The nation being held hostage by one party

The nation being held hostage by one party

Gerard Lourdesamy
Malaysiakini,Nov 16, 07 4:28pm

Nov 10 will be remembered in the annals of this nation’s history as the day when the people took power back from a despotic and ruthless regime that has long been entrenched in power through unlawful and fraudulent means.

It does not matter whether there were 40,000 or 100,000 people on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. What is important is that people from all walks of life, different backgrounds, ethnicities and religions regained their constitutionally-guaranteed right to freedom of peaceful assembly that has been whittled down by undemocratic laws made by an authoritarian government and defended by a compliant judiciary over the years.

Despite overwhelming odds and an obscene display of power and might by the police at the behest of their political masters, the rakyat braved the water cannons, tear gas and the inclement weather to gather peacefully and demand for electoral reform.

When the political leadership of the country is both corrupt and inept, preoccupied with self-preservation and unjust enrichment, the rakyat have no choice but to take to the streets to voice their displeasure and demand for change. The government has forgotten that they are there to serve the people and not the vested interests of politicians and their cohorts of cronies.

We now see the total negation of democratic principles and values in this country by a government that seeks to remain in power by stifling and oppressing its own people through threats, intimidation, arbitrary arrests, a compliant and corrupt police force, a compromised judiciary, a controlled media and a civil service that prides itself in being an extension of the ruling party.

The country is being held hostage to a party that has entrenched itself in power for 50 years and refuses to even acknowledge that the people should have the right to change their government through free and fair elections in accordance with acceptable international standards and democratic norms.

Democracy is not just about having elections every five years. It is about encouraging, engaging and tolerating dissent through the exercise of fundamental liberties and rights by the people, civil society and the media. No single party, Umno or Barisan Nasional, have a monopoly over power in Malaysia. It is the people who empower them and not the other way around.

Unfortunately, after 50 years of single-party rule, we have a party that is drunk with power and arrogant enough to treat this country as its own personal fiefdom while the people are relegated to the role of the silent and compliant servants who are expected to suffer rising prices, a high cost of living, a worrying crime rate, a mediocre education and health system, unbridled corruption, nepotism and cronyism at the highest levels of government, the judiciary and the police, excessive wastage in the planning, usage, allocation and distribution of public funds, while the leaders, their families, friends and business partners live a life of luxury with their expensive clothes and jewels, fancy cars, huge houses, fabulous holidays to exotic and expensive places and not to mention the unending parties and social events where some of the women wear even less than the much-talked-about uniforms of Air Asia stewardesses.

Of course, these events are not subject to raids and the purview of the religious authorities or are they an acceptable and glamourised version of Islam Hadhari that is touted ever so often by the leadership. It is, by any stretch of the imagination, hypocrisy at its worst. The rakyat are fed-up. These sentiments are prevalent at all levels of society both within the educated classes and the masses.

The government, of course, with its usual cabal of sympathisers and sycophantic supporters, who are invariably only interested in position and power as a means to get contracts, enrich themselves and curry favours with party leaders, only hears what it wants to hear while our very respectable newspapers and media reports this rubbish to the people as if it were the gospel truth.

Unfortunately for the unimaginative spin doctors at the employ of the government and ruling party under the very able guidance of the prime minister’s son-in-law, the self-proclaimed guardian and saviour of the nation, the people are not that stupid to buy into their garbage. The rakyat in their God-given wisdom and intelligence, that has somehow escaped the political leadership, likes to call a spade a spade while the government likes to call it a fork.

The Bersih rally was a resounding success by all counts. While the local media decided to play the role of the government’s lapdog, both the foreign media, foreign and local observers, websites, bloggers and the brave men and women who took to the streets, relayed the news, pictures and stories to the world. As a famous Tamil saying goes, “Only an idiot would try to hide a whole pumpkin in a pot of rice”.

Kudos to the local journalists and editors (at the behest of the government and the crony owners of their newspapers, television and radio stations) who attempted to perform this magical feat. Suffice to say that they all ended up with egg (or more fittingly chemically-laced water) on their faces! The National Union of Journalists should take pride in the magnificent journalistic standards and freedom that their members have displayed in the last few days. Sadly, though, most people now regard the newspapers as only useful for wiping their backsides if not less.

The journalists in any other free and democratic country would have either gone on strike or boycotted their editors and newspapers rather than carry out a campaign of misinformation or disinformation, as the case may be, to deceive the public. At the end of the day, without reporters and writers, newspapers cannot possibly function. But, unlike some lawyers who had the guts to protest over the dismal state of the judiciary, the other professions seem to be asleep. Undoubtedly, they are concerned about their jobs and incomes.

But as Mahatma Gandhi rightly proved, peaceful civil disobedience was enough to bring down the might of the British Raj, what more a government like ours, managed and protected by imbeciles. If the people are not willing to take a stand and rise up to the occasion, then all is lost. We have betrayed our country, our freedom and independence to a regime that is no longer the servant of the people but has arrogated itself to the role of master and dictator.

It is odd that whenever the ruling party holds a public rally or protest, permits are readily given and the demonstration is labeled as peaceful. But it is never the case when the opposition or non-governmental organisations do the same purportedly because only opponents of the government are prone to crime and disorder. That does not explain the numerous convictions of Umno and BN politicians for fraud, corruption, murder, sexual misdeeds and not to mention their rowdy and uncivilised behaviour during election campaigns, as the menteri besar of one state demonstrated in a recent election.

Disorder only happens in Malaysia when persons are planted into peaceful gatherings to cause trouble and mayhem. If the police are genuine, professional and honest in the discharge of their duties, they should allow peaceful assemblies in designated areas with full police protection and control.

