PKR women leaders resign en bloc

Padang Serai PKR division is dealt another blow when the women's wing top brass calls it quit.

PADANG SERAI: Still reeling from the shock resignation of its chief N Gobalakrishnan, Padang Serai PKR division was dealt another blow when six of its women’s wing leaders quit the party en bloc on Sunday.

Those who quit were the wing chief B Deepa Shanthi, deputy chief R Vasanthi, who is also the party national women wing exco, secretary KM Vejaletchimy, treasurer M Reeta, and committee members P Santhi and C Palaniammal.

Their mass resignation from all party posts and membership left the wing virtually redundant with only three of its nine-member leadership committee still hanging on.

When contacted, Deepa Shanthi said the group decided to leave the party due to “internal marginalisation of Indians”.

“We can no longer stomach the wrong happenings in the party,” she told FMT today.

She said the out-going six have faxed their respective resignation letters to the party headquarters.

On last month’s Gobalakrishnan resignation, she said it clearly exposed PKR double-standards and hypocrisy in advocating its so-called multi-racial politics.

She slammed PKR leaders and candidates for betraying Indians in the country after promising so much during the last general election campaign.

“The leaders and candidates chanted Makkal Sakti mantra everywhere they wooed Indians.

“They stirred up high hopes among under-privileged Indians to envision a better life ahead by promising reforms and changes in system of governance.

“But now Indians are forgotten, sidelined and isolated lots in PKR agenda.

“PKR leaders and candidates only want Indian votes, not their problems,” said Deepa Shanthi.

The Makkal Sakti hymn, a battle cry of minority rights movement, Hindraf Makkal Sakti, was loudly sung by leaders and candidates from Pakatan Rakyat allies before Indian-dominated crowds during the election campaign in 2008.

Mesmerised by Hindraf activists and the mantra, ethnic Indians overwhelmingly backed Pakatan candidates, resulting in the coalition winning five states, one of which was re-captured by Barisan Nasional (BN) through a coup, and denying BN its parliamentary two-thirds majority.

But since then Indians are increasingly drifting away from Pakatan, with some returning to the BN fold.

Critics have blamed the incompetence of Pakatan state governments in Kedah, Penang and Selangor to address pressing Indian issues, especially Tamil schools, Hindu temples, burial grounds and Indian settlements, for causing this downslide.

Deepa Shanthi said Gobalakrishnan’s resignation was the result of marginalisation, discrimination and isolation of Indians in PKR and Pakatan.

After being a PKR loyalist and diehard supporter of PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim for 12 years, the Padang Serai MP quit the party on Jan 29 amidst differences with the party leadership.

Prior to his resignation, Gobalakrishan was already crossing swords with the current party leadership controlled by Anwar and deputy president Azmin Ali.


His trouble started late last year when he complained about the blatant electoral malpractices that occurred in the party polls.

He accused Azmin and his gang of being the main culprits behind the electoral cheatings, fraudulence and irregularities that took place.

When asked whether more women members from PKR Padang Serai division would follow her out of the party, Deepa Shanthi said she and others would not persuade anyone to quit.

“Let them voluntarily decide their own political future… we are out of it now,” she said.

Meanwhile, the division secretary, S Nagalingam, said he was unaware about the mass resignation of the women’s wing top brass.

However, he assured that he would discuss the issue immediately with the division acting chairman Johari Ismail to resolve it amicably.

“We will restructure and reactivate the women’s wing with new faces,” he told FMT.

MCLM’s 13th general election manifesto

By Raja Petra Kamarudin

I want to keep it simple.

In 27 words, I want to spell out for you the MCLM Manifesto for the 13th GE:

“End the marginalisation of all human beings, by seizing federal power through the 13th general election and, through the 13th federal government, implement the Rakyat Reform Agenda”.

That’s it.

Why all human beings, and not just all Malaysians?

Well, whether you want to admit it or not, there is a large migrant force in the country and, again, whether you want to admit it or not, they have played and are continuing to play a significant role in the development of the nation. And, like so many marginalised Malaysians, many of these migrants live in sub-human conditions.

The marginalisation of both Malaysians as well as the migrant community must stop. And, in order to do this, the Rakyat Reform Agenda (RARA) must be given effect to. And, in order to give effect to the RARA, we must install a reform-oriented government in Putrajaya post the 13th GE that will use the federal powers at its disposal to implement the RARA.

This begs two questions.

First, how do we displace BN at the 13th GE and install a pro-reform government?

Second, what exactly is comprised in the RARA?

Let’s tackle the matter of taking BN out in the next GE first.

Realistically, Pakatan Rakyat cannot do this on its own. In fact, no one political party can do this on its own. What is needed is a collective of all pro-rakyat, pro-reform political parties working together with the Third Force, made up of reform-oriented NGOs and the rakyat who are ready to work for change.

On Dec 12, 2010, MCLM launched its Barisan Rakyat Independent Candidate Initiative. To-date, we have announced the details of four independent candidates. And we intend to offer 30 in the 13th GE.

Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan have 57 seats in Parliament. As I said in my earlier article, Sabah and Sarawak are critical to our having a chance of forming a reform government in Putrajaya post 13th GE.

MCLM has been hard at work with the Sarawak National Party (Snap) in Sarawak and the United Borneo Front (UBF) in Sabah in trying to build an alliance with forces in Sabah and Sarawak. We hope in the coming days that we will be able to announce the formation of such an alliance.

Should a Snap-UBF-MCLM alliance be successfully forged, MCLM hopes to be able, with its alliance partners, to work out a further alliance with the other non-Barisan Nasional parties in Sabah, Sarawak, and Semenanjung with one objective in mind: to forge a coalition to displace Barisan Nasional in the next election and to install a pro-reform federal government in Putrajaya.

It is hoped that with these alliances in place, straight fights in the forthcoming 13th GE will be assured and that any three-corner contests are Barisan Nasional’s own doing.

Reform agenda

Let me now take you to the RARA.

It has four parts.

The first is about honouring the agreements made by our forefathers in 1963 when the Federation of Malaya entered into agreement with the independent states of Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak to form the new Federation of Malaysia.

Singapore left the federation in 1965, leaving three partners: Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. Yet, today, Sabah and Sarawak are being treated as the 12th and 13th states in the Federation of Malaysia.

We must set this right.

This is the first reform that must be effected by the new reform government post 13th GE.

Second, the national institutions that were intended to serve the rakyat but which have, for some time now, served their political masters, must be restored to the rakyat. These include the judiciary, the Election Commission, the police force, and the Attorney-General, amongst others.

MCLM has a plan to restore these institutions to the rakyat during the tenure of the 13th federal government but, for obvious reasons, will not disclose the same here. This will be discussed with its alliance partners.

Third, the liberties guaranteed to the rakyat under the Federal Constitution must be restored to the rakyat during the term of the 13th federal government. This means that the ISA, the OSA, the PPPA, the UUCA and the Sedition Act must be repealed. To this end, the MCLM Reform Agenda team is at work drafting the necessary bills to facilitate the repeal of these draconian laws during the first sitting of the 13th Parliament post 13th GE.

Additionally, the MCLM Reform Agenda will also draft a Race Relations Bill and what we are now tentatively calling the Malaysian Social Inclusion Action Commission Bill, which relates to the fourth part of RARA.

Not reinventing the wheel

MCLM proposes that the affirmative action, which was to be carried through and implemented through the NEP and which failed miserably for a host of reasons, be now implemented by a Commission, comprising Malaysians of the utmost integrity, duly elected by the rakyat, and then formally appointed by the Agong.

Their task: to implement a social inclusion agenda that is presently being drafted and crafted by the MCLM Social Inclusion Agenda Team. The MCLM team has been tasked to prepare a program to comprehensively address the economic and social needs of the poorest Malaysians and migrants in the country.

This program is intended to be needs-based and not race-based.

For this program to be as comprehensive as we hope it can be, the participation of as many groups that have been working with the marginalised communities is required so that their expert knowledge may be taken up in drafting this program.

Towards this end, MCLM invites all parties concerned to address the needs of the marginalised communities to get involved in the crafting and drafting of the Social Inclusion Agenda.

That, in a nutshell, and presented in the simplest language possible, is the Agenda as well as Mission and Vision of MCLM. Whatever the political leaning or agenda of the various political parties and movements in Malaysia, there should be no resistance to what we have outlined above because our plan is all-inclusive.

And we must draw attention to the fact that the founding fathers of Malaya plus the architects of the New Economic Policy has this in mind when they came out with the two-pronged program to reduce the gap between the haves and the have-nots as well as that between the various races. All we are doing is to implement what was originally intended. We do not even need to reinvent the wheel.

88 Muslims nabbed for khalwat

By Zuhrin Azam Ahmad, The Star

PETALING JAYA: Eighty-eight Muslims were detained in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur for khalwat (close proximity) during the Valentine’s Day operation.

In Selangor alone, the state religious department rounded up 80 people for committing khalwat in an operation called Ops Valentine which began on Sunday night and ended early yesterday.

Department public relations officer Nurhamizah Othman said the operation, which involved officers from the local authorities and the National Anti-Drug Agency, was led by the department’s enforcement chief assistant director Mohd Rais Rashid.

