Scores killed in India transport accidents

At least 60 people were killed in two major rail and road accidents in the south and north of the country.

(Al Jazeera) At least 60 people were killed in two major rail and road accidents in India on Monday.

While at least 32 passengers were killed by a fire on a train in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, 29 pilgrims were killed in a collision between two trucks in the northern state of Haryana.

The pilgrims were killed when they were returning home after visiting a Hindu temple in the nearby Bhiwani district of Rajasthan state, about 120km west of the capital New Delhi.

The passengers on the train bound for the city of Chennai were killed when one of its carriages caught fire while it was moving.

The fire was discovered at a railway station in Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. The coach was completely gutted, with rescuers forced to use gas cutters to access parts of it. At least 22 injured people have been hospitalised.

'Horrifying' accounts

Local official B. Sridhar said the fire was believed to have been caused by a short circuit in the coach, although a railway spokesman said it may have been caused by "someone carrying in flammable materials on the train".

Al Jazeera's Prerna Suri, reporting from New Delhi, said that survivors had shared some "horrifying" accounts of the fire.

"They say that since this accident happened at 4:30am local time (23:00 GMT on Sunday), most passengers were asleep, and so when the fire broke out, most did not have much time to escape. Some are saying that the doors were also jammed, literally trapping a few people inside," she reported.

Sreedhar said that identifying the dead was a difficult task.

"Some of the bodies are charred beyond recognition,'' he said, adding that officials had made preliminary identifications based on the reservations chart from the train's records.

Images of the site showed thick, black smoke still pouring out of the charred carriage, as dawn broke over the accident scene. Dozens of rescuers, survivors and crowds of onlookers milled around the burned carriage, as the blackened bodies of victims were pulled out of the wreckage and laid in rows alongside the railway line.

Family members of the victims wailed and screamed, while other dazed survivors sat quietly with their belongings.

"I woke up when people were rushing into our compartment, I was in S-10 which was attached to the S-11 coach that caught fire," passenger Shantanu, who gave only one name, told the NDTV news channel. "There was smoke all around. We tried to open the emergency window, people jumped out of it."

The carriage was designed to carry around 70 people, and was travelling at about 110km per hour when it passed through Nellore station.

Railway Minister Mukul Roy said an investigation was under way.

"Nothing can be excluded and nothing can be said without an investigation," Roy told reporters shortly before rescue officials wrapped up their nearly 12-hour search for bodies.

'Sedia kaunter polis supaya pengunjung rasa selamat'

Alevi family's home stoned, stable torched in southeastern Turkey

Evli family's home was attacked. DHA photo

The home of an Alevi family was stoned and their stables burned down by an angry mob yesterday after the family allegedly told a Ramadan drummer not to wake them for sahur, the meal before sunrise.

Members of the Evli family in the Sürgü village of the southeastern Malatya province allegedly asked a Ramadan drummer not to drum in front of their home the night of July 28 as they were not fasting and had work early in the morning. The two sides quarreled after the drummer rejected the family’s request.

News of the incident was heard throughout the village and a mob of around 60 people gathered in front of the Evli family’s house yesterday. The group hurled stones at the family's home and said the family members were “Kurds and Alevis.” The small contingent of gendarmerie soldiers in the villlage was unable to contain the crowd so reinforcements were called in from the Doğanşehir district.

The group reportedly chanted slogans, yelled “Allahu ekber,” meaning God is great, sang the Turkish national anthem and said “this family will leave this place.” Evli family members turned off their lights and hid in their homes in terror. The group also set a stable belonging to the Evli family on fire, which prompted the gendarmerie to fire shots into the air.

Security forces were able to disperse the crowd after reinforcements arrived.

Hasan Hüseyin Evli, whose home was attacked, said his family had wanted to live in peace together as Alevis and Sunnis. “We do not want such incidents, we have never hurt anyone,” he said.

Leyla Evli showed journalists the stones hurled at her home by the mob. “They came to lynch us. They shouted ‘death to Kurds, death to Alevis.’ They told us to leave and threatened to kill us if we did not,” she said.

Calm was restored in Sürgü after gendarmerie forces took measures in the village to increase security and placed officers on patrol around the Evli family’s house today.

Couple stoned to death over 'illegal' affair

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A spokesman for the radical Islamic group controlling northern Mali says a couple who had an adulterous relationship was stoned to death this weekend in the town of Aguelhok.

Sanda Abou Mohamed, a spokesman for the group Ansar Dine, told The Associated Press by telephone on Sunday that the couple was executed according to Shariah law.

A resident of the northern city of Kidal, who had spoken to witnesses in nearby Aguelhok, said the man and woman were buried up to their necks, then pelted with stones until they died earlier Sunday. The resident requested anonymity because he feared for his safety.

The northern half of Mali was overrun by the rebels, including the Islamic group, in early April, following a coup in Mali’s capital.

Hindraf chairman Waytha gets his passport

He was issued his travel document by the Malaysian High Commission in Singapore this morning. He will enter Malaysia through Johor on Wednesday.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian High Commission in Singapore has issued a passport to Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy, allowing him to return to Malaysia as a lawful citizen as planned on Aug 1.

He had flown into Singapore late yesterday from London and went to the high commission this morning to apply for his passport.

“I have been given my passport and I will enter Malaysia through Johor on Aug 1. Of course, I am open to the possibility of the authorities arresting me as soon as I enter Malaysia,” he told FMT today.

Earlier, attempts by Malaysian High Commission in London on Friday to issue a valid passport to Waythamoorthy hit a snag when the officials discovered an international alert to prevent the Hindraf supremo from travelling to any part of the world with a Malaysian passport.

Upon checking with their Malaysian counterparts in Putrajaya, the officers then had informed Waythamoorthy that his was a special case needing personal clearance from Malaysian police force chief, the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar himself.

Waythamoorthy had then flown out of London to Singpore on his UN-issued travel documents before making a fresh application at the Malaysian High Commission in the city-state this morning.

“My UK lawyer Ram Narayanan was with me as well and when me made the application for the passport for me, the officials first wanted to issue a one-way travel document.

“We however insisted on being issued a Malaysian passport for me, which they eventually did. I think the IGP has removed the ban on the manner,” he said.

Waythamoorthy’s passport was revoked by the federal government in March 2008 after he had left the country to London following the crackdown on Hindraf following the November 27, 2007 rally.

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/30/hindraf-chairman-waytha-gets-his-passport/#ixzz228SJUCMu

Pembeli rumah desak pemaju selesaikan masalah CF

Lebih 20 pembeli rumah terbabit mendakwa pemaju gagal mengotakan janji untuk menyelesaikan masalah CF selewat-lewatnya selepas sambutan Tahun Baru Cina tahun ini.

SENAWANG – Suasana sambutan Hari Raya Aidil Fitri dua minggu lagi mungkin suram kepada pembeli rumah Taman Tuanku Jaafar (Fasa 3), Senawang, apabila hasrat mereka untuk mendiami rumah baru masih tidak kesampaian apabila pemaju masih gagal memperolehi Sijil Layak Menduduki (CF).

Lebih 20 pembeli rumah terbabit mendakwa pemaju gagal mengotakan janji untuk menyelesaikan masalah CF selewat-lewatnya selepas sambutan Tahun Baru Cina tahun ini. Walaubagaimanapun sehingga kini, belum ada sebarang berita gembira buat pembeli rumah terbabit.

“Kalau ikutkan perjanjian kami dapat menduduki rumah ini selepas dua tahun. Adalah menjadi hasrat saya untuk menyambut bulan Ramadhan dan Aidil Fitri tahun ini di rumah baru ini.

“Anak saya juga mahu berkahwin dan menjadi impian saya untuk adakan majlis perkahwinan anak saya di rumah baru ini, tetapi semua impian saya ini sudah terbantut kerana rumah tidak boleh didiami tanpa CF.

“Saya ada hubungi pemaju beberapa kali dan bertanya status rumah ini, tetapi pemaju meminta saya bersabar”, kata Abu Bakar Ujang yang berusia 59 tahun.

Zurina Maxtar, 34 pula membuat keputusan drastik dengan menduduki rumah ini sejak sebulan yang lalu walaupun rumah ini masih belum memiliki CF.

`Tinggal di rumah sewa’

“Saya terpaksa mengambil keputusan ini kerana tidak mampu lagi menanggung kos perbelanjaan hidup yang tinggi dan perlu membayar sewa rumah lain.

“Saya tiada pilihan lain kerana gaji saya sudah dipotong untuk bayar ansuran rumah. Pada masa yang sama saya dan suami terpaksa membayar duit sewa rumah jika terus tinggal di rumah sewa.

“Kami sudah putus asa dan oleh sebab itu kami mengambil keputusan nekad untuk berpindah ke rumah baru ini walaupun rumah ini belum mempunyai bekalan air dan CF”, jelas Zurina.

Mehrad Sulaiman, 41, berharap ada pihak yang dapat campur tangan menyelesaikan masalah yang sudah berlarutan sekian lama.

