Demolition of century old temple in Golden

A letter from prison to PM and Home Minister – P Uthayakumar

I have and am being tortured with mala fide at the most feared and dreaded closed isolation lock-up (tutup) of Kajang Prison all in for 27 days and to continue indefinitely. I am locked-up under solitary confinement alone, 24 hours a day not seeing sunlight or fresh air [in a] dimly lit cell and [with] just one set of prison pants and shirt in an empty lock-up.

Also denied reading and writing materials and even warm water to drink. Drinking the contaminated tap water caused me to fall ill. Also denied the 15 minutes weekly phone calls to lawyers and family, denied the monthly family visit and lawyers’ visit.

I am denied even a toothbrush, toothpaste, bathing and washing soap, towel, blanket, pillow and even the ½ inch foam mattress to sleep on the cement floor that he otherwise gets.

I am forced to sleep on the bare cold cement floor despite also suffering from arthritis, forced to drink rice porridge using a dipper (gayong) I and hundreds, if not thousands of other prisoners use/have used to wash their backsides.

My sole shirt and pants remain unwashed (even with plain water) for days, as it will take days to dry with the very small only one feet x 1½ feet ventilation grille. Upon returning from Court (appeal) on 24/9/2013, I was locked up for 8 days in a dirty, dark, hot and stuffy 10 feet x 10 feet "quarantine" lock-up at the death row with another open (no partition) squatting toilet bowl and bath area of 2 feet x 10 feet with no bathroom privacy even during early morning long calls together with five other dangerous and violent criminals.

As a diabetic patient of 17 years, I am still given sweet white bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On the three prison doctors’ written note, I was given a plastic chair because of my prolapsed disk backbone pain.

But this is the third time it is being taken away despite my legs getting swollen and toes numb as a result of sitting on the floor and my complaints of severe pain ignored. Despite the prison authorities been given three of my specialist medical reports (since 2009), I was refused to be taken for treatment (by appointment) on August 1, 2013 with HUKM consultant neurosurgeon Prof Dr Shanmugarajah despite our solicitors letter enclosing the appointment card.

For complaining about the above and other prison conditions and abuse of other prisoners, I have been scolded with the words "kurang ajar" (ill mannered) by DSP Mohamad Noor and "you are a bloody prisoner" by prison Superintendent Ranjit Singh and repeatedly shouted at.

After almost 4 months being treated with at least some semblance of a security prisoner, the prison authorities are now with mala-fide forcing me to squat in line in muster (roll call) with other dangerous and violent criminals. Earlier I was allowed to remain in my cell for the other three i.e. 11.00am, 2.00pm and 4.00pm musters.

Despite my 4 pages appeal letter to the Prison Director Tuan Haji Wahab dated October 2, 2013, not only has there been no positive action but this latest torture of 27 days (plus 8 days quarantine) in the most feared and dreaded isolation cell, for citing my safety and not wanting to muster with the other dangerous and violent criminals.

I hereby appeal that:

1. I, an ex-ISA detainee, is forthwith transferred to the hospital wing in view of my illnesses as this wing being the safest place in prison or at the very least the security wing, as I have also represented victims as their lawyer, whose perpetrators, 3 are in the death row and scores more gangsters in the very same prison, (as well as) previous murder attempt and live bullet sent to me and made known to directors and prison officers. Why this racial injustice when previously Malay and Chinese political leaders like Lim Guan Eng, Mahfuz Omar, Mat Sabu, Mathias Chang and Anwar Ibrahim had been detained at the safer hospital wing?
2. Forthwith send me to HUKM (Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) appointment.
3. Stop the above and all prison torture and abuses of all other prisoners.
4. If not the Prime Minister, the Home Minister to urgently visit me in the prison to know the first-hand truth.

Thank you.

* This letter is dated October 28, 2013. Uthayakumar, the Hindraf leader, has been serving a two-and-half-year jail sentence for sedition at the Kajang Prison, since June 2013.

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

Perkasa's Indian ally backs cow slaughter in schools

Sri Muneswarar demolition - 'What kind of temple stores alcohol?'

'Ku Nan must resign for breaching Hindraf blueprint'

Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor must resign over the partial demolition of the Sri Muneswarar Temple at Jalan P Ramlee in Kuala Lumpur this morning, says Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia adviser N Ganesan.