Another 61 people were also hauled up during the nine-hour operation for indecent behaviour.

Nurhamizah said the operation, which began at 8pm, involved two phases – visits at recreational lakes and public parks in Selangor, and raids on budget hotels.

The Federal Territory Islamic Affairs Department also conducted a similar operation in Kuala Lumpur, in which officers visited popular dating spots including Taman Tasik Titiwangsa and KLCC Park. They also raided hotels in Jalan Pudu and Jalan Raja Laut.

A department spokesman said eight couples, aged between 20 and 50, were nabbed for khalwat.

Muhyiddin doubts HRP gaining traction from ‘Interlok’

(Bernama) - JASIN, Feb 14 — Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today that attempts by the Human Rights Party to exploit the Interlok novel issue was not getting the support of the majority in the Indian community.

“I see that the attempt by this splinter of Hindraf (the banned Hindu Rights Action Force) to rouse the Indians is not getting support,” he told reporters after meeting Barisan Nasional campaigners for the Merlimau by-election on March 6.

Also present were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.

Asked about the arrest of 59 leaders and supporters of HRP in several states yesterday, he said that it was a security matter being handled by the police.

“We understand the problem and we will handle it appropriately,” Muhyiddin said.

Hishamuddin said police had acted professionally and that the 59 were arrested for breaking the law. — Bernama

Surendran: Press Release On HRP Arrests

We are gravely concerned over the arrests of 65 members and supporters of the Human Rights Party (HRP) by police on 13.2.11 for having participated in a peaceful convoy event. These were planned and concerted arrests which took place nationwide and intended to persecute and intimidate HRP members. These arrests are unlawful,oppressive and in breach of Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees the Rakyat’s right to freedom of assembly and expression. Once again the government and police have displayed blatant disregard for the rule of law and democratic freedoms.

We are also disturbed that among those arrested were 5 children who were also detained and interrogated by police. This action by police is in bad faith and gross disregard of laws protecting minors. No access to lawyers was granted to any of the detainees including the children. The arrests were also carried out with excessive force and vulgar abuse was heaped upon some of those arrested. It is reported that a Malaysiakini citizen journalist was also assaulted by police.

To make things worse, 24 arrested HRP members are still being held at IPD Seremban simply because they had objected to the unlawful confiscation of their Hindraf Makkal Sakthi shirts. To continue to detain them for this reason is in complete breach of the law and demonstrates the arbitrary conduct of the police.

We call for the immediate release of the 24 persons being unjustly held at IPD Seremban. We call upon the police to release and discharge all of those arrested unconditionally. We call upon the IGP and Home Ministry to respect the Federal Constitution and the people’s right to peaceably gather. We call upon the government to cease using police powers to stifle political dissent and to persecute legitimate opponents of the Government. Finally, we demand that the Government establish the IPCMC immediately to prevent the Home Ministry and police from continuing to abuse their powers. The Malaysian Government must pay close regard to the march of democratic and civilised norms as seen in the great events in Egypt, and cease to trample upon the rights of the people.

N SURENDRAN
VICE PRESIDENT
PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT

Orang Asli tidak puas hati

Utusan Malaysia
Oleh AZRAN FITRI RAHIM

KOTA BHARU 14 Feb. - Masyarakat Orang Asli di negeri ini terkilan dan tidak berpuas hati dengan keengganan Kerajaan Pas Kelantan untuk mewartakan tanah tradisi milik mereka di Hulu Kelantan.

Wakil masyarakat tersebut, Azmi Badul berkata, sungguhpun mereka telah mengadakan pertemuan dengan Menteri Besar, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat hari ini, tetapi ia tetap gagal menyelesaikan masalah tersebut.

Beliau mendakwa, kegagalan Kerajaan Pas Kelantan mewartakan kawasan tersebut telah menyebabkan pencerobohan berlaku secara berleluasa termasuk wujudnya program Ladang Rakyat, pembalakan dan perlombongan emas sehingga menyebabkan kawasan itu semakin mengecil.

"Kami bukan berasal dari Indonesia atau negara lain. Nenek moyang kami tinggal di sini sejak beribu tahun lalu. Maknanya kami, golongan Orang Asli berasal dari sini dan kerana itu kami kesal dengan pencerobohan berleluasa seperti pembalakan, Ladang Rakyat dan lombong emas. Begitu senang sekali aktiviti ini dilakukan.

"Masalah Ladang Rakyat ini berlaku di semua kampung disebabkan mereka tidak tanya pada Orang Asli di akar umbi dan hanya berhubung dengan Orang Asli tertentu sahaja untuk mendapat kelulusan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas mengadakan pertemuan dengan Nik Abdul Aziz di kediaman rasmi Menteri Besar itu di JKR 10 di sini, hari ini.

Pada pertemuan tersebut, seramai 26 wakil masyarakat Orang Asli turut mengadakan dialog dengan Nik Abdul Aziz dan pegawai agensi-agensi Kerajaan Pas Kelantan.

Hasil pertemuan tersebut, Kerajaan Pas Kelantan berjanji untuk menubuhkan sebuah jawatankuasa bagi menyiasat masalah yang berlaku terutama membabitkan isu tanah.

Azmi berkata, pihaknya mahu supaya kawasan tradisi mereka dijadikan sebagai hak mutlak dan tidak boleh digugat oleh mana-mana pihak.

"Masalah ini kian memuncak apabila projek Ladang Rakyat bermula pada 2006. Ia tidak memberi penghormatan kepada Orang Asli yang tinggal di sini seperti di Gua Cha yang wujud sejak berpuluh ribu tahun lalu.

"Bukti kewujudan nenek moyang kami juga diceroboh. Air di kawasan kami juga tercemar.

"Kami percaya Menteri Besar dapat menyelesaikan masalah ini dan berharap penubuhan jawatankuasa ini akan benar-benar membela nasib kami," katanya.

Pertahan hak Melayu berdasarkan Perlembagaan

KUALA LUMPUR 14 Feb. – Rakyat diminta menghayati Perlembagaan dan syarat pembentukan Malaysia ba gi mengelak salah faham kedudukan kaum Melayu dan raja-raja Melayu yang dipersetujui 54 tahun lalu.

Pada masa sama, ahli akademik menuntut orang Melayu menghen tikan sengketa sesama mereka bagi memastikan usaha memperjuangkan hak Melayu dapat diperkukuhkan.

Profesor Fakulti Sains Pentadbiran dan Pengajian Polisi Universiti Tek nologi Mara (UiTM), Datuk Dr. Ramlah Adam berkata, ahli politik juga perlu berhenti mempolitikkan perkara menyentuh isu perkauman.

Katanya, sering kali isu tersebut dipolitikkan sehingga menimbulkan ketegangan yang membawa kepada perpecahan perpaduan kaum akibat daripada wujudnya prasangka.

“Ahli politik seharusnya menge luarkan idea yang bernas serta ber sifat kenegaraan dan membincang kan secara telus isu-isu pembangunan ekonomi dan pentadbiran negara,” katanya kepada Utusan Malaysia ke tika dihubungi di sini.

Beliau diminta mengulas ucaptama bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr. Ma hathir Mohamad pada Simposium Di lema Melayu Orang Melayu yang di adakan kelmarin.

Dr. Mahathir berkata, orang Me layu kini berada dalam dilema besar apabila tidak lagi boleh bercakap me ngenai kepentingan Melayu kerana bimbang dikatakan rasis dan tidak mampu mempertahankan diri sen diri kerana lebih banyak mengalah kononnya untuk mendapatkan ke amanan.

Menurut Ramlah, pertubuhan bu kan kerajaan (NGO) Melayu seperti Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Mala ysia (Perkasa) perlu memainkan pe ranan dengan lebih aktif dalam me nerangkan kepentingan dan hak is timewa orang Melayu kepada rakyat di negara ini.

Jelasnya, jika perkara tersebut da pat difahami semua pihak maka tidak seharusnya bangsa lain di negara ini berasa terancam apabila isu berhu bung kepentingan Melayu dibang kitkan berdasarkan akta yang ter kandung dalam Perlembagaan.

Sementara itu, Pensyarah Kolej Un dang-Undang, Kerajaan dan Penga jian Antarabangsa, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Mohamad Faisol Keling berkata, orang Melayu kini hilang suara untuk menuntut ke pentingan mereka sendiri kerana ter perangkap dengan permainan politik yang diuar-uarkan parti pembang kang selama ini.

Lebih malang, katanya, terdapat segelintir orang Melayu menggadai kan maruah mereka demi mencapai kepentingan peribadi.

Jelasnya, ketika orang Melayu ma sih berada dalam dilema, bangsa lain terlebih dahulu bersatu menyuara kan nasib dan hak masing-masing tanpa mengira fahaman politik.

“Justeru itu, parti politik Melayu perlu berganding bahu dan menge tepikan perbezaan ideologi untuk memperjuangkan nasib bangsa.

“Dengan mewujudkan doktrin ‘ke serakanan’ Melayu, saya percaya parti politik Melayu dapat duduk bersama untuk membincangkan nasib bangsa mereka dengan lebih telus,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, pada masa sama generasi muda harus diberi kebe basan dan dipupuk semangat untuk memperjuangkan kepentingan bang sa Melayu.