“Kami bercadang menubuhkan satu jawatankuasa khas untuk mencari jalan penyelesaian berhubung masalah ini”.

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Paroi, Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani (PAS) berkata beliau difahamkan bahawa pihak berkuasa tempatan masih belum mengeluarkan CF kepada pemaju kerana ada masalah lereng bukit yang pemaju perlu selesaikan terlebih dahulu di lorong 7 hingga 10.

“Walaubagaimanapun pemaju pula berkata lereng bukit yang bermasalah (hakisan tanah) itu berada di luar kawasan perumahan yang mereka bangunkan.

“Saya berharap pihak berkuasa tempatan dan pemaju dapat duduk berbincang dan selesaikan masalah ini dengan segera demi kepentingan pembeli rumah.

“Rata-rata pembeli rumah yang menemui saya menghadapi kesukaran kewangan apabila terpaksa membayar pinjaman perumahan kepada pihak bank dan pada masa yang sama terpaksa juga membayar sewa rumah kerana masih tinggal di rumah sewa sementara rumah baru ini boleh diduduki”, kata Mohd Taufek.

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/30/pembeli-rumah-desak-pemaju-selesaikan-masalah-cf/#ixzz228Rzd5eX

Karpal to PAS: Don’t spoil march to Putrajaya

The DAP leader tells the Islamic party’s youth chief to stop giving BN the ammunition to attack Pakatan Rakyat over the hudud issue.

PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Karpal Singh has again warned PAS not to spoil Pakatan Rakyat’s chances in the 13th general election by continuing to make contradictory statements regarding its stand on setting up an Islamic state and instituting hudud laws.

“PAS is only scuttling Pakatan Rakyat’s march to Putrajaya in the coming elections with contradictory statements on its stand on Islamic state,” he said today.

“Hudud is not included in the Pakatan Rakyat’s common policy framework, Buku Jingga. Likewise, it will not be included in the common manifesto of Pakatan Rakyat.”

He was responding to a statement by PAS youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi that those rejecting God’s laws would be considered “kufur”, an Arabic word often translated as “disbelievers”.

According to the New Straits Times, Nasrudin, in a posting on Twitter, said: “Karpal is consistent in rejecting hudud because he is a kufur. PAS must continue with its struggle to uphold Islam.

Karpal urged PAS to “stop supplying cannon fodder to the Barisan Nasional to be aimed at Pakatan”, saying that it was “counter productive and politically naive”.

He also warned Nasrudin to “mind his language” and also questioned if Nasrudin was the “spokesman of PAS”.

“I must warn this political upstart to mind his language. No one, no party, no organisation can claim to have a monopoly on God.

“I must state with all the force at my command that I believe in God. There is only one God and all religions reflect that.”

Karpal noted that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had publicly stated on June 3 last year that the Quran mentioned a “welfare state”, not an “Islamic state”.

“This reflects beyond the pale of a doubt that PAS has given up its aim to set up an Islamic state,” he said. “PAS has, clearly, opted for a welfare state.”

He said that since hudud was a component of the Islamic state, “any attempt by PAS now to espouse introduction of hudud in the country badly reflects the bona fides of what was decided at PAS’s Muktamar last year.”

He also noted that on June 8 last year, the New Straits Times quoted PAS spiritual adviser Nik Aziz Nik Mat as saying that the party was right in shifting its focus from “Islamic state” to “welfare state”.

The hudud question has long been a thorny issue between Islamist PAS and secular DAP, and critics of Pakatan Rakyat have constantly picked on this, saying the opposition bloc had not been able to communicate a clear stance to put the issue to rest.

Misdirected arrow


In a related development, MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong said Karpal’s warning to MCA to stop bringing up the hudud issue was a “misdirected arrow”.

Rather than warning MCA, the deputy education minister said that Karpal should be warning the rakyat instead as MCA was merely addressing concerns of the rakyat, especially the Chinese and
non-Muslim community, noting that this was something “DAP has failed to do”.

“It is only right that MCA demands answers.”

“Instead of trading barbs with us, Karpal should instead be shifting his attention to why his own DAP comrades, in particular Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng are still continuing to keep silent, leaving him alone in his battle with PAS and their Islamic agenda.”

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/30/karpal-to-pas-don%e2%80%99t-spoil-march-to-putrajaya/#ixzz228Q9QCIk

Hindraf: We still have a role to play

'Look at the copy organisations that have sprouted around the Hindraf name. Does that not talk about the appeal in the Hindraf Makkal Sakthi name or significance?'
INTERVIEW

PETALING JAYA: It is going to be almost five years since Hindraf drew thousands of Indians to the streets of Kuala Lumpur to highlight their marginalised state in the country.

Since the rally on Nov 25, 2007, so many changes, especially political in nature, had taken place in Malaysia. The most important one had been, without a doubt, the political awareness of the Indian community, and their new-found willingness to fight for their rights.

According to Hindraf’s national adviser N Ganesan, the movement played David’s role in the David and Goliath parable by battling Umno head-on on Nov 25, 2007.

“This has contributed in major ways to reducing the fear among the polity, and shown the paper in the tiger of Umno. Hindraf has contributed to major shifts in public opinion vis-à-vis Umno since then. Fear has been a significant instrument of control by the Umno-led government. This has been blunted,” he told FMT in a recent interview.

He added that today Hindraf was no more a loosely banded group but instead has become a tight-knit group of activists made up of committed individuals across the country who have come forth after the rally of 2007.

“Why isn’t the government able to just kill Hindraf off? Hindraf is banned after all, is it not?” he asked.

He said the government was unable to finish off Hindraf because “Hindraf has tremendous appeal with the Indians and anything like that will be cutting off their nose to spite their face”.

He stressed that Hindraf remained more relevant than ever for the Indian community and lashed out at both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat for not being genuine and serious in handling the issues affecting the Indian community.

“Hindraf has tried through various initiatives to engage Pakatan. But it is very clear Pakatan does not want to engage with Hindraf. Their point is very clear: the ‘mandorist’ approach created by Umno seems to be a better approach than to take Hindraf on as equal partners.

“They [Pakatan] want the cake and they want to eat it too, just like Umno. They would rather create copies of us like Indraf and use that to create perceptions of dealing with the Indian issues, while getting the Indian votes on the cheap – not giving what it takes to truly resolve the Indian marginalisation issue,” he said.

He added that Hindraf found that there was no real difference in the positions of the two coalitions, and that “they just have no appetite to eliminate institutionalised racism and to create a nation based on dignity and equality”.

Ganesan said Hindraf was continuing to expose the deceptions of politicians from both BN and Pakatan.

This, he said, had resulted in the Indian voters being more aware of what politicians from BN or Pakatan represent, especially on Indian community matters.

“The Indian voters have been sensitised to their rights and interests. So both Barisan and Pakatan have to try much harder now to garner the Indian vote,” he said.

Below is the excerpt of FMT’s interview with Ganesan:

Since the November 2007 Hindraf rally, what has been the impact of Hindraf?

The impact of Hindraf has been very significant to recent Malaysian political development beginning with the November rally. By battling Umno head-on on Nov 25, 2007, Hindraf played David’s role in the David and Goliath parable and this has contributed in major ways to reducing the fear among the polity, and shown the paper in the tiger of Umno. Hindraf has contributed to major shifts in public opinion vis-à-vis Umno since then. Fear has been a significant instrument of control by the Umno led government. This has been blunted.

Hindraf has contributed and continues to contribute to the political awakening of Indians. Hindraf has made the Indians in Malaysia aware of the fact of how, through many stealth strategies, this Umno-led government has denied them their fundamental rights. In fact, the word on the ground is that Hindraf has opened the eyes of the Indians about what has really happened.

Look at the number of issues being raised spontaneously on the ground today by the Indians on the various issues of land, of religious freedom, of police brutality, of abusive civil servants, of denial of opportunities in education, in government employment and on the citizenship issue. None of this would be happening today but for the clarity Hindraf has wrought on the treachery in these areas. This is undeniable.

Because Hindraf has been focused on the human rights issues of the Indians, very focused, they have taken a non-partisan view of the way policies are framed and resources allocated by both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.

The deceptions of politicians on both sides of the spectrum are constantly being exposed by Hindraf. The result has been a reduction in the confidence in facing change or party change stratagem as far as the ordinary Indian voter is concerned. They have been sensitised to their rights and interests. So both Barisan and Pakatan have to try much harder now to garner the Indian vote.

Is the movement still relevant today?

The movement’s significance is in the issues raised and the manner in which they are raised. This really defines relevance for Hindraf.

Institutionalised racism, we all know, is one of the biggest malaises in Malaysia and Hindraf hits at the centre of this racist platform – Umno, and its continuing and increasingly sophisticated contributions. All the other political parties stay clear of this fundamental malaise.

The source of this institutionalised racism is the two-tier citizenship entrenched in the Federal Constitution in Article 153. The Indian poor have been the most impacted by this racist regime. Institutionalised racism is a conspiracy of the elite serving to entrench their interests. This is Hindraf’s core message and Hindraf is entirely focused on this most relevant agenda.

