MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu basked in the glow of victory today, looking on appreciatively as one delegate after another attacked the government and former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for interfering in MIC matters.
The delegates at the MIC general assembly singled out for criticisms Mahathir and other leaders for condemning Samy Vellu and praising his rival Datuk S. Subramaniam, in the run up to yesterday’s election.
A day earlier, Samy Vellu-backed candidates all but swept the board, taking the lion’s share of posts contested, and cemented his grip on the party, despite some pressure from Umno and the public for some change in MIC.
Mahathir was criticised severely for doing nothing for the Indian community while the Umno/Barisan Nasional (BN) government was attacked for favouring only the Malays and ignoring the woes of the Indians for many years.
The depth of the criticism, sometimes tedious, was best illustrated after one delegate from Johore stood up and said: “They can see the woes of the Palestinians and the Bosnians but they can’t see our suffering right here before their eyes.”
“For them to tell us who to pick as our leaders is an insult,” he said.
While they attacked the “government” and Tun Mahathir, they held back on criticizing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who had them on their feet yesterday in a stirring speech urging them to reform to win back Indian support.
He issued a warning, seen as being directed at Samy Vellu, that being popular in the party was useless if the people you claim to represent hate you.
But Samy Vellu appeared to shrug off the advice, seeing it as interference in MIC affairs.
He has also allowed delegates to speak up against a government, of which he was minister for nearly 30 years, and in which his party is still represented by a minister and two deputy ministers.
“The die is cast…he is on a collision course with the government…Umno,” said a newly elected MIC leader on the sidelines of the MIC general assembly today.
“We are either in Barisan or out. We cannot be in the tent and attack our own,” he said, adding that in his desire to continue as MIC president, Samy Vellu, was now on a collision course with the federal government.
“It is the classic disease of individuals in power for one too many years,” said the MIC leader. “He believes without him the MIC would collapse and without him he Indian community would suffer.”
“The community that the MIC had represented has long fled to the opposition and the party is just a shell of what it once was but the Samy Vellu party and same script goes on,” he said.
The Najib administration is going the extra-mile to woo the Indian community, aware that the government had alienated them and that the level of frustration is deep.
But it needs a vehicle to take forward the transformation, and was hoping the MIC could reform, elect a new leadership and be the harbinger of a “new deal” for the Indians.
With Samy Vellu still around, there is little choice for Umno/BN but to support other stakeholders in the community and gradually start making a direct approach to Indian voters.
Baradhan Kuppusamy
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Yet another by-election roils the country's ethnic divisions
The sudden death of a state lawmaker in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan last week appears likely to set the stage for the first real test of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat's political power since March 2008 general elections, at least partly because of rising ethnic Indian irritation over treatment by the Muslim majority in the country .
In seven of eight previous by-elections since the 2008 general election, the party that previously held the seat reclaimed it. However, the death last Thursday of Azman Mohd Noor, an UMNO lawmaker representing the Barisan Nasional, or national ruling coalition, appears to set up the real possibility that a seat could go to the opposition, analysts say.
Although it is a rural seat in a relatively obscure state legislature, the by-election, whose date has not yet been set, plays into a variety of disturbing national trends in the country, including rising ethnic Malay beliefs that their racial prerogatives are being usurped by other races and questions over the rising political power of the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia, or PAS.
The 14,000-voter district is more than 20 percent ethnic Indian. Malaysia's Indians, who make up about 8 percent of the total population, are furious over Muslim protests that forced cancellation of the relocation of the 150-year-old Sri Mahamariamman Temple to a site more convenient to them after housing estates had overtaken the onetime rubber plantation in which it had been situated. The obstreperous Muslim protesters paraded a severed cow's head – an insult to Hindus, who venerate cattle -- to the local town hall and dumped it in the protest.
Speaking of the violent tone of the anti-temple potests, Mustafa K. Anuar, assistant secretary for the reform organization Aliran, said that "Malaysians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds certainly have no reasons to be overjoyed with the Merdeka celebration, especially when the authorities were warned by these unthinking rebel-rousers of violent, if not bloody, 'retribution' if the demands of the protesters were not hneeded and met. It is of paramount importance to remind ourselves that better ethnic and religious understanding and relations can only come about through mutual respect and tolerance and dialogue – never by losing our heads."
The virulence has put paid to months of attempts by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to woo back ethnic Indian voters to the Barisan National. Najib has been photographed making chapatis with his wife and ostentatiously visited the magnificent Batu Cave, which houses an ancient Hindu temple just north of Kuala Lumpur, during recent Hindu holidays.
Tensions between Chinese and Malays backing the United Malays National Organization, the dominant party in the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition, have been rising for months. But tensions have also been growing between Indians and Malays ever since authorities cracked down on a rally by the Hindu Relief Action Force, or HINDRAF, in 2007 and threw the rally's leaders in jail under the country's stiff Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial. Najib freed the activist pressure group's leaders and had been seen to be making progress in wooing back the Indian community.
Although the rural Negeri Sembilan district has always been a Barisan Nasional stronghold, analysts say the seat could go to the Pakatan Rakyat opposition. Although the Barisan retained power in the statehouse in the 2008 election, for the first time ever it lost its two-thirds majority, with its majority dropping to 21 lawmakers to 15 for the opposition in the Negreri Sembilan statehouse.
The Negeri Sembilan seat that came open last week with Azman's death, apparently from blood poisoning, went to UMNO by a majority of 6,430 votes to PAS's 4,097, a relatively healthy plurality of 2,333. About 10 percent of the district, near the coastal town of Port Dickson, are ethnic Chinese. But rising racial tensions across the country are expected to play a role as politicians on both sides use Islam as a bludgeon against the other.
The ruling national coalition has traditionally relied on the ethnic Indian population to vote solidly for continuity. However, rising Malay-Muslim sentiment has coalesced with Indian disillusion with its own Malaysian Indian Congress, the third major component of the Barisan Nasional, which cratered in the 2008 election over disgust with corruption within the party. The MIC has continued to be riven with factionalism as the party's longtime head, S. Samy Velu, has battled reformers.
The loss of a single seat in a relatively unimportant largely rural state shouldn't ordinarily shake Barisan power. But the Barisan has been reeling from a long string of defeats and from perceptions of a kind of end-of-era deterioration, with the coalition mired in corruption and stultified in paralysis. Its only win among the previous by-elections was for a Sarawak seat with an overwhelming Barisan plurality.*
Najib has acted decisively to attempt to turn around minority sentiment, nullifying some elements of the New Economic Policy, an affirmative action program designed to provide economic uplift to Malays, which form a 55 percent majority of the country but who have traditionally played an economic second fiddle to the Chinese. The program, however, has created a rent-seeking class of cronies who have become known as "Umnoputras," a play on bumiputras or sons of the soil. But Najib faces long-standing questions of personal corruption as well.
In addition to the problems with the Chinese and Indians voters, several UMNO divisions in the Negeri Sembilan state are said to be disillusioned with the chief minister, Mohamad Hasan, a non-politician who was appointed by the former prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. It remains to be seen whether the lack of enthusiasm for Mohamad will cause UMNO stalwarts to sit on their hands, and particularly whether it will drive Malay voters to the fundamentalist PAS, which will field the opposition candidate.
The opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition headed by Anwar Ibrahim has plenty of its own problems, with internal contradictions rising between the fundamentalist PAS, the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party and the moderate urban ethnic Malay Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Anwar's own party. PAS has begun to feel its oats outside its own rural stronghold in Terengganu, Kelantan and other northeastern states, demanding that ethnic Malays in urban areas surrounding Kuala Lumpur adopt a much more conservative lifestyle. As many as 60 young people were grabbed by religious police on the first night of Puasa, the Malaysian version of Ramadan.
Asia Sentinel
In seven of eight previous by-elections since the 2008 general election, the party that previously held the seat reclaimed it. However, the death last Thursday of Azman Mohd Noor, an UMNO lawmaker representing the Barisan Nasional, or national ruling coalition, appears to set up the real possibility that a seat could go to the opposition, analysts say.
Although it is a rural seat in a relatively obscure state legislature, the by-election, whose date has not yet been set, plays into a variety of disturbing national trends in the country, including rising ethnic Malay beliefs that their racial prerogatives are being usurped by other races and questions over the rising political power of the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia, or PAS.
The 14,000-voter district is more than 20 percent ethnic Indian. Malaysia's Indians, who make up about 8 percent of the total population, are furious over Muslim protests that forced cancellation of the relocation of the 150-year-old Sri Mahamariamman Temple to a site more convenient to them after housing estates had overtaken the onetime rubber plantation in which it had been situated. The obstreperous Muslim protesters paraded a severed cow's head – an insult to Hindus, who venerate cattle -- to the local town hall and dumped it in the protest.
Speaking of the violent tone of the anti-temple potests, Mustafa K. Anuar, assistant secretary for the reform organization Aliran, said that "Malaysians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds certainly have no reasons to be overjoyed with the Merdeka celebration, especially when the authorities were warned by these unthinking rebel-rousers of violent, if not bloody, 'retribution' if the demands of the protesters were not hneeded and met. It is of paramount importance to remind ourselves that better ethnic and religious understanding and relations can only come about through mutual respect and tolerance and dialogue – never by losing our heads."
The virulence has put paid to months of attempts by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to woo back ethnic Indian voters to the Barisan National. Najib has been photographed making chapatis with his wife and ostentatiously visited the magnificent Batu Cave, which houses an ancient Hindu temple just north of Kuala Lumpur, during recent Hindu holidays.
Tensions between Chinese and Malays backing the United Malays National Organization, the dominant party in the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition, have been rising for months. But tensions have also been growing between Indians and Malays ever since authorities cracked down on a rally by the Hindu Relief Action Force, or HINDRAF, in 2007 and threw the rally's leaders in jail under the country's stiff Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial. Najib freed the activist pressure group's leaders and had been seen to be making progress in wooing back the Indian community.
Although the rural Negeri Sembilan district has always been a Barisan Nasional stronghold, analysts say the seat could go to the Pakatan Rakyat opposition. Although the Barisan retained power in the statehouse in the 2008 election, for the first time ever it lost its two-thirds majority, with its majority dropping to 21 lawmakers to 15 for the opposition in the Negreri Sembilan statehouse.
The Negeri Sembilan seat that came open last week with Azman's death, apparently from blood poisoning, went to UMNO by a majority of 6,430 votes to PAS's 4,097, a relatively healthy plurality of 2,333. About 10 percent of the district, near the coastal town of Port Dickson, are ethnic Chinese. But rising racial tensions across the country are expected to play a role as politicians on both sides use Islam as a bludgeon against the other.
The ruling national coalition has traditionally relied on the ethnic Indian population to vote solidly for continuity. However, rising Malay-Muslim sentiment has coalesced with Indian disillusion with its own Malaysian Indian Congress, the third major component of the Barisan Nasional, which cratered in the 2008 election over disgust with corruption within the party. The MIC has continued to be riven with factionalism as the party's longtime head, S. Samy Velu, has battled reformers.
The loss of a single seat in a relatively unimportant largely rural state shouldn't ordinarily shake Barisan power. But the Barisan has been reeling from a long string of defeats and from perceptions of a kind of end-of-era deterioration, with the coalition mired in corruption and stultified in paralysis. Its only win among the previous by-elections was for a Sarawak seat with an overwhelming Barisan plurality.*
Najib has acted decisively to attempt to turn around minority sentiment, nullifying some elements of the New Economic Policy, an affirmative action program designed to provide economic uplift to Malays, which form a 55 percent majority of the country but who have traditionally played an economic second fiddle to the Chinese. The program, however, has created a rent-seeking class of cronies who have become known as "Umnoputras," a play on bumiputras or sons of the soil. But Najib faces long-standing questions of personal corruption as well.
In addition to the problems with the Chinese and Indians voters, several UMNO divisions in the Negeri Sembilan state are said to be disillusioned with the chief minister, Mohamad Hasan, a non-politician who was appointed by the former prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. It remains to be seen whether the lack of enthusiasm for Mohamad will cause UMNO stalwarts to sit on their hands, and particularly whether it will drive Malay voters to the fundamentalist PAS, which will field the opposition candidate.
The opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition headed by Anwar Ibrahim has plenty of its own problems, with internal contradictions rising between the fundamentalist PAS, the Chinese-dominated Democratic Action Party and the moderate urban ethnic Malay Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Anwar's own party. PAS has begun to feel its oats outside its own rural stronghold in Terengganu, Kelantan and other northeastern states, demanding that ethnic Malays in urban areas surrounding Kuala Lumpur adopt a much more conservative lifestyle. As many as 60 young people were grabbed by religious police on the first night of Puasa, the Malaysian version of Ramadan.
*We originally called it an UMNO plurality. We apologize.
Asia Sentinel
Samy may have won but the future's not bright for MIC
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu showed Malaysians who is boss in the MIC tonight with his men practically winning the lot in one of the party's most hotly contested elections ever.
But among the Indian community and the broader Malaysian society, his era is over. The signs are not good for MIC either.
When opening the MIC AGM hours earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told delegates that leaders should be popular with the public and not just be champions in their own party.
Samy Vellu may have shown once again that his vise-like grip on the party is unshakeable but MIC will pay a heavy price when facing the Indian community, the majority of whom now lean towards Pakatan Rakyat.
When a dejected Datuk S Subramaniam left the PWTC tonight, many of his supporters mobbed him and urged him to join the Pakatan Rakyat.
"Datuk, the MIC is a sinking ship…let’s join Pakatan,” delegates were heard calling out.
Subramaniam, who had lost the deputy presidential contest to Datuk G Palanivel, did not say a word. He only gave a wistful smile.
The victory of Palanivel, by 87 votes, also indicates Samy Vellu will continue as president until the end of his 11th term in 2013 because Palanivel, who owes his victory to Samy Vellu, is unlikely to challenge his benefactor.
The mood for change in the MIC was just not big enough today to turn the tables on Samy Vellu.
