Kuala Ketil Hindu cemetery issue is NOT settled yet

I write this letter in response to Malaysiakini report “MB: Kuala Ketil Hindu cemetery issue settled of the 23rd of Dec 2009 that the Kual Ketil Hindu Burial Ground Demolition by the PAS government is settled.

Let me quote from the MK report, “Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak said the matter was settled after the government held discussions with family members and the cemetery committee. He said more than 100 graves had been relocated and work on the campus would continue and was expected to complete by 2012. The case is settled. We have also briefed the Hindu Sangam association and they understand," he told reporters today. He said each family was given RM3,000 to relocate the grave of their loved one to a new site about four kilometres away.”

Now let me quote from a report I have just received from Kuala Ketil from the Pengerusi of the Kuala Ketil Tamilar Association, the organization that has been administering the Burial ground all along: “The Kedah Goverment has threatened the families that if they do not remove the tombs they would all be covered up and buried over by earth. Each of the families were given RM3000/= immediately upon removal. A total of 80 graves have been dug and the remains were buried in another existing grave yard. No new location has been offered as promised by the state government (9 acre). There are still about 90graves left and the concerned families have decided to stay put.”

It is obvious from this report that the Kedah MB is lying. The problem is far from resolved. And the remains in the 80 graves have not been moved to a new site, they have only been moved to another pre-existing site. Shame on the PAS MB for lying and misleading the public.

Firstly ,the Kedah PAS government should stop trying to circumvent the wishes of the people by bringing in an organization which has never played a role in administering the burial ground, the Hindu Sangam, into the picture to help the PAS government usurp the rights of the poor Indians of Kual Ketil. This is outright treachery, manipulation and an anti democratic practice, the type of stuff that UMNO has been famous for, whom we ( including PAS) are striving to throw out.

Secondly, The Kedah State Government should stop using strong arm tactics saying that the burial grounds will be covered up and totally destroyed even if the people do not remove the tombs. This is the same nonsense that the DAP government did to the people of Kampung Buah Pala, bullying the people into submission. So, is this brand stuff for the Pakatan Rakyat Coalition. Is this what PR means in their recent Announcement in the CPF ““Pakatan rejects policies that allow for corruption and other financial crimes and abuse of power. In order to ensure sustainable growth, oppressive policies that had only enriched the few should be replaced with a policy that ensures that the poor are assisted regardless of race.” Or is this just another in a string of “unfulfillable” promises.


Thirdly, we would like to remind the MB that if the Kedah State Government or anyone else proceeds with the demolition of the Burial Ground they will be committing a crime under Section 297 of the Penal Code. Under this law, a person could be jailed for at least a year for trespassing, damaging and desecrating the burial places of any religion.

When are the people going to get to see some real democracy at work. We have not seen it under the BN for the last 52 years. Now in the last 2 years we are not seeing it in the PR controlled States either. If PR is serious about their CPF pronouncements, we insist that they immediately stop this bullying, manipulating and lying about the Batu Pekaka Hindu Burial Ground issue and sit down with the true representative organization, the Kual Ketil Tamilar Association and hammer out a mutually agreeable solution.

Failing which PR will be exposing their true nature.

Narayan Ganesan
Pro-Tem Central Committee Membaer and Advisor to the Human Rights Party

China student cries foul over 8 days in lockup

Kedah MB: Kuala Ketil Hindu cemetery issue IS NOT settled

I write this letter in response to Malaysiakini’s report “MB: Kuala Ketil Hindu Cemetery issue settled of the 23^rd of Dec 2009 that the Kuala Ketil Hindu Burial Ground Demolition by the PAS government is settled.

Let me quote from the MK report, “Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak said the matter was settled after the government held discussions with family members and the cemetery committee. He said more than 100 graves had been relocated and work on the campus would continue and was expected to complete by 2012. The case is settled. We have also briefed the Hindu Sangam association and they understand,” he told reporters today. He said each family was given RM3,000 to relocate the grave of their loved one to a new site about four kilometres away.”

