Perkasa: Call for boycott of Utusan a desperate move

Perak Perkasa has regarded the call by certain MCA leaders for a boycott of Utusan Malaysia as a desperate move to garner support for themselves.

Its chief Ahmad Zaini said the leaders who had been harsh in hitting out at the newspaper were among those who were no longer accepted by the Chinese community itself.

"They are now trying various ways including playing up sensitive issues without considering the long-established camaraderie among the Barisan Nasional components, to regain support from the Chinese community.

"There's no need to pay attention to their call as they themselves are no longer acceptable in the eyes of the Chinese community," he said in response to the call by MCA for the people to boycott Utusan Malaysia for proposing the "1Malay 1Bumi" concept, which the party has regarded as legitimising racial discrimination.

MCA deputy publicity chief Loh Seng Kok said the concept mooted by the newspaper was aimed at punishing the Chinese for exercising their democratic rights during the elections.

Ahmad said while the call by such leaders should be ignored, recognition should be given to those who were still loyal to the BN concept, as leaders who could fight for the Chinese community's interest.

He said Perak Perkasa also wanted Umno, as the main pillar of BN, to advise leaders of the component parties, especially MCA and Gerakan, not to continue playing up sensitive issues that touched on Malay rights, openly.

"Why the need to discuss these issues openly through the media and not behind closed doors at the BN meetings? Doesn't this indicate that there's a hidden agenda?" he said.

- Bernama

Rebuilding of Sri Maha Mariamman Temple begins

(Malaysiakini) The controversial Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya, Padang Jawa which was demolished in November 2007 is set to be rebuilt on 15,000 sq feet of land near the Keretapi Tanah Melayu quarters.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place today at the site in Padang Jawa and was attended by Selangor state excos, community leaders and the Indian settlers from the former Kampung Rimba Jaya.

The temple was ordered to be torn down by the authorities as it stood in the vicinity of the Rimba Jaya squatter settlement. Its controversial demolition by the state government in 2007 had led to many Indians turning their backs on BN.

The Hindu groundbreaking ceremony started at 9.00am with bricks coupled with religious paraphernalia arranged in a four foot-deep hole, which will sit right below the main altar of the soon to be built temple.

Land ceded by developer

According to the Selangor State Health, Plantation Workers, Poverty and Caring Government Committee Chairman, Dr A Xavier Jayakumar, the land was donated by the developer, Ken Rimba Jaya.

"The land was given to state government, and was ceded by the developer. Then we, the state government will decide, whom, and how much of the land will be given," said Xavier (left) when queried on how the land was allocated to this temple.

He also said that all the land for places of worship in Selangor is gazetted under the state secretary.

Xavier also announced that RM300,000 had been allocated by the Selangor state government for the building fund and the land will be managed by the temple association.

Xavier the temple saviour

The temple committee and community leaders in Padang Jawa honoured Xavier with garlands and gave him the title "temple saviour".

According to the temple committee chairperson, Madhu Manogaran, the Selangor state government and Xavier has worked tirelessly to help save temples in Selangor.

"We are very grateful to the state government, Tan Sri Khalid and Xavier for helping us to rebuild this temple, which means a lot to us," said Madhu during his speech.

Xavier also said that the state government had managed to help around 70 temples by giving them land.

"We are prepared to do more for the Indian community, last year we spent RM2.5 million for Hindu places of worship," said Xavier in his speech.

The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, along with the squatter settlement of Rimba Jaya, was demolished in 2007 by the then BN-led state government as part of its Zero Squatter programme.

The demolition of the temple led to a massive protest by Indian groups and helped trigger the historic Hindraf rally on Nov 25 that year.

Al Jazeera on Sri Lanka’s War Crimes-Special Feature, Killing Fields of Nandikadal

Sri Lanka's war against LTTE has many questions left to be addressed

Killing Fileds of Nandikadal

War Crimes

Aronite thinking differs with the line taken by LTTE and its leadership and does not absolve their side of infraction of Human Rights. Having said that, the grisly record of the Sri Lanka in conducting this most shocking and barbaric violation of human lives and dignity, with a singular Militarist thrust of decimating a Rebel outfit, needs to be brought out. Together with the collusion of Indian state prompted not beyond questioning a personal vendetta of a leader for her slain husband, the most shameful conduct of self appointed and self proclaimed tamil leaders who had started this conflict course with a sinhalese majority based on seperatist tamil idenitity, and ditched them at a dire straits and a life and death situation, all needs be studied.

