Friday January 4, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: Hindu Rights Action Force legal advisor P. Uthayakumar has filed a RM100mil defamation suit against the Government and its two high-ranking officers for allegedly linking him with terrorist groups.
The lawyer, who is currently being detained under the Internal security Act (ISA) at the Kamunting detention centre, named IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail as defendants.
Uthayakumar said both had falsely and maliciously caused to be written and published defamatory words about him and that the allegation of him having terrorist links were "fabricated and politically motivated."
He claimed the defendants made the allegations more than 10 days after a massive peaceful gathering on Nov 25 last year that was organised by Hindraf.
He said that it was an attempt to destroy his credibility and reputation.
He filed a writ of summons and a statement of claim through his lawyers M. Manogar and N. Surendran at the High Court civil registry at 9.11am Friday.
Also present is Uthayakumar’s fiancee, S. Indra Devi, 37, and his supporters.
In the statement of claim, he stated that the words used by the defendants that were published by the media had the meaning that he was a terrorist.
Uthayakumar said the said words also meant that he intended to use violent means to achieve his objectives adding that among others, the said words also meant that he was an immoral person and that he was not a law-abiding citizen.
He said the publication of said words had brought him into public scandal, odium and contempt and has suffered serious damage, both in Malaysia and throughout the world.
The defendants, he said, had failed to produce any evidence whatsoever to substantiate their allegation of terrorism.
He stated that the act of irresponsibility, bad faith and mendacity on the part of defendants entitled for him to get aggravated and exemplary damages.
Uthayakumar is asking the High Court to give him an injunction to restrain Musa and Gani or their agents from further publishing or causing to be published any similar libel upon him.
He is claiming for RM100mil in damages for libel and other costs and relief deemed fit by the court.
Uthayakumar files RM 100mil suit against Govt
Lone protestor stages hunger strike
SINGAPORE: A lone protestor is staging a "hunger strike" outside the Malaysian High Commission here against the arrest of the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) activists under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
The man, also carrying a placard containing photographs of the detainees, has been outside the commission at Jervois Road since early Monday.
This is the second protest at the high commission in the past month. On Dec 17, several members from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) presented a memorandum urging the Malaysian Government to respect human rights.
Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk N. Parameswaran when contacted confirmed that a man was holding a placard outside the high commission on Monday.
"This incident is the second protest at the high commission.
"We are not sure whether he is a Malaysian. We leave it to the Singaporean authorities to handle the matter," he said, adding that so far the man has not passed any memorandum to the high commission.
On the SDP protest, Parameswaran only said that a memorandum was received and sent to Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysians advised to postpone travel to Pakistan
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians planning to travel to Pakistan have been advised to postpone their visit because of the tense situation there following the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was also the opposition leader.
Acting Malaysian High Commissioner to Pakistan Roseli Abdul said the situation was tense because of violent protests by people who were angered by her assassination.
Malaysians in Pakistan have also been advised to avoid crowded public places and to be careful when moving around.
Two Hindraf leaders file habeas corpus applications
KUALA LUMPUR: Two leaders of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), who are detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), have filed their habeas corpus (wrongful detention) application at the High Court here for their release.
Lawyer Karpal Singh filed the application on behalf of Hindraf legal adviser P. Uthayakumar and its co-ordinator K. Vasantha Kumar. He filed at the High Court (criminal) registry at about noon Friday.
They named the Internal Security Minister and the Kamunting Detention Centre’s superintendent as respondents
In the affidavit, P. Waytha Nayagi, who affirmed the document to support the application for her brother Uthayakumar, said his arrest in Bangsar last Thursday and continued detention was unconstitutional and unlawful.
Waytha Nayagi, 41, said there had been contravention of the provisions of the Federal Constitution and non-compliance with the provisions of rules of Internal Security (Advisory Board Procedure) Rules 1972.
She said the allegations against her brother were groundless and asked the court to declare the detention order null and void.
She applied for him to be brought to the court and released forthwith.
In a notice of motion Waytha Nayagi also asked for any order deemed fit by the court.
In the other habeas corpus application, K. Vickneswary, wife of Vasantha Kumar, affirmed an affidavit for the purpose.