Ganesan said when the movement signed an agreement with BN in exchange for support before the general election in May, among the conditions was for the ruling coalition to cease temple demolitions.

"This is clearly written in the agreement and this agreement was made in the name of the Indian community.

"Tengku Adnan as secretary-general of BN was a signatory to the agreement and they are now violating this agreement," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

As such, Ganesan said Tengku Adnan must resign for failing to honour an agreement in which he was a party to.

"What honour is there left for him to continue in government? He should resign," said Ganesan.
Several safeguards 
The agreement signed with BN had outlined several safeguards and steps the government pledged to undertake to uplift the Indian community.

After the general election, the association's chief P Waythamoorthy was also appointed as deputy minister in the prime minister's department to help execute the agreement.

Ganesan (right) said the movement will take the matter up with the government.

"We want the government to apologise and rebuild the temple as it was before," he said.

He also expressed frustation over the lack of attention by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in honouring the agreement, adding that the association will consider its position going forward.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had attempted to demolish the temple in September but was blocked by activists from carrying out the demolition. The government then began negotiations with temple authorities.

However, DBKL carried out a surprise demolition of the 101-year-old temple this morning, successfully tearing down part of the temple.

Authorities said the temple construction had exceeded its legal compound and that part of it had to be demolished to make way for development.

If Angkor Wat was here it might be torn down, too

'We have no choice; promises to the wealthy must be fulfilled. As for the poor, whether it is 100-years-old or 1,000, the temple has got to go.'

Nordin Kadir How cruel can the authorities be (to demolish part of the 101-old Sri Muneswarar temple in Kuala Lumpur)? Places of worship should not be trampled upon merely for the sake of development and money. Islam forbids this. Salam

Jean Pierre: 50 cops watching a temple demolition? Well done.

Freethinker: It seems that now PDRM works for wealthy developers. PDRM, whose task is to protect the citizens' rights has become a tool of the aggressors.

Anonymous #25558299: BN chief and PM Najib Razak has shown his nambikei (trust) to the Indians. Good show for the Indian MPs who support them. Anyway, just wait to see if the lord Sri Muneswarar can do something to show his power to the ruling elite.

Siang Malam: Najib's nambikei? Never trust someone like Najib, he doesn't even know what's happening around him.

Senior: Might is right, and the government need not mean what they say.

Fair Play: Taking the emotion out of the discussion, this incident is reminiscent of the Kampung Buah Pala incident in Penang involving settlement in disputed land. By and large, Hindu temples are located on disputed land and naturally the authorities would apply all the might to claim what they believe is theirs, never mind the historical or the heritage perspective.

Chinese temples are seldom subjected to such drastic actions by the authorities because they own the land and could take the matter to court. At this stage, any action by the temple authorities or the opposition MPs is a futile effort.

The rakyat might want to ask the PM what sort of 'national reconciliation' he is talking about when the right hand (the political powers) does not know what the left hand (the relevant authorities) is doing.

And I wonder why the deafening silence from those hand-kissing, apple polishing but 'fearless' Indian leaders and freedom fighters who claim to speak for their community.

YUNoAnon: You can go and say whatever you want now. To them, they have got what they wanted, which is to destroy the structures and get the land. Whatever you go and say to them now will be like talking to a brick wall, only you will talk, while they will just ignore you.

Anonymous_40f4: Before the GE, it seems Najib assured that the temple land would be gazetted. He lied in accusing the Selangor Pakatan government of demolishing seven temples. After the GE, BN and Najib go round demolishing temples.

Rakyat didahulukan, or crony Hap Seng didahulukan?

It is similar to the Kg Buah Pala BN scam where the land was secretly sold to private developer by the BN government.

Anonymous #01428088: Where are the Indian NGOs who supported Perkasa? Do they support this?

Basically: Perkasa and its Indian clones were holding hands singing 'kumbaya' just the previous night, and now this? I guess the Perinnbam chief would say, "Never mind, we have too many temples anyway. 1Malaysia boleh ma."

And I think some cynics forget that BN did not exist when this temple was built, just like the Kg Hakka Chinese new village in Mantin, that developers are also trying to tear down.

So it's pretty callous to say the Indians built the temple anywhere they liked, it's not as if the developer already had plans for the place 100 years ago.
And it's not as if 100 years ago the Indians could apply to DBKL to get the land for a temple, not that they would have gotten it anyway, even then.

