Will Sugumar's custodial death become Kugan II?

Cops blasted for covering up 'turmeric murder' case

Tehachapi: We should cry out and demand justice for Sugumar Chelliah and his family. This is a waste of a life one…

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Cops blasted for covering up 'turmeric murder' case

Tehachapi: We should cry out and demand justice for Sugumar Chelliah and his family. This is a waste of a life one too many.

What has happened to Sugumar could have happened to any of us. People are justifiably angry about the way precious life is being trampled on.

Lim Chong Leong: The police say this is a case of "sudden death". Of course, that is true. Sugumar died suddenly after being beaten while he was handcuffed and choking on turmeric. That does not make it less of a murder.

Just like when Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu was shot and blown up with C4 plastic explosives. As with Sugumar, death too came suddenly for her.

Odin: One simple question - if Sugumar had died of heart attack, which we shall presume to have come on naturally and thus there was no foul play, why then were members of his family not allowed to view his remains? There would have been nothing to hide, would there?

Gerard Lourdesamy: It is time for Indians to take to the streets to demand for justice for Sugumar. He was a mentally-ill man with no criminal record.

We demand an royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to investigate the circumstances of his death and the immediate setting up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

If the Malay-dominated police force thinks that it can get away by exterminating innocent Indians simply because of race and religion, they have it coming.

I am sick and tired of this rogue and lawless behaviour from the police. They are nothing but hired assassins with a gun.

Anonymous #43051382: As usual, the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) will point fingers at their victims. Don't you realise that those deaths under police custody all involved young adults who were fit and healthy but suddenly suffered some ailment?

What is worse is that the government hospital staff doing post-mortem on those bodies have also become devils covering up the evil work of the PDRM.

Cala: Based on Durkheim's social fact argument, when there is a pattern of systemic mistreatment of the Indians by the police that causes deaths, the social phenomenon must be explained in a social context, beyond the actions of actors-agents.

Are such incidents not the result of five decades of marginalisation of the Indian community by the Umno-led BN regime?

Jambu Batu: Where are the MIC leaders? For the Batu Caves condominium issue, they were there with the press. For the demolishing of the Hindu altar in Sepang, they too were there with the press. When a poor Indian died in custody, they were missing.

Disgusted: These types of police brutality and deaths will go on indefinitely unless the people who empower the police are removed from their seats of power.

Vote Umno-BN out in the coming 13th GE and we may have the police force revamped from top to bottom and have an IPCMC at last.

Gandhi: MIC Youth's T Mohan or C Sivarajah - the so-called champions of the Indians - where are you? I guess they are thinking of forming a committee to find out why Sugumar's family is making so much fuss.

MIC is phobic to do anything that needs gonads to go against the BN government. So far not a word from them about the tragedy but yet they want Indian votes. MIC should get turmeric powder and feel the people's agony.

Tehachapi: First, we have to hold the home minister responsible and he has to come up with an explanation to all Malaysians, not just Indians.

Ask him what he would do if one of his children or relatives is being treated the same way as Sugumar Chelliah? Do you think Sugumar and his family are not human beings with feelings?

Mat Salleh: When even a police chief can lie blatantly, you don't have to guess very much where civil liberties and human rights are headed in Malaysia.

One ex-PM started this rot and it appears the entire Umno bureaucracy is now under his spell. God bless this cursed nation.

Anonymous_3e86: It is sad the way the country is heading. There is no accountability in all government agencies. Those upholding the law break the law themselves and show no accountability nor responsibility towards the actions of their employees.

They get away with corruption and even murder.

Tidakboleh: Cover-ups to make the police and the regime look good have been the standard operating procedure (SOP) from day one.

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Seven reports lodged against Ibrahim Ali

Seven reports have been lodged against Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali over his controversial call for the Malay and Jawi version of the bible containing the word 'Allah' be burned.

Penang…

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Seven reports have been lodged against Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali over his controversial call for the Malay and Jawi version of the bible containing the word 'Allah' be burned.

Penang police chief Abdul Rahim Hanafi confirmed this at a press conference at the Butterworth police station today.

However, the police have yet to take Ibrahim’s statement although Abdul Rahim said the Perkasa chief would be probed under Section 298A of the Penal Code which reads:

"Whoever, with deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person, or makes any gesture in the sight of that person, or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both."

"We will be calling him very soon to take his statement over the reports," said Abdul Rahim.