The Special Indian Task Force’s MyDaftar programmes, and the subsequent championing of this same statelessness issue by Pakatan, is nothing but an indication of how relevant the issues Hindraf raised, are.

Their involvement in preventing or stopping temple demolishment, their increasing wayang kulit acts on Tamil schools, the kid-glove approach to the many Indian settlement issues, the handouts to the lower income peoples and the increasing concerns with issues Indian, speak volumes of the relevance of the issues Hindraf raises.

Think what all this will look like if Hindraf had not existed. Then look at the copy organisations that have sprouted around the Hindraf name – Indraf, Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party. Does that not talk about the appeal in the Hindraf Makkal Sakthi name or significance?

If you try to measure relevance in terms of attendance to functions, then we must take our hats off to MIC as they have tens of thousands of Indians attending their functions – so they must be most relevant by that logic. Is that a justifiable conclusion?

Hindraf is a banned organisation. Which other operating organisation is? Why isn’t the government able to just kill Hindraf off? Hindraf is banned after all, is it not? They just cannot, as they know through their Special Branch assessment that Hindraf has tremendous appeal with the Indians and anything like that will be cutting off their nose to spite their face. So much for relevance.

What is Hindraf fighting for and how has it changed in shape or form since 2007?

What Hindraf is fighting for is twofold:

1) To bring the marginalised Indians into the mainstream of national development.

2) To eliminate all state-sponsored racist and religious supremacist policies of the government by dismantling the institutionalised racist regime.

The objectives have not changed – only they have become clearer. Hindraf is not a racist organisation as some would argue convolutedly for self-serving purpose – Hindraf is an organisation standing up for the victims of racism. This is what it started off as and this is what it stands for today.

In 2007, Hindraf was led by a group of loosely organised individuals who rallied the Indians in an open show of defiance against Umno in the watershed Hindraf rally. Today, Hindraf is no more that loosely banded group. Hindraf is now a tight-knit group of activists made up of committed individuals across the country who have come forth after the rally of 2007 and taken on the mantle boldly under the leadership of P Waythamoorthy.

Four activists and one Special Branch operative were arrested and detained under the ISA for their roles in the Nov 25, 2007 rally. Except for P Uthayakumar, all the rest have gone on to find their futures with PKR and DAP – a move Hindraf thinks reflects their personal political motives and ambitions.

That move is more an expression of their personal intentions rather than any loss of direction of Hindraf. For Umno’s part, one of Umno’s plans to kill Hindraf off was to buy out the leadership of Hindraf when the other key players were in detention or out of the country.

They succeeded in getting the renegade N Thanenthiran and created the BN-friendly Makkal Sakthi Party for him.

Waythamoorthy has remained completely bound to the original motive and plan of Hindraf while being in exile. So, effectively the chaff has been separated from the wheat – what we have now in Hindraf are activists who are truly bound to the original objectives of Hindraf.

What is Hindraf’s political leaning?

Hindraf’s short-term plans are to attain the18-point demands. Changing social values and creating fundamental politico-legal change is Hindraf’s long-term plan. And it is Hindraf’s considered opinion that there is not enough political will across the entire Malaysian political spectrum today to address this fundamental issue of institutionalised racism and denial of equality for all within the country.

Umno initiated the process and kept it going for 50-odd years, but Pakatan does not appear to have the will to touch any of these provisions in the Federal Constitution. Change cannot therefore be expected to happen from within any time soon.

As far as Hindraf’s short-term plans are concerned, Hindraf has tried through various initiatives to engage Pakatan. But it is very clear Pakatan does not want to engage with Hindraf. Their point is very clear: the Mandorist approach created by Umno seems to be a better approach than to take Hindraf on as equal partners.

They want the cake and they want to eat it too, just like Umno. They would rather create copies of us like Indraf and use that to create perceptions of dealing with the Indian issues, while getting the Indian votes on the cheap – not giving what it takes to truly resolve the Indian marginalisation issue.

Dong Zong has indicated they will be talking to both BN and Pakatan on their issue of vernacular education. That is also the path Hindraf is now forced to take on the 18-point demands – especially after the unwillingness of the Pakatan leadership to engage with Hindraf.

Hindraf’s short-term political leaning will be decided by who will have a better deal to offer on the 18-point demands. This will be openly and clearly presented to the Indian marginalised for them to decide.

Determination of Hindraf’s short-term position is going to be based now on pragmatism and not on some abstract dogma of change or on emotions as in the last general election. Whoever is willing to sign up to a binding agreement on specifics, not on general principles, on their offer to Hindraf’s 18-point demands will be presented to our constituency – the marginalised Indians – and this will essentially determine our position. The agreements will have to be made in a binding way, so that Hindraf in 2012 will not be outdone as was Suqui in 1999 by Umno.

Hindraf’s political leaning will therefore be decided on what benefits the Indian marginalised and the poor best.

As for the long-term change Hindraf seeks, it is again Hindraf’s considered opinion that it can only come from naming and shaming Malaysia as an operator of an institutional racist regime in the wider community of nations, to create the political will among the elite – the true masters of national policy – for change.

Therefore, Hindraf now believes there is no real difference in the positions of the two coalitions, and they just have no appetite to eliminate institutionalised racism and to create a nation based on dignity and equality. Change of that nature will not come from a change of political parties in Putrajaya.

It cannot come from within the country, so it makes very little difference between the two coalitions on that count to the marginalised Indians. Only positive and concrete efforts to redress the ills they face today as expressed in the 18-point demand of Hindraf will make a difference to them. That will determine the political leaning of Hindraf from here onwards.

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/30/hindraf-we-still-have-a-role-to-play/#ixzz228PJSFQI

Rajannan destroying NESA

Monday, July 30, 2012 The half-dead Nesa co-operative is further getting into shithole. While the President S Subramaniam is in coma ever since he underwent a brain surgery on 11/11/11, the Chief Executive officer Rajannan is all out to consolidate his position with the help of newly elected directors.
Having majority directors on his side, Rajannan successfully dismissed his rivals V Nadaraja from the vice presidency and Shell Bala from the management EXCO. Earlier in the Nesa AGM, Subramaniam’s supporter K P Samy and his team were defeated.
 “Rajannan is using Subra (in coma) as a dummy to destroy Nesa”, Nadaraja vented his frustration in a press conference, throwing several serious allegations against Nesa and its CEO Rajannan.
The allegations are:
1. Padang Serai Land
This land worth around RM 10 million went out of Nesa’s hand after a court order, two years ago. The judgment papers were never shown to the Nesa’s board.
2. Banting Land
The 20 acres land was sold to a Chinese without the Boards approval.
3. Malacca Oil palm Land
The 68 acres land leased to Rajannan’s brother-in-law for six years with no returns except for a payement of RM 15,000.
4. Sg. Siput Land
Again Nesa Board is unaware of the group scheme for this 10 acre land.
Nadaraja contend that all these issues were brought up in the Board meetings but were dismissed without proper explanation.
Interestingly, Nadaraja was unable to produce any documentary evidences for whatever mismanagements of Nesa land.
Secondly, question can be raised why Nadaraja is digging Nesa dirts only after Subramaniam went into coma, nine months ago.
Why did he not expose these earlier?
Did Nadaraja query the Board when Subramaniam was well and in control of Nesa?

Operasi Cegah Jenayah Wajib Diperluas Ke Seluruh WP Kuala Lumpur

Pakatan Rakyat Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (PR KL) menyambut baik usaha Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM) untuk mencegah jenayah melalui operasi yang dimulakan di Bangsar sejak hari pertama Ramadhan tahun ini.
PR KL turut difahamkan operasi di Lembah Pantai ini melibatkan 90 anggota PDRM dari Bukit Aman dan Pasukan Simpanan Persekutuan (FRU) yang dikerah untuk menjaga keselamatan penduduk, dan akan diluaskan ke Desa Seri Hartamas dan Taman Tun Dr Ismail yang terletak dalam kawasan parlimen Segambut.
Walaupun dilaporkan kadar jenayah makin menurun, penduduk Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur sudah letih dan jemu mendengar khabar kejadian rompakan, penculikan, dan lain-lain kejadian jenayah yang seakan-akan tidak berkurangan langsung.
Oleh itu, PR KL berpendirian PDRM serta Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) wajib memperluas operasi cegah jenayah ini ke seluruh kawasan Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, dan bukannya menumpukan usaha di dua kawasan parlimen ini sahaja.
Seperti yang dibangkitkan YB Liew Chin Tong (Ahli Parlimen Bukit Bendera), hingga Januari 2011 kurang dari 14% dari 105,929 orang anggota PDRM ditugaskan untuk siasatan jenayah (8% di Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah, 4% di Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Narkotik, 1.3% di Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersil). Dari sudut ini, tindakan PDRM mengerah anggota polis dari Bukit Aman dan FRU dalam operasi cegah jenayah ini adalah satu langkah yang positif dan harus diperluas.
Maka PR KL turut menggesa PDRM untuk meningkatkan jumlah anggota polis yang ditugaskan untuk siasatan jenayah bukan dengan menambah lagi jumlah anggota polis secara keseluruhannya tetapi dengan melatih semula (retrain) dan memasukkan anggota polis dari jabatan lain ke jabatan siasatan jenayah.
PR KL berpendapat gerak kerja PDRM di lapangan sebegini adalah langkah positif yang seharusnya dilaksanakan dpd peringkat awal. Malangnya, kontroversi penurunan statistik telah dijadikan alasan oleh kerajaan BN untuk berlengah-lengah sebelum bertindak.
Apapun, diharapkan tindakan objektif dan tidak dipengaruhi arahan politik menjadi prinsip utama gerak kerja seterusnya.
YB Nurul Izzah Anwar – Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai
YAB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim – Ahli Parlimen Bandar Tun Razak
YB Dr Tan Seng Giaw – Ahli Parlimen Kepong
YB Tian Chua – Ahli Parlimen Batu
YB Tan Kok Wai – Ahli Parlimen Cheras
YB Teresa Kok – Ahli Parlimen Seputeh
YB Fong Kui Lun – Ahli Parlimen Bukit Bintang
YB Lim Lip Eng – Ahli Parlimen Segambut
Pejabat Ahli Parlimen Titiwangsa