The organisers of the Bersih rally proved this with their excellent marshals who guided and controlled the crowds. The demonstration was peaceful and without incident until the police decided to fire their water cannons and tear gas at the well-behaved protesters. While we can accept that the police were acting on the instructions of their superiors and political masters, the police should remember that they are servants and protectors of the rakyat, not their tormentors and oppressors.

Even under the terms of the infamous Police Act, the police could have contained and controlled the crowd without having to resort to violence and unnecessary provocation. The traffic chaos that ensued in parts of the city and its outskirts was caused by excessive policing.

If a permit was given, the police could have directed the organisers to have the gathering at the Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara or any other open space followed by a short procession to the Istana Negara to hand over the memorandum. This would have been far better. Instead the police exaggerated the security threat and made matters worse by their overreaction.

The memorandum to the King calling for clean and free elections is merely a plea from the rakyat that they want their constitutional right to vote and elect a government to be protected from the abuses and corruption of the ruling party. People no longer trust the ineffectual Election Commission, a disgrace compared to its Indian counterpart.

People no longer trust the constant gerrymandering with constituencies, wholesale transfer of voters, numerous phantom voters on the electoral rolls, the completely non-transparent conduct of postal voting which ought to be only limited to the armed forces and police serving in border areas, the interior regions and overseas, the ridiculously short campaign periods (these were even longer before and immediately after the 1969 emergency), the ban on public rallies, the lack of media space for the opposition in the newspapers, radio and television and the abuse of government machinery and facilities by the incumbent party.

If the government intends to continue misusing its funds and resources for party activities during an election campaign, then the people have the right to ask that all political parties be funded from public funds based on the percentage of popular votes that they receive in any one election. Otherwise, Umno and BN should be told to stop misusing the peoples’ money. I am sure that the billionaires and millionaires in Umno and their cronies can afford to fund the party’s election campaigns.

A caretaker government should be put in place between the dissolution of parliament and the formation of a new government without the power to disburse funds, expenditure, subsidies and announce major policies or projects that involve public monies during this interim period.

In these difficult times when every institution in the country has been tainted and compromised by the ruling party, the rakyat can only turn to the King and the rulers. It is they who must ultimately defend the constitution and the laws of the country, the rights, freedom, prosperity and happiness of the people.

Malaysia is a rich and well-endowed country. The people are its biggest asset. Any party can rule this country provided they are accepted by the people through a democratic process that is free and fair. No single party or person has a monopoly over power in this country. Governments come and go in any functioning democracy. It is not fatal to the progress and prosperity of the people, provided that politicians are clean, trustworthy, efficient and intelligent with a firm belief and respect for democracy and the rule of law.

Otherwise, eventually only chaos, anarchy and revolution will occur when the people can longer accept a leadership that is intolerant, undemocratic and corrupt, one that has negated and betrayed the people’s trust, their well-being and future.

The monarchy is a living symbol of our nation’s history, its continuation and its tradition. But at the end of the day, when the very existence, fabric and future of the nation is threatened by an entrenched and elected dictatorship, it is the rulers who have to use constitutional and extra-constitutional means to protect and defend the people from their own government. A constitutional monarchy can also be an enlightened monarchy but a morally inept government can never be a democratic one.

Malaysian Indians at crossroads

Temple demolition a wake up call 

We were overjoyed when at last Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) strongman, Datuk Seri S. Samy Velu spoke out strongly on an issue that has been plaguing the Indian community for so many years – indiscriminate demolition of temples. To Hindus, demolition of deities and temples that house them are acts of desecration and are considered sacrilegious. Our joy and hopes were very short-lived when the MIC president quickly regained his posture and returned to his “fold”, the Barisan National (BN). 

Of late this practice of demolition of places of worship has become so rampant, with little or no consideration for the sensitivities of the Hindus. The latest of these is the demolition of the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya in Padang Jawa, near Shah Alam. 

The 100-year old temple may need to be relocated alright but couldn’t it be done in a more civilized way? Why has it to be done just before Deepavalli, the festival of Lights, an auspicious day for the Hindus? Can’t the local authorities give in to the request of a very senior cabinet minister, which they always do in other instances? Do they need to use so much force against unarmed civilians? Do they need to arrest and manhandle lawyers at gunpoint? Why the arrogance and display of power against simple devotees in a temple?

In his strongest criticism so far, Samy Velu warned that the BN government risks losing the Indian votes if it does not stop this discriminate and inconsiderate action against the Indian community. As the leader of the Indian community his comments are long overdue. In fact I am afraid it may now be too late to stop this discriminative actions against the Indians by the UMNO-led BN government, of MIC is a major partner since its inception. 

The MIC, by its docile and submissive stance, has long lost its voice and power in the coalition. Its leaders, including Samy Velu who had ruled the party for over 2 decades, have allowed the opportunities to slip by a long time ago. Is threatening with denying the Indian votes now going to work? The Malacca Chief Minister,an UNMO stalwart, has recently even gone to the extent to reiterate that they do not need our votes as they can win without us. 

A number of incidences recently have highlighted the deplorable attitude of the government towards the Indian community. These have prompted the Hindu Action Front (Hindraf) to resort to legal action against the British government for being the indirect cause of their pathetic state in Malaysia today.

As Samy Velu said the vast majority of Malaysian Indians had stood by the Alliance and subsequently the BN in thick and thin. They are still loyal and would continue to be so if only they are treated with due dignity and respect. Their loyalty to the government was unquestionable. In fact this blind loyalty, that was occasionally a pain for the opposition, has contributed to a great extent for their pitiful state today. 

