Maniam kecewa niatnya diragui

Penulis bertemu Ketua Bahagian MIC Kota Raja untuk berbual tentang isu hangat dan terbaru dalam parti politik itu.
COMMENT

Isu dalaman MIC memang sedang hangat sekarang. Bernama (27 Mei 2013) melaporkan kemungkinan timbalan presiden, Dr S Subramaniam bertanding merebut jawatan presiden daripada G Palanivel; manakala The Star (30 Mei 2013) melaporkan ketegasan M Saravanan bertanding jawatan timbalan presiden.

Dalam pada itu, saya lebih tertarik untuk mengikuti perkembangan yang lebih dekat dengan saya, iaitu berkaitan Ketua Bahagian MIC Kota Raja, RS Maniam yang juga Penyelaras Barisan Nasional (BN) Kota Raja.

Saya berpeluang mengenali beliau pada Mei 2011 semasa isu sekumpulan ibu bapa mengadakan perhimpunan aman membantah pengetua rasis di sebuah sekolah menengah kebangsaan di Shah Alam.

Kemudian, pada 24 September 2011 apabila sekumpulan penduduk dan peniaga mengemukakan aduan berhubung tindakan Majlis Bandar Raya Shah Alam (MBSA) mengubah haluan jalan di Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam.

Pada pagi 31 Mei 2013 pula, saya bertemu beliau di Taman Sri Muda dengan harapan dapat meneliti surat tunjuk sebab yang dikeluarkan oleh Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Disiplin MIC, KS Nijhar, dua hari lalu.

“Saya sendiri hanya mendapat tahu mengenai hal itu menerusi laporan di portal berita Free Malaysia Today pada 29 Mei 2013. Saya sedang bermain golf sewaktu dihubungi rakan-rakan yang bertanya benarkan saya digantung. Saya sangat terkejut.

“Saya adalah ahli MIC sejak 32 tahun lalu. Saya tidak tahu apakah punca atau alasan saya mahu digantung. Sehingga saat ini, saya masih belum menerima sebarang surat tunjuk sebab daripada jawatankuasa disiplin,” kata politikus kelahiran Kuala Lumpur itu.

Mengikut prosedur biasa – setahu saya – jawatankuasa kerja pusat (CWC) akan menerima aduan dan kemudian mengarahkan jawatankuasa disiplin melakukan siasatan.

Lazimnya, individu terbabit akan dihubungi menerusi surat tunjuk sebab dan diminta memberikan alasan mengapa tindakan disiplin tidak boleh dikenakan terhadapnya.

Jawatankuasa disiplin pula akan mengemukakan laporan dan saranan kepada CWC. Keputusan akhir terletak pada CWC, sama ada mahu menerima saranan jawatankuasa disiplin atau mengetepikanya.

Dalam hal ini pula, Maniam mengesahkan tidak menerima sebarang surat tunjuk sebab mengikut prosedur dan perlembagaan parti. Maka tentulah beliau terkejut apabila dihubungi rakan-rakan dan wartawan yang lebih dahulu mendapat berita berikutan sidang media oleh Nijhar di ibu pejabat MIC, Kuala Lumpur.

Beri peluang pertahankan diri, beri penjelasan

Saya ada membaca kenyataan Maniam yang disiarkan di Free Malaysia Today (18 Mei 2013) di mana beliau menyokong gesaan Saravanan agar pemilihan parti diadakan segera sebelum berdepan risiko tindakan Pendaftar Pertubuhan (RoS).

Malangnya, Ketua Penerangan MIC Selangor, L Subramaniam didapati “memanipulasi berita tersebut serta menyatakan ia mencemarkan nama baik parti”. Maniam mempertahankan dirinya menerusi kenyataan balas dalam Malaysia Edition (21 Mei 2013).

Salah satu tujuan saya bertemu politikus berumur 59 tahun ini adalah untuk memberi peluang kepada beliau mempertahankan diri. Sekurang-kurangnya orang ramai berpeluang mendapatkan maklumat daripada kedua-dua pihak sebelum membuat penilaian sendiri.

