Labour Day

Media Statement by M.Kula Segaran MP Ipoh Barat, Secretary of Parliamentary Caucus on Labour and Foreign Workers Malaysian Parliament on 30th April 08.

The world’s economy is slowing down. Thousands of workers have been laid of in the largest economy of the world the USA .

In the last session of Parliament the Minister of Human Resources replied to me that from 1st October08 to Feb 09 a total of 19,650 workers have been laid off. Of this 13,821 are locals and 5,829 are foreigners. Also that over 40-50 thousand workers are expected to be laid off the whole of this year.

Dato Seri Najib while introducing the mini budget in Parliament has mention the priority would be to create job opportunities. To date how many jobs have been created? Why many are still been retrenched or laid off? What help will and can the governments give?

Retrenchment Fund.
For many years the Unions and political parties have been asking the government to set up a retrenchment fund. By setting up the fund it will go along way to help when workers are retrenched or laid off. Now Malaysia does not have a safety net for those workers who are retrenched or laid off especially when factories are closing down due to the slow down of the economy. The Human Resources Ministry must and should set up a retrenchment fund and contributions could come from both the workers and the employers. Initially the Government could give a grant to set up and launch the fund.


On top of this Malaysia has currently over 300, 00 thousand workers in Singapore . Singapore economy is expected to shrink by at least 5% in 2009. This is real bad news. What contingency plans have the Human resources made to assist these possible retrenched workers? Sad to say although the Ministry is aware of the potential problem little or nothing has been done to cushion the retrenchemes which is now taking place in Singapore .

Minimum wage.
For the moment we have only minimum wage for 1) 2) 3) . The minimum wage is ridiculously low. How can workers live with such low wages? What we need is a compressive policy on minimum wages. During Human Resources Minister Fong the government took a stand that minimum wage cannot be implemented as it would impede competition and foreigners will thus not invest in Malaysia . Now under Dato Subramaniam no to minimum wage because of the slow down of the economy. The reasons by both Ministers cannot be accepted and it’s not logical. IN fact minimum wage applies in USA < Japan and many countries and why their economy is doing better then us. We suggest a minimum wage of RM 1,000 and cola of 200 a month for all employees.

Foreign Workers.
We have presently over 2 million legal foreign workers and over 500,000 thousand illegal workers. The foreign workers are will to take a low salary to work and thus Malaysians are denied job opportunities. If decent salaries are paid Malaysians would be willing to work in jobs where foreigners are employed.

The government must reduce dependence on foreign workers.

M.Kula Segaran

Delay the erecting of Democracy plaque

A number of people have shown concerned as to whether Pakaatan Rakyaat should re erect a plaque below the “democracy tree”. Yesterday initial works to lay foundation for the new plaque was stopped by the authorities. I am of the view that we should delay in erecting the new plaque and i have duly notified my views to the PR leaders.

My friend Bobby has written his point of views on this issue which is worth considering.

Dear Kula,
There are a couple of issues:

1. I don't think it is a good idea to erect another plaque to commemorate the event on May 1 as you suggested. For one thing you will be going against the local govt by-law concerning the erection of structures. If anybody and everybody can erect something on public land (or even pate land) without permission what will Ipoh become?
I am not against remembering the event, although on a scale of 1- 10 it will rate 1/2 in terms of a world shaking event. Still, I am not against it. BUT why not wait till you guys are back in power the whole place can be turned into a park - if that is what you want. But do it legitimately.

2. My second reason why you should not do that is that you will be endangering the life of the tree. The powers-that-be may get so fed up they may decide to chop it down in the dead of night. Or they may get their hired vandals to do it and cry that it has been done by irresponsible elements and laugh behind your back. Why endanger the innocent tree that has nothing to do with the BN/PR quarrel???

I believe the judges are wrong, and ..............we all know that BN is merely postponing its defeat. Yet if you do what you intend to do re erecting the plaque under the tree you are just as wrong. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Be a little more patient and wait for the right time to do anything and don't risk the poor tree or jeopardise your chances of taking over the state again.


Regards,
Yin

Indira gets many calls offering hope

Published in the Star today 29th April 09
IPOH: She put out the call, asking for information on her missing infant, but all that kindergarten teacher M. Indira Gandhi is getting now are calls offering encouragement.
Indira, 34, who on Monday headed a poster campaign to look for her estranged husband K. Patmanathan, 40, and year-old daughter Prasana Diksa, said the calls did not provide information on the duo’s whereabouts.
“The callers give words of encouragement and told us not to give up hope in our search for them,” she said when contacted here yesterday.
“I thank the callers for their encouragement but we really need information on my baby’s whereabouts,” she said, noting that there were also calls for the posters to be distributed to other states.
Her lawyer M. Kulasegaran said following the putting up of the posters, they had received at least 15 calls.
“I would say the response has been good,” he said.
“The family is, however, happy that something is being done to help locate the infant,” he said.
Kulasegaran believed that Patmanathan and Prasana are in Ipoh and that they are being “protected” by someone to sabotage the Ipoh High Court’s order.
The Ipoh High Court had on April 24 given Indira interim custody of her three children and an injunction preventing Patmanathan from entering their home.
On Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Harusani Zakaria’s recent statement that Patmanathan had received an interim order from the Syariah Court to keep Prasana, Kulasegaran said it was against the Cabinet’s directive.