From the beginning, it is undeniable that the Indians had contributed much to the development of the nation. They served at all levels in estates and the civil service, from the highest positions as managers and directors to the lowest as manual labourers.The medical, legal, railway and PWD were in fact monopolized by Indians whose exemplary services we still treasure till today. As directors, doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers and even as manual workers and union leaders, they had given their relentless services to the nation of adoption they considered their motherland. 

The blind loyalty to the BN is being repaid today in the form of discrimination, denial of educational and job opportunities, denial of land to erect places of worship, demolition of existing temples, passing of derogatory remarks and so on. On the whole they are being treated as second or even third class citizens in the very land they toiled to develop. 

It is very extremely sad and disgusting to see the way Samy Velu,a very senior cabinet minister being snubbed by the Menteri Besar and other government officers in his attempts to stop the demolition of the temple in Padang Jawa. We understand he was even pelted with stones when he went to mediate the ongoing standoff between the MPSA authorities and the devotees at the temple. 

We are also deeply disturbed by the way the lawyers were treated by the police when they went to the defense of the rights of the people who were unarmed and peaceful. They were manhandled by machine gun-bearing police, handcuffed and beaten. Imagine professionals being treated like criminals without any respect whatsoever as lawyers representing the affected residents. 

The Malaysian Indians are now at the crossroads, uncertain of what the future holds for them as the path for the future is very obscure. The only encouraging sign that this Kampung Rimba Jaya tragedy produced was the reaction of the MIC leader. Does his outburst indicate that he and the MIC have finally come to face reality under which the Indians live? Has the MIC the political will to swim and sink with the Indians? 

Our leaders contend that we are financially better now but we know as a community on the whole we were better off at the time of independence than now,50 years later. We have lost almost all we once had – positions and employment in estates and the civil service.Today even the distribution of newspapers by Indian vendors is being envied. With these losses, we seem to have also lost the respect that we once commanded especially from the other races. Poverty and its accompanying social ills are still a big problem among Indians. Unemployment and crime rate are highest among them. 

We have brought up a younger generation of Indians with all the problems of the previous one minus the positions and respect. There are no opportunities for education, jobs and even in sports and recreation for the young. With the escalating cost of living, many are finding it extremely difficult to make ends meet let alone having access to proper housing, education and quality basic medical care. 

The Indians have nowhere to turn to for help. They try turning to God but even that they are prevented from doing so as they demolish their places of worship and the deities. 

Samy Velu and the MIC leaders have a serious problem in their hands and they must search their conscience deeply to see whether they have brought any real benefits to their community. Do they sincerely believe, if the present state continues, there is a bright future for the future generations of Indians? All in-fighting for power and self glory must stop as we unite in our endeavor to uplift the morale and zeal of the Indian community. 

We salute the younger leaders of the Hindu Action Rights Force (Hindraf) and lawyers like P Uthayakumar, P Waythamoorthy, M Manoharan, S Ganabathi Rao, Gengadharan and many other social workers and activists for their relentless work in protecting the rights and attempts to uplift the poor Indians. Samy Velu and the MIC must get down to the masses to tap the potentials of this capable and brave younger generation of Indians. 

Let the temple demolition be a wake-up call for us.We must get rid of the so called “Crab Syndrome” that had inflicted our community and is the major cause of our failure. There is a need to change our mindset from one of dependence on the government to that of self-dependence. We need to maintain our traditions and culture but at the same time acquire modern scientific knowledge and skills to be competitive in a global society. Unless we act now to take charge of our destiny, even God will not be able to help us. 

Dr.Chris Anthony

 

Malaysian Indians at crossroads

Samy: Stop temple demolitions or risk Indian votes

Oct 31, 07 5:25pm

MIC chief S Samy Vellu has urged the government to stop the demolition of Hindu temples or it will risk alienating Indian Malaysian voters.

This appears to be the first time Samy Vellu had spoken out strongly on the issue which has been dogging the Hindu community, particularly in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, for the past few years.

Samy Vellu, who is also the works minister, said he had raised the issue several times during meetings with state government leaders but temples were still being demolished.

The most recent example, was the demolition of a temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya, Shah Alam, yesterday which Samy Vellu said had “hurt the feelings” of residents there.

“It is common knowledge that the majority of Indian voters, if not all Indians in Malaysia, support Barisan Nasional.

“Thus, I urge the relevant authorities not to resort to the drastic action of demolishing temples even though they are not built legally,” he said in a statement faxed from the Works Ministry.

‘We have no choice’

Samy Vellu said the Hindu community was forced to build temples on private or state land because the community did not have land to do so.

“I have on many occasions asked state and local governments to allot land for temples in every residential area, but it has yet to be implemented.

“Thus, the Hindu community has no choice but to build temples on land that is not theirs,” he added.

The veteran politician went on to quote the first pillar of the Rukun Negara – Belief in God – adding that no one should be punished for practising their respective religion.

He also urged the relevant authorities to seek alternative land for temples which have been demolished or were scheduled to be demolished.

‘No compromise’

The MIC president suggested that small temples be combined together on a larger piece of land.

“I will not compromise or tolerate anyone that does not take this issue seriously. I would also advise the Hindu community to only build temples on land where they are allowed to,” he said.

Yesterday, Samy Vellu visited Kampung Karuppiah after the demolition had taken place.

According to vernacular press reports, he was pelted with sticks and stones by angry residents.

He also reportedly lodged a complaint with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was attending a function nearby.