Vijay47: The book 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee' by Dee Brown is a sad unbearably painful record of the American Red Indians in the face of the steady inevitable colonisation of their lands by the White Man.

Despite continuous treachery by the intruders, the natives still respected and honoured every agreement they made. And every agreement was callously broken by the White Man.
Everything precious to the Red Indians, their land, their animals, their culture and their very means of survival was either destroyed or stolen from them and they had to suffer the final humiliation of being imprisoned in reservations.

In a land so distant from the rolling prairies and mountains, the same betrayal is being displayed by Kuala Lumpur. where word or pledge means nothing.
The lesson here is that the Indian, red black or green, cannot trust those who rule them. And the second obvious fact is that it is not only the White Man who speaks with forked tongue.

Ferdtan: Remember the poem former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad recited during the Umno general assembly in 2001 entitled 'Melayu Mudah Lupa'? (Malays forget easily).
Kuala Lumpur City Hall, acting on behalf of the developer, obviously with a nod from its Umno leaders to commit such rash acts of tearing down part of the Indian temple, must be confident enough that the Indians also forget easily - like the Malays Mahathir was alluding to previously.

It is still a long way to the next general election. When nearing the next general election, just throw a few crumbs to some self-appointed Indian leaders and all will be forgotten and forgiven.
Possibly as an added bonus, another Hindraf leader, (this time the other brother of the deputy minister P Waythamoorty perhaps) be appointed a full minister?

Then he may repeat the unbecoming act of summoning the opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, as an excuse to join BN to come down to his rally to offer promises to the Indians. I have met many young, especially educated Indians, who are already against BN, but we need more of them to change.

Aren't the rest of the Indians angry enough to dump BN once and for all? Don't be suckers - change and stand up and be counted. That includes all present BN supporters of all races.

Anonymous #039163649: Waytha is just like former MIC chief Samy Vellu. Waytha makes heroic statements and demands, which BN does not entertain. So Waytha wins the Indian support of BN for projecting the image of a heroic defender of Indian welfare, who actually achieves almost nothing.

It was exactly like Samy Vellu, who failed to perform. He demanded more low cost houses, more places in the civil service and universities and for all Tamil schools to be made national schools, but nobody paid heed to him and the Indians got no benefits while he was MIC chief.

Umno BN of course made a show of condemning Samy had he stepped out of line, as they do now with Waytha, but actually Umno was happy with Samy previously and Waytha now, for securing them the Indian votes while giving nothing to the Indians.

It was the Samy Vellu's game all the while, only now it is the same just with a different actor, the younger Waytha.

Harapanbaru: Those who mindlessly follow malicious, oppressive orders from greed-driven demon-possessed mis-leaders will one day realise they have mortgaged their souls to oblivion. Dust to dust for them, nothing beyond.

Headhunter: Another clear example of Najib's 1Malaysia being a farce. Endless possibilities indeed. This is what the Indians get for being the BN's most loyal supporters.

CiViC We have no choice, as promises to the wealthy (developer) must be fulfilled. As for the poor, regardless if the temple is 100 years old or 1,000 years old, it has got to go.

Luckily Angkor Wat, Stonehenge, the Great Pyramids or the Great Wall are not in Malaysia.

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Perkasa's Indian ally backs cow slaughter in schools

After earning flak from the Hindu community for defending the slaughter of cows in schools, Perkasa has found itself an Indian-based ally in the form of the New Indian Welfare and Charity Association (Perinnbam) which backs the Malay rights group's stance.

"If the Malays want to do ‘korban' (in schools), there is nothing wrong. After all, in the previous cases, the headmasters had discussed the matter with the Parent and Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the school staff.

"There is no need to politicise the matter," said Perinnbam chief U Thamotharan during a Deepavali open house today organised by his association with Perkasa among its guests of honour.

Thamotharan (right in photo) said so long as precautions are taken, the issue of cow slaughters by Muslims in national schools should not arise.

"For example, if there is to be a ‘korban' on a particular day, Indian students may be allowed not to come to school.

"So long as it is in national schools, it is fine. If it is Tamil schools, then it is not okay because Hindu prayers may also be conducted there," he said.

Perkasa had in July, together with Perinnbam and Chinese-based Malaysia New Era Chinese Association (Percisma) formed an inter-racial coalition dubbed the Malaysian inter-racial NGO council (Mirac) in a bid to shed allegations that it was racist.