“Berita-berita yang keluar sejak belakangan ini mungkin membuatkan orang fikir saya mensabotaj BN. Saya berani katakan bahawa saya lebih mencintai BN berbanding mereka yang menuduh saya macam-macam.

“Walaupun saya tidak dipilih menjadi calon dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 (PRU-13), saya tetap setia bersama MIC dan BN. Malah, saya menyertai 38 ceramah bagi calon Parlimen Kota Raja, T Murugesan dan calon DUN Seri Andalas, T Mohan,” kata Maniam yang tinggal di Klang.

Ahli politik ini yang memang terkenal dalam kalangan penduduk di kawasan Palimen Kota Raja menceritakan bahawa ramai yang bertanya kepada beliau, apakah beliau sudah digantung (suspended). Hal ini berlaku selepas mereka membaca berita mengenai sidang media oleh Nijhar.

“Berita yang disiarkan itu sedikit-sebanyak memberi kesan buruk pada imej saya sebagai seorang ketua keluarga, politikus dan pemimpin masyarakat. Maka saya berhak untuk berasa sedih. Orang ramai mungkin beranggapan saya telah melakukan sesuatu untuk mensabotaj MIC dan BN dalam PRU-13 sehingga menyebabkan semua ini berlaku,” katanya dengan nada kecewa.

Maniam menceritakan bahawa Murugesan dan Mohan turut menghubunginya kelmarin dan menyatakan sokongan. Secara logik, jika benar Maniam telah melakukan sabotaj sehingga menyebabkan kedua-dua calon itu kalah dalam PRU-13, masakan mereka akan menelefon Maniam untuk menyatakan sokongan sebaik keluar berita mengenai keputusan Jawatankuasa Disiplin MIC.

Dalam perbualan kami, Maniam turut menceritakan bahawa pada 15 Mei 2013, beliau menerima SMS mengenai mesyuarat khas MIC Selangor pada keesokan hari di ibu pejabat MIC.

“Kebetulan, akhbar Malaysia Nanban pada 16 Mei menyiarkan berita utama bahawa perubahan besar dijangka berlaku dalam MIC Selangor. Saya berasa gembira kerana memang mahukan perubahan positif demi menguatkan parti.

“Malangnya tidak banyak diperkatakan mengenai perubahan dan transformasi. Sebaliknya mesyuarat lebih menumpukan pada cadangan tidak harus ada pertandingan bagi jawatan presiden parti pada pemilihan akan datang,” beliau menghuraikan tanpa berselindung.

‘Komen saya demi memperkasakan parti’

Pandangan Maniam berhubung perkara itu turut disiarkan di Free Malaysia Today (18 Mei 2013). Beliau antara lain menyatakan dengan berani bahawa pencapaian MIC dalam PRU-13 adalah lebih buruk berbanding PRU-12. Malah, katanya, MIC lebih baik di bawah kepimpinan S Samy Vellu.

“Selepas PRU-13, saya mengirim SMS panjang kepada Palanivel untuk mengucapkan tahniah. Saya juga mencadangkan supaya beliau mengadakan sesi percambahan minda (brainstorming) melibatkan antara 150 hingga 200 pemimpin MIC pelbagai peringkat seluruh negara,” katanya sambil menunjukkan salinan SMS yang masih dalam simpanan.

Lalu saya mula tertanya-tanya apakah mungkin segala kenyataan, cadangan dan kritikan beliau yang sebenarnya berniat baik itu disalah tafsir pihak tertentu dan akhirnya menjadi punca segala masalah yang sedang dihadapinya sekarang?

Misalnya, seperti dilaporkan di Malaysia Edition (21 Mei 2013), Maniam menekankan pendiriannya bahawa MIC adalah parti tunjang yang memperkasa hak kaum India di Malaysia. Beliau juga meletakkan kepercayaan terhadap sistem yang dimiliki MIC di mana 3,700 cawangan, bahagian, badan perhubungan negeri dan kebangsaan mampu mentransformasikan parti ke arah yang lebih progresif.

“Saya kecewa kerana Subramaniam (Ketua Penerangan MIC Selangor) menghentam saya di akhbar-akhbar Tamil dengan menuduh saya sebagai punca kekalahan Murugesan dan Mohan.

