S'gor Umno: Probe canteen whistleblower for sedition

Selangor Umno has urged the authorities to investigate the parent responsible for highlighting the SK Seri Pristana ‘shower-room canteen’ controversy, and to apply provisions of the Sedition Act 1948 against her.

At the same time, liasion committee chairperson Noh Omar (right) also called on the state education department not to act against the school principal because he has “served well”.

According to Utusan Online, Noh said the principal had received death threats because the issue was "twisted" and taken out of context.

The Umno leader also demanded an apology from the parent responsible for this controversy.

"The parent who uploaded these pictures ... does not know the history of the school. The room has been used by students of all races," Noh reportedly said.

He was speaking after a visit to the school in Sungai Buloh this morning, along with Kuala Selangor MP Irmohizam Ibrahim.

Irmohizam said that matters of education should not be politicised as this could lead to parents distrusting the education system.

He claimed that even foreign media had reported the issue "wrongly", as though the country's education system is "weak and lacking in quality".
Conflicting accounts
The issue came to light last week after Facebook photos were posted by a parent who claimed that non-Muslim students are being made to eat in the shower room during recess, in view of the fasting month.

The school, however, claimed that the shower room has been used as a makeshift canteen since March, due to overcrowding in the canteen.

It also said the canteen is being renovated during Ramadan. As such, non-Muslim students have had to eat in the shower room, where tables and chairs have been set up.

Other parents, however, maintained that the shower room was only used three days into Ramadan.

Deputy Education Minister II P Kamalanathan visited the school last Thursday and quickly declared that the issue was resolved by closing the makeshift canteen and telling the school management to allow students to eat in the canteen again.

Ministry to probe 'balik China, India' claim

The Education Ministry would probe the latest allegation concerning a secondary school principal who uttered racist remarks, said deputy minister P Kamalanathan today.

In a text message to Malaysiakini, he said that the matter had come to the ministry's attention and an immediate investigation would be initiated.

"We do not condone such behaviour... If the allegation is true, then action would be taken (against the principal)," he added.

Kamalanathan was responding to Shah Alam MIC deputy division chief A Prakash Rao, who claimed that parents had complained to him about the incident.

Prakash said the principal of SMK Alam Megah had berated her Chinese and Indian students, telling them to "balik India dan China" (go back to India and China).

According to the parents, the principal was furious that the students were making noise during her speech at the school assembly.

Earlier, Gerakan vice-president A Kohilan Pillay called for the principal's dismissal if investigations reveal that she had made those remarks.

He also warned that such remarks, if true, were a symptom of "overt racialism" in the civil service and amongst teachers, which was dangerous if left unchecked.

The latest incident comes hot on the heels of the shower-room canteen controversy at SK Seri Pristana.

Meanwhile, a SMK Alam Megah staff told Malaysiakini that the principal would not entertain queries from reporters.

"(The principal) will not take any calls from reporters as the school has decided not to make any statements through the telephone," she said.

She added that the principal had earlier attended a meeting outside the school and was now waiting for "an officer" for another meeting.

She, however, did not disclose if the officer was from the ministry.

Sanjeevan situation improving, says father

 

After 24 hours in the Serdang Hospital, the condition of NGO MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan, who was shot by assailants on Saturday, has improved, his father said today.

P Ramakrishnan told Malaysiakini that Sanjeevan's condition had improved slightly compared to yesterday but remains unconscious and not fully stable.

However, doctors have said that he is not yet ready for a critical surgery to remove a bullet lodged in his ribcage.

"Doctors have said that they need to stabilise him further, and only when he is fully stable can the surgery be done," Ramakrishnan said, adding that doctors have not given a definite time frame for the surgery to take place.

Sanjeevan, who is said to have been about to expose links between the police and the underworld, was shot in Jempol on Saturday by two assailants after months of death threats and assault attempts.

He was shot in his ribcage and has been transferred to four hospitals since, arriving in Serdang under heavy police escort yesterday evening to finally undergo an operation to remove the bullet.

He is said to be having high fever while remaining unconscious.

Only family members are being allowed to visit him in the hospital now amidst the tight police security.

Fourth suspect charged with Dhamendran's murder

Inspector S Hare Krishnan today became the fourth police officer charged with the murder of N Dhamendran, who died in police custody on May 21.

Hare Krishnan, 40, was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court, under Sections 302 and 34 of the Penal Code, which carry the mandatory death penalty upon convinction.
No plea was recorded.
Magistrate Nur A'minahtul Mardiah Md Nor said the mention date will be fixed upon availability of the post-mortem report, which is expected on Aug 2.

The accused was represented by S Kavita and N Kalyana Sundaram.

Hare Krishnan was charged less than 24 hours after surrendering to the police at the Dang Wangi police district headquarters yesterday morning.

The police have stated that he has been in hiding since June 15, a claim which the accused and his family have since rebutted.

Hare Krishnan has claimed innocence in Dhamendran’s death, alleging he is merely a scapegoat to “protect certain parties”.
Drama outside courtroom

Hare’s partner, Shaarmini Balakrishnan, broke into tears once she left the courtroom, but the drama did not stop there.
Dhamendran’s wife S Marry Mariay, who was present, started shouting at Hare’s lawyers for claiming that he was “never in hiding”.

Dhamendran’s lawyer Latheefa Koya was giving a press conference on Hare’s charge when G Sri Kumar, who is part of Hare’s defence team, intervened and asked Latheefa to stop referring to Hare as someone who was “in hiding”.

“He was not in hiding. So I would appreciate if you stop using that word,” he said.

This prompted Marry to raise her voice, demanding that Hare reveals the culprits behind her husband’s death, if Hare himself was not the culprit.

“They say he was never in hiding. So where was he all this while?” she asked emotionally.

She had to be calmed down by family-members as she walked away shortly after.

Latheefa had earlier questioned the reasoning behind the police not charging Hare along with the three other accused officers on June 5.

“If they can find the homes of 40-odd people who participate in a rally, they can’t find him?” she said, referring to police claim that Hare had been in hiding.

Jaffri Jaafar, Mohd Nahar Abd Rahman, and Mohd Haswadi Zamri Sahari were all charged with a similar offence on June 5.

The offence was allegedly committed between 12.20pm and 5.20pm at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters lock-up on May 21, 2013.

The Hospital Kuala Lumpur pathologist report on May 22 stated that Dhamendran died due to multiple blunt force trauma. His ears were also found to have been stapled.

The police had earlier said that Dhamendran died due to breathing difficulties.

Guru tampar anak murid tanpa alasan munasabah

Anak saya ditampar atas alasan duduk tanpa kebenaran sedangkan pelajar lain diarah berdiri

SEREMBAN – Seorang ibu kesal dengan sikap seorang guru sekolah menengah dari Mantin, Seremban dan mendakwa guru tersebut menampar anak lelaki beliau tanpa alasan munasabah.