Perkasa has steadfastly stated that Muslims should be allowed to conduct cow slaughter in national schools and any opposition to this should be taken up with the Malay rulers, who are the protectors of Islam.
Ibrahim: Let's not create tension

However, when Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali was asked about the matter again at the Deepavali open house, he declined to state a stand on the matter on behalf of Mirac.

"We (Mirac) are taking the issue slowly, we do not want to rush it based on sentiments created by political parties... we do not want to create tension," he said.

During Hari Raya Aidil Adha last month, several Hindu parents voiced disapproval after the slaughter of cows was conducted in a number of national schools. Cows are deemed to be sacred to Hindus.

The incidences triggered a religious debate and even the Education Ministry issued conflicting statements, with Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan saying that the slaughters in schools was wrong, while Education Minister II Idris Jusoh approved of the ritual in schools.

IGP: Not for police to probe AG's alleged wrongdoing

The recent allegations made against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail are related to abuse of power and thus it is not for the police to investigate, says Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

"Ask the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)," Khalid said at a press conference in Penang today.

He lamented that cases, although tried and decided by the courts, such as the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, were being brought up over and over again.

"There must be a limit to everything. You cannot politicise everything because that would confuse the people," he said.

Khalid was responding to questions asked on a Malaysiakini report last week that former Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigations Department director Mat Zain Ibrahim and controversial lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah met with former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in August to discuss alleged wrongdoings of Gani (right).

The meeting, purportedly held at Mahathir's residence, was said to involve Mahathir's former political secretary Matthias Chang and former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Ramli Yusoff.

The meeting allegedly involved allegations of wrongdoing by Gani, such as the fabrication of evidence in the famous "black eye" case involving former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

Khalid also responded to claims that Gani hired two American government agents, saying only: "I don't know about that. Ask him".

Hindu temple legal adviser rubbishes 'liquor' claim

The legal adviser to the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple in Kuala Lumpur has rubbished Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor’s claims that the temple was used for shady activties and that hard liquor was found on site.

“People can plant whatever they want. We have been working closely with the temple committee and the chairperson is someone of high discipline,” M Manogaran said when contacted.

Manogaran, who was the DAP’s Teluk Intan MP, said even though the authorities have stated they will not touch the main temple hall, its wall is now damaged and at risk of collapse.

This was the result of the demolition of the annexures, which included the caretakers’ living quarters that is attached to the main temple located on Jalan P Ramlee.

Manogaran also said MIC chief G Palanivel is mistaken in claiming that the temple has not been demolished since the main structure is still standing.

“Parts of the areas that were demolished include altars with deities on them. So how can he say these are not part of the temple?” he asked.

He denied claims that the temple had deliberately erected the altars recently, several feet from the main temple, to stop DBKL from reclaiming an eight-foot strip.

The structures demolished by DBKL, “without court order and notice” yesterday morning, went beyond this strip, he said, and all around the main temple.

The architect engaged by the temple committee for renovations promised by the authorities has drawn up plans for about 5,000 square feet, taking into account the areas in which structures were demolished.

“But now it seems that the only area allowed is about 500 square feet at the most,” he said.

Asked if the temple committee would take legal action since the demolition was done without a court order, Manogaran said: “We have discussed this and decided not to. They do not have faith in the courts any more.”
Temple will be ‘rebuilt’

The committee had engaged the architect in preparation for a meeting with Deputy Federal Territories Minister Loga Bala Mohan Jaganathan, scheduled for Nov 19, to discuss the refurbishment of the temple.

Although confirming this, Loga Bala (left) said the only portions the government has agreed to “rebuild” are the main temple and the gopuram (the usually ornate tower often found at the entrance to Hindu temples).

“I will still meet with the temple committee on Nov 19. We are talking about rebuilding the temple - just the two structures (the main temple and gopuram), and not the rest of it,” he said.

“Our aim was to do this and arrange for land to be gazetted to the temple. It will not be moved.”

Speaking to Malaysiakini from Spain, he said he was not aware of DBKL's actions yesterday as this was under the council's jurisdiction.

Hap Seng Consolidated Bhd will contribute to the refurbishment of the temple, Loga Bala added.

Ku Nan: No demolition, just beautifying temple

Federal Territory Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) demolition work at the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple yesterday was only part of the government's plan to "beautify" the temple.