“Dalam mesyuarat MIC Selangor pada 16 Mei lalu, saya menekankan pentingnya kita menumpukan perhatian pada isu-isu yang penting berhubung kekalahan dalam PRU-13. Saya cadangkan supaya kita kenal pasti punca sebenar dan punca-punca asas,” katanya.

Pada pandangan Maniam, ketua-ketua cawangan perlu mampu memberikan penjelasan dan penerangan kerana mereka lebih dekat dengan ahli dan penyokong pada peringkat akar-umbi.

“Saya tidak pernah mengeluarkan apa-apa kenyataan atau kritikan yang boleh menjejaskan imej parti. Segala komen saya berniat baik demi memperkasakan parti. Saya turut menekankan bahawa kita bukan hanya pemimpin dalam MIC tetapi juga pemimpin bagi masyarakat setempat.

“Seperti dikatakan oleh Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi BN, apa gunanya menjadi seorang pemimpin dalam parti jika masyarakat awam sudah tidak menghormati individu itu. Jika MIC mahu terus kekal sebagai parti paling unggul bagi kaum India, maka tindakan sewajarnya perlu diambil bagi membela masyarakat,” kata Maniam yang sentiasa sibuk kerana dikunjungi orang ramai di pejabatnya di Taman Sentosa, Klang dan Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam.

Uthaya Sankar SB adalah penulis sepenuh masa dan pemilik tunggal ‘Perunding Media, Motivasi dan Penerbitan Uthaya’.

Hunt for convict intensifies

Cops on lookout for duo who crashed car into wedding reception

by Reena Raj

POLICE have stepped up a manhunt for a convict who rammed his car into a wedding reception in Gopeng on Saturday resulting in the death of 18-month-old T. Thamilarasan. Several others were also injured.

The suspect, identified as C. Senguttuwan, 28, from Taman Gopeng, is likely to face a murder charge, Kampar OCPD Supt Ng Kong Soon said.

"We will see if we have sufficient evidence to investigate him for murder," he told reporters at the district police headquarters. "For now, we seek the help of the public to locate him."

Ng said the suspect had a criminal record for 13 offences since 2006.

He was also banished from Kuala Terengganu for two years from 2011.

He had also been involved in criminal intimidation, burglary, causing hurt, attempted murder and other drug related offences.

Police are also looking for an accomplice who was with Senguttuwan during the incident.

Senguttuwan crashed his car into a house filled with wedding guests in Kampung Baru New Kopisan, killing the toddler instantly.

Fourteen police reports have been lodged by family members and friends who witnessed the incident.

Ng also advised the family members of the victim to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands.

"We will have no choice but to take action on anyone who breaks the law. Retaliation is not of any help to the police," he said, referring to reports in which family members had allegedly stormed the suspect’s family house here and smashed window panes and a car windscreen on Sunday.

He said six men, including the groom, were remanded on Monday at the Kampar magistrate’s court for venting out their anger at the suspect’s family.

He said all six would be released once their statements were taken.

Uthayakumar plans to go to jail for Indian cause

Hindraf founder P Uthayakumar said he is prepared to go to jail for the Indian cause, as he has lost hope of seeking justice through the legal system.

He said he will not continue to defend himself against sedition charges against him at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Monday, although the court has already found a prima facie case against him.

“Let the court punish me, it is okay. For me, I look at this as another occasion to highlight the genuine grievances of the Indian poor.

“Of course somebody has to pay the price and unfortunately, I have to be that somebody again.
"In every struggle, there is a price to pay,” he said when contacted today.
Uthayakumar has been facing the charge since 2007 for allegedly writing a letter, deemed seditious, addressed to then British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

He complained that almost all his applications to the court had been turned down, whereas almost all of the prosecutor's were allowed.
Facing losing battle with system

Among other issues, he said he court had insisted that he only submit his original official letters on his campaign for his defence although he has only copies because the former had already been mailed to various individuals and organisations.

The last straw came, he said, when the court issued an arrest warrant for him in April for not appearing in court although his bailer has produced a medical certificate from a government medical specialist to the court.

