, in place of the oil royalty demanded by the Pas-led government.
He said the state government was not eligible to receive the oil royalty as there were duplicating claims over the area where the oil wells were located, thus the money would be channeled in the form of development projects through cooperation with the state government.
Muhyiddin also said that the statement was made in a situation where the Kelantan Menteri Besar was aware that there were many Pas leaders who were also religious figures and Nik Abdul Aziz should be reprimanded if he were to make such statements.
"This is an act which completely does not reflect the real Islamic culture," he said.
On the resignation of Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib, who is also the Sarawak Chief Minister's son, as Deputy Tourism Minister, Muhyiddin said he did not know about it.
The Malaysian Insider reported that Sulaiman had resigned as Deputy Minister of Tourism, citing poor health although government sources said it related to the perceived bad treatment towards him personally and the Borneo states.
Sulaiman is said to have tendered his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last month, citing his health condition as the main reason for his decision to leave the federal administration.
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The Deputy Prime Minister said the statement by Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also Pas spiritual leader, did not reflect the Islamic sentiment, and he was also shocked that it had been made by someone considered to be a spiritual leader.
"What we know previously, as Muslims, we never pray for the destruction of other Muslims just because of certain conflicts, and in this case, it's over the oil royalty for Kelantan.
"So, this has been decided by the Cabinet. So, I don't know what to say because this is not the first time, it has been repeated many times," he told reporters after chairing the 65th meeting of the National Land Council, here on Friday.
He said this when asked to comment on the statement by Nik Abdul Aziz on a website that stated his intention to pray for such misfortune in reaction to the refusal of the Federal Government to make oil royalty payment to Kelantan, but handing over only the compassionate payment.
In November, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government would make compassionate payment to the Kelantan state government through Petronas beginning next year, in place of the oil royalty demanded by the Pas-led government.
He said the state government was not eligible to receive the oil royalty as there were duplicating claims over the area where the oil wells were located, thus the money would be channeled in the form of development projects through cooperation with the state government.
Muhyiddin also said that the statement was made in a situation where the Kelantan Menteri Besar was aware that there were many Pas leaders who were also religious figures and Nik Abdul Aziz should be reprimanded if he were to make such statements.
"This is an act which completely does not reflect the real Islamic culture," he said.
On the resignation of Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib, who is also the Sarawak Chief Minister's son, as Deputy Tourism Minister, Muhyiddin said he did not know about it.
The Malaysian Insider reported that Sulaiman had resigned as Deputy Minister of Tourism, citing poor health although government sources said it related to the perceived bad treatment towards him personally and the Borneo states.
Sulaiman is said to have tendered his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last month, citing his health condition as the main reason for his decision to leave the federal administration.
MCA Needs To Consider BN's Interest, Says Najib
KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants the MCA leaders to take into account the interests of the Barisan Nasional…
KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 6 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants the MCA leaders to take into account the interests of the Barisan Nasional (BN) in resolving the crisis faced by the component party currently.
Najib, who is also the BN chairman, said he did not want to pressure anyone in the MCA by giving a deadline for the annual general meeting (AGM), but hoped it could be held soon.
"Some groups want it to be held quickly, while others want it to be held later. We try to reach a compromise so that the transition can be resolved and we can move forward with a stronger line-up.
"It's only a question of time, when to hold the AGM. The time is being negotiated by several MCA leaders, I hope a compromise on the date for the AGM could be reached soon," he told reporters here Sunday.
The Prime Minister was asked to comment on the internal crisis which had been plaguing the MCA for the past three months without any sign of an immediate solution although the leaders concerned had agreed to hold fresh party polls.
Following the MCA Central Committee (CC) meeting at the end of November, the leaders embroiled in the dispute are now seen to be undergoing a 'cooling off' period although no agreement had been reached on the date for the AGM.
Najib earlier gave away special aid to 363 flood victims from 10 evacuation centres in the Kuala Terengganu district at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Kompleks Gong Badak, here.
All the flood victims received an advanced payment of RM300 each to ease their burden while the balance of the aid payment would be determined by the National Security Council and the District Office, and would be paid out later.
'Roh' Teoh berlegar di SPRM Shah Alam ?
Tiga individu mendakwa mereka ternampak satu lembaga yang menyerupai mendiang Teoh Beng Hock merayau-rayau di ibupejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) di Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam.
