Sunday, 27 February 2011
HRP leaders detained under Police, Societies Act
(Malaysiakini) Human Rights Party (HRP) legal advisor M Manoharan says P Uthayakumar and other Hindraf leaders arrested today are being detained under the Police Act and the Societies Act.
At a press conference at their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Manoharan (right) said the Hindraf leaders were presently at Jinjang police station, and being investigated under section 27(5) of the Police Act on participating in an unlawful assembly and section 45(1) of the Societies Act in relation to an unregistered organisation.
The lawyer, who is also Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, added that HRP information chief S Jayathas and nine other state HRP leaders were being held in Jinjang, along with number of HRP and Hindraf supporters.
He added that a further number of supporters and others are being detained at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak.
At a press conference at their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today, Manoharan (right) said the Hindraf leaders were presently at Jinjang police station, and being investigated under section 27(5) of the Police Act on participating in an unlawful assembly and section 45(1) of the Societies Act in relation to an unregistered organisation. The lawyer, who is also Kota Alam Shah assemblyperson, added that HRP information chief S Jayathas and nine other state HRP leaders were being held in Jinjang, along with number of HRP and Hindraf supporters.
He added that a further number of supporters and others are being detained at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Jalan Semarak.
Manoharan could not say what the others were being detained for.
"I do not know why they were being detained. We still have not started any rally ... We just wanted to assemble peacefully to go to the Dang Wangi police station to lodge a report against the novel Interlok.
“There was no demonstration. We only came together to make the police report," he told Malaysiakini after the press conference.
Manoharan blasted the police for arresting the leaders and supporters without giving the reasons or justification for their arrests.
He also said that the police seized Jayathas' shirt, that bore the HRP logo.
Jayathas, whom the police later assured would be released, said he will not leave until they return his shirt, said Manoharan.
Selangor slams arrests
Meanwhile, the Selangor government says Selangor residents of all races strongly condemned the arrests made by police prior to the gathering at KLCC today.
In a statement today, exco member Xavier Jayakumar the state government urged the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to free Uthayakumar and the others "immediately" and unconditionally.
"Such large-scale arrests is clearly contrary to the right to assembly as provided for in Article 10 of the federal constitution, the supreme law of the country.
"The Umno-BN government should respect that the Indian community wishes to express their stand on the issue of the novel 'Interlok' by holding a peaceful rally outside KLCC," said Jayakumar.
"We want to emphasise that the International community is watching the government's actions in dealing with the people.
"The government must be reminded that the rise of the people in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain and now in Libya is provoked by the dissatisfaction of the people that has long been oppressed by the government," he said.
Arrested for being Indian
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) also joined the chorus of condemnation over the heavy-handed police action.
“We also have reliable information that many others were arrested simply because they were Indians,” said PSM Secretary General S Arutchelvan in a statement today.
Arutchelvan blasted Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration for their blatant hypocrisy over the arrests just days after lending their support for the Lybian demonstrations.
“Just two days ago, Muhyiddin Yassin called on Libya's leaders to allow the people there to demonstrate peacefully.
“Why then are Hindraf and HRP supporters not allowed to exercise their freedom of speech and assembly here? Why this double standards?” said Arutchelvan.
He pointed out that HRP had already notified the police about the event and of their intentions to proceed to Dang Wangi to lodge a police report.
“If the police would have allowed this peaceful action to be done and negotiated with the organisers, then all this violence, road-blocks and arrest would be unnecessary,” he said.
"I do not know why they were being detained. We still have not started any rally ... We just wanted to assemble peacefully to go to the Dang Wangi police station to lodge a report against the novel Interlok.
“There was no demonstration. We only came together to make the police report," he told Malaysiakini after the press conference.Manoharan blasted the police for arresting the leaders and supporters without giving the reasons or justification for their arrests.
He also said that the police seized Jayathas' shirt, that bore the HRP logo.
Jayathas, whom the police later assured would be released, said he will not leave until they return his shirt, said Manoharan.
Selangor slams arrests
Meanwhile, the Selangor government says Selangor residents of all races strongly condemned the arrests made by police prior to the gathering at KLCC today.
In a statement today, exco member Xavier Jayakumar the state government urged the Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to free Uthayakumar and the others "immediately" and unconditionally."Such large-scale arrests is clearly contrary to the right to assembly as provided for in Article 10 of the federal constitution, the supreme law of the country.
"The Umno-BN government should respect that the Indian community wishes to express their stand on the issue of the novel 'Interlok' by holding a peaceful rally outside KLCC," said Jayakumar.
"We want to emphasise that the International community is watching the government's actions in dealing with the people.
"The government must be reminded that the rise of the people in Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain and now in Libya is provoked by the dissatisfaction of the people that has long been oppressed by the government," he said.
Arrested for being Indian
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) also joined the chorus of condemnation over the heavy-handed police action.
“We also have reliable information that many others were arrested simply because they were Indians,” said PSM Secretary General S Arutchelvan in a statement today.Arutchelvan blasted Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration for their blatant hypocrisy over the arrests just days after lending their support for the Lybian demonstrations.
“Just two days ago, Muhyiddin Yassin called on Libya's leaders to allow the people there to demonstrate peacefully.
“Why then are Hindraf and HRP supporters not allowed to exercise their freedom of speech and assembly here? Why this double standards?” said Arutchelvan.He pointed out that HRP had already notified the police about the event and of their intentions to proceed to Dang Wangi to lodge a police report.
“If the police would have allowed this peaceful action to be done and negotiated with the organisers, then all this violence, road-blocks and arrest would be unnecessary,” he said.
UN slaps sanctions on Libyan regime
The UN Security Council has unanimously imposed travel bans and asset freezes on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, members of his family and inner circle.
Saturday's resolution adopted by the 15-nation council also called for the immediate referral of the deadly crackdown against anti-government demonstrators in Libya to the International Criminal Court in The Hague for investigation and possible prosecution of anyone responsible for killing civilians.
The council demanded an "immediate end to the violence and for steps to address the legitimate demands of the population" in Libya.
It called for Libyan authorities to act "with restraint, respect human rights and international humanitarian law," and facilitate immediate access for international human rights monitors.
The council called for an immediate lifting of restrictions "on all forms of media" and for the safety of foreign nationals to be assured and their departure facilitated.
Under the arms embargo, UN members will take immediate and necessary measures to "prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer to Libya ... of arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment".
Libya would be prohibited from importing all arms and related material and all UN members should prevent their nationals from exporting them.
The travel ban and assets will target the 68-year-old Libyan leader, his adult children, other family members and top defence and intelligence officials accused of playing a role in the bloodshed.
'Moral support'
Sixteen names are on the sanctions list.
The council said its actions were aimed at "deploring the gross and systematic violation of human rights, including the repression of peaceful demonstrators".
And members expressed concern about civilian deaths, "rejecting unequivocally the incitement to hostility and violence against the civilian population made from the highest level of the Libyan government".
The day was consumed mainly with haggling behind closed doors over language that would refer Libya's violent crackdown on protesters to the International Criminal Court, or ICC, at the Hague.
All 15 nations on the council ultimately approved referring the case to the permanent war crimes tribunal.
Council members did not consider imposing a no-fly zone over Libya, and no UN-sanctioned military action was planned.
The Libyan deputy UN envoy described the adoption of sanctions as "moral support" to those resisting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Ibrahim Dabbashi, one of the first Libyan diplomats to denounce Gaddafi and defect, said the council's move "will help put an end to this fascist regime which is still in existence in Tripoli".
Source: Agencies
Hindraf rally: Protestors move on to Jinjang
Police arrested Human Rights Party (HRP) leader P Uthayakumar and erected roadblocks around Kuala Lumpur in the bid to stop an 'anti-racism' rally organised by it and its affiliate Hindraf in the city centre today.
The rally is also aimed at protesting the controversial 'Interlok' novel by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, which has been criticised for containing racial slurs and stereotypes against the Indian and Chinese communities.
Uthayakumar (right), who has been arrested numerous times, including as Hindraf leader, and spent 18 months in detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was today intercepted by the police as he left his apartment in Pantai Hillpark, Kuala Lumpur, at 8am.
“He was handcuffed and taken in a white van,” said Uthayakumar's younger brother, Waythamoorthy from London in an SMS message to Malaysiakini.
According to HRP information chief S Jayathas, Uthayakumar was been brought to the Sentul district police headquarters for questioning.
It is understood that the march is to begin now from the Renaissance Hotel, which is located about one kilometre away from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
In addition to Uthayakumar, scores of other persons suspected of being participants in the rally have also been taken in by the police this morning - seven at KLCC and 10 at the Renaissance Hotel.
Their identities have not yet been ascertained.
As at 10am, it has been estimated that about 100 people have been arrested in various parts of Kuala Lumpur.
The police appeared to be stopping and arresting anyone suspected as Hindraf supporters, especially Indians, who were found walking in the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
Many by-passers have complained that they have been stopped and their bags checked despite having nothing to do with the rally.
Kuala Lumpur locked down
Meanwhile, the police have locked down Kuala Lumpur city centre ahead of the planned demonstration.
Roadblocks, some set up as early as 5.30am, were reported on Jalan Ampang, Jalan Kepong, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Duta–Sungai Buloh Highway, among others.
The march was supposed to have begun at the KLCC, but plans were apparently modified following the large presence of police personnel this morning. It was announced that the march would begin at the Renaissance Hotel at the Jalan Ampang-Jalan Sultan Ismail junction.
Meanwhile, an estimated 200 uniformed and plainclothed police officers - including four trucks with Light Strike Force (LSF) personnel - have been stationed on Jalan Ampang between Avenue K and the Petronas Twin Towers.
Reporters have been told to stay put near the bus stop on the KLCC side, but such directions are intermittently broken when a commotion breaks out elsewhere.
Around 9.15am, about 80 in groups of 10 to 30 HRP/Hindraf supporters marched from Renaissance Hotel towards KLCC, shouting "Makkal Sakthi" and other slogans - were arrested in front of Maya Hotel.
Two Malaysiakini citizen journalists (CJs) Mathavan Velayutham and Thiagarajan Marrapan were arrested while shooting footage of the protest. This was despite the CJs producing their press tags to the cops and wearing their 'Citizen Journalist' T-shirts.
A reporter from Tamil daily Makkal Osai was also among those taken in while reporting on the event.
Kedah HRP chief Ramu Ramasamy and a Penang HRP leader were arrested. Both have been brought to the Sentul district police headquarters.
HRP information chief Jayathas was arrested around 10am and brought to the Jinjang district police headquarters.
According to a police source, 78 people had been arrested up until mid-morning.
Amidst the commotion, a small group of students belonging to the Association of Tamil Students Malaysia, held a small demonstration on Jalan Mayang, off Jalan Ampang, near the Australian High Commission against the Interlok novel. They were dispersed without any arrests.
By about 10.20am, activity at the KLCC area appeared to have died down considerably with police personnel standing down.