Kg Rimba Jaya fracas: Four lawyers released

Bede Hong
Oct 31, 07 2:30pm

The Kampung Rimba Jaya in Padang Jawa, near Shah Alam was a chaotic scene last night when residents tried to prevent the Shah Alam City Hall from demolishing their houses.

The residents’ attempt to save their homes turned physical and bloody when scores were hurt in the ensuing melee.

Fifteen residents were also arrested and are now being detained at the Shah Alam Section 11 police station.

In the end, over 200 houses, a 100-year-old temple and a surau have been levelled to the ground by the authorities. Even the presence of MIC president S Samy Vellu could not save the houses and the temple.

And later in the day, four lawyers – human rights lawyers P Uthayakumar and P Waythamoorthy as well as DAP lawyers M Manoharan and S Ganabathi Rao – were also arrested by the police when they attempted to enter Section 11 police station to help the release of the residents.

The police have today obtained a four-day remand order against the residents, said DAP legal bureau chief A Sivanesan. However at 5.30 in the evening, a 16-year-old boy and a 52-year-old woman were released.

The lawyers were all released on police bail at about 7.45pm.

When contacted Sivanesan also said that at least two residents suffered serious injuries.

“A woman, in her fifties and a 16-year-old boy suffered great injury. Their clothes are soaked with their own blood and they are still wearing them,” he said. These are two who were released by the police in the evening.

Tamil dailies today also carried images of another man with head injury.

Lawyers manhandled

Earlier in the day today, the police took statements from the four lawyers.

The lawyers were arrested for creating a scuffle in front of the Section 11 police station after they were refused entry by the police.

“Their purpose there was to assist residents lodge reports against the state government and relevant authorities. They were also to inquire on the status of those arrested and detained,” said Hindraf lawyer R Gengadharan when contacted today.

“The conduct of arresting and detaining by the police is unjustified,” he said.

Last night, Waythamoorthy lodged a police report against the conduct of the police in arresting him and the other three lawyers.

In the report lodged at the same police station, Waythamoorthy said that he was manhandled and had a machine-gun pointed at him when he inquired as to why the lawyers were being refused entry.

“I was pushed down and stepped on my leg, preventing me from getting up,” his report stated.

“I injured my head, my back and elbow…the same constable threatened to shoot me if I didn’t go out and his machine-gun was pointed at me while I was still on the ground,” he said.

He added in his report that he and the other lawyers faced racial abuses from the other police personnel at the station, with one policeman allegedly stating that he would “make sure I’m kept in lock up tonight”.

Baton-charged

Meanwhile, human rights activist S Kumaravel, 44, said a surau was also demolished by council authorities in the eviction exercise yesterday.

The surau is located in Rimba Jaya, about one kilometre away from the temple. The Sri Maha Mariaman temple is located in Rimba Jaya. Residents from nearby Kampung Karuppiah carry out their prayers at the temple.

Kumaravel, who is Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) exco member, said over 200 houses in Rimba Jaya were demolished in the exercise that saw at least 300 police personnel, including the Federal Reserve Unit, participating.

Rimba Jaya is mostly populated by Malays while Kampung Karuppiah is mostly populated by Indians.

The MPSA enforcement officers were beating people with batons, said Kumaravel.

“I saw an enforcement officer pulling out a knife and waving it around threateningly,” said Kumaravel.

It took almost three hours to demolish the Sri Maha Mariaman temple. The temple’s nursery was the first to be demolished when the exercise began yesterday morning.

After a pause at noon, the demolition continued at 2pm and continued for another three hours amidst resistance from at least 400 residents. Several hundred council enforcement officers were also present.

News reports said stones were thrown between both sides.

Shots fired

In addition to that, today’s Sin Chew Daily reported that police fired several shots at a lorry, puncturing at least one tyre. Nanyang Siang Pau reported that five shots were fired. The report said several residents had tried to escape the police in the lorry. They were later arrested.

There were also accounts of a stabbing, but which could not be verified as yet.

“They should have waited until Deepavali is over before they begin demolishing the temple. At least the residents have somewhere to pray,” said Kumaravel.

Early this morning, he had lodged a police report at Section 11 police station against the state government for ordering the eviction exercise.

“The police told us that the order was from the Menteri Besar (Mohd Khir Toyo). There was no court order to demolish the surau or the temple,” he added.

Tamil dailies also reported that the residents had shown their anger towards Samy Vellu for not doing anything to help them. Samy Vellu is quoted as saying that he would raise the matter with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Temple row: Suhakam slams authorities

Andrew Ong
Oct 31, 07 5:02pm

Malaysikini

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has condemned the manner employed by the authorities to demolish a Hindu temple in Shah Alam yesterday.

Suhakam commissioner Dr Denison Jayasooria said the incident showed that the authorities did not have respect for religious and cultural sensitivities.

“The authorities may have state or legal right to carry out the demolition, but the manner in which it was conducted requires far greater consideration,” he told a press conference at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Suhakam has been repeating this so many times. But the authorities seem to be deaf. They cannot display simple human decency in responding to a crisis.

“Why make it a crisis when it can be settled amicably?” he said, adding that the demolition was untimely since the Hindu festival of Deepavali was only a week away.

Yesterday, scores of Hindu devotees were injured when they resisted attempts by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) enforcement officials to demolish a temple in Rimba Jaya.

Some eye witnesses described the situation as a “near riot” as the two sides clashed. MBSA were backed by the riot police and other enforcement authorities.

The authorities claimed that the demolition was carried out based on a court order. Devotees, on the other hand, claimed that they were never notified of the demolition.