Formation of 1 Malaysia national culture in the ‘new regime’ — Norani Abu Bakar

JULY 30 — As we conceive of a new regime in Malaysia, there are various ideas for a new political structure which must be articulated further. One of these, that of a two-party political system having great potential for transforming Malaysia’s current democracy into a means to national character and human flourishing.

Malaysians are the nation’s stakeholders, and thus this maturation of this new regime has the potential to define their national culture in terms of holistic values. This national culture is a powerful “soft force” that can form, support and move a nation — building and rebuilding it especially in severe conditions such as war, epidemic, natural disaster, collapse of governance, and regional economic melt-down. Can the two-party regime support their collective aspirations for a holistic, rich and cohesive 1 Malaysia culture or will the regime further fragment this community, leaving any newly developed or reformed policies on paper only?

The post-colonial governance, in all of its strengths and weaknesses since 1957, has persevered to secure the physiological needs of Malaysians. However, as Professor AR Embong wrote in “The Role of Social Sciences in Malaysian National Development,” the implementation of Vision 2020 was, as Joseph Stiglitz called the roaring 1990s, “a decade of clutching over wealth and profit.” There is some truth in this, and so for good reason, some Malaysians doubt the efficacy of this new vision. Hence, progressive efforts to revitalise the nation’s soul and identity through 1 Malaysia, and its reorientation towards the higher levels of Maslow’s hierarchy, are perceived with great suspicion.

Unfortunately, as political scientists like Dr Farish A. Noor have articulately explained, there is a gap between the vision and the reality. The state’s narrative of 1 Malaysia is incompatible with the reality at the grassroots levels. Of course some of the barriers also arise from collective memories and psychology against the “other”. This gap cannot be simply narrowed down by policies but must be addressed with a genuine determination to champion sustainable human values as the economy develops. Whose responsibility is this?

The answer is obvious: all Malaysians — especially political and religious leaders, scholars and civil activists, media and parents. If the new regime fervently advocates that every citizen at private and public spaces be responsible for living according to common principle such as, “Do unto others, what you want others to do unto you,” then the flourishing of 1 Malaysia’s culture is more hopeful. Shaping a national culture with engrained humanistic and ethical values will produce well-rounded citizens that can powerfully drive politics, economics and social performance. Values shape human progress, and Malaysia’s historical inability to grasp this foundational concept has hindered Malaysia from optimising its achievements.

Politics cannot enrich human souls but good values can. Politics cannot directly alter one’s ethnic or genetic makeup, but it can strategically transform a national culture by decoding self-image and by innovatively reshaping the citizens’ mental models and sentiment. This discussion will focus on the cultural dynamic of the new regime and political leaders’ roles in transforming Malaysia’s ethno-centric politics.

Many leaders fostered inclusivism in political parties, including Onn Jaafar, Lee Kuan Yew, Professor Hussein Alatas and Lim Kit Siang. Unfortunately, cross-cultural and faith engagement is still limited to macro-level collaboration. Thomas Pepinsky predicts that in the new regime, these features of racial and faith-based coalitions will remain. At the micro-level, all parties are still racially-based. None have the vibrant spirit of 1 Malaysia yet. Dr Diana Eck of Harvard University expounded that surface-level relationships in diverse communities amount to “mere tolerance,” a deceptive virtue and active hostility which enables co-existence but is not genuinely an “engaging relationship.”

Engagement happens when mutual, respectful and co-dependent relations are founded on common values that each faith tradition and/or cultural background cherish in order to produce cohesiveness, bonding, trust and deeper understanding with one another while maintaining some cultural and faith particularity. The regime will not be able to bring the 1 Malaysia vision to fruition if it fails to address this deeply rooted national problem. Ruling parties come and go, but good can continuously fuel healthy human progress if they are lived from generation to generation.

It is important to note that racially or faith-based political parties, regardless of which demographic they represent, too often end up with sovereign authority and discriminate against those ethnicities or faith traditions not in power. Relevant examples are apartheid in South Africa (1948-1994) and prejudice against the Kurds in Turkey. And although Singapore is rightly admired for its economic exponential growth during Lee Kuan Yew’s 50 years of leadership (from US$400/year per capita income to nearly US$40,000), there are worrisome reports that Singaporean Malays experience discrimination there. Xenophobia and xenophobic government policies further polarise ethnic populations which to further segregation or make segregation permanent. It is urgent and important, especially in the early stages of a regime, to create appropriate conditions and to develop strategies that can overcome these geographic and demographic difficulties.

Hopefully in the new regime, parties will avoid dividing Malaysians; e.g. Kaum Tua (the old faction), Kaum Muda (the new faction), Melayu Baru (the New Malays) and Melayu Lama (the Old Malays), or splintering their memberships according to economic status, education, culture, faith, gender and age. Engaging all Malaysians can lead to an unprecedented reformation that can put healthy pressure on all parties to liberalise beyond these boundaries. In advocating that Malaysians vote for Malaysian parties, irrespective of historical ethnic groupings, political leaders will have to persevere in the face of suspicion. At first, there may be some backlash as some people will feel that such unity entails “selling out” on their race’s or faith’s honour, but this sentiment will gradually diminish as trust is established. Changes take time and demand patience.

Just as a political system takes a long time to develop, so a holistic cultural and national identity only comes about through trial and adjustment. Dr John Keane in his book “The Life and Death of Democracy” writes that, since Athens, democracy has come a long way in shaping and reshaping itself. Australia itself used to be called a laboratory for democracy. In the US, racial segregation was the norm for a long time before the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People was founded, a full 133 years after the country’s independence from Britain in 1776. Rosa Park (1956), Martin Luther King Jr (1968), Ku Klux Klan and post-9/11 Sikh murders are among names and events that evidence that a fluidly democratic two-party country cannot eliminate racism. It should be no surprise, then, that multi-ethnic and multi-faith based political parties also struggle to accomplish this. However, they can reduce division by intentionally creating and wisely facilitating a secure space for coexistence. Do Malaysians have the ability to develop this secure space and to cultivate mutually respectful conversations and relations? Malaysians have assimilated and done well abroad in many various situations. Clearly, then, Malaysians’ pattern of ethnically-based political parties is not due to some low Cultural Quotient (CQ). Malaysians can be liberated from the “epistemological captivity” that colonial stereotypes often create — stereotypes in the vein of ‘Ali, Ah Chong and Ramasamy,’ and other reductionistic tropes of ethno-nationalist’s protectionist ideology. Malaysia’s struggle is not that some people groups have inherently inferior genes, but rather that Malaysia’s social science management and engineering that need greater emphasis in developing the citizens’ character and critical thinking. Failure to address these elements increases the possibility of democracy placing a tyranny ruler in power.

The good news is that the birth of a two-party regime indicates that a democratic system does exist in Malaysia. This is also an achievement of the past ruling party which prepared the nation to democratically vote out a less-performing party, even if that be the ruling party itself. Both the ruling and opposition parties deserve credit in toiling for decades to produce upper-middle-income citizens who can think so critically. Acknowledging the government’s strength, while diplomatically and objectively analysing its weaknesses, is the best way to encourage it to do better.

In evaluating any political regime, early thinker Syed Shaykh Al-Hady (1867-1934), who in his time found independence as unthinkable, set a good example on partiality by affirming the “genuine contributions of the Malay elites, and observed that it was these contributions, and not the luxurious lifestyle, that brought them honour”. This speaks to leaders of other ethnic backgrounds too. A new regime is not about, “sudah menyeberang, tongkat tidak berguna lagi” (having crossed over to the other side, the walking stick is discarded). It is about greater competitiveness, self-correction and adaptation to new challenges.

Every change of regime involves a reorganisation of power which is, for a time, chaotic.