The action by this time had moved to the Kootu Malai Pillayar Temple on Jalan Pudu near the Pudu bus station, where about HRP supporters and members have gathered and shouted 'Hindraf Velga!' 'Haramkan Interlok!' and 'Jangan hina kaum India' (Don't insult the Indian community!)
March proceeds to Pudu IPK
They carried banners supporting their anti-racism and anti-Interlok campaign.
After chanting for about half an hour, they proceeded to march towards the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters.
They included about six disabled persons and Kota Alam Shah state representataive M Manoharan.
By about 11.45am, the crowd had swelled to a procession of about 200 moving towards the contingent police headquarters.
Water cannons were seen on standby.
During the march, the police drove two patrol cars into the crowd, forcing the HRP/Hindraf supporters to break up into two lines and onto the sidewalks flanking the road.
Upon arrival at the contingent police headquarters, the demonstrators demanded that Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Amar Singh release those arrested within the hour. Malaysiakini was informed that at least 183 have been arrested over the aborted HRP/Hindraf rally.
Or else, said the demonstrators, they would camp outside the Pudu police station. They made the assurance, however, that they would not block traffic.
Around 12.30pm, the bulk of the crowd at the contingent police headquarters dispersed, leaving behind only about 20 to continue the protest.
Many were headed in the direction of Jinjang district police headquarters, where HRP/Hindraf leader Uthayakumar has been detained.
It was reported that police checkpoints were set up on the way to the station.
Half a dozen police personnel have already stationed themselves at the gate in front of the Jinjang police station in anticipation of the crowd.
A crowd across from the station starts to grow.
The rally is also aimed at protesting the controversial 'Interlok' novel by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, which has been criticised for containing racial slurs and stereotypes against the Indian and Chinese communities.
Uthayakumar (right), who has been arrested numerous times, including as Hindraf leader, and spent 18 months in detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was today intercepted by the police as he left his apartment in Pantai Hillpark, Kuala Lumpur, at 8am.
“He was handcuffed and taken in a white van,” said Uthayakumar's younger brother, Waythamoorthy from London in an SMS message to Malaysiakini.
According to HRP information chief S Jayathas, Uthayakumar was been brought to the Sentul district police headquarters for questioning.
It is understood that the march is to begin now from the Renaissance Hotel, which is located about one kilometre away from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
In addition to Uthayakumar, scores of other persons suspected of being participants in the rally have also been taken in by the police this morning - seven at KLCC and 10 at the Renaissance Hotel.
Their identities have not yet been ascertained.
As at 10am, it has been estimated that about 100 people have been arrested in various parts of Kuala Lumpur.
The police appeared to be stopping and arresting anyone suspected as Hindraf supporters, especially Indians, who were found walking in the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
Many by-passers have complained that they have been stopped and their bags checked despite having nothing to do with the rally.
Kuala Lumpur locked down
Meanwhile, the police have locked down Kuala Lumpur city centre ahead of the planned demonstration.
Roadblocks, some set up as early as 5.30am, were reported on Jalan Ampang, Jalan Kepong, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Duta–Sungai Buloh Highway, among others.
The march was supposed to have begun at the KLCC, but plans were apparently modified following the large presence of police personnel this morning. It was announced that the march would begin at the Renaissance Hotel at the Jalan Ampang-Jalan Sultan Ismail junction.
Meanwhile, an estimated 200 uniformed and plainclothed police officers - including four trucks with Light Strike Force (LSF) personnel - have been stationed on Jalan Ampang between Avenue K and the Petronas Twin Towers.
Reporters have been told to stay put near the bus stop on the KLCC side, but such directions are intermittently broken when a commotion breaks out elsewhere.
Around 9.15am, about 80 in groups of 10 to 30 HRP/Hindraf supporters marched from Renaissance Hotel towards KLCC, shouting "Makkal Sakthi" and other slogans - were arrested in front of Maya Hotel.
Two Malaysiakini citizen journalists (CJs) Mathavan Velayutham and Thiagarajan Marrapan were arrested while shooting footage of the protest. This was despite the CJs producing their press tags to the cops and wearing their 'Citizen Journalist' T-shirts.
A reporter from Tamil daily Makkal Osai was also among those taken in while reporting on the event.
Kedah HRP chief Ramu Ramasamy and a Penang HRP leader were arrested. Both have been brought to the Sentul district police headquarters.
HRP information chief Jayathas was arrested around 10am and brought to the Jinjang district police headquarters.
According to a police source, 78 people had been arrested up until mid-morning.
Amidst the commotion, a small group of students belonging to the Association of Tamil Students Malaysia, held a small demonstration on Jalan Mayang, off Jalan Ampang, near the Australian High Commission against the Interlok novel. They were dispersed without any arrests.
By about 10.20am, activity at the KLCC area appeared to have died down considerably with police personnel standing down.
The action by this time had moved to the Kootu Malai Pillayar Temple on Jalan Pudu near the Pudu bus station, where about HRP supporters and members have gathered and shouted 'Hindraf Velga!' 'Haramkan Interlok!' and 'Jangan hina kaum India' (Don't insult the Indian community!)
March proceeds to Pudu IPK
They carried banners supporting their anti-racism and anti-Interlok campaign.
After chanting for about half an hour, they proceeded to march towards the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters.
They included about six disabled persons and Kota Alam Shah state representataive M Manoharan.
By about 11.45am, the crowd had swelled to a procession of about 200 moving towards the contingent police headquarters.
Water cannons were seen on standby.
During the march, the police drove two patrol cars into the crowd, forcing the HRP/Hindraf supporters to break up into two lines and onto the sidewalks flanking the road.
Upon arrival at the contingent police headquarters, the demonstrators demanded that Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Amar Singh release those arrested within the hour. Malaysiakini was informed that at least 183 have been arrested over the aborted HRP/Hindraf rally.
Or else, said the demonstrators, they would camp outside the Pudu police station. They made the assurance, however, that they would not block traffic.
Around 12.30pm, the bulk of the crowd at the contingent police headquarters dispersed, leaving behind only about 20 to continue the protest.
Many were headed in the direction of Jinjang district police headquarters, where HRP/Hindraf leader Uthayakumar has been detained.
It was reported that police checkpoints were set up on the way to the station.
Half a dozen police personnel have already stationed themselves at the gate in front of the Jinjang police station in anticipation of the crowd.
A crowd across from the station starts to grow.
Uthayakumar arrested ahead of Hindraf protest
(Malaysiakini) Police arrested Human Rights Party (HRP) leader P Uthayakumar and about 109 others and erected roadblocks around Kuala Lumpur in the bid to stop an 'anti-racism' rally organised by it and its affiliate Hindraf in the city centre today.
The rally was also aimed at protesting the controversial 'Interlok' novel by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, which has been criticised for containing racial slurs and stereotypes against the Indian and Chinese communities.Uthayakumar (right), who has been arrested numerous times, including as leader of the banned Hindraf, and spent 18 months in detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was today intercepted by the police as he left his apartment in Pantai Hillpark, Kuala Lumpur, at 8am.
“He was handcuffed and taken in a white van,” said Uthayakumar's younger brother, Waythamoorthy from London in an SMS message to Malaysiakini.
According to HRP information chief S Jayathas, Uthayakumar was been brought to the Sentul district police headquarters for questioning.
“He was handcuffed and taken in a white van,” said Uthayakumar's younger brother, Waythamoorthy from London in an SMS message to Malaysiakini.
According to HRP information chief S Jayathas, Uthayakumar was been brought to the Sentul district police headquarters for questioning.It is understood that the march is to begin now from the Renaissance Hotel, which is located about one kilometre away from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC).
In addition to Uthayakumar, scores of other persons suspected of being participants in the rally have also been taken in by the police this morning - seven at KLCC and 10 at the Renaissance Hotel.
Their identities have not yet been ascertained. As at 10am, it has been estimated that about 100 people have been arrested in various parts of Kuala Lumpur.
The police appeared to be stopping and arresting anyone suspected as Hindraf supporters, especially Indians, who were found walking in the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
Many by-passers have complained that they have been stopped and their bags checked despite having nothing to do with the rally.
Kuala Lumpur locked down
Meanwhile, the police have locked down Kuala Lumpur city centre ahead of the planned demonstration.Roadblocks, some set up as early as 5.30am, were reported on Jalan Ampang, Jalan Kepong, Jalan Cheras, Jalan Tun Razak and Jalan Duta–Sungai Buloh Highway, among others.
The march was supposed to have begun at the KLCC, but plans were apparently modified following the large presence of police personnel this morning. It was announced that the march would begin at the Renaissance Hotel at the Jalan Ampang-Jalan Sultan Ismail junction.
Meanwhile, an estimated 200 uniformed and plainclothed police officers - including four trucks with Light Strike Force (LSF) personnel - have been stationed on Jalan Ampang between Avenue K and the Petronas Twin Towers.Reporters were told to stay put near the bus stop on the KLCC side, but such directions are intermittently broken when a commotion breaks out elsewhere.
Around 9.15am, about 80 in groups of 10 to 30 HRP/Hindraf supporters marched from Renaissance Hotel towards KLCC, shouting "Makkal Sakthi" and other slogans - were arrested in front of Maya Hotel.
Two Malaysiakini citizen journalists (CJs), Mathavan Velayutham and Thiagarajan Marrapan, were arrested while shooting footage of the protest.
This was despite the CJs producing their press tags to the cops and wearing their 'Citizen Journalist' T-shirts.
A reporter from Tamil daily Makkal Osai was also among those taken in while reporting on the event. Kedah HRP chief Ramu Ramasamy and a Penang HRP leader were arrested. Both have been brought to the Sentul district police headquarters.
Former ISA detainee M Manoharan later clarified that Ramasamy and the Penang HRP leader were at Jinjang district police station.
HRP information chief Jayathas was then arrested around 10am and brought to the Jinjang district police headquarters.
According to a police source, 78 people had been arrested up until mid-morning.
Amidst the commotion, a small group of students belonging to the Association of Tamil Students Malaysia, held a small demonstration on Jalan Mayang, off Jalan Ampang, near the Australian High Commission against the Interlok novel. They were dispersed without any arrests.By about 10.20am, activity at the KLCC area appeared to have died down considerably with police personnel standing down.
The action by this time had moved to the Kootu Malai Pillayar Temple on Jalan Pudu near the Pudu bus station, where about HRP supporters and members have gathered and shouted 'Hindraf Valge!' (Long live Hindraf!) 'Haramkan Interlok!' and 'Jangan hina kaum India' (Don't insult the Indian community!)
March proceeds to Pudu IPK
They carried banners supporting their anti-racism and anti-Interlok campaign.
After chanting for about half an hour, they proceeded to march towards the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters.
They included about six disabled persons and Manoharan, who is also Kota Alam Shah state representataive.
By about 11.45am, the crowd had swelled to a procession of about 200 moving towards the contingent police headquarters.
They carried banners supporting their anti-racism and anti-Interlok campaign.After chanting for about half an hour, they proceeded to march towards the Kuala Lumpur contingent police headquarters.