Dalam satu sidang media yang diatur oleh Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Nilai, J Arul Kumar (DAP); ibu pelajar terbabit, Tai Wai Sin, 42, berkata anak lelaki beliau merupakan pelajar Tingkatan Satu di sekolah tersebut.

Tai mendakwa kejadian itu berlaku minggu lepas waktu persekolahan, apabila anaknya sedang mengikuti kelas Geografi di bawah guru tersebut. Anak saya ditampar atas alasan duduk tanpa kebenaran sedangkan pelajar lain diarah berdiri.

“Saya dimaklumkan oleh anak saya kira-kira jam 8.45 pagi. Seorang guru wanita yang mengajar subjek Geografi masuk ke kelas untuk memulakan pelajaran.

“Ketika guru tersebut masuk ke kelas, beliau meminta semua pelajar berdiri dan kemudian guru tersebut keluar untuk pergi ke tandas tanpa meminta pelajar duduk.

“Walaubagaimanapun disebabkan kaki anak saya cedera selepas bermain bola sepak, anak saya duduk sementara menunggu guru wanita Geografi tersebut masuk semula ke kelas.

“Sebaik sahaja guru wanita itu masuk dan mendapati anaknya sedang duduk bersama pelajar lain, guru wanita itu menghubungi seorang guru lain.

“Selang beberapa minit datang seorang guru lelaki dan memanggil anak saya keluar dari kelas dan tanya apa yang berlaku.

“Sebelum itu anak saya nampak guru wanita itu menangis. Anak saya kurang fasih berbahasa Melayu, maka dia menerangkan kepada guru lelaki tersebut sambil menggunakan isyarat tangan.

“Tiba-tiba guru lelaki tersebut naik marah dan menampar pipi serta memukul kepala anak saya,” jelas Tai.

Tai berkata guru terbabit berterusan mahu memukul anaknya namun dihalang oleh guru wanita tersebut.

Tai kecewa apabila guru yang menampar anaknya menafikan insiden itu sementara guru wanita terbabit cuba menyembunyikan kejadian sebenar.

“Guru tersebut memberitahu saya anak saya pula yang membuat cerita. Jika anak saya duduk tanpa kebenaran sekalipun, ia bukanlah satu kesalahan yang besar.

“Jika betul anak saya nakal atau buat salah, guru tersebut boleh mendenda anak saya. Tetapi tidak perlu sampai menampar atau memukulnya,” katanya.

Sementara itu Arul Kumar yang juga merupakan seorang bekas guru berkata adalah tidak munasabah untuk menampar dan memukul seorang pelajar di atas kesalahan kecil seperti itu.

“Tidak boleh tampar pipi atau pukul kepala pelajar.

“Hanya boleh rotan di tangan atau kaki, itupun mengikut keseriusan kes disiplin tersebut,” kata Arul Kumar.

Unresolved issue spurs ‘em to go on camping

The meeting between the residents and the housing ministry today on the promised terrace houses to replace the dilapidated flats has not made headway.

PUTRAJAYA: Some 100 residents of Taman Permata flats, Dengkil will continue to camp beside their dilapidated homes after 50 days of doing so in protest of the lack of action from the federal and Selangor governments in resolving their housing problem.

The former estate workers who were evicted from their homes in 1998 to make way for the Putrajaya project are temporarily housed at Taman Permata flats while awaiting the authorities to build the promised terrace houses.

However, their meeting today with the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry was futile despite the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) having declared block 5 of the Taman Permata flats unsafe for habitation last month.

The BN-led federal ministry is supposed to construct the houses while the Pakatan-led Selangor government is to allocate a plot of land for the purpose.

Taman Permata residents’ advisor S Arutchelvan told reporters that the ministry officials only said they have sent a letter to the state, informing that the plot of18-acre land previously allocated by them is not suitable for building the terrace houses.

This is because, the officials said, the plot of land is located at a water catchment area, and that they are still awaiting the state’s reply.

However, when told that the state has announced last week an allocation of another piece of land measuring 30 acres, the ministry said they have not received an official letter on this.

“There is completely no coordination between the federal government and the state government. One party is sending the letter, the other is awaiting the same. So bureaucratic,” said Arutchelvan who is also the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general.

“After this, we have to go to the state to check whether they have sent the letter. This is very unbecoming,” he added.

Some 30 residents have also rallied outside the ministry building today and displayed banners that read “Politics Aside, Make Building the Terrace Houses Priority” and “Leaders in Putrajaya, We Are On the Road (Jalanraya)”.

Block 5 of Taman Permata flats is in a ramshackle condition with cracks appearing on beams and land sinking at the car park area causing a human-size pothole.

The flats are also without certificate of fitness and proper drainage and sewage system.

Some residents, fearing for their safety, have been staying in tents since early June after the local

Parent targets HM; Umno targets parent

Selangor Umno meanwhile wants action against the parent who uploaded photos of non-Muslim pupils eating in the school shower room.

SUNGAI BULOH: A parent lodged a police report against the headmaster of SK Seri Pristina in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, today for taking photographs of pupils who allegedly reported him.

Kumancan Veeriah said headmaster Mohd Nasir Mohd Noor had gone to the school, while he was on leave last week, and taken photographs of some non-Muslim students who he suspected had leaked the news that they were asked to have their meals in the school changing room, near the toilets.

“I am worried about the safety and security of my daughter who is in Year Four. The headmaster was supposed to be on leave. Why did he come to the school and take photos of the non-Muslim students?” asked Kamancaan who is a mechanic.

“The police need to investigate the matter. If anything happens to my child then the police and the headmaster will be held liable,” Kamancan told reporters after lodging the report. He was accompanied by about 10 people.

Last week, a parent uploaded photographs of non-Muslim pupils having their meals in the changing room next to the school toilet.

The issue blew up with various parties voicing their dissatisfaction over the matter. Initial reports revealed that the students were given the space to have their meals due to the fasting month.

However, the headmaster later clarified that the students were asked to use the changing room because the canteen was under renovation.

Photographs of the school and its canteen carried in newspapers showed no renovation work being carried out.

Deputy Education Minister P Kamalanathan, who then visited the school and donated RM10,000 for extension to the school canteen, said the issue was closed after meeting the headmaster and the Parent-Teacher Association.

Protest planned

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation said it would organise a protest outside the Education Ministry in Putrajaya if the police and the ministry did not act against the headmaster.

Malaysian Tamilian Today secretary K Gunasegaran, who accompanied Kumancan today, said the organisation would organise the protest onAug 15.

“The police must act and be transparent in their investigations. We want answers and results. Please do not just give us lip service by saying we are investigating,” he added.

Sungai Buloh OCPD Supt Junaidi Bujang meanwhile told reporters that the police had wrapped up investigations on the initial police report against the headmaster.

