Indian NGOs back Waytha's role in gov't

A group of Indian-based NGOs have expressed their support for Prime Minister Najib Razak for appointing P Waythamoorthy as a deputy minister in his new cabinet.

Waythamoorthy’s appointment has been condemned by his brother Uthayakumar, who has described him as the "New Samy Vellu" or yes-man to Umno.

But Kulim-based Batu Grace Ashram founder and adviser Solomon BG Rajanthren said Najib had done the right thing, as there is a need for more Indian Malaysian representation in the government, especially from a NGO.

"A NGO would understand another NGO's concerns and needs. We feel that not enough attention has been given to such organisations and their tireless work," Solomon told a press conference in Penang, last night. flanked by 10 other NGO leaders.

"We do not blame anyone but NGOs have been helping the community without being given due notice and recognition and usually we have no proper channel to express our views or raise our issues.”

For example, NGOs have carried out joint research with Universiti Sains Malaysia on ways to resolve the problems of Indian youths.

"We sent (the paper) to the PM but nothing has happened. We truly need the right channels to approach him, so an Indian representative in government can perhaps help us," said Solomon (right).

"Whether the proposal is approved or not is secondary, but we do have such a paper to address the needs of the Indian poor and we hope it will be considered.”

Solomon cited the example of MCA approaching NGOs in Kulim and offering them RM5,000 for their services to the community.

He said he had questioned the MCA official on the point of “giving such an amount to small NGOs to do their work”, noting that the sum is inadequate for all the work that needs to be done.

He made it clear that the NGOs are not "for or against" anyone, when fielding a question on whether they support Hindraf or the role it has been given in Najib's government.

Some 120 NGOs from Penang, Kedah and Perlis have arranged to meet Waythamoorthy (left) at the end of next month to discuss the community’s needs.

Asked if the groups are seeking financial help from the government, Solomon replied that the NGOs will present Waythamoorthy with "viable and meaningful" projects for the community.

"The more representation we have in the government, the better. It is time for us to show our unity," he said.

"We are just happy that a NGO has been given an opportunity. They are from the grassroots and understand the struggles of the community very well.”

Short rally

The NGOs represented at the press conference were Persatuan Kebajikan Ayirathil Oruvun Ithayakkani MGR based in Penang, Anbe Aanantham, Persatuan Kebajikan Sri Paramahamsa Thasar, Kolej Yakin and Persatuan Komuniti Kaum India, from Kedah.

The group later held a short rally, holding placards and shouting "Hidup PM (long live PM)" and "1Malaysia".

They carried a large banner with Najib's photo and a caption reading ‘We support the prime minister's decision to appoint a NGO as an additional representative for Indians’.

Waythamoorthy's new role came after a three-week hunger strike which ended when Najib endorsed Hindraf's 18-point blueprint, signing a memorandum of umderstanding with the NGO.

He then campaigned for BN in the 13th general election, calling on the Indian Malaysian community to help the coalition to regain its two-thirds majority in Parliament - which it failed to do.

Dr Subra: No decision to challenge Palani

He says an article by Bernama on Monday that he would be contesting for the MIC presidency was speculative in nature.

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam has denied making any decision to challenge the top post in the coming party election.

He said Bernama’s speculating article last Monday was only the views of the writer without any authentication.

“The writer of the article should have consulted and got my views before writing an article with far-reaching implications.

“It is very unfair to drag (former MIC president) S Samy Vellu into this because many of us in MIC still look up to him as a senior leader who was responsible in providing us with political space to grow,” said Dr Subramaniam in a statement to Bernama here today.

An article entitled ‘Dr Subra Set To Challenge Palani For MIC Top Post’ stated that the incumbent party chief, G Palanivel was expected to face a tough challenge in the defence of his position at the party’s presidential polls.

The article also quoted a source as saying that Samy had given his ‘green light’ for Dr Subramaniam to take on Palanivel in the party race next year.

Dr Subramaniam said the Central Working Committee had decided the party election be postponed to the early part of next year, and there would be an average seven to eight month-interval to the election.

“To suggest that the rest of the eight months would be sacrfified for the party politics is unthinkable. I have also taken on a new ministry and need more time to move on with fresh and new agenda for the ministry,” he said.

He said MIC was now preparing to re-invent itself to meet the coming challenges to remain relevant as the main representative of the Indian community in the government.