Menurut laporan akhbar China…
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Tiga individu mendakwa mereka ternampak satu lembaga yang menyerupai mendiang Teoh Beng Hock merayau-rayau di ibupejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) di Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam.
Menurut laporan akhbar China Press, lembaga tersebut dilihat di tingkat lima bangunan tersebut - tempat Teoh ditemui mati dan di tingkat 14, iaitu pejabat SPRM Selangor.
Laporan itu menyebut seorang pengawal keselamatan dan dua pegawai SPRM terserempak dengan lembaga itu sekitar bulan Oktober lalu - lebih dua bulan selepas Teoh ditemui mati.
Pengawal keselamatan tersebut yang enggan namanya disebut berkata, dia tidak nampak muka lembaga itu, tetapi ia berpakaian sama seperti yang dipakai mendiang ketika datang ke pejabat SPRM dulu.
"Saya nampak mayatnya selepas jatuh. Saya pasti ianya Teoh walaupun saya hanya lihat bahagian belakangnya," katanya sambil menambah kejadian itu berlaku kira-kira jam 6.30 petang.
Ketika mencerita semula kejadian itu, pengawal tersebut berkata dia pergi ke bilik air di tingkat lima di mana secara dia tiba-tiba terdengar bunyi orang berjalan. Pengawal keselamatan yang lain tidak bertugas ketika itu.
"Saya rasa pelik. Biasanya pada waktu itu tiada orang lain di situ. Lalu saya berjalan ke arah tandas... kemudian saya nampak seorang lelaki di depan lif, dia memakai kot hitam dan berseluar putih," katanya.
Pada masa itu, tidak terlintas di fikiran pengawal tersebut bahawa ia adalah lembaga yang menyerupai Teoh itu.
"Saya bertanya dia hendak ke mana kerana tiada orang di atas. Dia menjawab "saya nak naik ke atas", lalu masuk ke dalam lif.
"Ketika itulah saya terfikir yang dia nampak seperti Teoh, jadi saya bergegas ke bilik keselamatan untuk melihat CCTV, tetapi tiada seorang pun dalam lif tersebut.
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Laporan itu menyebut seorang pengawal keselamatan dan dua pegawai SPRM terserempak dengan lembaga itu sekitar bulan Oktober lalu - lebih dua bulan selepas Teoh ditemui mati.
Pengawal keselamatan tersebut yang enggan namanya disebut berkata, dia tidak nampak muka lembaga itu, tetapi ia berpakaian sama seperti yang dipakai mendiang ketika datang ke pejabat SPRM dulu.
"Saya nampak mayatnya selepas jatuh. Saya pasti ianya Teoh walaupun saya hanya lihat bahagian belakangnya," katanya sambil menambah kejadian itu berlaku kira-kira jam 6.30 petang.
Ketika mencerita semula kejadian itu, pengawal tersebut berkata dia pergi ke bilik air di tingkat lima di mana secara dia tiba-tiba terdengar bunyi orang berjalan. Pengawal keselamatan yang lain tidak bertugas ketika itu.
"Saya rasa pelik. Biasanya pada waktu itu tiada orang lain di situ. Lalu saya berjalan ke arah tandas... kemudian saya nampak seorang lelaki di depan lif, dia memakai kot hitam dan berseluar putih," katanya.
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"Saya bertanya dia hendak ke mana kerana tiada orang di atas. Dia menjawab "saya nak naik ke atas", lalu masuk ke dalam lif.
"Ketika itulah saya terfikir yang dia nampak seperti Teoh, jadi saya bergegas ke bilik keselamatan untuk melihat CCTV, tetapi tiada seorang pun dalam lif tersebut.
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'Discrepancies in Banggarma's conversion'
Welfare Department director-general Meme Zainal Rashid should furnish evidence to substantiate her claim that S Banggarma was converted on Nov 30, 1983 in Rompin, Pahang.
Demanding this at a media…
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Demanding this at a media…
Welfare Department director-general Meme Zainal Rashid should furnish evidence to substantiate her claim that S Banggarma was converted on Nov 30, 1983 in Rompin, Pahang.
Demanding this at a media briefing today, Banggarma's lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung pointed out that the conversion certificate dates the conversion at Dec 28, 1989.