When pressed to confirm whether Ibrahim would be called in this week or the next, Abdul Rahim merely maintained, "It would be very, very soon."

Recently, Ibrahim said that the police were following up on a police report lodged against him.

No show at Penang bible burning

Ibrahim, the Pasir Mas MP reportedly made the controversial bible burning call in Permatang Pauh last week, although he denied intending to hurt the feelings of Christians, saying it was a warning to those who were allegedly against the federal constitution.

Following his call, a Christian church in Butterworth lodged a police report after receiving a leaflet inviting the public to join a 'bible burning fest’ which was supposed to take place this morning at the municipal field.

The event failed to take place, while Abdul Rahim thanked Penangites, especially the Muslims for not paying heed to the call by a group claiming to be "anti-Malay bible".

Meanwhile Abdul Rahim said there were no more updates regarding a bible distribution incident that took place outside a school in Jelutong, Penang last week.

This is despite seven reports lodged on the issue and 17 statements taken from various quarters to help with police investigations.

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Holy book reading in Penang

No One Injured in Bus Attack; Arabs Stone Kindergarten

The attacked bus

Israel Police

Sunday saw several violent incidents in which Arabs rioted, and threw rocks at kindergarten children

Arab terrorists threw rocks on a bus traveling in the…

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The attacked bus

Israel Police

Sunday saw several violent incidents in which Arabs rioted, and threw rocks at kindergarten children

Arab terrorists threw rocks on a bus traveling in the Binyamin region Sunday evening. There were no injuries reported. The incident was mistakenly reported as a shooting attack at first.

The number 172 bus, traveling from Jerusalem to the town of Anatot, was hit by rocks at as it passed near the Arab town of Hizme, north of Jerusalem. The bus was damaged, with several of the rocks piercing the bullet-proof windows.

Police closed the road immediately after the attack was reported, and began a search for the culprits. The road closure caused a huge traffic tie-up, with traffic stuck in both directions for many kilometers.

Earlier, Arabs attacked a Jew in the Givat Shaul area of Jerusalem. The attack occurred outside the famous Angel Bakery, and quickly turned into a near-riot, with dozens of Jews and Arabs facing off against each other. Several scuffles broke out, and a number of Arabs were reported injured in the fracas. Police arrived on the scene and used anti-riot techniques to break up the crowd, spraying tear gas on both groups. Magen David Adom rescue workers treated a number of people on the scene for light injuries. Police are investigating what set off the incident.

Meanwhile, in Hevron, a gang of Arab youths conducted a rock attack against a kindergarten in the Avraham Avinu neighborhood. The Arab attackers quickly retreated to the nearby Casbah. IDF troops stepped in to halt the attack.

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Malaysians arrive for second wives

A Songkhla provincial mosque has become a popular destination for Malaysia's married Muslim men looking for a valid second marriage – or even third and fourth – after their polygamous…

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A Songkhla provincial mosque has become a popular destination for Malaysia's married Muslim men looking for a valid second marriage – or even third and fourth – after their polygamous request is rejected by their first wife, whose permission is required.

The mosque is frequently busy organising Nikah -- a simple Muslim wedding ceremony in which a man and a woman declare their commitment as husband and wife -- for about 10-30 pairs of brides and grooms, mostly Malaysians, every day, Chem Hemman, vice president of Songkhla Islamic Committee, said on Thursday.
The event is held in a specially arranged room at the mosque, with a simple decorative heart shaped floral arch for photo opportunities installed in front of it.
The ceremony is basic, but is in line with the principles of Islam, Mr Chem said.
In Islam, a married man must seek consent from his first wife before looking to marry a second, third or fourth wife. In Malaysia, most first wives do not consent to their husbands’ wish, forcing the men and their future wives to travel to the southern province to perform the Nikah, Mr Chem said.
Despite being a religious ceremony, the Nikah could take place at any convenient venue, outside a mosque.
The presence of the bride’s father is not needed if she voluntarily embarks on a marriage and the distance from her residence was at least 96 kilometres to the place in which the holy matrimonial event is performed.
The couple only pay for marriage documents while the Nikah service is free of charge.
The committee will issue a certificate to endorse the marriage and inform the Consulate-General of Malaysia in Songkhla to confirm the validity of the couple’s union, Mr Chem said.  The ceremony draws single men and women and widows as well as men marrying second, third or fourth wives.
Brides and grooms from Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei also come to endorse their union at the Songkhla mosque, Mr Chem said. This could promote cultural tourism for the province and the lower South because most couples are accompanied by a big group of family members, relatives and friends who serve as witnesses and guests in the ceremony. The married couple often stay for their honeymoon in the southern region, he added.