“That (police report against the headmaster for asking pupils to eat in the changing room) has been completed. Now we have a fresh report against the headmaster. We will start work on this immediately.

“Since a report has been lodged, we will leave no stones unturned,” he added.

Umno wants action against parent

Meanwhile, the Selangor Umno wanted the police to charge those responsible for uploading photos of the non-Muslim pupils eating in the school shower room with sedition.

Its liaison committee chairman, Noh Omar, who visited the school today, said the headmaster, Mohd Nasir, had lodged a police report against the parent who had posted the pictures on Facebook for creating tension.

“If possible, I want the police to investigate the headmaster’s report and action taken under the Sedition Act,” he said at a press conference in the school’s canteen.

Noh also urged the police to expedite investigations into the matter.

He also criticised the parent who had highlighted the issue without checking the facts of the matter first.

He said the school administration had resorted to using the shower room as the canteen because it did not have sufficient space for its increasing student population.

“If parents have a problem, they should refer to the PTA and not make a big issue of things like this.

“The parents of the child (who had posted the picture) had just enrolled the child in this school for a week and posted the pictures.

“Surely, she would not have known about the school’s decision to use the shower room as an extension to the canteen in March,” he said.

You have our support, Kayveas tells Hindu Sangam

PPP chief is willing to lend a helping hand to bring about good governance and transparency in the management of the Batu Caves temple.

KUALA LUMPUR: People’s Progressive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas urged the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Devasthanam to show greater transparency in managing Batu Caves and other temples under their jurisdiction.

According to Kayveas, the Malaysia Hindu Sangam was seeking political support to back them in their call for the Batu Caves temple committee to be transparent in their management of the Batu Caves temple.

“As long it is a public matter, we can throw our support behind the Hindu Sangam,” said Kayveas. “I’m not interested in who runs the committee, but how they manage the temples under their jurisdiction.”

The Sri Maha Mariamman Temple Dhevasthanam currently manages the Sri Subramaniar Temple in Batu Caves, Kottumalai Pillaiyar Temple in Pudu and Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun HS Lee.

Last week, The Star reported that several Indian NGOs were unhappy with how the three temples in Klang Valley were being managed and expressed a willingness to work with any party to bring about changes.

They claimed that a change was needed in the current committee to promote good governance and better transparency in the management of the Batu Caves temple.

“Batu Caves is an important tourist destination. It is our heritage and national pride but the way things are being run, maybe it is time for a change. What was good in the old days may no longer be relevant today,” said Kayveas.

As an example, Kayveas suggested that businesses and eateries within the Batu Caves compound be relocated to the perimeters of the area.

“To me, we should maintain Batu Caves purely as a place of worship. Businesses can be located outside the Batu Caves entrance,” he said.

He added that he felt embarrassed during the Thaipusam whereby stalls which allowed to be set up in the temple compound played loud and inappropriate cinema songs.

Uthaya given medical treatment

The Prisons Department refutes allegation that P Uthayakumar was not given proper medical treatment

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prisons Department has denied that prisoner P Uthayakumar is not given proper treatment and facilities as claimed by a certain newspaper and blog.

The Deputy Director of Prison Policy, Supri Hashim said Uthayakumar was a prisoner who was undergoing a jail sentence at the Kajang Prison following a valid court order.

“The subject is not a political prisoner or political detainee as described by a certain party and should not be given special treatment compared to the other prisoners as requested by a certain party,” he said in a statement, here today.

He explained that the place for serving a sentence and rehabilitation, treatment including medical care given to the convict must be based on the stipulation contained in the Prisons Act and Regulation.

“The treatment is given to a particular convict based on the advice and recommendation of the medical officer treating the convict and not based on the personal requirement of the convict concerned,” he said.

Supri said the food and other facilities given to Uthayakumar were based on the recommendation of the doctor who examined and treated him.

Between May 5 and July 23, he had received nine medical examinations and health treatment from the prisons’ panel of doctors and outside hospital because of several ailments he had complained of.

“Like other convicts who need medical facilities, Uthayakumar is also provided the same right, in fact he had received special food as a diabetic patient,” he said.

Supri also advised Uthayakumar’s wife and certain parties against issuing inaccurate statements or that contradicted the actual move taken by the Prisons Department.

He said it was the responsibility of the prison staff in managing the convict Uthayakumar and more than 39,000 other inmates and the department would not neglect their rights and requirements.

- Bernama

Sanjeevan arrives in Serdang hospital under heavy security

MyWatch chairperson R Seri Sanjeevan, who survived a murder attempt, has finally been transferred to Serdang Hospital under heavy police guard.

His ambulance arrived at Serdang Hospital at 4.20pm today from Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban.

The ambulance was escorted by three police vehicles as they zoomed into the hospital's emergency area.

At least seven police officers alighted from the vehicle during the transfer.

Sanjeevan was seen unconscious as hospital personnel help unload his bed and brought him into the hospital.

At least two police officers armed with shotguns have positioned themselves at the entrance of the emergency ward.

Members of the media and the public were not allowed into the emergency ward except for family members.

On Saturday, Sanjeevan was shot at a road junction in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, by two men on a motorcycle but survived by speeding off although he had been hit by the first bullet.

Arab-Malaysia Bank founder shot dead, wife injured

Arab-Malaysian Bank founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi (pic) was shot dead in a car park at Lorong Ceylon in Kuala Lumpur today, several hundred metres away from the bank headquarters.

The 75-year-old was walking towards his vehicle with his wife when a gunman approached him and fired several shots at his back, killing him on the spot in the 1.30pm incident.
 
Where the shooting took place this afternoon. - The Malaysian Insider pic by Muzliza Mustafa, July 
29, 2013.

 Hussain was shot in the chest and ribs while his wife Cheong Mei Kuen, 49, was injured after being hit on the hand, police said.

Closed-circuit television cameras showed the assailant was a man wearing a long sleeve checked shirt and khaki pants.

Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin Ahmad confirmed the incident saying it has been classified as murder.

It is believed that three suspects were involved in the incident, using a Proton Waja taxi.
An eyewitness, who declined to reveal his name, said he was at his food stall when he saw a man walking towards the couple.

"Then I heard gunshots and saw the couple crumple. I ran to safety when I saw the gunman running towards me," he said.
The shooting comes just days after crime watchdog activist R. Sri Sanjeevan was shot in the ribs in his hometown Bahau. There has also been a spate of shootings over the past month.

AmBank Group was founded in 1975 as Arab-Malaysian Development Bank, by Hussain via his Holding company AIAK (Arab Investments for Asia Kuwait). He brought the bank public via the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) in 1981. - July 29, 2013.

HM accused of telling students to 'balik India, China'

 

Coming hot on the heels of the shower room canteen imbroglio is another allegation that a principal of a secondary school in Shah Alam hurled racial abuses at her students.

It is claimed that the principal told her Chinese and Indian students to return to their respective ancestral lands.