Describing the temple along Jalan P Ramlee in Kuala Lumpur as a "shrine" instead of a temple, he alleged that illegal activities were being carried out there according to his ministry's checks.

"Recently we sent a Hindu priest to the place. The priest wanted go the bathroom, he insisted to enter, and in the bathroom he found liquor and alcohol, whisky.

"I hope they don't abuse (the temple)," Tengku Adnan said at a press conference today, adding that the priest was from India and was knowledgeable," he said.
He added that the priest had told him that what the priest discovered is a disgrace to to Hindus.
"I want to beautify it and make it a tourist attraction, I want to make it like the four-faced Buddha in Thailand. That is what I hope," he said, in reference to the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand.
"We will beautify the temple immediately, make sure it will be done quickly," he added, saying the developer Hap Seng will come up with the quotation for the cost of the temple’s renovation.

The minister further said his ministry would maintain the temple after it is "beautified".

Yesterday morning, DBKL personnel arrived at the temple along Jalan P Ramlee in Kuala Lumpur, allegedly unannounced, and proceeded to demolish structures around its main prayer hall.
Padang Serai MP N Surendran, who was present during the demolition, said the action was "in bad faith" as the temple committee had already fixed a meeting with Federal Territories deputy minister Loga Bala Mohan Jaganathan on Nov 19 to discuss the issue.

Committee was paid RM50,000

This was DBKL's second attempt at demolishing parts of the temple since September. At the time, witnesses claimed that the DBKL personnel were disrespectful and carried out their work without notice.
Tengku Adnan insisted that in both instances, DBKL's personnel were not out of line and performed their duties according to their standard operating procedure (SOP), stressing that no statues were destroyed.
"I won’t do anything against any religion and DBKL respects every religion. But they must respect law and order of the country," he said.
He also brushed off claims by the temple committee that DBKL did not provide the committee any notice.
"We had repeatedly informed them about the court orders for the demolition and yet they say no notice was given to them.
"They are lying, they knew there was a court order... Please remember that in India, there will be no negotiations when they want to build roads or buildings. They don't care," he said.
Tengku Adnan added that Hap Seng had payed the temple committee RM50,000 and offered them a plot of land in Serendah, Hulu Selangor for them to relocate.
What makes a 'real' temple?

On his claim that the structure in question was a "shrine" rather than a "temple", Tengku Adnan said proper Hindu practices were not incorporated into the construction.

"For a real temple, firstly you must have a source of water," he said, pointing out that the source of water could have been from a lake, river, sea or a well.

"Secondly, when we build a temple, we must build a dome facing east and by 12pm, when the sun is at its highest point, there musn’t be a shadow. That is a real temple.

"When you enter the temple... How do you enter a temple? You must lie face down you know? That's the right method. This is the things they do not know that I know," he said.
To further dispute whether the structure was indeed a temple, Tengku Adnan said that he had sent his representatives to inspect the building during Deepavali and found it empty.

He later urged the public to learn about Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Taoism and Confucianism in order to foster greater understanding among Malaysians.

"I am not like the opposition who speaks unthoughtfully without knowing the facts," he said.

'1976 circular allows religious activities in schools'

PARLIAMENT A Professional Circular issued in 1976 states that religious programmes can be held in schools, Second Education Minister Idris Jusoh said today.

The circular also stressed that such programmes should be carried out with consideration to the sensitivities of the various races, Idris said.

"For me, the issue here is not about the question of circular. It is whether we have been sensitive or not with one another.

"Whether we sent a circular or not, it will still happen if we do not respect one another," he said when winding debate on the 2014 Supply Bill for the Education Ministry at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Idris (left) was clarifying on the issue of the cow sacrifice rituals carried out in several schools that raised uneasiness among several parties during the last Hari Raya Haji.

On another issue, Idris admitted that the ministry faced an imbalance between existing teacher posts at state level and the number of applicants who wanted to teach in their state of origin.

Taking the example of Kelantan, he said there were only 24,800 teacher posts in the state but the teachers originating Kelantan were more than 53,000 while in Kedah, there were 29,809 posts while teachers originating from that state was 40,298.

Idris said the ministry would also improve the Caring Teacher programme, where teachers would take problematic students as their adopted children as an effort to curb social ills among school students.

On another matter, he said there were 82,710 foreign students in the country and this showed local higher institutions of learning were of quality.