A MOTHER’S RIGHTS: No religious basis to convert baby

(NST) By : DR IBRAHIM ABU BAKAR, Bangi

I READ the case of Indira Gandhi and her struggle to secure her right to live with her three children -- Karan Dinish, 11, Tevi Darsiny, 12, and 1-year-old Prasana Diksa, who is still on breast milk.

The New Sunday Times reported that Indira, a kindergarten teacher, had been waiting for her baby girl in the compound of the Ipoh district police station, but her baby was not returned to her by her estranged husband, who has converted to Islam.

As a lecturer of Islamic theology and philosophy, I am of the view that K. Patmanathan, who is now known as Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, should return Prasana Diksa to her mother. The Hindu mother has every right to look after the baby.

Islamic theology does not impose any religious duty on the father to take away the baby girl from her Hindu mother.

This baby should not be prohibited by her father from being breastfed by her mother. If he does, he is wrong and evil in Islamic theological view because Islam does not impose any religious duty on any baby regardless whether she was born to a Hindu or Muslim mother. Islam imposes Islamic religious duties upon mature men and women, not upon babies and children. Please let this baby girl be breastfed by her mother.
Some Muslims hold the view that when a husband or wife converts to Islam, he or she has the right in Islamic law to take the children with him or her and then convert the children to Islam. Islamic law does not say so.

The "Islamness" of the children is not taken into account in Islamic theology. Islamic theology will count on the "Islamness" of human beings who are mature.

The Islamic terms for mature, sensible and responsible human beings are "aqil" and "baligh". Patmanathan has been supported by some ignorant Muslims on the pretext of protecting the purity of Islam and his three children. These Muslims are wrong.

There is no Islamic legal basis for Muslims to help someone take away a baby from her mother and then convert that baby to Islam. Islam does not count on the converted babies and Islam does not reward those who have converted the babies to Islam.

The babies have no Islamic religious duties and, therefore, they are neither rewarded nor punished for such actions.

Therefore, I support the decision by the prime minister and his cabinet that the civil marriage has to be settled by the civil court and the religion of their children be the religion at the time their parents were married in civil law. With this decision, the baby should be returned to Indira as she needs to be breastfed and cared for.

I think the police should arrest Patmanathan if he is reluctant to deliver Prasana Diksa back to Indira after the court decided to give her interim custody of her three children.

Patmanathan is a bad Muslim if he does not hand back Prasana Diksa to her mother and does not pay compensation to Indira for looking after the baby and for breastfeeding her for two years. Being breastfed by a Hindu mother does not make the baby an infidel. She is still eligible to convert to Islam after she grows up and becomes an adult.

Patmanathan himself drank the breast milk from his Hindu mother and consumed food and drinks, probably prohibited by Islamic law, until he reached the age of 40 before he suddenly decided to convert to Islam.

He should not impose his Islam-ness on his children. Let them be what they want to be like he did. He grew up as a Hindu boy, a Hindu youth and then a Hindu adult before he changed his Hinduism to Islam after he had probably encountered problems in his marriage.

I do not support non-Muslims who convert to Islam just because they want to run away from their responsibilities as husbands or wives or because they want to marry Muslim women or Muslim men.

Return the baby poster launched

At today’s press conference we launched the posters containing the photo of Pathamanathan the estranged husband of Indria Gandhi. Malaysia Hindu Singham has taken the lead to print an initial 10000 copies of the posters. The posters would be pasted all across the country and it will be done with the help of Pakataan Rakyaat, Hindu Sangam and NGO’s members. We invite any one to come and help us .We can be contacted at 05-2417402 or 052531532.

On the poster we have also listed details of persons who should be contacted if Pathamanathan is seen.

The lawyers have got the necessary ex-parte orders from court last Friday. Indira has got interim custody of the one year child who is reportedly with Pathmanathan. We need to serve the order on Pathmanathan as the case is fixed for inter party application on 12thMay2009.
Pathmanathan is aware of the court order as he had spoken to Indira after the interim order was obtained on Friday. In fact he told Indria that he is taking the child to Singapore with him. We have duly informed the police who have said all boarders posts have been informed to prevent him leaving the country.

Some how I have a feeling he is hiding in Ipoh and is trying to avoid service of court documents.
The Police should go on a media blitz on this matter on an urgent basis. We had requested the police assistance to print posters of Pathamanthan last week but it has not taken place to date. The police have acknowledged a special squad has been formed to handle this investigation. To date nothing has come out of this. Why? Definitely the police as the custodian of public order are expected to discharge its functions without any delay.

Malaysian Civil service needs a shakeup!