As the old ruling party’s power declines, the institutions, organisations and individuals that it once supported also experience temporal disorder and disruption of performance. Slight ethnic tension could escalate until the dust settles. In the meantime, the citizens may critique the new ruling party’s inability to lead in harmony, their preference lingering nostalgically on the previous ruling party’s ability to keep Malaysia together since independence. This is the risk of undertaking a new regime.

A healthy democratic Malaysia lies in the hands of charismatic, courageous and competent leaders with integrity who can transform all political parties with a genuine 1 Malaysia spirit: embracing the values of reciprocity, love, care and respect for others. If the new regime fails to transform the underserved intellects that cling tightly onto the racially based political party model, then there isn’t much different between the old and the new. It is simply an old book with a new cover.

Since 1511, generations in the region called Malaysia today grieved under the ruling of colonial powers: the Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese and British. And yet they persevered in striving for 446 years towards independence in 1957. It is this bottomless spirit of hope and love for the motherland that inspires citizens to compromise, modify and adapt. This spirit holds people together throughout the continuous formation of their national culture, spirituality and style of modernity. This burning vision keeps a Malaysian a Malaysian. By this spirit of faith, the formation of 1 Malaysia is possible.

In conclusion, a ruling party that strives for cognitive empowerment and cultivation of ethical values, held dearly by all cultures and faiths, will not only remain competitive and relevant but also have a higher chance of continued public support. A national culture that is rich with good values sustains the enrichment of its human growth, which translates into strong national development. At the end of the day, it is the people — the citizens — whose desire for excellence drives a nation to develop, who enrich its soul, and select good leaders. — New Mandala

* Norani Abu Bakar is a post-graduate fellow at the Yale Center for Faith and Culture and is the Asia director for Pathways for Mutual Respect. She is the founder of Home Sweet Home — an organisation that cares for the unsheltered, parentless and differently-abled in Shanghai. A Malaysian, Norani is a process engineer. She blogs at Loving God and Loving Neighbors.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

Ex-Bar Council chairman: Public assembly compatible with public order

The Star 
by WANI MUTHIAH

KUALA LUMPUR: It is important to have public order but it is equally important to recognise public assemblies, freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.

Public order that does not encompass these values is incomplete and not compatible with democratic principles, said former Bar Council chairman Datuk Yeo Yang Poh.

Yeo, who was speaking at a forum organised by the Bar Council titled “Public Assembly Laws The Jurisprudence and the Operation”, said that apart from having a change in the law, it was also crucial to have a change of mindset.

“The government should not look at peaceful assemblies as enemies of the state and certain segments of society must also not continue to be under the misconception that peaceful assemblies are done by troublemakers.

“They are not. They are citizens who have views on certain matters and need to express them,” added Yeo.

Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang, who also spoke at the forum, said he hoped the government would have a provision in the Peaceful Assembly Act to deal with people who hijacked peaceful assemblies and turned them into violent street demonstrations.

He likened their actions to hijacking a plane and flying it through a building.

“They are just as bad as terrorists. Because of these people, Bersih, which intended to fight for good things, got a bad name,” said Tan, a lawyer by profession.

He also said peaceful assemblies should not be allowed on the streets but held in appropriate venues, such as stadiums.

Departure Of Two Sabah BN MPs A Personal Problem - Ahmad Maslan

PUTRAJAYA, July 30 (Bernama) -- Umno Information Chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan ton Monday described the departure of two Sabah MPs from the Barisan Nasional (BN) as more of a personal problem.

He said people not loyal to the coalition were not needed because they would be regarded as the enemy within and it would be better for them to leave the party.

Ahmad was referring to Beaufort MP Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin and Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing.

Lajim announced on Saturday that he was quitting as an Umno Supreme Council member, Beaufort Umno Division chief and Beaufort BN chairman but remaining as an Umno member and as the federal deputy housing and local government minister.

Bumburing announced on Sunday that he was resigning from the United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) of which he had been the deputy president.

Kajian MPN: Pancung karier politik Mukhriz?

KTS: Hudud bukan penyelesaian masalah sosial

Syrian Christians in Damascus and Aleppo are terrified of being targeted and driven away

ACN News, Tuesday, 24th July 2012 – SYRIA 
Christians fear being attacked 
By John Pontifex 

CHRISTIANS in Damascus and Aleppo are terrified of being targeted and driven away, according to a senior bishop.

Chaldean Bishop Antoine Audo SJ of Aleppo said the Church was frightened of a repeat of the catastrophe in Homs in the spring when the Christian quarter came under fire, forcing a mass exodus of almost all of the faithful – more than 120,000.
The bishop reported that as conflict deepened in Aleppo and Damascus, people were turning to him, desperate for help after leaving their homes and all their belongings and fleeing for safer towns and villages.
Speaking from Aleppo on Monday, 23rd July in an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Audo said: “What we are afraid of is that in this situation of anarchy, armed people will come into Christian areas as they did in Homs.
“If they come in around our churches and round our bishopric, just as they did in Homs, it will be disastrous for us.”
He reported that at his Sunday Mass in Aleppo yesterday, the church was half empty because people were too afraid to come.


(Bishop Antoine Audo SJ of Aleppo © ACN)

The bishop described the reasons for the threat against Christians as “very complicated”, adding: “I am not able to give clear reasons why the fighters would attack Christians.
“But what we can say is that if they went into the Christian areas, it would be very bad.
“The fear of Christians is particularly strong. We are a minority. Always we are threatened.”
Stressing safety fears, the bishop said: “What can we do to protect the people? We do not have any possibility to do that.
“Not only are Christians in this very dangerous situation but there are some Muslims too – those who are seen as sympathisers with the government.”

The bishop thanked people – including ACN supporters – for providing food, medical aid and shelter to more than 1,000 families who had fled Homs for smaller towns and villages outside the city.
“It is very difficult, especially for people from Homs, who have left everything behind. The poor people have nothing.
“They lost everything so they very much appreciate ACN’s help.”
But he went on to call for more help: “We have to be able to help more and more people – especially in two areas: food and medical care.
“I have people coming to me asking for help with nothing more than the clothes they are standing up in.”
The bishop spoke of being put under pressure to declare support for the regime or the rebels.
“When I am asked which side do I support, I always answer, I am on the side of my country. I am doing whatever I can to save Syria, this lovely country of ours.”
The bishop added: “What we need is your prayers for all of us. This is a very dangerous time. People are very fearful.”


Editor’s Notes

Directly under the Holy See, Aid to the Church in Need supports the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. ACN is a Catholic charity – helping to bring Christ to the world through prayer, information and action.
The charity undertakes thousands of projects every year including providing transport for clergy and lay Church workers, construction of church buildings, funding for priests and nuns and help to train seminarians. Since the initiative’s launch in 1979, Aid to the Church in Need’s Child’s Bible – God Speaks to his Children has been translated into 162 languages and 48 million copies have been distributed all over the world.
While ACN gives full permission for the media to freely make use of the charity’s press releases, please acknowledge ACN as the source of stories when using the material.

For more information or to make a donation to help the work of Aid to the Church in Need, please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 7246 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153.

On Line donations can be made at www.aidtochurch.org

EO6 remain scarred, with unanswered questions

One year after the six PSM leaders were released from their Emergency Ordinance detention, they are still clueless as to why they were arrested and detained in the first place.
COMMENT

By S Arutchelvan

Today, July 29, marks the first year anniversary of the release of the PSM EO6 who were robbed of their freedom on June 25, 2011, when they were detained with 26 others.

On July 2, 2011, they were technically released but rearrested under the Emergency Ordinance.

The six, M Saraswathy, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, Choo Chon Kai, Sarat Babu, M Sukumaran, and A Letchumanan were detained for another 28 days in solitary confinement without the right to trial.

Their release came about only after a massive local and international campaign which saw people from all walks of life standing together against injustice and tyranny.

As we commemorate their release one year ago, we at PSM would like to thank all those who stood in the part of justice, fairplay and democracy. Without the intervention of the many, the EO6′s release would not have been possible.

One year has passed. Under pressure, the ruling party has dismantled some draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act, lifted the three emergencies as well as enacted the Freedom of Assembly Act and other bills.

These old laws were replaced with new bills and laws with new names. Yet we remain sceptical that real change has taken place.

One year later, we still seek justice on the many allegations and fabrications levelled at us.

Among them, we were accused of waging a war against the Agong, planning to bomb police stations, our buses carried weapons, we have a conspiracy with international terrorist groups, we possessed subversive documents, we plan to revive the Malayan Communist Party, we posed a threat to public order and that we were the key organiser of Bersih 2.0 rally.

Meanwhile detained PSM members, apart from being deprived of the freedom, have also been subjected to insults, assaults, humiliations and trauma. The scar remains forever.

One year later, the questions remain unanswered. Till today, we continue to seek answers and justice.

While we await our court date, the perpetrators have yet to apologise or answer our questions raised in letters, memorandums, Parliamentary questions and police reports.

One year later our quest to seek a better Malaysia and a better world continues. Udahlah tu, Bersaralah…. It is time for change.