Now let me quote from a report I have just received from Kuala Ketil from the Pengerusi of the Kuala Ketil Tamilar Association, the Organization that has been administering the Burial ground all along: “The Kedah Goverment has threatened the families that if they do not remove the tombs the tombs would all be covered up and buried over by earth. Each of the families were given RM3000/= immediately upon removal. A total of 80 graves have been dug and the remains were buried in another existing grave yard. No new location has been offered as promised by the state government (9 acre). There are still about 90graves left and the concerned families have decided to stay put.”

It is obvious from this report that the Kedah MB is lying. The problem is far from resolved. And the remains in the 80 graves have not been moved to a new site, they have only been moved to another pre-existing site. Shame on the PAS MB for lying and misleading the public.

Firstly ,the Kedah PAS government should stop trying to circumvent the wishes of the people by bringing in a third party which has never played a role in administering the burial ground, the Hindu Sangam, into the picture to help the PAS government usurp the rights of the poor Indians of Kuala Ketil. This is outright treachery, manipulation and an anti democratic practice, the type of stuff that UMNO has been famous for, whom we ( including PAS) are striving to throw out.

Secondly, The Kedah State Government should stop using strong arm tactics saying that the burial grounds will be covered up and totally destroyed if the people do not remove the tombs. This is the same nonsense that the DAP government did to the people of Kampung Buah Pala, bullying the people into submission. So, is this brand stuff for the Pakatan Rakyat Coalition. Is this what PR means in their recent Announcement in the CPF ““Pakatan rejects policies that allow for corruption and other financial crimes and abuse of power. In order to ensure sustainable growth, oppressive policies that had only enriched the few should be replaced with a policy that ensures that the poor are assisted regardless of race.” Or is this just another in a string of “unfulfillable” promises.

Thirdly I would like to remind the MB that if they proceed with the demolition of the Burial Ground they will be committing a crime under Section 297 of the Penal Code before an amicable settlement is arrived at. Under this law, a person could be jailed for at least a year for trespassing, damaging and desecrating the burial places of any religion.

When are the people going to get to see some real democracy at work. We have not seen it under the BN for the last 52 years. Now in the last 2 years we are not seeing it in the PR controlled States either. If PR is serious about their CPF pronouncements, we insist that they immediately stop this bullying, manipulating and lying about the Batu Pekaka Hindu Burial Ground issue and sit down with the true representative organization, the Kual Ketila Tamilar Association and hammer out a mutually agreeable solution.

Failing which they PR will be exposing their true nature.

Narayan Ganesan

Pro-Tem Central Committee Membaer and Advisor to the Human Rights Party

PAS have ‘strong’ case of misconduct against Hasan, Khalid

By G Manimaran, Adib Zalkapli and Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali and his former deputy Khalid Samad are expected to be censured for misconduct after the party disciplinary committee wraps up its probe next month.

Disciplinary committee chairman Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man told The Malaysian Insider that they have a strong case against the two Selangor PAS leaders.

He disclosed that Hasan and Khalid, who is Shah Alam MP, will be called in for further explanation on Jan 7 and 9.

“We are satisfied with the written explanation given by them and we found that there is case against both of them. So, we decided to call them to give their verbal explanation on certain aspects,” Tuan Ibrahim told The Malaysian Insider.

However he did not say what type of further testimony was required from the two leader, who have publicly differed on policy.

“We have already informed Khalid and he agreed to cooperate with us and meet the committee on Jan 7.

“However no date has been set with Datuk Hasan and the secretariat will keep in touch with Datuk Hasan for him to meet us,” he added.

The duo are under investigation for making statements that are detrimental to the Islamist party.

Among the evidence submitted to the committee was an audio recording of a PAS leader ridiculing the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government.

Tuan Ibrahim, who is also one of the vice president, explained that any disciplinary action against them will depend on their explanation.