Seeing that the party machinery had to be overhauled and strengthened, Dr Subramaniam said the grassroots connectivity had to be re-energised and there was so much to be done between now and the party election.

- Bernama

Xavier’s supporters gather outside Anwar’s house

The group vented their frustration over the decision to drop the dentist from the Selangor exco line-up.

PETALING JAYA: Disappointed that Dr Xavier Jeyakumar had been dropped from the Selangor exco lineup, a group of PKR members and NGO leaders gathered outside party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s house in Segambut to vent their frustration last night.

It is learnt that they also held a closed door meeting with Anwar, persuading him to give the Seri Andalas assemblyman an exco post for another term.

“However, it was not a fruitful meeting since PKR has already identified their new exco line up for the second term under Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s administration,” claimed a source close to Anwar.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the PKR source confirmed that it was a heated meeting after one of the supporters was told to leave the meeting by Anwar.

According to him, six people led by Selayang councillor George Gunaraj and Suaram co-chairman K Arumugam had the meeting with Anwar.

It is believed that during the meeting, Anwar explained that it was the Selangor palace and not the party that wanted Xavier to be dropped.

Xavier was appointed as the state exco in the Pakatan Rakyat government after winning the Seri Andalas state seat in 2008.

Despite the dentist retaining his seat by defeating MIC candidate T Mohan with a bigger majority this time around, he was dropped from the exco list for unknown reasons.

In a related issue, Anwar’s special advisor R Suresh Kumar criticised Xavier and his supporters for gathering in front of Anwar’s house.

“It is very unprofessional and unhealthy for a senior leader like Xavier. Any party related issues must be discussed in the office not in leaders’ houses,” he added.

Suresh also admitted that he would lodge an official complaint over the incident.

“I will meet the party disciplinary committee by this week to lodge a report against Xavier and his supporters who gathered in front of Anwar’s house,” he said.

New line up

Meanwhile, the new exco line up sees four new faces, two from DAP, one from PKR and one from PAS.

V Ganabathi Rao (Kota Alam Shah), Dr Daroyah binti Alwi (Sementa), Sallehen Mukhyi (Sabak) and former Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim (Sungai Pinang) are the new faces.

While Elizabeth Wong (Bukit Lanjan), Ean Wong Hian Wah (Seri Kembangan), Iskandar Samad (Chempaka), Dr Halimah Ali (Selat Kelang), Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi (Sijangkang) and Rodziah Ismail (Batu Tiga) remain for another term.

The new exco will be sworn at the Alam Shah Palace tomorrow.

Dharmendran’s case: Desk beat for four cops

They had been reassigned to desk duties at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters so as to facilitate the probe into Dharmendaran's death by officers from Bukit Aman.

KUALA LUMPUR: Four policemen including an officer who investigated a shooting case in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, which resulted in the death of N Dharmendran while in police custody, have been reassigned to desk duties, said city police deputy chief SAC Amar Singh Ishar Singh.

He said they had been reassigned to desk duties at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters so as to facilitate the probe into Dharmendaran’s death by officers from Bukit Aman (Federal police headquarters).

Criminal elements were suspected in the death of Dharmendran, 32, who was detained at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters lockup.

On Tuesday, Dharmendran had complained of chest pains while held at the lockup but was pronounced dead on arrival when he was brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Yesterday, Bukit Aman Director of Management Mortadza Nazarene said police will be setting up a special committee headed by Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar soon to look into the welfare of suspects held in lockups.

Earlier, Amar Singh had handed over a Royal Malaysia Police letter of appreciation to Constable Muhalim Osop for “keeping his cool” under extreme provocation by a group protesting the detention of a student activist in front of the Jinjang police station here on Thursday.

Muhalim, 22, from Sabah, who was on guard duty that night, was subjected to all kinds of insults from the protesters but he just went about doing his duty.

The protesters had demanded the release of student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim who had been detained under the Sedition Act 1948 for allegedly urging the people to topple the government ala the “Arab Spring” at a forum held in the city recently.

“There was a woman among the group who claimed to be a lawyer and was pointing a finger at his (Muhalim’s) face but he handled the situation very professionaly and acted wisely to calm down the protesters,” Amar Singh told reporters.

Deceased’s family: PM’s Dept harassing us

The family of N Dharmendran claim to have received multiple phone calls from the PM's Department.

PETALING JAYA: The family of N Dharmendran have claimed that the Prime Minister’s Department and police are harassing them.