"I had already started my defence and given half a day of evidence.
"I originally told the court that I have 70 witnesses, ranging from the Kampung Medan (‘ethnic cleansing') victims to those who were not given ICs and birth certificates and those who were denied Socso benefits.

"I have made the arrangements, but now I have lost confidence that justice will be served. So let them make a decision," he said.

His case is scheduled for hearing on Monday and Tuesday at  the KL Sessions Court, while submissions and sentencing have been fixed for June 5.

If found guilty of the charges under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act, he is liable to a fine of up to RM5,000, or a jail term of up to three years, or both.

Ironically, June 5 is also when his brother and Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy is expected to be sworn in as senator.

Uthayakumar said he hopes that he would be acquitted, but is prepared to be jailed and would refuse to pay any fine imposed.

"Why should I pay the fine when I am not guilty? I spoke the truth!" he said when asked why he would refuse to pay the fine.

Dharmendran's wife wants cops' immediate arrest

The wife of death in custody victim N Dharmendran is upset that the policemen linked to his death been given desk jobs with suggestions of them being suspended, when they should have been arrested from the beginning.

"They have murdered my husband. They should be in a lock up, not having a desk jobs. They do not deserve it. By right, they should be hung to death,” said S Marry.

"If the public were to kill someone, would they still be walking free? This is the police committing murder," said the teary mother of a two-year old son.
Yesterday Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was tentative with calls for the policemen being probed for the 31-year-old’s death to be suspended from duty instead of being assigned desk jobs, saying it had to be handled “delicately” lest the police force be demoralised.

Dharmendran had allegedly gone to the police station to lodge a report over a fight, but had ended up being detained and died in custody, initially said to be from “breathing difficulties”.

However an autopsy at Kuala Lumpur Hospital on May 22 concluded the cause of death as blunt force trauma.

Police have since classified Dharmendran's death as murder under section 302 of the Penal Code.

Marry's call comes after lawyer N Surendran made public Dharmendran's autopsy report at the PKR headquarters this morning, which suggested that he was handcuffed and brutality beaten to death.

Surendran, also the Padang Serai MP, said the police were already aware of Dharmendran's brutal cause of death when they handed over the autopsy report to the family's lawyer at 11am yesterday.

"Based on this report, legally it is adequate evidence to bring murder charges against all the police personnel involved under section 302 of the Penal Code.

Surendran, also the Padang Serai MP, said the police were already aware of Dharmendran's brutal cause of death when they handed over the autopsy report to the family lawyer at 11am yesterday.

"Based on this report, legally it is adequate evidence to bring murder charges against all the police personnel involved under section 302 of the Penal Code.

"But instead the four personnel are transferred to desk duty, this is a joke... We demand that all the police personnel involved be arrested immediately. I mean today - within the hour," he said
He said under Section 302 of the Penal Code, the accused cannot be granted bail and must be in detention until their trial concludes but yet the culprits were still "walking about freely".

Low adding to family grief

Surendran also described as a lie Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low's denial of seeking a secret meeting with the deceased's family through Dharmendran's father and claiming it was the family's representative who first sought the meeting.
Surendran confirmed that Dharmendran's father B Naraynasamy who spoke to Low's officer D Ravindran had asked them not to come to their home as emotions were running high, but denied the family engaged the Prime Minister's Department first.

"I am disgusted by Paul Low and his officers. Here is a family in sorrow and they decide to go about casting aspersions on a grieving family.

"Well done Paul Low, if this is the best you can do," he said sarcastically.
When pressed on Low's assertion that he merely wanted to help and his intention for a meeting had been misunderstood, an angry Marry retorted: "We did not misunderstand, it was the person on the phone who misunderstood. If they wanted to help we would've accepted".

"But why did they ask us to meet in secret and ditch our lawyers? That is not helping," she said angrily.

Surendran reiterated his call  for an explanation from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself as the call had came from his departmen which had a history of interfering in such cases such as blocking a Thai pathologist from conducting an autopsy in C Sugumar's death in custody case.
He also demanded that Home Minister Zahid Hamidi and inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar explain why Dharmendran's body was stapled repeatedly and riddled with cane marks.