“There is no decision yet whether there is a need to call other witnesses,” he further explained.

The committee has three choices; give written warning, suspend or expel from the party depending on the severity of their offences.

“The disciplinary committee will decide the sentences, not the central committee. But they can appeal to central committee,” Tuan Ibrahim said.

He also dismissed rumours that Hasan has been sentenced by the disciplinary committee during their meeting on Wednesday night.

“We are still in the mid of studying their explanation, so no such thing,” he said.

The rumour of the disciplinary action against Hasan started to emerge yesterday morning, just hours after the disciplinary committee meeting on Wednesday night.

The disciplinary committee was also said to have recommended for Hasan to be suspended from the party for two-terms.

In retaliation to the decision Hasan is alleged to be making preparations to declare himself as an independent state assemblyman.

Hasan could not be reached for his comment.

On Wednesday, Hasan told reporters that he is willing to resign from party positions if asked by the party leadership.

The Malaysian Insider also understands that rumour of Hasan’s sacking was spread by party leaders from a rival faction in an attempt to pressure the disciplinary committee to punish the Gombak Setia assemblyman.

The group who has been opposing Hasan’s leadership are worried that the disciplinary committee is buying time before acquitting him, said a party insider.

However, the other two PAS vice presidents Salahuddin Ayub and Datuk Mahfuz Omar when contacted by The Malaysian Insider dismissed the rumour, saying that they would have been informed about it.

“Whatever the decision is, it must first be approved by the central committee but we have not heard anything yet,” said Mahfuz.

Salahuddin concurred with Mahfuz but said that he was ‘unsure’ if the disciplinary committee had indeed passed a sentence against Hasan.

Meanwhile Khalid laughed and described it just a “joke” of end of the year.

“I heard about the rumours and also some blogs carrying such information,” said Khalid who is also Shah Alam PAS chief.

However he explained that it is too early to say about the outcome of the disciplinary committee’s decision.

He assumed that they should only able to know the final outcome by the end of January.

“Now we are still at preliminary stage, they (the disciplinary committee) still going through our explanation and then they have to present at the central committee meeting for debate,” he said.

Wong stays mum, won't reveal names

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 — MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng (picture) today declined to reveal the list of the party's Central Committee (CC) members who had or had not tendered their resignation letters following today's deadline for them to state their stand.

In a statement here tonight, Wong said he did not want to cause any confusion in the party's effort to resolve the crisis the MCA is currently facing.

"The MCA headquarters'secretariat or myself will update the Special Committee on Party Re-elections chaired by Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek (on the status of the resignations)," he added.

Today is the due date for CC members who intend to resign as CC members to submit their resignation letters in a move to enable fresh elections to be held to resolve the party's leadership crisis.

On Dec 15, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and 12 other party leaders submitted undated letters of resignation as CC members to Wong.

At least 21 of the 30 CC members have to resign for fresh elections to be held.

Besides Liow, others who have tendered their resignations include Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung, veteran CC member Datuk Wong Mook Leong and vice-president Tan Kok Hong. Elected ordinary CC members who had also submitted their undated resignation letters were Lee Wei Kiat, Datuk Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Senator Datuk Yeow Chai Thiam, Datuk Hoh Khai Mun, Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai and Senator Datuk Alex Wong Siong Hwee.

Wong said the Special Committee would also convene a meeting as soon as possible and decide on the next possible course of action pertaining to the fresh elections. — Bernama

Enjin Hilang, Negara Boleh Hancur – Anwar Ridhwan

Dari Harakah Daily

Oleh Ismail Hashim

Sasterawan Negara ke-10, Datuk Dr Anwar Ridhwan menyifatkan kehilangan enjin F-5E milik Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia (TUDM) sebagai tanda aras keruntuhan moral pimpinan negara ini.

