40 mps from bn resign today officially

SundayStar- Sunday August 31, 2008

Of hurdles and help
By WANI MUTHIAH

One man is driven to work for others in the Indian community because he has not forgotten his roots.
HE may be doing well these days but memories of the hardship faced as a child living in a oil palm estate in Teluk Intan still haunts R. Kannan.

"I grew up seeing my parents having to report for work at 5.30am daily.
"They worked seven days a week but their joint take-home pay never exceeded RM300 a month," said the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) national events coordinator.

Today, the 37-year-old is a project manager with a multinational firm, living comfortably in Shah Alam with his parents, wife, two children and his sister.

Athi Veeranggan Aug 24, 08 6:05pm

Two women, who were among the nine Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) activists detained in yesterday’s protest in Seberang Jaya, were released at 2pm today after being held in police custody for nearly 20 hours.

The remaining seven, including Hindraf national coordinator TS Thanenthiran, have been shifted from the Central Seberang Perai district police headquarters to the North Seberang Perai district police headquarters this morning.
KR Santhi, 30, and K Saratha, 34, were released on police bail after Hindraf Perak coordinator A Vethamurthy signed the documents as their guarantor.

Date : 30th August 2008 – 31st august 2008

Time : 8.00 am (Sat 30th Aug - Sun 31st aug)

Venue: devi sree maha mariamman aalayam
Jalan besar mantin negeri sembilan.

Maha Yaagam would commence 24hours non stop with chanting of hymns to seek divine blessings for the release of HINDRAF Lawyers detained under ISA, supporters maliciously prosecuted by the Attorney General and Grant of Political Rights of the marginalised oppressed suppressed and permanently colonized Indian community.

Permatang Pauh is spilling all over in Penang.

First, the Prime Minister wanted to create a sort of a coup by upstaging Hindraf in appearing at one of their functions impromptu in Butterworth yesterday.

Just, what we did not know yesterday, but do know today is that this is another one of those staged events. The event was organised by two renegade Indians who go by the names of Ramaji and Regu. Ramaji was a founding member of HINDRAF but who has since strayed into treacherous territory. It looks like these two have been in contact with the PM on this matter before the event. Even though this is a bit of speculation on my part, events do definitely suggest it.

Hindraf 5: Giving BN enough rope
Richard Teo | Aug 7, 08 3:44pm
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Abdullah unperturbed by drop in popularity.

If the recent Merdeka Centre survey is any indication, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his BN are on a downward slide in the popularity polls.

The 91 percent popular support in 2004 and the downward slide to 42 percent presently is a forceful statement that clearly points to the eventual exit of the ruling government.

One would have expected BN to galvanise their resources and think tanks to address their mistakes and to try and win back the electorate that had abandoned them. But alas, instead they have remained arrogant and clearly have not changed their old habits.

Four Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) activists were arrested near the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) today for failing to disperse on police orders.

MCPX
Dang Wangi OCPD ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman told reporters that the four, including a woman, were arrested at the roadside while "picketing."

Aug 5, 08 2:07pm
Two police reports have been lodged against a secondary school History teacher for allegedly uttering racial slurs against Indian students.

The reports, lodged by two students from SMK Telok Panglima Garang last Friday, stated that a female history teacher had allegedly called Indian students ‘keling pariah', ‘Negro' and ‘black monkeys', amongst other derogatory names.

In the report, the Form Four and Form Five student said the teacher purportedly told students during class that ‘Indians came from dogs', Indians are ‘children of prostitutes' and the community is stupid.

They also allege that teacher had said the community youth ‘did not have testicles', ‘always menstruates' and indulged in thuggery and theft.

Suhakam might lose 'A' status
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Jul 25, 08 7:52pm
The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) may lose its ‘A' status from a key regulator, thus potentially barring it from attending sessions of the UN Human Rights Council.

This is following an accreditation review exercise by the International Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Human Rights Institution. Suhakam was told by the ICC to provide, in writing, within one year of such notice, evidence to establish its continued conformity with the Paris Principles.

A group of Hindraf well-wishers gathered at Sri Selva Vinayagar temple at Serendah ,
Hulu Selangor, on 17th July 2008 to take part in the monthly Powrnami Pooja,
seeking Almighty's blessing for a speedy release of P. Uthayakumar, R. Kengatharan,
M. Manoharan, V. Ganapathy Rao and T. Vasanthakumar who currently detained without
trial under the Internal Security Act ( ISA) of Malaysia on the unproven grounds
of threatening national security by organizing a peaceful rally, seeking Minority Indian rights
in this country.

The supporters also prayed for Mr. Waythamoorthy, the Hindraf chairman
who is currently in London to be back home as a free man soonest possible.

A well mannered group of youths from Kuala Kubu Baru and Serendah area

Hindraf wants dialogue with PM
Athi Veerangga | Jul 16, 08 7:19pm
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should have a dialogue with leaders of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) if he is sincere in his efforts to improve the lives of the Indian community in the country.

MCPXExiled Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy wants the dialogue session to be a closed-door affair and on a one-to-one basis between Abdullah and, either himself or detained Hindraf legal adviser, P Uthayakumar.

"If the prime minister and his government are sincere and honest in wanting to resolve all outstanding issues on the political and socio-economic status of Malaysian Indians, I am prepared to return for the dialogue session," he told Malaysiakini in a telephone call from London.