They included about six disabled persons and Manoharan, who is also Kota Alam Shah state representataive.
By about 11.45am, the crowd had swelled to a procession of about 200 moving towards the contingent police headquarters.Water cannon and other Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) trucks were seen on standby at the headquarters.
During the march, the police drove two patrol cars into the crowd, forcing the HRP/Hindraf supporters to break up into two lines and onto the sidewalks flanking the road.
Upon arrival at the contingent police headquarters, the demonstrators demanded that Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Amar Singh release those arrested within the hour. As of 11.40am, according to a police source, at least 183 have been arrested over the aborted HRP/Hindraf rally.
If the police refused to heed their demands, said the demonstrators, they would camp outside the police station. They made the assurance, however, that they would not block traffic.
At a press conference in the police station, meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur police chief Zulkifli Abdullah (left) clarified the number of those arrested was 109, not 183 as earlier reported.
183 was the total number of those picked up in the police operation, including by-passers and curious onlookers. These were later released. Those who were held over involvement in the rally were from the ages 18 to 66 years old, and included eight women and eight HRP leaders, said Zulkifli.
Explaining the police action, Zulkifli (right) said: "We were forced to act to stop those who were planning the gathering as they were still adamant to proceed despite the permit for the gathering being rejected," he said.
Zulkifli also said two men had claimed to be alternative media journalist.
Malaysiakini understands that a group of unidentified persons posing as Malaysiakini journalists with counterfeit press tags, were spotted trying to pick fights with the police at the Kuala Lumpur contingent police station, claiming they were from the news portal.
All of those arrested were being detained and investigated under Section 27(5) of the Police Act, for participation in an illegal assembly, said Zulkifli.
He added that the eight identified as leaders of the HRP were also being investigated under section 45(1) of the Societies Act for being involved in an illegal organisation.
He added that the eight identified as leaders of the HRP were also being investigated under section 45(1) of the Societies Act for being involved in an illegal organisation.
The Kuala Lumpur police chief said that he was disappointed with the people behind the gathering who had proceeded despite being told not to.
Zulkifli said further that he is also grateful to 13 Indian Ngo leaders who had volunteered to talk the Indian community out of participating in the illlegal gathering today.
Zulkifli said further that he is also grateful to 13 Indian Ngo leaders who had volunteered to talk the Indian community out of participating in the illlegal gathering today. Around 12.30pm, the bulk of the crowd at the contingent police headquarters dispersed, leaving behind only about 20 to continue the protest.
Many headed in the direction of Jinjang district police headquarters, where HRP leader Uthayakumar has been detained.
It was reported that police checkpoints were set up on the way to the station. About half a dozen FRU personnel and two dozen uniformed police officers had stationed themselves at the gate inside the Jinjang police station in anticipation of the crowd.
By 4pm the crowd across from the station had grown to over 200, shouting 'Hindraf vaalga!' and other slogans.
'We will stay here until Uthaya is released!' many of them were heard saying.
Sarawak BN may fall like Berlin Wall, says British anti-Taib crusader
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — Barisan Nasional (BN) has held on to power in Sarawak through intimidation, but could still fall just like the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall, said the sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown who has turned into an internet and radio crusader against Tan Sri Taib Mahmud’s administration.Clare Rewcastle Brown, who operates radio station Radio Free Sarawak and blog Sarawak Report from Covent Garden in London, told The Malaysian Insider that “every person I have spoken to is scared of the fact that the BN government will know how they vote.”
But she said that even though voters “face naked threats that BN will withdraw vital services from longhouses that vote against them,” the tide of opinion can subtly change and “wash away the foundations of power without anybody quite realising.”
“The collapse of the Iron Curtain and Berlin Wall took the world by surprise and almost happened overnight,” she said, recalling her experience as a reporter with Sky TV when the wall fell in 1989.
“I remember the shock of it all, as the grip of communist power had seemed so immovable for so long,” said the 51-year-old investigative journalist who began her career with the BBC World Service in 1983.
The Berlin Wall was the physical manifestation of the Iron Curtain, a symbolic partition between the communist and democratic halves of Europe until it fell in 1989, marking the end of the Cold War era and then erosion of communism globally.
Rewcastle-Brown made the comparison between the Iron Curtain and Sarawak in an interview with The Malaysian Insider today.
In the interview, she said that Radio Free Sarawak, which broadcasts to the state over short wave, a long range band of frequencies, has fed what “seems to be such a hunger for news in the jungles of Sarawak ... that they seem to be back tuning in to these old fashioned radios.”
The two media that she publicly took responsibility for on Wednesday, have repeatedly accused Abdul Taib and his administration of corruption and illegitimate political practices.
However, these allegations have also been made by others before and have not prevented the 74-year-old chief minister from holding power for 30 years.
Rewcastle Brown, who was born and raised in Sarawak until the age of eight, added that the opposition parties in the state have also realised that they need to unite and “are now putting normal political bickering and personal ambitions aside.”
Although Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties had ensured straight fights across the peninsular in the 2008 general election, Sarawak saw 15 state seats that were contested by more than two candidates in the 2006 state polls.
However, with state polls expected in April and the assembly’s mandate expiring in July, DAP, PKR, PAS and also the Sarawak Nasional Party (SNAP) have begun negotiations over seat allocations in a bid to ensure one-on-one battles with BN.
Anwar, Nik Aziz traitors to Malays, says Dr M
Two prominent opposition leaders are again in the crosshairs of the acerbic Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
KAMPUNG GAJAH (Perak): Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim and PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat are traitors to the Malays because they are willing to split the community for politics.
He said that Anwar was prepared to cause rifts among the Malays to get support to become prime minister while Nik Aziz regarded people who strived for their community as non-Muslims.
“I don’t know from which hadith (sayings and examples of Prophet Muhammad) or part of the Quran that Nik Aziz got this,” the former prime minister said at a gathering organised by the Perak Malay non-governmental organisation Pekasa.
According to Nik Aziz, said Mahathir, a Malay was not a Muslim unless he was a member of PAS.
“Is this the statement of a sane person?” Mahathir asked.
He added that the Kelantan menteri besar had even said that he was sad that he was born a Malay just to get the sympathy and support of the other communities.
-Bernama
KAMPUNG GAJAH (Perak): Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that PKR adviser Anwar Ibrahim and PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat are traitors to the Malays because they are willing to split the community for politics.
He said that Anwar was prepared to cause rifts among the Malays to get support to become prime minister while Nik Aziz regarded people who strived for their community as non-Muslims.
“I don’t know from which hadith (sayings and examples of Prophet Muhammad) or part of the Quran that Nik Aziz got this,” the former prime minister said at a gathering organised by the Perak Malay non-governmental organisation Pekasa.
According to Nik Aziz, said Mahathir, a Malay was not a Muslim unless he was a member of PAS.
“Is this the statement of a sane person?” Mahathir asked.
He added that the Kelantan menteri besar had even said that he was sad that he was born a Malay just to get the sympathy and support of the other communities.
-Bernama
Withdrawal of Interlok Mandatory
We now have access to the Official “Guidelines for the writing of textbooks” issued by the Text book division of the MOE itself, and on this basis there is no question that failure to observe these guidelines will make it mandatory that the work MUST be withdrawn as a textbook.
By Dr Collin Abraham
We are grateful once again for the opportunity to call for the total withdrawal of Interlok for the main objection stated from day one, namely, that the book does not meet the stringent pedagogic requirements for a text book.
Earlier objections were essentially on the grounds of the failure to identify specific theoretical frameworks, validity and reliability of the book material and methodology.
However we now have access to the Official “Guidelines for the writing of textbooks” issued by the Text book division of the MOE itself, and on this basis there is no question that failure to observe these guidelines will make it mandatory that the work MUST be withdrawn as a textbook.
The Chairman of the Panel, appointed to advise on the status of the book, is virtually certain to have pointed out to members that almost ALL the guidelines for a text book WERE NOT OBSERVED in the publication of INTERLOK.
The following criteria from the Guidelines should make this position absolutely clear.
1. Firstly and more specifically “Sensitive Elements and Negative elements” such as stipulated below MUST NOT be included.
“Matters which may be misconstrued, discriminatory, deemed insulting or offensive as pertaining to race, religion, culture, gender age or occupation.”
“Matters pertaining to attitudes, thoughts, and behaviour which are contrary to values in the society”
The book in fact abounds with a multitude of such sensitive and negative elements to the extent that it has been referred to as “a classic work of Malaysian racism”.
2. Other matters that MUST BE observed include the inculcation of “noble values and positive thinking”.
The ethnic and racial stereotyping that runs through the entire work totally negates and ignores this guideline.
3. The factual material must be “accurate in content and be consistent” The facts must be “valid based on ICT methods and must be reliable in theory and practice”.
The work is a fictional and imaginative novel and therefore these dimensions do not apply in the first place.
4. An important dimension repeatedly emphasized the need for critical thinking provisions stated as follows;
This should be “the platform for teaching and learning so as to stimulate and develop pupil’s imagination through thinking strategies and creative thinking”.
The book makes no attempt whatsoever to adhere to this guideline.
It would be tedious to comment on the very many submissions that the book should be retained. There may however be some reservations as to the implications and negative impact of the total withdrawal of this book in the context of national integration.
On the other hand, the government will be judged on the basis of making the final decision enhancing good governance with the important proviso that this unfortunate situation does not happen again.
By Dr Collin Abraham
We are grateful once again for the opportunity to call for the total withdrawal of Interlok for the main objection stated from day one, namely, that the book does not meet the stringent pedagogic requirements for a text book.
Earlier objections were essentially on the grounds of the failure to identify specific theoretical frameworks, validity and reliability of the book material and methodology.
However we now have access to the Official “Guidelines for the writing of textbooks” issued by the Text book division of the MOE itself, and on this basis there is no question that failure to observe these guidelines will make it mandatory that the work MUST be withdrawn as a textbook.
The Chairman of the Panel, appointed to advise on the status of the book, is virtually certain to have pointed out to members that almost ALL the guidelines for a text book WERE NOT OBSERVED in the publication of INTERLOK.
The following criteria from the Guidelines should make this position absolutely clear.
1. Firstly and more specifically “Sensitive Elements and Negative elements” such as stipulated below MUST NOT be included.
“Matters which may be misconstrued, discriminatory, deemed insulting or offensive as pertaining to race, religion, culture, gender age or occupation.”
“Matters pertaining to attitudes, thoughts, and behaviour which are contrary to values in the society”
The book in fact abounds with a multitude of such sensitive and negative elements to the extent that it has been referred to as “a classic work of Malaysian racism”.
2. Other matters that MUST BE observed include the inculcation of “noble values and positive thinking”.
The ethnic and racial stereotyping that runs through the entire work totally negates and ignores this guideline.
3. The factual material must be “accurate in content and be consistent” The facts must be “valid based on ICT methods and must be reliable in theory and practice”.
The work is a fictional and imaginative novel and therefore these dimensions do not apply in the first place.