Further the future course of Elam tamils too must be redefined. It is presently poor in communication skills harping on the guerilla movement that had ended with so much loss, rather than on Human Rights that were thrown to the winds and the need to win back Tamils their legitimate rights and reasonable demands for self governance. This cannot be done, as long as old Fascist political culture is retained instead of a new beggining with a democratic orientation and peaceful means of struggle.

Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish on Apr 21, 2011

In May 2009, Sri Lanka’s decades long civil war with the Tamil Tigers, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam came to a bloody close after government forces launched a massive offensive.

What exactly happened during the last days of the battle is still the subject of fierce debate, but it is clear that as the rebel perimeter shrank, around a third of a million civilians were trapped between the two armies and tens of thousands were killed.

Vell Paari to quit as MIC Youth adviser

Since many in the Youth wing are unhappy with him for backing the reinstatement of rebel leaders into the party, Vell Paari decides to vacate his post.

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth adviser S Vell Paari has decided to relinquish his post since there are voices of discontent in the wing over his stand to back the reinstatement of several rebel leaders.

Preferring to focus on his new appointment as MIC’s publicity and communication chief, Vell Paari said he agreed to bury the hatchet because the interest of the party outweighed personal differences.

“When my father (former president S Samy Vellu) and current president G Palanivel can look beyond this episode and see the future, why shouldn’t I do the same for the sake of unity?” he told FMT.

Yesterday, the MIC central working committee resolved to offer an amnesty to former members who were sacked, dropped, or left on their own accord after the 2008 general election.

Palanivel also said those who returned would be reinstated into the posts they had won during the party polls two years ago.

Among those to be given a new lease of life were former MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan and former CWC members KP Samy and G Kumar Amaan.

The trio, sacked by Samy Vellu last year, were the main players behind the now defunct Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu or GAS.

Vell Paari said that he told the CWC yesterday that the two most affected parties by Mugilan and GAS were his father and Palanivel.

“If not for Mugilan, Palanivel would have been named as the candidate for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election last year.

“So when my father and Palanivel can forgive them, I as a son need to adhere to my father’s wishes and as a MIC member, help the president sow the seeds of unity once again,” he said.

“To be fair, the three were elected by the party delegates, so if you bring them back into the party, they must also be reinstated to their previous posts,” he added.

Unity in the party is vital

Vell Paari stressed that unity in the party was of utmost importance, especially now when the Barisan Nasional government had realised the value of Indian votes.

“In 2008, BN found out the hard way what it is like to underestimate the Indians. Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is willing to listen to our demands, but we cannot have his ear if we are fragmented.

“MIC must be united and strong. If riddled with internal squabbles and factionalism, how can we fight for the community that we represent. We must stand united, as one force,” he said.

Vell Paari noted that Najib was being accused of breaking up the Indian community by sidestepping MIC and communicating with NGOs and other parties.

However, the MIC leader added this was not the case. “He did not break up the Indian community, we broke ourselves up.”

Since voicing his backing for the reinstatement of the GAS trio, Vell Paari had come under intense attack on several blogs, where among others, he was accused of betraying MIC Youth chief T Mohan.

Commenting on this, the MIC leader said that he did not have an axe to grind with Mohan, and pointed out that he had backed the Youth chief against his cousin, SP Muthuvelu, during the last party polls.

“I chose Mohan over blood ties. Until today, my cousin does not talk to me. He told my mother that if not for me, he would have defeated Mohan in the polls,” he added.

Vell Paari said that some of the criticism on the blogs were personal in nature, but they did not bother him.

“Politics is in my blood and my skin is thicker than a buffalo’s hide. Those who attack me can hide behind pseudonyms, but I know who they are,” he added.

Not interested in positions

Vell Paari also denied the accusation that he had made an about turn on his stand regarding the sacked leaders because he was interested in positions.