Vickneswary, 35, said her husband's arrest in Brickfields last Thursday was not in accordance with law and illegal.
She said the minister had acted mechanically and prematurely and that the allegations of fact against her husband were baseless and that his continued detention was unconstitutional and unlawful.
She applied for him to be brought to the court and be set at free as well as any further order deemed proper by the court.
Speaking to reporters later, Karpal Singh said:
"We are serving the papers of four applicants (lawyers M. Manoharan, V. Ganabatirau, Uthayakumar and former senior executive Vasantha Kumar) to the minister so that they will be ready for the hearing at High Court on Wednesday before Judicial Commissioner Zainal Azman Abdul Aziz," he added.
Five Hindraf leaders detained under ISA
PETALING JAYA: Five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders have been arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
The five are P. Uthayakumar, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan, V. Ganabatirau and T. Vasanthakumar. They were picked up at various locations in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban.
It is learnt they were detained under Section 8 (1) of the ISA after Internal Security Minister Datuk Seri Abdulah Ahmad Badawi signed their detention order.
Their detention is for two years.
Uthayakumar and two others namely Ganabatirau and P. Waythamoorthy were charged under the Sedition Act on Nov 23 in Klang 23 for allegedly making speeches to incite hatred at a gathering in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, on Nov 16. Waythamoorthy is currently overseas.
Under Section 73 (1) of the ISA, the police can detain any individual for up to 60 days without a warrant, trial and without access to legal counsel if he was suspected to have “acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to maintenance of essential services therein or to the economic life thereof."
After 60 days, the Minister of Home Affairs can extend the period of detention without trial for up to two years, without submitting any evidence for review by the courts, by issuing a detention order, which is renewable indefinitely.
The five detained
1) P. Uthayakumar
The 46-year-old lawyer was called to the Malaysian Bar on Jan 23, 1993. He is the legal advisor to the Police Watch and Human Rights Committee and advisor to the Malaysian People's Reform Party (Parti Reformasi Insan Malaysia or PRIM). He had been a secretary of the MIC Club in London and has appeared in a number of cases related to police abuse, deaths in police custody, police shootings and police inaction. He had also taken part in the reformasi campaigns in support of sacked Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
2) M. Manoharan
The 46-year-old Manoharan has been a lawyer for 15 years and was a legal assistant to Karpal Singh for 10 years before branching out on his own. He has been in the DAP and had contested in a parliamentary seat in Federal Territory and was also the Selangor DAP chairman for a short term.
3) V. Ganabatirau
Advisor to the DAP's Sri Muda branch in Shah Alam.
4) R. Kenghadharan
He is a lawyer and was one of the counsels for Uthayakumar when the latter was charged in court for publishing a seditious letter in a website.
5) T. Vasanthakumar
The former bank officer resigned about a month ago after his employers asked about his involvement with Hindraf. He is in his 30s and single. He is now a full-time Hindraf activist and its organising secretary.
Kayveas: Protest is against MIC
SUNGAI PETANI: The recent protest by Indians was not against the Government but MIC, said PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas.
He said the Hindraf protest on Nov 25 was done because the party had failed in its duties and commitments towards the Indian community.
“Has the Government done enough for the Indian community? Some would say yes while some would say no. But MIC is answerable to both the groups,” he said.
Kayveas was speaking at the Sri Subramaniam Temple Hall in Jalan Kuala Ketil during the presentation of cash and books to 50 pupils in Kedah who scored 7As in the recent UPSR examination here yesterday.
Indians have done well, says Samy
KUALA LUMPUR: Indians have achieved progress in various fields over the last 50 years, although more needs to be done to make them competitive in the face of globalisation, said MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
He said more than 80% of them were concentrated in urban areas compared to 60% that previously lived and worked in the estates.
“This migration has provided better income for the Indian families,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Samy Vellu said 847,900 Indians were in the workforce currently, 11.5% of them professionals and managers, 19.4% associated professors, lecturers and nurses, 22.9% in sales, 4.9% in agriculture, 9.4% in craft and trade, 20.1% of them machine operators and 16.3% elementary workers.
He said about 2.9% of Indian households were below the poverty line but the mean monthly household income of Indian families was RM3,456, compared to the national figure of RM3,022.