S Arutchelvan is PSM secretary general.

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/07/29/eo6-remain-scarred-with-unanswered-questions/#ixzz22142uXsO

Protest against funeral parlour next to temple

he funeral parlour is planned to be built by Persatuan Perayaan Yee Lan Seberang Jaya less than 20 metres from the Iskcon’s Radha – Krishna Kovil complex.

SEBERANG JAYA: Several Hindu groups have joined forces here to protest against the setting up of a Chinese funeral parlour on a land next to an ongoing Iskcon temple project

The groups led by A Loganathan, secretary of Persatuan Gegaran Azam Pulau Pinang, held an hour long protest this morning to vent their frustration and anger against the Pakatan Rakyat state government’s failure to resolve the issue amicably.

The protesters chanted anti-Pakatan slogans and displayed anti-state government banners, calling on Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to cancel the project.

The funeral parlour is planned to be built by Persatuan Perayaan Yee Lan Seberang Jaya on a 1.3-acre land, which is located less than 20 metres from the Iskcon’s Radha – Krishna Kovil complex.

Gegaran Azam is a coalition representing several Hindu-based civil society groups.

Loganathan said the state government and the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) have insulted the Hindus and Hindu religion by supporting the Yee Lan Association to construct the funeral parlour next to a Hindu worshipping place.

Loganathan later handed over a memorandum to MPSP councillor Amir Ghazali of PKR, who will table the memorandum for deliberation at MPSP meeting to resolve the issue amicably.

In the memorandum, Loganathan blasted Indian leaders in Pakatan for not voicing out against the project.

Project not approved yet

Amir said that MPSP had not approved the project plan submitted by the Yee Lan Association.

“We will consider all public objections and support to the project plan before making a final decision on it.

“Surely MPSP will not want a project that disrupt public harmony and unity,” he assured newsmen.

The Iskcon Hare Rama Hare Krishna group has allotted RM12 million to build its temple complex since 2010. The temple is scheduled to be ready by 2013.

Temple president Kalesha Lim, 52, said when the temple land was allotted in 2001, there was no funeral parlour project plan under the state master plan to develop the area into a religious – recreational park called Linear Park.

The Linear Park has two other Hindu temples, a church, a Thai Buddhist Wat and Chinese temple. A plot has also been allotted for a Sikh Gurdwara.

Lim said despite numerous requests, Chief Minister Lim had until today refused to meet his temple committee to resolve the issue.

Although the land for funeral parlour was allotted by the previous Barisan Nasional state government 2006, he said the MPSP still has the power to stop the project.

Build it elsewhere

He will submit his temple’s official protest petition against the funeral parlour project to MPSP tomorrow.

He said the temple was not against the Chinese community having a funeral parlour in Seberang Jaya. “But we don’t want it next to our temple.”

Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) national president Mohan Shan has also submitted a memorandum calling on the MPSP to cancel the funeral parlour project.

Seberang Jaya’s MHS local council deputy chairman S Suthagar and Kelab Belia 1Malaysia chairman M Suresh said the state government should know that a funeral parlour dealing with corpse should never be next to religious worshipping halls.

“Pakatan government seems not bothered about Hindu sensitivity,” the duo said.

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/29/protest-against-funeral-parlour-next-to-temple/#ixzz2213LA1gz

Passport for Waytha: IGP’s clearance needed

The Malaysian High Commission in London can only issue a passport to the Hindraf chairman upon getting the green light from the IGP.

GEORGE TOWN: Attempts by Malaysian High Commission in London on Friday to issue a valid passport to Hindraf Makkal Sakti chairman P Waythamoorthy has hit a snag.

While processing the passport, the high commission immigration officers discovered an international alert to prevent Waythamoorthy from travelling to any part of the world with a Malaysian passport.

Upon checking with their Malaysian counterparts in Putrajaya, the officers informed Waythamoorthy that his was a special case needing personal clearance from Malaysian police force chief, the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar himself.

By definition, the IGP has discreetly banned Waythamoorthy and violated his legitimate citizenry rights to obtain a valid Malaysian passport.

The immigration officers have said their hands were tied despite Putrajaya directives to issue the Hindraf supremo a valid Malaysian passport to facilitate his safe return home on Wednesday Aug 1.

Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam revealed this in a press statement today.

“It is clear the IGP has intention to initiate criminal charges against Waythamoorthy.

“Hindraf is fully prepared to face the situation,” said Sambulingam.

Waythamoorthy has said he does not fear arrest when he returns home next week from Singapore via the Johor causeway.

Sambulingam said the high commission officers were willing to issue an emergency passport to Waythamoorthy to allow him to travel one way into Malaysia.

But, Waythamoorthy refused to accept the passport, insisting that he ought to return his country with dignity of a rightful citizen.

Waythamoorthy, said Sambulingam, had told the high commission that his dignity had been ‘robbed’ in March 2008 when the federal government revoked his Malaysian passport.

“Thus, Waythamoorthy has insisted that his dignity ought to be reinstated for him to return to Malaysia as a rightful citizen with rights and dignity, and not at the government mercy,” Sambulingam said.

As a gesture of goodwill, Sambulingam said the high commission had returned the revoke and expired passport to Waythamoorthy.

Involvement of British MP

Sambulingam said the government’s change of heart started on July 17 when British MP Mr Jeremy Corbyn made written representations for Waythamoorthy to Malaysian High Commissioner to UK Aziz Mohamad.

In his letter, Corbyn, a member of Malaysian caucus in the UK Parliament, urged Aziz to issue a Malaysian passport to the Hindraf chairman to facilitate his safe return home.

On July 24, deputy high commissioner Wan Zaidi Wan Abdullah replied to Corbyn that the Malaysian government does not have any objection to Waythamoorthy’s return to his country.

Acting on Corbyn’s advice, Waythamoorthy’s lawyer, solicitor Ram of Dotcom Solicitors contacted the high commission and was informed that an emergency meeting was required to immediately process the passport.

Waythamoorthy attended the said meeting with Ram about 4.30 pm on Friday (British time) to process his passport during which the ‘IGP alert’ was discovered.

“Hindraf calls on the IGP to lift the ban and allow Waythamoorthy to return and face any criminal charges deemed fit,” said Sambulingam.

He noted that Putrajaya appeared to have softened its earlier hardline stance on Waythamoorthy’s passport in the wake of intense campaign by Hindraf and other supportive civil society groups.

But, he said Hindraf was troubled on why the government waited until Friday to contact Waythamoorthy, who was scheduled to leave London on Saturday evening (British time) and arrive at Singapore on Sunday evening (local time).

Waythamoorthy is expected to make one last attempt to obtain a valid passport from Malaysian High Commission in Singapore on Monday.

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/29/passport-for-waytha-igps-clearance-needed/#ixzz2212rx8q8

Have we become a ‘sick’ nation?

he Pakatan government when elected must immediately draw up a plan to curb further deficits and control future national expenditures or go for surplus budgets.
COMMENT

We are now living in politically stressful environment. Since 1981 the scourge of abuses of political power notably corruption has thrived well under the authoritarian governments of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and now Najib Tun Razak.

Not only are these gross malpractices thriving well to this day, they have also established themselves as “the norm” in the Malaysian system of governance.

We now have had over 30 years of bad governance and Malaysia has reached a critical stage so much so that it is now considered to be a ‘sick’ nation in South East Asia.

Najib continues to announce unreasonable psychological moves to camouflage his hollow economic models.

He tops this up with elements of violence to scare those perceived as his enemies.

It is also not surprising to note that on the many occasions when he floated all kinds of rebranded laws there were little changes to the legal provisions.

Let’s not forget his signature ‘flip-flops’. His indecisiveness has led to conflicting directions.

Hence, I believe the Najib, as Prime Minister of Malaysia is incapable of continuing to hold such office.

National debt at critical levels

He must be removed and that also includes displacing him as president of Umno.

The best route now for the people of Malaysia however is to change the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government to a Pakatan Rakyat administration.

Only then can Malaysians reform the current political system.

The change of government will enable an elected Pakatan government to investigate the gross malpractices committed by the Umno-BN federal government since 1981 until now.

I personally am looking forward to a Pakatan government that will investigate the billions in financial losses suffered by Bank Negara in speculation activities in the London forex market in 1992-1993.

This was done upon the directive of Mahathir, who was the premier at that time.

Mahathir had gambled away billions of Bank Negara foreign exchange to buy the British pound with the belief that the currency would rise. Instead the British pound fell when the British government devalued its currency.

The actual losses were never revealed by Bank Negara.

I am also wanting to see a Pakatan government that will curb the escalating national debt. Malaysia’s national debt is now reaching a critical level.

‘Pakatan can do a full audit’

The Pakatan government when elected must immediately draw up a plan to curb further deficits and control future national expenditures or go for surplus budgets.

Voting in a Pakatan government in the coming 13th general election would also be a nod to a full audit investigation into the inflow and outflow of funds of the Employees Provident Funds (EPF) from 1981 until today.