Father of the deceased, V Narayanasamy, said he received multiple phone calls on May 27 from a person who claimed to be working with the PM’s department known as D Ravindran.

“He told me that he is calling from the PM’s Department and that they want to help us solve Dharmendran’s case,” he said.

“He also told me to keep the conversation secret and that I should not share the information with Dharmendran’s wife or the lawyers,” he added.

Narayanasamy also claimed that Ravindran, who is a Pemandu director, had advised him not to engage the lawyers that are already assisting the family.

“He told me not to engage the current lawyers and that he would help provide new lawyers to handle the case,” he said.

“He also assured me that they would take care of the whole thing and make sure justice was served,” he added.

Narayanasamy had refused the favours and had since asked Ravindran, who also claimed that he was working under the newly appointed minister Senator Paul Low, to stop contacting him.

Dharmendran, 32, an Indah Water employee was arrested on May 11 shortly after lodging a police report that he was involved in a fight earlier that night.

Family members later received a call saying that Dharmendran was sent to HKL, where he died, on May 21 due to an asthma attack.

However, the post-mortem revealed that he had died of blunt force trauma and the police have since classified the case as murder.

‘Najib must explain’

Lawyer and PKR vice president N Surendran, who was also present at the press conference, criticised Ravindran for asking the family to keep the conversation confidential.

“Why must they keep it a secret if they are sincere in helping the grieving family?” he asked.

“It’s clear that there is an attempt by the PM’s Department to disengage us as lawyers and cover up the matter,” he added.

Surendran urged Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to explain his matter.

“This is not the first time they are doing this. They placed a ban on Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand from performing the second autopsy in C Sugumar’s case, now this?” he said.

“We want an explanation from the PM and all those involved in the PM’s Department on the issue of harassment being suffered by the family,” he added.

Dharmendran’s widow M Marry said that the police are more interested in recording statements from family members and their lawyers but not the actual perpetrators.

“They collect statements from us for hours even though the autopsy report shows that my husband died of blunt force trauma. We don’t know what happen, why interrogate us?” she said.

“The police should investigate and take statements from all the police officers involved in the arrest and interrogation of my husband, that would paint a clearer picture for them,” she added.

Senator Low: Our intentions misunderstood

Senator Low meanwhile has denied that the government was attempting any cover up on the case as alleged by Dharmendran’s family and lawyers. He said the PM Department’s intentions had been misunderstood.

“We tried to explain that we are willing to work together with any party, regardless of political affiliations,” he said.

“This was sadly misunderstood as a means to settle out of court,” he added.

As minister overseeing human rights and integrity, Low called upon the police to hasten their investigation which should be transparent, impartial and definitive.

“I have spoken to Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on this and have his assurance of a thorough investigation, and anyone found responsible will be prosecuted to the full extent of law,” he said.

Low further claimed that his office had spoken to PKR’s Subang Jaya MP and lawyer R Sivarasah yesterday to clarify that they are willing to bridge the political divide.

“We need to rebuild the public confidence in all our enforcement agencies and that human rights, safety and security must be respected and protected especially under police custody,” he said.

“Furthermore, I’d like to assure the public that a thorough evaluation of all procedures, practices and regulations will be made to ensure that they comply with the highest standard of integrity to safeguard the well-being of any person in custody,” he added.

Jayathas cries foul

In related development, PKR’s S Jayathas condemned a front page report by Utusan Malaysia about how he pretended to faint after obstructing a government official.

In a report called “Ahli PKR ‘berlakon’ pengsan”, printed on May 27, Utusan alleged that Jayathas pretended to faint after claiming he was pushed by a police officer.

Jayathas and lawyers had accompanied the family of Dharmendran to the Dang Wangi police headquarters on May 26 to lodge a police report when the incident took place.

“Being a dialysis patient, my legs are weak. I was not pretending. I felt giddy and fell after I was pushed by a police officer,” he said.

“The police claimed that I went in and out of the police station too many times but in reality, I only came out once to address members of the press and was denied re-entry right after,” he added.

Jayathas also said it was irresponsible of the Dang Wangi police chief to make statements before any investigations are carried out.

“They haven’t conducted any investigations yet they want to charge me under Section 353 of the Penal Code – obstructing a government official,” he said.

“I think it is very immature and irresponsible of him and he should now explain himself,” he added.