He said 46,054 Indians were employed in the public sector with another 3,642 in the police force.
Samy Vellu said MIC was now focusing on getting more Indians employed in the civil service as well as promotion prospects for those already in the service.
On the participation of Indians in the economy, Samy Vellu said there was a slow increase in the present 1.2% ownership of share capital of limited companies because many Indians believed in investing in property and not the share market.
He said MIC had obtained micro-credit business loans for 4,000 Indian businessmen over the past few years through Bank Negara and financial institutions.
“We have also assisted in getting business licences,” he said.
Samy Vellu said the Government provided business-training programmes to Indian youths through the National Entrepreneur Skills institute while RM3mil has been allocated for business loans for Indians through the Tekun foundation.
On MIC’s part, the party set up the Tafe College in Seremban that has produced more than 40,000 para professionals and the RM600mil Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University in Semeling, Kedah.
Samy Vellu said the educational arm of the MIC, the Maju Institute of Educational Development, has to-date disbursed close to RM100mil in study loans to about 17,000 Indian students.
Sultan: Stop giving group media space
Monday December 10, 2007
MUADZAM SHAH: Stop giving publicity to Hindraf, says Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah.
The media, he said, should stop giving space to Hindraf's activities.
Sultan Ahmad Shah said publicity on Hindraf would only draw more attention to it, and perhaps give it the impression that it had support from the public.
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Concerned ruler: Sultan Ahmad Shah visiting the construction of a bailey bridge in Felda Selancar. The earlier bridge was washed away by Sungai Pukin’s strong currents. |
“To the foreigners, we are not in peace and harmony, which is not true at all,” he said.
He said that if the Indian community had been neglected, there would not have been so many high ranking professionals among them.
“We have ministers, lawyers, lecturers, academicians, doctors and other professionals who are from the Indian community.
(favouritism),” he said.
PM: Public safety will prevail over public freedom
PUTRAJAYA: Public safety will be the Government's top priority before public freedom and there will be no hesitation to take the stiffest action on irresponsible people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"If the choice is between public safety and public freedom, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win. I will not sacrifice my sense of accountability to the greater public, especially in the face of police intelligence about planned fighting or other violent intent."
"We must never, ever take our peace for granted. We must continue to be responsible to each other," he said when addressing attendees listening to his speech as part of the Khazanah Global Lecture Series organised by Khazanah, the government's investment arm, which was moderated by Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini.
Abdullah said responsibility was an integral value of the nation today as it was in 1957 or 1969.
Later during a question and answer session, he said, he had a duty to perform and that God knew that he was "still clean" and that he had no reason to change.
"If I were to sign a detention order under the ISA, I will do it without feeling any guilt because I have to do my duty," he said.
When asked on the steps taken by the Government to maintain racial harmony in the country, Abdullah said if anyone broke the law, he would deal with them by enforcing the law, advising certain quarters not to play the racial card to seek votes in the general election.
Stating that he was worried because voters are easily persuaded, Abdullah advised Malaysians to show the Government what they really want through the ballot box.
Abdullah also said that he had been the Prime Minister for only five years and not much could be expected from him, as there was a lot to do.
"Can't expect (me) to do it within five years of premiership. People are criticizing me, but things take time to grow. I want to succeed more than anyone else because I feel responsible," he said.
Earlier, when describing characteristics of a true Malaysian in his speech, he said, they would understand the impact of careless words and actions.
"A true Malaysian is acutely aware of who will be provoked into retaliation and who will actually suffer the consequences and will try to be judicious in word and deed, even when striving for change," he said.
Hindraf asked to fight cause in the country
PUTRAJAYA: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders can fight their cause within the country instead of seeking overseas support, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
Stating that getting outsiders involved in their “fight” was not a good move, he added that foreigners had no right to interfere in Malaysian affairs.
“It is therefore our responsibility to protect our home. Don't invite outsiders to protect us or fight on our behalf,” he told reporters here yesterday after launching Wisma Putra's time capsule to mark the ministry's 50th anniversary.
When asked to comment on Hindraf's intention to present their petition directly to Buckingham Palace in London, Syed Hamid wished them good luck.