The EPF Board is a government public body that manages the workers’ compulsory life savings fund in the country.

Under the EPF Act, the workers as well as their respective employers are required to make monthly contributions into the savings accounts of the former. Over the years millions of employees have contributed billions of ringgit to EPF.

As at June 2010, the total savings deposits was reported at RM407 billion.

However the EPF has now become the main source of domestic borrowings by the federal government.

And over time the role of the EPF as the traditional primary lender to the government has been abused to serve the personal interests of the Umno political masters.

Awang Abdillah is a political analyst, writer and FMT columnist

Read more: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/07/29/have-we-become-a-sick-nation/#ixzz2212LqpKh

Malaysia and the Perfect Storm

Let’s say that you’re a pessimist about global growth prospects. If so, you’re not alone: Q2 GDP growth in the U.S. is weak, the U.K. is in a double-dip recession, and there’s no end to the Eurozone crisis in sight. Growth in China is softening too, and the rest of the BRICs aren’t registering the growth that we have come to expect over the past five years. If you also think that global financial markets remain fragile, then you’d be right to worry about a perfect storm in the global economy.
This is bad news all around for the big economies. But we should also pay attention to how global economic conditions will affect small open economies. By definition, these are economies that are dependent on trade and investment, and which therefore have harnessed themselves to the global economy as a basic engine for growth and development. This gives them access to markets for their exports and to investment, but by the same token, it makes them vulnerable to whatever ups and downs the global economy experiences.
Malaysia is a classic example of a small open economy. And a new report (unfortunately behind a paywall) from Roubini Global Economics argues that Malaysia is not only the Asian country whose economy is most vulnerable to a perfect storm, but also the country which is perhaps least able to do anything about it. Take note of the following:

• Malaysia’s bank claims to the U.S. or the Eurozone are almost 30% of GDP (highest in Asia)
• Malaysia’s exports to China, the Eurozone, and the U.S. are over 20% of  GDP (2nd highest in Asia)
• Malaysia has room for monetary easing, but deficits are already pretty high—and there’s an election coming too, meaning that we can expect that the government is already primed to spend

Take all of this together, and we have cause to worry about Malaysia’s economy over the next year. This may have political consequences too. I have recently argued that in 2008-10, emerging economies like Malaysia were able to escape the worst of the political turmoil that frequently accompanies global economic crises because they were able to explain to their citizens that their own economic troubles were not their own fault. Lula put it best: “this is a crisis that was caused by white people with blue eyes.” I don’t think that this will continue to work, in Malaysia or anywhere else.

Appeals court stays Banting murder trial

The New Straits Times

SHAH ALAM: The High Court yesterday stayed the proceedings in the Banting murder trial to a date to be fixed following an order from the Court of Appeal.

On Thursday, the Court of Appeal had granted the stay pending an appeal by the defence team against judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir's decision on Monday dismissing their application to call three deputy public prosecutors to the witness stand.

The defence had applied to call deputy public prosecutors Ishak Mohd Yusoff, Saiful Edris Zainudin and Idham Abd Ghani as witnesses in their bid to challenge two documents which the DPPs had tendered in court.

The documents were the notes of proceedings of two others who were found guilty of disposing evidence in the Banting murders.

A.K. Sarawanan and U. Suresh were charged with disposing of evidence at the Telok Datok magistrate's court in October 2010.

They are currently serving a 20-year jail sentence each.

Police Detain 6 People, Issue 225 Summonses In Traffic Operation

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) - Six people, including a woman were detained and 225 summonses were issued for various offenses in 'Ops Bersepadu Trafik' in the city early Sunday.

Kuala Lumpur traffic police chief DSP A. Asmadi Abdul Aziz said three men were detained for possessing a vehicle with false registration number, a man for driving under the influence of alcohol while a man and a woman for riding stolen motorcycles.

Police issued 201 summonses while 24 others were issued by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) in the operation mounted with the cooperation of JPJ and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

"We inspected 701 vehicles in the operation from 12 midnight to 3am at Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman," he told Bernama Sunday.

The operation involved 95 Kuala Lumpur traffic officers, two Bukit Aman officers, 16 JPJ officers and one DBKL officer.

Old Perak: Taiping’s environmental history

A former Taiping resident has contributed these nuggets about the environmental history of the historical town.
Did you know that over a hundred years ago:

• abandoned mining pools were turned into Malaysia’s most famous botanic gardens with iconic rain trees.
• there was a law protecting the mangrove forests allowing for only sustainable harvesting of bakau wood for building and charcoal.
• the hill range was proudly protected with the forest reserves extending to the fringes of the town.

That was Taiping, the town that means ‘everlasting peace’ … the Matang coastal area and Maxwell, now Larut, hills). In fact, the Malayan Nature Society(MNS) was born in Taiping.
The former resident said he grew up there and spent a 16 wonderful years growing up in an multicultural environment. There was also a big commonwealth military base with Fijians and “Rhodesian” and even the only Parsi cemetery in the country.
Share your recollections of Taiping history especially its natural environment and charming town, in the comments section below.  Send old photos using the ‘submit photos’ link at the top of the page. - Anil Netto

Hindu devotees up in arms over funeral parlour plans

By Susan Loone - Malaysiakini,


Hindu devotees in Seberang Jaya are up in arms over a plan to construct a funeral parlour beside their Hare Krishnan temple, which is a religious taboo.

A group of about 100 representing 10 NGOs, led by Pertubuhan Gegaran Azam Pulau Pinang, staged a rally at the site today, condemning the Pakatan Rakyat government for being insensitive to religious sentiments.

The parlour, a private entity to be managed by a Chinese association, is planned only several metres away from the temple, which is still under construction on a one-acre site
.
The 1.3 acre land proposed for the six-compartment (20 x 20 ft) parlour - which can hold 12 caskets at any one time - would be built on a plot which is part of a linear park.

The area, smack within the Seberang Jaya township and close to the area's industrial park, is considered a religious enclave with several places of worship and religious organisations.

Problems arose when the committee for the management of non-Muslim places of worship in the area received a notice from the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) on Jul 11, requesting them to submit their objections within 21 days to an application to build a funeral parlour there.
The objection period ends next week.
Parlour proposed since 2004

During a press conference at the site, Radha Krishnan temple president Kalesha Lim said he was "shocked" to receive a notice from the council saying that a funeral parlour would be built in the vicinity.

Lim (left) said the issue had come up in 2004 during the BN administration, and in 2008, when Pakatan took over the state.

Lim added that in 2009 the council had written to them to say it would be considering an alternative site for the parlour, but it seems the authorities have reverted to the original plan.

He added that the temple had written letters and sent emails to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his deputy, P Ramasamy, but have not received an official reply yet from either one.

"We have also suggested an alternative site. We understand that the Chinese community needs a funeral parlour and we have nothing against the association that wants it," said Lim.

"However, for Hindu devotees, it is a taboo to have a funeral parlour near their place of worship. It would disrupt our celebrations and would create some tension among our devotees," he added.

"Moreover, if it is taboo, it would be difficult to collect funds for our RM12 million temple, which is still under construction," he said.

Lim said he was not out to condemn the BN or Pakatan governments, as both are involved in the matter, adding "we will not politicise this temple issue, as it involves religious sensitivities".

MPSP to consider objections

MPSP councillor Amir Ghazali, who received a letter of protest from Malaysian Hindu Sangam chief RS Mohan addressed to the council's planning department on Jul 19, said he will raise the group's objections with the relevant authorities.

"What is important is that no development should disrupt racial harmony or create religious tensions," said Amir (right in photo), who is also state PKR youth chief, when met at the site.

Meanwhile, Gegaran Azam secretary A Loganathan condemned the Penang government for not looking into the interests of all ethic groups and religions.

He criticised PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim and Guan Eng for preaching about caring for the interests of all races and religions, when at the same time the state's administrative policies in practise "insult the Hindu religion".

"The Indian members in Pakatan have no shame. Their religion is being insulted but they remain cowards. They have no belief in God and they are afraid of Guan Eng," he told reporters after the rally.

"They are afraid of losing their seats in the election, and so do not dare speak out. If they do, there is no need for us NGOs to get involved in the matter," said Loganathan, who claims to represent the collective voice of the 10 NGOs.

"Since Pakatan has been insulting our religious beliefs, we have decided we will not support their leaders in the coming 13th general polls," he added.
Ramasamy willing to talk

In an immediate response, Prai MP Ramasamy said that the MPSP has yet to approve the land for the parlour, and reminded that the objection period for the plan is yet to be over.

He added that the state government would be meeting the temple committee soon to resolve the issue and to discussed proper solutions to the problem.

"Let's meet to resolve the matter, as even I do not have any real solution yet. The association bought up the said land about two years ago from the council," said Ramasamy, who is also Hindu Endowment Board chairperson.

"We have tried to find alternative sites for the parlour, but everywhere they go, there is a protest," he added.

Ramasamy however dismissed the NGOs’ allegations that the state did not care about the community, saying he regretted the "racist" comments by Loganathan, who accused him and Guan Eng of being anti-Hindu and against the Indian community.