“The Welfare Department now claims that she was converted by her Hindu parents when she was a year old. There cannot be two conversions into Islam for the same person,” he said.
Gooi chided Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAINPP) president Shabudin Yahaya for saying that Banggarma, 27, is a Muslim and that her marriage to a Hindu is a legal issue.
He said the Welfare Department and Islamic authorities have failed to address the key question on the conversion of a minor by the administrators of the welfare home.
Section 80 of the Penang Administration of Islamic Affairs Enactment 1993 stipulates that anyone below the age of 18 shall not be converted to Islam without the consent of his or her parents.
Banggarma's conversion, Gooi said, was illegal from the start.
“By converting her at (the age of seven), the Islamic authorities infringed their own law.”
Gooi hoped that MAINPP will assist Banggarma by expunging records of her conversion, so that the issue can be resolved amicably.
Banggarma, who was present, told reporters that her father had never mentioned anything about the 1983 conversion.
“My father is a practising Hindu like me,” she said, showing a photo of her father with vibuthi (sacred ash) on his forehead.
He had enrolled her and three siblings - two elder brothers and a younger sister - at the home, after its welfare officers convinced him to do so, she said.
“He was shocked to hear that my siblings and I were converted to Islam in the welfare home,” Banggarma said, alleging that the four were then separated and have not met since.
'Welfare Department lied'
Meme had told Malaysiakini yesterday that Banggarma, whose Muslim name is Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah, was placed into the welfare home in Kepala Batas in March 1990 following a order under the Juvenile Courts Act of 1947, for her own protection.
Meme claimed Banggarma was found wandering aimlessly in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Questioning this, Banggarma pointed to the conversion certificate which shows that she was converted in 1989.
“It's a lie. The department is trying to cover this up,” said the mother of two.
Due to her Muslim name in her identity card, she has not been able to register her marriage to S Sockalingam. It had been conducted according to Hindu rites.
She has also been unable to register her husband as the father of the children in their birth certificates.
Her birth certificate shows that she was born on Aug 13, 1982 in Keratong, Pahang to plantation worker B Subramaniam and Latchumy Ramadu, both Hindus.
Describing herself as a staunch Hindu, Banggarma said she would fight till the end to restore her rightful identity.
“I was born as a Hindu, I live as a Hindu, I will die as a Hindu,” she said.
________________________________________________________________
Refrain from converting under-21s’
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Demanding this at a media briefing today, Banggarma's lawyer Gooi Hsiao Leung pointed out that the conversion certificate dates the conversion at Dec 28, 1989.“The Welfare Department now claims that she was converted by her Hindu parents when she was a year old. There cannot be two conversions into Islam for the same person,” he said.
Gooi chided Penang Islamic Affairs Council (MAINPP) president Shabudin Yahaya for saying that Banggarma, 27, is a Muslim and that her marriage to a Hindu is a legal issue.
He said the Welfare Department and Islamic authorities have failed to address the key question on the conversion of a minor by the administrators of the welfare home.
Section 80 of the Penang Administration of Islamic Affairs Enactment 1993 stipulates that anyone below the age of 18 shall not be converted to Islam without the consent of his or her parents.
Banggarma's conversion, Gooi said, was illegal from the start.
“By converting her at (the age of seven), the Islamic authorities infringed their own law.”Gooi hoped that MAINPP will assist Banggarma by expunging records of her conversion, so that the issue can be resolved amicably.
Banggarma, who was present, told reporters that her father had never mentioned anything about the 1983 conversion.
“My father is a practising Hindu like me,” she said, showing a photo of her father with vibuthi (sacred ash) on his forehead.
He had enrolled her and three siblings - two elder brothers and a younger sister - at the home, after its welfare officers convinced him to do so, she said.
“He was shocked to hear that my siblings and I were converted to Islam in the welfare home,” Banggarma said, alleging that the four were then separated and have not met since.
'Welfare Department lied'
Meme had told Malaysiakini yesterday that Banggarma, whose Muslim name is Siti Hasnah Vangarama Abdullah, was placed into the welfare home in Kepala Batas in March 1990 following a order under the Juvenile Courts Act of 1947, for her own protection.
Meme claimed Banggarma was found wandering aimlessly in Sungai Petani, Kedah.