Another reason for the loss is that the anti-Samy Vellu votes were split between challengers Subramaniam and newcomer Datuk S. Sothinathan, and this allowed the “official” line up to win.
It now appears that Sothinathan was key to victory for Samy Vellu’s official line up. He helped reduced Palanivel’s majority from 483 to just 87 – votes that could have gone to Subramaniam.
Despite his defeat, Subramaniam’s “Change for the better” theme remains relevant for the MIC which is caught in the throes of a leadership change.
Palanivel’s victory clears the way for him to take over the party when Samy Vellu, who has vowed to stay until 2013, retires. The big question is when?
The defeat does not spell the end of Subramaniam’s career because he polled a respectable 546 votes, indicating his standing in the MIC as the “alternative” leader to Samy Vellu remains.
Subramaniam, 65, who is Siputeh division chairman, is expected to remain in the MIC despite the loss but he faces possible expulsion from the party for allegedly tarnishing the MIC’s image over a number of issues.
Samy Vellu announced earlier in the week that Subramaniam will be issued a show-cause letter to answer the charges.
By Baradan Kuppusamy
Monday, September 07, 2009
UMNO Dalang sebenar isu Kuil Shah Alam
Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam Khalid Samad menyanggah dakwaan Naib Presiden UMNO, Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussien bahawa Pakatan Rakyat gagal menjalankan tugas berikutan isu insiden membabitkan pemindahan kuil di Seksyen 23 Shah Alam.
Khalid ketika dihubungi oleh TV Antara berkata, tanggungjawab kerajaan negeri telah dilaksanakan dengan sebaiknya lalu mengadakan dialogsupaya penduduk Seksyen 23 dapat mengutarakan sebarang permasalahandengan lebih jelas.
"Kita telah menjalankan tugas untuk mengadakan dialog. Itu tanggungjawab kita tetapi bila mereka-mereka yang menjadi penimbul masalah semamsa dialog itu, adalah orang-orang yang sama yang mengarakkan kepala lembu dab oleh kerana mereka tidak dikenakan sebarang tindakan, dan Hishamuddin sendiri menyatakan sokongan tindakan biadap mereka itu, maka itulah yang menyebabkan dialog itu tidak dapat berjalan dengan baik," ujarnya.
Katanya lagi, sokongan yang diberikan oleh Hishamuddin sekali gus memarakkan lagi semangat anti perkauman sehingga menimbulkan kekecohan pada sesi dialog yang berlangsung dalam Ramadhan yang mulia.
"Kegagalannya adalah daripada pihak kerajaan pusat yang memberikan pelindungan dan pembelaan serta sokongan dan dokongan kepada golongan pelampau yang diberikan kebebasan untuk bertindak sesuka hati," katanya lagi.
Malah dalam nada tegas Khalid berkata, tiada seorang pun ahli PAS atau Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) yang terlibat dalam siri kekecohan yang berlangsung diSeksyen 23 shah Alam dan pada sesi dialog di Dewan Bankuet Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA).
Namun katanya lagi, sekiranya terdapat ahli PAS mahu pun PKR yang turut serta dalam insiden yang memalukan itu, pihaknya tidak teragak-agak untuk menyingkirkan mereka sebagai ahli parti lantaran tindakan yang bercanggah itu.
"Berhubung dengan ahli PAS dan PKR, setakat mana yang kita lihat semua yang bercakap pada hari yang berkenaan adalah orang UMNO. Tak ada seorang pun yang ahli PAS. Walaupun mereka mengakui mereka dari PAS, PKR dan sebagainya tetapi pengakuan itu hanya sekadar pengakuan dan tidak ada satu perkara yang terbukti," tambah beliau lagi.
Beliau menambah, sekiranya pakatan pembangkang tidak pernah berkompromi terhadap kebiadapan sedemikian rupa, mengapa tidak UMNO juga mengambil tindakan yang sama terhadap ahli mereka yang terlibat.
"Sekiranya ada orang PAS atau PKR sekalipun, kalau mereka buktikan keahlian mereka, maka kita akan ambil tindakan untuk memecat mereka kerana tindakan mereka bercanggah dengan dasar-dasar dan nilai yang dibawa oleh parti dan sekiranya UMNO sendiri benar dengan sikap mereka menolak ekstrimisme, maka mereka seharusnya mengambil tindakan yang sama," tegas Khalid.
Ujarnya lagi, pihaknya tetap berpendirian kekecohan yang berlaku berpunca dari mainan UMNO.
"Mereka cakap itu hanya untuk menutup hakikat bahawa, ianya sebenarnya memang ditaja oleh UMNO Barisan Nasional. Hakikat ini terbukti dengan campur tangan Noh Omar dan sokongannya yang ditunjukkan oleh Hishamuddin," katanya.
Dalam satu perkembangan yang lain, ADUN Kota Damansara, Dr Nasir Hashim turut mempunyai pandangannya yang tersendiri berkenaan dengan isu kuil.
"Soalnya ini bulan puasa, kedua itu kita cerita pasal 1 Malaysia, semenjak sebut I Malaysia, semenjak pilihanraya 2008, isu kaum dibangkit-bangkitkan dan gayanya secara langsung dan tidak langsung seolah-olah itu sahaj modal yang ada. Tidak ada jalan lain sebenarnya. Mungkin dulu isu kaum itu orang sudah memberontak tapi kita lihat orang dan kumpulan tertentu yang hangat sangat," ujar Nasir.
Nasir juga berkata, setelah lebih 50 tahun negara kita mencapai kemerdekaan, sepatutnya kerajaan bersikap waras dan matang dalam menangani isu perkauman.
Beliau berkata demikian setelah mendengar 16 Hindraf ditahan dalam upacara nyalaan lilin di ibu negara baru-baru ini.
"Yang baru-baru ini Hindraf kena tahan, bawa bunga dan sebagainya, yang satu lagi bawa kepala lembu yang merupakan simbol kepada kepada kaum India, dipijak dan dilidah, tidak satu pun yang kena tahan. Polislembab dan nampak sangat seolah-olah kalau isu kaum ini berlaku, BN boleh dapat balik 5 negeri termasuk wilayah. Itu harapan mereka. Di mana 1 Malaysia? 1 Malaysia itu hanya omong-omong kosong sahaja.
Benda itu satu hipokrasi," ujarnya beliau.
Majlis dialog yang berlangsung pada 5 September lalu bertujuan memberipenerangan dan mengumpul maklum balas berhubung cadangan kerajaan negeri memindahkan kuil Hindu berusia lebih 100 tahun dari Seksyen 19 ke Seksyen 23.
Penduduk di Sekysen 19 telah merungut sekian lama bahawa kuil itu terletak hanya kira-kira 20 meter daripada kawasan perumahan dan menimbulkan pelbagai kemusykilan.
Kerajaan Barisan Nasional,baik di Selangor mahupun di peringkat Persekutuan akur dengan rungutan itu tetapi tidak mengambil apa-apa tindakan untuk bertahun-tahun.
Setelah mengambil alih pemerintahan Selangor tahun lalu, Pakatan Rakyat mengemukakan cadangan untuk memindahkan kuil itu ke sebuah tapak industri di Seksyen 23 yang terletak kira-kira 200 meter daripada kawasan perumahan, dan bukan lagi 20 meter seperti di Sekysen 19.
