Gavaskar Brian Raj (Malaysiakini)
If they had hopes that their memorandum on education aid for high-achieving Indian youth would be accepted by the Agong Mizan Zainal Abidin today, the Human Rights Party (HRP) only faced disappointment as none of the palace representatives appeared to receive them.
About 50 HRP members gathered at the gates of the national palace earlier this afternoon and were met by a palace security official who initially said that memorandum would be accepted.
After several minutes, however, the security official returned to inform the activists that no palace official would receive the memorandum on the King’s behalf.
Speaking to the press at the palace gates, HRP chief P Uthayakumar expressed his disappointment that there was no one at hand to receive their petition.
This despite a palace official’s acknowledgment of having received the party’s letter requesting for an appointment to submit the memorandum, said the lawyer.
“We are disappointed that no palace representatives are here to receive our memorandum. We will just leave it at the gate and disperse peacefully,” said Uthayakumar, who showed to reporters the stamp of acknowlegement on HRP’s letter to the palace.
HRP information chief S Jayathas then placed copies of the memorandum and other papers containing more information on the issue on the ground at the palace gates.
UN help sought
Among the other documents collated with the memorandum, were the 31 police reports that HRP and other Indian-based groups and individuals had lodged against the BN-led government, a collection of 14,207 signatures in support of scholarships and university placements for Indian youths and a list of 69 high-achieving Indian students.
Wheelchair-bound HRP members were among those gathered at the palace holding banners which called upon the King to intervene and redress the problem of marginalisation of Indian students.
Besides calling upon the King to set up a royal commission of inquiry on the problem, the memorandum also called for the abolition of the higher secondary school STPM examinations and their replacement with a single pre-university course for all.
The HRP also called for a United Nations official to head the selection committee for the allocation of public service department (JPA) scholarships as well as matriculation and university placements for the next five years.
“This UN official will ensure that the allocation process is done equally,” said Uthayakumar.
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About 50 HRP members gathered at the gates of the national palace earlier this afternoon and were met by a palace security official who initially said that memorandum would be accepted.
After several minutes, however, the security official returned to inform the activists that no palace official would receive the memorandum on the King’s behalf.
Speaking to the press at the palace gates, HRP chief P Uthayakumar expressed his disappointment that there was no one at hand to receive their petition.
This despite a palace official’s acknowledgment of having received the party’s letter requesting for an appointment to submit the memorandum, said the lawyer.
“We are disappointed that no palace representatives are here to receive our memorandum. We will just leave it at the gate and disperse peacefully,” said Uthayakumar, who showed to reporters the stamp of acknowlegement on HRP’s letter to the palace.
HRP information chief S Jayathas then placed copies of the memorandum and other papers containing more information on the issue on the ground at the palace gates.
UN help sought
Among the other documents collated with the memorandum, were the 31 police reports that HRP and other Indian-based groups and individuals had lodged against the BN-led government, a collection of 14,207 signatures in support of scholarships and university placements for Indian youths and a list of 69 high-achieving Indian students.
Wheelchair-bound HRP members were among those gathered at the palace holding banners which called upon the King to intervene and redress the problem of marginalisation of Indian students.
Besides calling upon the King to set up a royal commission of inquiry on the problem, the memorandum also called for the abolition of the higher secondary school STPM examinations and their replacement with a single pre-university course for all.
The HRP also called for a United Nations official to head the selection committee for the allocation of public service department (JPA) scholarships as well as matriculation and university placements for the next five years. “This UN official will ensure that the allocation process is done equally,” said Uthayakumar.
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