Shah Alam MIC deputy division chief A Prakash Rao said the incident allegedly took place during the school assembly last Monday.

"Based on the complaints I received from the parents, the principal was furious because the students were making a racket during her speech.

"She then scolded all the students but later targeted the Chinese and Indian students, telling them to 'Balik India dan China' (Go back to India and China)," he told Malaysiakini.

Prakash said that the students then informed their parents, who later brought it to his attention.

In an attempt to verify the allegation, the MIC leader led a delegation to the school this morning but the principal was on leave.

"When we told the school management that we would return tomorrow, they informed us that the principal had a meeting elsewhere and won't be in... so we told them that we would return on Wednesday then.

"We  intend to get to the bottom of this matter," he stressed.

Parents afraid of lodging report
Responding to a question, the MIC leader said that the parents were afraid of lodging a police report following what transpired after the SK Sri Pristana incident was exposed.

A parent who uploaded photographs of SK Sri Pristina students eating in the shower room had received phone calls from unknown individuals threatening to kidnap her daughter.

"So these parents are worried about their safety and the safety of their children," said Prakash.

He said the disgruntled parents had complained that while Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak promoted the 1Malaysia agenda, it was not practiced on the ground.

"This is becoming a never-ending saga...

"It is like that Tamil proverb...'God grants us a boon but the priest stands in our way'," he said, referring to Najib's 1Malaysia slogan and the civil service's failure to implement it.

If the latest incident was true, Prakash said the Education Ministry must take severe action against the principal.

"How could a person tasked with overseeing both teachers and students do this. If the principal herself utters such things, imagine what the students would think?

"These students would also resort to such racist rants thinking that it was justified to do so given that a principal could do it. This culture must be stopped," he added.

Since Malaysiakini could not reach the principal or the school authorities for comment, the name of the school would be withheld for now.

Sanjeevan being moved to Serdang for surgery

The condition of MyWatch chairperson R Seri Sanjeevan, who was shot last Saturday, is said to be deteriorating.

MyWatch adviser S Gobi Krishnan (right) said arrangements have been made to transfer him to Serdang Hospital for immediate surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his rib cage.

"His condition is getting bad and we are arranging his transfer to Serdang Hospital by ambulance. He has fever and it has got worse," Gobi said when contacted.

He was speaking from the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban, where Sanjeevan had been warded for the last two days.

"They have kept him here for two days because they said Serdang Hospital was yet to give the green light for the transfer,” he said.

"I have just met the hospital director to press for his transfer (and it is being done now).”

'Step up security'

Earlier today, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim urged the police to step up security at the hospital as Sanjeevan’s life is still under threat.

“We call on the (police chief) to beef up the security arrangements at the hospital where Sanjeevan is being treated,” Anwar told a press conference today.

“Without going too much into the details, we know that the current security detail is grossly inadequate.

“We are certain that the threat still remains and the police must therefore step up security for his safety immediately.”

In a statement later, Anwar pointed out that Sanjeevan had allegedly been attached by four parang-wielding men on April 11 at a hotel basement in Kuala Lumpur. A few suspicious-looking men had then allegedly tailed him at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang.

Anwar called on the police to investigate Sanjeevan's claim that police personnel are involved in drug syndicates, adding that mafia-styles execution are becoming rampant.

On April 26, Customs deputy director-general Shahruddin Ibrahim, like Sanjeevan, had been shot by two men on a motorcycle at a junction in Putrajaya. Shahruddin did not survive the attack.

Sanjeevan 'didn't file police report' on threat

MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan, who survived a shooting on Saturday, did not lodge a police report on an alleged threat against him and his family as was claimed in his Twitter post, police have said.

“Sanjeevan did mention in social media some 12 hours before the shooting about the threat to him and his family. However, he did not file a report,” Negri Sembilan police chief Osman Salleh was quoted as saying in The Star.

Osman said the police did, however, investigate a report Sanjeevan made last January regarding threats he allegedly received from an officer at the Jelebu police station.

He said the case was then referred to the deputy public prosecutor and that it was classified as 'No Further Action'.

“The problem is that, apart from the Jelebu case, Sanjeevan was not specific in his allegations,” Osman reportedly said.

Sanjeevan (left), 29, was shot in the chest about 4.30pm on Saturday in Jelebu, while driving to his hometown of Bahau in Negri Sembilan.

He is reportedly stable and recuperating after an operation at the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban, where police say he is being given round-the-clock protection.

At 8.16am on Saturday, Sanjeevan had claimed on Twitter that a police officer had told a crime syndicate member that he would provide firearms so that the criminals could intimidate Sanjeevan and his family.

Former police chief Musa Hassan, who is also MyWatch patron, said the shooting may be linked to the expose Sanjeevan had made about alleged police involvement in crime gangs.

The shooting is being investigated by Bukit Aman, under the supervision of federal criminal investigations department director Hadi Ho Abdullah.

IGP: Don't prematurely blame cops for Sanjeevan's shooting

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has urged the public not to finger the police over the attempted murder of R Sri Sanjeevan until investigations are concluded.

“Do not immediately accuse the police for being involved in the shooting of the MyWatch president.

“I have said, we will investigate the matter from all angles,” Khalid told a press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarters this morning.

He added that if indeed there were police involved in the case, none of them would be spared.

“We have never protected anyone that has committed a crime.

“Have you remembered any case where the police protected any personnel or officer who had been involved (in crime)?” he asked.
Khalid lamented that there had even been posting on the social media accusing the authorities of issuing instructions for Sanjeevan's assassination.

"We will be calling the person who made the claim. We want to know which authority gave the so-called instruction to shoot Sanjeevan," he said, adding that the people should not speculate on the matter.

Asked about Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli's claim that Sanjeevan was on the verge of revealing an internal police investigation against its own personnel for alleged links to drug syndicates, Khalid did not confirm or deny the internal probe.

"We always probe when there is any complaint against our officers. That is the purpose of having the disciplinary division. It is their duty to probe all accusations from members of the public or anyone else," he replied.

However, he said, if Rafizi has any knowledge on the matter, he should come forward to assist in the police investigation.

"We also hope that Sanjeevan will quickly recover so that we can also interview him," Khalid said.

Khalid: I spoke to Sanjeevan

Asked if Sanjeevan had made any police report prior to his shooting, Khalid replied: "He made all kinds of police reports, we will review all of them."

Khalid added that before this, he had personally spoken to Sanjeevan and the anti-crime activist had also engaged with the narcotics and disciplinary divisions of the police force.

"But he (Sanjeevan) was not prepared to provide the source of his information, so we cannot do a complete investigation," he said.

The top cop said Sanjeevan's condition was now stable and that he was expected to undergo surgery to remove a bullet from his ribcage today.

Sanjeevan was shot at a road junction in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan, last Saturday by two men on a motorcycle.