The time capsule to be opened in December 2057 and placed at the ministry's lobby, contained Syed Hamid's letter to the future Foreign Minister, a copy of the book No. 1 Wisma Putra, two copies of the Wisma Putra @ 50 magazine and name cards of Wisma Putra staff.
Syed Hamid revealed that he wrote on bilateral relations, international issues and problems.
He also related his experience working under two prime ministers – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Shocked by ‘apartheid’ report
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz was shocked during a recent work trip to India to find a newspaper there carrying a front page article that claimed that Malaysia was practising apartheid against Hindus.
Holding up the DNA newspaper of Nov 28, the International Trade and Industry Minister said that the article quoted a 22-year-old Sri Lankan-born poet who had spent 17 years in Malaysia, as saying that she fled Malaysia last month to escape “systematic racial harassment.”
“Fleeing Malaysia? Oh my goodness gracious. Can you imagine? This is really telling lies,” Rafidah told reporters yesterday after chairing a Wanita Umno meeting.
The Wanita Umno chief said that the poet, Sharanya Manivannan, had also claimed in the article that there had been cases in Malaysia of “body-snatching” of Hindu corpses by the authorities so that the deceased could be buried according to Muslim rites.
She said that the poet, however, had never mentioned that these men had converted to Islam.
Rafidah added that Sharanya had said in the article that “countless (Hindu) temples have been demolished and idols smashed – oftentimes in the middle of prayer sessions and devotees attacked”.
“What a lie. Words like this are terrible. The article really hurts,” she said.
Rafidah was heading a trade mission to India from Nov 26 to Dec 1 when she came across the newspaper article at one of the five-star hotels there.
“I was shocked. Obviously there is already an international network set up,” she said, adding that she believed that this was politically motivated.
During the mission to New Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai, the minister said she was asked once or twice about the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) Nov 25 demonstration in Kuala Lumpur.
She said she explained that it was untrue that Hindus were being marginalised in Malaysia, adding that Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) director-general Datuk R. Karuna Karan, who accompanied her on the trade mission, was himself a Malaysian Hindu.
“He (Karuna) is a perfect example of those who get to the top. He’s not there by chance. MIDA is the organisation we put our trust in to get billions in investments.
“And Datuk Karuna is the chief because he’s the best,” she said, adding that his predecessor too was a Hindu.
Rafidah slammed Hindraf for using religion for its political purposes.
She said that if there were groups that felt sidelined, they should use the proper channels to let the Government know their grievances in black-and-white, rather than taking it to the streets and to the Queen of England.
Hindraf has filed a US$4 trillion (RM13.5 trillion) suit in London, claiming the British is to blame for the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia, as they had brought them to the then Malaya as indentured labourers and exploited them.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the system of democracy practised in Malaysia, though dissimilar to that in the other democratic nations, is fair and transparent.
“Our democracy is founded on our history, cultural values and our traditions.
“The important thing is that we give every citizen the right to fairly elect anyone they wish to make up the Government,” he said in the Bicarawara interview programme on RTM1 last night.
Hisham hit by another malicious SMS
SINGAPORE: Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the latest malicious SMS made against him is another lie by unscrupulous people who are trying to disrupt racial harmony in the country.
“I read this SMS today, which is untrue, a deception, and is laced with racism. It accused me and my deputy Khairy Jamaluddin of planning to go to Kampung Baru to incite hatred of the Malays against other races on Dec 19.
“The intentions (of the sender) is evil. It is an act to worsen the situation. Just like the earlier SMS, which claimed that I do not need the support of the Indians and Chinese, it is a lie,” he said.
Hishammuddin said neither he nor Khairy had any intention of going to Kampung Baru to incite Malays against non-Malays.
“That is not how we work in Barisan Nasional. That is not something we will ever do,” he said.
He called for Malaysians not to be easily influenced by lies and deception that can disrupt harmonious society, saying that those spreading them wanted to create chaos in the country.
While the earlier SMS quoted Bernama as the source, Hishammuddin said the new one did not quote anybody.
“When Bernama was framed, Bernama denied sending it and that shows that the SMS was a complete lie.
“This recent SMS did not quote Bernama, so they have learnt from their mistake,” he said.