Malangnya dialog itu "disabotaj" UMNO.
TV Antara
Khalid ketika dihubungi oleh TV Antara berkata, tanggungjawab kerajaan negeri telah dilaksanakan dengan sebaiknya lalu mengadakan dialogsupaya penduduk Seksyen 23 dapat mengutarakan sebarang permasalahandengan lebih jelas.
"Kita telah menjalankan tugas untuk mengadakan dialog. Itu tanggungjawab kita tetapi bila mereka-mereka yang menjadi penimbul masalah semamsa dialog itu, adalah orang-orang yang sama yang mengarakkan kepala lembu dab oleh kerana mereka tidak dikenakan sebarang tindakan, dan Hishamuddin sendiri menyatakan sokongan tindakan biadap mereka itu, maka itulah yang menyebabkan dialog itu tidak dapat berjalan dengan baik," ujarnya.
Katanya lagi, sokongan yang diberikan oleh Hishamuddin sekali gus memarakkan lagi semangat anti perkauman sehingga menimbulkan kekecohan pada sesi dialog yang berlangsung dalam Ramadhan yang mulia.
"Kegagalannya adalah daripada pihak kerajaan pusat yang memberikan pelindungan dan pembelaan serta sokongan dan dokongan kepada golongan pelampau yang diberikan kebebasan untuk bertindak sesuka hati," katanya lagi.
Malah dalam nada tegas Khalid berkata, tiada seorang pun ahli PAS atau Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) yang terlibat dalam siri kekecohan yang berlangsung diSeksyen 23 shah Alam dan pada sesi dialog di Dewan Bankuet Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA).
Namun katanya lagi, sekiranya terdapat ahli PAS mahu pun PKR yang turut serta dalam insiden yang memalukan itu, pihaknya tidak teragak-agak untuk menyingkirkan mereka sebagai ahli parti lantaran tindakan yang bercanggah itu.
"Berhubung dengan ahli PAS dan PKR, setakat mana yang kita lihat semua yang bercakap pada hari yang berkenaan adalah orang UMNO. Tak ada seorang pun yang ahli PAS. Walaupun mereka mengakui mereka dari PAS, PKR dan sebagainya tetapi pengakuan itu hanya sekadar pengakuan dan tidak ada satu perkara yang terbukti," tambah beliau lagi.
Beliau menambah, sekiranya pakatan pembangkang tidak pernah berkompromi terhadap kebiadapan sedemikian rupa, mengapa tidak UMNO juga mengambil tindakan yang sama terhadap ahli mereka yang terlibat.
"Sekiranya ada orang PAS atau PKR sekalipun, kalau mereka buktikan keahlian mereka, maka kita akan ambil tindakan untuk memecat mereka kerana tindakan mereka bercanggah dengan dasar-dasar dan nilai yang dibawa oleh parti dan sekiranya UMNO sendiri benar dengan sikap mereka menolak ekstrimisme, maka mereka seharusnya mengambil tindakan yang sama," tegas Khalid.
Ujarnya lagi, pihaknya tetap berpendirian kekecohan yang berlaku berpunca dari mainan UMNO.
"Mereka cakap itu hanya untuk menutup hakikat bahawa, ianya sebenarnya memang ditaja oleh UMNO Barisan Nasional. Hakikat ini terbukti dengan campur tangan Noh Omar dan sokongannya yang ditunjukkan oleh Hishamuddin," katanya.
Dalam satu perkembangan yang lain, ADUN Kota Damansara, Dr Nasir Hashim turut mempunyai pandangannya yang tersendiri berkenaan dengan isu kuil.
"Soalnya ini bulan puasa, kedua itu kita cerita pasal 1 Malaysia, semenjak sebut I Malaysia, semenjak pilihanraya 2008, isu kaum dibangkit-bangkitkan dan gayanya secara langsung dan tidak langsung seolah-olah itu sahaj modal yang ada. Tidak ada jalan lain sebenarnya. Mungkin dulu isu kaum itu orang sudah memberontak tapi kita lihat orang dan kumpulan tertentu yang hangat sangat," ujar Nasir.
Nasir juga berkata, setelah lebih 50 tahun negara kita mencapai kemerdekaan, sepatutnya kerajaan bersikap waras dan matang dalam menangani isu perkauman.
Beliau berkata demikian setelah mendengar 16 Hindraf ditahan dalam upacara nyalaan lilin di ibu negara baru-baru ini.
"Yang baru-baru ini Hindraf kena tahan, bawa bunga dan sebagainya, yang satu lagi bawa kepala lembu yang merupakan simbol kepada kepada kaum India, dipijak dan dilidah, tidak satu pun yang kena tahan. Polislembab dan nampak sangat seolah-olah kalau isu kaum ini berlaku, BN boleh dapat balik 5 negeri termasuk wilayah. Itu harapan mereka. Di mana 1 Malaysia? 1 Malaysia itu hanya omong-omong kosong sahaja.
Benda itu satu hipokrasi," ujarnya beliau.
Majlis dialog yang berlangsung pada 5 September lalu bertujuan memberipenerangan dan mengumpul maklum balas berhubung cadangan kerajaan negeri memindahkan kuil Hindu berusia lebih 100 tahun dari Seksyen 19 ke Seksyen 23.
Penduduk di Sekysen 19 telah merungut sekian lama bahawa kuil itu terletak hanya kira-kira 20 meter daripada kawasan perumahan dan menimbulkan pelbagai kemusykilan.
Kerajaan Barisan Nasional,baik di Selangor mahupun di peringkat Persekutuan akur dengan rungutan itu tetapi tidak mengambil apa-apa tindakan untuk bertahun-tahun.
Setelah mengambil alih pemerintahan Selangor tahun lalu, Pakatan Rakyat mengemukakan cadangan untuk memindahkan kuil itu ke sebuah tapak industri di Seksyen 23 yang terletak kira-kira 200 meter daripada kawasan perumahan, dan bukan lagi 20 meter seperti di Sekysen 19.
Malangnya dialog itu "disabotaj" UMNO.
TV Antara
No double standards on religion
MCCBCHST (Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism & Taoism) notes with deep concern that the cowhead incident in Shah Alam is not an isolated case. Another recent example of this kind of insensitivity was when the Holy Eucharist was desecrated when certain persons went to a church, took the consecrated bread and spewed it out.
Such irreverent and sacrilegious conduct should not be condoned and allowed to be repeated with impunity. In seating the organisers of the recent demonstration in Shah Alam to his right and left during his press conference, the home affairs minister seemed to have bestowed honour to the perpetrators of a gravely offensive and dangerous event whereby seditious speeches accompanied by the stepping on the severed head of the cow were made. What signals would this send to the people?
Not surprisingly, therefore, the same disrespectful, unruly and unwilling to listen behaviour on the part of some rendered the town hall meeting between the Menteri Besar and Section 23 residents to discuss the issue on September 5 2009 unmanageable and unproductive.The same rules must apply to all.