4. An important dimension repeatedly emphasized the need for critical thinking provisions stated as follows;
This should be “the platform for teaching and learning so as to stimulate and develop pupil’s imagination through thinking strategies and creative thinking”.
The book makes no attempt whatsoever to adhere to this guideline.
It would be tedious to comment on the very many submissions that the book should be retained. There may however be some reservations as to the implications and negative impact of the total withdrawal of this book in the context of national integration.
On the other hand, the government will be judged on the basis of making the final decision enhancing good governance with the important proviso that this unfortunate situation does not happen again.
The destiny of this pageant lies in the Kingdom of Oil
by Robert Fisk, Independent.co.uk
The Middle East earthquake of the past five weeks has been the most tumultuous, shattering, mind-numbing experience in the history of the region since the fall of the Ottoman empire. For once, “shock and awe” was the right description.
The docile, supine, unregenerative, cringing Arabs of Orientalism have transformed themselves into fighters for the freedom, liberty and dignity which we Westerners have always assumed it was our unique role to play in the world. One after another, our satraps are falling, and the people we paid them to control are making their own history – our right to meddle in their affairs (which we will, of course, continue to exercise) has been diminished for ever.
The tectonic plates continue to shift, with tragic, brave – even blackly humorous – results. Countless are the Arab potentates who always claimed they wanted democracy in the Middle East. King Bashar of Syria is to improve public servants’ pay. King Bouteflika of Algeria has suddenly abandoned the country’s state of emergency. King Hamad of Bahrain has opened the doors of his prisons. King Bashir of Sudan will not stand for president again. King Abdullah of Jordan is studying the idea of a constitutional monarchy. And al-Qa’ida are, well, rather silent.
Who would have believed that the old man in the cave would suddenly have to step outside, dazzled, blinded by the sunlight of freedom rather than the Manichean darkness to which his eyes had become accustomed. Martyrs there were aplenty across the Muslim world – but not an Islamist banner to be seen. The young men and women bringing an end to their torment of dictators were mostly Muslims, but the human spirit was greater than the desire for death. They are Believers, yes – but they got there first, toppling Mubarak while Bin Laden’s henchmen still called for his overthrow on outdated videotapes.
But now a warning. It’s not over. We are experiencing today that warm, slightly clammy feeling before the thunder and lightning break out. Gaddafi’s final horror movie has yet to end, albeit with that terrible mix of farce and blood to which we are accustomed in the Middle East. And his impending doom is, needless to say, throwing into ever-sharper perspective the vile fawning of our own potentates. Berlusconi – who in many respects is already a ghastly mockery of Gaddafi himself – and Sarkozy, and Lord Blair of Isfahan are turning out to look even shabbier than we believed. Those faith-based eyes blessed Gaddafi the murderer. I did write at the time that Blair and Straw had forgotten the “whoops” factor, the reality that this weird light bulb was absolutely bonkers and would undoubtedly perform some other terrible act to shame our masters. And sure enough, every journalist is now going to have to add “Mr Blair’s office did not return our call” to his laptop keyboard.
Everyone is now telling Egypt to follow the “Turkish model” – this seems to involve a pleasant cocktail of democracy and carefully controlled Islam. But if this is true, Egypt’s army will keep an unwanted, undemocratic eye on its people for decades to come. As lawyer Ali Ezzatyar has pointed out, “Egypt’s military leaders have spoken of threats to the “Egyptian way of life”… in a not so subtle reference to threats from the Muslim Brotherhood. This can be seen as a page taken from the Turkish playbook.” The Turkish army turned up as kingmakers four times in modern Turkish history. And who but the Egyptian army, makers of Nasser, constructors of Sadat, got rid of the ex-army general Mubarak when the game was up?
And democracy – the real, unfettered, flawed but brilliant version which we in the West have so far lovingly (and rightly) cultivated for ourselves – is not going, in the Arab world, to rest happy with Israel’s pernicious treatment of Palestinians and its land theft in the West Bank. Now no longer the “only democracy in the Middle East”, Israel argued desperately – in company with Saudi Arabia, for heaven’s sake – that it was necessary to maintain Mubarak’s tyranny. It pressed the Muslim Brotherhood button in Washington and built up the usual Israeli lobby fear quotient to push Obama and La Clinton off the rails yet again. Faced with pro-democracy protesters in the lands of oppression, they duly went on backing the oppressors until it was too late. I love “orderly transition”. The “order” bit says it all. Only Israeli journalist Gideon Levy got it right. “We should be saying ‘Mabrouk Misr!’,” he said. Congratulations, Egypt!
Yet in Bahrain, I had a depressing experience. King Hamad and Crown Prince Salman have been bowing to their 70 per cent (80 per cent?) Shia population, opening prison doors, promising constitutional reforms. So I asked a government official in Manama if this was really possible. Why not have an elected prime minister instead of a member of the Khalifa royal family? He clucked his tongue. “Impossible,” he said. “The GCC would never permit this.” For GCC – the Gulf Co-operation Council – read Saudi Arabia. And here, I am afraid, our tale grows darker.
We pay too little attention to this autocratic band of robber princes; we think they are archaic, illiterate in modern politics, wealthy (yes, “beyond the dreams of Croesus”, etc), and we laughed when King Abdullah offered to make up any fall in bailouts from Washington to the Mubarak regime, and we laugh now when the old king promises $36bn to his citizens to keep their mouths shut. But this is no laughing matter. The Arab revolt which finally threw the Ottomans out of the Arab world started in the deserts of Arabia, its tribesmen trusting Lawrence and McMahon and the rest of our gang. And from Arabia came Wahabism, the deep and inebriating potion – white foam on the top of the black stuff – whose ghastly simplicity appealed to every would-be Islamist and suicide bomber in the Sunni Muslim world. The Saudis fostered Osama bin Laden and al-Qa’ida and the Taliban. Let us not even mention that they provided most of the 9/11 bombers. And the Saudis will now believe they are the only Muslims still in arms against the brightening world. I have an unhappy suspicion that the destiny of this pageant of Middle East history unfolding before us will be decided in the kingdom of oil, holy places and corruption. Watch out.
But a lighter note. I’ve been hunting for the most memorable quotations from the Arab revolution. We’ve had “Come back, Mr President, we were only kidding” from an anti-Mubarak demonstrator. And we’ve had Saif el-Islam el-Gaddafi’s Goebbels-style speech: “Forget oil, forget gas – there will be civil war.” My very own favourite, selfish and personal quotation came when my old friend Tom Friedman of The New York Times joined me for breakfast in Cairo with his usual disarming smile. “Fisky,” he said, “this Egyptian came up to me in Tahrir Square yesterday, and asked me if I was Robert Fisk!” Now that’s what I call a revolution.
The Middle East earthquake of the past five weeks has been the most tumultuous, shattering, mind-numbing experience in the history of the region since the fall of the Ottoman empire. For once, “shock and awe” was the right description.
The docile, supine, unregenerative, cringing Arabs of Orientalism have transformed themselves into fighters for the freedom, liberty and dignity which we Westerners have always assumed it was our unique role to play in the world. One after another, our satraps are falling, and the people we paid them to control are making their own history – our right to meddle in their affairs (which we will, of course, continue to exercise) has been diminished for ever.
The tectonic plates continue to shift, with tragic, brave – even blackly humorous – results. Countless are the Arab potentates who always claimed they wanted democracy in the Middle East. King Bashar of Syria is to improve public servants’ pay. King Bouteflika of Algeria has suddenly abandoned the country’s state of emergency. King Hamad of Bahrain has opened the doors of his prisons. King Bashir of Sudan will not stand for president again. King Abdullah of Jordan is studying the idea of a constitutional monarchy. And al-Qa’ida are, well, rather silent.
Who would have believed that the old man in the cave would suddenly have to step outside, dazzled, blinded by the sunlight of freedom rather than the Manichean darkness to which his eyes had become accustomed. Martyrs there were aplenty across the Muslim world – but not an Islamist banner to be seen. The young men and women bringing an end to their torment of dictators were mostly Muslims, but the human spirit was greater than the desire for death. They are Believers, yes – but they got there first, toppling Mubarak while Bin Laden’s henchmen still called for his overthrow on outdated videotapes.
But now a warning. It’s not over. We are experiencing today that warm, slightly clammy feeling before the thunder and lightning break out. Gaddafi’s final horror movie has yet to end, albeit with that terrible mix of farce and blood to which we are accustomed in the Middle East. And his impending doom is, needless to say, throwing into ever-sharper perspective the vile fawning of our own potentates. Berlusconi – who in many respects is already a ghastly mockery of Gaddafi himself – and Sarkozy, and Lord Blair of Isfahan are turning out to look even shabbier than we believed. Those faith-based eyes blessed Gaddafi the murderer. I did write at the time that Blair and Straw had forgotten the “whoops” factor, the reality that this weird light bulb was absolutely bonkers and would undoubtedly perform some other terrible act to shame our masters. And sure enough, every journalist is now going to have to add “Mr Blair’s office did not return our call” to his laptop keyboard.
Everyone is now telling Egypt to follow the “Turkish model” – this seems to involve a pleasant cocktail of democracy and carefully controlled Islam. But if this is true, Egypt’s army will keep an unwanted, undemocratic eye on its people for decades to come. As lawyer Ali Ezzatyar has pointed out, “Egypt’s military leaders have spoken of threats to the “Egyptian way of life”… in a not so subtle reference to threats from the Muslim Brotherhood. This can be seen as a page taken from the Turkish playbook.” The Turkish army turned up as kingmakers four times in modern Turkish history. And who but the Egyptian army, makers of Nasser, constructors of Sadat, got rid of the ex-army general Mubarak when the game was up?
And democracy – the real, unfettered, flawed but brilliant version which we in the West have so far lovingly (and rightly) cultivated for ourselves – is not going, in the Arab world, to rest happy with Israel’s pernicious treatment of Palestinians and its land theft in the West Bank. Now no longer the “only democracy in the Middle East”, Israel argued desperately – in company with Saudi Arabia, for heaven’s sake – that it was necessary to maintain Mubarak’s tyranny. It pressed the Muslim Brotherhood button in Washington and built up the usual Israeli lobby fear quotient to push Obama and La Clinton off the rails yet again. Faced with pro-democracy protesters in the lands of oppression, they duly went on backing the oppressors until it was too late. I love “orderly transition”. The “order” bit says it all. Only Israeli journalist Gideon Levy got it right. “We should be saying ‘Mabrouk Misr!’,” he said. Congratulations, Egypt!
Yet in Bahrain, I had a depressing experience. King Hamad and Crown Prince Salman have been bowing to their 70 per cent (80 per cent?) Shia population, opening prison doors, promising constitutional reforms. So I asked a government official in Manama if this was really possible. Why not have an elected prime minister instead of a member of the Khalifa royal family? He clucked his tongue. “Impossible,” he said. “The GCC would never permit this.” For GCC – the Gulf Co-operation Council – read Saudi Arabia. And here, I am afraid, our tale grows darker.