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Malaysia a ‘coward nation’

Taslima Nasreen, a controversial writer has sent out a scathing twit about Malaysia's move to ban Vishwaroopam.

PETALING JAYA: Controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has described Malaysia as a “coward”…

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Taslima Nasreen, a controversial writer has sent out a scathing twit about Malaysia's move to ban Vishwaroopam.

PETALING JAYA: Controversial Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen has described Malaysia as a “coward” nation following Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein’s decision to suspend the screening of Tamil movie, Vishwaroopam.

“Malaysia banned Vishwaroopam. Coward countries will ban it, coward cinemas will not show it.

“This fear of Muslim fanatics is just plain stupid,” said Taslima on Twitter after news of the suspension was reported by the Indian media yesterday.

Taslima courted controversy in 1993 after a book that she wrote entitled Lajja criticised the implementation of the sharia law.

Muslims in Bangladesh called for her death and this led to her decision to live in exile in India.

Taslima is not the first to criticise Malaysia’s decision.

Yesterday, Malaysia’s National Laureate A Samad Said questioned the rationale of the suspension by the Film Censorship Board (LPF) since it saw no harm in allowing Hindi film Race 2 from being screened.

Vishwaroopam was suspended last Friday after cinemas began screening the movie.

The movie has also been banned in Singapore and several other countries

Lift ban, says Hindraf

Vishwaroopam is a spy thriller directed, co-produced and starring South Indian film star, Kamal Haasan.

The movie revolves around international terrorism and Kamal Haasan dons three roles – an Indian classical dancer, Indian anti-terrorism agent and an agent who infiltrates a terrorist group.

LPF’s enforcement and control division secretary Razak Derahman told FMT that the screening of Viswaroopam was suspended on the orders of Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

According to Razak, the Malaysian Indian Muslim Youth Movement sent a memorandum to the Home Ministry on Wednesday to oppose the screening of the movie that is alleged to hurt the religious sensitivities of Muslims.

Meanwhile Hindraf has called for the ban to be lifted.

Hindraf chairman P Waytha Moorthy said the suspension was uncalled for given that movie’s theme on international terrorism was not different from many other Hollywood and Indian movies with similar themes, which were not banned.

“Why pick on this movie when so many Hollywood movies with similar themes were allowed screening?” he had asked.

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Cops want public inquest on Sugumaran’s death

Police have also urged those who witnessed C Sugumaran being beaten to come forward and assist their investigations.

SHAH ALAM: Police have proposed to the Public Prosecutor to hold an…

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Police have also urged those who witnessed C Sugumaran being beaten to come forward and assist their investigations.

SHAH ALAM: Police have proposed to the Public Prosecutor to hold an open inquest into the death of C Sugamaran, 39.

Selangor police chief A. Thaiveegan said the inquest was to ascertain the true cause of the victims’ death during an incident in Taman Sri Nanding, Hulu Langat on Jan 23.

He said the case had been taken over by a special team from the Selangor police headquarters on Jan 25. The team has thus far questioned 89 witnesses.

“We appeal to those who were at the location and saw any individuals using force, to come forward and help the police,” he told reporters today.

He also urged three individuals known as R. Mohanarajan, S. Sugunan and R. Wasanan who claimed to have seen the victim being beaten to contact the police immediately. The three were quoted as having witnessed the incident by an online news portal.

Anyone with relevant information may contact investigating officer ASP Burhanuddin Mustafa at 019-3829212/03-55145152 or call the nearest police station, he added.

“We hope the people who have information on this incident will tell the police. Some have claimed the victim was subjected to violence but until today no one has come forward to confirm it,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Sugumaran, who was believed to be mentally unstable, went on a rampage and damaged public property with an iron rod.

Media reports had stated that he had been aggressive when police tried to detain him, and had suddenly collapsed and died enroute to the hospital.

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‘They keep insulting Indians’

Ponggal rice is 'bountiful" and different from raw rice. PM Najib gave away handouts of raw rice as if "we are beggars" and Indian political parties to blame.
COMMENT

Prime…

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Ponggal rice is 'bountiful" and different from raw rice. PM Najib gave away handouts of raw rice as if "we are beggars" and Indian political parties to blame.
COMMENT

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak insulted the Indians in Klang.