Pensyarah Kanan Kolej Peniagaan Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Dr. Haim Hilman Abdullah pula tidak menafikan sekiranya orang Melayu menggunakan peluang daripada Da sar Ekonomi Baru (DEB), kedudukan ekonomi mereka boleh melebihi da ripada yang diperuntukkan.

“Bagaimanapun sikap orang Me layu yang sering menjaga hati orang lain menyebabkan mereka tidak da pat menggunakan peluang yang di berikan oleh kerajaan.

“Apatah lagi, DEB pada ketika itu tidak difahami sepenuhnya menye babkan hanya segelintir orang Me layu mendapat manfaat daripada da sar tersebut,” katanya.

Justeru itu, Haim Hilman berkata, sudah sampai masanya mereka me nyatakan dengan lebih jelas apa yang dimahukan dalam pembangunan ekonomi negara.

Katanya, menerusi pelaksanaan da sar yang cekap serta menggunakan strategi yang ampuh diharapkan Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera (Te raju) dapat membantu membangun kan ekonomi bangsa Melayu.

Kaedah laksana skim gaji minimum masih diteliti

Berita Harian
Oleh Magendran Rajagopal

Kadar munasabah bagi Semenanjung, Sabah dan Sarawak

PUTRAJAYA: Kerajaan tetap akan melaksanakan skim gaji minimum bersesuaian bagi Semenanjung Malaysia, Sabah dan Sarawak tetapi kadar selain kaedah pelaksanaannya perlu dirundingkan lebih lanjut bersama mereka yang berkepentingan supaya ia dapat diterima semua pihak apabila dikuatkuasakan.

Menteri Sumber Manusia, Datuk Dr S Subramaniam, berkata gaji minimum tidak akan dilaksanakan mengikut sektor pekerjaan, sebaliknya satu kadar gaji minimum bagi Semenanjung dan satu lagi untuk Sabah dan Sarawak akan ditetapkan, baik untuk pekerja tempatan atau asing.

“Pada sidang Parlimen Jun ini kita akan bentangkan Rang Undang-Undang Majlis Gaji Kebangsaan, yang akan mengemukakan cadangan untuk menggubal intipati Rang Undang-Undang Gaji Minimum.

“Satu Jawatankuasa Teknikal merangkumi pakar ekonomi dan isu berkaitan akan menasihati majlis ini.

“Saya yakin majlis berkenaan dapat memuktamadkan rangka asas untuk gaji minimum dengan mengambil kira pandangan semua pihak berkepentingan menjelang akhir tahun ini untuk diperhalusi oleh kementerian saya sebelum dikemukakan kepada Kabinet dan seterusnya dibentangkan di Parlimen.

“Pada umumnya, kita sudah mencapai kata sepakat mengenai lingkungan kadar gaji minimum yang munasabah tetapi saya tidak dapat mendedahkannya sekarang," katanya pada sidang media pada hari terakhir Makmal Gaji Minimum di Pusat Konvensyen Antarabangsa Putrajaya (PICC), di sini, semalam.

Makmal tiga hari anjuran Kementerian Sumber Manusia dengan kerjasama Bank Dunia itu menerima pandangan pelbagai pihak berkepentingan termasuk orang ramai, wakil pekerja, wakil majikan, pakar akademik, pakar ekonomi dan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) berkaitan hak pekerja.

Selain itu, Dr Subramaniam berkata, agensi kerajaan berkaitan seperti Jabatan Statistik, Kementerian Kewangan dan Unit Perancang Ekonomi (EPU) turut mengemukakan data yang dapat membantu pelaksanaan gaji minimum itu memandangkan masih ada lagi isu yang dipertikaikan, terutama oleh majikan.

Beliau berkata, walaupun rakyat dan wakil pekerja mengalu-alukan penetapan gaji minimum, majikan masih berkeras dengan pendirian bahawa sebarang kenaikan gaji atau penetapan gaji minimum harus dikaitkan dengan produktiviti seseorang.

Katanya, kementeriannya akan memilih jalan tengah bagi memastikan apa saja yang dilaksanakan berkaitan gaji minimum itu nanti dapat diterima serta memuaskan hati semua pihak manakala kerajaan berhak campur tangan bagi memastikan pekerja mendapat gaji yang munasabah.

Ditanya sama ada pekerja asing seperti pembantu rumah Indonesia turut berhak mendapat gaji minimum, Dr Subramaniam berkata, itu sudah semestinya berlaku apabila negara mempunyai dasar gaji minimum tetapi buat masa sekarang, gaji mereka masih berdasarkan kadar pasaran semasa.

Kajian Bank Dunia mendapati Malaysia hanya merekodkan pertumbuhan gaji tahunan 2.6 peratus sejak 10 tahun lalu berbanding peningkatan berlipat ganda inflasi dan kos sara hidup semasa dalam tempoh yang sama, sekali gus menyebabkan pengurangan kuasa beli bagi pendapatan setiap isi rumah.

Kaji selidik Kadar Pendapatan Kebangsaan 2009 pula menunjukkan 33.8 peratus daripada 1.3 juta pekerja menerima gaji kurang RM700 sebulan, iaitu di bawah paras kemiskinan RM720 sebulan yang ditetapkan.

Anti-government demonstrations swell in Iran; clashes reported

Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in downtown Tehran in defiance of the Iranian government and its security forces who beat back protesters on Monday and lobbed tear gas canisters into the crowd, witnesses said.

The wave of people who marched along Revolution Avenue remained largely silent as they walked toward the capital city's Azadi Square, though at times they clashed with Iranian security forces that tried to disperse the marchers and divert them from the square.

Security forces in uniform and plain-clothes members of the pro-government Basij militia rushed toward crowds that were chanting "Death to the dictator!" at Imam Hossein Square, the planned starting point of a scheduled rally, a witness said. Several people were hit, while most were chased away, the witness said.

Thousands of security personnel lined the avenue later on Monday, allowing the march to continue but preventing the marchers from congregating in the square, considered a rallying point by opposition groups.

Several protesters who were diverted to side-streets were beaten with batons and gassed by security officers waiting at those locations, witnesses said.

At least 15 people were detained, one witness said.

Riot police on motorcycles patrolled the streets. Some fired tear gas to disperse the protesters, the witness said.

The witnesses declined to be named for fear of retribution.

The Iranian government earlier had blocked the homes of opposition leaders after they called for rallies in support of the uprising in Egypt.

About 200 protesters -- some of whom chanted "death to Khamenei" and "death to the dictator" -- set fire to several trash bins in the capital city and threw rocks at security forces, who tried unsuccessfully to subdue them, witnesses said. The chanting protesters apparently were referring to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme religious leader.

Clashes also erupted in front of Tehran University, where security forces dispersed crowds by firing tear gas and paint-ball guns, a witness said. Police detained several protesters, the witness said.

Reporting from Iran proved extremely difficult Monday, as foreign journalists were denied visas, accredited journalists living in the country were restricted from covering the demonstrations and internet speeds slowed to a crawl in an apparent attempt to limit both protest organizing as well as information being transmitted out of the country.

Video uploaded to YouTube showed throngs of demonstrators marching, burning posters of Khamenei, and in one instance beating a man who appeared to try to remove a poster from the hands of protesters.

CNN can not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.

"There needs to be a commitment to open up the political system," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday after a meeting with Speaker of the House John Boehner.

Clinton said the crackdown is "an indictment of the hypocrisy of the Iranian regime" that constantly "hailed" the protests in Egypt but "once again illustrate their true nature."

Last week, the Iranian government rounded up activists after opposition leaders Mehdi Karrubi and Mir Hossein Moussavi called for supporters to gather at Tehran's Azadi Square -- the site of mass protests by Iran's opposition movement after the disputed 2009 presidential elections.

Hundreds of security forces patrolled Azadi Square on Monday on foot, on motorcycles and in cars, a witness said.

"You can't take two steps without running into security personnel," the witness said. "They're all over the place."

Security forces also blocked roads leading to Moussavi's home, his opposition website, Kaleme, reported. The website also said phone lines and cell phone service to the area had been cut off.

Plain-clothes security forces blocked Moussavi's wife, Zahra Rahnavard, from leaving their home Monday, according to Kaleme and another opposition website, Saham News.

"This is what we've been told do," security forces said when Rahnavard asked why she couldn't leave, Saham reported. "We're sorry."

Surveillance cameras installed outside Karrubi's home have been stolen and destroyed, Kaleme reported.

About 50 riot police on motorcycles were seen heading toward Azadi Square, while 100 more were stationed at Ferdowsi Square in the city center.

Iranian authorities had warned against holding the rally, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

"We definitely see them as enemies of the revolution and spies, and we will confront them with force," Cmdr. Hossein Hamedani of the Revolutionary Guard told IRNA.

The government's stance on the rally was in stark contrast to its position in the days following the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

The head of Iran's National Security Council and other Iranian authorities had lauded this development, comparing "the Egyptian Revolution with the victory of Iran's Islamic Revolution," according to Iran's state-run media.