Beliau melahirkan kekesalannya kerana perkara yang tidak pernah dibayangkan boleh berlaku sebelum ini seperti kehilangan enjin pesawat yang saiznya besar tetapi mudah pula untuk diseludup ke luar negara.

“Kalau sampai dua enjin pesawat pejuang boleh hilang yang ahli silap mata terkenal dunia seperti David Copperfield tidak boleh hilangkannya tetapi yang menjaga keselamatan negara boleh hilangkan, ini satu gambaran runtuhnya iklim moral yang besar.

“Kita bimbang jika tidak diberi kesedaran tentang perlunya menjaga iklim moral dan integriti di kalangan generasi muda, negara ini akan rosak dan runtuh,” tegas Dr Anwar lagi.

Sebelum itu, Dr Anwar mengucapkan terima kasih atas kesudian Lembaga Muzium Selangor dan Perbadanan Adat Melayu dan Warisan Negeri Selangor menganjurkan majlis meraikan beliau sebagai Sasterawan Negara ke-10, semalam.

Majlis tersebut telah diadakan di Dewan Raja Lumu, di Muzium Selangor dengan kehadiran Sasterawan Negara, Datuk (Dr) A Samad Said yang turut menyampaikan ucapan, Bendahari Gapena, Haji Hamzah Hamdani yang yang menyampaikan ucaptama dipengerusikan oleh Dr Ibrahim Ghafar.

Turut menyerikan lagi majlis berkenaan adalah Penggiat sastera dan budaya Melayu, Prof Dr Siti Zainon Ismail, Abdul Ghafar Ibrahim, Dr Ami Masra, Ahmad Sarju dan ramai lagi termasuk penuntut-penuntut Universiti seperti MSU.

“Saya sebagai anak Selangor merasa bangga dan terharu kerana setelah nama-nama besar sastera dari lain menerima anugerah ini, saya memang tertunggu-tunggu, bilakah agaknya penulis dari Negeri Selangor akan menerima anugerah Sasterawan Negara ini.

“Syukur dengan keizinan Allah SWT saya telah terpilih untuk menjadi Sasterawan Negara pertama yang datang dari Selangor,” jelas Dr Anwar dengan perasaan terharu.

Majlis Bicara Tokoh Sasterawan Negara dan di sebelah petang diadakan Seminar Penulisan Kreatif dan Variasinya ini dirasmikan oleh Exco Selangor, Puan Rodziah Ismail dan penutup oleh Datuk Dr Hassan Mohd Ali.

Kedua acara ini adalah program pertama anjuran Perbadanan Adat Melayu dan Warisan Negeri Selangor di bawah naungan Sultan Selangor yang perasmian kewujudannya akan dilakukan pada Mac 2010 nanti.

Dalam pada itu, seorang lagi Sasterawan Negara, Datuk A Samad Said pula mencadangkan agar Kerajaan Negeri Selangor dapat menghadiahkan sebuah rumah sebagai ganjaran kepada Datuk Dr Anwar sebagai sasterawan pertama dari negeri ini.

Untuk rekod, Datuk Dr. Anuar Haji Rethwan dilahirkan di Sabak Bernam, Selangor pada 5 Ogos 1949. Lulusan Sarjana Muda Sastera pada 1973 dari Universiti Malaya, beliau kemudiannya memperolehi ijazah Sarjana Sastera (1983) dan Ijazah Doktor Falsafah (Ph.D)(1998) kesemuanya dari Universiti Malaya.

Beliau menumpukan kerjayanya di Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) sehinggalah bersara pada tahun 2005 dengan jawatan terakhirnya Pengarah Penerbitan DBP. Kini sebagai Dekan di Aswara, Kuala Lumpur.

Dalam dunia penulisan beliau terkenal sebagai seorang novelis dan penulis cerpen. Novelnya yang pertama ialah Hari-hari Terakhir Seorang Seniman yang memenangi Hadiah Novel Gapena-Yayasan Sabah, 1979. Sebuah lagi novelnya Arus (1985) memenangi Hadiah Sastera Malaysia 1984/1985.