MCCBCHST is concerned that wheareas in the August 28 2009 Shah Alam incident the police had stood by while the demonstrators desecrated the cow head and made seditious speeches, the police acted strongly against would-be candlelight vigilers in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka on September 5 2009. Also, Malaysiakini has now been warned by MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) not to make the video showing the terrible acts in the Shah Alam incident available for viewing to their readers. Thinking Malaysians will rightly raise the question: Which comes first- the act or the video which exposes the act? How do we as a country go about resolving our problems? In this case, stopping the video of the act will not unmake the act. We must surely first prevent the act and the video would not have existed.
For the sake and good of all Malaysians and peace and order in Malaysia, consistent, fair, just and rational measures should be applied regardless of religion, ethnicity, culture, gender or political connection.
There must be one rule for all Malaysians.
All who incite ill feelings amongst religious communities, denigrate any religion, desecrate the religious symbols of any religion or threaten to commit violence against others must be promptly deterred and held accountable. They must face charges and given a fair trial in a court of law.
Sacrilegious acts committed by adherents of any one religion upon another religion must never be condoned. We hold to the principle that all human beings and communities have a sacred right of freedom of choice as far as their religious belief and practice is concerned.We stand with Malaysians of all religious and political persuasions who were outraged by the flagrant disregard for the sensitivities of others shown by the Shah Alam demonstrators.
We welcome the partnership of all Malaysians of goodwill. Together we can weather the mischief and bigotry of those who seek to drive a wedge between us and divide rather than unite the people of this land.
We Malaysians live in a pluralistic society and accordingly we must respect our neighbours and endeavour to learn about their beliefs, customs and sentiments. It is upon such understanding of others and what is dear to them that our nation can be firmly rooted and grow strong and united.
The way to manage our differences is not by creating enclaves whereby Malaysians will be segregated and separated from one another but through understanding and respect. Let us live together next to one another rather than to live apart. Each succeeding generation of Malaysians should grow closer rather than to be pulled apart.
The site chosen in Section 23 of Shah Alam for the Hindu temple to be relocated to complies with local government conditions. It is over 300 meters away from any housing area, six times more than the 50-meter requirement. If the authorities accept the objection to it by certain quarters, the social dynamics of Malaysian life will be affected and the consequence on national integration will be very serious indeed.
We must not subscribe to the view of thinking about Malaysians as majorities and minorities, and majorities versus minorities.
MCCBCHST therefore calls upon all Malaysians of goodwill to be in earnest prayer for the peaceful and just resolution of the issue. Those in authority at the community, religious and governmental level must be firm to unequivocally reject unreasonable, unfair and anti-social behaviour and demand.
Rev. Dr Thomas Philips
MCCBCHST President
Petaling Jaya
Such irreverent and sacrilegious conduct should not be condoned and allowed to be repeated with impunity. In seating the organisers of the recent demonstration in Shah Alam to his right and left during his press conference, the home affairs minister seemed to have bestowed honour to the perpetrators of a gravely offensive and dangerous event whereby seditious speeches accompanied by the stepping on the severed head of the cow were made. What signals would this send to the people?
Not surprisingly, therefore, the same disrespectful, unruly and unwilling to listen behaviour on the part of some rendered the town hall meeting between the Menteri Besar and Section 23 residents to discuss the issue on September 5 2009 unmanageable and unproductive.The same rules must apply to all.
MCCBCHST is concerned that wheareas in the August 28 2009 Shah Alam incident the police had stood by while the demonstrators desecrated the cow head and made seditious speeches, the police acted strongly against would-be candlelight vigilers in the vicinity of Dataran Merdeka on September 5 2009. Also, Malaysiakini has now been warned by MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) not to make the video showing the terrible acts in the Shah Alam incident available for viewing to their readers. Thinking Malaysians will rightly raise the question: Which comes first- the act or the video which exposes the act? How do we as a country go about resolving our problems? In this case, stopping the video of the act will not unmake the act. We must surely first prevent the act and the video would not have existed.
For the sake and good of all Malaysians and peace and order in Malaysia, consistent, fair, just and rational measures should be applied regardless of religion, ethnicity, culture, gender or political connection.
There must be one rule for all Malaysians.
All who incite ill feelings amongst religious communities, denigrate any religion, desecrate the religious symbols of any religion or threaten to commit violence against others must be promptly deterred and held accountable. They must face charges and given a fair trial in a court of law.
Sacrilegious acts committed by adherents of any one religion upon another religion must never be condoned. We hold to the principle that all human beings and communities have a sacred right of freedom of choice as far as their religious belief and practice is concerned.We stand with Malaysians of all religious and political persuasions who were outraged by the flagrant disregard for the sensitivities of others shown by the Shah Alam demonstrators.
We welcome the partnership of all Malaysians of goodwill. Together we can weather the mischief and bigotry of those who seek to drive a wedge between us and divide rather than unite the people of this land.
We Malaysians live in a pluralistic society and accordingly we must respect our neighbours and endeavour to learn about their beliefs, customs and sentiments. It is upon such understanding of others and what is dear to them that our nation can be firmly rooted and grow strong and united.
The way to manage our differences is not by creating enclaves whereby Malaysians will be segregated and separated from one another but through understanding and respect. Let us live together next to one another rather than to live apart. Each succeeding generation of Malaysians should grow closer rather than to be pulled apart.
The site chosen in Section 23 of Shah Alam for the Hindu temple to be relocated to complies with local government conditions. It is over 300 meters away from any housing area, six times more than the 50-meter requirement. If the authorities accept the objection to it by certain quarters, the social dynamics of Malaysian life will be affected and the consequence on national integration will be very serious indeed.
We must not subscribe to the view of thinking about Malaysians as majorities and minorities, and majorities versus minorities.
MCCBCHST therefore calls upon all Malaysians of goodwill to be in earnest prayer for the peaceful and just resolution of the issue. Those in authority at the community, religious and governmental level must be firm to unequivocally reject unreasonable, unfair and anti-social behaviour and demand.
Rev. Dr Thomas Philips
MCCBCHST President
Petaling Jaya
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Hipokrasi kepala lembu: Hishammuddin harus letak jawatan
Jikalau anda berarak dengan kepala lembu yang dipancung, kemudian meminta pertolongan daripada seorang menteri UMNO, atau Menteri Dalam Negeri, Hishammuddin Hussein, beliau semestinya mengendalikannya dengan sambil lalu.
Kemungkinan juga anda mengangkat kepala lembut menurut skrip yang tertulis atau mengikut arahan. Kemudian menteri tampil ke depan untuk melindungi anda. Beliau memperoleh manfaat dari sandiwara ini.
Politikus UMNO sebagai pemerintah tidak faham bahawa taktik baru mereka ini tidak disenangi rakyat.
Hishammuddin bertindak secara luar biasa dan tidak bersesuaian apabila menyatakan bahawa mereka yang berarak pada Jumaat lepas tidak harus dipersalahkan. Beliau tidak harus mempercayai sewenang-wenangnya apa yang dikatakan peserta demonstrasi bahawa mereka tidak tahu dari mana datangnya kepala lembu itu.