[via malaysiakini.com]
Jul 15, 08 4:14pm

MIC president S Samy Vellu obtained an interim injunction from the Kuala Lumpur High Court today restraining former Klang MIC division chief P Thiagarasan, the publisher of Tamil daily 'Malaysia Nanban' and three others from publishing further libellous articles about him.

According to Bernama, Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat granted the order in chambers and set Aug 1 for the inter-parte hearing.

On July 3, the veteran politician filed a suit against the five, seeking RM10 million damages for libel and other damages deemed fit by the court.

He named Thiagarasan, Malaysia Nanban, the daily's editor, M Maryanandy, journalist M Yogalinggam and the printing company, Aslita Sdn Bhd, as defendents.

[via malaysiakini.com]
Rahmah Ghazali | Jul 15, 08 2:47pm

Syed Hamid Albar today revealed that Hindu Rights Action Force chairman P Waythamoorthy had been issued an arrest warrant under the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows detention without trial.

Met in the Parliament lobby today, the minister told reporters that the warrant was issued before he was appointed home minister.

“There was an ISA warrant against him and they (Home Ministry) wanted to revoke his passport. But when I became the minister, I said I do not want the passport to be cancelled,” he said in the bid to clarify the status of the Hindraf leader who is currently in self-imposed exile in London.

[via malaysiakini.com]
Rahmah Ghazali | Jul 14, 08 8:25pm

The Immigration Department did not revoke Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waythamoorthy's passport although it had received an instruction to do so, said Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri today.

He also denied that the government had called for the monitoring of Waythamoorthy’s activities abroad. The Hindraf leader is currently in self-imposed exile in London.

Abdul Rahim was responding to Tian Chua (PKR-Batu) who asked whether the Malaysian government had asked the British government to keep an eye on Waythamoorthy.

In May, the Hindraf leader was informed by British immigration officers that Kuala Lumpur had revoked his passport but this was denied by Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

[via malaysiakini.com]
Andrew Ong | Jul 12, 08 7:00pm

The legal firm of Hindu Rights Action Force’s (Hindraf) most recognisable face, P Uthayakumar, has finally been shut down due to financial constraint.

Uthayakumar’s office suite in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur was once the hotbed of Hindraf activities, especially in the build up to the movement’s mass rally held in November last year.

His sister Waytha Nagayi (right in photo) said that the closure of his office was a sentimental occasion to a lot of Hindraf supporters.

“This is where it all started,” Waytha Nagayi told Malaysiakini as she was busy packing Uthayakumar’s belongings into boxes.

[via malaysiakini.com]
Jul 12, 08 4:48pm

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today announced immediate steps to enhance education among Indian students, either at school or university level, for the long-term benefit of the country's third largest community.

He said among others, the government had agreed to turn more partly-aided Tamil schools, many of which are in the rural areas, into fully-aided schools.

"The government will also speed up the process of merging and consolidating the Tamil schools that have less than 50 students," he said in his speech when opening the 62nd MIC general assembly in Kuala Lumpur today.

[via malaysiakini.com]
S Pathmawathy and Tarani Palani | Jul 12, 08 12:10pm

It remains a mystery as who will succeed MIC president S Samy Vellu as he admits that he has no succession plan in place.

Speaking at a press conference after addressing the party's 62nd general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Samy said he will leave it to the grassroots to choose their next leader.

"The grassroots can elect their next leader. When there is an election, the question of 'automatic' (succession) goes off. I don't think anything can happen without an election," he told reporters.

[via malaysiakini.com]
Jul 11, 08 5:48pm

MIC will hold its 62nd general assembly tomorrow with the main agenda being the rebranding of the party's ideologies following its catastrophic loss in the March 8 general election.

According to Bernama, the annual meet will focus on the party's reform exercise which will integrate the participation of 3,300 branch representatives at the Putra World Trade Centre.

MIC president S Samy Vellu was quoted as saying that the prime minister’s presence at the assembly will open the path towards the party's rejuvenation - the main focus of the meeting.

"The delegates will hear from the prime minister himself on what and how the government and the MIC can work hand-in-hand to better serve the Indian community," he said.

[via malaysiakini.com]
Jul 11, 08 4:43pm

There is no MIC leader who is seen by Malaysiakini readers as the
clear frontrunner to replace long-time party president S Samy Vellu.

Of 5,109 readers who participated in the one-day Malaysiakini poll, former deputy president S Subramaniam bagged 22.5 percent of the votes.

Subramanian, a bitter rival turned ally of the MIC supremo, got the highest votes among the five individuals named in the survey.

He was trailed by SK Devamany, the deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department who was hailed by some as a hero for his outburst in Parliament last December for supporting the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

[via malaysiakini.com]
Jiwi Katthaiah & S Pathmawathy | Jul 11, 08 12:51pm

Tamil schools, like the Chinese schools, are often seen to be sidelined by the government, though they are said to be an integral part of the national education system.

Former education minister Musa Mohamad once stated in 2000 that Tamil schools should be regarded as 'the responsibility of the community' although the Constitution provides that "there shall be no discrimination against any citizen… in providing out of the funds of a public authority financial aid for the maintenance or education of pupils or students in any educational institution (…)"

In 1957, there were approximately 888 Tamil schools which were established in rubber estates predominantly resided by workers of South Indian origin.