Antara cerpen karyanya ialah Perjalanan Terakhir (1971), Dunia adalah Sebuah Apartmen (1973), Sesudah Perang (1976)dan Dari Kiev ke Moskova (1992). Karya beliau yang diilham dan disiapkan di Jepun pada tahun 2001 berjudul Naratif Ogonshoto memenangi Hadiah Sastera Perdana Malaysia 2000/2001.

Novel itu dengan judul “Bili i Nebili Ostrovov Ogonsoto” diterbitkan dalam bahasa Rusia (penterjemah Victor Pogadaev) pada tahun 2006 di Sanct-Petersburg (penerbit Paideia).

Antara pencapaian beliau di bidang sastera adalah Hadiah Karya Sastera Malaysia – Cerpen Perjalanan Terakhir (1971), Hadiah Karya Sastera Malaysia – Cerpen Dunia Adalah Sebuah Apartmen (1973), Hadiah Karya Sastera Malaysia – Cerpen Sesudah Perang (1976), Hadiah Karya Sastera Malaysia – Cerpen Sasaran.

Hadiah Karya Sastera Malaysia – Cerpen Sahabat (1982), Hadiah Karya Sastera Malaysia – Cerpen Menjadi Tua (1983), Hadiah Pertama peraduan mengarang novel anjuran Yayasan Sabah dan GAPENA 1 Hari-hari Terakhir Seorang Seniman (1979), Hadiah Sastera Malaysia 1984/1985 dengan novel Arus dan Anugerah Sasterawan Negara ke-10 pada 20 Ogos 2009 oleh Tengku Mizan

Wong Declines To Reveal MCA CC Members Who Handed In Resignation Letters

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- MCA secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng on Friday declined to reveal the list of the party's Central Committee (CC) members who had or had not tendered their resignation letters following today's deadline for them to state their stand.

In a statement here, Wong said he did not want to cause any confusion in the party's effort to resolve the crisis the MCA is currently facing.

"The MCA headquarters'secretariat or myself will update the Special Committee on Party Re-elections chaired by Deputy President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek (on the status of the resignations)," he added.

Today is the due date for CC members who intend to resign as CC members to submit their resignation letters in a move to enable fresh elections to be held to resolve the party's leadership crisis.

On Dec 15, MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and 12 other party leaders submitted undated letters of resignation as CC members to Wong. At least 21 of the 30 CC members have to resign for fresh elections to be held.

Besides Liow, others who have tendered their resignations include Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng, Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Hou Kok Chung, veteran CC member Datuk Wong Mook Leong and vice-president Tan Kok Hong.

Elected ordinary CC members who had also submitted their undated resignation letters were Lee Wei Kiat, Datuk Yu Chok Tow, Wong Nai Chee, Senator Datuk Yeow Chai Thiam, Datuk Hoh Khai Mun, Datuk Liew Yuen Keong, Datuk Edward Khoo Keok Hai and Senator Datuk Alex Wong Siong Hwee.

Wong said the Special Committee would also convene a meeting as soon as possible and decide on the next possible course of action pertaining to the fresh elections.

PPP Deems Murugiah An Illegal Deputy Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- The People's Progressive Party (PPP) deems Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk T. Murugiah to be an "illegal deputy minister" because of his refusal to give up the post although sacked from the PPP in June.

PPP president Datuk M.Kayveas, however, said he was leaving it to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to determine Murugiah's position as the senator had refused to give up the post voluntarily despite the appointment coming under the PPP's quota for ministerial posts.

Kayveas told this to reporters at the PPP's Christmas open house held at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here on Friday.

He added that Murugiah was an ungrateful person in that he did not champion the PPP's interests but instead used the opportunity to pursue his own political ambitions to become the president of PPP and in doing so tried to "stir trouble" in the party.