'Apologise to family'
"There has not been a single word of apology to the family, instead they (government) are attacking the family, accusing them of making phone calls (to the Prime Minister's Department).

Surendran also blasted the government for debates over the forming of a panel to oversee death in custody and suggestions to install CCTV when it had yet to address the immediate matter - arresting those responsible.

"These are all distractions from the real matter at hand," he said.

The family's lawyer Michelle Yesudas described the Dharmendran's death as an "execution".

"What we have here is an execution of a person even before he is brought to court.

"Every time the government fails to address death in custody, they are victimising every single victim who dies in custody (after that). We do not want this anymore," she said.

'A handcuffed Dharmendran suffered 52 injuries'

Death in custody victim N Dharmendran was defencelessly beaten to death while handcuffed, suggests the preliminary report of post-mortem examination revealed today.

The written report by forensic pathologist Dr Siew Sheue Feng from Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) concluded that there were no defensive wounds found on Dharmendran’s body.

“It was quite clear that during his beating he was handcuffed, and in a lower position, possibly kneeling or something,” family lawyer N Surendran said at a press conference at PKR HQ today.

Dharmendran had sustained 52 marks of injury throughout his body, ranging from head to toe.

Surendran declared that this was “even worse than A Kugan’s case” in 2009.
According to the autopsy, a group of double ‘tram line' bruises, believed to be from rotan marks, were found in a parallel oblique pattern on his lower back and posterior.

"We can only speculate but these look like rotan marks, or something similar," Surendran said.

A patterned bruise, resembling an incomplete number 8 was found on his hip bone.

There was also another double ‘tram line' bruise on Dhamendran's wrist-hand consistent with handcuff marks.

The autopsy also reported numerous blackened bruises on his face, the chest area, shoulders, legs, scalp and back, which Surendran described as "overlapping bruises".
His abdomen, below the kidney area, loins, and navel also carried similar marks.
'Stapler used as torture instrument'
Both Dhamendran's ears were found with staple wounds with the staples still there while his legs had puncture wounds, also believed to be from staples that had been removed.

"These are consistent staple wounds, and this indicates that they had used a stapler to torture him," Surendran said.
Some other bruises found on Dhamendran's body were: A thick blood clot on his lower right thigh, measuring 28 x 20cm.

• An extensive blood clot on his left thigh, measuring 50 x 31cm

• Bruise measuring 23 x 14 cm on lower left leg

• Blood clots measuring 9 x 6.5cm on left half of his face

• Patchy bruises on his neck and upper chest, measuring 13 x 8cm

While the police have classified Dharmendran's death as murder under section 302 of the Penal Code, the four officers being probed are still serving desk duties.

Today Dharmendran’s widow took offence that the perpetrators were still walking free and demanded they be immediately arrested.
Dharmendran's death recalls similar circumstances surrounding 22-year-old A Kugan's in 2009 (right).
The youth was detained over alleged car theft and died in custody of horrific mulltiple wounds to his entire body and internal organs, although police originally claimed he died of an asthma attack.
Dr Siew concluded in her report that the overall pattern of these injuries revealed that they were neither self-inflicted nor accidental in nature.

Surendran also concluded that it means Dhamendran had been in good health when he first entered the lockup.

"Dhamendran was beaten on every part of his body, and not one inch was spared," he added.

"We can only imagine the pain and agony he endured during the last moments of his life as he was (allegedly) handcuffed and beaten to death.

"He was a man with hopes and dreams, a heart and a family. And they (police) took everything away from him."

Waytha wants to work with DAP

As both Hindraf and DAP’s Gelang Patah Declaration are for the betterment of the marginalised Indians, why not work together, asks Waythamoorthy.

GEORGE TOWN: Incoming deputy minister P Waythamoorthy aims to work with the DAP to implement Hindraf’s five-year blueprint for the betterment of the Indian community in Penang and nationwide.