Grace period

Based on information received from eye witnesses and press reports, Denison said Suhakam’s preliminary findings is that the devotees had asked for a two-day grace period in order to carry out necessary preparations to relocate.

Denison said the way the temple and the sacred items within the structure were destroyed by the authorities would be taken as great offence by the Hindu community.

He said that rightfully, the authorities should have respected the rights of the Hindu devotees to carry out the necessary rituals to safely remove the items.

“These processes take time. What is (the enforcement authorities’) hurry? Can’t they wait two days, three days or one more week?

“If they can cool down emotions, that achieves far more than bulldozing the issue,” he added.

Another Suhakam commissioner N Siva Subramaniam condemned the use of violence by the authorities to subdue the devotees.

“Based on press reporters, the enforcement authorities pelted the devotees with stones. Their actions must be condemned. As enforcers, they should not subject the people to cruelty,” he said.

Public inquiry

Siva added that the authorities had displayed blatant abuse of power during the incident.

Numerous press reports today highlighted pictures of head and body injuries sustained by several devotees.

Both commissioners would try to convince Suhakam to hold a public inquiry on the matter. A decision on whether to hold a public inquiry would be made on Nov 12.

Siva added that the problem seemingly stems from the Selangor government’s policy as such occurrences are rare outside the state.

Denison said Suhakam had previously issued guidelines for the authorities on the demolition of places of worship and expressed regret that they had been ignored.

He stressed that the authorities needed to consult political parties and other stakeholders before taking action on places of worship because of the sensitivities involved.

“I will not compromise or tolerate anyone that does not take this issue seriously. I would also advise the Hindu community to only build temples on land where they are allowed to,” he said.

Yesterday, Samy Vellu visited Kampung Karuppiah after the demolition had taken place.

According to vernacular press reports, he was pelted with sticks and stones by angry residents.

He also reportedly lodged a complaint with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was attending a function nearby.

Kg Rimba Jaya fracas: Four lawyers released

Bede Hong
Oct 31, 07 2:30pm

Rimba Jaya in Padang Jawa, near Shah Alam was a chaotic scene last night when residents tried to prevent the Shah Alam City Hall from demolishing their houses.

The residents’ attempt to save their homes turned physical and bloody when scores were hurt in the ensuing melee.

Fifteen residents were also arrested and are now being detained at the Shah Alam Section 11 police station.

In the end, over 200 houses, a 100-year-old temple and a surau have been levelled to the ground by the authorities. Even the presence of MIC president S Samy Vellu could not save the houses and the temple.

And later in the day, four lawyers – human rights lawyers P Uthayakumar and P Waythamoorthy as well as DAP lawyers M Manoharan and S Ganabathi Rao – were also arrested by the police when they attempted to enter Section 11 police station to help the release of the residents.

The police have today obtained a four-day remand order against the residents, said DAP legal bureau chief A Sivanesan. However at 5.30 in the evening, a 16-year-old boy and a 52-year-old woman were released.

The lawyers were all released on police bail at about 7.45pm.

When contacted Sivanesan also said that at least two residents suffered serious injuries.

“A woman, in her fifties and a 16-year-old boy suffered great injury. Their clothes are soaked with their own blood and they are still wearing them,” he said. These are two who were released by the police in the evening.

Tamil dailies today also carried images of another man with head injury.

Lawyers manhandled

Earlier in the day today, the police took statements from the four lawyers.

The lawyers were arrested for creating a scuffle in front of the Section 11 police station after they were refused entry by the police.

“Their purpose there was to assist residents lodge reports against the state government and relevant authorities. They were also to inquire on the status of those arrested and detained,” said Hindraf lawyer R Gengadharan when contacted today.

“The conduct of arresting and detaining by the police is unjustified,” he said.

Last night, Waythamoorthy lodged a police report against the conduct of the police in arresting him and the other three lawyers.

In the report lodged at the same police station, Waythamoorthy said that he was manhandled and had a machine-gun pointed at him when he inquired as to why the lawyers were being refused entry.

“I was pushed down and stepped on my leg, preventing me from getting up,” his report stated.

“I injured my head, my back and elbow…the same constable threatened to shoot me if I didn’t go out and his machine-gun was pointed at me while I was still on the ground,” he said.

He added in his report that he and the other lawyers faced racial abuses from the other police personnel at the station, with one policeman allegedly stating that he would “make sure I’m kept in lock up tonight”.

Baton-charged

Meanwhile, human rights activist S Kumaravel, 44, said a surau was also demolished by council authorities in the eviction exercise yesterday.

The surau is located in Rimba Jaya, about one kilometre away from the temple. The Sri Maha Mariaman temple is located in Rimba Jaya. Residents from nearby Kampung Karuppiah carry out their prayers at the temple.

Kumaravel, who is Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (Jerit) exco member, said over 200 houses in Rimba Jaya were demolished in the exercise that saw at least 300 police personnel, including the Federal Reserve Unit, participating.

Rimba Jaya is mostly populated by Malays while Kampung Karuppiah is mostly populated by Indians.

The MPSA enforcement officers were beating people with batons, said Kumaravel.

“I saw an enforcement officer pulling out a knife and waving it around threateningly,” said Kumaravel.

It took almost three hours to demolish the Sri Maha Mariaman temple. The temple’s nursery was the first to be demolished when the exercise began yesterday morning.

After a pause at noon, the demolition continued at 2pm and continued for another three hours amidst resistance from at least 400 residents. Several hundred council enforcement officers were also present.

News reports said stones were thrown between both sides.