Sebanyak 50 orang muslim memijak dan meludah pada kepala lembu di depan bangunan kerajaan negeri Selangor pada Jumaat yang lalu, sebagai protes terhadap keputusan kerajaan untuk memindahkan sebuah kuil yang bersejarah 150 tahun ke kawasan komuniti mereka. Lembu adalah binatang suci dalam agama Hindu.
Menteri ini tidak memberi penjelasan berkenaan keganasan terhadap mayat binatang. "Misteri Kepala Lembu" mungkin boleh dijadikan judul buku cerita seram. Walau bagaimanapun, peserta demonstrasi dan Hishammuddin Hussein kelihatan seolah-olah tolol.
Kami tidak membantah demonstrasi. Pakatan Rakyat membela hak bersuara dan berkumpul yang diperuntukkan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Tetapi apabila peserta demonstrasi mengugut bahawa seandainya tuntutan mereka tidak diterima, pemindahan kuil Hindu ini akan berakhir dengan pertumpahan darah. Kenyataan sedemikian mungkin mengakibatkan konflik kaum. Pertemuan Hishammuddin dengan peserta demonstrasi menunjukkan bahawa beliau menyokong golongan yang berfahaman sempit dalam agama, juga menunjukkan bahawa Barisan Nasional kini dalam perancangan untuk merampas kuasa kerajaan negeri Selangor. Ini membongkarkan motif politik sandiwara yang merbahaya ini.
Naib Presiden UMNO ini berkata polis tidak menghalang perarakan kepala lembu ini kerana bilangan polis terlalu kecil. Tetapi candle light vigil untuk mengingati Teoh Beng Hock di padang Ampang Jaya pada tahun lepas, telah disuraikan dengan kasar. Polis telah mengerah sebanyak ratusan tenaga FRU untuk menangkap 20 orang aktivis sosial dan pemimpin pembangkang.
Hishammuddin Hussein mendakwa peserta demonstrasi merasakan diri mereka dianiaya, dan beliau berkata tidak mahu mengambil tindakan terhadap mereka. Jelas, Hishammuddin telah mengambil alih tugas Peguam Negara kerana kuasa pendakwaan terletak pada tangan Peguam Negara, dan bukan Hishammuddin Hussein.
Hujah sedemikian jelas menunjukkan bahawa peserta demonstrasi adalah samseng upahan UMNO. Mereka diperalatkan untuk mencungkil sentimen perkauman, dan mengalih pandangan daripada penyelewengan kerajaan.
Rasuah masih berleluasa, ekonomi jatuh merudum, kematian tahanan dalam lokap melonjak, polis dan Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah (SPRM) menyasarkan wakil rakyat PR, media dikawal ketat, blogger ditahan di bawah akta preventive, kadar jenayah meningkat, kaum minoriti terus dipinggirkan, malah skandal seperti Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ) diselindungi.
Walaupun demikian, UMNO masih ghairah dengan menghasut sentimen perkauman dan agama, cuba menakut-nakutkan rakyat untuk mengembalikan sokongan pengundi Melayu.
Hishammuddin Hussein tidak insaf daripada pengajaran tsunami 8 Mac 2008. Beliau telah digelar "kerismuddin" kerana menjulang keris dalam perhimpunan UMNO. Beliau masih dengan keangkuhannya untuk memberi amaran agar bukan Melayu jangan menghasut sentimen perkauman.
Ironinya, Hishammuddin Hussein adalah antara menteri yang menyertai majlis sambutan hari kemerdekaan dan menyahut slogan "1Malaysia". Kempen "1Malaysia" PM Najib supaya rakyat bersatu padu dan menjamin kesaksamaan antara kaum telah terburai dalam hati rakyat.
Walaupun kami bersetuju bahawa hipokrasi adalah persamaan politikus UMNO, namun Hishammuddin Hussein adalah Menteri Dalam Negeri yang gagal kerana beliau tidak dapat mengawal keamanan negara.
Beliau bukan sahaja tidak mengambil tindakan terhadap peserta demonstrasi, dan menghalang konflik kaum yang mungkin berlaku, sebaliknya memihak samseng UMNO dan mengabaikan sensitiviti penganut agama Hindu dan undang-undang negara.
Oleh itu, saya menyeru sekeras-kerasnya agar Hishammuddin Hussein meletak jawatan dengan segera. Saya menggesa agar peguam negara mendakwa peserta demonstrasi dan mengkaji sama ada tindakan Hishammuddin berjumpa dengan peserta demonstrasi semasa siasatan dijalankan itu melanggar undang-undang.
*Kenyataan media ini dikeluarkan oleh Charles Santiago, ahli Parlimen Klang. Diterjemah dari versi bahasa Cinanya.
Kemungkinan juga anda mengangkat kepala lembut menurut skrip yang tertulis atau mengikut arahan. Kemudian menteri tampil ke depan untuk melindungi anda. Beliau memperoleh manfaat dari sandiwara ini.
Politikus UMNO sebagai pemerintah tidak faham bahawa taktik baru mereka ini tidak disenangi rakyat.
Hishammuddin bertindak secara luar biasa dan tidak bersesuaian apabila menyatakan bahawa mereka yang berarak pada Jumaat lepas tidak harus dipersalahkan. Beliau tidak harus mempercayai sewenang-wenangnya apa yang dikatakan peserta demonstrasi bahawa mereka tidak tahu dari mana datangnya kepala lembu itu.
Sebanyak 50 orang muslim memijak dan meludah pada kepala lembu di depan bangunan kerajaan negeri Selangor pada Jumaat yang lalu, sebagai protes terhadap keputusan kerajaan untuk memindahkan sebuah kuil yang bersejarah 150 tahun ke kawasan komuniti mereka. Lembu adalah binatang suci dalam agama Hindu.
Menteri ini tidak memberi penjelasan berkenaan keganasan terhadap mayat binatang. "Misteri Kepala Lembu" mungkin boleh dijadikan judul buku cerita seram. Walau bagaimanapun, peserta demonstrasi dan Hishammuddin Hussein kelihatan seolah-olah tolol.
Kami tidak membantah demonstrasi. Pakatan Rakyat membela hak bersuara dan berkumpul yang diperuntukkan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Tetapi apabila peserta demonstrasi mengugut bahawa seandainya tuntutan mereka tidak diterima, pemindahan kuil Hindu ini akan berakhir dengan pertumpahan darah. Kenyataan sedemikian mungkin mengakibatkan konflik kaum. Pertemuan Hishammuddin dengan peserta demonstrasi menunjukkan bahawa beliau menyokong golongan yang berfahaman sempit dalam agama, juga menunjukkan bahawa Barisan Nasional kini dalam perancangan untuk merampas kuasa kerajaan negeri Selangor. Ini membongkarkan motif politik sandiwara yang merbahaya ini.
Naib Presiden UMNO ini berkata polis tidak menghalang perarakan kepala lembu ini kerana bilangan polis terlalu kecil. Tetapi candle light vigil untuk mengingati Teoh Beng Hock di padang Ampang Jaya pada tahun lepas, telah disuraikan dengan kasar. Polis telah mengerah sebanyak ratusan tenaga FRU untuk menangkap 20 orang aktivis sosial dan pemimpin pembangkang.