He survived the attack by speeding off after being hit by the first bullet. He is now being treated at the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban.

'Sanjeevan was to release leaked police memo'

 

A leaked police memo shedding light on its officers linked to drugs syndicates was due to be released this week by anti-crime activist R Sri Sanjeevan, who was shot in Negeri Sembilan last Saturday.

Revealing this today, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli added: "Sanjeevan said he obtained an internal police memo, which lists the police personnel who are being investigated internally for (allegedly) being involved in drug syndicates."

Elaborating on his 20-minute meeting with Sanjeevan a day before he was shot, Rafizi told a press conference at the PKR headquarters today that the MyWatch chairperson confided to him that the offences were very serious, for which there were mandatory sentences upon conviction.

However, Rafizi added, Sanjeevan did not disclose the names of the police officers involved at that time.

He said it was "fortunate" that Sanjeevan, who was shot in the rib cage, had not revealed the names to him.

Rafizi suspect that Sanjeevan's access to the leaked memo was a "very probable" reason for him being shot in Bahau last Saturday.

"It's very probable. I mean, he was not working on anything else, .... he talks only to the Home Ministry, police and underworld... it is only reasonable to think (this was the reason)," he said.

 Read More :http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/237028

'Custodial death' - Cop to be charged today

The fourth suspect in custodial death victim N Dhamendran's case is expected to be charged this afternoon.
Although Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar (right) said earlier that police officer Hare Krishnan would be charged tomorrow, it is learnt that he would be brought to the Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon. 
Hare Krishnan surrendered at the Bukit Aman police headquarters at 10am this morning and was taken to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

Prior to his surrender, Hare Krishnan had informed his family that he might be charged in connection with Dhamendran's death.
"He turned himself in to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director (Hadi Ho Abdullah) with his lawyer," Khalid told a press conference at Bukit Aman.

Read more : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/237004

Hare Krishnan was never on the run, says wife

Inspector S Hare Krishnan, the fourth suspect in the custodial death of N Dhamendran, was never on the run, his wife has claimed.

Shaarmini Balakrishnan (right in photo) told Malaysiakini today that Hare Krishnan did not turn up for work after his leave expired on June 15 because he had been told that he was suspended from duty.

Since then, she said, Hare Krishnan had engaged a lawyer who has sent numerous letters to the police but there has been no reply.

“He was never on the run. The lawyer was available (for the police) to contact,” she said.

Hare Krishnan turned himself in at Dang Wangi at 11am today.

Shaarmini further said that he has made a Statutory Declaration claiming his innocence in the Dhamendran’s case.

She said she was in the house with Hare Krishnan (right) when he received a call from the Dang Wangi police district headquarters informing him about Dhamendran's death.

"He was at home resting. And I heard him shout when he was informed about Dhamendran's death," she said.

Shaarmini said the inspector-general of police had assured Hare Krishnan of justice if he surrenders.

"In fact, the police asked him to surrender and rejoin work. He was only asked to give a statement," she said.
'Waiting for statement'
Shaarmini said that, all the while, Hare Krishnan had been waiting for a written statement from the police that they would investigate the claims he had made in a police report on June 1.

In the same report, he had declared his innocence and said he was not even at the police station on the day Dhamendran died, on May 21.

"It was only after Malaysiakini reported on the matter that the police issued a statement that they would investigate his police report," she added.

On June 5, three police personnel, a sergeant and two corporals, were charged with the murder of Dhamendran.

R.Sri Sanjeevan the crime watcher

KUALA LUMPUR:

Together with the former Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan, the Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force or MyWatch chairman R.Sri Sanjeevan rose to fame with their crusade by highlighting crime cases.

MyWatch aims protect the people in Malaysia from crime and all forms of criminal harm.  It is an initiative to bust the trespassers and to bring the crime rate under control in this growing and rapidly changing environment.

Sanjeevan is no stranger to fighting against crime or highlighting injustice. Previously, Sanjeevan was the Aasthivaram Foundation Vice President and Negri Sembilan People’s Welfare Party (Kita) Chairman.

In the recent years, Sanjeevan has handled and highlighted a few cases which were reported by Free Malysian Today portal. Here are some of them:

• July 2013 - A former drug pusher claiming he paid between RM30,000 and RM50,000 a month to the police in Negeri Sembilan and Malacca for information on police stakeouts.

• July 2013 – Sanjeevan lodged a report at the Sepang police station claiming harassment by several individuals. He was also followed by a group of five men when he was having drink with his friend in LCCT.

• February 2013 - Workers at an illegal gambling outlet are being tipped off by policemen on impending raids.

• January 2013 - A policeman from the Jelebu police headquarters allegedly threatened to shoot Sanjeevan minutes after he informed Bukit Aman of illegal gambling outlets operating in the area.

• January 2013 - Alleged that the Royal Malaysian Police has been instructed not to engage with the NGO in any of its programmes.Two state police chiefs refused to attend programmes on crime prevention arranged by his NGO.

• January 2013 - Sanjeevan said that crimes such as vehicle theft, abduction and extortion were categorised under non index offences thus claiming gangsterism has prevalent.

• December 2012 – My Watch claimed that it has in its possession evidence that top police officers are involved in criminal activities and threatened to make public the information unless the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar agrees to meet with the group so that an open, high-profile investigation can be carried out immediately.

• May 2012 - Puchong PKR chief S.Murali attacked by several people, believed to be members of MIC Youth outside the Prime Minister’s Office, where a PKR delegation had gathered to deliver a memorandum over the issue of stateless Indians in Malaysia.

• March 2012 - 13-year-old S.Sunther who was tortured by two policemen in Jempol. Sunther was arrested on Feb 26 on suspicion of stealing jewellery.

• December 2011 - Residents from the Seremban Jaya township have complained about the rising number of illegal gaming, illegal massage parlours offering sexual services outlets in residential areas which are causing social problems.

• April 2011 - S.Devan was handcuffed and beaten by several plainclothes individuals claiming to be policemen after they failed to locate a friend.  R.Sanjeevan called upon Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar to put an immediate end to such brutality.

IGP vows to probe Sanjeevan's rogue cop claim

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar has pledged a thorough investigation into the shooting of anti-crime NGO MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan, including his claim that rogue cops were out to get him.

"I assure the family and public that our investigations will be thorough and will look into all aspect including those alleged by SS (Sri Sanjeevan) earlier," Khalid said in a Twitter posting this morning.

In another tweet, Khalid also gave an assurance that Bukit Aman will monitor the investigations and the CID director will "personally supervise" investigations.

Allegations of errant cop involvement surfaced as Sanjeevan had foretold his fate in a tweet, just hours before he was shot.

Sanjeevan was shot at about 4.30pm in Jempol, Negri Sembilan. He was reported to be in stable but critical condition after undergoing surgery.
DAP: Cops should be vigilant

He rose to fame late last year when he organised a series of press conferences featuring former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan.