Shots fired

In addition to that, today’s Sin Chew Daily reported that police fired several shots at a lorry, puncturing at least one tyre. Nanyang Siang Pau reported that five shots were fired. The report said several residents had tried to escape the police in the lorry. They were later arrested.

There were also accounts of a stabbing, but which could not be verified as yet.

“They should have waited until Deepavali is over before they begin demolishing the temple. At least the residents have somewhere to pray,” said Kumaravel.

Early this morning, he had lodged a police report at Section 11 police station against the state government for ordering the eviction exercise.

“The police told us that the order was from the Menteri Besar (Mohd Khir Toyo). There was no court order to demolish the surau or the temple,” he added.

Tamil dailies also reported that the residents had shown their anger towards Samy Vellu for not doing anything to help them. Samy Vellu is quoted as saying that he would raise the matter with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Temple row: Suhakam slams authorities

Andrew Ong
Oct 31, 07 5:02pm

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has condemned the manner employed by the authorities to demolish a Hindu temple in Shah Alam yesterday.

Suhakam commissioner Dr Denison Jayasooria (photo: left) said the incident showed that the authorities did not have respect for religious and cultural sensitivities.

“The authorities may have state or legal right to carry out the demolition, but the manner in which it was conducted requires far greater consideration,” he told a press conference at the Suhakam headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

“Suhakam has been repeating this so many times. But the authorities seem to be deaf. They cannot display simple human decency in responding to a crisis.

“Why make it a crisis when it can be settled amicably?” he said, adding that the demolition was untimely since the Hindu festival of Deepavali was only a week away.

Yesterday, scores of Hindu devotees were injured when they resisted attempts by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) enforcement officials to demolish a temple in Rimba Jaya.

Some eye witnesses described the situation as a “near riot” as the two sides clashed. MBSA were backed by the riot police and other enforcement authorities.

The authorities claimed that the demolition was carried out based on a court order. Devotees, on the other hand, claimed that they were never notified of the demolition.

Grace period

Based on information received from eye witnesses and press reports, Denison said Suhakam’s preliminary findings is that the devotees had asked for a two-day grace period in order to carry out necessary preparations to relocate.

Denison said the way the temple and the sacred items within the structure were destroyed by the authorities would be taken as great offence by the Hindu community.

He said that rightfully, the authorities should have respected the rights of the Hindu devotees to carry out the necessary rituals to safely remove the items.

“These processes take time. What is (the enforcement authorities’) hurry? Can’t they wait two days, three days or one more week?

“If they can cool down emotions, that achieves far more than bulldozing the issue,” he added.

Another Suhakam commissioner N Siva Subramaniam condemned the use of violence by the authorities to subdue the devotees.

“Based on press reporters, the enforcement authorities pelted the devotees with stones. Their actions must be condemned. As enforcers, they should not subject the people to cruelty,” he said.

Public inquiry

Siva added that the authorities had displayed blatant abuse of power during the incident.

Numerous press reports today highlighted pictures of head and body injuries sustained by several devotees.

Both commissioners would try to convince Suhakam to hold a public inquiry on the matter. A decision on whether to hold a public inquiry would be made on Nov 12.

Siva added that the problem seemingly stems from the Selangor government’s policy as such occurrences are rare outside the state.

Denison said Suhakam had previously issued guidelines for the authorities on the demolition of places of worship and expressed regret that they had been ignored.

He stressed that the authorities needed to consult political parties and other stakeholders before taking action on places of worship because of the sensitivities involved.

 