He said Malaysia was placed ninth among countries with the highest number of foreign students in the world.

- Bernama

Temple demolition: MIC Youth will stage protest

MIC Youth to stage protest at PM’s office if KL City Hall fails to rebuild the 100 year old temple

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth today vowed to stage a protest in front of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s office if Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) does not rebuild the hundred-year old Sri Muneswarar Kaliyamman temple.

The party Youth wing chief T Mohan is also urging Federal Territories minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Manshor to resign for not respecting other religions.

“There was a cabinet decision not to demolish the temple. But, I was shocked when Tengku Adnan sent nearly 300 police force and DBKL to demolish the temple,” Mohan told reporters after visiting the temple here at Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur.

He also alleged that Tengku Adnan has some personal interest on the 30-storey office building which is being constructed beside the temple.

According to Mohan, the temple has been issued an eviction notice on June 13, ordering it to vacate the premises before June 26.

It was reported that the eviction order was issued so that a developer could build a multi-storey building.

Political leaders from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat along with temple devotees staged several protests to stop the demolition.

The notice was put on hold after the matter was brought to the prime minister’s attention and it was then decided in a cabinet meeting not to demolish the temple until a proper solution was found.

However, yesterday an estimated 300 DBKL enforcement officers and police demolished the temple without proper notice.

“It seems like Tengku Adnan does not understand the Hindu religious’s feeling and belief,” said Mohan.

“Do not forget Penang BN’s government fall because of Kg Rawa temple demolition.

Selangor’s fall to Pakatan after the demolition of Padang Jawa temple; and now Tengku Adnan ‘touches’ this temple,” Mohan quipped.

He also questioned why Tengku Adnan and his people are in a hurry on this matter when there were no proper notices given to the temple care taker.
“It is look like something is fishy on this temple demolition matter,” he added.

When asked about the protest, Mohan said that MIC youth will not hesitate to arrange a ‘big protest’ if Tengku Adnan refuse to rebuild the temple.
“We want DBKL to find a permanent solution on this matter. Otherwise, MIC Youth will stage the so call protest in Putrajaya very soon.”

MIC president G Palanivel has defended the DBKL action by claiming that only the stalls of the temple were demolished.

However, a check by FMT shows that there were no stalls inside the temple.

Speaking to the temple care taker, who introduced himself as Bala, said there was a small stall beside the temple some three years ago.

“But, the stall was closed two years ago after DBKL issued a notice to it,” he said adding that it was not a shrine but temple.

“What they demolished yesterday was not a shrine or stalls but a hundred-year old temple,” he said.

Palanival said: “I received all kinds of reports that the temple had been demolished. But, only the stalls and sides of the temple were demolished.

“The temple itself remains intact,” he told reporters after officiating the Conference on Forestry and Forest Products Research (CFFPR) 2013 here, today.

Palanivel, who is also the Natural Resources and Environment Minister, was asked to comment on media reports that the temple was demolished yesterday morning.

The temple was built in 1911.

Palanivel: Temple not demolished

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall only demolished the stalls and sides of the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple.

KUALA LUMPUR : MIC president G.Palanivel said that the action by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) at the site of the Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple here yesterday, did not amount to a demolition of the place of worship.

He added that DBKL officers only demolished stalls and sides of the temples.

“I received all kinds of reports that the temple had been demolished. But, only the stalls and sides of the temple were demolished.

“The temple itself remains intact,” he told reporters after officiating the Conference on Forestry and Forest Products Research (CFFPR) 2013 here, today.

Palanivel, who is also the Natural Resources and Environment Minister, was asked to comment on media reports that the temple situated off Jalan P Ramlee here was demolished yesterday morning.

The Sri Muneswarar Kaliyaman temple was built in 1911.

Bernama

Emulate Indian PM, Waytha tells Najib

It’s time Malaysia takes a firm stand against blatant violations of human rights by the Sri Lanka government and boycott CHOGM, says Hindraf chairman.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf today called on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to emulate his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh by boycotting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Colombo.

Hindraf chairman and Deputy Minister P Waythamoorthy said Najib should heed the international Tamil community’s call to bypass the commonwealth summit in solidarity with the Malaysian Indian community.

“Indian grassroots sentiments want Malaysia to boycott CHOGM. The Prime Minister should appreciate their sentiments and follow the footsteps of Manmohan Singh,” Waytha told FMT here today.