G Kathirvelu, an Indian I encountered in the Jalan Mohet, in the vicinity of where Najib was attending a Ponggal event on Jan 12 said: “This is an insult to the Indian community, he (Najib) came to give us a handout of rice, that is what we in the community do to beggars.

“And if this was paid for by the shopkeepers and the MIC (then) there is a lot to answer for, we are no beggars.

“Ponggal rice and raw rice are two different things, the Indians gave him Ponggal rice not raw rice.”

Kathirvelu, who is from Sungei Pelek, told me this was the common way Barisan treated Indians.

Kathirvelu’s father, who used to work in Tumbok estate, was a member of the MIC and during those days they used to promise to pay the Indian estate workers RM5 each if the Alliance won.

And the poor workers, Kathirvelu said, would oblige. A few elections later he said, “the voters were split on this amount and as a result Cikgu Jaabar the independent won the seat.

“Later to unseat Cikgu Jaabar in Sungei Pelek they paid the Indians RM10 each on the insistence of the MIC. Umno won on Indian votes then.

“Even now they do the same and our people (the Indians) continue behaving like beggars, a culture brought about by the MIC.

“It is a shame how they treat us and we allow ourselves to be treated too,” said Kathirvelu.

Blame the Indian NGOs

He was so annoyed that he continued: “These people ( the Indians) who took the rice had no pride in themselves. They have the beggar mentality, they have not changed from my father’s time.

“Najib came to insult the Indians. The Indian political parties are responsible the ones who promote this beggar culture, undermining the integrity of the Indians.

“They are advising an “vengayam” (onion) like Najib to treat us as beggars and telling Umno that this is when we will respond, this has to stop.”

Kathirvelu’s rant in the vicinity of the Sri Kota Hospital on Jan 12 even as tens and thousands of Malaysians gathered at Stadium Merdeka for the Himpunana Kebangkitan Rakyat rally, had similarities with the Thaipusam being declared a national holiday, after years and years of begging.

It seems to have long been forgotten that it was the Indian labourers who built the roads and the railways of this country.

They were the ones who cleared the land and planted rubber and oil palm.

It was they, together with the Chinese in the mines, who worked in the estates and mines that brought development to Malaysia.

But their contribution has never been acknowledged.

I distinctly remember that somewhere between the late 70s and the mid 80s, Guinness Malaysia, which was at that time not part of the MBL group, had offered to make documentaries on the contribution of Indians to the Malaysian economy.

But the then Home Minister put a stop to it.

This is how the history of this country is written, it takes away the contribution of the people and paints a picture that it was Umno which developed this country.

This was the Dr Mahathir Mohamad agenda, a person who is ashamed to own up to his own roots. He is ashamed of his heritage and to hide that he created a new culture – of arrogance, lies, deceit, corruption, racism and lacking morals – and imposed it on Malaysians.

Toffee Rozario is a businessman who spends his free time writing to create awareness. He blogs at Toffee’sTurn.

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Thaipusam: Najib repeats ‘nambikei call’

The premier also says the government is committed to continuing its efforts to uplift the Indian community.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has repeated his call for the…

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The premier also says the government is committed to continuing its efforts to uplift the Indian community.

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has repeated his call for the Indian community to give him “nambikei” (trust), ahead of the 13th general election.

“As you pray for a better life, I want all Malaysian Hindus to know that the government is committed to continuing its efforts to uplift the Indian community.

“We will stand by you and work together towards overcoming the challenges you face and achieving the success you strive for.

“With continued ‘nambikei’ between the government and the people, we will surely achieve all that we have set out to do for the Indian community and indeed, for our country,” he said via a greeting message posted on his blog.

Najib was not present at the Thaipusam celebrations today.

His deputy Muhyiddin Yassin last night visited Batu Caves and announced more funds for vernacular schools next year.

Najib first called Indians to trust (nambikei) him last Thaipusam when he addressed thousands of Hindu devotees who flocked to the temple.

“If you help me, I’ll help you. You trust me, I trust you. Nambikei [trust] between all of us; Malaysia will prosper, Indians will prosper, all races can go forward,” he reportedly said.

However, detractors including Hindraf and the opposition have since poured scorn on Najib, saying that the Barisan Nasional government was not fit to seek the community’s trust due to its track records.

With the general election looming and the Indian votes still split, Najib has brought up the nambikei concept again in an attempt shore up his government.