Hishammuddin Hussein mendakwa peserta demonstrasi merasakan diri mereka dianiaya, dan beliau berkata tidak mahu mengambil tindakan terhadap mereka. Jelas, Hishammuddin telah mengambil alih tugas Peguam Negara kerana kuasa pendakwaan terletak pada tangan Peguam Negara, dan bukan Hishammuddin Hussein.
Hujah sedemikian jelas menunjukkan bahawa peserta demonstrasi adalah samseng upahan UMNO. Mereka diperalatkan untuk mencungkil sentimen perkauman, dan mengalih pandangan daripada penyelewengan kerajaan.
Rasuah masih berleluasa, ekonomi jatuh merudum, kematian tahanan dalam lokap melonjak, polis dan Suruhanjaya Pencegah Rasuah (SPRM) menyasarkan wakil rakyat PR, media dikawal ketat, blogger ditahan di bawah akta preventive, kadar jenayah meningkat, kaum minoriti terus dipinggirkan, malah skandal seperti Zon Bebas Pelabuhan Klang (PKFZ) diselindungi.
Walaupun demikian, UMNO masih ghairah dengan menghasut sentimen perkauman dan agama, cuba menakut-nakutkan rakyat untuk mengembalikan sokongan pengundi Melayu.
Hishammuddin Hussein tidak insaf daripada pengajaran tsunami 8 Mac 2008. Beliau telah digelar "kerismuddin" kerana menjulang keris dalam perhimpunan UMNO. Beliau masih dengan keangkuhannya untuk memberi amaran agar bukan Melayu jangan menghasut sentimen perkauman.
Ironinya, Hishammuddin Hussein adalah antara menteri yang menyertai majlis sambutan hari kemerdekaan dan menyahut slogan "1Malaysia". Kempen "1Malaysia" PM Najib supaya rakyat bersatu padu dan menjamin kesaksamaan antara kaum telah terburai dalam hati rakyat.
Walaupun kami bersetuju bahawa hipokrasi adalah persamaan politikus UMNO, namun Hishammuddin Hussein adalah Menteri Dalam Negeri yang gagal kerana beliau tidak dapat mengawal keamanan negara.
Beliau bukan sahaja tidak mengambil tindakan terhadap peserta demonstrasi, dan menghalang konflik kaum yang mungkin berlaku, sebaliknya memihak samseng UMNO dan mengabaikan sensitiviti penganut agama Hindu dan undang-undang negara.
Oleh itu, saya menyeru sekeras-kerasnya agar Hishammuddin Hussein meletak jawatan dengan segera. Saya menggesa agar peguam negara mendakwa peserta demonstrasi dan mengkaji sama ada tindakan Hishammuddin berjumpa dengan peserta demonstrasi semasa siasatan dijalankan itu melanggar undang-undang.
*Kenyataan media ini dikeluarkan oleh Charles Santiago, ahli Parlimen Klang. Diterjemah dari versi bahasa Cinanya.
Kuil Hindu di Kelantan - in Bahasa Malaysia
Saya dibesarkan di Tumpat, sejak dua bulan dilahirkan, sehinggalah Tingkatan Lima. Semasa zaman remaja, kami bersembahyang di Kuil Sri Maha Mariaman Hindu di Tumpat, Kelantan.
Kuil tersebut dibina kelas pekerja India landasan keretapi semasa zaman penjajahan.
Kuil Hindu ini dibina di kawasan yang terdiri daripada 99.99% Melayu-Islam dan diperintah PAS. Dua tahun yang lepas, semasa saya melawat ke kuil ini, saya diberitahu bahawa hanya dua keluarga India sahaja yang tinggal di Tumpat. Namun, kuil Hindu kami tersergam sehingga hari ini di jalan utama menuju ke Tumpat.
Saya menunjuk kepada isteri dan anak-anak kuil Hindu yang menemani saya ketika membesar dengan penuh nostalgia. Kuil ini kekal sebagai warisan sejarah Kelantan sehingga hari ini. Kuil Hindu kami ini boleh dirobohkan atau dipindahkan dari Kelantan memandangkan kawasan ini terdiri daripada 99.99% Melayu-Muslim, atau kerana negeri ini digelar "Serambi Mekah".
Saya percaya bahawa idea ini tidak terlintas dalam minda Menteri Besar, Nik Aziz. Inilah amalan kepelbagaian agama di kawasan yang diperintah 99% Melayu-Muslim PAS. Patung Buddha Tidur yang terbesar bukan terletak di Thailand, Kembodia atau India, di mana Buddhism berasal, tetapi di Kg.Neting, Tumpat Kelantan.
Kepelbagaian kaum dan agama di Malaysia memerlukan kewujudan bersama (religious coexistence), daripada toleransi agama. Maka kita tidak akan berdepan dengan kes bantahan kuil Hindu di mana kawasan majoriti dan didominasi UMNO seperti Seksyen 19 dan 22 Shah Alam, dengan alasan bahawa kawasan ini didominasi Melayu Muslim.
Ektremis agama yang berarak protes dengan kepala lembu tidak akan ditangkap, dan tidak akan didakwa secara serius oleh peguam negara dalam "1Malaysia" yang disarankan PM Najib Razak. Justeru itu, extremism perkauman dan agama berterusan di Malaysia. Pada hakikatnya, mereka memperoleh sokongan Menteri Dalam Negeri Hishammuddin Hussein yang menghalalkan tindakan mereka. Kerajaan Persekutuan yang dikawal UMNO, dan kerajaan negeri Selangor yang dikawal PKR, dan kerajaan negeri yang perintah PR di Barat Malaysia, perlu belajar dari Kelantan yang diperintah PAS.
PM Najib Razak berkuasa untuk mengeluarkan surat pekeliling yang memperuntukkan kuasa kepada Menteri Besar Selangor PKR dan Menteri Besar atau Ketua Menteri di negeri pemerintahan Pakatan Rakyat, untuk memberi hak milik tanah kepada semua kuil Hindu yang sedia ada dan digazetkan sebagai kuil Hindu, seperti yang berlaku di kawasan 99% tanah rizab Melayu di negeri Kelantan. Maka, ia akan menoktahkan pemecahan dan ketegangan kaum dan agama di Malaysia yang baru, tidak pernah berlaku malah tidak perlu berlaku ini.
Begitu juga ia perlu dilakukan terhadap semua Hindu crematorium, sekolah Tamil dan tempat duduk India seperti Kg.Buah Pala. Ini sebenarnya akan menyelesaikan setengah masalah yang dihadapi kelas pekerja India untuk selama-lamanya.
Namun, kedua-dua UMNO, PKR di Selangor dan negeri pantai Barat lain yang diperintah PR hanya bermain politik wayang kulit, dengan "mandores" India mereka melalui media cetak dan elektronik, dengan pengumuman kosong tentang tanah sementara untuk kuil Hindu, sekolah Tamil dan crematorium. Kemudian, dihebohkan bak pepatah "ayam telur sebiji riuh sekampung."
