UNITY WILL MAKE THEM BOW DOWN

Johor Bahru Makkal Sakthi organised an event called ” Indian Unity Forum” at Pu Sze Chinese School hall, Skudai. I was made to understand that some unscrupulous individual trying to ignite authorities by claiming the forum meant to disturb peace and order. I don’t understand the need for police personnel enter and threat speakers for an event held conducted in door. Anyway, organisers had shown them that Makkal Sakthi supporters are well mannered.

I’m glad Makkal Sakthi able to assist the community not only by being a pressure group demanding changes in ruling government mindset. The Johor Bahru Makkal Sakthi movement had made they presence felt by poor’s and helpless in surrounding area. It’s shows how Blind and Dump those persons sitting top there trusting paper reports to claim Hindraf as an illegal organisation.

I would like to take this opportunity in wishing Happy Mother’s Day especially to mothers of all ISA Detainees that was released today. Only mothers’ understand the pain of missing their child and I hope those remaining ISA detainees will be released soon. We Makkal Sakthi will continue to pressure Government in seeking release remaining ISA detainees despite our leaders set free today. The government understand very well wave of political changes happening in Malaysia, if they don’t close Kamunting Camp soon THEY WILL END UP THERE in it near future.

Recent announcement by Hindraf Chairman P Waythamoorthy on suspension of all Hindraf Coordinator received a lot of negative impact. We should understand that the move is to make Indians remain united under Makkal Sakthi banner as one pressure group for the community. We can be member of any political party , but to get them work Makkal Sakthi must remain apolitical and strong pressure group. Makkal Sakthi is the Inner feeling of each and every Malaysian for the need of having true , uncorrupted and sincere government that will preserve each of our rights.

Let us remain unity under Makkal Sakthi, as the new appointed advisors proposing to appoint coordinators based on portfolios such as Tamil School, Temple, Conversion issues and much more. Then we are able to mobilise our strong network of supporter to effectively serve needs of Indians and Malaysians. We able to tackle problem of temples being run by 2 or 3 groups, overcome gangsterims , reduce crime among our youngsters and many more issues that was propagate by barisan nasional last 52 years.

Today, In my constituency I’m trying best to solves issues that was left unattended by MIC for last 5 decades. Almost entire my salary and allowance as an MP was used up to take care their welfare but then Barisan Nasional MP’s having 2 million funds and projects on top of their remuneration unable to spend time attending constituent problems. After being a Member of Parliament for about 15 months only, I’m dare to Challenge MIC President to stand against myself in Kapar Parliamentary forget about Sg Siput as I’m confident voters in Kapar understand the true meaning of ” wakil rakyat”.

I would like to highlight here , that I was invited by former Prime Minister prior his resignation to discuss on some pertinent issues of Indians in Malaysia. During the meeting, he says “YB Kerajaan memang bagi tapi President MIC ambil, sekarang kita mahu YB tolong ” . This is very much clear when Government allocated almost 500million Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020 shares for Indians . What happen to it , how it can be sold of even before it open to public remain very much suspicious. Who stole it? Why Government keep numb about it? This is what been happening for last 52 years?

During the same meeting , I put forward my request to release all 5 Hindraf leaders and request Waythamoorthy be allowed to return Malaysia. At that point of time, then Prime Minister agreed to release at least 3 of them first.

Finally, Makkal Sakthi had won by having set their leaders free. It’s shows how important we remain Unite. Beside ruling government , the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition also afraid of Makkal Sakthi’s spirit at it’s not only Indian but also somewhere managed to touch most of Malaysia heart as well.

It’s worrying to see Police especially practicing Double Standard of Law. One Law for Barisan Nasional members and another law for Pakatan members. They don’t even dare to touch a UMNO member but conveniently enter Perak State Assembly Hall and throw away legitimate speaker from his chamber. So, we can understand what could be the verdict of on going Sujatha’s Inquest and Why Kugan’s murderers still mingling among us. Very simple POLICE Is RAJA in MALAYSIA. I hope with return of Uthaya and YB Mano , together with YB Gobind and Surendran we would pursue to seek justice on Kugan’s death and almost 80 other deaths in prison previously.

It’s time for Makkal sakthi to assist our youngsters to free themselves from gangsterism and avoid consuming health damaging liquors and tobaccos. Such behaviours also lead to families being abandon while children unable to pursue their educations.

Once again remain united as what we shown during November 25, 2007, even if the police fired chemical water and tear gas one of our children offered FRU a bottle of Mineral Water when he suffered. Unity among Inter race and Intra race is very Important to keep Malaysia move further and let join Pakatan Rakyat in condemning the act of Sri Lankan Government killing thousands of Tamils and also Malaysian Government for practicing double standard against humanity.

Thank you for Inviting me and I hope more and more such events will be organised by Makkal Sakthi to keep us united.

Valga Makkal Sakthi.

Anwar: Pakatan open to talks about about Perak solution

BUTTERWORTH, May 10 - The opposition pact is prepared to hold discussions with any party, including Umno and Barisan Nasional, to find ways to resolve the Perak political crisis, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor said there was no reason for Pakatan to reject good intentions on the part of any party to resolve the matter.

"There is no reason to refuse good intentions, including from Umno and BN, provided that the discussion will be followed up by actions that are in accordance with the law," he told reporters after meeting the Permatang Pauh Village Security and Development Committee chairmen here today.

He was asked to comment on a statement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today that the BN was prepared to cooperate with the opposition parties to resolve the Perak political crisis.

Najib had made it clear, however, that the BN would not agree to a coalition government. - Bernama

Anwar needles Putrajaya to apologise to Hindraf leaders

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 - Opposition icon Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today ramped up pressure on the Malaysian government, saying that it should apologise to P Uthayakumar and other Hindraf leaders for detaining them under the Internal Security Act.

He also challenged the authorities to substantiate reasons why the men who helmed Hindraf were detained in Kamunting, noting that the police had linked them to terrorism just after their detention in December 2007.

“During their detention, the government frequently spun stories that they were involved in terrorism but none of them were ever brought before the courts.

“Now they have been released without any explanation. It is clear that whatever the explanation and whatever the justification, the ISA has to be abolished and all the detainees released. These archaic laws have not more place if we really want true changes, ‘’ he said in a posting on his blog, adding that the release of the 13 ISA detainees yesterday was an attempt by the Barisan Nasional government to change the news cycle after the fiasco in Perak.

Uthayakumar, M Manoharan and Vasanthakumar were among several Hindraf leaders who were picked by the police in December after they organised mass gatherings and demonstrations across the country to protest the

marginalization of Indians in Malaysia.

The government justified their actions by declaring Hindraf an illegal organisation and painting its leaders as threats to national security.

Few bought the official line and the Najib administration knew that it would not be possible to reconcile with the community - traditional strong supporters of the BN – with Hindraf leaders still behind bars.

Still some in Umno appear grudging that Uthayakumar and gang – whom they blame for the Indian vote swing towards the Opposition – are enjoying freedom.

They are even more troubled than he and his comrades do not appear broken or cowed by their experience in Kamunting.

Anwar’s demand for the government to apologise to the Hindraf leaders will touch a raw nerve among Umno members, many of whom believe that the likes of Uthayakumar must be grateful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak for releasing them from detention.

The Umno-owned Mingguan Malaysia reported with a tinge of incredulity that Uthayakumar did not think it was necessary for him to thank the government for his release.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein also appeared to stoke the fire when he said today: “We did not expect him to thank the government. He is stubborn, tore his shirt before his release and also spread all sorts of lies.

“I’d like to remind him that as a normal person free from the ISA, he is not immune from other laws.’’

Still settling into his new job as the Home Minister, Hishammuddin needs to show that he has the steely spine to helm this important ministry.

It was this same pressure that prompted his predecessor to use the ISA against a journalist and a popular Opposition politician, a move which not only made him one of the most unpopular ministers in the Abdullah administration but also probably persuaded Najib to leave out of the Cabinet.

Manoharan: Pakatan helped all they could

By Melissa Loovi - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, 10 May - Despite leader P. Waythamoorthy and his brother P. Uthayakumar's apparent frustrations with Pakatan Rakyat for not doing more to speed up the Hindraf trio's release, fellow founder of the Indian rights group, M. Manoharan, firmly disagrees.

"People like Karpal Singh and even Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim did all they could to help get me and the others released," said the newly-released 48-year old lawyer at a Mother's Day celebration organised at his Kota Alam Shah service centre today.

"They, and other Pakatan representatives, appealed to the courts repeatedly and Tan Sri Khalid even approached the Sultan (of Selangor) on my behalf but the Sultan said the matter could only be dealt with by the Agong."

Manoharan's words come after Uthayakumar yesterday voiced his dissatisfaction with the lack of help given by the opposition coalition in getting the Hindraf detainees released.

Waythamoorthy, who is in self-imposed exile in London, has has also been increasingly critical of PR.

In a statement issued from London last week, he labelled the Hindraf trio's release as a “blatantly obvious move to divert the attention of the public” from the Perak fiasco. He added that there was nothing Hindraf should be thankful for.

“We are not thankful for the release of our lawyers under the ISA unless the government fulfills the 18 point demands that were submitted to the government in 2007.”

He also wants the government to acknowledge the alleged poor treatment received by the Indian community in this country and release not just the Hindraf trio, but all ISA detainees and abolish the law.

His brother, P. Uthayakumar, who was released yesterday along with T. Vasanthakumar and Manoharan told The Malaysian Insider he was "not happy with the two parties (PKR and DAP) and what they have done for the Indian community.