Among others, Musa had claimed that there are currently high-ranking police officials with underworld links.

Following this, Sanjeevan had received several death threats and was assaulted in Kuala Lumpur in April.
Meanwhile, DAP's Gobind Singh Deo urged the police to set up a special team to investigate the matter, to consist of persons unrelated to the complaints made by Sanjeevan in the past.

"The question is having been informed about the attempt on his life or harm upon him and his family and knowing that there were previous attempts on his life, did the police take any steps to protect him before he was shot?" Gobind, who is also Puchong MP, wrote in a press release.

Ex-IGP links Jempol shootings to expose on cops

The attempt to murder anti-crime NGO MyWatch chairperson R Sri Sanjeevan is likely linked to his recent exposé on police personnel with crime syndicates links, former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan said.

"I hope the police will do a thorough investigation to trace (the) suspect as he (Sanjeevan) had received several threats... (due to) his revelation on police involvement with activities of syndicated crime and illegal activities," he said on Twitter late Saturday night.

Sanjeevan, himself, appeared to have foretold his fate in a tweet hours before he was gunned down.

He also appeared to have tried to alert current Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar on the imminent threat.

"A cop told some syndicate fellow that he'll get them firearm(s) and told them to fire shots at my house to scare me or my family," he said, in the tweet, which tags both Khalid's and the official Royal Police Force's Twitter handles.

According to the Star, Sanjeevan was gunned down at about 4.30pm yesterday in Jempol, Negri Sembilan.

He is reportedly in stable but critical condition after undergoing surgery at the Kuala Pilah Hospital.

Shot in the chest

Astro Awani, meanwhile, reports that the 29-year-old was shot in a cold-blooded fashion by two motorcyclists while he was driving, at a junction near Taman Cempaka there.

"He was apparently smoking and has his windshield was down when two men on a red motorcycle came from behind.

"The pillion rider then took out a gun and shot at Sanjeevan. He was injured in his right chest by one bullet but it is unclear how many shots were fired," read the report.

It also quoted a source as saying that the pillion rider got off the motorcycle after the shots were fired, but the victim managed to drive off.

His friend, who was in the silver BMW with Sanjeevan took over the wheel several hundred meters later and rushed the victim to the hospital.

Sanjeevan had received death threats since last January and was assaulted in Kuala Lumpur in April.

He was accompanied by Musa, who is MyWatch's patron, when he lodged a police report on the assault.

Ominously, Sanjeevan then said that he had also received a call allegedly from a police officer from the Jempol police station, claiming that some gangs were ready to "kill" him.

7 killed in Florida hostage standoff

(CNN) -- A gunman killed six people overnight at a Florida apartment complex before police shot him dead in a shootout, authorities said early Saturday.

The man barricaded himself in an apartment in Hialeah, a Miami suburb, where he was holding a man and a woman hostage, city police spokesman Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez said.

Hialeah police received a call at 6:30 p.m. of a shooting.

When they arrived at the scene, they found two people dead from gunshot wounds and heard additional shots in the area, Rodriguez said.

After negotiations failed, a SWAT team entered the dwelling, rescued the hostages and killed the gunman, who fired on them, police said.

When officers went through the apartment complex, they found several bodies. One was across the street, and Rodriguez said that victim may have died from a stray bullet.

The victims are three women and three men, Rodriguez said.

Authorities believe that while the gunman was not a resident of that apartment complex, his mother is a tenant, said Carl Zogby of the Hialeah Police Department.

Islamic attitude towards infidel kids is epitomic. Better generate right aversion to Islam in your children to resist it.

Islamic attitude towards infidel kids is epitomic in case of conspiratory conversion of non Muslims or to confine them into school bathroom at the time of break while they take food in the month of Ramadan. Islam does not consider and care ignorant children, if they don’t belong to Muslim community. The children are just infidel according to Islamic belief. So covert them as Muslim without considering the children’s universal attitude of love and to get love. Better generate right aversion to Islam in your children to resist it. Islam is dangerous. If the coming generation is not quite aware about the barbaric Islam like some examples below, Islam will capture them with all evils towards a doom. [Editor- Hindu Existence].

Malaysia court quashes Hindu kids’ conversion to Islam

KUALA LUMPUR  | AFP | 25  July 2013 ::   A Malaysian court on Thursday ruled against the 2009 conversion of three Hindu children to Islam without their mother’s knowledge, a verdict welcomed by non-Muslim groups.

A high court in the northern city of Ipoh declared the conversion of Indira Gandhi’s children, now aged five, 15 and 16, by their father to be unconstitutional, said Indira’s lawyer K. Shanmuga.

The judge ruled that the father had failed to take the mother and children to Islamic authorities for their consent to the conversion, in a rare verdict in the multiracial but Muslim-majority nation, Shanmuga said.

“It is the first time ever that a child’s conversion certificate has been quashed by a high court,” he told AFP.

Indira, a kindergarten teacher in her late 30s, faced losing custody of her children after her husband converted himself and them without her knowledge.

Under Malaysian sharia law, which governs civil matters for Muslims, a non-Muslim parent cannot share custody of converted children.

Indira, a Hindu, got a 2010 high court verdict to award her custody. But her husband went into hiding with their youngest daughter and the conversion remained in dispute.

Earlier this month Malaysia withdrew an Islamic law which allows one parent to give consent for a child’s conversion, after an outcry.

Opponents said it discriminated against minorities despite government promises to address their grievances.

Religious groups welcomed Thursday’s verdict.

“We are very happy about that decision. But it must be accepted by all the Islamic and other government agencies,” said Mohan Shan, an official with the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.

Conversions of children and “body-snatching” cases — in which Islamic authorities tussle with families over the remains of people whose religion is disputed — have previously raised tensions.

More than 60 percent of Malaysia’s 28 million people are Muslim ethnic Malays, but it also has sizeable Chinese and Indian minorities who are non-Muslims. [eFox News].

Malaysia court dismisses conversion of three Hindu children to Islam

Kuala Lumpur | PTI | 25 July 2013 :: In a landmark ruling, a Malaysian court on Thursday dismissed the 2009 conversion of three Hindu children to Islam without their mother’s consent. Judicial Commissioner Lee Swee Seng at a Hight Court in the northern city of Ipoh ruled the certificates of conversion null and void because it was unconstitutional, against the right of natural justice, and it was given without hearing the mother or children. He also said it was unlawful as Sharia law in Perak state itself says that the children must be present to utter the affirmation of faith. Read more here… [eNDTV].