May the force be with you

Madhatter
Malaysiakini,Nov 1

Democracy and freedom of the media went out the door when Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Ramli Yusuff requested Malaysiakini journalists to leave his press conference. It is strange that a man who wants the truth to be known should pick on the very people who have been getting the truth out into the public space. He may rue the day he did that when he desperately needs an avenue to defend himself in future, as one infamous opponent of Malaysiakini, now a critic of the government, discovered. The latest police scandals, the apparent tit-for-tat actions of the parties involved, including factions in the police force and Anti-Corruption Agency are reason why the IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission) is long overdue. Pak Lah has been derelict in his duty and appears to be incompetent. He should relinquish his role and take on the portfolio of foreign minister since he likes to travel abroad when business at home demands his attention. It is okay for him to take his new bride for a ride but not the people. Judging the comments of ministers in response to the judiciary fiasco, one can’t avoid concluding that incompetence and the lack of honesty are behind the government’s reluctance to quickly resolve the Lingam video intrigue. It is the only credible explanation when the views of the government are so divergent from ours on something so obvious as the Lingam video. Trying to defend the indefensible when the monkey has been caught with his hands in the coconut is another stroke of pure stupidity and self-delusion for which the government is renowned. Current events in Malaysia speak of a government that is out of control because of Pak Lah’s lack of leadership. Each time something of major public concern occurs, he hides behind the scene and lets his ministers or some other person manage the problem. Then he appears when the damage has been done by his ministers and appears the nice guy making all the right moves, correcting his ministers and taking the high moral ground. This is leadership by dereliction and deceit. A good leader will come out in the open and lead from the front not the back. But this backpedaling method of Pak Lah happens too often. Perhaps Malaysiakini may dig its archives and list the litany of Pak Lah’s backpedaling ways, and each time it is some bureaucrat who did not understand the government’s stand and did the wrong thing, not Pak Lah’s government. Members of the royal family have better things to do than comment on the country’s management. But for the Sultan of Perak, once the country’s top judge to openly comment on the judiciary in response to the Lingam video scandal, manifests the growing impatience of Malaysians with the government’s recalcitrance in forming a royal commission to sort out the judiciary. The government is only digging a larger hole for itself. A royal commission should clean out the rotten apples in the judiciary. Lingam’s video is a symbolic expose of what really occurs behind the scenes. Multiply it and the people can peer into how business is conducted by the corrupt in tandem with their links in the administration. In typical style, the prime minister lambasted the Bar Council, whose lame response to his criticism of their actions also leaves much to be desired. The premier does not know how to do his job and has no reason to preach to the Bar Council which must show more backbone in dealing with the government. It is not proper for the government to tell the Bar Council, the country’s best legal brains, what to do when its so-called law minister does not even understand the basic notion of natural justice. The time has come when Malaysians have enough of government nonsense. Those elected goons acting like rajahs and dictators, overruling and stemming public debate on every important major issue of public concern have got to be stopped. Another disgraceful politician is the speaker of the House. This man is supposed to uphold the Constitution and ensure there is proper parliamentary debate but his obscenely biased clamping down of opposition members is beyond belief. It has brought disrepute to the august house of the people and the speaker should himself be referred to a disciplinary board. The Election Commission is another tool of the government when it is supposed to be neutral and fair. How can it claim to be an election commission when everyone knows that the electoral boundaries are so biased and skewed against democracy? Is it any wonder that the Barisan always wins the elections? An analysis of the voting results of past years will tell you that if the electoral boundaries were fairly delineated, as they should be if the EC has done its job fairly and professionally, Umno in particular would not have won as many seats as it has done. The other crucial factor is the bureaucracy, those public servants who are under the people’s payroll. Instead of performing their duties according to the highest code of conduct and professionalism and being above politics they act as if they are the servants and sycophants of the politicians. They simply have failed to understand that being a government servant is not the same as being a stooge of the ruling political party. In Japan, for example, you see this separation of the politicians and the bureaucrats clearly. So no matter who forms the Japanese government, the bureaucracy is able to function smoothly and effectively and in fact there is even a joke that you don’t need the politicians to run the country in Japan. Also in developed countries, heads of departments and public servants have taken the politicians, including their ministers, to task if they are forced to do something that is unethical or unconstitutional. But in Malaysia, the pengarahs (directors) are in bed with the politicians and is it any wonder that so many of them receive datukships and fancy titles. So how can the country progress with this sort of mentality – that all you have to do is be a good servant, not of the public but the politicians, and all will be well. This shallowness of the bureaucracy has been around for a long time and now the judiciary is in danger of falling into the same quagmire. The government is so used to doublespeak and deceit that it is unable to think straight and that is why it is full of contradictions. Either the warlords in the Umno fiefdom are flexing their muscles more boldly or they are pathetically schizoid. Take for example, the shameful keris waving matter. Now they are coming out and saying that it will be a permanent part of their political culture. Shish! It shows their duplicitous nature. The keris we all know is held in high regard as a symbol of Malay militancy. It is acceptable to use it decoratively in formal cultural attire. But when young political turks start waving it in the air accompanied by aggressive chanting and intimidating postures, you’d have to be an idiot not to get the message. The keris should be banned for any other use than cultural and when used like it was at the Umno assembly, should be deemed a provocative act. Western kings and princes have a ceremonial sword as part of their attire but we don’t see their politicians waving swords at their political meetings do we? Well, they are simply more civilised and honest. But please politicians, spare us your dishonesty. If you want to wave a weapon at anyone and intimidate them and commit a felony, don’t pretend and make dishonest excuses. In a civilised country, someone who makes a verbal assault on another in a threatening manner can be charged in court. But in Malaysia, only the government’s youth party, reminiscent of Hitler’s Nazi youth groups, can do it and we know the outcome of such behaviour years later. The country spends untold sums of money on religion, building mosques at taxpayers’ expense, spending millions and millions on religious schools, yet corruption is so rampant and it affects every echelon of the economy. For years, every Malaysian knows that the traffic police are corrupt. Yet the government has not done anything to stop the corruption. It has not explained why religion has not bitten into the moral conscience of the police. The government has indeed failed the religious test. The rift in the police force is denied but the proof is in the pudding. If there is no rift why is CCID director Ramli Yusuff being accused of amassing a whopping 27 million ringgit? Why is he alleging that he is being picked on because his officers exposed the collusion of other police officers with a top gangster? Who needs soap operas when the Malaysian police, judge-fixing lawyers and politicians provide so much entertainment? Let’s face it. Call an ace an ace and a spade a spade. The Malaysian government has been in power for too long and lost its moral compass. It is lost in the jungle of greed. Politics is the short route to personal power and riches and what they bring. The Zakaria Derios mansion is a monument of such obscenity. The only thing worse than a corrupt government official is the people who support him. I am not suggesting Zakaria is guilty of corruption but I would like to know the secret of his success. The government should ask him to conduct seminars for the Malay business people whom Pak Lah has recently chided for their lack of success. It is strange and no coincidence that every time the elections are near that the prime minister picks on the Malays. It all started with Mohamad Mahathir. But this time, the non-Malays and the Malays can’t be fooled. The non-Malays know that Pak Lah and his cronies tell them one thing and another to their own people. They are masters of doublespeak and politicians are renowned for speaking with a forked-tongue. Even the Red Indians knew that, how much more clever the Malaysians. More and more Malays now know that only a handful of cronies take the lion’s share of the nation’s wealth which is meant to be distributed among them more evenly. Mahathir duped them with his plan to establish a few super rich Malay tycoons. And Malaysians all fell for it. How silly. It is like the man who wants to satisfy his lust and says he married another woman to keep her from getting poor. Why? Couldn’t charity help her in this modern age? And why are the needy women all young and sweet? How many men have married old and frail women, to help them out of poverty? Alas, the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick! The state of the nation is not healthy. Pak Lah’s administration has failed the moral test. He himself has failed the test that he established himself. Judged by his own words and standards, he has failed. Tell me the truth, work with me, yak, yak, yak, but what do we get? The opposite! And now that the Bar Council has told him the truth – he scolds them. Shish. Let’s face the truth. Politicians are not royalty, born to lead. They are given the chance to lead. Take away Pak Lah’s role and what is he? Look at the high and mighty Mahathir. Where is he now? He is battling to stay alive and let’s hope long enough to redeem himself. He is the architect, engineer, developer, real estate agent – the consummate maestro of the Malaysian Dilemma. He lived by it and now leaves this legacy for us. The Malay Dilemma was a myth created by Mahathir to exploit the psyche of a victim’s complex innate in the Malays of yesteryears. Under the British, only Mother England’s interest mattered. Everyone else had to make a go of it. But cunning Mahathir made it out that the Chinese and the British put the Malays at a disadvantage. And after 50 years of Umno rule, what have changed? Malaysians are stupid if they allow their country to be run like a mafia country. Now the gangsters are so bold. They gun down the police. But has anyone investigated if it was an inside job? Were the police walking into a trap? Were the crooks tipped off and the police sacrificed to warn off other honest cops? We have spent millions to send a Malaysian to celebrate Hari Raya in space. Yet we couldn’t find enough money to provide the police who were involved in the drugs raid without the proper attire. Shish! Here is a government trying to join the space race but can’t do a simple thing like providing bullet proof vests to its policemen on a dangerous raid. Why wasn’t this raised in Parliament? Malaysians should not be stupid but angry that their country is being exploited by the people they elected to benefit them. The masses need to get the message out to the common folks everywhere. It took a long time to get 5,000 people to sign the petition to the King. It should have taken five minutes! Or five days. What’s wrong with Malaysians? But if I announce a free porn video, be sure I will have 500,000 people sign up. The young in Malaysia had better wake up and start to do something about their country, about their future. Don’t be an idiot and think that because you know so and so and enjoy some benefits now that everything will be okay. Talk to those who once were Mahathir’s cronies. Where are they now? So you want to postpone the nation’s problems to your grandchildren? Don’t make the mistake of your parents and grandparents who did nothing. See what their inaction has caused them. The time is ripe now to rid the country of all those corrupt politicians who should not be allowed to get away with murder and having a great time at the people’s expense. Don’t be fooled by the politicians who say the Chinese are the enemy, the Malays are the enemy, the Indians are the enemy. There is only one enemy. The one who is corrupt. Everyone else is your friend. Save Malaysia and vote out the corrupt politicians and take part in every activity that you can to make your country a better place. Surely there must be some honest and decent politicians left in the government. Support them also because it is not the party that counts but the people whom you entrust to lead you. Remember your future is in your hands and don’t blame anyone if you suffer because you made the wrong choice. The last time many of us were fooled – but once bitten, twice shy. Do I need to say more?