We pay too little attention to this autocratic band of robber princes; we think they are archaic, illiterate in modern politics, wealthy (yes, “beyond the dreams of Croesus”, etc), and we laughed when King Abdullah offered to make up any fall in bailouts from Washington to the Mubarak regime, and we laugh now when the old king promises $36bn to his citizens to keep their mouths shut. But this is no laughing matter. The Arab revolt which finally threw the Ottomans out of the Arab world started in the deserts of Arabia, its tribesmen trusting Lawrence and McMahon and the rest of our gang. And from Arabia came Wahabism, the deep and inebriating potion – white foam on the top of the black stuff – whose ghastly simplicity appealed to every would-be Islamist and suicide bomber in the Sunni Muslim world. The Saudis fostered Osama bin Laden and al-Qa’ida and the Taliban. Let us not even mention that they provided most of the 9/11 bombers. And the Saudis will now believe they are the only Muslims still in arms against the brightening world. I have an unhappy suspicion that the destiny of this pageant of Middle East history unfolding before us will be decided in the kingdom of oil, holy places and corruption. Watch out.
But a lighter note. I’ve been hunting for the most memorable quotations from the Arab revolution. We’ve had “Come back, Mr President, we were only kidding” from an anti-Mubarak demonstrator. And we’ve had Saif el-Islam el-Gaddafi’s Goebbels-style speech: “Forget oil, forget gas – there will be civil war.” My very own favourite, selfish and personal quotation came when my old friend Tom Friedman of The New York Times joined me for breakfast in Cairo with his usual disarming smile. “Fisky,” he said, “this Egyptian came up to me in Tahrir Square yesterday, and asked me if I was Robert Fisk!” Now that’s what I call a revolution.
97 Quit PKR
GEORGE TOWN, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Ninety-seven Parti Keadilan Rakyat members from Bayan Baru and Tanjong here have left the part, expressing disappointment with the leadership.
They applied Saturday to join KIMMA, the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress which is an associate member of Umno.
Their spokesman, Mohamed Ibrahim A. Siahoo, said the PKR leadership had not kept its promise to serve the people, especially Indian Muslims.
"Our decision is rational and not forced by any party, he told reporters after he and the others submitted their application forms to join KIMMA.
"All promises to look after the welfare of Indian Muslims have not been kept and we believe that KIMMA can strive for our cause," he added.
He said the group included youth and women leaders.
KIMMA president Datuk Syed Ibrahim Kader said he understood the problems that Indian Muslims had in opposition parties.
"I urge them to join KIMMA because only KIMMA can represent the interests of Indian Muslims," he said.
Chairman of the Penang Umno liaison committee Datuk Zainal Abdidin Osman, who was present, congratulated the group for leaving the opposition party.
They applied Saturday to join KIMMA, the Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress which is an associate member of Umno.
Their spokesman, Mohamed Ibrahim A. Siahoo, said the PKR leadership had not kept its promise to serve the people, especially Indian Muslims.
"Our decision is rational and not forced by any party, he told reporters after he and the others submitted their application forms to join KIMMA.
"All promises to look after the welfare of Indian Muslims have not been kept and we believe that KIMMA can strive for our cause," he added.
He said the group included youth and women leaders.
KIMMA president Datuk Syed Ibrahim Kader said he understood the problems that Indian Muslims had in opposition parties.
"I urge them to join KIMMA because only KIMMA can represent the interests of Indian Muslims," he said.
Chairman of the Penang Umno liaison committee Datuk Zainal Abdidin Osman, who was present, congratulated the group for leaving the opposition party.
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Homosexual UMNO Minister in Najib's Current Cabinet ??
UMNO Ministers from Johore in Najib's Cabinet ?
1. Muhyiddin Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister, UMNO MP for Pagoh Johore
2. Hishamuddin Hussein, Minister of Home Affairs, UMNO MP for Sembrong. Johore
3. Mohamad Khaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, UMNO MP for Pasir Gudang, Johore
4. ???
If the article says it is NOT Hishamuddin, then WHO?
Yet the Image with the black-out face does not correspond with that of DPM Muhyiddin Yassin and Minister of Higher Education, Mohamad Khaled Nordin.
-- END OF UPDATE ----
Read here for more in "Another Brick in the Wall" Blog
A Gay Minister in (Najib's) Cabinet and ( he is ) a Johorean ...
(see HERE above photo in "Another Brick in the Wall" blog)
Excerpts:
Sodomy is a crime punishable by imprisonment (in Malaysia).
Back in 1998, Tun Dr Mahathir dismiss him (Anwar Ibrahim) from Cabinet on a justifiable reason of moral and indecent behaviour before Anwar was brought to trial.
Will Najib dismiss a member of his cabinet if found to be gay?
There is a Cabinet Minister from Johor that is in the habit of going out socially with pretty young boys to restaurants and nite clubs in Kuala Lumpur and Johor baru.
Source from his UMNO Division described him as intimately close with his Political Secretary, described as jambu by fellow youth member in the Division.
The Minister could be seen as touching the thigh of his Setpol and massaging his neck and shoulders with soft sensuous touch that made those witnessing as uncomfortable.
One reliable source claim that there is a particular pretty boy that is particularly close with the Minister.
The pretty boy used to work at the corporate affair department of a major Bank in Kuala Lumpur but have moved to an International Investment company.
The source claim to personally view an intimate telephone conversation between the 20 -something former bank corporate affair officer and the Minister on the other side of the conversation.
The source verified the handphone number at the receiving end.
The conversation was intimate as they talked about indiscreet subject like performing the mandi wajib. The pretty boy was so close with the Minister that he could request for RM20,000 with ease.
The pretty boy revealed to our source that he used to meet the Minister at Nikko Hotel. He had laid bare his shirt to massage the Minister.
But the source's story stop short at the interesting part. There will be no name revealed.
The story is already much talked within UMNO Johor. Don't tell me Najib doesn't know. In case he doesn't, he should get this investigated.
If Anwar had to face many ordeals for his criminal sexual orientation, this Minister can't stay on. He could be a major embarrassment to Najib's transformational cabinet.
Morality must never be set aside.
-"Another Brick in the Wall"
We Ask,
Is THIS the same person shown BELOW who the blogger in "Another Brick in the Wall" refers to (based on the image posted on the same blog)?
(Above photo appeared in the news article entitled ,"Hishammuddin wants explanation from China Press" in Malaysiakini dated 13, March, 2010)
or See above photo in the same article reposted on Kamal-Talks blog :
http://kamal-talksmalaysia.blogspot.com/2010/03/hishammuddin-wants-explanation-from.html
The Same UMNO Minister (below) with the Keris
Threatening the Non-Malays at the UMNO General Assembly ??
Posted by Malaysian Unplug @ 19:47
1. Muhyiddin Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister, UMNO MP for Pagoh Johore
2. Hishamuddin Hussein, Minister of Home Affairs, UMNO MP for Sembrong. Johore
3. Mohamad Khaled Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, UMNO MP for Pasir Gudang, Johore
4. ???
If the article says it is NOT Hishamuddin, then WHO?
Yet the Image with the black-out face does not correspond with that of DPM Muhyiddin Yassin and Minister of Higher Education, Mohamad Khaled Nordin.
-- END OF UPDATE ----
Read here for more in "Another Brick in the Wall" Blog
A Gay Minister in (Najib's) Cabinet and ( he is ) a Johorean ...
(see HERE above photo in "Another Brick in the Wall" blog)
Excerpts:
Sodomy is a crime punishable by imprisonment (in Malaysia).
Back in 1998, Tun Dr Mahathir dismiss him (Anwar Ibrahim) from Cabinet on a justifiable reason of moral and indecent behaviour before Anwar was brought to trial.
Will Najib dismiss a member of his cabinet if found to be gay?
There is a Cabinet Minister from Johor that is in the habit of going out socially with pretty young boys to restaurants and nite clubs in Kuala Lumpur and Johor baru.
Source from his UMNO Division described him as intimately close with his Political Secretary, described as jambu by fellow youth member in the Division.
The Minister could be seen as touching the thigh of his Setpol and massaging his neck and shoulders with soft sensuous touch that made those witnessing as uncomfortable.
One reliable source claim that there is a particular pretty boy that is particularly close with the Minister.
The pretty boy used to work at the corporate affair department of a major Bank in Kuala Lumpur but have moved to an International Investment company.
The source claim to personally view an intimate telephone conversation between the 20 -something former bank corporate affair officer and the Minister on the other side of the conversation.
The source verified the handphone number at the receiving end.
The conversation was intimate as they talked about indiscreet subject like performing the mandi wajib. The pretty boy was so close with the Minister that he could request for RM20,000 with ease.
The pretty boy revealed to our source that he used to meet the Minister at Nikko Hotel. He had laid bare his shirt to massage the Minister.
But the source's story stop short at the interesting part. There will be no name revealed.
The story is already much talked within UMNO Johor. Don't tell me Najib doesn't know. In case he doesn't, he should get this investigated.
If Anwar had to face many ordeals for his criminal sexual orientation, this Minister can't stay on. He could be a major embarrassment to Najib's transformational cabinet.
Morality must never be set aside.
-"Another Brick in the Wall"
We Ask,
Is THIS the same person shown BELOW who the blogger in "Another Brick in the Wall" refers to (based on the image posted on the same blog)?
(Above photo appeared in the news article entitled ,"Hishammuddin wants explanation from China Press" in Malaysiakini dated 13, March, 2010)
or See above photo in the same article reposted on Kamal-Talks blog :
http://kamal-talksmalaysia.blogspot.com/2010/03/hishammuddin-wants-explanation-from.html
Threatening the Non-Malays at the UMNO General Assembly ??
IGP pantau kumpulan Hindraf
Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein telah meminta Ketua Polis Negara Tan Sri Ismail Omar untuk memantau secara peribadi dan mengambil tindakan tegas jika kumpulan Hindraf mencetuskan kekecohan di negara ini.
"Saya telah minta Ketua Polis Negara memantau dan mengambil tindakan secara langsung...beliau akan bertanggungjawab untuk pastikan gerakan haram ini tidak menjejaskan keadaan dan suasana," kata Hishammuddin ketika ditemui selepas proses penamaan calon pilihan raya kecil DUN Kerdau di Dewan Tun Razak, Majlis Perbandaran Temerloh hari ini.
Beliau diminta mengulas kenyataan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yang mengarahkan pihak berkuasa agar mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap Hindraf bagi memastikan pertubuhan haram itu tidak muncul kembali.
Hindraf dilapor merancang mengadakan perarakan raksasa di ibu negara esok dari Pusat Konvensyen Kuala Lumpur (KLCC) hingga ke Jalan Dang Wangi.
Hishammuddin berkata, Hindraf dilihat cuba mewujudkan suasana seperti di negara Timur Tengah namun ia tidak mendapat sambutan orang ramai.
"Kita tahu niat dan hasrat mereka, kita tahu ada pihak-pihak tertentu yang nak cuba membawa sentimen yang kita lihat berlaku di Timur Tengah ke sini, tetapi keadaan di sini berbeza dan tidak menjurus ke arah itu," katanya.