Malaysia withdraws bill allowing unilateral conversion

Kuala Lumpur | PTI | 8 July 2013 :: Malaysia on Monday withdrew a controversial bill that allows one parent to give consent for the conversion of a child, following an outcry over two minor ethnic Indian Hindu children embracing Islam without their mother’s permission. The controversial Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 was withdrawn from parliament following a motion by Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Jamil Khir Baharom. Mr. Baharom moved the motion to withdraw the bill for its second third and fourth reading and from being debated on. The bill was tabled for the first reading in Parliament on June 26. On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had said the bill would be withdrawn until an agreement was reached with all stakeholders. He said the Cabinet decided to withdraw the bill from the current parliament meeting following concerns from various quarters, including the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional’s component party members. The component party include Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC). Read more here… [eThe Hindu].

Non-Muslim school children forced to eat in bathroom during Ramazan

Kuala Lumpur | HJS | 23 July 2013 :: The report gives us an account  of a Muslim dominated school in Malaysia where children eating in the bathroom are taken from Facebook and they were posted by a mother whose kids go to the same school. As the mother claims, all these school children are non-Muslims and they are forced to eat during breaks in bathroom during the month of Ramazan (the Islamic month of both fasting and feasting ). Read more here… [eHJS].

 

 

Pakistan bomb attacks kill at least 57 and injure many more

guardian.co.uk

Two bomb attacks in a busy marketplace in north-west Pakistan have killed 57 people and injured 167, local officials said on Saturday.

The authorities believe the bomb blasts in Parachinar, in the predominantly Shia Kurram tribal area, on Friday night were a co-ordinated sectarian attack by Sunni militants.

Hospital official Shabir Hussain said almost all the dead and wounded were Shias.

Shia leader Hamid Ali said the market was full of Shias, who were buying items for their evening meal that breaks the daytime fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

"We demand protection. We request the government to take action against those who routinely kill our people," he told Associated Press.

Another doctor, Zahid Hussain, earlier said the dead bodies quickly overwhelmed Parachinar's main hospital, where a large numbers of people sought medical attention after the blasts. "We have no place to keep the wounded," he said on Friday night. "Many of them are lying on the hospital floor and on the lawn."

The apparently co-ordinated bombs hit the main bazaar as people were doing their evening shopping before the iftar meal, police spokesman Fazal Naeem Khan said. One bomb was believed to have been planted on a motorcycle, he said.

The second bomb detonated about four minutes after the first, about 400 yards away from the initial blast, according to government official Javed Ali.

One man, Said Hussain, who was in the area where the second blast struck, reported seeing a teenage boy shout: "God is great!" just moments before the explosion.

Pakistan is a majority Sunni Muslim state, but around 15% percent of the population are Shias. Most Sunnis and Shias live together peacefully in Pakistan, though tensions have existed for decades.

Meanwhile, assailants attacked a Pakistani border guard post near the south-western town of Sunsater, near Iran, early on Saturday, killing seven security personnel and wounding as many others, senior government officer Akbar Hussain Durrani said.

Putrajaya to defend Seri Pristana headmaster if not guilty, says Ku Nan

 
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor mingling with residents during the breaking of fast organised by the ministry today. The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim

Putrajaya will defend Mohd Nasir Mohd Noor, who moved his non-Muslim pupils to the school’s shower room for recess, if the SK Seri Pristana headmaster is not guilty of wrongdoing, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said tonight.

The Federal Territories Minister blamed the opposition for distorting the SK Seri Pristana canteen issue by putting the blame on the school authorities and the education ministry.

“The headmaster wants to protect the students from being exposed to the sun, so he purposely put the students in the shower room,” Tengku Adnan told a press conference after breaking fast in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Sungai Buloh primary school had recently come under fire when a picture of non-Muslim students eating in a shower room went viral on Facebook.

The newly-appointed Federal Territories Umno liaison chief said he will work hard to improve the performance of Umno and Barisan National (BN) in Kepong to restore the glory of the party's leadership.

He said he would be helping the party to regain the lost seats from the opposition, namely Segambut, Bandar Tun Razak, Wangsa Maju and Lembah Pantai.

He added that Umno should find out the cause of BN's defeat in these seats in the last general election and understand the needs of the people.

"It is time for the party to talk with the public in order to win back the people's trust.

"It does not matter which race, we should go house to house, and to every village so that they will continue to support us," he said.

During the breaking-of-fast at the Amaniah mosque in Kepong, Tengku Adnan made a contribution of RM10,000 to the mosque for the upgrading of its facilities and RM100 along with a pair of clothes to married couples in the low-income group in the area. - July 27, 2013.

MyWatch Sanjeevan shot; critical in hospital

Anti-crime NGO MyWatch chief R Sri Sanjeevan is said to be in a critical but stable condition at the Kuala Pilah Hospital.

PETALING JAYA: MyWatch chairman R Sri Sanjeevan was shot by unknown gunmen in Bahau, Negeri Sembilan at about 4.30pm today.

His condition is reported to be critical but stable. Sanjeevan is now warded at the Kuala Pilah Hospital.

Speaking to FMT, MIC central working committee member G Kumar Aamaan confirmed the matter, saying he received the news from Sanjeevan’s father about three hours ago.

Elaborating on the incident, Kumar said that Sanjeevan and his friend B Ramesh, were driving on his car in Bahau town, and was shot at when the vehicle stopped at a traffic light.

“It seems that two unknown men arrived on motorcycle, stopped near Sanjeevan’s car, and fired a shot on his chest.

“But Sanjeevan somehow managed to drive himself from the place and went straight to Jempol Hospital,” said the MIC leader, who is also Sanjeevan’s colleague in another NGO, Aastivaram Foundation.

MyWatch advisor S Gobi Krishnan also confirmed the matter, saying Sanjeevan is now warded at the Kuala Pilah Hospital.

“He was initially receiving treatment at the Jempol Hospital before being transfered to Kuala Pilah,” he said.

FMT was unable to get any comment from Negeri Sembilan CID chief Hamdan Majid.

Sanjeevan has been in the news recently for exposing corruption in the police force. Previously he had informed FMT that he had received many death threats.

Rights of non-converted spouse must be upheld

Many objected strongly when the government tabled the Administration of the Religion of Islam (Federal Territories) Bill 2013 late last month.

The Bill allowed for the unilateral conversion to Islam of a child by one parent, presumably after that parent converts himself or herself to Islam.

We are glad that these strong objections have caused the Bill to be withdrawn, for now. Many have emphasised too that withdrawing the bill does not address the problem as existing state religious laws and the Bahasa Malaysia version of the federal constitution must be amended to ensure that the consent of both parents is necessary for a child’s conversion.

But unilateral conversion of the child is not the only issue to worry about when one spouse converts to Islam. 

In Women's Aid Organisation's (AO) direct experience with women whose husbands convert opportunistically, other rights of the non-converted women have been eroded.

Right to inherit from a family member who converts to Islam

If one spouse converts to Islam, the non-converted spouse and other non-Muslim next-of-kin are not entitled to inherit from the converted spouse.

The Distribution Act 1958 does not apply to the estate of any person professing Islam, and non-Muslims are generally not allowed to inherit under faraid principles of asset distribution.