My old friend has written a piece on Civil Service. An intresting read.

I refer to the article “At the Mercy of Civil Servants” NST dated 26th April. Much of what has been said is true. There are countless examples of civil servants ‘misbehaving’. They have become a law unto themselves. Their political masters may state a policy stand in parliament but that counts for naught unless the officer on the other side of the counter carries it out. Ultimately it depends on the directors of ministries or heads of each department because officers down the line cannot act contrary to what has been directed by their bosses. Having said that there are too many cases where low ranking officers have been overbearing, officious and intimidating to the public who they treat as supplicants coming to ask a favour. Civil servants must be reminded that they are ‘public servants’ – they are paid by us and because of us they are in a job. While I sympathise with politicians who complain that they get the rap whenever civil servants do not do their work; they (the politicians) are largely to blame. The ruling party has for a long time been courting the civil servants. As they constitute a large voting block politicians have pandered to them, often offering them pay rises and bonuses just before the general elections. I never could understand why government servants should get bonuses. How does one gauge their productivity? And if they do not perform will they be subjected to the same treatment as employees in the private sector – ie face the sack? Politicians have also been handling them with kid glove. The standing joke in Malaysia is that officers who have messed up are often promoted upwards or sideways. I remember two Mayors of Ipoh who did not do a good job and in order to take them out of the public glare they were promoted to be the head of a ministry. And lately we have the example of teacher who was at the center of a racial controversy. She was transferred to a better school. Unless politicians are prepared to take a tough line with civil servants and to stop politicising the service they should not complain. Kayveas’ suggestion to make politicians heads of departments is at best a hare-brain idea and at worst it is like pouring petrol to douse the fire. These politicians will invariably put a party slant to dealings with the public. Imagine someone coming up to collect their welfare payment and they are reminded that it is the BN government that is giving them the money. Already they are doing that with government projects where the BN logo is displayed. Or projects in BN controlled areas are given priority over Opposition areas. The only way to deal with the civil service mafia is to put them on term contracts - if not the entire staff then the heads. We can also improve the civil service by ending the near racial monopoly of the service and make promotions based on merit and not race. In Australia many of the heads of departments are put on term contracts which will be renewed (or not) according to their performance. The days of job for life is no more – not even in Japan. Yin

Indria still in Ipoh police station now for over 24hrs

Last whole night Indria spent the night at the Ipoh Police station hoping against hope her baby of one year old would be returned to her. She intents to stay put at the Ipoh police until she gets her baby

Early this morning when we met her at the police station she was not only tired but dejected that the police were unable to locate her baby. At about 11am I was alerted that Indria was been led to the OCPD’s office for a discussion with some MIC leaders. The individual was angry that suddenly MIC is taking credit for all what is being done.

I immediately left to the police station where I was led to the Deputy OCPD’s room wherein Supt. Ibrahim was having a discussion with Indria in the presence of senior police officers and Dato Ganesan the former Sungkai assemblyman

I entered the room and was asked to take a seat. TheSupt. Ibrahim said the police was trying its best to locate Indria’s estranged husband Patamanathan and that we should not interfere with police investigations. He also requested us to understand that the police had gone to Patamanahan last known house but he was no where around. I retorted that the police should give immediate effect to the court order and speed up the process of investigations. Outside the office the Deputy informed me that a special squad has been formed by the police to expatiate the search for the baby. I asked the police to officially notify all Malaysian press that they are looking for Patamanathan and the baby together do publish their photos. The entire border police have been notified to look out for the baby as the husband rand Indria yesterday to inform that he is taking the baby to Singapore. Another info was the baby was been kept in a house in Sg. Siput. The police have been alerted about this

YB Lim Kit Siang, YB Sivanesan, YB Dr.Micheal JayaKumar, Human Rights Lawyer Augustine Anthony and a host of local people were among those who were present to show concern to Indria. As at 6.30 I am given to understand that there are no new developments on this case.

Indria has been suffering since her child was taken by her estrange husband on April 4^th. We hope the police and all and sundry will work towards getting the baby.

Reluctance to help the community by lawyers

I also told those present that for over a week we were looking for help from the lawyer’s community to assist in the filing of court papers for Indria. The Chairman of the Perak Chapter of Hindu Sangham Mr.Vijilingam wanted me to file the action too. But I felt it was the community’s duty to help and when no came forward than I instructed my law firm to help. The reluctance by the ordinary Lawyers to help is due to the scare tactic of the BN political leaders in using the various law in cowing the lawyers and Malaysians generally.