Dalam pada itu, Ismail berkata, polis akan mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap mereka yang masih berdegil untuk menyertai perhimpunan haram itu esok.
Beliau berkata perhimpunan itu tidak mendapat permit polis.
Katanya perhimpunan itu akan memberi kesan buruk terutamanya dari aspek keselamatan dan ketenteraman awam terutama apabila kawasan berkenaan menjadi tumpuan ramai pada hujung minggu.
"Kepada pihak yang terlibat dengan perhimpunan ini, saya ingatkan janganlah diadakan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan tapak Surau Baitul Rahman di Taman Perumahan Aman Perdana di Klang.
Terdahulu, dalam ucapannya Ismail berkata ancaman seperti hasutan dan tuntutan tertentu yang melampau memberi kesan tidak baik dan boleh menggugat ketenteraman awam.
- Bernama
"Saya telah minta Ketua Polis Negara memantau dan mengambil tindakan secara langsung...beliau akan bertanggungjawab untuk pastikan gerakan haram ini tidak menjejaskan keadaan dan suasana," kata Hishammuddin ketika ditemui selepas proses penamaan calon pilihan raya kecil DUN Kerdau di Dewan Tun Razak, Majlis Perbandaran Temerloh hari ini.
Beliau diminta mengulas kenyataan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yang mengarahkan pihak berkuasa agar mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap Hindraf bagi memastikan pertubuhan haram itu tidak muncul kembali.
Hindraf dilapor merancang mengadakan perarakan raksasa di ibu negara esok dari Pusat Konvensyen Kuala Lumpur (KLCC) hingga ke Jalan Dang Wangi.
Hishammuddin berkata, Hindraf dilihat cuba mewujudkan suasana seperti di negara Timur Tengah namun ia tidak mendapat sambutan orang ramai.
"Kita tahu niat dan hasrat mereka, kita tahu ada pihak-pihak tertentu yang nak cuba membawa sentimen yang kita lihat berlaku di Timur Tengah ke sini, tetapi keadaan di sini berbeza dan tidak menjurus ke arah itu," katanya.
Dalam pada itu, Ismail berkata, polis akan mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap mereka yang masih berdegil untuk menyertai perhimpunan haram itu esok.
Beliau berkata perhimpunan itu tidak mendapat permit polis.
Katanya perhimpunan itu akan memberi kesan buruk terutamanya dari aspek keselamatan dan ketenteraman awam terutama apabila kawasan berkenaan menjadi tumpuan ramai pada hujung minggu.
"Kepada pihak yang terlibat dengan perhimpunan ini, saya ingatkan janganlah diadakan," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan tapak Surau Baitul Rahman di Taman Perumahan Aman Perdana di Klang.
Terdahulu, dalam ucapannya Ismail berkata ancaman seperti hasutan dan tuntutan tertentu yang melampau memberi kesan tidak baik dan boleh menggugat ketenteraman awam.
- Bernama
Sky News has met the family of an 11-year-old Libyan girl killed by Colonel Gaddafi's forces during clashes in the eastern town of Al Bayda.
Her uncle told Sky News that he hopes some good will come from her death and people will become united and want to liberate their own country.
Tanks were ripped open by anti-Gaddafi protesters as they battled elite forces for control of the streets.
Sky has also seen evidence the dictator employed mercenaries from Africa to fight the protesters.
Anti-government demonstrators showed the ID card of a man from Mali they claimed was one of the mercenaries.
This 11-year-old girl was killed by pro-government forces
Libya protests: The Gaddafi family tree
Pressure mounts on Libya's Gaddafi
Internal and international pressure is mounting on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to stand down from power as protests continue against his 42-year rule.
Within the country, anti-government protesters said the demonstrations were gaining support, and footage believed to be filmed on Friday appeared to show soldiers in uniform joining the protesters.
The footage showed soldiers being carried on the shoulders of demonstrators in the city of Az Zawiyah, after having reportedly turned against the government - a scene activists said is being repeated across the country.
Al Jazeera, however, is unable to independently verify the content of the video, which was obtained
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Our correspondent in Libya reported on Friday that army commanders in the east who had renounced Gaddafi's leadership had told her that military commanders in the country's west were also beginning to turn against him.
They warned, however, that the Khamis Brigade, an army special forces brigade that is loyal to the Gaddafi family and is equipped with sophisticated weaponry, is currently still fighting anti-government forces.
Our correspondent, who cannot be named for security reasons, said that despite the gains, people are anxious about what Gaddafi might do next, and the fact that his loyalists were still at large.Abu Yousef, speaking from the town of Tajoura, told Al Jazeera on Saturday that live ammunition was being used against anti-government protesters.
"Security forces are also searching houses in the area and killing those who they accuse of being against the government," he said.
Crackdown after prayers
Security forces loyal to Gaddafi reportedly also opened fire on anti-government protesters in the capital, Tripoli, after prayers on Friday.
Heavy gun fire was reported in the districts of Fashloum, Ashour, Jumhouria and Souq Al, sources told Al Jazeera.
The offensive came after Gaddafi appeared in Tripoli's Green Square on Friday, to address a crowd of his supporters.
The speech, which also referred to Libya's war of independence with Italy, appeared to be aimed at rallying what remains of his support base, with specific reference to the country's youth.
An earlier speech, on Thursday evening had been made by phone, leading to speculation about his physical condition. But the footage aired on Friday showed the leader standing above the square, waving his fist as he spoke.
In the rooftop address Gaddafi urged his supporters below to "defend Libya".
"If needs be, we will open all the arsenals. We will fight them and we will beat them," he said.
International condemnation
The eastern region of the oil-rich North African nation is now believed to be largely free of Gaddafi control since the popular uprising began on February 14, with protests in the city of Benghazi inspired by revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia.
Hundreds of people have been killed in a brutal crackdown on the protests, though the official death toll remains unclear.
The crackdown has sparked international condemnation, with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, becoming the first world leader to openly demand Gaddafi's ouster.
Meanwhile, as Western governments scrambled to craft a collective response to the unrest, the United States said it was moving ahead with sanctions against the regime.
Barack Obama, the US president, issued an executive order, seizing assets and blocking any property in the United States belonging to Gaddafi or his four sons.
In a statement, Obama said the measures were specifically targeted against the Gaddafi government and not the wealth of the Libyan people.
The European Union also agreed to impose an arms embargo, asset freezes and travel bans on Libya.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said on Friday that decisive action by the Security Council against the crackdown must be taken, warning that any delay would add to the growing death toll which he said now came to over 1,000.
The official death toll in the violence remains unclear. Francois Zimeray, France's top human rights official, said on Thursday that it could be as high as 2,000 people killed.
Ban's call, as well as an emotional speech by the Libyan ambassador to the United Nations, prompted the council to order a special meeting on Saturday to consider a sanctions resolution against Gaddafi.
Britain, France, Germany and the United States have drawn up a resolution which says the attacks on civilians could amount to crimes against humanity. It calls for an arms embargo and a travel ban and assets freeze against Gaddafi, and members of his government.
Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
HRP rally to proceed tomorrow despite no permit
The Human Rights Party-planned rally will still continue tomorrow despite the red light from the police and the government.
“It's still on. There are no changes,” said information chief S Jayathas.
When speaking to Malaysiakini, he said that the government had repeatedly rejected their applications for a police permit.
Jayathas said that letters have been sent to the inspector-general of police, the Home Ministry as well as the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself.
“There is no response from any of them,” he said.
Undeterred, HRP is taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur tomorrow morning in a battle which they had hoped to be a repeat of the November 2007 Hindraf rally which saw 30,000 protestors.
Back then, the Hindu Rights Action Force had organised one of the biggest demonstrations in the nation's capital in recent times, a culmination of long-standing Indian dissatisfaction over marginalisation.
Hindraf was subsequently banned with five of its leaders detained under the Internal Security Act. They have all since been released and some have gone on to rebrand themselves as HRP.
But conceding that tomorrow's event may not attract as much participation as the historic 2007 rally, organisers are more conservative with their expectation.
Jayathas said that they hoping that “two or three thousand” would come out to protest against what they claim, “institutionalised racism in Malaysia for the past 56 years”.
“The Indians are systematically denied minority rights. Malaysia is the most racist country in the world. Apartheid has already ended in South Africa but we still have it in Malaysia.
“We're not asking for special rights but we just want equal opportunity,” he said.
Police: Protest at your own peril
Despite much build-up to the rally, the police have repeatedly issued stern warnings against the party and would-be protestors.
The Kuala Lumpur police chief Zulkefli Abdullah also insisted that no permit will be issued for the public gathering.
“I think I have made myself very clear in my statement (sent two days ago),” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.
On Thursday, he had said legal action would be taken against anyone involved in the gathering, but the police would consider issuing a permit if the HRP were to move their rally indoors where there is no “likelihood of a situation being created that would jeopardise public order”.
HRP plans to march tomorrow from Jalan Sultan Ismail to the KL city centre, where they will lodge a police report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters against Umno over the party's 'racism'.
“It's still on. There are no changes,” said information chief S Jayathas.When speaking to Malaysiakini, he said that the government had repeatedly rejected their applications for a police permit.
Jayathas said that letters have been sent to the inspector-general of police, the Home Ministry as well as the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself.
“There is no response from any of them,” he said.
Undeterred, HRP is taking to the streets of Kuala Lumpur tomorrow morning in a battle which they had hoped to be a repeat of the November 2007 Hindraf rally which saw 30,000 protestors.
Back then, the Hindu Rights Action Force had organised one of the biggest demonstrations in the nation's capital in recent times, a culmination of long-standing Indian dissatisfaction over marginalisation.
Hindraf was subsequently banned with five of its leaders detained under the Internal Security Act. They have all since been released and some have gone on to rebrand themselves as HRP.
But conceding that tomorrow's event may not attract as much participation as the historic 2007 rally, organisers are more conservative with their expectation.Jayathas said that they hoping that “two or three thousand” would come out to protest against what they claim, “institutionalised racism in Malaysia for the past 56 years”.
“The Indians are systematically denied minority rights. Malaysia is the most racist country in the world. Apartheid has already ended in South Africa but we still have it in Malaysia.
“We're not asking for special rights but we just want equal opportunity,” he said.
Police: Protest at your own peril
Despite much build-up to the rally, the police have repeatedly issued stern warnings against the party and would-be protestors.
The Kuala Lumpur police chief Zulkefli Abdullah also insisted that no permit will be issued for the public gathering.“I think I have made myself very clear in my statement (sent two days ago),” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.
On Thursday, he had said legal action would be taken against anyone involved in the gathering, but the police would consider issuing a permit if the HRP were to move their rally indoors where there is no “likelihood of a situation being created that would jeopardise public order”.
HRP plans to march tomorrow from Jalan Sultan Ismail to the KL city centre, where they will lodge a police report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters against Umno over the party's 'racism'.