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Freedom of Religion - The Allah Controversy

The Chief Constable and his warnings — Sakmongkol AK47

JAN 27 — Politicians and civil servants are saying a lot about religion nowadays.

The Malaysian IGP or equivalent to UK's Chief Constable has come out warning those who make…

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JAN 27 — Politicians and civil servants are saying a lot about religion nowadays.

The Malaysian IGP or equivalent to UK's Chief Constable has come out warning those who make fun of religion and racial issues. He says doing that can create hostilities and disunite the country.

We agree with him fully. He should use whatever powers he has to haul these people in without fear or favour.

So why are the police slow in taking up action against Ibrahim Ali?

This fellow has made seditious calls for Malaysian Muslims to seize and burn bibles.

He should have been called the instance he uttered those words. Are we waiting for some bonfires somewhere before action is taken? Then, representatives from the NGO which Ibrahim heads deny any knowledge of a planned bible burning event in Penang.

Having thrown the stones, you hide your inciminating hands.

Why has Penang been singled out? Penang which is headed by a non-Muslim, allocates more than RM60 million a year for Muslim affairs.

It has increased allowance for mosque and surau officials. Gave money to Quran reciters. And so on and so forth.

Perkasa as the self-appointed guardian of all things Malay, Islam and the King should congratulate Penang rather than turning Penang into a Bible burning venue.

If Perkasa wants to burn Bibles, it should choose Seremban. The chief minister there, a Malay and a Muslim can only manage to give RM10 million allocation. The same amount he asked one money changer to send over to UK.

But back to the IGP. Having declared it, he must translate his talk into action. Please arrest Chua Soi Lek for making fun and mocking Islam at his MCA General Assembly late last year.

The whole of Muslim Malaysia heard what he said. Soi Lek has made so many disparaging remarks about Islam. Perkasa was silent on the things Soi Lek said about Islam and in fact condoned and agreed to what Soi Lek said.

Maybe Ibrahim Ali needs to be arrested too because he has said that one of the reasons why Malays and Muslims lagged behind in business is because Islam is inhibitive.

Please also arrest Najib Tun Razak for being physically present in the event where Soi Lek uttered those words.

Later Najib also endorsed what Soi Lek said.

Please arrest Mahathir for saying that if Allah has not chosen Muhammad to be the messenger of Islam, He would have chosen someone else. That's blasphemous.

Otherwise the public will interpret that Ismail Omar's statements were only directed to those opposed to UMNO's interpretation of Islam.

To Muslims please read Quran 5:57. After reading that, will they still want to support Najib? - as long as I am PM, we will not implement Islamic laws. Will they continue to believe what Mahathir says?

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

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Bar Council wants inquest to probe handcuff death

The Malaysian Insider
by Boo Su-Lyn

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 – The Malaysian Bar today called for an inquest on the death of security guard C. Sugumaran, the latest incident…

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The Malaysian Insider
by Boo Su-Lyn

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 – The Malaysian Bar today called for an inquest on the death of security guard C. Sugumaran, the latest incident in a string of custodial deaths over the years that have tarnished public confidence in the police force.

In a statement here, Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee said the incident is a matter of “utmost public interest” and warrants the highest level of priority.

“These deaths must not be relegated to a mere statistic,” Lim said.

But Lim said structural reform is also needed, where such inquests are concerned, noting that past inquiries had returned “open verdicts”.

He repeated the Bar’s call for the government to introduce a “Coroners’ Act” and establish a “Coroners’ Court” to try such cases of custodial deaths and the like.

He said these initiatives must come with features such as a clearly-stated aim, which is to focus on identifying the deceased and ascertaining how, when and where this person had died; creating official posts of state coroner and coroners, which are to be appointed by the prime minister on the Chief Justice’s recommendation. The coroner is responsible for supervising police investigations; and that only pathologists, or medical practitioners supervised by these pathologists can conduct post-mortems.

On Wednesday, eyewitnesses had said that the 39-year-old Sugumaran was chased down last week by four policemen who subsequently handcuffed and beat him to death together with a mob of more than 20 people in Hulu Langat.

They said that after the policemen caught and handcuffed him, more than 20 other men from a nearby restaurant joined the policemen and proceeded to assault him.

“The police stepped on Sugumaran’s neck,” R. Moohanarajan said when met at the Serdang Hospital. “Twenty to thirty people wearing plain clothes beat him up. He was lying facedown with his hands handcuffed behind,” added Moohanarajan, who was Sugumaran’s neighbour.