Questioning this, Banggarma pointed to the conversion certificate which shows that she was converted in 1989.
“It's a lie. The department is trying to cover this up,” said the mother of two.Due to her Muslim name in her identity card, she has not been able to register her marriage to S Sockalingam. It had been conducted according to Hindu rites.
She has also been unable to register her husband as the father of the children in their birth certificates.
Her birth certificate shows that she was born on Aug 13, 1982 in Keratong, Pahang to plantation worker B Subramaniam and Latchumy Ramadu, both Hindus.
Describing herself as a staunch Hindu, Banggarma said she would fight till the end to restore her rightful identity.
“I was born as a Hindu, I live as a Hindu, I will die as a Hindu,” she said.
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Refrain from converting under-21s’
Posted on 01 December 2009
‘Refrain from converting under-21s’
The yet-to-be-registered Human Rights Party (HRP) has written to the premier, asking him to prevent the “forced and unwitting conversion” of children to Islam.
The yet-to-be-registered Human Rights Party (HRP) has written to the premier, asking him to prevent the “forced and unwitting conversion” of children to Islam.
He also said Najib should direct the Islamic authorities to enable those who have claimed to have been either forced or unwittingly converted to Islam, to revert to their original religion or to one of their choice.
In the letter dated Nov 28, Uthayakumar said ‘Islamised’ Malaysians should be granted their constitutional rights, including freedom of religion.
“Mr Prime Minister, these events of conversions are completely unnecessary. We should instead optimally utilise our time and energy to focus on nation-building in the true 1Malaysia spirit championed by your goodself,” he wrote.
Referring to the case of S Banggarma, 27, Uthayakumar said the Penang Islamic Religious Department and Islamic Religious Affairs Council should be made to reverse her conversion to Islam.
Now a mother of two, she claimed that she was unwittingly converted by two state religious authorities when she was seven and staying in the Taman Bakti children’s home in Kepala Batas.
Uthayakumar described her predicition as a case of “poverty-linked conversion”, in that she ended up in a welfare home because she was from a poor family. He said the welfare department took advantage of this to convert her to Islam.
‘Don’t use force’
In claiming that this is not an isolated case, he said forced conversions are rampant in orphanages, welfare homes, fully-residential government schools and other educational institutions.
He cited a 2007 case in which a 17-year-old Hindu youth, who was studying at a residential vocational school, was “pressured and brainwashed” to convert to Islam.
“This youth was then told not to inform his parents or anyone else,” he said in the letter to Najib.
However, the boy’s friend informed the father, who removed his son from the school.
“That was the end of his vocational skills training and his future career,” said Uthayakumar.
Uthayakumar pointed out that even PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has said that no one should be forced to convert to Islam.
It is the responsibility of Muslims, who make up the majority, to safeguard the interests and rights of the minority, he said.
Although Article 11 of the federal constitution guarantees freedom of religion, Umno-trained Islamic officers have been known to take the law into their own hands.
“How can Malaysians interact, foster genuine national unity and national integration, and co-exist as fellow Malaysians or as human beings in the first place?” he posed in the letter.
1,016,749 Biro Tata Negara “graduates” to implement UMNOs’ racist policies
UMNO is believed to have spent Millions if not Billions over the years to train 1,016,749 Biro Tata Negara “graduates” to implement their racist and religious extremist discriminatory policies in…
UMNO is believed to have spent Millions if not Billions over the years to train 1,016,749 Biro Tata Negara “graduates” to implement their racist and religious extremist discriminatory policies in particular against the poor and working class Indians. In the Mid Term Review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan it was reported that 1,016,749 participants benefitted (“graduated”) from the Biro Tata Negara programmes (Utusan Malaysia Buliten 27/6/08 at page 19).
Our analysis based on the complaints we have received from the ground is that these Biro Tata Negara “graduates” are trained in a standardised fashion to reject especially the poor, illiterate and working class Indians right at the very first counter level stage itself by the counter clerks. For example for Birth Certificates, Identity Cards Welfare and handicapped persons financial help, Socso, low interest government business loans, business opportunities, licences Felda, Felcra, Risda, Fama and Agropolitian land ownership schemes livestock breeding etc.