THE SALT MARCH, MARCH ON WASHINGTON, LONG WALK TO FREEDOM AND FREEDOM MARCH! By: Iraiputtiran
My dear learned Minister of Education! You have made a grave mistake by deciding to retain Interlok as the compulsory reading for Form Five Malay literature! I can bet my last Ringgit Malaysia that you had not read the book thus far nor have you sufficient knowledge on literary analysis. I am also without a trace of doubt in my mind believe that your decision to retain Interlok in the national curriculum was purely driven by the deeply rooted racism and selfishness in you as a true UMNO beneficiary of the NEP system that seems to have fattened you up quite generously! You have failed miserably to feel the pulse of the nation, especially that of the Indians whom you have insulted, denigrated, and caused to grieve just to satisfy your lust for a false sense of UMNO Supremacy by retaining Interlok! How dare you call us “PARIAH!” Mr Deputy Prime Minister, take a hard look in the mirror and note the blemishes within you and your UMNO Masters! Pause for a second and think of the greed, lust, cravings, arrogance, racism, bigotism and hatred you and your UMNO Masters have developed in the minds of the innocent public against the Indians (and Chinese) to the detriments of this multiracial nation!Indians have spoken at great length, engaged in dialogues, written in volumes, burnt the novel, and politely requested … your UMNO government to drop the book from the school curriculum! And yet, your UMNO Malay supremacy and religious bigotry-infected sadist and atrocious mind has decided to keep the novel in order for your RACISTS UMNOputras to continue to denigrate, dishonor and disgrace the Indians and finally kill their self-esteem and have their dignity destroyed! All that so that you can have a continuous supply of cheap slavery to do the most menial jobs in future, lower than what the illegal-made-legal Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indonesian laborers do! You hope that through your 54 years of socially engineered strategies to severely marginalise and finally massacre the Indians on this land, those who could not withstand the agony would finally leave the country just as your UMNOputras constantly remind us to “Balik… somewhere” or for survival will succumb to your Islamisation and convert and submissively bow to you in servitude!
You and your UMNOputras are dead wrong! We are here! We will neither bow nor submit to your RACISM AND BIGOTISM! We will not flee this country leaving behind the vulnerable ones to be made your preys! We will BATTLE THIS WAR OF RACISM TILL THE LAST DROP OF OUR BLOOD!
You can exploit the equally contaminated police force to instill fear, intimidate, arrest and imprison us! Your stone walls do not make a prison nor iron bars a cage! You can silence our dissent, but not our spirit! We will fight! We have no arms, artilleries or weapons like you! We will battle it with our soul and spirit, with human conscience! Ours is a non-violent battle purely driven by our earnest quest to seek fairness, equality and justice against your UMNO RACISM of 54 years!
Like The Salt March, March on Washington, Long Walk to Freedom and Freedom March, the People’s March will unfold a new dawn in the lives of those who have been denied justice and their rights as lawful citizens in this country by UMNO RACISM! Gandhi’s Salt March may have taken 17 years to gain independence for India, Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom may have taken 20 year of his life, the Freedom Marches may have endured extreme pain threading 966 kilometers from Glasgow to London, and the March on Washington may have taken place 100 years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation…. but the people’s power won the battles in the end! So will we! So will we!
The People’s March, Solidarity Against UMNO Racism will bury UMNO’s RACISM! 27 March 2011, KLCC, 9.00 am! The people will march for THE PEOPLE’S MARCH!
Straight fight in the battle of Merlimau
PAS' Yuhaizad Abdullah and Umno's Roslan Ahmad will face off for the next seven days in Merlimau.
UPDATED
MERLIMAU: The Merlimau by-election will see a straight fight between Yuhaizad Abdullah (PAS) and Roslam Ahmad (Umno) after they have successfully filed their nominations at the Politeknik Merlimau here this morning.Three objections were raised by PAS but were subsequently dismissed. At about 11.20am, both Yuhaizad and Roslan were declared the official candidates.
Newcomer Yuhaizad, 38, is the Malacca PAS Youth deputy chief as well as Jasin PAS division chief.
Meeting the press later, Yuhaizad merely smiled and was vague when answering questions on his campaign.
“I will provide more details at a later date but what I can promise now is that I will go down to the ground to meet everyone,” he said.
Roslan heads Perbadanan Melaka Holdings, a state corporation.
“I am confident of a win because of the support and cooperation of the BN machinery nationwide,” he said.
Roslan’s father, Ahmad Ithnin, was the former Sungai Rambai assemblyman . When asked whether this would boost his chances in Merlimau, he said, “I have my own set of capabilities but yes my father will add an advantage to my campaign.”
Better advantage
Among the notable faces in the PAS camp were PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, PAS deputy president Nasaruddin Md Isa, Selangor exco Xavier Jeyakumar, Batu MP Tian Chua and PKR vice-president N Surendran.
Spotted in the BN camp were MIC president G Palanivel, Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong, Defence Minister Zahid Hamidi and Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Kadir.
The Merlimau seat fell vacant following the death of Umno assemblyman Mohammad Hidhir Abu Hassan on Jan 20. Hidhir wrested the seat from PAS in 2008 with a majority of 2,154 votes. This by-election will be the 15th since the 2008 general election and the first in Malacca.
Malays form the majority of voters there and pundits say 80% are loyal Umno supporters. The Merlimau seat has been touted as an easy win in this BN stronghold but the ruling government is not letting its guard down.“BN will have a better advantage,” said Zambry. “But we’ve learnt not to take anything for granted. The candidate must take it seriously to assure the voters of his capability.”
Palanivel took a bolder stand in declaring that the Indian community is safely in BN’s pocket.
“Seven of 10 Indians will vote BN,” he said confidently. “The other three won’t turn up. My target is to achieve a bigger majority than the 70% achieved in Tenang (Johor).”
The opposition, though well aware of the difficult road ahead, is determined to give BN a tough fight.
“Galas (Kelantan) and Tenang have not broken our spirit,” said Nasruddin. “Our candidate’s advantage is that he is a local and will be able carry out his duties easily here.”
“Besides, even (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lost to PAS in Kedah before. So we will give it our best shot…”
Basic issues
Meanwhile, ousted former Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin shot down talk of PAS facing opposition among the non-Malays, saying his engagement with the Chinese voters yesterday assured him of their support for the opposition.Pua said DAP would further strengthen this support by explaining how Pakatan’s policies are able to address their basic issues.
Besides the candidates and politicians, another “personality” was showered with attention by the media and supporters.
Kiki, a three-year-old male cat, was spotted lounging in the shade clad in BN “attire”.
“He is a staunch supporter,” his owner, Suraya Abdul Hakim, said proudly.
MyDaftar: ‘A campaign to dupe Indians’
Perak DAP believes the MyDaftar campaign, to register stateless people, by Umno and MIC is merely a political propaganda.
IPOH: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government should bear the burden of proof when it comes to stateless persons born in Malaysia because these people usually do not have proper documentation.
Perak DAP deputy chief V Sivakumar said the onus of the policy on a stateless person to prove that he or she is a Malaysian citizen should as such be reversed.
He said the BN government had the manpower like the police, immigration and registration departments to prove the citizenship of such stateless people.
Sivakumar told FMT yesterday that the eight-day MyDaftar campaign jointly launched by Umno and MIC, which began on Feb 19, will not achieve its target of addressing the citizenship grievances of the estimated 50,000 stateless Indians in the country.
This, he said, was because there is no special consideration given to such stateless people.
“They still have to bring all the necessary documents from A to Z to prove that they were born in Malaysia before the applications can be entertained.
“So there is no justification in such a campaign as the majority of such stateless people do not have the proper documentation to claim their rights as lawful Malaysian citizens,” said Sivakumar who is also Tronoh assemblyperson.
He said the parents of such stateless people, out of ignorance and abject poverty or illiteracy had failed to play their role in registering their children on time to qualify as citizens of this country.
“My suggestion is to put the onus on the BN government to prove that these stateless people are not Malaysian citizens as they claim to be and take punitive action on those who make such fake claims,” said Sivakumar.
BN propaganda
He said DAP was of the view that the 5,000 stateless people, who had applied to register themselves as citizens within two days of the campaign, were merely a BN political propaganda to eyewash the Indian community into believing that they are being looked at after 53 years of neglect and discrimination.
“It is not the quantity of applications that is important here, but the quality of such applications that will be entertained by the authorities for action,” said the ousted Pakatan Rakyat Perak State Legislative Assembly speaker.
Citing the Sabah “Project IC” scandal, Sivakumar said it was irritating and demoralising to know that the BN government is allegedly ready to entertain foreigners as citizens.
“However, the BN government chose to turn the Nelson’s eye to the plight of the thousands of Indians who were born and raised in the country but were denied their citizenship rights.
“Whom do you think will be more loyal to the country and government in the hour of need – the foreigners or local born Indians ?” he asked.
IPOH: The Barisan Nasional (BN) government should bear the burden of proof when it comes to stateless persons born in Malaysia because these people usually do not have proper documentation.
Perak DAP deputy chief V Sivakumar said the onus of the policy on a stateless person to prove that he or she is a Malaysian citizen should as such be reversed.
He said the BN government had the manpower like the police, immigration and registration departments to prove the citizenship of such stateless people.
Sivakumar told FMT yesterday that the eight-day MyDaftar campaign jointly launched by Umno and MIC, which began on Feb 19, will not achieve its target of addressing the citizenship grievances of the estimated 50,000 stateless Indians in the country.
This, he said, was because there is no special consideration given to such stateless people.
“They still have to bring all the necessary documents from A to Z to prove that they were born in Malaysia before the applications can be entertained.
“So there is no justification in such a campaign as the majority of such stateless people do not have the proper documentation to claim their rights as lawful Malaysian citizens,” said Sivakumar who is also Tronoh assemblyperson.
He said the parents of such stateless people, out of ignorance and abject poverty or illiteracy had failed to play their role in registering their children on time to qualify as citizens of this country.
“My suggestion is to put the onus on the BN government to prove that these stateless people are not Malaysian citizens as they claim to be and take punitive action on those who make such fake claims,” said Sivakumar.
BN propaganda
He said DAP was of the view that the 5,000 stateless people, who had applied to register themselves as citizens within two days of the campaign, were merely a BN political propaganda to eyewash the Indian community into believing that they are being looked at after 53 years of neglect and discrimination.
“It is not the quantity of applications that is important here, but the quality of such applications that will be entertained by the authorities for action,” said the ousted Pakatan Rakyat Perak State Legislative Assembly speaker.
Citing the Sabah “Project IC” scandal, Sivakumar said it was irritating and demoralising to know that the BN government is allegedly ready to entertain foreigners as citizens.
“However, the BN government chose to turn the Nelson’s eye to the plight of the thousands of Indians who were born and raised in the country but were denied their citizenship rights.
“Whom do you think will be more loyal to the country and government in the hour of need – the foreigners or local born Indians ?” he asked.
Dr. Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak. Doctor??