Unfolding events of INDIRA GANDHI and the Ipoh Police

Finally at about 3.3pm yesterday we filed proceedings on behalf of Indira INDIRA GANDHI for custody of her 3 children. INDIRA GANDHI had revealed in the supporting affidavit that her husband Patmanathan had fled with their one year old child and had allegedly converted the one year old child and 2 elder children. To date there is no confirmation that Indira’s husband has really converted to Islam.
The team of lawyers was led by Augustine Anthony and Lalitha to whom we are very grateful for having spent hours and hours preparing the case.
Due to the urgency of the case the matter was heard ex-parte and was disposed of by JC Ridwan in his chambers. We only got out of the court at 5.20pm.
I immediately contacted the police to ask their help to retrieve the small baby. We also told him due to seriousness of the matter the court even ordered the police to assist in getting the baby.
After some deliberation Indira decided to lodge a formal police report at 5.30pm stating she had obtained an order of court and she would stay put in the police station until the baby is returned to her. She has been breast feeding her baby since birth.
Another drama in the police station. Indira told us the police were not taking her report but were waiting for directions from their superiors. We then decided to proceed and assist Indira and by then at 7.30pm her report was finally taken. The IO was busy handling a going investigation.
We rang the Police and spoke to the Deputy OCPD and told him that he must do something otherwise people will lose confidence in the police. We also reminded him that Padmanathan came to the police station some two weeks ago with the baby but was released on Police bail on an assault case which was lodged by Indira. At that material moment we asked the police assistance to ask Pathmanathan to hand over the baby to Indira. But the police refused although Indira was there the whole day till the 3am in the morning. We told the police to cancel the police bail and try by all means to get the baby. The Police had an opportunity to sort out this mater earlier but they let it go through their fingers.
YB Lim Kit Siang after attending the DAP Taiping dinner arrived at the Ipoh Police station at 12mid night. We narrated what was happening. We then spoke to Indira who was quite insistent to stay put in the police station until she gets back her baby.

Subjugation for “lasting political solution” is a crime against humanity !

Tamils all over the world have demonstrated overwhelmingly of their support to the LTTE. LTTE represents the real anger of the Tamil people against discrimination, humiliation and oppression by Sinhala chauvinism.

It was and is wrong to the hilt in hating Tamil society for its just demand for equality and self-determination. All global capitalist powers including India will be forced to repent in time to come for their aggressive participation in human suffering of this order. The LTTE cannot be blamed for not surrendering to the Sinhala army of the chauvinist regime. A sense of utter helplessness prevails among Tamils as they are witnessing a terrible genocide that is taking place in the traditional Tamil homeland everyday. The Magnitude of which is far greater than what had happened or is happening in places like Gaza.

International Community is trapped by its own noose, because it was wrongly applied for the benefit of a wrong government. It is very obvious Colombo wants to complete its agenda of Tamil subjugation in a systematic genocide under the garb of war against terror in Sri Lanka. There is no point in the IC hanging on to ‘terrorism’ excuse anymore in avoiding further tragedy of civilians. The state policy is inside committing many folds of Terrorism comparatively. Subjugation for lasting political solution is a crime against humanity. An internationally supervised truce and that such a ceasefire should also contain a base for a political solution is very urgently needed.

Discredited and wrongly applied policies shouldn’t be a hindrance to the International Community in upholding a humanitarian cause.

The IC, EU UN and India should find a way of engaging the LTTE directly in resolving the humanitarian tragedy. The LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] has for long been requesting a permanent ceasefire encompassing sensible military and political essence.

Today we are witnessing IC winking, India abetting and international media failing in its duty, the civilian massacre and subjugation can be completed with much ease with Sri Lankan State Terror as a lasting Solution would be a failed opportunity to put an end to this lengthy conflict without guaranteeing a power sharing solution.

The world powers are likely to set up another Palestinian/Israel scenario in years to come if it fails to resolve Sri Lankan State Terror immediately!

A Cabinet committee on conversion cases formed

In to days NST on line it is reported that Najib new government is getting serious in solving conversion cases. It has formed a cabinet committee. How will long is will the committee take resolve this issue. Will the committee will be able to have a national policy on conversion or a piece meal decisions. In any case presently conversion car private matters and it is within private individuals. What legal authority has the committee on these people?

Previously the government has swept the conversion case under the carpet. But as these matters had affected many in the country and especially the non-Muslims now the government wants to quick fix on the issue. It is not going to be easy. But the formation of the committee is an acknowledgement that something needs to be done to tackle this thorny issue of conversion.

It would have better if the Najib had formed a select committee to look into this matter thoroughly. A nationwide study is needed to solve this issue of conversion.

The family of Indra Gandhi met lawyers namely YB Sivanesan Sdr. Augustine Anthony and Lalitha. We have agreed to help. My law office is preparing papers to file in court to help Indra Gandhi and her family.

Read what is written in to days NST.

KUALA LUMPUR: It will be quiet a while before a solution is found into the case of the three children who were converted to Islam by their father without their mother's knowledge.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said yesterday that strategies had been identified to find a solution to the problem.

"We have identified the issues and discussed them but it will take a while before a solution can be found as it involves several agencies," he said after a meeting with Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon (Unity) and Maj-Gen (R) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharom (Islamic Affairs).

The trio are members of a committee tasked with finding a solution to the problem.

The three-member committee was set up following a mother's report that her children, aged 1 to 12, were converted to Islam without her knowledge by their father.