“They did not do enough in the critical areas that really matter," said the outspoken leader, adding that if PR had done more with the states under their governance, especially regarding land issues, it would solve 70 per cent of the Indian community's problems.

However, Manoharan, who won his state seat from within the walls of Kamunting under the DAP banner, is clearly taking a different stance.

He says he will speak to Waythamoorty to explain to him that PR had indeed done all they could.

In particular, he noted the help and support of DAP National Chairman Karpal Singh, Secretary General Lim Guan Eng and Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang.

A lot of growing up to do

We carry no grudge against those Bloggers who were enticed by money and ‘sold out to the other side’. In that same spirit they should not grudge those of us who refuse to accept the money and chose, instead, to remain anti-establishment. That is no reason to declare war on us and to suggest that our life should be ended with a bullet in the head.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Uthayakumar and YB BABI! Cancerous cells that will destroy the country!
Barking Magpie

I cannot help noticing the similar arrogant and defiant pose of Uthayakumar made to the public upon his release from detention, which is quite similar to that of YB BABI's!

Like two cancerous cells that will destroy this once sanctified body called Malaysia, the only way for the country to prevent it from being totally terminally ill is to destroy such cancerous cells from the beginning. It appears as though the government is weak and giving in to an act of terrorism!

May be we should follow the way of Sri Lanka in waging war against groups and individuals who are bent on trying to destroy the natural order of this country.

To quote Chris Hedges in his book who said that "war sometimes is a force that gives us meaning". Yes, that meaning means peace from blackmail, threat and a disrespect to all things that made up this country to what it is today.

May be we need that war in Malaysia just to show us again what is the true meaning of a peaceful co-existence. War to prevent anyone from trying to manipulate the people into doing something horrid such as disrespect to the existing institutions, may be we all need to be taught a lesson on the true meaning of the word peace! It appears in Malaysia that we need war to obtain it! When all else failed!

What say you Brother Uthaya and YB BABI! Are you ready, really ready for it?

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Out-manoeuvred and ill-prepared, Perak DAP and PKR resort to tyranny
A Voice

In a nutshell, the fiasco in Perak was mainly due to the ever defiant and ungentlemenly conduct of Nizar, his puppetmaster Nger, Perak DAP and PKR, and Pakatan Rakyat as a whole.

They defied all court orders, palace ruling and prerogative, and assembly conduct conventions. Worse still, they persistently lie and spin fact for their political expediency.

****************************************

Those are the comments from just two Umno Bloggers -- the first by Rusdi, Najib’s man, and the second by Salahuddin, Mukhriz Mahathir’s man.

Actually, I know both quite well. I have gone out with them and even paid for their food and drinks more than once. The same also goes for Zakir, ‘Rocky’, Aspan, Ron, and many others -- all Umno people. These people, as far as I am concerned, are my friends -- fellow Bloggers. Unfortunately, to these people, I am the enemy.

We became friends back in 2006 when Malaysia Today hosted the first dialogue with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the Kelab Century Paradise. I invited many PAS, DAP and PKR leaders and supporters to this event and the hall overflowed with guests. There was standing room only and many could not even get into the hall and had to stand outside.

It was simply overwhelming and the turnout was far higher than expected. After the dialogue we had tea and cakes and the opposition leaders joined Mahathir in the VIP room. I had to stand outside to guard the door as so many were trying to push their way into the VIP room to shake hands with Mahathir. I was worried someone may try to harm him and it became a security nightmare for me.

Finally, I told the guards to just block everyone from coming in and if anyone wants to get in then ask me first. I then stood guard near Mahathir, ready to dive forward in the event someone makes a move on him or something like that. Sheesh, I thought to myself, you mean I got to go like this; taking a bullet or knife on behalf of Mahathir?

I suppose, since I had invited Mahathir, then it is my responsibility to guard his security. Unfortunately, I overlooked that point because I did not expect such a large crowd. I thought it was going to be a small and controlled affair. I did not expect so many people, in particular from the opposition -- and many leaders amongst them on top of that. And I did not expect that so many would try to push and shove their way into the VIP room to shake hands with Mahathir.

Anyway, everything went fine that day in mid-2006 and nothing untoward happened, thank God. If not I would have probably been arrested as the mastermind behind the plot to assassinate Mahathir.

After that first event I travelled to Kedah, Kelantan and Johor (twice) to attend functions where Mahathir was speaking. I even got sprayed with some chemical at the Kota Bharu airport the day that PPP Kelantan leader sprayed Mahathir. I also attended all the functions at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya, one at University Malaya, plus a few more in hotels all over Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. I must have attended more than a dozen Mahathir functions all over Malaysia and video-recorded the entire lot.

I also attended Mukhriz Mahathir’s and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s functions and video-recorded them as well. When Mukhriz launched a blood donation drive at the Kampong Baru mosque I contacted YB Ronnie Liu and asked him to arrange a group of DAP people to go there to donate blood. Although it was a last minute arrangement, and in spite of it being an Umno Youth and Mukhriz Mahathir event, Ronnie managed to mobilise a small group of DAP people (all Chinese of course) to go to the Kampong Baru mosque to donate blood.

This is the way we do things. While they call Anwar Ibrahim BABI, we do not call Mahathir, Pak Lah, Najib or Muhyiddin the same. I might disagree with Umno but I am civil enough and know how to maintain protocol. Even whenever I meet Mukhriz, who is younger than me, I walk over to him and give a small but courteous bow when I shake his hand. I do not allow him to walk over to greet me. He stays put. I make the move.

I have met Khairy Jamaluddin face-to-face only once. But when he walked in I stood up. He is younger than my daughter so I really need not have done that. But I stood up anyway when he walked in and offered him a chair. And I did not sit down until he sat down first.

I am talking about how I treat my ‘enemies’. Am I being stupid here? Why do I waste my money buying dinner and drinks for people I oppose and then follow people like Mahathir all over Malaysia when he is the cause of all my problems and he was the one who ordered my arrest and later detained me without trial?

When Rusdi phoned and said that Rosmah wants to meet me I agreed. My wife dropped Rusdi and me off in front of Najib’s house and came back two hours later to fetch us. But when Rusdi asked me to ‘name my price’ to stop writing about Najib and Altantuya, I went to meet Mahathir to complain about it and thereafter cut off all my links with Rusdi.

Later, I received a phone call from Sufi, Mahathir’s aide, who said that JJ contacted his office to ask for my phone number. Sufi wanted to know whether I have any objections for my phone number to be given to JJ. I asked Sufi why JJ wants to contact me but he did not know. Anyway, I agreed and now, of course, we know why JJ wanted to contact me.

I, again, complained to Mahathir through a certain Chinese Datuk. I asked the Datuk to inform Mahathir that JJ had offered to buy me off. He called back a few days later and told me to not have any more dealings with JJ. That, I was told, were my ‘instructions’.

We may disagree with the government. We may even be bitterly opposed to the government and work relentlessly to bring it down. But we are also civil about it and will never regard ‘the other side’ as lepers whom we should distance ourselves from. All they need to do is phone and we will agree to meet up anytime, any place. That has been proven time and time again.

But that is not how they treat us. Rusdi suggests, in his posting above, that we are cancerous cells. Cancerous cells need to be destroyed and that is basically what he means -- that we must be destroyed. There are other Umno Blogs and websites that suggest I should suffer a bullet in the head for what I wrote with regards to the 7 May 2009 skirmish in the Perak State Assembly. Others want my citizenship withdrawn and that I should be thrown out of the country. Yet others feel the court made a grievous mistake in freeing me from ISA detention in November last year and that I should be re-detained and locked away in Kamunting till the day I die.

They want to put a bullet in my head while I stand guard over Mahathir to ensure that no one puts a bullet in his head. The fact that I invited Mahathir to the function, so I am therefore responsible for his safety, is not an issue. I am not head of security in this country. But I took it upon myself to be responsible for my ‘guest’. Hey, I even asked my wife to allow the Special Branch officers into the hall when she tried to deny them access. Never mind, I told my wife, they have a job to do, let them come in. You should have seen my wife’s ‘long face’. She was pissed with me.

If I had written in Malaysia Today that a certain Umno leader or Blogger should be shot, within 24 hours there would be numerous police reports made against me. In fact, over the last two months, there have been about half a dozen new police reports made against me. The most recent was two days ago when I wrote about the Perak State Assembly fiasco.

More than two years ago, these Umno Bloggers called for a meeting at the National Press Club (NPC). The purpose of the meeting was to form a Bloggers union or association. Amongst those who attended this maiden or ad hoc committee meeting were pro-Mahathir Umno Bloggers, pro-Najib Umno Bloggers, pro-Tengku Razaleigh Umno Bloggers, pro-Pakatan Rakyat Bloggers, and Bloggers in the civil society movement or Reformist category. I would like to believe I am in that last category.

The idea was actually mooted by Dr Mahathir. He felt that Malaysian Bloggers should form an umbrella body so that the so many Bloggers from all sides of the political divide could unite under some sort of national organisation. That reminded me of how Umno was formed back in 1946 when the so many different Malay-based societies, associations, movements, and so on, formed a national body called the United Malays National Organisation.

Sufi was also present as a sort of ‘representative’ of Dr Mahathir. It was proposed that I head this new union or association but I declined and proposed that Rocky should instead head it. I was, however, prepared to back him up and help with whatever needed to be done. The Bloggers union went on to set up the Blog House at Bukit Damansara.

We were, of course, from different political leanings. But we thought that, as Bloggers, we could leave our political differences aside and come together under one umbrella in spite of our political differences. It puzzled most people how we, known opposition supporters or political activists, could play footsie with those hardcore Umno people.