This is the first time a member of Najib’s administration has called on the premier to boycott the 53-nation CHOGM summit, hosted by Sri Lanka from Nov 15-17.

Manmohan decided to skip CHOGM as international pressure grows for a boycott of the event over alleged war crimes by Colombo.

The Indian premier sent a letter to Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse on Sunday to inform him about his decision not to attend.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and several African nations are boycotting the event to protest against Colombo’s refusal to address allegations of human rights abuses on Tamil minorities.

International human rights groups and many governments have condemned Sri Lanka for not investigating and prosecuting those responsible for war crimes against Tamils during the civil war in 2009.

Najib should boycott Colombo

Waythamoothy returned home yesterday after attending the three-day launch of ‘Mullivaikkal Memorial’ (Mullivaikkal Ninaivu Muttram) in Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu, last week.

The private monument, built in memory of Tamils who had sacrificed their lives in the past, was declared open by P Nedumaran, president of Ulaga Tamilar Peramaippu.

“The memorial has been built with the help of Tamils living across the world. This is one of a unique art work built with toil for more than three years,” Nedumaran was reported as saying.

The memorial has sculptures depicting those who died in Mullivaikkal in Sri Lanka, migration of Tamils and those living as refugees.

The memorial also has photos of Tamil poets, leaders and activists who contributed to Tamil and the Tamil cause both in Tamil Nadu and in Sri Lanka.

Waythamoorthy said after talking and hearing from several Sri Lanka lawmakers and civil war victims during the memorial launch, he personally felt that Najib should not attend CHOGM.

“The Prime Minister should boycott to demonstrate to the international community that Malaysia does not condone any form of crime or violence against humanity.

“It’s time for Malaysia to take a firm stand against blatant violations of human rights by the Sri Lanka government,” said the Hindraf chairman.

Sri Lanka shutting down war scrutiny

SYDNEY: An Australian senator briefly detained in Sri Lanka returned home today and accused Colombo of trying to “shut down” scrutiny of war crimes before a Commonwealth summit.

Sri Lanka is facing international censure over alleged war crimes, and its hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) this week has become mired in controversy as demands mount for it to address the allegations.

Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon was picked up by authorities in Colombo and interrogated on Sunday, and said she believed it was because the Sri Lankan government “does not want scrutiny of what is happening in that country”.

“The war crimes need to be investigated; the crimes against humanity clearly continue, the evidence is very strong,” she said.

“The Sri Lankan government want to shut down those messages.”

Rhiannon urged Australia’s conservative Prime Minister Tony Abbott not to attend CHOGM, saying: “Surely they should take a leaf from the Canadians.”

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is boycotting the summit to protest at Sri Lanka’s failure to investigate its troops over allegations they killed up to 40,000 civilians in 2009 in the final stages of the civil war against Tamil Tiger rebels.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has also pulled out.

Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron plans to attend but has promised to push for an international probe into the alleged war crimes and human rights abuses.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will attend, but has said this does not imply support for the Sri Lankan government.

Abbott on Monday reaffirmed his intention to go to the November 15-17 meet, saying he respected the Commonwealth and did not want Australia “to trash one of the very longstanding and important bodies that we are a senior member of”.

Asked about alleged rights abuses, he said he was “not inclined to go overseas and give other countries lectures”.

He said Sri Lanka had endured an horrific civil war in which the Tamil Tigers – “an absolutely vicious outfit” which invented suicide bombing – fought the Sri Lankan army.

“Now, that’s not to say that the atrocities were all on one side. I don’t pretend that for a second,” Abbott told Sydney radio station 2GB.

“I don’t say everything’s perfect there for a second, but I think things are getting better and while, yes, I will be urging the Sri Lankan government to respect everyone’s rights, I think I will also be acknowledging that a lot of progress has been made and in the end the most important civil right is the right to live without the threat of death or horrific violence through some civil war.”

Rhiannon, who was detained while preparing to host a media conference with New Zealand Green Party MP Jan Logie on Sunday, had been in Sri Lanka on a four-day fact-finding mission into alleged human rights abuses and press freedom.

She said authorities told them they had violated their visas, a charge she denied, and held her for over three hours before they were released.

Her detention follows that of two Australian media rights activists this month. The pair said they were subjected to lengthy questioning which they felt was designed to intimidate reporters both inside and outside the country.

- AFP