The clearest example ever is the 150,000 Indian children who have deliberately been denied their birth certificates when the law as per Article 14 of the Federal Constitution states “……… every person born on or after Malaysia Day ……… are citizens by operation of the law.” The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1978 states that “everyone has a right to nationality.” (The Sun 1/12/09 at page 10).
But these UMNO Biro Tatanegara “graduates” have caused not only grave pain and sufferings but also irreparable damage to the lives of especially these third, forth and even fifth generation Malaysian born 150,000 Indian children.
The NST on their 28/11/09 headlines however reports to the contrary.
Even the heart of the ISA Kamuniting prison had been infiltrated by these Biro Tata Negara officers who pulled up only the malay muslims and in their forum instilled hatred against the Indians and Hindraf. This caused discomfort to many of the participants including even some of the Jemaah Islamiah (J.I.) detainees who immediately came back and told us what went on. I had accordingly recorded this incident in my diary.
It was brought to our attention last month that in a civil servants “kursus” and at the end of a video presentation the photograph of Hindraf Chairman P. Waytha Moorthy appears with the sub titles “musuh utama negara”
We believe that even the Malaysia Courts and Judiciary have not been spared.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are believed to be thousands of such direct and indirect UMNOs’ discriminatory race and religious extremist based plans, policies and practices implemented on a day to day basis.
Attrocities of this nature does not take place in any other part of the world except in Malaysia. These kind of discrimination last ended in apartheid South Africa some twenty years ago in 1989 with the end of FW De Klerk’s rule.
We believe that even the Malaysian Courts and Judiciary have not been spared
But Malay-sian Prime Minister Najib Razak to the contrary goes on his One Malaysia propaganda.
P. Utahayakumar.
Secretary General (pro tem)
Indians difficulties by Devi Johor
Devi,
Kangkar Pulai
Johore 26/2/09
Jabatan Perdana Menteri,
Unit Penyelerasan Putra Jaya
Tuan,
Per:Puan Dhana Yang Hidup Merana
Berhubung dengan perkara di atas Puan Thanalechimy a/p Lechmanan 591004-01-5224 yang beralamat…
Devi,
Kangkar Pulai
Johore 26/2/09
Jabatan Perdana Menteri,
Unit Penyelerasan Putra Jaya
Tuan,
Per:Puan Dhana Yang Hidup Merana
Berhubung dengan perkara di atas Puan Thanalechimy a/p Lechmanan 591004-01-5224 yang beralamat No 46 Jalan Permas 2/2, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya 81750 Masai johore hidup sengsara kerana kehilangan suami beliau malah beliau tidak dapat bekerja kerana kecacatan di kaki .
Tambahan pula anak leleki beliau yang selam ini menanggung beliau telah cedera dan kakinya patah.
Harap Jabatan Tuan segera menangani masalah beliau dan keluarga beliau demi mencapai sasaran Perdana Menteri untuk membasmi kemiskinan.
Terima Kasih.
Yang Iklas,
devi
________________________________________________________Jabatan Perdana Menteri,
Unit Penyelarasan Dan Perlaksanaan,
Putra Jaya,
Tuan/Puan,
PER: PUAN RAJAMMAH HIDUP PENUH SENGSARA
Perkara diatas adalah dirujuk
2. Puan Rajammah yang berumur 72 tahun memerlukan prihatinan dari Jabatan Kebajikan disebabkan beliau tiada pendapatan tetap malah beliau hidup penuh sengsara setelah masalah kesihatan menjadi lebih serious dan tiada mendapat perhatian daripada anak-anak beliau.Puan Rajammah kini tinggal di alamat NO 56,Jalan Makmur 3,Taman Damai Jaya,Skudai,Johore
3.Setakat ini,tiada sebarang bantuan yang disalurkan oleh mana-mana pihak dalam meringankan beban warga emas tersebut.
4.Sepertimana,diwar-warkan masyarakat berprihatin juga 'Rakyat Didahulakan,Pencapaian Diutamakan' Saya amat mengalu-alukan bantuan dari pihak tuan.Kerjasama pihak tuan amat dihargai dan didahului dengan ucapan terima kasih.