He vowed to expose those behind the rumours and said that they will continue to monitor the SMS although he would not lodge a police report.
“We will expose them, their evil intentions, and their narrow-minded aim. If I am to lodge police reports over SMSes, then I will be at the police station everyday,” he said.
Hindraf demands too extreme, says PAS
PETALING JAYA: PAS has become the first opposition party to hit out at the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), urging the Government to set up a commission to investigate the “absurd” allegations it has made.
Its president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang slammed Hindraf in a statement here yesterday, saying:
“We think that part of the demands and accusations made by Hindraf are extreme and we want the Government to immediately set up an independent body to investigate them.”
However, he stressed that PAS still agreed that all parties should be given the right and freedom of assembly and speech as provided for in the Federal Constitution.
“Racial unity should continue to be maintained in this country and anything that will evoke the emotions of either Indians, Malays or Chinese should be rejected,” he said.
Last Sunday, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse an illegal gathering organised by Hindraf.
Thousands converged at various locations in Kuala Lumpur to support Hindraf’s plan to submit a petition with 100,000 signatures to the British High Commission.
The petition was to ask Queen Elizabeth II to appoint a Queen’s Counsel to represent the Indian community in a class-action suit filed against the British government for bringing Indians as indentured labourers to the then Malaya and exploiting them.
Bersih 10 set to be charged
KUALA LUMPUR: Ten people who took part in the Nov 10 Bersih gathering in the capital have been told to appear in the magistrate’s court today as they are going to be charged.
Bersih steering committee member R. Sivarasa, who is also a lawyer, said the exact details of the charge were not known but it has to do with the Nov 10 gathering.
He said they could be charged under the Police Act or for illegal assembly.
“Malaysia should respect the right of freedom of peaceful assembly.
“This (the charge) poses a threat to that right and will not go down well internationally or nationally,” he added.
Sivarasa, who is also a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president, stressed that charging the 10 would have no impact on Bersih’s campaign.
“We will continue our activities until free and fair elections are held,” he said.
Lawyer Latheefa Koya, who is also from PKR, said the investigating officer had called up the 10 individuals on Sunday and told them they were going to be charged.
She said most of the 10 were PAS members and from the “unit amal” group, and responsible for managing the crowd during the gathering.
Latheefa said 14 individuals who were arrested during the gathering on Nov 10 had been released on police bail.
“So we are not sure if all 14 will be charged or it’s only 10. We only know that that 10 have been called up,” she said.
Bersih is a coalition of non-governmental organisations and opposition parties who are pushing for free and fair elections.
The police did not grant Bersih a permit for the Nov 10 gathering in the city on grounds that it would cause chaos and disruption.
Despite this, the illegal gathering was attended by tens of thousands.
Police broke up the crowd at Masjid Jamek with tear gas and water cannons but allowed the demonstrators to march to Istana Negara where they handed a memorandum to a representative from the palace.
The memorandum, addressed to the King, asked for his intervention for free and fair elections to be held in the country.
On Wednesday, the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said he had offered Bersih alternative venues such as the stadium to hold its gathering peacefully but this was rejected.
DPM: Hindraf move will hurt Malaysia
THE MOVE by Hindu Rights Action Force leaders to take their issues overseas will only tarnish the image of the country internationally, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
Regretting their move, he said the Government would have to act to counter any negative picture painted by the group.
“Whatever they have raised are internal issues but they want to internationalise them. It is obvious they have political motives,” he said.
Najib was speaking to the Malaysian press covering his roadshow to promote Malaysia to Hong Kong fund managers here yesterday.
It was reported that Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy was headed for India on Wednesday before going to Europe and the United States.
Waythamoorthy would proceed to London to meet the Malaysian desk officer at the Foreign and Commonwealth office of the British Foreign Ministry and non-governmental organisations there.
He is also expected to meet officials at the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other UN bodies in Geneva.
“We will have to see what they do and we will have to be prepared to act,” Najib said, adding that the Government would have to explain matters to the international community.
“While many people now want us to act, we have to also realise that the use of the ISA (Internal Security Act) will be made into an international issue,” he said.
Nevertheless, he said the internal security of the country remained the paramount consideration.