I suppose we were either naïve in thinking that the Umno Bloggers would be able to set aside our political differences for the common good of the Blogging community or we were suckers in not seeing that this move was not so much to unite the Bloggers as much as it was to ‘rope in’ the Bloggers.

Anyway, we still maintained our ‘independence’. We never expected the Umno crowd to turn opposition. But they expected us to turn pro-government. Some, of course, who were initially anti-establishment, eventually turned pro-government. And, inevitably, the Bloggers union broke up with the pro-government crowd on one side and the anti-establishment Bloggers on the other. Then the pro-government Bloggers started attacking the anti-establishment Bloggers although we did not retaliate in kind.

Today, there is no longer any Bloggers union. And the target of attack of the pro-government Bloggers is the anti-establishment Bloggers. They whack us to kingdom come every opportunity they can find.

Rusdi wants to declare war on us. He wants the government to do to us what the Sri Lankan security forces are doing to the LTTE. But that is just it. We anti-establishment Bloggers are not like the LTTE. We do not bomb and shoot and burn. But they would like to bomb and shoot and burn us. And they would like to put a bullet in my head as suggested by one Umno Blog.

These people have a lot of growing up to do. Have they not heard of freedom of expression and association? That is not a crime that warrants the issuing of a death sentence fatwah. That, in case many do not realise, is what the Federal Constitution of Malaysia guarantees us.

We carry no grudge against those Bloggers who were enticed by money and ‘sold out to the other side’. In that same spirit they should not grudge those of us who refuse to accept the money and choose, instead, to remain anti-establishment. That is no reason to declare war on us and to suggest that our life should be ended with a bullet in the head.

Krisis politik Perak: Campur tangan Sultan penentu penyelesaian?

(mStar Online) - Di sebalik krisis politik Perak yang telah masuk bulan ketiga sekarang, penganalisis-penganalisis berpendapat parti-parti politik perlu berkompromi manakala Sultan perlu campur tangan walaupun raja "berada di atas politik".

Penganalisis politik Dr. Sivamurugan Pandian dari Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) berkata, kekecohan di Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Perak Khamis lalu tidak sepatutnya berlaku dalam konteks demokrasi diamalkan di negara ini.

“Kita tak seharusnya sampai ke tahap mentaliti politik yang negatif seperti yang berlaku dalam Parlimen di Taiwan,” katanya.

Jelasnya, imej negara tercalar atas kekecohan yang berlaku dan kemelut politik yang melanda Perak tidak akan selesai sehingga pilihan raya umum yang ke-13 jika tiada langkah segera diambil.

“Sudah tiba masanya baginda (Sultan Perak) campur tangan bagi menyelesaikan masalah ini.

“Saya melihat Sultan wajar mengeluarkan kenyataan bagi memaklumkan pendirian baginda berhubung keputusan yang telah dibuat (melantik Menteri Besar BN, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir).

“Walaupun Sultan berada di atas kuasa politik tapi dalam situasi seperti ini, saya melihat campur tangan itu perlu untuk meredakan kemelut politik di Perak,” kata beliau kepada mStar Online.

Mengulas lanjut mengenai isu tersebut, Sivamurugan yang juga Timbalan Dekan Pusat Pengajian Sains Kemasyarakatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia berkata, baginda boleh mengisytiharkan darurat di Perak dan menyerahkan urus tadbir negeri itu kepada kerajaan Persekutuan untuk sementara waktu. “Langkah ini boleh diambil kerana pentadbiran di Perak telah menjadi kucar-kacir dan rakyat yang mangsa. Pemimpin politik ini perlu berhenti bertelagah,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, perbuatan pembangkang tempoh hari lebih bersifat populis untuk meraih sokongan rakyat untuk menunjukkan seolah-olah mereka menjadi mangsa diskriminasi dan percaturan politik BN.

“Mereka (Pakatan Rakyat) sengaja berbuat demikian kerana ia akan memberi kesan kepada pola pengundian pada pilihan raya umum akan datang.

“Rakyat Perak dijangka menterjemahkan melalui pilihan raya, mereka akan undi pembangkang sebagai undi protes kepada BN yang dilihat merampas Perak daripada Pakatan Rakyat,” katanya.

Tambahnya, bagi menyelesaikan konflik politik itu salah satu pihak perlu mengalah, tetapi sama ada BN mahupun Pakatan kelihatan tidak akan mengalah dengan mudah.

“Jalan penyelesaian terbaik adalah kita harus serahkan kepada mahkamah. Sememangnya akan ada pihak yang tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan mahkamah Isnin ini.

“Amalan berpolitik keterlaluan yang berterusan hanya merugikan negara dan rakyat akan terus mangsa,” katanya.

Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Sejarah, Politik dan Strategi Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Prof Madya Dr Ahmad Nidzamuddin pula menyifatkan insiden tersebut sebagai satu lagi rampasan kuasa selepas tumbangnya kerajaan Pakatan Februari lalu.

“Apa yang berlaku semalam tidak betul dan salah dari sudut perlembagaan. Mereka (kerajaan Barisan Nasional) tidak boleh memecat Speaker dan pelantikan penggantinya yang baru (dari BN) juga tidak sah," katanya.

Jelasnya, kekecohan itu juga memberi tanggapan negatif masyarakat luar negara terhadap negara ini.

“Bukan sahaja ekonomi Perak akan terjejas, malah ada kemungkinan pelabur-pelabur asing akan was-was mengenai kestabilan politik di negeri itu.

“Ini secara tidak langsung memberi kesan kepada industri pelancongan ekoran urus tadbir yang tidak sempurna,” katanya.

ADUN Kota Alam Shah turun 15kg, dikena 6 syarat

(mStar Online) - Bekas tahanan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) yang dibebaskan semalam, M. Manoharan berkata, beliau "amat gembira dengan enam syarat" yang dikenakan kerajaan di sebalik pembebasannya selepas ditahan 514 hari.

Kata Manoharan, beliau akan mematuhi syarat-syarat tersebut yang disifatkannya begitu memenuhi hasrat dan kedudukannya sebagai seorang Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) untuk sentiasa berada di samping rakyat .

"Syarat pertama adalah saya perlu tinggal di Kota Alam Shah, Klang. Saya mahu bersama rakyat dan syarat itu begitu sesuai sekali dengan saya," katanya ketika ditemui di rumahnya lewat petang semalam.

Manoharan yang juga seorang peguam berkata, lima syarat lagi yang perlu dipatuhinya adalah beliau tidak boleh menukar tempat kediamannya ke mana-mana kawasan lain tanpa kebenaran Ketua Polis Negeri, tidak boleh meninggalkan kawasan di mana ia disekat tanpa kebenaran bertulis Ketua Polis Negeri.

Selain itu, beliau hendaklah memberitahu Ketua Polis Daerah di mana beliau disekat mengenai alamat tempat tinggalnya, perlu melaporkan diri dan menandatangani buku daftar di balai polis yang berhampiran setiap Isnin antara pukul 8 pagi dan 5 petang sehingga 13 Disember tahun ini serta menjaga keamanan dan berkelakuan baik.

Manoharan berkata, beliau diberi tempoh dua minggu untuk mencari kediaman di Klang.

Katanya, memandangkan firma guamannya terletak di Kuala Lumpur dan seringkali mengendalikan kes di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur, beliau akan meminta kebenaran untuk keluar dari kawasan kediamannya setiap minggu.

"Kemungkinan saya juga akan membuka sebuah cawangan firma guaman saya di Klang," katanya.

Manoharan berkata, beliau mempunyai amalan guaman yang baik namun terpaksa memulakan kembali kerja-kerja guaman itu daripada awal memandangkan sudah 17 bulan meninggalkan bidang itu.

Beliau berkata, pengalamannya ketika ditahan di Kamunting begitu menyedihkan kerana beliau begitu merindui seluruh kaum keluarganya.

"Berat badan saya turun 15 kilogram... saya cukup menderita dan saya akan pastikan, tidak ada ayah lain yang mengalami apa yang saya alami ini di masa depan," katanya.

DANISH REALITY SHOW 'HUMILIATES' MALAYSIA

Another SHAME. This on-going Danish version of the world-wide reality show ‘Survivor’ (Robinson Ekspeditionen), which is filmed in an Island off Mersing in Johor, Malaysia contains a naked-race – a running contest, where the contestants run in the nude.

This action has made several opinion makers criticise the TV-show for deliberately humiliating the participants and Malaysia.

Of the 22 contestants all selected after an IQ-test, 16 of them choose to ‘go comando’, while five of the male contestants kept the boxers on, they were subsequently forced to eat caterpillars on time, to decide who should be sent back to Denmark while one woman who refused to be a part of the race was sent home right away.

Another embarrassing and shameful act which the Information Ministry fail to monitor and act.

news n picture courtesy of ScandAsia.com

RM12 billion PKFZ scandal - six times bigger than RM2.5 billion BMF scandal of Mahathir

By Lim Kit Siang

MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat should stop running from the question why he had failed to honour his repeated public undertakings to “tell all” and make public the full report of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit into the mega-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal. Malaysians want to know what he is hiding.

The PwC audit report into the PKFZ scandal has been described in the media as “a damning disclosure of mismanagement, clandestine deals, conflicts of interest and a total disregard for transparency and accountability” for a project which was supposed to cost RM1.845 billion in 2002 under the then MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik but ended up at RM4.6 billion under MCA Deputy President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

Now, horror of horrors, it is reported that the final cost of the PKFZ scandal under MCA President and the third MCA Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is the frightening figure of RM12 billion, which would have to be borne by the Malaysian taxpayers although the Cabinet had been assured in 2002 that the PKFZ project was a feasible, self-financing project that would not require a single sen of government financing!