“Let me tell you a little secret. Prior to the 2008 general election, it was suggested that I contest the Tapah parliamentary seat while (MIC vice-president M) Saravanan contest in Sungai Siput.

“My father initially decided to accept a senatorship and become a minister. But we received feedback that support was dwindling in Sungai Siput and it would be best for my father to stand.

“So my father decided to defend his seat while Saravanan was given the Tapah seat. I did not complain about this or kick up a fuss,” he added.

Vell Paari also revealed that he was initially offered a senate position following the expiry of MIC member T Murugiah’s term.

“Before the Tenang by-election in January, (party veteran) KS Nijhar and Palanivel told me that the ‘senate is yours’. But I later told them to give it to someone more experienced.

“I was also among those who suggested that the senatorship be given to P Subayah in line with the party’s strategy to fortify its presence in Penang.

“I could have also contested for vice-presidency in the last party polls, but I chose to focus on ensuring that Palanivel remains as deputy president and attacked (contender) S Subramaniam.

“As a result, I have two legal suits pending against me. The bottom line is, I’m not interested in positions. My decisions are made in the party’s interest,” he added.

Interlok: Sex scene, rape scenes, suicide by hanging

On page 202 in the unabridged version of Interlok, there is the scene showing Kim Lock (father to the main Chinese character Cing Huat) “mengadakan hubungan jenis” with his mistress Mei Hua, a prostitute, after both get high on opium — as is the custom of their loveless sexual union.
Cing Huat’s wife later finds Mei Hua’s body hanging from the jamban (outhouse toilet): …

“Dan, alangkah terperanjatnya lagi demi dia melihat orang tergantung dalamnya dengan lidah terjelir keluar”

and needless to say, the shocked woman starts screaming hysterically at the gruesome sight. Mei Hua’s suicide is described on page 218.

On pages 337-8, there is the scene of the bad guy Suppiah raping Malini, wife of the main Indian character Maniam. She struggles, her sari is torn. Her coli is torn. His hands grope her breasts.


Our translation: “By then, Malini could not resist any longer. It has been three years since (her husband) Maniam left her. She was still young and when the secret places were aroused, she no longer had the willpower to fight (her body’s urges) anymore. She knew it was wrong, but how could she summon the strength to fight. Suppiah’s burly torso was not only a weapon to defeat her resistance but also the tool to weaken her will.”
“
Malini hangs herself from a belimbing tree in shame when she becomes pregnant as a result of the rape.
In the student edition, Malini dies in bed from fever.
There are several editions of Interlok. The student edition was first printed in 2010 and copyrighted to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Earlier editions in 1971, 1973 and a reprint in 1996 (the year Abdullah Hussain got his Tokoh Sastera award) are copyrighted to the author.
On pages 457-8, a lecherous old communist guerrilla Teck Hock attempts to rape P0h Eng, Cing Huat’s daughter. It’s described how he pins her down and embraces her.

“Teck Hock was on top of her body.”

“Are you mad? screamed Poh Eng. “Gua anggap lu seperti gua punya bapa.”
“I’m not your father,” he replied. “I’m just an ordinary man …”.
Both rape scenes have been taken out from the student edition.

.
Is this sick book suitable for school?
.

There are many unappropriate elements in the book, so much so that the original had to be filtered (edited by Ruziati binti Abdul Rani and Baharin bin Ayob) and condensed to something like a hundred pages shorter for student reading.
If the censors had done such a thorough job of removing the paragraphs depicting sex, suicide and the violence, why did they leave the racist bits intact?!
Is a novel that has to be tampered with so much really a piece of outstanding literature for 16-year-olds to study for a major exam?
So much for Gapena’s (Malay writers association) posturing that not a single word in the novel can be allowed to be changed despite complaints by the Indians.
Hullo, the 503-page original book has already been truncated to 418 pages for its student edition.
The fact that the Interlok was butchered in length goes to show that Gapena — defending the book’s “freedom of expression” and insisting it can’t be touched — are nothing more than spindoctors.
There is a prawn behind the rock (udang sebalik batu) for this book’s selection as compulsory study.