The White House says threats to stifle dissent and mass communication suggest that Iran's government is not willing to let its people voice their views and embrace freedom.

"They are scared," then-press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday, hours after Mubarak stepped down.

"That's why they threatened to kill anybody that tries to do this," Gibbs of the Iranian government. "That's why they have shut off all measure of communication."

Over the weekend, Iranian authorities blocked the word "Bahman" -- the 11th month of the Persian calendar -- from internet searches within the country, according to an opposition website.

The measure appeared to be an effort by Iranian authorities to obstruct access to several websites that are promoting the rally -- the 25th day of Bahman, Saham News reported Saturday.

Dr M: Taib must not get into a Mubarak situation

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamed said today Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud should have a successor ready before he considers stepping down after three decades in power.

Mahathir, himself having served as prime minister for 22 years before resigning in 2003, said it was best left to Sarawakians to decide on Taib's continued leadership.

However, he stressed, it must be an orderly process.

"It is up to the people of Sarawak to decide (when Taib should step down). I think they know best," he said at a press conference after launching the Palestinian Cultural Organisation Malaysia in Shah Alam.

"But if he does step down, he must have someone to replace him, or else it will be like (Hosni) Mubarak... he stepped down and I don't see any successor to take over," he said referring to the deposed Egyptian president, fled his country last Friday after 18 days of massive protests demanding his resignation.

Earlier last week, Taib (right) "admitted" that his willingness to step down from his post, which he has held since 1981, if he could find a credible successor.

This left opposition politicians in the nation's largest state incredulous, with Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian calling it a joke.

'Muslims must stop Zionists'

Earlier, Mahathir made an impassioned plea to Muslims the world over to band together in the spirit of brotherhood and oppose Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people.

He said the continued occupation of Palestinian land and the oppression of its people only shows that the 'Zionists', with the full backing of the United States, are on course towards eradicating the very existence of Palestine.

Mahathir said the sufferings of the Palestinians over the past 60 years will mean nothing if Muslims do not do whatever they can to help in their liberation.

“Maybe we are not able to take up arms against such a powerful country, but there are other ways where we can help.

“One way is to preserve the culture of the Palestinians. To preserve their identity, we must preserve their culture.

“We must not allow the culture of the Palestinians to disappear, because that is the wish of the Zionists, to occupy all that is Palestine and erase every trace of them by violent means, where necessary,” he said.

'Give them jobs'

Mahathir meanwhile urged the Malaysian government to find ways to make it easier for Palestinian refugees in the country to get jobs.

He said he has met many who are here but are unable to earn a living because they cannot secure work permits.

“They are unable to work and earn a living, and their kids can't even go to school. I hope the government will consider issuing them work permits,” he said.

Mahathir however declined to push for Malaysia to ratify the UN convention on refugees, saying that it is problematic and prone to abuse by those who seek to take advantage of the special privileges that come with such refugee status.

When pointed out that ratifying the convention would be one of the fastest solutions to the problems faced by Palestinians in Malaysia, he simply said that he is “sure the government is aware of this”.

51 Hindraf supporters freed

PETALING JAYA: Fifty-one Hindraf Makkal Sakthi members who were arrested for participating in the People’s March for solidarity against the Barisan Nasional (BN) were released yesterday.

The movement’s pro-tem secretary-general, P Uthayakumar, said the release was carried out in stages.

“The first batch was freed in Ipoh at 3pm, followed by those in Jalan Travers in Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm and the others at the Gombak and Seremban police stations at about 11pm,” said Uthayakumar.

However, 24 others – 18 men and six women – are still being detained at the Seremban police headquarters.

Yesterday morning, the police moved in to stop the Hindraf 16-car convoy which started in Negri Sembilan, Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, with each convoy ending in another destination in the respective states. The police claim it was an illegal event.

The protest was aimed at Umno and also to pressure the government to remove the controversial Interlok novel from schools.

Among those arrested in the nationwide swoop were the movement’s information chief, S Jayathas, who was detained in Gombak, and four school-going children.

Jayathas had since been released together with the children.

Illegal interrogation

Uthayakumar said that the children, who were released at 12.15am today, were questioned by the police till the wee hours of the night.

“They were interrogated without the being accompanied by their parents, which is illegal,” said Uthayakumar.

He also refuted reports that the police arrested only 59 in the crackdown yesterday.

“According to our records, 75 were detained,” he said.

Uthayakumar also criticised the Seremban police headquarters for not providing medical assistance to Negeri Sembilan Hindraf Makkal Sakthi coordinator, R Sivakumar.

Sivakumar is said to be suffering from viral infection on his feet and his wife had lodged a report on the matter at the police headquarters.

“His wife also told me that Sivakumar’s feet are now swollen and he is unable to walk. However, the police have yet to send him to hospital; they are planning to extend his remand.



“If the police do not release him and the remaining detainees, we will hold a candle-light vigil at the Seremban police headquarters at 7pm today,” said Uthayakumar.

Uthayakumar also said that Seremban police had threatened to extend the remand of the remaining detainees to another seven days if they do not hand in their Hindraf T-shirts.

“The detainees refused to do so as the police had taken pictures of them in the T-shirts.

“The police can use the photographs as evidence in court. There is no need for them to hand over their T-shirts,” said Uthayakumar, who claimed it was an abuse of power.

When contacted, an officer from the Seremban police headquarters, who claimed anonymity, denied threatening the detainees.

“We are following all procedures in dealing with this case,” he said, adding that they have obtained the shirt from the detainees voluntarily.

Hindraf Orange t-shirt Victory Over Racist UMNO Malay-sia Polis Raja Di Malaysia

SOS: P.M. Manmohan Singh : 75 ethnic Malaysian Indians arrested on word Dalit (pariah). Hundreds more to be arrested on 27/2/2011 Hindraf Rally also on gross Malaysian government racism.

No.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur. Tel : 03-2282 5241 
Fax : 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245 
Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com E-mail: info@humanrightspartymalaysia.com


Your Reference :
In Reply :
Date : 14/2/2011

His Excellency Mr.Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India,
South Block, Raisina Hill,
New Delhi, By Fax No: 911123019545 India- 110011 By E-mail
The Hon.Shri Vayalar Ravi Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs 9^th Floor, Akbar Bhavan, Chanakya Puri,
New Delhi-110021, By fax: 91-11-24197985 India. Email: minister@moia.nic.in
Dear Sirs,
1) SOS: 75 ethnic Malaysian Indians arrested on word Dalit (pariah). Hundreds more to be arrested on 27/2/2011 Hindraf Rally also on gross Malaysian government racism.
We refer to the above matter which has been researched, documented and reported as per our Malaysian Indian Minority & Human Rights Violations Annual Report 2008, 2009 and 2010 presented at the Pravasi Bharathiya Divas, International Conference, Vigyan Bhawan New Delhi and also presented to your goodselves.
While caste based slurs are outlawed and the Dalits protected and granted affirmative action plans in mother India, the two Million over even 6^th generation ethnic Indians in Malaysia are being institutionally insulted as pariahs (dalits), beetle leaf eating, black complexion, lap dogs of the British etc in a school text book called Interlok which has been made compulsory reading for some 500,000 of our O’Levels students.
In any country in the world it is the poor minorities who get affirmative action help from the government. The only exception being the One Malay-sian government whose affirmative action plans are almost all only for the rich and powerful Malay muslims and also the deserving poor Malays.
On a day to day basis these ethnic Indians are being segregated from pursuing skills training, higher education, business, professions and almost all aspects of upward mobility opportunities not by the Malay muslim Malaysian people but by the racist UMNO dominated Malay-sian government as is researched, documented and published on a day to day basis in our website www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com .
In fact Malaysian racism is also being exported on to Indian soil. For example the Malay-sian government has secured at least 60 Medical seats with full Malaysian government scholarships but for only malay muslim students at the M.S.Ramaih Medical College in Bangalore alone. Only one Malaysian Indian student has been given a government scholarship despite thousands scoring better grades than the aforesaid malay muslim students.
Some (33) Thirty-three Medical Colleges in India including Coimbatore, Annamalai University, Bangalore University, Andhra University, etc have over the last 20 years alone been derecognized to reduce the number of Malaysian Indian doctors in Malaysia who study medicine in India on their parents lifelong savings, pension gratuity, Provident, Funds Insurance etc.
In today’s newsreport in The Star 14.2.2011 at page N8 some 5,000 fully Malaysian government scholarship beneficiaries but for malay muslim only students are studying Medicine in Egypt alone out of the total number of 11,000 over malay muslims only students. Let alone the scores of thousands more full Malaysian government scholarships but for malay muslim only students in the other parts of India, Indonesia, Russia, London, Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, Austalia, New Zealand etc.
In the local Malaysian Public Universities, Matriculation and Scholarships up to 97% of the places are reserved for only the malay muslims.
Last year (2010) alone we estimated some 2,237 of top and high achieving Malaysian Indian O’Levels students alone who have been denied University and Matriculation places and government Scholarships. Some 450,000 even the 6^th generation Indian poor have been made stateless, Hindu temples, cemetaries, Tamil schools and Indian villages being indiscriminately demolished and “ethnically cleansed”. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the acts of racism and segregation from womb to tomb by the Malay-sian government against the Indian poor in Malaysia.
We once again appeal to mother India to:-
1) Diplomatically engage the racist UMNO led government of Malaysia to end the aforesaid racism and segregation of especially the poor Malaysian Indians.
2) Ensure that at least 50% of the Malaysian government scholarships in India are granted to the Malaysia Indian poor students. Otherwise India denies student visas to these other race and religious based students.
3) Stop granting contracts and projects to Malaysian construction companies in India like Scomi, UEM, Puncak Niaga, IJM etc.
4) If Malaysia still insists on continuing with their majoritarian racist and religious supremacist policies, then India should consider stop buying Malaysian Palm oil and impose Trade Sanctions against Malaysia.
5) Engage Jawarharlal Nehru Indian and other Indian Universities PHd and post Phd research students to undertake studies and independently ascertain our aforesaid complaint.
6) Initiate an all party Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Indian Parliamentary Caucas on Malaysian Indians (IPCMI) and then urgently send a fact finding mission to Malaysia to also ascertain our aforesaid complaint.
7) The Indian Oveseas Affair Minister urgently visits Malaysia to engage in diplomatic engagements with Malaysia.
8 ) India High Commission of India to Malaysia urgently engages Hindraf and HRP.
Your kind concern and action in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You.
Yours Faithfully,
______________
P.Uthayakumar
Secretary General
cc:-
1) Madam Susma Swaraj Opposition Leader,India 8, Safdarjung Lane, By fax: 23017470 New Delhi -110011 Email: sushmaswaraj@hotmail.com
2) Mr.Vivek Goyal Advocate, Supreme Court of India Suite No 3, Legal Cell, Punjab Bhawan, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi-110001 Email: vivekgoyaladv@hotmail.com
3) Mr.Sudhir Aggarwal National Convenor, Human Rights Cell, BJP, By fax: +91-11-23005787 11, Ashok Road, New Delhi- 110001 Email: sudhirkunal@yahoo.com