But on Thursday, the Kajang police denied assaulting the security guard to death, citing the hospital’s first post-mortem on Sugumaran, which showed that the man had died of a heart attack.

In the police’s version of the incident, the Batu 14 Hulu Langat police station had received a call at about 6.30pm on Wednesday from a Malay man saying that Sugumaran had run amok and was destroying public property.

He added that three policemen in a patrol car and a motorbike tailed Sugumaran, who was on foot, for about two kilometres from Dusun Sri Nanding to Taman Lagenda Suria in Hulu Langat as the latter waved an iron rod, destroying flower vases near houses and electrical wires, until he fell down in the middle of the road.

But citing eyewitness accounts, lawyers for Sugumaran’s family have refused to accept the police version of the story and have demanded a second post-mortem, apart from insisting that the case be classified as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

They have also repeated calls for the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), a major demand of the federal opposition, rights groups and civil society activists for years now.

The IPCMC is meant to sit as an independent body that would look into reforming police procedures and ensuring the country’s crime busters face punitive action themselves, should their misadventures lead to more such fatal mishaps.

Agreeing, Lim noted today that statistics disclosed by the Home Affairs Ministry recently had revealed that a total of 156 individuals have died in police custody between 2000 and February 2011.

“Such tragedies underscore the dire need for an IPCMC, to function as an independent, external oversight body to investigate complaints about police personnel and to make the police accountable for their conduct.

“These deaths are inexcusable, and is another incident demonstrating that the police are unable to police themselves,” he said.

Joining the Bar in its views, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) executive director E. Nalini said the police has lost its credibility among the public and earned the reputation as the “agent for immediate death sentence for detainees”.

She agreed that an inquiry must be held into Sugumaran’s death and the IPCMC set up immediately to initiate reforms within the police force.

“The police seem to have little regard to the values of a human life,” she said.

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Muhyiddin Satisfied With Sarawak BN's Preparations For Coming Elections - Stephen Rundi

KUCHING, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is satisfied and confident with the preparations of the Sarawak BN component parties' general election machinery.…

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KUCHING, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is satisfied and confident with the preparations of the Sarawak BN component parties' general election machinery.

Sarawak BN secretary Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi said this was expressed by Muhyiddin, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, after he was given a briefing for more than two hours by state BN leaders, here, Sunday.

"The deputy prime minister is very happy with what we have briefed him and he is quite confident with Sarawak BN's preparations for the 13th general election. In the briefing, all the state component parties stated that they were prepared to face the coming general election any time.

"All parties also furnished the figures and statistics needed. We are confident we can win overwhelmingly in the general election," he told reporters after the closed-door briefing.

Meanwhile, Sarawak BN chairman and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was confident that BN would be able to obtain two-thirds majority in the general election.

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Former pub in Willenhall is set to be Hindu temple

A former pub in Willenhall will be given a new lease of life as a Hindu place of worship and community centre under proposals revealed today. The Long Acres pub…

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A former pub in Willenhall will be given a new lease of life as a Hindu place of worship and community centre under proposals revealed today. The Long Acres pub would be used as a place for meditation and prayer.

In plans submitted to Wolverhampton City Council, the premises would also provide day-care for the elderly, education classes, employment training and leisure activities. The pub lost its licence and closed in 2010 after “many years of disruption and late night disturbance to the neighbourhood”.

The new facility which would be based at the former pub on Dilloways Lane, would be open to all for community activities such as yoga, dance classes and social clubs.

The applicant said that it was hoped weddings and funerals would also take place occasionally at the site, which is on land which borders Willenhall and Bilston.

Bilston North councillor Philip Page said the site had previously been vandalised and used as a car park for travellers.

He added: “I’m sure the community would want to see what the proposals are before they decide what they want to do.

“Whatever they are planning to have there has got to be better than it being vandalised.”

Two single-storey extensions to the building are proposed.

A design statement, submitted with the application, reads: “Hindu temples are mostly used as meeting places for meditation, prayer, watching priests perform dance rituals, religious discourses and devotional singing and chanting.

“The community uses are likely to include day-care for the elderly, education classes and employment training plus leisure activities dictated by the reasonable demands of the congregation and local residents and are anticipated to be of the usual yoga (invented by Hindus), dance class, bridge club and social type (with snacks and hot drinks on hand), facilities being made available free of charge in exchange for a reasonable donation.”

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