He insisted that the Pakatan government has done much for the Hindu and Indian community, questioning the NGOs on their misplaced anger.

He added that Loganathan "does not know head or tail about the issue, and has only jumped into the bandwagon" to join the protest.

Worldwide Counter-Jihad Alliance to Launch with Stockholm Demonstration on August 4

Worldwide Counter-Jihad Alliance to Launch with Stockholm Demonstration on August 4 Reuters
 NEW YORK, June 11, 2012: The first worldwide counter-jihad initiative will begin August 4 with the First Annual Global Counter Jihad rally in Stockholm, Sweden. Representatives from Stop Islamization of Nations (SION), Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), Stop Islamisation of Europe (SIOE), the English Defence League (EDL), and allied groups will speak.
 The Global Counter Jihad rally will feature the president of SION and executive director of SIOA, Pamela Geller, as well as SION Vice President and SIOA associate director Robert Spencer. Also speaking will be the EDL’s Tommy Robinson, SIOE’s Anders Gravers, and other worldwide leaders from official Stop Islamization and Defence League groups
“The conference,” said Geller in a statement, “heralds the launch of a worldwide counter jihad alliance. Freedom fighters from Europe and America, as well as India, Israel, and other areas threatened by jihad, will at last be working together and forming a common defense of freedom and human rights.”

Stockholm was chosen for the Global Counter Jihad rally because of the actions of an Iraqi-born Swedish citizen, Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly, who travelled to central Stockholm on December 11, 2010 in order to commit mass murder in revenge for Sweden’s “silence” over cartoons of Islam’s founder and the presence of Swedish troops in Afghanistan. Al-Abdaly succeeded only in killing himself, but his jihad plot is particularly noteworthy because he turned to jihad violence and hatred in England, at the Luton Islamic Centre.

EDL leader Tommy Robinson explained in a statement: “We are ashamed that the people of Stockholm had to suffer the horror of a terrorist attack in their city because we as a country have been unable to even truly acknowledge the extent of the threat posed by Islamic extremism, let alone combat it. We have a responsibility to ensure that our country can never again be the birthplace for terrorism. We owe that much to the people of Stockholm, to our friends in Europe and across the world, and to our children. This is why the English Defence League will be attending the First Annual Global Counter Jihad rally in Stockholm on August 4, along with Pamela Geller, Robert Spencer, and Anders Gravers.”
 Robinson added: “We must also look at the other forms of extremism commonly associated with Islam, including but not limited to the oppression of Muslim women, the predominance of Muslim men in child grooming cases, and the seditious ideology of Sharia Law. Of course, we must always be careful to distinguish fair-minded criticism from simple prejudice. But that does not mean that we should equate disdain for Islam as an ideology (both political and theological) with hatred of individual Muslims. It is certainly true that there many decent Muslims – no one is questioning that. But that does not mean that the problems that give root to Islamic extremists can be understood in isolation from mainstream Islamic thought or practice.”
Security will be high, so as to prevent what has happened at previous free speech demonstrations in Europe: at one, the display of an innocuous cartoon of Muhammad resulted in devout Muslims rioting, attacking and stabbing police. “It is time to stand against this encroaching tyranny and defend free speech and free people,” stated Geller.
 The First Annual Global Counter Jihad rally stands for:

• The freedom of speech – as opposed to Islamic prohibitions of "blasphemy" and "slander," which are used effectively to quash honest discussion of jihad and Islamic supremacism;
• The freedom of conscience – as opposed to the Islamic death penalty for apostasy;
• The equality of rights of all people before the law – as opposed to Sharia's institutionalized discrimination against women and non-Muslims.

 Join the SION Facebook group here.

Release sex video on MIC leader, dares party veep

The allegation about a prominent Perak MIC leader caught on video having sex with a sex worker is absurd, MIC vice-president M Saravanan said, because not even "a single shred of evidence" has been adduced.

"It's all lies. Let us talk logically. With news of elections around the corner, it's golden opportunity for anybody who wants to damage the credibility of a leader," Saravanan said when contacted today.

The federal territories and urban well-being deputy minister brushed aside the accusation against the Perak MIC leader, saying "it is just theatrics".

"If that person claims that the opposition is in possession of the video, what are they waiting for? They would have released it by now, either fully or part by part," he noted.

Several news portals and mainstream newspapers carried the allegation, quoting an MIC Youth source as saying that the video recording was in the hands of the opposition.

However, Saravanan said, the allegation was to raise discontent against MIC and aimed at "instilling an opinion" detrimental to the individual.

Malaysiakini has not been able to contact the individual linked to the video to verify the claim.
'If concerned, come to the party first'

"No one is exceptional to these things, but these are just dirty tactics to harm the individual. Do you think it is a Bollywood movie for a release date to be set? Just release the video if what you claim is true," he said.

He also reprimanded the state MIC Youth leader who made the revelation, saying he should have first lodged a complaint with the party's central working committee.

"If he claims to be a MIC member and he is so concerned about MIC's performance in the coming general election, he should have come to the party with the news first," said Saravanan, who is also the Tapah MP.

MIC suffered the most massive defeat in its history in the 2008 general election when it retained only three of the nine parliamentary seats and six of the 19 state seats it contested.

In Perak, speculation is rife that the party's candidates will contest in two parliamentary and four states seats, including Sungai Siput, which was long held by former MIC president S Samy Vellu, until his defeat by PSM's Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj.

Recurring Assam Riots. Solution to the roots is to uproot illegal Bangladeshi Muslims from Assam and North East.

BLOODSHED IN KOKRAJHAR FOR ANNEXATION OF ASSAM.

By Brigadier Chitranjan Sawant.

Who is going to annex Assam, one may wonder. Are there phalanx of battle ready armies moving around lower Assam to attack and annex? Indeed, that is the game plan of Bangladesh and it had been there since the days of formation of East Pakistan on 14 August 1947. In any case the Sylhet district of Assam was given to East Pakistan and the leaders of the Muslim League, including Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, had coveted the rich mineral resources, jungles and vast vacant lands of Assam. The sinister design of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to make the Lower Assam a Muslim-majority area, foment communal trouble and annex it for good. The successive govts of East Pakistan had been playing this game and the power-hungry Indian politicians had been banking on the vote-bank of the Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh to remain in power and enjoy the loaves and fishes of their high offices.

The warnings of losing Assam in the long run were sounded by patriots from time to time but they fell on the deaf ears of the traitors. The latest man in authority to sound the warning bell is no less a person than Lt Gen S.K. Sinha, Governor of Assam who wrote to President Narayanan in 1998 about gravity of situation and precarious security situation but the deaf and dumb politicians did sweet nothing to ward off the danger of losing Assam to Greater Bangladesh. Instead,the General was maligned as a rank communalist and an anti-Muslim fellow bent upon creating trouble.Now we all know how right was General Sinha and how wrong were the 22 Members of Parliament who moved heaven and earth to have General Sinha recalled as Governor of Assam. The traitors tasted success and were emboldened. The blood of Kokrajhar today is on the hands of traitors and all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten their hands.

As a citizen of Bharat, I am a sad man today as I read the accounts of riots, arson, murders of the Bodo Hindus by the illegal Muslim immigrants from the neighbouring Bangladesh. The Govt of India under PM Manmohan Singh and the Dacca govt of Sheikh Hasina have done precious little to stop the influx of illegal Muslim immigrants because the power hungry political parties treat the illegal immigrants as their vote-bank.

May I suggest that the report of General S.K. Sinha, the Governor of Assam in 1998 be made public so that the Indian Nation knows that a Patriot named General Sinha had analysed the Assam problem threadbare and cautioned all those who mattered to take remedial measures. And the Patriot was hounded out by the politicians and other pro-Muslim elements who wish Assam to be a part of Islamic Bangladesh. The names of that 22 MPs who wrote to the President and Govt of India for recall of General Sinha be made public so that the Indian people know who is a Patriot and who is a traitor.

My condolences to the bereaved families and a word of advice to Tarun Gogoi to keep India that is Bharat Above All interests and push the illegal Muslim immigrants back into Bangladesh Let the Bangladeshis be reminded of their history and told that hundreds of Indians had shed blood to give birth to Bangladesh and drive away Pakistani demons who preyed on the population of the then East Pakistan, mostly Muslims.

Be that as it may, the political and economic situation in the Lower Assam is very serious It is time the Government of India took decisive action and drove back the illegal immigrants rising above party politics and narrow gains of electoral battles. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh must dig out the comprehensive report on the causes of the present situation of deep distrust that has developed between the Hindus of Assam and the Muslim immigrants because of the devilish designs of the latter. Any mollycoddling of communal elements at this point of time will be an anti-national act and the history of India, as and when written objectively, will not forgive those politicians who have been keeping their selfish interests above the National interests.

Let us remember: If India lives, we live: if India dies, we die. Let India live forever !

The writer can be reached at: sawantg.chitranjan@gmail.com or upvanom@yahoo.com