Waythamoorthy, who takes office as Senator and deputy minister on June 5, said he will imbibe DAP’s Gelang Patah Declaration (GPD) and will engage Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang, and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to explore ways and means to work together to implement the proposed policies to uplifting the marginalised Indian community.

Kit Siang launched the 14-point GPD during his election campaign in Gelang Patah on March 31.

“Since Kit Siang has now won Gelang Patah and Guan Eng had retained his Pakatan Rakyat government in Penang for second consecutive term, I would like to engage both father and son to implement Hindraf’s blueprint together with their declaration.

“After all the declaration was for Indians. Why not work together for betterment of Indian community?” Waythamoorthy told FMT.

He said he was willing to work with everyone and anyone, including political parties, NGOs and individuals, so long as they were committed, honest, sincere and serious about resolving Indian issues.

Hindraf blueprint is a written proposal to execute permanent solutions to resolve major issues affecting the marginalised segment of the Indian community. It is not meant for those living in comfort zones.

Barisan Nasional endorsed and agreed to implement the blueprint on April 18, 2013 while Pakatan rejected it outright despite having 24 meetings.

Waythamoorthy said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had, during Hindraf’s negotiations with BN, made his own commitments to implement permanent solutions to resolving socio-economic issues plaguing the Indian community. This was unlike Pakatan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, who dismissed it.

“Najib, compared with others, was frank, committed and serious to resolving problems faced by marginalised Indians,” said Waythamoorthy.

‘Don’t judge me yet’

The DAP’s 14-point GPD is essentially a package of election promises to empower and improve the lot of poor Indians.

In the declaration, DAP promised to resolve a myriad of issues that plague the Indian community.

Among the issues were poverty, joblessness, statelessness, inaccessibility to higher education and lack of representation in local councils and the civil service.

Other matters included the community’s susceptibility to extrajudicial killings and other forms of oppression, problems they faced in acquiring land and other facilities for Tamil schools, Hindu temples and burial grounds.

Critics have jibed the GDP as “DAP’s instant noodles” to counter the comprehensive Hindraf’s blueprint.

Waythamoorthy, who will assume his responsibilities in the Prime Minister’s Department next Wednesday, said many people failed to comprehend the actual problems faced by poor Indians and the extent of the community’s predicament.

He said the special unit for Indian affairs, which he will head and which will come directly under Prime Minister Najib, aims to address and resolve the unique, peculiar and complicated Indian issues.

Waythamoorthy sees himself as a “human rights defender and advocate, not a politician” like others.

He relishes his new role in the government, although he acknowledged that it will be a challenging and uphill task.

“I will need time adjust and set up the unit. Government administration is a whole new thing for me.

“I would prefer to let my actions do the talking. Let me deliver than judge me. Don’t prejudge me.

“This will be the dawn of a new era for the human rights cause in the country,” he said.

'Waytha did speak out on Dharmendran's death'

I refer to the article that was published in Malaysiakini titled ‘Kula flays Waytha for silence on custodial death' on May 27, 2013 written for him by the PKR herald Terence Netto.

The article is entirely baseless. Its basic premise is false. Its arguments are at best nothing more than self-serving political opportunism.

It is written by Terence Netto who claims a career of 40 years in journalism. It is shameful what that 40 years has come to be.

The comments section of the article and the Red Bean Facebook circuits will just amplify these lies and perform the greatest disservice to our country, spreading untruths in volumes.

Kula for his part, supposedly a senior legislator, exposes his shallowness and his political opportunism in the untruths in his utterances. It all ill-portends a Goebbellian new world for Malaysia.

Terence Netto quotes Kula about Waytha's ‘deafening silence'. I wonder what they really mean.

They should refer to the article ‘Lame excuses from the cops' in another online portal FMT on May 23, a full four days before Terence's and Kula's article in Malaysiakini.

Waytha makes it plain in that article just where he stands on these unacceptable acts of deaths in custody. Just for the record, here are a few key things that Waytha mentioned in that article.

Waythamoorthy also called on Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar to immediately suspend all those suspects allegedly involved in the death of Darmindran, 32.

He said the police cannot go on giving lame excuses on such incidents because there were one too many deaths in police custody.