If the PKFZ scandal had ballooned from RM1.8 billion in 2002 to RM12 billion in seven years under three MCA Ministers, it will be six times bigger than the first Mahathir mega financial scandal – RM2.5 billion BMF scandal!

RM12 billion of public funds is no chicken feed – it could build three Penang Bridges at RM4 billion each, 120 hospitals at RM100 million each, 1,200 schools at RM10 million each or 300,000 low-cost houses at RM40,000 each!

The MCA national leadership must fully account as to how three MCA Ministers in the past seven years had presided over one of the biggest financial scandals in the nation’s 52-year history.

The latest excuse of a “technical issue” preventing the full publication of the PwC report – that the Port Klang Authority Chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng had only written to the PcW on April 30 to seek its consent to release the report – is most laughable and a terrible reflection of Ong’s Ministerial irresponsibility to honour his 14-month pledge to reveal the whole truth about the PKFZ scandal.

(Dinner speech in Sungai Lalang, Sungai Patani on Saturday, 9th May 2009 at 9 pm)

PPP Will Not Expel Murugiah In Haste, Says Kayveas

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Bernama) -- The People's Progressive Party (PPP) will not act hastily against its supreme council member Datuk T. Murugiah, despite calls for him to be expelled for allegedly disregarding the party's interests.

Its president, Datuk M. Kayveas, said the majority of the party's 25 supreme council members at its meeting today had expressed dissatisfaction with Murugiah's action for frequently being absent from party meetings and whose decisions sometimes put the party in a bad light.

"Although the majority of the supreme council members want him to be expelled, but I feel that (such action) can still be avoided as I don't want to be labelled as taking advantage of the situation for my own personal political interests," he added.

Kayveas said he would wait until the party's annual general meeting in June.

"If we want to expel, we can do so because there is enough evidence. He (Murugiah) claimed that I wanted to expel him so that I would stand a chance of becoming a minister. That is not true," he told a press conference after the PPP supreme council meeting here today.

On a statement by Murugiah that he would not contest for the president's post in the party elections in June since he was still young and not ready for it yet, Kayveas said it was just an act.

Kayveas also said that Murugiah was not eligible to contest as the registration of his branch, N.12 Silibin Drive, Perak, had been revoked.

"The registration of the branch was revoked since three years ago (21.8.2006) and that he knew about it yesterday afternoon, following which he issued the statement not to contest the president's post.

"He knows he cannot contest but because he wants to be popular says he is not challenging me out of respect," he added.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Public Service Association president P. Gunaseelan, in a statement today, urged Kayveas and Murugiah to resolve their misunderstandings and to work for the betterment of the society and nation.

-- BERNAMA

*****

NST
2009/05/10

Kayveas: PPP exco to sack Murugiah

By : R. Sittamparam

KUALA LUMPUR: The People's Progressive Party (PPP) executive council has taken a decision to sack Datuk T. Murugiah, its sole government representative.

However, the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department will be allowed to continue as an executive council member until the party's annual general meeting (AGM) on June 7.

Party president Datuk M. Kayveas said Murugiah's sacking would be announced after the AGM which is expected to be opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"I've advised the executive council members to delay the sacking so that we will not be accused of denying Murugiah a chance to contest in the party elections," Kayveas said after chairing the executive council meeting here yesterday.

"We are giving him a chance to contest for the presidency or any other position."

Kayveas said "90 per cent of the members" had called for Murugiah's sacking because of mounting complaints against him from within and outside the party.

"This includes involvement in money politics, failing to represent the party or cooperating with the leaders and using his position for self promotion."

Kayveas said party members would lodge reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission next week against Murugiah for money politics.

"We have suspended one of Murugiah's aides for negotiating money transactions among division and branch leaders, while a division chairman was suspended for receiving a RM74,000 allocation from Murugiah."

On Murugiah's statement on Friday that he had no intention to contest the presidency, Kayveas said: "I believe his change of mind was because he found out that his branch in Perak had been de-registered by the Registrar of Societies in 2006.

"If he does not get his branch re-registered, he cannot become a delegate to the AGM or contest any post."

Earlier, Murugiah had expressed intention to contest against Kayveas.

Kayveas said if Murugiah settled his branch problem and secured the minimum 10 branch nominations, he was welcome to contest the post.

********

The Star, May 10 2009

Murugiah to clarify allegations to PM (Update3)

By SARBAN SINGH and ROYCE CHEAH

SEREMBAN: PPP supreme council member Datuk T Murugiah refused Sunday to comment on a decision by the party to call for his sacking, saying that he would meet Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Tuesday to relate his side of the story.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported from Pekan that Najib said he would have to look into the matter first.

"I only know about it from newspaper reports," Najib said. Asked about Murugiah's position in the government, Najib said, he would think about it.

Murugiah, a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said he was shocked to read about his imminent sacking in Sunday's newspapers for allegedly being involved in money politics.

"I am only reading it in the newspapers about the president (Datuk M Kayveas) and supreme council allegedly being unhappy with me...I have not offended anyone but yet they have decided to remove me.

"I hope to see the Prime Minister on Tuesday...God is great and the truth will prevail," he said when met at the sidelines of a seminar organised for Indian youths here.

Murugiah reiterated that he was not involved in vote-buying or aspiring to contest the presidency in party polls due next month.

Asked why he had not attended Saturday's supreme council meeting, Murugiah said he had had another engagement.

An aide said Murugiah was in Teluk Intan attending the Chitrapournami festival, one of the main festivals celebrated by Hindus here.

"No one from the party notified me of the supreme council's decision. I am not going to say anything more but I will talk when the time is right," he said.

Asked if there was a conspiracy to clip his wings after being named as the most popular local Indian politician by an internet portal, Murugiah refused to comment.

On Saturday, Kayveas said Murugiah's actions were deemed to be detrimental to the party's interest and that a report would be lodged against him with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Agency.

Kayveas alleged that he had strong evidence to back his claims that Murugiah had offered money and contracts to party leaders to bag votes.

Citing an example, he alleged that Murugiah had given RM74,000 to a division chairman for his support.

The said division chief K.Tanggaraju, who was also present at the seminar here, denied this, adding that he would lodge a police report Sunday.

"I was suspended by the supreme council on Saturday for allegedly receiving the cash from Murugiah.

“I want to know why I have been dragged into this and accused of being corrupt," said Tanggaraju who has been Selayang division chief for the past 13 years.

He said it was strange that several of Murugiah's aides, including those working for him at the Prime Minister's office, were being suspended from the party.

Tanggaraju also claimed that many branches in Selangor faced the risk of being deregistered as details of their annual general meetings (AGM) were not forwarded to the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

"I was shocked when the ROS told me that they had no records of the branchs’ AGMs. This is not healthy for the party," he said.

Tanggaraju also expressed unhappiness with the supreme council's decision not to refer him to the party's disciplinary board or to hear his side of the story before deciding to suspend him.

On a separate matter, Murugiah said he hoped to help more Indian youths to venture into business.

"We hope to do this through the Malaysian Indian New Economic Wave, a body which would register and assist those who aspire to venture into business and other ventures," he said adding that some 230,000 youths have registered with the body, which would also set up a cooperative to provide them with financial aid.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Sunday that PPP would be left to handle the Murugiah matter while Barisan Nasional would hope for the best.

Police disrupt DAP video screening, PKR celebration

Riot police barging in to the DAP dinner on Saturday night - Photos courtesy of Ngeh Koo Ham’s blog. More pictures here

Police confiscating audio-visual equipment used for the dinner-time video screening of the 7 May Perak State Assembly proceedings

Riot police raided a DAP dinner in Sitiawan on 9 May during the screening of a video on the 7 May Perak State Assembly proceedings, according to Suara Keadilan online.

One person, a video technician, was arrested.

Police confiscated “one DVD player, three projectors, two mobile screens and other equipment at the thousand-people DAP dinner,” wrote Lim Kit Siang in his blog.

The dinner was themed “Dissolve the Perak State Assembly and restore the people’s rights”. Among the speakers were V Sivakumar, Nga Kor Ming dan Ngeh Koo Ham.

According to Sivakumar:

Apabila tanyangan VCD mengenai peristiwa 7 Mei dimainkan, polis telah merempuh masuk ke dalam dewan itu dan mula merampas alat-alat tayangan tersebut. Ini telah menyebabkan kekecohan dalam dewan itu. Orang ramai memberi amaran supaya polis tidak mengganggu tayangan VCD tersebut. Tetapi, polis tidak mempedulikan semua itu. YB Dato Ngeh Koo Ham dan YB Nga Kor Ming telah berunding dengan polis untuk tidak mengganggu program makan malam dengan menakutkan rakyat. Tetapi, polis berdegil juga dalam usaha untuk merampas alat-alat tayangan (VCD). Berpuluh-puluh FRU masuk bagaikan satu rusuhan berlaku.

Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim has expressed regret that the police disrupted another event yesterday, the 1oth anniversary celebration of Bandar Tasik Puteri PKR in Selangor.

Suara Keadilan reports:

Menurut Ketua Umum KeADILan Anwar Ibrahim, beliau kesal dengan alasan polis mengikut arahan ‘politik atasan’ yang meminta agar program sambutan 10 tahun berkenaan dibatalkan kerana penarikan permit berkenaan.

“Permit telahpun diperolehi sebelumnya oleh pihak penganjur pada 5 Mei 2009, tetapi dibatalkan pada saat akhir tanpa sebarang alasan munasabah. Pun begitu maklumat sahih mengesahkan ada arahan ‘politik atasan’ di sebalik tindakan rakus pihak keselamatan ini,” menurut Anwar.