The mother, M. Indira Ghandi, 35, had turned to the Hindu Sangam branch in Ipoh after her husband, K. Patmanathan, 40, now Muhammad Ridzuan Abdullah, converted the children without their presence and without informing her.

He allegedly used the children's birth certificates to get them converted. The children are said to be in the custody of their father.

Dr Subramaniam said the committee was doing its best to find a quick solution.

ம.இ.க தேசிய முன்னணியின் உருகாய்

நாட்டில் புதிய பிரதமருக்கு வாழ்த்து, பாராட்டு, வரவேற்பு கொடுத்து, இந்திய சமுதாயத்திற்கு என்னில் அடங்காத ஏமாற்றத்தை அள்ளி அள்ளி வழங்குவதில் ம.இ.கா தலைமைத்துவம் மீண்டும் வெற்றி கண்டுள்ளது.

தேசிய முன்னணியின் அரசியல் கொள்கைகளை இன்னும் ம.இ.கா சரிவர புரிந்துகொள்ளவில்லை என்றுதான் சொல்லவேண்டும்.

மலேசியாவின் அரசியலில் என்ன நடக்கிறது என்று அவர்களுக்கும் விளங்கவில்லை மக்களுக்கும் விளங்கவில்லை. இந்திய சமுதாயம் பொதுவாக ஒரு பிரச்சனைகளை எழுப்பும் போது ஒவ்வொரு தடவையும் தேசிய முன்னணிக்கே சாதகமாக பேசிய ம.இ.கா, இனிமேலும் அந்த கூட்டணில் நின்று என்ன சாதிக்க முடியும் என்பது பெரிய கேள்விக்குறியாக உள்ளது.கடந்த போது தேர்தலில் தேசிய முன்னணி பாதிப்புக்கு உள்ளாகியதில் ம.இ.கா பெரும் தோல்வியை தழுவியது.

அதில் தப்பித்தோம் பிழைத்தோம் என்று மூன்றே மூன்று நாடாளுமன்றத்தில் அற்பத்தனமான வெற்றிகளை கண்டனர்.இவர்கள் மூவரும் அமைச்சரவையில் இருந்துகொண்டு கேட்கும் கேள்விகளுக்கு மட்டுமே பதில் சொல்லும் தேசிய முன்னணியின் கைக்கூலிகளாக இருக்கிறார்கள் ஒழிய, இந்திய சமுதயத்தின் வளர்ச்சிக்காகவும், மேம்பாட்டுக்காகவும் இன்னும் ஒரு கேள்விகளை கூட நாடாளுமன்ற கூட்ட தொடரில் கேட்க வாய்ப்பிலந்ததை பற்றி யோசிக்க மறந்து விட்டனர்.

இருப்பினும் கட்சியின் தன்மான சிங்கமான தேசிய தலைவர், ம.இ.கா தான் இந்தியர்களின் சின்னம்,சிகரம், அடையாளம் என்று பேசிய வாரே சமுதாயத்தை பின்தள்ளி காலத்தை கடக்க எண்ணம் கொண்டுள்ளது போல் தெரிகிறது.

மேலும் ஓரு இந்திய பிரதிநிதிக்கு முழு அமைச்சர் பதவியை கொடுக்க மறுத்த தேசிய முன்னணியின் கொள்கை, மலேசியா வாழ் இந்தியர்களை உதாசினப்பதியதுபோல் தெள்ள தெளிவாக தெரிகிறது.நஜிப்பின் இந்த அமைச்சரவையில் மேலும் ஓரு இந்திய அமைச்சர் பதவியை உரிமையுடன் கேட்பதில் ம.இ.கா மட்டும் மின்றி ஒட்டுமொந்த இந்திய சமுதாயத்தின் கனவுகளை காலுக்கு அடியில் மிதித்த தேசிய முன்னணியில் ம.இ.கா மீண்டும் அங்கம் வகிப்பதில் எந்த ஓரு லாபமும் கிடையாது.இனியும் ம.இ.கா தேசிய முன்னணியில் அங்கம் வகிந்தால், எலும்புத்துண்டுக்காகக் காத்திருந்து, ஏற்பட்ட அவமானத்தையெல்லாம் துடைத்தெறிந்துவிட்டு பதவி கிடைத்தால் போதும் என்று வாலாட்டத் துவங்க வேண்டியதுதான்.

'அரசியலில் எல்லாம் சகஜமப்பா' என்று சொல்லலாம், ஆனால் சுயமரியாதை இழந்து அரசியல் நடந்த வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தை கொண்டிருந்தாள், ம.இ.கா தேசிய முன்னணியின் உருகாய்யாகத்தான் இருக்கமுடியும்.

Planting trees under a tree

Today at 9.30am the leaders of Pakaatan Rakyaat met at the Perak DAP to discuss urgent political matters.

As I was reaching near the venue I was shocked to see some workers gathered around the “Democratic Tree”. I also noticed the presence of the local council lorry and workers. I immediately summon my secretary Sugu to rush to the area and take photos of what was been done around the tree.