"Public will no longer entertain such lame excuses," he told FMT here today.

He said it was time for the police to implement preventive measures to stop these deaths such as installing closed circuit television cameras in all police stations and lock-ups.

He also called the government to amend the law to allow formation of area citizen groups who would be given round-the-clock access to their respective neighbourhood police stations and detainees in police lock-ups.

Citing several countries which practiced it, he said these groups shall be made of neighbourhood residents with good and credible public standing, and not necessary they have to be educated or professional persons.

He said citizen groups shall be allowed to visit police stations and detainees at any time to have first-hand look at their captive conditions.

"It's important for the police to take these pro-active steps immediately to restore waning public trust and confidence in the force," said Waythamoorthy.

Terence nor Kula cannot be excused for non-knowledge of this article. After all this is in the public domain and they are clearly operators in this domain.

I have therefore to conclude that they are the ill-intentioned ones, whose job now, it seems to be, to spread untruths and outright lies and try and politicise and make political capital out of every misfortune that befalls the Indians in the country.

It is time that Malaysia and Malaysians rise above the grips of a new trend arising where minds will be controlled by lies in the social media, by distortions of truths, by half-truths and just by repetitions and intensity of misinformation.

We all need a better Malaysia. The Malaysia we all need is one where truth will prevail. Not one in the grips of these untruths.

We do not need to descend down this path shown us by opportunistic leaders and pied pipers like Kula and Terence Netto whose job now it seems to be to mislead.

Hindraf for its part will continue not only to campaign against deaths in police custody, but also to understand the root causes of these occurrences and to seek permanent solutions to prevent such deaths.

Waytha's new position in government will open up new possibilities for addressing problems of this nature and we will pursue permanent resolutions through these new possibilities.

---

N GANESAN is Hindraf national adviser.

CCTVs will not stop deaths in custody

Custodial death cases will not be solved by merely having CCTVs, says PKR's N Surendran and Latheefa Koya.

PETALING JAYA: PKR leaders N Surendran and Latheefa Koya have panned the government’s plan to install closed-circuit TV (CCTV) cameras in police stations, saying it will not resolve death in custody cases.

On Tuesday, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated that the ministry plans to install CCTVs in police lock-ups to enhance detention procedures, in the wake of the latest death in custody case.

“The home minister is playing dumb,” said Surendran, who is also the lawyer representing the family of N Dhamendran, 32, who died in custody on May 11.

“He should first answer whether the proposal to have CCTVs installed in police stations was implemented or not.

“Even so, custodial death cases would not be solved by merely having CCTVs. Instead, immediate action must be taken, to arrest and charge those involved,” added the PKR vice-president.

Instead of talking about CCTVs, Surendran said the authorities must do the necessary, which was to arrest the culprits.

“And before talking about CCTVs again, can the government explain why those previous proposals [on installing CCTVS] came to nothing?” he added.

Modernise investigation methods

Similarly, Latheefa said that the issue was not about the number of CCTVs, but accountability.

“What is more important is to arrest and charge those who did it and not cover up. That would put a stop to using torture as a way to interrogate,” added the PKR central leadership council member.

Latheefa, who is a lawyer, also stressed on the importance of modernising investigation techniques.

“It should not be the old fashion way of beating and threatening suspects. Also, investigating officers must be properly trained. Ultimately, no amount of CCTVs would help if there’s no accountability as footage can be easily erased,” she said.

DAP’s Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng on the other hand stressed on the need for CCTVs to be installed in interrogation rooms in police stations.

“I recall there was a plan by the government a few years ago, to install CCTVs in interrogation rooms at police stations to ensure all investigations are done properly. But since then, we don’t know what was the outcome of the proposal,” he said.

In view of this, Lim said CCTVs must be installed not only in police lock-ups, but all interrogation rooms as well.

“Also, CCTVs must be installed at the entrances too, to see who goes in and out of the police stations,” he said.

In 2009, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Mohd Bakri Zinin, who was then the federal CID director, announced that the police would install CCTVs in interrogation rooms at all police stations.

He said that the installation would be done in stages, with state police headquarters and district headquarters as priority areas.