Dalam kejadian 9 Mei lalu, polis telah menceroboh tapak sambutan berkenaan serta meletakan kira-kira lebih 50 anggota polis dan anggota Unit Simpanan Persekutuan (FRU) berkawal di kawasan berkenaan.

Polis dari IPD Gombak serta FRU turut merampas bendera, kain rentang serta mengenakan sekatan jalan raya di kawasan sekitar Tasik Puteri menuju ke tempat di mana sambutan tersebut diadakan.

Tambah beliau anggota FRU yang muncul di tapak acara sambutan dengan diiringi anggota polis daripada IPD Gombak telah merampas bendera, kain rentang serta mengenakan sekatan jalan raya di kawasan sekitar Tasik Puteri menuju ke tempat di mana sambutan tersebut diadakan.

Anggota penguatkuasa Majlis Perbandaran Selayang juga turut terlibat membuat rampasan dan menggagalkan acara tersebut walaupun ia mendapat dokongan kerajaan negeri.

Why Sedition Act is the new ISA

The Malaysian Insider
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid and Melissa Loovi

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — The recent spate of arrests made under the Sedition Act has led opposition leaders and lawyers to unanimously conclude that the government might have found a better tool than the Internal Security Act (ISA) to quell dissent.

The continued use of the ISA, condemned locally and internationally, does not appear to be politically tenable. This week, a number of activists and opposition party leaders were detained under the Sedition Act.

Many Barisan Nasional (BN) component party leaders have also joined their Pakatan Rakyat (PR) counterparts in calling for the government to abolish the British-inherited law. Umno is the only party that believes that the unpopular law should be maintained.

The Sedition Act is, however, perceived to be less oppressive than the ISA but yet drafted in such a way that it gives the government absolute power to make arrests on its political enemies.

According to section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act, a person is considered to have committed an offence under this law if he or she attempts to do, or make any preparation to do, or conspires with any person to do, any act which has or would, if done, have a seditious tendency.

It further read that any person is found to have committed an offence under this law if he or she utters any seditious words, prints, publishes, sells, offers for sale, distributes, or reproduces any seditious publications or imports any seditious publications.

Yet in all of this, there is no real and clear definitive guideline as to what constitutes sedition.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who is also a lawyer, said such a vague law lends the authorities indefinite power to silence the opposition.

“A conviction can be so easily secured under the Sedition Act because it is under the discretion of the judge (to conclude what is seditious or not),” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Malik Imtiaz, a prominent human rights lawyer, also said that due to the vague definition, the Sedition Act can be easily used by the BN government on its enemies.

“Where do you draw the line between responsible expression and unethical ones (if the law does not provide such guidelines) so the police are left with the power to draw its own conclusion,” he said.

Centre for Public Policy Studies, or ASLI, chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam told The Malaysian Insider that with the Sedition Act, the government would stand to gain more if it were to make arrests under the Sedition Act instead of the ISA.

"With the Sedition Act, one can stand for an open trial and the government would be seen as conducting a proper exercise of the rule of law.

"But with the ISA, its provision for detention without trial is a violation of one's fundamental rights and a vital aspect of a democracy and the people would perceive this as oppressive," he said.

Navaratnam added that it was wrong for the government to clamp down on opposition leaders and rights activists in recent days as it had encroached their democratic rights to freedom of expression.

Looking back at the history of the Sedition Act, prominent academician Farish A. Noor said it was rather ironic that the British-inherited law is being used against the opposition.

"I think members of the public should remember that the Sedition Act was created by the British colonialists and it was used to silence nationalist opposition who were freedom fighters fighting for the country's independence.

"So it's ironic that the current leaders that came from the same background are actually using the Sedition Act to silence their opposition," he said.

Mindrap Pledges Support To Government Policies

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia India Democratic Action Party (Mindrap) has pledged its support to the government policies on improving the well-being of the Indian community.

Its president, Manuel Lopez said the party, which was set up in 2005, would play a meaningful role in raising the problems of the community.

"We know that some of the demands made by the community went unfulfilled maybe because they were not pursued correctly.

"We should not blame the government. What is important, the struggle to advance the interest of the Indian community must go unabated," he told a news conference here today.

Lopez said the formation of the party was not to compete against the MIC or the People's Progressive Party but to intensify the struggle for the community.

"I formed the party with the aim of improving the well-being of the Indian community. From our study, the community is still lagging behind and saddled with many problems such as the identify card, education and unemployment," he said.

Claiming that Mindrap has about 3,000 members nationwide, he said the party was formed due to unhappiness over the leadership of the other Indian based parties.

Asked whether Mindrap would apply to join Barisan Nasional, Lopez said, "We are an independent party and we will support whoever fights for the interest of the community."

Media and communication strategy that Najib hasn't had

Najib's cousin appears neuro-deficient.

The Review Board for ISA detainees is supposed to sit from May 18-19. For the Home Minister to ejaculate prematurely by announcing the release of 13 ISA detainees including Hindraf leaders before the Board sitting indicates that there is no due process when it comes to deciding an imprisoned-without-trial person's freedom. The Board is a rubber-stamp.

When too much power is vested in the hands of one person, the Home Minister, then absolute power corrupts absolutely.

In the case of ISA, need we say freedom is a basic human right? Hence the standing of Malaysia and Suhakam in the eyes of UNHCHR and the ICC. Najib doesn't learn fast enough of past mistakes of his predecessors.

Integrated media strategy?

I have been watching Najib's media and communication strategies since April 3, and can't help relating to a few senior editors that Najib has to beef up his operatives in this squadron. He has none.

The signs are in Malaysian Insider:
- Najib denies ISA release meant to calm anger over Perak fiasco
- Najib says no to Ahmad Talib in NSTP
- ‘Rocky’ returns as Malay Mail CEO (Morale is a bit low as the staff are shocked)

Najib should take heed of Malaysian Insider. Some of the key operatives in there are a bunch of "been there, done that" boys. The created Abdullah's imagery out of media wrappings, over-sold him until he tanked in five short years despite all the powers that a top post in Umno can deliver.

What's ain't mine ain't yours. Or so it seems to sour-grape.

Voters to make ultimate decision, not court

As soon as one democratic history was made in Ipoh with the unprecedented disorder at the opening of the new session of the Perak state assembly on May 7, another history was being readied to repeat itself from outside the august building.

MCPX

If there had been chandeliers in the state assembly hall, assemblymen, fully dressed in the splendorous outfits of the state’s lawmakers, could have been seen swinging from the ceiling in the attempt to disrupt the proceedings the Pakatan Rakyat conceived as illegal.

The turn of events in Perak from February, when the sultan decided to appoint a new menteri besar, has now reached the point where the Pakatan will probably gain much politically by returning to people’s power.

Pakatan will also know who is the legitimate Perak menteri besar tomorrow when the High Court gives its judgement.

Whether it will be Nizar of Pakatan or Zambry of BN, it is the people who must finally be the kingmaker and the people are not sure that the monarch was vested with the power to dismiss Nizar.

That makes for a crack in the wall large enough for people’s power to slip through and to continue fighting for change.

This time the change is for the ending of the BN federal rule in the next general elections.

It is now about the force of popular perceptions in a circumstance of a weakened government abruptly underscored by massive corruption and a ruling-elite of contractors, businessmen and professionals that’s popularly assumed as unreservedly arrogant.

Arrested for wearing black T-shirts

It is also about a prime minister with a luggage heavy enough for him to be distracted, isolated and demonised, which is what the game has become since Najib Abdul Razak took over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah) about a month before.

The doubt about the monarch’s power-reach is one thing and the problem of the PM and the power-elite is another. The third disturbing factor is about the police’s political over-reactions.

The BN, having lost enough popular support to be denied the two-third majority in parliament on March 8 2008, turned under Pak Lah to using the police to stem the tide of popular demand for change and for basic democratic liberties.

On May 7 in Ipoh, the police force apparently recoiled like a disturbed cobra and struck, arresting 69 in the ripples of the protests advanced by the Pakatan lawmakers in the state assembly.

Some were arrested for wearing black T-shirts to mark 1Black Malaysia. Others were arrested for standing around the state assembly building and some for drinking tea at coffee-shops within a given radius from the building.

It was as though the state secretariat building was conceived as a nuclear bomb test-ground.

When lawmakers, both federal and state, were among those arrested and were handcuffed and taken to the balai, what was messaged in our heads was a repeat of the arrest and subsequent injury vested on the then deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who was taken from his house in 1998 by a troop of police personnel wearing balaclavas and armed with automatic weapons.

The reactions were plain: If that could be done on the deputy prime minister and the lawmakers, it can be done to any of us without a squeak being heard. It is feudal and it is tyranny.

Hyperactive police force

It’s the kind of action designed to drive the people into a sense of impotence and that failed before, leading instead to the popular rejection of the BN and which has stayed for more than a year since March 8 2009.

The pictograph issued to our brains from the day of Anwar’s arrest and subsequent abuse in police custody was of a police state.

It was this pictograph of a police state that has been the most tangible evidence of power misuse in a nation popularly conceived as ruled by a self-seeking and corrupt elite.

This same hyperactive police force, we are often told, is faction-wracked.

When one senior officer is transferred to another location, it was said the whole group of his subordinates would follow him, leaving his successor having to begin anew in the arts and sciences of crime-busting in the given locale.

In the circumstances of rising prices, flips-flops or fumbles of policy decisions and which have even led to royal interventions in at least three states, increasing crime rate, unemployment, falling morale and growing malaise, the accumulated distresses must lend something familiar to the critical mind – i.e. failing statecraft.