 Unrecognized Schedule (List of Unrecognized Training Teaching Institutions)
1 ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY (UTTAR PRADESH) – Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Aligarh MBBS
2 ANDHRA UNIVERSITY ANDHRA PRADESH – Rangaraya Medical College , Kakinda Andhra Pradesh MBBS
3 ANNAMALAI UNIVERSITY – Rajah Muthiah Medical College MBBS
4 BANGALORE UNIVERSITY – St. John’s Medical College Bangalore – Kempegowda Institute Of Medical Sciences Dr. B.R. Ambedker Medical College – Berhampur University Bhagalpur, Bihar Bhagalpur Medical College Berhampur, Orissa – MKCG Medical College Berhampur, Orissa – Sri Devarai Urs Medical College – Sri Siddharta  Medical College MBBS
5 BERHAMPUR UNIVERSITY, BHAGALPUR, BIHAR- Bhagalpur Medical College – MKCG Medical College, Berhampur Orissa – Sri Devaraj URS Medical College MBBS
6 BHAGALPUR UNIVERSITY BHAGALPUR, BIHAR. – Bhagalpur Medical College, Bhagalpur MBBS
7 BHARATHIAR UNIVERSITY COIMBATORE
TAMILNADU – Coimbatore medical College PSG Institute Of Medical Science and Research Coimbatore.
8 BIHAR UNIVERSITY MUZAFFARPUR BIHAR. – Sri Krishna Medical College Bihar MBBS
9 BOMBAY UNIVERSITY, BOMBAY, MAHARASHTRA – Lok Manya Tilak (L.M.T) Medical College Bombay
10 DELHI UNIVERSITY, DELHI – University College Of Medical Sciences, New Delhi MBBS
11 GANDHIJI UNIVERSITY, KOTTAYAM, KERALA – Medical College, Kottayam MBBS
12 GULBARGA UNIVERSITY, GULBARGA KARNATAK – Mahadevappa Rampure (M.R) Medical College,
Gulbarga (Also affiliated to Karnatak University) – Government Medical College, Bellary, Gulbarga University MBBS
13 GURU NANAK DEV UNIVERSITY AMRITSAR, PUNJAB – Amritsar Medical College MBBS
14 KAKITIYA UNIVERSITY,WARANGAL, ANDHRA PRADESH – Kakitiya Medical College Warangal MBBS
15 KARNATAKA UNIVERSITY, DHARWAD
KARNATAKA. Mahadevappa Rampure (M.R) Medical College, Gulbarga (Also Affiliated to Gulbarga University)- B.L.D.E. Association Medical College, Bijapur- Al-Ameen Medical College, BijapurMBBS
16 UNIVERSITY OF KERALA, TRIVANDRUM, KERALA – T.D. Medical College Alleppey MBBS
17 THE TAMIL NADU DR. M.G.R. MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI – Chingleput Medical College – Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research, Porur, Chennai, – Coimbatore Med. College – Vinayaka Mission’s Kirupananda Vaniyar Medical College MBBS
18 MADURAI KAMARAJ UNIVERSITY MADURAI, TAMILNADU – Tirunelveli Medical College
19 MAGADH UNIVERSITY GAYA, BIHAR – Magadh Medical College – Gaya Nalanda Medical College Patna MBBS
20 UNIVERSITY OF MYSORE – Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences- Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreesshwara Medical College
21 KUVEMPU UNIVERSITY, KARNATAKA .- JJM Medical College, Davangere – J.S.S. Medical College MBBS
22 VINOBA BHAVE UNIVERSITY – Patliputra Medical College
23 GORAKHPUR UNIVERSITY – BRD Medical College
24 NAGARJUNA UNIVERSITY, NAGARJUNA NAGAR, GUNTUR ANDHRA PRADESH. – Nagarjuna Medical College – Siddhartha Medical College Vijayawada – Guntur Medical College MBBS
25 PUNJAB UNIVERSITY CHANDIGARH, PUNJAB – Dayanand Med. College Ludhiana – Punjab Medical College MBBS
26 PUNJABI UNIVERSITY PATIALA, PUNJAB- Guru Gobind Singh (SGGS) Med. College Faridkot MBBS
27 POONA UNIVERSITY, POONA – Rural Medical College, Loni MBBS
28 RAJASTHAN UNIVERSITY – J.L.N. Medical College Amjer , Rajasthan MBBS
29 RANCHI UNIVERSITY RANCHI, BIHAR – Mahatma Ghandi Memorial (M.G.M) Med. College Jamshedpur – Patliputra Medical College Dhanbad MBBS
30 RANI DURGAWATI VISHWAVIDHYALAYA, JABALPUR MADHYA PRADESH – Government Medical College Jabalpur MBBS
31 SHIVAJI UNIVERSITY KOLHAPUR, MAHARASHTRA – Miraj Med. College, Miraj MBBS
32 TAMILNADU DR. M.G.R. MEDICAL UNIVERSITY – Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Med. College MBBS
33 HIMACHAI PRADESH UNIVERSITY – Indira Ghandi Med. College, Shimla. MBBS

Najib hails interfaith panel as key to understanding

Najib (right) walks with Asia-Pacific church leaders, April 21, 2010. — file pic

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 14 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak today hailed the government’s interfaith committee as key in creating a common understanding and having constructive dialogue among the different religious groups in the country.

Najib said the body was important for the resolution of religious misunderstanding and disputes in the community, although it will operate behind closed doors.

“I would like to express my support for this committee as a mechanism which can solve the problems or issues through honest and frank discussions,” he said during his address during an Interfaith Week luncheon at Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here.

He also promised to provide allocations to the committee for it to perform its tasks.

However, Najib stressed that the discussions on religious matters must be kept private because these were deemed too sensitive for public debate.

He said that if religious discussions were not monitored, they will lead to further misunderstanding among the different religious communities.

“The issues which are related to religion are very sensitive, especially in the age of ICT, where everything can be spread in a blink of an eye. That is why we need to be careful because if the matter is discussed in public, it will lead to criticisms and opinions which may hurt others,” he said.

Najib said there has always been sceptics who believed the country would not be able prosper due to the diversity of racial makeup.

“We have been able to prove the sceptics wrong every time. In May 13 1969, we were able to overcome the difficulties and create a nation which is more peaceful and harmonious,” he said.

The prime minister then asked the public to be more patient with the interfaith committee and not expect the group to resolve all its issues within a short span of time.

There must be a paradigm shift in the public sphere, Najib said, adding that Malaysians must accept the differences among the communities.

“Empathy is very important because this will open one’s mind to see not only from our point of view but from the perspective of others.

“If we are close-minded and do not feel empathy, then we will not be able to find the points of similarities among us,” he said.

Najib said that the country’s major religions have always taught its followers to love and forgive instead of hate.

“In our religion, Allah asks us to be fair and just not only Muslims but also to others. This is the true teachings of Islam,” he said.

Interfaith dialogue at the sub-committee level was scheduled to start on April 13 last year but was called off at the last minute after the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) took offence at reported remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Ties between the Muslim and non-Muslim camps within the committee were further strained after the Council of Muftis contested the committee’s name and demanded a change.