Among the VIPs who attended the open house were Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Senator Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

STORY OF THE YEAR - TEOH BENG HOCK INQUEST

Malaysian Mirror

THE INQUEST into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock is a continuing saga of monumental political intrigue. It implicates the workings of a prominent federal institution and rallies people from all backgrounds to the cause of justice.

To recap, Teoh fell nine stories to his death from the Shah Alam office of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in July.

His body was found on July 16 on the fifth floor of the Plaza Masalam building, a day after he was questioned by the MACC over allegations of financial abuses in the Selangor administration.

The inquest into his death, ordered by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak following suspicions of foul play by Teoh's family and several other groups, led to two autopsies and a continuing search for answers.

A BN's drive to discredit PR?

Notwithstanding a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the MACC methods of questioning, also ordered by Najib, there appears to be widespread consensus that the anti-corruption body had used forceful techniques to get its answers from witnesses.

Opponents of the Najib-led federal administration say the events that led to Teoh's death gave credence to their belief that Teoh's interrogation was part of a Barisan Nasional drive to discredit Pakatan politicians after their success in the March 2008 elections.

Admittedly, the ruling coalition's confidence was shaken after it lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time in five decades.

But Najib and his federal colleagues said this should not be used to accuse the ruling coalition of taking revenge on the opposition through the MACC and the late Teoh.

At the time of Teoh's death, Najib's government was less than four months old but it had introduced a series of economic reforms to woo the people under a “1Malaysia” concept.

Meantime, several side issues had surfaced from the inquest, one of which was the long hours of interrogation Teoh was subjected to by MACC officers.

The most contentious side issue was a so-called mystery letter delivered on Aug 18 to lawyer Gobind Singh Deo, who is holding a watching brief for Teoh's family.

The letter was sent by anonymous parties claiming to be MACC officers who urged the authorities to probe a senior MACC official for corruption and the involvement of a politician in Teoh's death.

No adequate clarification

Former Selangor mentri besar Dr Khir Toyo, whose name was stated in the letter, denied allegations in it that he was involved in a so-called conspiracy with an MACC official to bring down the state government.

In August, a video of men in uniform assaulting a person in their custody began circulating as a supposed video of Teoh's interrogation.

The Bukit Aman federal police headquarters denied they were policemen and ruled out the possibility that it involved Teoh as the video had already started to make the rounds in June.

A political observer attributed the video's popularity to the government's alleged failing to provide adequate clarification about the circumstances of Teoh's interrogation.

"The authorities are shedding little light about what happened to Teoh. This allows rumour mongers to spread ridiculous things," he said.

That, in essence, has kept the inquest very much in the media spotlight.

The Malaysian Mirror unequivocally picks the Teoh Beng Hock inquest as the Top Story for 2009.

Kayveas says he has proposed to PM a replacement for Murugiah

The Star
By IZATUN SHARI AND NURBAITI HAMDAN

KUALA LUMPUR: People’s Progressive Party president Datuk M Kayveas said he had proposed the name of the person to replace Senator Datuk T Murugiah as Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister to the Prime Minister.

Kayveas said that Murugiah’s position as senator and deputy minister was illegal as the party had sacked him.

“The Prime Minister has asked for a name (to replace Murugiah). I have given him the name,” he told newsmen at PPP’s Christmas open house at PWTC here Friday.

When asked to comment on whether he was confident that Murugiah would be replaced, he said : ”That’s the Prime Minister’s prerogative. It’s not important to me at all. I’m not concerned. I just want to save the party from this troublemaker.”

Kayveas said that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was aware of the problems created by Murugiah but he probably needed an appropriate time to make the necessary change.

He denied that there was a crisis in the party but said it was merely a problematic individual who was greedy and arrogant after being given a chance to hold a position in the government.

“For 15 years, the party had never had as much trouble as we are facing now,” he added.

He also denied trying to influence the Prime Minister as he was seen at most of Najib’s functions.