Subsequently after the meeting Sdr.Nga and I left to the ascertain what the workers had done. I was surprised the workers had planted some 19 trees all around the Democratic tree. Why 19 someone asked me when I was there. Some one shouted its 19 young trees because tomorrow is the birthday of the Sultan!

Why plant trees under a big tree? The young trees will surely suffer as the sun light is prevented from reaching the young trees. Who had ordered the planting of the 19 trees? If the chaps had any common sense surely this would not have happen. But alas this seems not to be the case! We hope the trees would be dug out soon and those who ordered planting of the 19 trees will apologize to the public.

In the process of planting the roots of the “democratic tree” was uprooted and damaged. All this been done to kill the tree. The: democratic tree” is now the most visited place in Ipoh by tourist and the like.

It was announced yesterday that a new plaque would be erected at the very place where the young trees have been planted. To prevent this installation the trees are been planted. Come what may we will proceed with the erection of the peoples plaque on the 1st of May 2009.

Prayer's in Murugan Temple

Yesterday (17/04/09), I have arranged for thanks giving prayers in Murugan Temple, Gunung Cheroh Ipoh. People from all walks of life joined on this special prayers offered by my family across my constituency attended the prayers.

Constitutional Crisis

Last night we had a Ceramah at the Chin Woo hall. Many DAP leaders spoke and was also attended by the legitimate MB of Perak DS Nizar.

I spoke on a number of issues among which are:

1) We need a political solution to the Perak Constitutional crisis and the courts are not the best avenues to sort out this uncertainty

It is my personal opinion that to seek redress to the present constitutional stands still its best to sort it without any involvement of the Malaysian courts. The way the cases are been heard at the Federal Court now arouses a lot of uneasiness among the people. Why preference was given to the Perak constitutional cases in the first place?

How come that there are thousands of cases which has been pending for years and the courts are unable to dispose it due to work load. Backlog of case is the order of the day in most courts and the Federal Court is no exception. Now why the urgency is just mind boggling! May be its not unreasonable to request about reinstating the right to appeal to the Privy Council. Some the local courts are perceived as unable to dish out.

I have spoken at length in Parliament on the necessity to appoint Judges of integrity, honesty and above all free of any political inclinations during the Judicial Appointment Commission bill. I even suggested the formation of a Constitutional Court. But actually even if we have a constitutional court how independent are the Judges of the executive?

2) One Malaysia concept of Najib just a myth.

When one notices the recent appointment of Ministers by Najib we can ascertain that important and powerful portfolios are held by UMNO chaps. The Ministries that I am talking about are the Finance, Home, Foreign and the Defence Ministry. The only exceptional time when MCA President Tun Tan Siew Sen held the Finance Ministry for over 10 years. The Barisan National has 14 component parties. All the other component parties except UMNO are just minor parties in the coalition without any real say in the running of the government.

Did Najib when announcing the new cabinet really put into effect his new concept of One Malaysia? If he had he should have at least appointed a Chinese and an Indian as Deputy Prime Ministers. His failure clearly shows that the slogan of one Malaysia is all talk and no action. Najib announced the one Malaysia concept just to win the hearts and minds of the non-Malays. I doubt the One Malaysia concept can achieve this.

We dare MIC to pull out of BN

The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) is said to be threatening to pull out of the Malaysian Cabinet as they are unhappy for getting only the Human Resources Ministry and two Deputy Ministers posts. At one time the MIC had 2 full Cabinet Ministers.

Before the full cabinet post was announced all the Leaders of the Barisan National (BN) coalition met the Prime Minister to discuss on who and what post should be considered for each of the coalition parties.

When rumors start spreading that many of those top leaders of the BN who lost in the 2008 general elections would be appointed in Najib’s cabinet it was also speculated that the grand old leader of MIC Dato Seri Samy Vellu would also be appointed as a cabinet minister. Samy was a Minister in the Malaysian cabinet for over 20 years and was finally ejected only when he failed to be elected as a Member of Parliament for Sg.Siput in 2008.

Malaysians are surprised that Koh Tsu Koon(President Gerakan) , Chew Mun Fei, (Wanita MCA) Sarizath(Wanita UMNO) were appointed into the cabinet. Prime Minister Najib may have thought by bringing in these losers he can in particular shore up support especially among the non-Malays and also strengthen UMNO. But he has to be asked why bring in rejects and old blood into the cabinet? BN unable to attract new people into its fold? Many consider the appointment of those who lost in the last general elections is just to pacify the demands of many of the BN leaders who want to be seen relevant.

Question is why was Samy left out? Many felt he was joggling for a cabinet posts. This was an open secret matter. MIC got a junior post in the Cabinet via Subramaniam(Human Resources) as Subra is just not the President of MIC! Even in Parliament sitting order, Samy use to fill the fourth seat after the PM,DPM, MCA who all occupy the first row facing the opposition. But Subra is now in the third row a real blow to the MIC.