The muftis had unanimously voted for a name change demand on April 3, claiming its previous name would cause confusion among Malaysian Muslims.

Despite the hiccups, Najib recently pledged full administrative and financial support to revive the stillborn interfaith committee.

He also met all 35 members of the newly renamed Committee for the Understanding and Harmony Among Religious Adherents in September last year.

However, the Najib administration again came under fire from religious groups after an aide had reportedly instructed church officials to remove crucifixes and other overt Christian symbols from being displayed at the party grounds in Bukit Nanas before the PM’s visit for a Christmas function.

‘Saiful claims he performed oral sex’

A forensic pathologist says he took swab specimens after the accused complained he was sexually assaulted by a high-profile figure.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) forensic pathologist Dr Siew Sheue Feng told the High Court here today that he took swab specimens from the throat and tongue of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan after the latter told him that he was forced to perform oral sex by a “high-profile figure”.

During cross-examination by defence counsel SN Nair as to why he took the specimens at both locations, Siew said that when he took down the history of the incident from the patient, the complainantm, besides telling him that he was sodomised, also claimed that he was asked perform the oral act.

He said Saiful also informed him that he could not sit for two days due to non-consensual sex.

Asked on the demeanour of the complainant when first met, Siew said he was calm and composed, and that two other experts proceeded with the medical examination.

Further questioned by Nair whether he took notes on Saiful’s family background, the pathologist said he did not particularly do it since he was concentrating more on the allegations made by the complainant.

“He also didn’t show any signs of a person suffering from psychiatric problems; he was rather calm, cooperative and well-mannered,” said Siew.

Siew was testifying in the trial of Opposition Leader and PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim who is charged with sodomising Saiful, 25, his former personal aide, at Unit 11-5-1 of Desa Damansara

Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

Questioned further by Nair why he had contradicted himself as his report prepared on July 13, 2008 mentioned that there was no conclusive clinical findings of penetration but stated otherwise on the witness stand, Siew said his report was based more on clinical findings in the absence of the chemistry report.

However, he agreed with Nair that that he had told someone about his initial findings.

“I only told that to the police and not to anyone from HKL; I told them it was just some injuries on the anus area of the victim,” said Siew.

Flawed report

The pathologist also denied Nair’s contention that he was biased in his report since he had just extracted a portion of the chemistry report when he was preparing it.

“You were selective by only stating facts which were prejudicial to my client but had hidden something which was in his favour,” claimed Nair.

Nair told the court that the chemist’s report had stated the presence of DNA of two males and that the expert had totally relied on this report.

Nair: You had relied on a flawed report (chemistry report) before arriving at the conclusion that there was penetration?

Siew: Disagree. I’m more concerned on solid evidence of sexual assault as alleged by the complainant.

Nair: You are very biased, pro-police and not independent?

Siew: Totally disagree.

Nair: You had been briefed by investigation officer DSP Judy Blacious Pereira that the “high-profile figure” alleged by Saiful was Anwar?

Siew: Yes the officer briefed us it was Anwar but we were not biased in carrying out our duty.

Nair: Normally how long does it take for your department to receive the chemist’s report?

Siew: It takes more than a month and in some cases it even takes up to three months.

Nair: In this case it just took seven to eight days, isn’t it super-fast?

Siew: It was fast but not super-fast.

During re-examination by deputy public prosecutor Nordin Hassan, Siew testified that Saiful never complained to him of insertion of any plastic object into his anus.

He also said even though Judy was present during the medical examination, the officer never dictated or interfered in his work.

To another question by Nordin, Siew said spermatozoa can remain up to 46 hours in the anus area and up to 56 hours in the rectum area.

Meanwhile, HKL emergency care specialist Dr Khairul Nizam Hassan also confirmed that Saiful was calm and well-composed when he examined him.

“He told me that it took sometime for him to expose the sexual assault on him and was prepared to face it,” testified Khairul when cross-examined by Nair.

The hearing before justice Zabidin Mohd Diah continues on Wednesday.

– Bernama

No races left out in education, says DPM

Muhyiddin tells Indians to continue supporting BN, officiates new building for Tamil school just in time for the Merlimau by-election.

JASIN: The government will continue to give priority and commitment to education and will continue to strive and improve the quality of education for all races said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin who is also the Education Minister said the objective of the government was to see all the people receive education and achieve success.

“The Barisan Nasional government’s commitment is total, we have never sidelined Jenis Kebangsaan schools,” said Muhyiddin in his speech during a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Merlimau, here today.

Muhyiddin said the policy and commitment of providing quality education has not changed since Independence.

“I receive applications everyday, to add classrooms in schools and the government has always and will always oblige such request for the benefit of the people,” he said.

“Maybe in some countries the minority are not given priority but in Malaysia, there is no such segregation just because the Indians are a minority.

“As long as they are Malaysians, they are treated equally and stand to receive whatever benefit or support from the government,” he said.

Muhyiddin said he hoped the Indian community would continue to support BN to ensure continuity and development.

Meanwhile, the four-storey SJKT Merlimau will be build on a five acre site at a cost of RM6 million.

Also present were Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam, MIC president G Palanivel and Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

- Bernama

PKR youth chief under fire

Rembau PKR leaders say his Merlimau bid is disrupting Pakatan harmony

REMBAU: PKR youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mat Akin’s ambition to contest in the Merlimau by-election is causing some unhappiness here.

Local PKR leaders said Shamsul Iskandar and his supporters should accept that Merlimau is for PAS to contest and stop lobbying for his candidacy. Instead, they added, he should use the by-election as an opportunity to train PKR youth members in campaign work.

One of the Shamsul backers still lobbying for his candidacy is Selangor PKR youth chief Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin.

In a recent interview with a Malay daily, he said he would still push for Shamsul Iskandar’s candidacy even though the Pakatan Rakyat leadership had decided to let PAS contest.

Rembau PKR youth chief Mohd Sani Mohd Shah said such an attitude was not good for opposition harmony.

“Seat allocations for by-elections should remain status quo,” he said.

“Demanding to contest the seat that was contested by PAS in March 2008 only creates cracks between PKR and PAS, especially at the grassroots level.

“Leaders can come and say we want to contest this seat and that seat and then they go off. But this kind of statement has an effect with leaders and members at the grassroots. It disrupts harmony and cooperation.”

He called on Pakatan to impose a gag order with regard to seat negotiations.

“Turning to the media does not guarantee anything, except to provide live and free ammunition to Barisan Nasional to shoot us,” he said.

Mohd Sani also said such public statements made the opposition look bad in the eyes of voters who had yet to decide whether to support BN or Pakatan.

“I have come across a few fence sitters asking me how we were going to run the country when PKR and PAS were already fighting even for a single seat,” he said.

Rembau PKR secretary Norazizi Abdul Aziz hit out directly at Shamsul Iskandar for carrying out what he described as a “silent campaign” in Merlimau even as other party leaders and members were working hard to help the PAS candidate in the Tenang by-election last month.

“PKR youths could hardly be seen in Tenang,” he said. “Shamsul Iskandar was handing out mandarin oranges to the Merlimau Chinese.”

Norazizi urged Shamsul Iskandar to put aside his ambition and instead focus on helping the PAS candidate win the Merlimau seat.

He said PKR youth members were in need of training and Shamsul Iskandar could use the by-election to help them gain experience in campaigning skills.

‘Racism good for the elite’

The Hindu rights group accuses Umno of manufacturing racism to protect the rich and powerful.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf has accused Umno of deliberately fanning racist sentiments to safeguard the interest of a powerful elite made up of individuals of various ethnic origins.

In a strongly-worded statement calling for support for a “solidarity march” on Feb 27, Hindraf Makkal Sakti advisor N Ganesan said racism in Malaysia was “Umno-manufactured” and was being used to the advantage of a rich and powerful few.

“Umno perpetuates racist policies merely to safeguard and enhance the elite, comprising the politically powerful and rich individuals from various ethnic communities,” he said.

The Feb 27 march will begin at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre. It was originally meant to be a show of protest against the use of the controversial novel Interlok as a literature text for Form Five students, but it is now advertised as “People’s March: Solidarity Against Umno’s Racism”.

Ganesan called on “all patriotic Malaysians who are for social justice, equality, democracy, fairness and rule of law” to join the protest.

He said they must leave behind their “partisan minds” and show “defiance and determination to break the stranglehold the greedy elite have on the country”.

“It is time to bury racism in Malaysia and it is time to take the bull by its horns,” he added.

He said Umno fed the Malays with “synthetic insecurities” to enable it to continue with its divide-and-rule policies and that the use of Interlok in schools was the latest manifestation of these policies.

Meanwhile, he added, “the elite just sit back and enjoy”.

He said any nation that was essentially multicultural nation must to be driven by a governance paradigm that appreciated its diverse strengths.

“Do we see that happening in our country? It’s a big no.”

Trial restarts as Anwar’s future in doubt

By David Chance

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s year-long trial for sodomy restarted today as questions grew over his leadership abilities and as the government readied for elections in the bellwether state of Sarawak in April.