Kerajaan negeri yang mempunyai kuasa mutlak dalam isu tanah negerinya, tidak mengeluarkan surat bertulis untuk tanah sementara tersebut yang diumumkan oleh mereka, memberi hak milik tanah atau gazet kepada kuil Hindu, sekolah Tamil dan crematorium Hindu. Maka, keadaan kelas pekerja India baru-baru ini, di Kampung Buah Pala dan Seksyen 19 dan 22, Shah Alam, hanyalah sebahagian kecil masalah kritikal yang dihadapi kelas pekerja India di Malaysia.
Hanya di Malaysia, dan terutamanya atas nama pembangunan, kuil Hindu, crematorium Hindu, sekolah Tamil dan tempat duduk orang India yang miskin dijadikan sasaran utama. Kami menyimpan rekod ribuan kes sedemikian.
Masalah ini jarang berlaku di komuniti Melayu, Cina, orang asli, Iban atau Kadazan di Malaysia. Ia berlaku kepada hampir semua kelas pekerja India. Mengapa? Kerana BN, PKR, DAP, PAS, NGO dan masyarakat sivil mendakwa diri mereka "berbilang kaum" dan "berbilang agama."
Ini semua kerana kelas pekerja India tidak memiliki kuasa politik atau pengaruh ekonomi, dan seterusnya tiada dalam hampir semua UMNO, PKR, DAP, PAS (kecuali Kelantan), NGO yang sudi untuk menguruskan masalah kritikal India.
*Kenyataan ini dikeluarkan oleh P.Uthayakumar, Setiausaha Agung (pro-tem) Parti Hak Asasi Manusia (Human Rights Party, HRP). Teks asalnya bahasa Inggeris.
Kuil tersebut dibina kelas pekerja India landasan keretapi semasa zaman penjajahan.
Kuil Hindu ini dibina di kawasan yang terdiri daripada 99.99% Melayu-Islam dan diperintah PAS. Dua tahun yang lepas, semasa saya melawat ke kuil ini, saya diberitahu bahawa hanya dua keluarga India sahaja yang tinggal di Tumpat. Namun, kuil Hindu kami tersergam sehingga hari ini di jalan utama menuju ke Tumpat.
Saya menunjuk kepada isteri dan anak-anak kuil Hindu yang menemani saya ketika membesar dengan penuh nostalgia. Kuil ini kekal sebagai warisan sejarah Kelantan sehingga hari ini. Kuil Hindu kami ini boleh dirobohkan atau dipindahkan dari Kelantan memandangkan kawasan ini terdiri daripada 99.99% Melayu-Muslim, atau kerana negeri ini digelar "Serambi Mekah".
Saya percaya bahawa idea ini tidak terlintas dalam minda Menteri Besar, Nik Aziz. Inilah amalan kepelbagaian agama di kawasan yang diperintah 99% Melayu-Muslim PAS. Patung Buddha Tidur yang terbesar bukan terletak di Thailand, Kembodia atau India, di mana Buddhism berasal, tetapi di Kg.Neting, Tumpat Kelantan.
Kepelbagaian kaum dan agama di Malaysia memerlukan kewujudan bersama (religious coexistence), daripada toleransi agama. Maka kita tidak akan berdepan dengan kes bantahan kuil Hindu di mana kawasan majoriti dan didominasi UMNO seperti Seksyen 19 dan 22 Shah Alam, dengan alasan bahawa kawasan ini didominasi Melayu Muslim.
Ektremis agama yang berarak protes dengan kepala lembu tidak akan ditangkap, dan tidak akan didakwa secara serius oleh peguam negara dalam "1Malaysia" yang disarankan PM Najib Razak. Justeru itu, extremism perkauman dan agama berterusan di Malaysia. Pada hakikatnya, mereka memperoleh sokongan Menteri Dalam Negeri Hishammuddin Hussein yang menghalalkan tindakan mereka. Kerajaan Persekutuan yang dikawal UMNO, dan kerajaan negeri Selangor yang dikawal PKR, dan kerajaan negeri yang perintah PR di Barat Malaysia, perlu belajar dari Kelantan yang diperintah PAS.
PM Najib Razak berkuasa untuk mengeluarkan surat pekeliling yang memperuntukkan kuasa kepada Menteri Besar Selangor PKR dan Menteri Besar atau Ketua Menteri di negeri pemerintahan Pakatan Rakyat, untuk memberi hak milik tanah kepada semua kuil Hindu yang sedia ada dan digazetkan sebagai kuil Hindu, seperti yang berlaku di kawasan 99% tanah rizab Melayu di negeri Kelantan. Maka, ia akan menoktahkan pemecahan dan ketegangan kaum dan agama di Malaysia yang baru, tidak pernah berlaku malah tidak perlu berlaku ini.
Begitu juga ia perlu dilakukan terhadap semua Hindu crematorium, sekolah Tamil dan tempat duduk India seperti Kg.Buah Pala. Ini sebenarnya akan menyelesaikan setengah masalah yang dihadapi kelas pekerja India untuk selama-lamanya.
Namun, kedua-dua UMNO, PKR di Selangor dan negeri pantai Barat lain yang diperintah PR hanya bermain politik wayang kulit, dengan "mandores" India mereka melalui media cetak dan elektronik, dengan pengumuman kosong tentang tanah sementara untuk kuil Hindu, sekolah Tamil dan crematorium. Kemudian, dihebohkan bak pepatah "ayam telur sebiji riuh sekampung."
Kerajaan negeri yang mempunyai kuasa mutlak dalam isu tanah negerinya, tidak mengeluarkan surat bertulis untuk tanah sementara tersebut yang diumumkan oleh mereka, memberi hak milik tanah atau gazet kepada kuil Hindu, sekolah Tamil dan crematorium Hindu. Maka, keadaan kelas pekerja India baru-baru ini, di Kampung Buah Pala dan Seksyen 19 dan 22, Shah Alam, hanyalah sebahagian kecil masalah kritikal yang dihadapi kelas pekerja India di Malaysia.
Hanya di Malaysia, dan terutamanya atas nama pembangunan, kuil Hindu, crematorium Hindu, sekolah Tamil dan tempat duduk orang India yang miskin dijadikan sasaran utama. Kami menyimpan rekod ribuan kes sedemikian.
Masalah ini jarang berlaku di komuniti Melayu, Cina, orang asli, Iban atau Kadazan di Malaysia. Ia berlaku kepada hampir semua kelas pekerja India. Mengapa? Kerana BN, PKR, DAP, PAS, NGO dan masyarakat sivil mendakwa diri mereka "berbilang kaum" dan "berbilang agama."
Ini semua kerana kelas pekerja India tidak memiliki kuasa politik atau pengaruh ekonomi, dan seterusnya tiada dalam hampir semua UMNO, PKR, DAP, PAS (kecuali Kelantan), NGO yang sudi untuk menguruskan masalah kritikal India.
*Kenyataan ini dikeluarkan oleh P.Uthayakumar, Setiausaha Agung (pro-tem) Parti Hak Asasi Manusia (Human Rights Party, HRP). Teks asalnya bahasa Inggeris.
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