May be it would be prudent for Samy to relinquish the Presidents posts for Subra and Subra may then be appointed to a more important Ministry like the Works Ministry? Any way why Works Ministry is being asked/demanded for by MIC? Is it because a works Minister can dish out contracts and decide who gets what projects? By this acts of deciding who gets what the Minister of Works has a lot of cloud and influence and its all gone now!

All top brass leaders of MIC were on the campaign trails in the recent by-elections of the 2 Bukits. The MIC did not and could not deliver the Indian votes to the BN. And the BN realizes this. Thus MIC which some say stands for Make Indians Cry or Malaysian Indian Crooks is a irrelevant partner in the BN. We should not be surprised if IPF an arch enemy of MIC would be admitted into BN to shore up the support from the Indian community.

If MIC has any moral or political responsibility they will leave BN. But they don’t have and they will never do this. MIC has been saddled with so many scandals and just to name a few 1) MAIKA Berhad a company formed by MIC leaders collected over RM130million sometime in 1982 and is more or less a bankrupt company now due to mismanagement 2) The unnecessary dissolving of the South Indian Labour Fund in 1999. 3) Unable to address the high unemployment ,lack of educational and economic opportunities among Indians. 4) High suicide and alcoholic rate. 5) Highest criminal activities in Malaysians is among Indians. Over 40% of those detained in Simpang Renggan preventative dentition are Indians . Many more let downs which the people of Malaysia know.

MIC should pull out of BN and consider joining the Pakataan Rakyaat. Do they dare?

Promote all languages equally

By P.Sugumaran (Political Sec)

Many countries have a language policy designed to favour or discourage the use of a particular language or set of languages. Historically, nations have used language policies most often to promote one official language at the expense of others.

MCPXMany countries now, however, have policies designed to protect and promote regional and ethnic languages whose viabilities are threatened. Language policies cultivate language skills needed to meet national priorities or to establish the rights of individuals or groups to use and maintain languages. Most companies in Malaysia are not multilingual in their business operations due to the company’s internal policies and the high cost of translation.

Since Malaysia is a multiracial country, it is always better to have multilingual systems in every sector as it will inherently lead the growth of every community in this country. Language does help the economic growth of a particular society. However, there are many hidden policies created by corporate administrators to avoid particular languages in Malaysia.

This can lead to disinclination. The current situation needs to be reshuffled. The government should advise industry players in every sector to provide multilingual information to their consumers, subscribers, shareholders, account holders and so forth. In Malaysia, services and products are not created for just one particular society.

They are designed for every Malaysian and for foreigners as well. The extensive use of only English in Malaysia is not going help promote our national languages which are Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil. It can cause ‘language cleansing’ in Malaysia.

It is really sad to see that most billboards are not multilingual. The KLIA has reached the standards of multilingual practice but Tamil has been ignored, a violation of the International Airport Standard. This situation needs to be rectified immediately.

Media agencies should advise their clients to practice multilingual advertising to promote Malaysia as a multiracial, multilingual society. With that, we can abolish the ‘class privilege’ advertisements and at the same time promote nationalism amongst all Malaysians.

Sugu's statement recorded by police

Today at about 11.25am, police recorded a statement from my Political Secretary P.Sugumaran . initially we were totally uaware under what provisions of the law he was being questioned. When he presented himself at the police station the IO informed Sugu that he was being probed under Police Act section 90 and Minor Offences Act section 14.

Sugumaran was called to the Central Police station to assist in the investigation on a report lodged by Insp.Mazhar against him. He was accompanied by Human Rights Lawyer Augustine Anthony, Jelapang service team chairman Frankie Wong and many others.

Sugu was first told that the police wanted to question him some one week ago. Due to his involvement in the Bukit Gantang by-elections the police questioning was postponed to today.

Sugu was assigned by me to help three victims of police assault which took place on the 25th of March09 at the Chemor Police station.

I am still puzzled why the police need to investigate Sugu when the police have so many other urgent matters of national importance. The question is did Sugu in discharging his duties over stepped his limits? Or are the police using their powers to scare and harass my political secretary?

Later at the press conference P.Sugumaran said that he cooperated with the police but only answered questions that were relevant.

Bkt Gantang By Election Album

This is a referendum and it gives a picture of what the people of Perak and Malaysia want,” Mohd Nizar

Baby's conversion

The Hindu baby's conversion into Islam without her mother's consent is brewing into a potentially explosive situation in Ipoh.

In a press conference, M Indira Gandhi revealed that her husband used to beat her and tried to force her to convert to Islam, but the mother of three refused. One day, she said, her husband came into the house, beat her up and then took away their baby daughter.

Tamil Nesan first reported the story on 4 March. The story was buried on page 6 and headlined Husband beat and tortured me. Wife Indira Gandhi lodges police report. The story focused more on the husband's abuse, and there was no mention of the baby's conversion.