Anwar, 63, says the charge, which could see him jailed for 20 years, is part of a political plot that mirrors his dismissal as finance minister in 1998 and convictions for corruption and sodomy, something the government of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak denies.

With Anwar tied up in court, Najib’s approval ratings have surged and promises of economic reforms by the government have impressed foreign investors, although they are waiting for implementation before turning bullish.

Najib does not need to hold polls until 2013, but his rising popularity and strong economic data have prompted analysts to expect the general election to be held in late 2011 or early 2012.

The trial has been slowed by frequent appeals from Anwar’s lawyers seeking access to medical evidence, trying to get the case and the judge dismissed, all of which have failed. The prolonged trial has failed to generate the excitement of 1998, when tens of thousands rallied for Anwar.

Today, medical evidence related to the charge that Anwar sodomised a young male aide was heard after Anwar returned from Washington where he was quoted by the Malaysian daily Utusan as saying last week that he had “one foot in parliament and one foot in jail”.

Anwar’s PKR has been hit by a wave of defections, and his leadership of the three-party opposition, which also groups a secular, largely ethnic Chinese party and an Islamist party, has come under question.

“Anwar has been distracted by the trial,” said James Chin, political analyst at the Monash University campus in Kuala Lumpur.

Anwar in September 2008 claimed that he could win over enough defectors from the Barisan Nasional coalition that has ruled this Southeast Asian country of 28 million people for over half a century. But he has seen a string of by-election successes come to an end.

The government has replaced a lacklustre leader with Najib in 2009, and Najib has seen his approval ratings rise to 69% from 45% when he took office, according to independent pollster the Merdeka Centre.

PKR the weakest link

Najib has announced a series of economic reforms aimed at winning back investor confidence in a country. Malaysia had once accounted for almost a third of foreign direct investment into Southeast Asia, but such investment has now fallen off sharply.

Investors are now more concerned about whether those reforms will be implemented than about the prospect that the government could lose power at the next general election.

The 2008 polls, which saw the government lose its iron-clad two-thirds majority in parliament and drove the opposition to power in five of Malaysia’s 13 states, caused the country’s stock market to crash by 9.5% the day after the results were announced.

Political analysts say that Najib looks set to call elections well before the 2013 date by which they must be held, possibly as early as the last quarter of 2011 and say that with Anwar tied up in court, his PKR party could fare badly.

“The real problem with Anwar’s trial is that if PKR ends up with the lowest number of seats in the next election, the (opposition) leadership will go to PAS or the DAP,” said Monash University’s Chin.

“That is unacceptable to both sides ,” he said.

The DAP – a secular, largely ethnic Chinese party – and PAS – an Islamist party have maintained an uneasy alliance with Anwar’s party baulking at PAS plans to introduce Islamic laws, and PAS itself is split by arguments between the party’s conservative wing and its reformers.

- Reuters

Siapa Melayu?

IF it is true that Malay-rights group Perkasa was able to sabotage the government’s New Economic Model, hence obstructing much-needed reforms for the nation, what is this telling us?

It tells us that if the Barisan Nasional (BN) government is so easily held ransom by right-wing race-based groups, it is not fit to govern multiracial Malaysia. It also tells us something else about the BN government that further proves just how unqualified it is to run this country. If the BN is so easily swayed by the clamouring of “Malay rights”, often projected writ large as “ketuanan Melayu”, it is telling the rakyat this: that despite our independence from the British after more than 50 years, the current government still subscribes to and upholds the colonial construct of race and racial superiority.
Indeed, this fixation with race, especially the Malay race and its attending “rights”, as groups like Perkasa and parties like Umno would have it, is not just colonial. It’s also completely arbitrary and bewildering. Worse, it is this fixation that makes it so easy to deny equal opportunities for all citizens. And in worst-case scenarios, it makes it easy for racism to take root.
Now you’re Malay, now you’re not
Here is evidence of how arbitrary race is. Did you know that, depending on whether one is in Perlis or Pahang, one can either qualify or not for Malay reserve land because of the states’ different definitions of what constitutes a Malay?
Constitutional law expert Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi explains this in an e-mail interview. He says while all state constitutions have adopted the Federal Constitution’s definition of “Malay”, for purposes of Malay reserve land, all West Malaysian states have their own definitions as to the origins of a Malay.
So, apart from being a Muslim in all these states, in Kedah and Perlis, persons of “Malayan race or Arab descent may qualify as Malays”. In Johor, it is sufficient to be of a “Malaysian race” to be Malay. In the Federal Territories, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan and Terrengganu, a Malay must belong to a “Malayan race”.
There are also other differences according to state with regard to language, custom and birth, and descent. Shad, who is also Mara University of Technology legal adviser, observes: “As one moves through the states in West Malaysia, one is Malay, then not Malay, then Malay again under these state enactments.”
And what exactly is a Malaysian or Malayan race? Do they include all the races in Malaysia, and/or previously in Malaya?
Shad notes that only the state constitutions of Malacca and Penang define “Malay” in line with the Federal Constitution’s definition. In these states, there are no requirements related to “ethnic origin” before one can qualify for Malay reserve land.
Constructing a Malay

Shad Saleem

However, even the Federal Constitution’s definition of “Malay” is “quite eclectic in that it allows someone to move in and out of being ‘Malay’,” Shad says. How so?
According to Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution, a person is “Malay” if she or he satisfies the following four requirements:
must be Muslim;
speaks the Malay language habitually;
follows Malay adat; and,
was born in Malaya or in Singapore before Merdeka Day, or is descended from at least one parent who was born in Malaya or in Singapore before Merdeka Day.
“In the Federal definition, there is no requirement that one must be of Malay stock. Non-Malays who satisfy the four requirements will be deemed to be Malays. A convert to Islam may qualify as a Malay.
“Conversely, ethnic Malays who fail any one of the four requirements, for example, Malays from South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia – may not qualify as Malays under the Federal definition,” Shad explains.
By this definition, even a Malay Malaysian who leaves the faith, or who stops speaking Malay or no longer practises Malay adat, will cease to be “Malay”.
This then begs the question: Who exactly is “Malay” in the context of Malaysian political life? And if privileges and “special rights” are going to be assigned to the “Malay” and denied the other races, shouldn’t “Malay” or “non-Malay” be something that is less arbitrary?
“My son is now Chinese”
Christopher De Shield, a Creole from Belize, tells a story that underscores how subjective the notion of race is, and the confusion it causes even within the National Registration Department (NRD).
De Shield is married to a Chinese Malaysian, and when he tried to register their son’s birth in December 2010, the NRD officer wanted to categorise their son as “Dan Lain-Lain: Belizean”. De Shield then pointed out that “Belizean” was a nationality, not a race. He himself is of mixed ancestry, as are other Creoles from the Caribbean. Because the officer was stumped, De Shield then suggested that his son be categorised as “Chinese” since his wife was Chinese. “My son is now Chinese,” De Shield chuckles, adding that he can’t wait to tell his family and friends about this amusing turn of events.
There are other anecdotes. My family is Eurasian, and yet my sister’s MyKad erroneously states that she is Punjabi even though we are from Penang, not Punjab. Another Eurasian friend from Penang tells us through Facebook that her sister was mysteriously classified as Kadazan.
The truth is, race as we know it is arbitrary and constructed. Just look at this table which shows how the British kept changing the definition for Malays, Chinese and Indians:

The Meaning and Measurement of Ethnicity in Malaysia, by Charles Hirshman. Graphic courtesy of Matahari Books (Click for bigger view)

A false science
It bears remembering that race was a white and western concept that emerged through the development of European imperialism and social Darwinism, and which was used to justify plantation slavery. Race was about how non-whites had different physical attributes from whites, which were then deemed to make them inferior to their colonisers.
It should come as no surprise then that this was exactly the kind of social-political structure that the British imposed on us. Indeed, it was the British who defined Malays as Muslims, and who made “Malay” an exclusive term with strictly defined boundaries.
So, if race is so arbitrary and was used to subjugate those who look different from whites, why are we still using race as a way to categorise Malaysian citizens? Why is the BN still using race-based policies to govern us? And why is it allowing “Malay rights” and “ketuanan Melayu” to prevent it from embarking on reforms and offering equal opportunities to all citizens?
Because race was the white coloniser’s subjective construct, one can perhaps understand why there is confusion even among NRD officers about the racial identity of Malaysians. And according to Shad, in Johor, Kwong Yik Bank, Maybank and Oriental Bank, as corporate bodies, qualify for Malay reserve land because they fall under the state’s definition of Malay. Go figure.
Who benefits?
Any of the Found in Malaysia interviews with Malay Malaysian personalities demonstrate how there is no such thing as a pure or exclusive “Malay” race.

Mahathir

And so, when former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad declares that non-Malay Malaysians must accept that Malaysia belongs to the Malays, one wonders who is the “Malay” he is referring to. Or when Perkasa and Umno leaders holler about “ketuanan Melayu”, aren’t they really propping up a colonial construct that was used to ensure systemic discrimination?
De Shield says he’s not concerned that his son is now officially registered as Chinese. De Shield, after all, is married to a Chinese Malaysian who bore their child. “But if I were a Malaysian citizen, I’d be worried about how the state uses these racial categorisations,” he says. Indeed, as Malaysians, we should. One wonders, though, if the BN is.