Non-Muslim family members can only receive at most one-third of the converted person’s estate, if the converted person chooses to bequeath anything at all.

The Distribution Act 1958 should be amended to safeguard the right of the deceased’s non-Muslim next-of-kin to inherit.

Right to have all issues relating to a civil law marriage settled according to civil laws and adjudicated only in civil courts

Shamala Sathiyaseelan is a Hindu mother whose husband converted to Islam and converted their two infant children without her knowledge or consent.

She went to the High Court to seek redress, but the Court ruled that since the children were now Muslims, the Syariah Court was the only qualified forum to determine their religious status.

As Shamala was not Muslim, she could not appear in the Syariah Court either, and she was left with no avenue to seek justice.

The Law Reform (Marriage And Divorce) Act 1976 should be amended to ensure that all issues relating to a civil law marriage are settled according to civil laws and adjudicated only in civil courts.

A marriage contract between two non-Muslims is made under civil law. It is therefore unjust for a non-Muslim spouse to unexpectedly find herself or himself subject to laws other than those she or he had agreed to at the time of marriage.

Right to be informed of a spouse’s conversion to Islam

Everyone has a right to embrace a religion of their choice, but there is no legal requirement for a spouse who converts to Islam to inform his or her family members of the conversion.

This is key as the conversion has legal consequences on the marriage and the rights of the non-converted family members.

Before registering a conversion, religious authorities should ensure that the spouse and other family members have been notified through a written acknowledgment.

Irresponsible spouses have been allowed to misuse religion to shirk their moral and legal obligations.

As a community of shared values we must not allow the unconverted spouse and other family members to face the injustices caused by this misuse.

---

WOMEN’S AID ORGANISATION’s (WAO) mission is to promote and create respect, protection and fulfilment of equal rights for women. Arguments in the letter were adopted from the memorandum 'Safeguard Rights of Wives and Children upon Conversion of Husbands to Islam,' published by the Joint Action Group For Gender Equality (JAG) on Feb 5, 2007.

MIC: Indian matriculation seats not met for two years

The allocation of 1,500 matriculation seats for Indian students for 2012 and 2013 that the government had promised was never met, said MIC treasurer-general Jaspal Singh.

Jaspal said that only 1,142 places were given to Indian students in 2013 for matriculation, still falling way below the 1,500 mark promised by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak last March year.

"The 1,500 number was not met last year. We were given the excuse that it was the first year of the programme. This year, this number was again not met!" said Jaspal in a statement today.

"The devil is in the details and the Education Ministry would fall down on what seemed to be the most simplest of implementations," he added.

Jaspal proposed that the quota system be reintroduced for intake in public universities, saying that the current system was not transparent.

"This is because the current ill-named system of meritocracy is un-transparent. It is broke. No one understands how places are allocated under it," he added.

He said that only 442 of the 51,673 students who sat for the STPM examinations obtained a 4.0 CGPA and that special effort must be put in to retain these students in Malaysia, rather than to waste money luring them back later.

"What then is the use of Talent Corp spending RM65 million to bring back talented Malaysians? We must resolve this issue," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the Education Minister, earlier claimed in Parliament that the government never cheated the people and that the 1,500 matriculation seats for Indian students were fulfilled last year and this year.

He said this in a parliamentary reply to a question posted by DAP's Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran on June 27.

Hindraf to protest if Uthaya is not taken to hospital

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has threatened to hold a protest in front of the Kajang prison if its leader P Uthayakumar, who has been imprisoned, is not taken for his medical appointment on Aug 1.

More than 500 people, led by Uthayakumar's wife S Indra Devi, may camp in front of the prison if the prison authorities do not comply, Hindraf secretary-general S Thiagarajan (seated, centre) told a press conference today.

The incarcerated leader has appointment with a neurosurgeon at Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) on that date for his prolapsed disc.

Uthayakumar has already missed a July 18 appointment at the same hospital as a result of his imprisonment last month.

He was on June 5 jailed for two-and-a-half years after being found guilty of making seditious statements in 2007.

Indra, who was also present, could not say how far she would go with her protests, but stressed that she would not give up until Uthayakumar is taken to the hospital for his treatment.

Threat of being put in 'a dark room'

"I'm not asking them to release him. I'm just asking them to give him the medical attention due to him," Indra said, breaking out in tears.

She said she dreaded the possibility of Uthayakumar being put in a "dark room" and or that his right to make weekly telephone calls be taken away.
"I get to see him once a month and I get to speak to him once a week. I hope they don't take those privileges away," Indra (left) added.

Uthayakumar has allegedly been threatened by prison authorities that he will be put in a dark room if he continues spilling the beans on the kind of treatment he has been getting in prison.

The Hindraf leader has reportedly has been complaining about back pains as a result a prolapsed disc and is also suffering a swollen leg. He is seeking proper treatment, but the prison doctor had told Uthayakumar that he has "no power" to refer him to a hospital.

Indra said the prison authorities were still giving him painkillers for his back pain, but she had asked him to stop taking the medication as it could aggravate his diabetes.

"I don't want my husband to have to go through dialysis while in prison," she said.

She also complained that Uthayakumar was still being made to use a dipper for both toiletry and food purposes.

She said that the dipper, which in the prison cell, is used for his toiletry purposes but is also used to serve him with porridge three times a week.

"Diabetes patients are very prone to getting infection. This is not hygienic," she said.

Indra also said that though she was allowed to speak to Uthayakumar 15 minutes every Wednesday morning, the time was reduced to 10 minutes the last time he called.

MIC mulls exposing those harassing whistleblower mum

MIC strategy director S Vell Paari is planning to reveal the phone numbers of those who have threatened the ‘shower room canteen' whistleblower.

He said he was thinking of publishing the numbers in his daily Tamil Nesan "so that the individuals responsible for this cowardly act will get a taste of their own medicine".

According to Vell Paari, he had spoken to the whistleblower, Guneswari Kelly - the mother of a pupil at SK Seri Pristana primary school in Sungai Buloh.

"I have told her to forward me the numbers of those who threatened her and I will deal with them.

"Furthermore, I also told her that if her daughter continues to be harassed by the teachers, then I will go to the school and speak to the teachers myself, " he added.

Photos posted on FB

Vell Paari expressed regret that such incidents of perceived discrimination were taking place in the school.

"It is sad... teachers are supposed to look after the pupils. The Education Ministry and the police must look into Guneswari's complaints," he said.

Guneswari, who uploaded photographs of  non-Muslim pupils of SK Seri Pristana having their recess meals in the shower room, yesterday complained of receiving threatening phone calls.

The photographs posted on her Facebook - which have since been deactivated - ignited a firestorm of protests.

The Education Ministry and school authorities have denied that the issue was related to race or religion.

It was reported that the headmaster - who has since been ordered to go on leave - suggested the use of the shower room since the canteen was under renovation.