Yang Benar,
Devi
________________________________________________________ Berhubung dengan perkara di atas Puan Mariyayee A/P Ramasamy meminta pertolongan dari Jabatan Kebajikan kerana beliau merupakan seorang ibu tunggal di mana suaminya Encik.Kumar meninggal dunia pada 13/9/07 kerana sakit jantung.Semenjak dari itu Puan Mariyayee menghadapi pelbagai dugaan untuk membesarkan anak lelaki beliau yang berumur 11tahun.Malah anaknya yang bernama Sivaratnam kini di Tingkatan Satu terpaksa membuat kerja sambilan bagi memenuhi keperluan harian.Keluarga ini kini tinggal di alamat NO 71,Jalan Ara 5,Taman Sri Pulai,Kangar Pulai,Johor
Bantuan dari Jabatan Kebajikan sedikit sebanyak memberi nafas baru bagi keluarga Puan Mariyayee.Harap pihak berkuasa segera menangani masalah keluarga ini.
Terima kasih.
Yang Iklas,
SivagamiDevi
SPM cap debate goes on
The federal government decision to revise 10-subject cap to 12-subject for SPM examination is the ‘same racist formula in different version’, alleged a DAP leader today.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister…
The federal government decision to revise 10-subject cap to 12-subject for SPM examination is the ‘same racist formula in different version’, alleged a DAP leader today.
Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy said the revised decision was still a re-designed Umno-initiated racial policy to eliminate vernacular languages in the country.
He said the Cabinet decision not to give official recognition and grade value to the two additional subjects allowed for students had actually retained the objective earmarked for the controversial education policy.
www.malaysiakini.com/news/
“It’s actually back to square one . . . it’s a meaningless and hollow victory.
“The revise will not help the development of vernacular languages in the country.
“It will discourage students from taking up the vernacular language and literature subjects for SPM due to lack of grade value.
“In long run, it would create shortage of teachers and consequently spell the end of Tamil and Chinese schools,” Ramasamy told Malaysiakini.
Yesterday the Putrajaya administration revised the SPM subject cap to enable the Indian and Chinese students to sit for Tamil and Mandarin language and literature subjects.
However, Education Minister Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the additional subjects to the six core and four relevant subjects would not be given official recognition.
www.malaysiakini.com/news/
In immediate response, MIC president S Samy Vellu lauded the cabinet for making the changes.
"I thank the prime minister and the deputy prime minister for agreeing to our (MIC's) request," he said.
However, Ramasamy blasted Samy Vellu for supporting the cabinet move, arguing that the original 10-cap SPM system should not have been introduced in the first place.
He likened Samy Vellu apparaisal to the federal government to an ISA detainee praising the government for releasing him from Kamunting Detention Centre “when he should not have been detained without trial in the first place.”
He said the new SPM cap policy was a betrayal to the Indian and Chinese communities by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s ‘1Malaysia’ government.
www.malaysiakini.com/news/
The cabinet's original decision to limit 10-subject cap has caused outcry because vernacular languages would lose its official recognition at the SPM level.
Under the system to be implemented next year, the six compulsory papers are Bahasa Malaysia, English, Islamic Education or Moral Studies, History, Mathematics and Science.
In most cases, science stream students have the choice of biology, chemistry, physics and additional mathematics to fill the remaining four subjects, while commerce students would be left with accountancy, commerce, economics and geography.
Many groups have pointed out that the 10-subject system leaves no room for non-literature subjects to be considered for SPM qualifications.
www.malaysiakini.com/news/
The government has decided to put a limit on the number of subjects a student can take in the SPM examination because some were taking up to 18 subjects as a way to increase their scores.
Ramasamy said several Indian leaders from political parties and non-governmental organisations plan to meet tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the next course of action to force the federal government to give grade value to vernacular language and literature subjects in SPM.
He said he would table an emergency motion over the issue at the Dewan Rakyat sitting on Monday, although he expected it to be rejected by the Speaker.
The ad-hoc SPM 12-Subject Action Group, comprising nearly 30 Indian-based NGOs, plans to go ahead with its protest over the issue in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 12.
www.malaysiakini.com/news/
The group chairperson A Thiruvenggadam said the latest cabinet decision failed to heed to the call made by the Indian community to safeguard the Tamil language.
“We wanted the government to allow students to take Tamil language and literature subjects for SPM with official recognition.
“The latest government decision defeats our objective and deceives the concept of 1Malaysia,” he told Malaysiakini.
The protest, which is expected to draw 5,000 people nationwide, is to be held at Wisma Peladang next Saturday morning.
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