INTERLOK issue is a Malaysian concern, not just HINDRAF

Wong Mun Chee

The recent clampdown on the HINDRAF convoy to create awareness on the bigotry and racism by the UMNO regime in enforcing the introduction of Interlok is every Malaysian’s issue.

Firstly, it was a convoy not an assembly, but nothwithstanding that the Section 27, of the the Police Act 1967 is utilized. This is just another archaic law along the lines of ISA and the sedition and PPPA Act that suppresses human rights and liberty.

For one all these acts by the UMNO dictated police state contravenes the very tenet of the Malaysian constitution ie Article 8, 9, 10 & 12.

The constitution is the supreme piece of paper in the land yet, we have the UMNO government to enact and pass laws that contradicts it abided and abetted by the partialized and paralyzed judiciary to maintain the UMNO hegemony.

The government of Malaysia itself does not have respect for the constitution, therefore why not just trash it and rule as dictators without the typical melodrama that we cameoflauge everthing in a purported democracy process when we continue to tolerate in the erosion of our rights and liberty for the co-existence.

Co-existence and tolerance does not mean that i need to forego my rights and liberty, but I can stand and be counted for a cause that affects my fellow Malaysians irrespective of the politics, race, religion or creed.

The drive by HINDRAF to withdraw the Interlok novel is not motivated by politics, race or religion but to safeguard their pride and dignity as a segment of the so called Malaysian society.

I may be Chinese, but I have conscience and if someone derides me for my origin, i will fight tooth and nail to salvage my pride and dignity.

In Malaysia, it is not about Malay, Chinese, Indian or lain- lain, but a Malaysian and if another Malaysian irrespective of the race, religion, culture is manipulated, I will stand up and question it. There is nothing political about it, but to ensure the battle for humanity survives for the truth and reality as a Malaysian.

No Malaysian Chinese or Indian can today say that they will live in China or India as that is not our land. Our land is Malaysia

consisting of the major races and indigenous people that form our society.

Interlok is indeed a detrimental instrument to create the Malaysian fabric, as it is very obvious for all of us. How and where we stand on this issue is not just a Malaysian Indian agenda but more so a Malaysian agenda.

The typical silence has been, let us do what it is popular and why should we get involved in humanely runned ostracized agenda for political needs.

Going back to the basic, as a Malaysian citizen irrespective of their origin do you feel that HINDRAF does justice to pride and dignity or rather serving the parlance of a racist agenda for those who are oppressed and silence for their lack of economical or political power.

Get one thing right, it is we the Malaysian public who wield the power to make the change, not dummy politicians or UMNO led agenda. If we can support and enhance the rights of anyone, beyond politics no matter who or what they represent but what is only consciously truthful in unity will we see the daylight,

I think Interlok is an issue that all walk of Malaysian society needs to rise above politics and personal diffences to safeguard the interest of human rights and their liberty beyond race, religion or culture.

Tell The Truth And Admit You Met Me, Says Tun Dr Mahathir

SHAH ALAM, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Monday said the opposition leaders who he met over 20 years ago before they were arrested under Ops Lalang in 1987 should tell the truth and admit that they had met him.

"Well it happened over 20 years ago. I remember distinctly meeting them, I can't remember the faces of those people. I certainly remember that Karpal (Singh) was not one of them and I think (Lim) Kit Siang is one of them," he told reporters after launching the Palestinian Cultural Organisation Malaysia (PCOM) here.

He said this when responding to a reporter's question whether he would take up the challenge thrown by DAP chairman Karpal Singh to name the opposition members whom he met prior to Ops Lalang.

Dr Mahathir said if the opposition leaders were truthful and not prone to telling lies, he thought that they should admit that he met them prior to the operation.

He said the opposition leaders had appealed to him to prevent their arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA) then and that it was the reason he had met them, to ensure them that they would not be arrested.

Dr Mahathir said:"It is embarassing for me after ensuring them that they would not be arrested but they were arrested by the police and of course I had to sign the detention order."

Touching on news reports that his former deputy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had business operations based in the United States, Dr Mahathir said: "That we know but to expose it we must have the evidence."

"He is rich not poor and that is why he can go here and there and tell nonsensical stories to tarnish my name."

"Maybe after this I will receive a lawyer's letter from Anwar threatening to sue me to keep my mouth shut," Dr Mahathir said.

Asked whether Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud should step down before or after the state election, Dr Mahathir said: "It's up to the people of Sarawak to decide, I think they know best whether he should step down or not."

However, Dr Mahathir said if Taib were to step down there should be somebody to replace him, not like former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who stepped down without a good succession plan.

63 HRP members arrested ahead of protest, Najib = Egypt paranoia >:(

By Nathaniel Tan,

Was very unhappy to read of these arrests >:(

We may agree with some reasons for this planned protest, and agree with others.

Whatever the case, there is no justification whatsoever for these mass arrests. People have a right to assemble, and to air their grouses.

In the stupidity, the government has not learnt the lesson that if you do not let the pressure out, it will build and build, and one day, you’re going to find yourself at the butt end of a revolution.

You all waitlah. You wait.

*

SUARAM strongly condemns the arrest and arbitrary detention of at least 63 Human Rights Party (HRP) members in several states in Peninsular Malaysia. The arrests took place in Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Kuala Lumpur during HRP’s nationwide convoys promoting an upcoming anti-racism rally planned for 27th February in Kuala Lumpur. According to initial reports, most of the arrests occurred at police roadblocks, mounted to stop the convoys. Eyewitnesses also report instances of police intimidation and even one case of assault by a police officer when in Selangor when a convoy member had her camera confiscated and was hit in the face.

Six were arrested in Jelapang, Ipoh; among them Perak HRP chief P Ramesh and his deputy N Subramaniam, and are currently being held at the Jelapang police station.

Five more were arrested near Jalan Templer in Selangor; including HRP information chief S Jayathas and Selangor party chief K Selvam. The five are currently being held at the Selayang district police station.

20 HRP activists are also currently being held at the Travers police station in Kuala Lumpur.

Other reports also indicate that arrests have also been made in Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Johor, including 32 HRP activists who were arrested in Seremban and brought to the district police station there. Among those arrested was Negeri Sembilan HRP chief S Sivakumar.

SUARAM also condemns the actions of the police for their continued attacks on freedom of expression and assembly, fundamental rights guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

SUARAM further demands the police to release all those detained unconditionally.

Released By,

Hasbeemasputra Abu Bakar

SUARAM Coordinator

Urgent action needed:

Please write protest letters to the government and the police to express your strongest condemnation of the arrests and the ongoing denial of rights of expression and peaceful assembly. Please also demand the Malaysian government to allow Malaysian citizen to practice their freedom of expression and assembly as stated under the Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

Please call and/or send your protest letters to:

1. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,

Prime Minister of Malaysia,

Prime Minister’s Office,

Main Block, Perdana Putra Building,

Federal Government Administrative Centre,

62502 Putrajaya , MALAYSIA

Tel: 603-8888 8000

Fax: 603-8888 3444

E-Mail: ppm@pmo.gov.my

2. Ketua Polis Negara

Tan Sri Musa Hassan

Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,

50560 Bukit Aman,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +603-2262 6015

Fax: +603-2272 5613

3. Balai Polis Travers

Polis Diraja Malaysia

Jalan Travers,

50480 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: +603-22824222/22822207

4. Balai Polis Selayang

Polis Diraja Malaysia

Jalan 11, Jalan Pasar Selayang

68000, Selayang, Selangor.

Tel: +603-61385222

Email: kpb_selayang@rmp.gov.my

5. Balai Polis Jelapang

Polis Diraja Malaysia,

Jln Besar Jelapang,

30200 Ipoh

Tel: +605-5261226

6. Ibupejabat Polis Daerah Seremban II

Polis Diraja Malaysia

70300 Seremban,

Negeri Sembilan.

Tel: +606-6033222

Fax: +606-6012624

Email: kpdseremban@rmp.gov.my

SAMPLE LETTER

[Letterhead of your organisation]

Inspector-General of Police

Tan Sri Ismail Omar,

Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,

50560 Bukit Aman,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +603 2262 6015

Fax: +603 2272 5613

Dear Sir,

Re: Release the 63 Persons Arrested

We are writing to you to express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over the arrests of 63 individuals all over Peninsular Malaysia. They were arrested at several locations for participating in a peaceful public assembly. They are currently being held in several police stations as stated below:

1. 1. 6 held in Balai Polis Jelapang

2. 2. 5 held in Balai Polis Selayang

3. 3. 20 held in Balai Polis Travers

4. 4. 32 held in Balai Polis Daerah Seremban

We are appalled by the police’s latest actions and view this as yet another attempt to intimidate Malaysian citizens from exercising their freedom to express their views. We also condemn the intimidation tactics of the police as eyewitness reports at least 1 person was physically assaulted.

We demand the unconditional and immediate release of the 63 individuals. We further demand that the police force should stop the assault on freedom of expression and assembly.

We would like to remind you that freedom of expression and assembly is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

Yours sincerely,

[Name]