Attack on police a wake up call

Citizens living in fear

The slaying of two detectives by gunmen recently is a reminder of the sorry state of affairs in the  Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).The  Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan should be more than furious over what is happening - escalating crime that is becoming increasingly uncontrolable,corruption among his men even at high levels, inefficiency and now a fatal attack on his own forces. It has been a week now and yet none of the police murderers have been caught which is enough to speak volumes for its effectiveness. The public confidence in the police force is at its lowest ebbs in decades. 

We can be sure that they will be in full force on November 10, to stop, often brutally, harmless but concerned citizens who will gather peacefully to demand for electoral reforms, organized by the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih).

The death of two trained and experienced policemen is definitely a great loss to the nation especially coming at a time when the country is facing such a high crime rate that is threatening the peace and harmony that we were enjoying all these years. It would be great setback to the efforts of the police to stop the escalating crime.

Whether the unfortunate police raid was conducted properly and what really went wrong is for the PDRM to investigate in a professional manner and take remedial measures to overcome any shortcomings there may be. What is important is not who is at fault but rather what has happened, a very serious crime in the form of a well planned attack on the police. It is equally important to ask why it occurred. Were the police raids well planned and coordinated and adequate precautionary measures taken?

It is also timely that to review the protective measures like the use of bullet-proof vests and bullet–proof patrol cars. Definitely these will go a long way to reduce the deaths among members of the police force while carrying out their on duties. There should be no hesitation in providing adequate protection for our men in blue however costly it may be. On the contrary it would be grossly unfair and even negligent to deny them these for whatever reasons.

This fatal attack on the police should be an eye opener for the police force. It is a sign that all is not well as far as public security is concerned. When armed criminals can fatally strike at the police, I dread to imagine what they could do to ordinary citizens. Who would dare come forward to lodge complaints against criminal activities?

The numerous complaints from the public on the fear created by the escalating crime is not unfounded and it is time that the authorities take these grouses very seriously. Not a day passes without some gruesome crime being committed and we wonder what our country is really coming to. We can hardly go anywhere without fear of assault, robbery, rape and even murder. 

We have reached a critical state where people are living in fear even within their own homes behind heavily locked doors, grilles, sophisticated alarm systems and security guards. Even being caged in such heavily fortified homes do  not appear to guarantee security for them and their families from  criminals who seem to be better organized, equipped and even armed.

Our crime-busting authorities must take public complaints very seriously. They must devise ingenious ways and means to counter crime more efficiently and effectively. They must ensure that law and order prevails at all costs, failing which will only result in thugs taking over the running of the country.

 Dr.Chris Anthony