But the next day, Makkal Osai and Malaysia Nanban carried the story on its front page. Eleven-month-old baby converted to Islam, read Makkal Osai's headline; while Malaysia Nanban's report was titled Conversion of child: mother's worst fears come true. Tamil Nesan reported the story on page two as Husband converts baby. It was puzzling why the paper, which first broke the story, did not highlight this fact when it had a chance to.

Makkal Osai reported that the incident has shocked and angered Hindus in Ipoh. "I have lodged three police reports about my husband's beatings and how he is forcing us to convert to Islam. Nothing was done," said Indira.

Accompanying Indira to the press conference were Sungkai state assemblyperson A Sivanesan and Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament M Kulasegaran. The two described the father's act of forcefully taking away the child from the mother and converting her to Islam (without the mother's consent) as "cruel".

They demanded for the father to be arrested immediately, and for the police to launch an investigation into the affair.

(Pic by Doreen Dotto / Wikimedia commons)

Campaigning in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau.

Campaigning in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau.

For over a week my party members and friends have been campaigning in the by-elections. Yesterday we started off with a visit to the Simpang wet market. We met many voters of Bukit Gantang who overtly were supporting the PR(PAS) candidate DS Nizar. Generally it was quite heart warming to speak to the local who were roaring to go and vote for the PR in the coming by elections tomorrow.

Later at about 10am we left to do a campaign literally house to house in the Indian areas in the estates. In the final stop we were in DRB estate where were we stopped by the management from proceeding any further. The management said we were in private property and we have cease any campaigning.

We retorted by saying that we are just visiting the voters. But as we had covered over 70% of the area and its voters we decided to leave without any further fuss.

In meantime we meat a few workers of the estate who told us that many workers are now at a neary temple ironically not for prayers but to get “goodies” from Barisan National. We decided to go the temple where we saw what was happening. At an nearby hall there were nearly 200 hundred people. Just before we came a former Deputy Minister gave way hampers to each and every worker. Each hamper is said to be worth at least RM200 by the locals. Isn’t this corruption within the meaning of the elections act?

We have not lost hope. We take this as challenges. To day we are on our final lap and we are going to do more house to house campaign.

Some interesting sms i have received over the last few days since Najib’s appointment as Prime Minister.

1. UMNO and BN can have a new leader and Malaysia can have Najib as PM. So long as BN is stuck to its racist politics, ideology, fanaticism, policies and favouritism it is doomed forever.

2. Najib promises REFORM: Well and good. Reform should be i) eliminate BUMI status or give BUMI status to all anak Malaysia ii) eliminate all quota system iii) eliminate columns for BANGSA in any FORMS iv)equal rights to all v) no institute of learning specifically for one race only or schools for a particular race only vi)abolish ISA vii) opportunity for non-malays to be Heads of department.

3. How can 2 person found guilty of the same offence be given two different sentence? Ali Rustam and Khairy. Even in Islam whether you drink 1 glass of whisky or 1 bottle, a sin is sin. However in UMNO which claims to the champion of Islam seems to practice double standard and its own brand and interpretation of Islam. They say the integrity of Bahasa Melayu and Bangsa Melayu should be upheld. They cant even change the English abbreviation of UMNO to Bahasa Melayu. What rubbish are these hypocrites talking about?

4. Jangan timbang (BN) Naik saja roket (DAP) menuju ke bulan (PAS) mencari KEADILAN kerana disana ada ‘PR’ dan ganjaran yang menanti anda dengan hadiah tiada rasuah, tiada penyelewengan, ketelusan, keadilan sosial, hak sama ratadan tiada kroni. Ayuh undilahcalon PAS (PR) di Parlimen Bukit Gantang.

More drama is unfolding in the case of Vijaykumar

Since his release the police were looking for him apparently to charge him for possession of dangerous drugs. From the little facts we learn that the quantum of drugs is very high attracting the mandatory life sentenced..

On the first day of his arrest Vijayakumar a non-smoker was even found to have trace of drugs in his urine. He has no previous police record and has never run foul with the police.

Further he and his family are firm that he is totally innocent of all the charges.

Vijakumar has lodged a police report stating that he is still under medical treatment. The very police officer (Insp.Nelson) who was alleged to have assaulted him was the very one who came to serve the warrant.

Last night at about 8pm he voluntary surrendered to the Police. He was brought to the court by the police 2day. His case is now fixed for further mention on 2nd June09. Apparently the charges are very serious and are non- bail able. The family has agreed to seek further consultations with prominent Human Rights lawyer Mr.Augustine Anthony.

Vijaykumar Released

Yesterday, the magistrate court released Vijaykumar S/O Balakrishanan who had been detained by the Ipoh Police since 25thMarch09. It’s has been more than 6 days and no charges has been brought against Vijaykumar by the Police.

During the application for extension of remand proceedings the Investigating Officer informed the court the basis for the further remand is because the Deputy Public prosecutor has yet to agree to file charges in the matter. The learned Magistrate did agree with the request for extension and immediately ordered the release of the detainee.

He was released at 11.30 am and admitted in a private medical Centre for treatment.