“They can keep at it but one day, they will cross the line,” he said.
He said people who did not agree with Hindraf could speak out on television but further reaction would only make the situation more heated.
On his meeting with Cameron Highlands MP K. Devamany scheduled for tomorrow, Najib, who is Barisan Nasional chief whip, said he wanted to give him the opportunity to explain what he said.
“I also want to read the Hansard. Then, I will talk to him,” he said
Hisham: Don’t blame the Indians
PUTRAJAYA: People have been urged not to blame the Indian community for the illegal gathering organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) last Sunday.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is the Education Minister, said Hindraf did not represent many Indians.
“Our enemies are not the Indians, so everyone must remain rational,” he said after chairing his ministry's post-Cabinet meeting here yesterday.
The majority of Indians love the country and want stability, he added.
He urged Hindraf not to play with fire.
“Who in their right mind would accuse us of demolishing a temple every three weeks or say there is ethnic cleansing.”
Meanwhile, in Sungai Petani, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Johari Baharom said the Government planned to seek compensation from Hindraf and those involved in the recent illegal gathering for damage to public property.
In CAIRO, Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said several groups of students who met him expressed their anger over Hindraf leaders’ move to ask Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II to intervene in Malaysia’s internal affairs.
He said they were angry that Hindraf had ignored the Yang di- Pertuan Agong in highlighting the problems faced by the Indian community in Malaysia.
IGP: We gave them choices
PETALING JAYA: Organisers of the recent illegal gatherings were offered stadiums and other alternative venues to hold peaceful demonstrations but they rejected them.
“The organisers were adamant to hold them in the city streets,” said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan who revealed why the police rejected permit applications by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for their gathering last Sunday and the Bersih coalition (on Nov 10).
He said police investigations into the groups’ activities found that public security and peace could be threatened.
“We cover their meetings and gather information.
“If we find their activities could be critical to public order we won’t approve them,” he said during question time at his talk on Democracy, Law Enforcement and Security: Perspective from the Royal Malaysia Police at the University of Wales Aberystwyth Alumni Club of Malaysia dinner here on Wednesday.
Musa said the demonstrators wanted to be in the streets because “they want onlookers to join them”.
“But not everyone likes demonstrations. When they gather in large numbers, they scare people and shops will close.
“They shout slogans that make people angry. They call the police ‘dogs’ but we keep a deaf ear.”
Musa said the police had no problems allowing peaceful gatherings. “For example, we allow unions gathering to protest about their salaries.”
The Hindraf gathering was to submit a memorandum to the British High Commission in relation to a class-action suit they had filed against the British Government for bringing in Indians to pre-independence Malaya as indentured labourers.
The Bersih gathering called for clean elections and submitted a memorandum to the Yang di Pertuan Agong.
Musa said prior to the Hindraf gathering, the organisers had gone to Penang and other parts of the country where they made fiery speeches.
“If the authorities allowed Hindraf to go out in the streets to voice their dissatisfaction, others will make claims too.
“The Malays will say they had a good life during the Malacca Sultanate and you (the British) destroyed it ... and it will go on and on,” the IGP said.
“When the police wanted to speak to the leaders of the Sunday gathering, they were no where to be found. They only came at 1.30pm.
“We offered to escort them to the high commission but they said they did not want. They said they wanted to send the memorandum to the Queen, instead,” he said.
On Bersih, Musa said: “We gave them an alternative venue but they insisted on gathering in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
“They are stubborn and that is the problem. We said they need not gather 20,000 or 40,000 people to submit a memorandum to the King and offered to escort them,” he said.
Musa added that the police were still waiting for the Attorney-General’s Chambers to decide whether those arrested in the Bersih-organised gathering would be charged in court.
Ongkili: Hindraf didn't approach unity advisory panel
PUTRAJAYA: Disgruntled group Hindraf has never approached the National Unity Advisory Panel over its grouses.
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili said neither the panel, which was set up to hear grouses from Malaysians in the country, nor the Parliamentary Select Committee on National Unity and National Service that he chaired, had ever heard anything from Hindraf.
“We have had 250 groups from a diverse range of backgrounds approaching us and submitting some 600 memoranda and proposals on their grouses.