And yet the Pakatan is poised to win bigger in a Perak state re-election and in the 13th general elections. The people have had enough.

Uthaya's release occasion

Uthaya goes home to hero's welcome - Malaysiakini

Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar returned to his mother's house in his hometown of Rasah, Seremban late tonight and received a hero’s welcome from a sea of thousands of orange-clad supporters.

The 47-year-old lawyer had earlier today refused to sign the conditional papers of release and travelled from Kamunting to Seremban - a six-hour journey across three states - in a convoy of 100 cars and motorcycles.

Interestingly, one of the conditions for his release was not to set foot in Seremban.

Along the way he stopped at several places - among them, Rawang, Sungai Buloh and Labu toll exit - to speak to his supporters who had came to see him.

He arrived at the Labu toll plaza in Negri Sembilan at about 9.15pm and later at his house where he hugged her mother and ate mutton curry, a dish which he had longed for after 18 months behind bars under the Internal Security Act.

Uthayakumar said he chose not to sign any conditional release letters as he felt he had done nothing wrong.

“I did not sign the conditional release, in which one of the conditions was that I would not return to Seremban.

“Following that, the Kamunting authorities decided to throw me out (of the camp),” he said.

Asked what his immediate plans were, Uthayakumar said he would consult his supporters first.

“I feel Umno and Barisan Nasional have not changed despite a change in leadership,” he said.

“I called on the leaders of the country to release the remaining 10 detainees who are still being detained in Kamunting. Some of them had been under detention for eight years,” he said, adding that detention without trial is unlawful.

To visit younger brother in London

Uthayakumar said he would rest for the next two days and would decide on when to go to London to meet with his younger brother, Waythamoorthy, the chairperson of the outlawed Hindraf movement.

Waythamoorthy has been in self-imposed exile in Britain since the ISA arrests in late 2007 where his brother and four others were detained.

“I want to discuss with him the next course of action. I also want to visit him as he has this rare heart condition and I am very concerned for his health,” he said.

“I will discuss with Waytha (about the future) and if the feelings are strong to form a party as demanded by the supporters, we would certainly seriously consider it.”

But first, he said he had to look for his passport.

He also laughed over the recent formation of another Indian-based party called Mindraf.

“There is a joke that the Chinese want to form Chindraf and Jemaah Islamiah may form Jindraf - people are riding on Hindraf’s popularity,”

He also reminded his followers not to worship or idolised him, after some Hindraf supporters were seen trying to kneel before him and kiss his feet tonight.

“No, they should not treat me in this way as I am an ordinary person,” he said.

“But I could see many people are supporting the cause as we have been marginalised and I think we have a platform to seek for better welfare of the Indian community,” he said.

Uthayakumar pledged that despite the adversities he is going to face, he would continue with the struggle and would not let the authorities to stop him.

P. Uthayakumar: "Never Give In To Them"

by naragan

Here is a piece sent in by "Malaysian Heart"

In human history, there have been many times when people facing injustice & oppression have used nonviolent resistance to achieve social & political change. Because of the highest moral standards needed to achieve true change, the leaders of these movements have to shoulder an enormous responsibility.

Whilst all the time keeping a clear eye on their goal & inspiring & motivating people, they need to ensure that their movement never deviates from the principles of their struggle. If they sacrifice their principles & accept that the ends justifies the means, their movement's moral standing is lost, and will soon disintegrate. In shouldering these responsibilities, time and time again these leaders have had to make great personal sacrifices. Let's look at three notable examples.

Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned in 1908 by the racist government in South Africa for resisting the unjust Asiatic Act law. In the words of Nelson Mandela, "Gandhi's most painful experience must have been when he was told that his wife, Kasturbai, was critically ill. He was given the option to pay his fine and rush to her bedside. His commitment to satyagraha would not allow him to do so." Read more here and on page 88 here.

Martin Luther King, Jr. took part in protests against segregation in the town of Albany, Georgia in 1961, and was sentenced to imprisonment. The authorities offered to release him (and his colleague) if they paid a fine of US$178. Sticking to principle, they refused. Finally the police chief himself paid their fine & released them to avoid embarrasment. Read more here and here.

Nelson Mandela was undergoing life imprisonment in Robben Island, a maximum security prison, when the apartheid government offered to release him in exchange for accepting the bantustan policy by recognising the independence of the Transkei and agreeing to settle there. He chose to never compromise his principles. He remained in prison until he was released unconditionally on 11 February 1990, after being imprisoned for a total of 27 years. Read more here.

To this fellowship (which includes many others, some of whom we may not know about), we can now add a Malaysian, P. Uthayakumar, who refused to accept any conditions for his release from detention under the ISA. In his own words, “If they force me (to sign the conditional release papers, which among other things would have barred him from speaking at public functions), I will not do it as I prefer going back to Kamunting prison,” (the words in brackets being mine).

Leaders like them inspire us.

They & their loved ones have suffered pain, physical & emotional, for us. Let us stand, not behind them but shoulder to shoulder with them, and work together for justice for ALL Malaysians.

Let us never forget what these brave people have shown, that truth & justice will always triumph over lies & oppression. Let us not forget either, that all that is needed for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing.

Finally, let us never forget these words of Uthayakumar: "Never give in to them."

May all victims of the ISA get the justice that they deserve.

Makkal Sakthi!

MIC opens doors to Hindraf leaders

KUALA LUMPUR, May 10 – The MIC has invited Hindraf leaders for possible talks and partnership for the sake of the Indian community. MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the Indian-based political party was also willing to consider views and suggestions by the movement on ways to improve the plight of the community.

He said the MIC was ready to hear concerns and suggestions of the Hindraf leaders on how they could work together for the benefit of the Indian interests.

Dr Subramaniam was speaking to reporters after officiating the National Temple Conference here today.

He was commenting on the statement by Hindraf founder P. Uthayakumar, who upon his release from detention under the Internal Security Act, said he would continue to fight for the Indian community which he alleged was marginalised.

Dr Subramaniam also invited Hindraf leaders to join the party, saying that since both of them shared a common goal of elevating the living standard of the community, they would be able to achieve the objective better if they worked as one.

“I am for a united Indian community, as we can see all the splintering in the group did not help the community,” he said, hoping that whatever bitterness existed previously would be done away with for the betterment of the Indian community.

Yesterday, Uthayakumar and two other Hindraf leaders M. Manoharan and K. Vasanthakumar who were held at the Kamunting detention camp since late last year, were released, together with 10 others detainees.

Earlier last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his maiden speech, had announced the release of 13 ISA detainees, including two Hindraf leaders V. Ganabatirau and R. Kenghadharan.

Asked about the possibility of Hindraf leaders forming a new political party to serve its cause as the opposition parties, which it was currently allied to, had failed them, Dr Subramaniam said: “Now, they are an illegal movement. But it is their right and absolutely nobody can stop them if they want to form a political party, as long as they are following the proper process, and the decision is up to KDN (home ministry)”.

On another matter, Dr Subramaniam, who is also human resources minister, said he had not decided to contest the party’s No. 2 post, despite strong support, from both within and outside the party. – Bernama

How about 1Perak, Najib asks Pakatan

PEKAN, May 10 – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says the Barisan Nasional (BN) government is willing to cooperate with the opposition parties to resolve the political crisis in Perak but this does not mean that it would agree to form a coalition government.

The prime minister said the cooperation should be based on the spirit of mutual respect and adherence to the country’s law.

“Cooperation does not mean forming a coalition government. It doesn’t have to be in that form ... it can take various other forms but the most important thing is that there should be mutual respect,” he told reporters after opening Pekan Umno branch meetings here today.

Najib was commenting on the statement by DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang yesterday that he (Lim) was willing to meet Najib to discuss the Perak political impasse. Najib stressed that the Perak political crisis could be avoided if all parties adhered to the law and respected one another.

“If we respect the law, and everyone should respect the law, there won’t be any crisis and things won’t turn into a crisis. But when all are claiming that they are right, then there are bound to be problems,” he said.

Najib said the BN government had always been keeping an open attitude and giving its best service to the people.

“We don’t want the situation (in Perak) to prolong. We want to serve the people, for everyone in Perak and throughout the country,” the prime minister said.

On the PPP supreme council’s decision to sack Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department T. Murugiah, Najib said he needed to look into the matter first.

“I only know about it from newspaper reports,” he said.

Asked about Murugiah’s position in the government, Najib said, he would “think about it”. – Bernama

ISA: Pembebasan Sekadar Mengaburi Isu Pencabulan Perlembagaan Negeri Perak

Saya gembira sebaik dimaklum berkenaan pembebasan 13 orang tahanan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) termasuklah tiga orang pimpinan Hindraf.

Kesemua mereka termasuk beberapa rakan yang didakwa terlibat dalam keganasan tanpa bukti - satelah 6-7 tahun ditahan telah mengharungi dugaan ini dengan penuh kesabaran.

Meski pun kepedihan dan kesengsaraan yang ditanggung amat berat, mereka tetap teguh berpegang kepada prinsip perjuangan serta tidak mahu menyerah kepada tuntutan pemerintah agar patuh pada beberapa syarat mengongkong.

Syabas saya ucapkan kepada saudara P. Uthayakumar dan rakan-rakan lainnya. Maka seharusnya rakyat Malaysia berhak untuk mengetahui apakah status sebenar tahanan yang dibebaskan walau sebelum ini mereka ditahan kerana disyaki terlibat dengan keganasan.