By A Concerned Citizen
The value of a law degree or Ph.D. from Monash Univeristy is about to take a nosedive when Najib Razak is awarded an honorary degree of laws and deliver a keynote address on March 4th. One wonders what are the qualifications for an honorary degree these days. It would hardly be a surprise to see Hosni Mubarak or Muammar Gaddafi around campus as well, perhaps getting awards for their great contributions to human rights or peace and security. Najib would be in good company.
Maybe while they are at it Monash can heap accolades on Najib for his memorable contributions to interfaith dialogue and building peace and understanding between the Muslims world and the west. He did of course call for a global movement of moderates, a catchphrase likely hatched in the dungeons of APCO's K St headquarters at the cost of about RM 50,000 taxpayer ringgits. Of course a few days after calling for moderation he told his UMNO party members to prepare to have their bones crushed before relinquishing power in Malaysia. And just recently he told Malaysians that Islam a superior religion to other religions in Malaysia because of course he is a great theologian and not the leader of a multi-ethnic country.
And maybe during his keynote address upon acceptance of a Doctorate of Law Najib can talk about his own commitment to the rule of law and good governance. That would of course include all the steps he's taken since coming to office to reform Malaysia's dysfunctional judiciary of which there are none. Or the work he's done to eliminate corruption and punish those ministers who have fleeced billions of dollars from Malaysia. One could also congratulate him for the arrest of over 1000 people in 2009 in Malaysia for the crime of demonstrating publicly. He also should be given a big kudos for making sure that Malaysians continue to die in custody.
And not to mention the most despicable case of Teoh Beng Hock over which Najib can take credit for an "inquest" that has determined the dead Teoh Beng Hock was neither murdered nor did he commit suicide. I wonder if there is a legal phenomenon to describe that. Speaking of death - perhaps Najib also deserves an accolade for getting to the bottom of the murder of Altantuya. After all, our courts have sentenced to death two officers in Najib's 0utfit for singlehandedly hatching and executing a plan to kill and destroy Altantuya.
Of course Monash University has a big campus in Malaysia. Many Malaysian students spend a lot of money filling up Monash's coffers in Malaysia and in Australia. Maybe as repayment for that Monash is obligated to award the Malaysian Prime Minister with an honorary degree from time to time, irrespective of his qualifications to deserve that degree. Show me, where in the contract between Monash and the Ministry of Education is that requirement listed. Tell me - Monash University, who told you that you need to do a little back scratching for us so we can scratch your back.
Malaysians are trying to get rid of a rotten system, a ruling party that has long since abdicated its responsibilty to protect and defend the constitution of this country. We have no faith in UMNO to lead this country and are ready to lay our lives down to make things better. So why must you and your so called liberal progressive values undermine our values. Why must you give credibility to this poor excuse for a Prime Minister and give him some fake, meaningless degree that he can show off to his friends to make him feel like the world respects him. Shame on you Monash. Shame on you.
In the meantime, if you so wish to voice your concerns over this award, the Chancellor of Monash University, Dr. Alan Finkel, can be reached at Alan.Finkel@monash.edu This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at +61 3 990 52007.
The value of a law degree or Ph.D. from Monash Univeristy is about to take a nosedive when Najib Razak is awarded an honorary degree of laws and deliver a keynote address on March 4th. One wonders what are the qualifications for an honorary degree these days. It would hardly be a surprise to see Hosni Mubarak or Muammar Gaddafi around campus as well, perhaps getting awards for their great contributions to human rights or peace and security. Najib would be in good company.
Maybe while they are at it Monash can heap accolades on Najib for his memorable contributions to interfaith dialogue and building peace and understanding between the Muslims world and the west. He did of course call for a global movement of moderates, a catchphrase likely hatched in the dungeons of APCO's K St headquarters at the cost of about RM 50,000 taxpayer ringgits. Of course a few days after calling for moderation he told his UMNO party members to prepare to have their bones crushed before relinquishing power in Malaysia. And just recently he told Malaysians that Islam a superior religion to other religions in Malaysia because of course he is a great theologian and not the leader of a multi-ethnic country.
And maybe during his keynote address upon acceptance of a Doctorate of Law Najib can talk about his own commitment to the rule of law and good governance. That would of course include all the steps he's taken since coming to office to reform Malaysia's dysfunctional judiciary of which there are none. Or the work he's done to eliminate corruption and punish those ministers who have fleeced billions of dollars from Malaysia. One could also congratulate him for the arrest of over 1000 people in 2009 in Malaysia for the crime of demonstrating publicly. He also should be given a big kudos for making sure that Malaysians continue to die in custody.
And not to mention the most despicable case of Teoh Beng Hock over which Najib can take credit for an "inquest" that has determined the dead Teoh Beng Hock was neither murdered nor did he commit suicide. I wonder if there is a legal phenomenon to describe that. Speaking of death - perhaps Najib also deserves an accolade for getting to the bottom of the murder of Altantuya. After all, our courts have sentenced to death two officers in Najib's 0utfit for singlehandedly hatching and executing a plan to kill and destroy Altantuya.
Of course Monash University has a big campus in Malaysia. Many Malaysian students spend a lot of money filling up Monash's coffers in Malaysia and in Australia. Maybe as repayment for that Monash is obligated to award the Malaysian Prime Minister with an honorary degree from time to time, irrespective of his qualifications to deserve that degree. Show me, where in the contract between Monash and the Ministry of Education is that requirement listed. Tell me - Monash University, who told you that you need to do a little back scratching for us so we can scratch your back.
Malaysians are trying to get rid of a rotten system, a ruling party that has long since abdicated its responsibilty to protect and defend the constitution of this country. We have no faith in UMNO to lead this country and are ready to lay our lives down to make things better. So why must you and your so called liberal progressive values undermine our values. Why must you give credibility to this poor excuse for a Prime Minister and give him some fake, meaningless degree that he can show off to his friends to make him feel like the world respects him. Shame on you Monash. Shame on you.
In the meantime, if you so wish to voice your concerns over this award, the Chancellor of Monash University, Dr. Alan Finkel, can be reached at Alan.Finkel@monash.edu This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or at +61 3 990 52007.
Will Hindraf ignite another saffron blaze?
Tomorrow’s storyline reads like a page out of the past. Indians are once again being called to assemble beneath the Twin Towers on a Sunday morning.
KUALA LUMPUR: Four years ago a fledgling coalition of Hindu NGOs sent word to Indians nationwide that it was time to make a stand against racial discrimination.At the time scant was known of this coalition which called itself the Hindu Rights Action Force or Hindraf. But by the evening of Nov 25, 2007, the movement had become a household name.
Its mission was outlandish but its plan was simple.
On Malaysia’s 50th Independence Day, Hindraf leader P Waytha Moorthy accused the UK government of “withdrawing after granting independence and leaving us (Indians) unprotected and at the mercy of a majority Malay-Muslim government that has violated our rights as minority Indians”.
He filed a lawsuit against the UK government for US$4 trillion which would translate to US$1 million for every Malaysian Indian. The lawsuit also sought to strike out Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which acknowledged the special position of the Malays.
The group planned to bring the rally to the British Embassy where it would hand over a 100,000-signature memorandum to the British High Commissioner.
Unsurprisingly, the rally was denied a permit and three Hindraf lawyers – Waytha Moorthy, his brother Uthayakumar and V Ganabatirau – were arrested on sedition charges on Nov 24.
Kuala Lumpur was sealed off as police began setting up the obligatory roadblocks. But no one could have predicted what would enfold once the clock struck midnight.
A small group began to gather at the iconic Hindu shrine in Batu Caves. Gradually, the crowd swelled. But when the protesters attempted to march towards KLCC, they were restrained by the police.
While the rest of the city slumbered, the group at the foot of the Twin Towers steadily grew in numbers and by the time dawn broke, the crowd had run into the thousands.
Men and women had flocked from every corner of the country to demand what was owed to them in terms of both money and rights. They hoisted banners and placards, and shouted fiery slogans with extra vigour each time a camera swung their way.
Media reports put the crowd at 20,000 strong but observers claimed that it was several times more than the official version.
But their jubilation was short-lived when the police released torrents of chemical-laced water and lobbed tear gas at them.
The quietly rumbling crowd exploded into an angry mob. Most fled with stinging eyes and bruised bodies while a brazen few hurled the tear gas canisters back at the police.
The highly anticipated march was over even before it began. And yet victory lay with Hindraf that day.
It might have failed to attract the attention of the British but it had seized the attention of a more important group – the Malaysian Indians.
In the aftermath of that mammoth rally, considered as the political awakening of the Indian community, five Hindraf leaders, including Uthayakumar, were detained under the Internal Security Act and the movement was banned.But there was no containing the brief flash of empowerment which Hindraf unleashed and it snowballed into an avalanche that helped bury Barisan Nasional’s two-thirds majority in the 2008 general election.
And now Hindraf – now known as Hindraf Makkal Sakti – had decided to reignite the saffron fire and tomorrow’s storyline reads like a page out of the past.
Indians are once again being called to assemble beneath the Twin Towers on a Sunday morning.
Hindraf put out the word weeks ago but this time supplemented the verbal call with elaborate leaflets. Running above the faces of prominent world leaders are the words “Solidarity Against Racism” in bold print.
This time around, Hindraf is out to slay the controversial book Interlok as well as the perceived racism perpetuated by Umno.
The route for the march is from the Twin Towers to the Dang Wangi police station, where the group would attempt to lodge reports against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and the government.
‘Marginalised from womb to tomb’
Like four years ago, the potential magnitude of Sunday’s rally is anyone’s guess.
Text messages are circulating that the Special Branch is preparing for a crowd of 50,000. But Uthayakumar isn’t letting his imagination get the better of him.
“The 2007 protest was a once in a lifetime event,” he told FMT.
“It was the first such rally in 40 years which is probably why it drew such a response. This rally will not be anywhere near that but we will still make our presence known.”
He explained that the decision to choose the same venue was because the Twin Towers symbolised Malaysia’s prosperity and it would be in stark contrast to the reigning poverty in a large part of the Indian community.
“The Indians are still being marginalised,” Uthayakumar stressed.
“From womb to tomb they are riddled with fundamental problems. They are denied solid education, skills training, good employment opportunities and even a proper burial ground.”
“This is our first rally against Umno racism particularly for the Indian poor. We have moved beyond Interlok to standing up against the most racist government in the world.”Once again a police permit had been denied. But like the last time, Hindraf would not let the mere absence of a document silence it.
Uthayakumar also reiterated that the rally would be non-violent.
“Najib called on (Libyan leader) Muammar Gaddafi to stop using violence. I make the same appeal to him to ask the police force to refrain from using violence against us on Sunday (tomorrow). And to also stop making false allegations of Hindraf’s links with international terrorist organisations.”
The impact of tomorrow’s rally, however, would run deeper than the anti-racism message it carries. The turnout would also be a strong indicator of where the current Indian support lies.
But much had changed since 2008, with Hindraf dismissing the Anwar Ibrahim-led opposition as being no better than BN.
Although Uthayakumar might disagree, the crowd size would also reflect Hindraf’s relevance among the community for which it is fighting for.
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