Hindraf has never tried to make an appointment to meet up with the panel or the committee.
“We will welcome any proposal from them,” he told reporters after a dialogue with Federal CID director Datuk Christopher Wan and Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation members at his office here Friday.
Dr Ongkili said groups should use only legal means to express their unhappiness. Resorting to illegal avenues such as rallies would only raise suspicions that they had other motives and intentions, he added.
As the minister in charge of national unity and integration, Dr Ongkili also said he had also been informed that his officers had attended some of Hindraf’s functions.
“They have gone to the grassroots to listen in during some of the meetings and they have reported to us that this group is intent on creating violence,” he said, urging all Malaysians to help preserve the country’s stability.
“Our officers as well as the 3,600 Rukun Tetangga members are monitoring the situation,” he said.
Samy: Sad, not angry
Tuesday November 27, 2007
SEREMBAN: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said he was “deeply saddened but not angry” with the Hindu Rights’ Action Force (Hindraf) for organising Sunday's illegal rally.
Samy Vellu said Hindraf could have taken a better approach to air its grievances and should not have accused the MIC of failing the Indian community.
“They must follow the law. In this country, we are very open ... I have never seen a government which is more open.
“The Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has never shut his eyes or ears to their plight ... but they should have abided by the law,” he said to reporters after opening the RM1.3 million SJK (T) Ladang Seremban in Sg Gadut near here.
Hindraf defied a court order to go ahead with the illegal rally of thousands that was dispersed by police using tear gas and water cannons.
During the incident, 241 people were arrested but of those, 105 were released after their statements were recorded.
Samy Vellu said that although he had offered to meet Hindraf leaders after they forwarded a memorandum to the Prime Minister weeks before the rally, they had refused to meet him.
“I told them that I was prepared to see them but I was told that they wished to deal directly with Umno. So what can the MIC do?” he said adding that Hindraf leaders submitted a one-page memo to the Prime Minister about the community's problems over the past 50 years.
Asked if there was merit in Hindraf’s demands, Samy Vellu said problems should be discussed within the system.
“When we discuss among ourselves, we can quarrel as much as we want. But why must we raise our displeasure outside the system?” he asked.
On comments by newly-formed Malaysian Indian United Party president Datuk Nalla Karuppan that the party would work with the Barisan Nasional, Samy Vellu said anyone could do this.
“Working is one thing but getting into the Barisan is a different thing.
“Like I have always said, there will only be one party representing the Indian community in the Barisan and that is the MIC,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Petaling Jaya, MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel said the party would not gamble on the future of the Indian community by urging them to take their grievances to the streets.
He said this was because a large majority of Malaysian Indians depended on the Government for the community’s development.
“We believe we cannot achieve much by going to the streets.
“The cause you struggle for should not only be justified but must be pursued through legitimate means,” he said in a press statement.
105 demonstrators still in custody
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 105 people who took part in the protests on Sunday are still being detained while 24 were released last night.
Federal CID director Comm Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee said those still in custody would be released on bail today. It was reported that 136 people were picked up during the protests at Jalan Ampang here and Batu Caves on Sunday which was attended by thousands. Another 105 had their details recorded.
“We released the others on Sunday and Monday after police took down their statements,” he said when met at Bukit Aman yesterday. Those picked up were remanded at the police training college on Sunday.
A court registrar assisted in the remand proceedings at the college. The process was witnessed by Bar Council members and lawyers for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) which organised the protest.
Comm Wan said investigations against those detained would be from all angles with a view of charging them under the Police Act for illegal assembly.
They would also be investigated under Section 188 of the Penal Code for disobeying the court’s order not to a hold a gathering in front of the British Embassy.
“We will also investigate them for other offences and forward the investigation papers to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action,” Comm Wan said.
When asked why Hindraf leaders, including P. Uthayakumar, who were present at the demonstration were not arrested for flouting the court order, he said the leaders could not be detected at the early stages of the demonstration.
“They only appeared towards the end,” he added.
On whether the Hindraf leaders would be arrested, Comm Wan said that depended on the outcome of their investigations.
Comm Wan also said police were investigating allegations posted on the Police Watch website that a 20-year-old youth had been beaten to death during the demonstration.