Mereka semua perlu mendapat pembelaan yang sewajarnya dan kerajaan khususnya Kementerian Dalam Negeri seharusnya memohon maaf kepada mereka. Sepanjang ditahan, kerajaan seringkali memutarkan fitnah kononnya mereka semua terlibat dengan aktiviti keganasan, namun tidak pula dihadapkan ke mahkamah untuk dibicarakan.

Nah! Sekarang sekonyong-konyong dibebaskan tanpa penjelasan. Jelaslah walau apapun penjelasan, juga justifikasi yang diberikan, ISA perlu dimansuhkan serta merta dan kesemua tahanan perlu dibebaskan. Undang-undang kuku besi lagi kuno ini sudah tidak mempunyai tempat jika benar-benarlah perubahan yang dihajati.

Kenyataan Menteri Dalam Negeri semalam membuktikan kerajaan sememangnya tidak berhasrat untuk memansuhkan ISA. Beliau menyifatkan pembebasan 13 tahanan semalam hanya berdasarkan keadaan bukannya kerana akta tersebut zalim.

Maka jelas terbukti lantaran tertekan dengan kebiadapan wakil-wakil rakyat BN sewaktu sidang DUN Perak tempoh hari, langkah pembebasan ini hanya sekadar satu upaya untuk mengalihkan perhatian rakyat dari isu sebenar iaitu pencabulan perlembagaan serta prinsip demokrasi di negeri Perak.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Hold fresh elections to end the Perak constitutional impasse

by Dr. Chen Man Hin

Prime Minister Najib Razak was reported in the press to have cautioned elected Perak state representatives to follow the rule of jaw, as the pandemonium on Thursday 7th May and that unruly behaviour of elected leaders followed the law of the jungle instead of the rule of law.

Well said, except that the party that begun the law of the jungle was none other than UMNO, the party of the Prime Minister because he master-minded and executed the take-over of the Perak state government by using unconstitutional means.

His plan first arraigned two PKR state excos on trumped-up charges of corruption and compelled them to leave the PR and later to support Barisan National.

Next the Jelapang state assemblywoman was induced to leave DAP and support Barisan National with promises so huge as to be beyond imagination.

The admission of these three extra members to the Barisan side gave them an alleged majority in the state assembly to stake claim of eligibility to form the state government.

THE NEXT STEP WAS TO INDUCE ROYALTY TO DISSOLVE THE PERAK STATE ASSEMBLY AND FORM A NEW BARISAN LED GOVERNMENT.

THIS WAS THE CRUCIAL MOVE BUT IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND ILLEGAL, AS IT WAS ULTRA VIRES THE PERAK STATE ASSEMBLY STATUTES.

The Perak Mentri Besar can only be removed by a vote of no confidence in the Assembly which was never done. Under the Perak Constitution, the Sultan of Perak has the power to appoint but not the power to remove the Mentri Besar.

Hence, the legal Perak government is still the PR government and not Barisan. Tun Dr Mahathir stated emphatically two days ago, that the power to dissolve Parliament rested with the members of parliament and not the Agong.

Similarly, the power to dissolve the Perak state assembly rested not with the Sultan, but with the members of the assembly. The sultan cannot appoint the new government. It is the state assembly that forms the new government.

So it is the Prime Minister assisted by his kitchen cabinet who has not followed the rule of law and instead adopted the law of the jungle - of threats, bribery and ignoring the Perak Constitution.

It is also obvious that PM Najib has also subverted the Attorney-General Gani Patai who dared to claim that the Sultan of Perak has the power to dissolve and appoint a new government in Perak, in direct contradiction to the views of Tun Dr Mahathir

IGP NOT ABIDING BY RULE OF LAW

Sdr Karpal Singh was accosted and surrounded by belligrent UMNO leaders at the entrance hall of Parliament some months ago, with police officers who were standing by, kept silent and did nothing to protect Karpal Singh from the hostile Umno group.

When pressed for an explanation IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, said policing Parliament did not include Parliament affairs, and therefore the police did not intervene to protect Karpal.

On the other hand, the police were actively engaged in taking the side of Barisan within the Perak State Assembly. Police officers in plain-clothes actively dragged, pushed and bundled Speaker Sivakumar out of the assembly, despite protests from the Speaker. The scene was captured live on camera and TV.

IGP Musa should explain the coarse and humiliating act of his police officers, who brutally wrenched the lawful Speaker out of the Assembly.

His police officers were supposed to maintain peace and order. Instead they joined in the mayhem and gave full support to Barisan leaders to oust the legally appointed Speaker, and then quarantined him for an hour.

IGP Musa should explain the double standards of his police officers and why were his officers so biased against PR by manhandling the legal Speaker and preventing him to fulfill his duties as Speaker.

IGP Musa should be reminded that the police force is mandated to be impartial and to maintain law and order and execute their duties in the interests of the people and justice, and not be a puppet of the government. If they see injustices perpetrated by the government, the police should not condone the injustices, but must prevent any wrongdoing.

The IGP should not be involved in partisan politics. His calling is higher, which is to safeguard justice, security and law and order for the people.

TIME TO CALL FOR FRESH ELECTIONS OF THE PERAK STATE GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE THE POLITICAL IMBROGLIO.

It is obvious that the present political scenario is unacceptable and unsustainable from the political, economic and social viewpoints.

The uncertainties will affect economic development and will add to the burdens imposed by economic recession. Unemployment will increase.

The PR government which was mandated to be the government after March 8th 2008 has been ousted by an unconstitutional coup d’etat. The upstart Barisan government is in the driver’s seat but it is proving to be most unpopular and does not enjoy the confidence of the people.

The people deserve to have a government of their choice, in order that the state of Perak can move forward and give the people more opportunities and a better life.

THE SOLUTION IS TO HAVE FRESH ELECTIONS FOR THE STATE OF PERAK, TO ELECT A PEOPLE-CENTERED GOVERNMENT. THIS IS THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG THE PEOPLE, AND NGOS INCLUDING THE BAR COUNCIL OF MALAYSIA. HUNDREDS OF LAWYERS DEMONSTRATED YESTERDAY TO CALL FOR FRESH ELECTIONS IN PERAK.

Lift the ban on Hindraf, says Waythamoorthy

It's time for the federal government to lift the ban on the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which was enforced on the unregistered organisation since last October.

MCPX

Hindraf leader, P Waythamoorthy, pointed out that the release of all five Hindraf leaders from Kamunting Detention Centre was a testimony that the movement was never a threat to nation's security.

"We were never a threat in the first place. We were wrongly accused of being one," he said.

Hindraf leaders M Manoharan, P Uthayakumar and T Vasanthakumar were released together with 10 more detainees from the Kamunting Detention Camp yesterday afternoon.

Hours after taking the reins in April, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ordered the release of two Hindraf leaders - V Ganabatirau and R Kengadharan, together with 10 other detainees.

The five were detained without trial under the draconian Internal Security Act in Dec 2007 following a mammoth Hindraf anti-government rally in Kuala Lumpur.

Hindraf then carried out numerous campaigns across the country to secure the release of their leaders.

Following Hindraf supporters “trespassing” during then Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Hari Raya open house, the movement was banned by the government.

Najib has said that the release of the HIndraf leaders was because they were "no more a threat to the nation's security".

International passport revoked

Pointing out that Najib himself had indirectly declared Hindraf as a peace-loving organisation, Waythamoorthy argued that the movement was never a threat to anyone and the ban on it was unwarranted and a hasty decision by the govenment.

"I call upon the Prime Minister to lift the ban on Hindraf, which was unfairly and wrongly imposed in the first place," he told Malaysiakini via telephone from his London base.

Aside from the detention of the five leaders and the ban, Waythamoorthy's international passport was also revoked by the Home Ministry as part of the government strategy to cripple the movement.

Waythamoorthy is now living in United Kingdom using a temporary passport issued by the British government.

At the height of government clampdown on Hindraf, the Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan alleged that the movement had links with the Sri Lanka’s Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), seemingly trying to portray Hindraf as a terrorist group.

Waythamoorthy called on the IGP to withdraw his baseless and unsubstantiated accusation to link HIndraf with LTTE.

IGP should retract unfounded allegation

"Musa should retract his unfounded allegation. He had never proven the allegation with any proof until now since claiming Hindraf had links with LTTE," said Waythamoorthy.

The self-exiled leader also wants the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor governmernt to appoint Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson M Manoharan as a state executive councillor.

He said an exco appointment for the 58-year-old Manoharan would demonstrate Pakatan appreciation on the sacrifices made by the former ISA detainee and the movement.

"Both Manoharan, other detained leaders and Hindraf were among major factors behind Pakatan’s electoral success in the last general election.

"It's only fair and appropriate to appoint Manoharan as an executive councillor in the Pakatan government," Waythamoorthjy said.

Lawyer Manoharan won the Kota Alam Shah state seat in 2008 general election defeating Gerakan's Ching Su Chen by a 7,184-majority. He polled 12,699 votes against Ching's 5,515.

Uthaya goes home to hero's welcome - Part II

Uthaya gets a hero's welcome

Kerajaan Perlu Minta Maaf

petikan akhbar: Sinar Harian 9 Mei 2009

Remove restrictive ISA release conditions, lift ban on Hindraf and appoint Uthayakumar as member of Royal Commission of Inquiry into marginalisation o

By Lim Kit Siang,

I am calling this media conference on the release of the three Hindraf leaders, P. Uthayakumar, DAP Selangor Assemblyman for Kota Alam Shah M. Manoharan and K. Vasanthakumar from Kamunting Detention Centre under the Internal Security Act (ISA) two hours ago.

The formation of Hindraf, the arbitrary, undemocratic and unjust detention of the five Hindraf leaders in December and the Makkal Sakti phenomenon were important factors resulting in the March 8 “political tsunami” in last year’s general election.

The time has come for the Barisan Nasional government not just to release the three remaining Hindraf leaders under the ISA today but to come to terms and address the root causes for the alienation and marginalisation of the Indian community in the country after half-a-century of nationhood.

Neither the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak nor the Home Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should entertain any notion that the Malaysian Indians should “membalas budi” for the release of the Hindraf leaders, as they should not be detained without trial under the ISA in the first place.

To realistically and boldly address the root causes of the Hindraf and Makkal
Sakti phenomena, I call on Najib to implement three measures:

• Remove all the restrictive and draconian conditions for the release of the three Hindraf leaders today, as well as on the two other Hindraf leaders, Ganapathi Rao and R. Kenghadharan, who were released on April 5, barring them from speaking in public, taking part in political and NGO activities, and restricting both space and time as barring them from leaving their restricted locality, to be at home by 7 pm every day and requiring them to report regularly to the police.

• Lift the government ban on Hindraf as an unlawful organisation so that it could take part in the nation-building process; and

• Appoint Uthayakumar as a member of Royal Commission of Inquiry into the marginalisation of Malaysian Indians which have reduced them into a new underclass in Malaysia after half-a-century of nationhood. (More than one Royal Commission should be formed on the marginalisation of substantial segments of the Malaysian population, whether the ordinary Malays, Orang Asli, Kadazan-Dusun-Murut or Ibans).

The last few days have seen the public credibility and legitimacy of the Malaysian police plummet to a new low, especially with its crackdown on peaceful dissent and human rights, resulting in the police arrest of 116 persons in three days – including 69 arrests with 10 MPs/State Assembly members in the Ipoh lockdown on the Day of Infamy of May 7 - reminiscent of the Operation Lalang 22 years ago.

All because of legitimate nation-wide protests at the unethical, undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional power grab, which reached a new infamy in the May 7 Perak State Assembly when the Perak Speaker, V. Sivakumar, in Speaker robes and in the Speaker chair, was bodily dragged out of the Assembly by police officers and goons.

There are three things which the Police must do to repair the damage it has done to its reputation and credibility in the past three days:

Firstly, Najib and Hishammuddin should direct all police personnel to back off from the crackdown on peaceful dissent and human rights expressions, regarding candlelight vigils as greater threats to national security than capital crimes or endemic crime, providing a glimpse of the return of Mahathirism.

Secondly, a clear directive to all police personnel to return to their basic and first duty to protect the lives and property of ordinary Malaysians, which are under great peril as a result of endemic crime as highlighted by the death of two pregnant women, Saripah Mohd in Kota Baru and Jamilah Selamat in Batu Pahat within 72 hours, both killed in two separate snatch thefts when they fell off their motorcycles!

Thirdly, Hishammuddin and the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan should publicly apologise for the outrage of the police arrest of five lawyers, Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, Murnie Hidayah Anuar, Puspawati Rosman, Ravinder Singh Dhalliwal and Syuhaini Safwan, all members of the Bar Council legal aid centre for going to the aid of those arrested in candlelight vigils in protest at the arrest of BERSIH spokesman Wong Chin Huat.

(Media Conference Statement at DAP Office in Alor Star, Kedah on Saturday, 9th May 2009 at 4.30 pm)

Manoharan not quitting, no by-election in Kota Alam Shah

Manoharan waves to friends and supporters outside the gates of the detention centre soon after his release.

By Melissa Loovi - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — Kota Alam Shah state assemblyman M. Manoharan, one of the three Hindraf leaders released from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) today, will not be quitting his seat.

This means there will not be any by-election in the Selangor state constituency.

Manoharan told reporters at his home tonight that the mention of his possible resignation may have sped up his release because “Barisan Nasional (BN) would be afraid to lose another by-election.”

“We had so many Pakatan people offering to take my place and I think the BN candidate would have even lost his deposit if they contested against us,” he said while sipping a cup of homemade teh tarik.

He also acknowledged the possibility that the latest ISA releases were timed to take the heat off of the government after Thursday’s shambolic Perak state assembly sitting.

Manoharan had recently contemplated quitting his seat as he said he was not able to serve his constituents well from behind bars.

He had won his seat in last year’s general election while he was in detention for his role in the 2007 mass protest organised by the Indian rights group.

Amid an overwhelming tide of supporters and family members, Manoharan was thrilled to be home at last, but the first-term lawmaker, who only managed to set foot in his constituency of Kota Alam Shah today, was most excited about finally serving the people who voted for him.

“My heartfelt thanks to the wonderful constituents who voted for me without even meeting me, and all those who have served my community in my absence. The amazing team led by my wife made it possible all this while and now I can finally take over,” said the tired yet cheerful-looking Hindraf lawyer.

His wife Pushpaneela had actually logged on to news portals today in order to get the latest on her husband’s release because the police would not update her on anything beyond stating he would be released today.

“I just want us to be able to reconstruct our lives again now that my husband is home,” she said.

"It is through the prayers and support of many people, including all the DAP and other Pakatan leaders that I am able to be back home today, in time to celebrate Mother's Day with my beloved mother," said Manoharan while hugging his mother tightly.

His three children — twins Harinaran and Shivaranjini, and the youngest Ganendra — clustered around him holding a homemade pink manila card with “Welcome Home Papa” in rainbow colours as he leaned over to kiss his wife on the cheek.

“So Makkal Sakhti has gotten me released today,” said the man who lost 15kg while serving his detention without trial. He was also locked up for 15 hours each day with only the weekly family visits to look forward to.

“Well, one advantage is that I learned Mandarin for two hours every Friday!” he quipped.

Still defiant, Uthayakumar vows to carry on Hindraf cause

Uthayakumar is mobbed by relatives, friends and supporters soon after he stepped out of the gates of the Kamunting detention centre today.

By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 — The first thing P. Uthayakumar, the Hindraf founder, did after he was released today after 17 months in the Kamunting detention centre was to call his mother K. Kalaivaniy, 64, in Seremban to cook his favourite dish — mutton in thick gravy with idly to go with it.

“My mother is cooking it right now. She is crying while cooking it not from the spices but from joy that I have been freed,” Uthayakumar told The Malaysian Insider by telephone while passing through Tanjung Malim on the North-South Expressway on his way to his mother’s house.

“Freedom is incredible,” he said. “Only people who have been detained can feel the great joy on being released. The feeling overwhelms.”

His voice was firm and joyful and he cracked jokes and laughed often when answering questions.

He laughed out loud when asked whether he had any plans to join the DAP. As to joining PKR, he said it was “out of the question.”

“I am undecided about forming my own political party… but I won’t reject such an idea,” he said.

Below is the question-and-answer session with Uthayakumar.

Q: When did you first learn that you would be freed?

A: It was about 4pm yesterday. One of the detainees came and told me that he had heard in the news all three of us would be freed. I did not believe the news because I had already stopped believing I would be released.

Q: You were prepared for a long stay?

A: Yes, long before Nov 25 (the Nov 25, 2007 Indian protest in the capital) I had already steeled my mind for a long stay under ISA detention. So when I was arrested it did not shock me unlike the other Hindraf leaders. I have been arrested and thrown in lock-ups before unlike the others.

Q: How did you keep yourself sane?

A: I never let my mind wander. I read, thought, wrote and strategised. They try to confuse you, put fear into you, and make you worry about your loved ones. It is all planned to shake you and dominate you. My other colleagues were somewhat shaken. I feel sad for them.

Q: What is the single lesson you have learnt in detention?

A: Never give in to them.

Q: Has detention changed you?

A: Yes, it has only made me more determined and more resolved to continue fighting for the oppressed and marginalised Indians.

Q: Only Indians?

A: Yes, for now.

Q: Has your view of Umno changed?

A: Not one bit… Umno is still the oppressor. Umno has not changed despite all the talk of reforms. Umno is still Umno.

Q: What are your immediate plans?

A: I will take a rest, do a medical check up and enjoy my mother's love. Next Sunday (May 17) we are having a big Hindraf gathering in a temple to shave our heads as thanksgiving for our release. It is to mark the end of one phase in our struggle and the start of another.

Q: Were you required to sign a document agreeing to restrict yourself as a condition of your release?

A: Yes, they tried to force me to sign to five conditions including restricted residence and a ban from giving public speeches, among other conditions. But I refused. The whole morning the police tried to persuade me to sign but I refused. Finally they gave up and threw me out of Kamunting. I walked out last. Now, I am my own man.

(Unlike other Hindraf detainees who agreed to the conditions and are escorted to their home towns and taken to the police station for a briefing, Uthayakumar was travelling on his own with a convoy of supporters in 15 vehicles with the Special Branch following behind.)

Q: What are your political plans? Would you join PKR or DAP?

A: (Laughs uproariously…) Out of the question. I am not happy with the two parties and what they have done for the Indian community. They did not do enough in the critical areas that really matter.

Q: What are the critical areas?

A: One is land… land for Tamil schools, temples, squatters and crematoriums… they did not do much. The Pakatan ruled five states and they were masters over land but they did not do much. In Penang there are only 28 Tamil schools but nothing has been done… even with an Indian as deputy chief minister. They could have done, but have not in over one year in power. If they solved the land matter they could have solved 70 per cent of the problems of the Indian community. How can I join their political parties?

Q: You have plans to start your own party?

A: We have to discuss this matter at length. I have my plans. I need to talk with my brother (Waythamoorthy, in self-imposed exile in London) and our supporters. I have to gauge the mood on the ground before we can decide our next moves, what direction to take.

Q: Have you worked out what to do next. You had all the time in Kamunting?

A: Yes, I have a plan… all in good time.