Teaching of Maths and Science in English

The cabinet will soon make a decision on the teaching of Maths and Science in English.

MCA and Gerakan from the beginning were not in favour of teaching of Maths and Science in English.

On the other hand, MIC had supported the teaching of Maths and Science in English as it will increase the proficiency of students in the language. Students from Tamil schools had always had to adjust to learning of Maths and Science from Tamil to Bahasa Malaysia before the policy was implemented. With the use of English for Maths and Science for both primary and secondary level students, the issue of adjustment for Tamil School students was somewhat reduced.

MIC had always believed, and it is also the opinion of this scribe, that the use of English for Maths and Science in English will go a long way in helping students in their tertiary education where most of the research materials are in English. The importance of a good command of English cannot be understated and its continuous decline among our students had been alarming.

Therefore MIC welcomed the government's move to use English for teaching Maths and Science when it was introduced six years ago.

However, with the recent increase in calls to revert to the old system, the Education Ministery had called for feedbacks and held round-table discussions on the issue. YB Dato Seri Hishammuddin Hussein will be submitting a report on its finding to the cabinet for its deliberation.

Tamil school headmasters and parents during a round-table discussion organized by MIC had made it very clear that they are against teaching of Maths and Science in English. Despite MIC's own views on this issue, our cabinet representative, YB Dato Dr S Subramaniam has been instructed by MIC's Central Working Committee to convey their stand to the cabinet.

MIC President, YBhg Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu said although he believed that it was good for the students, especially in Tamil schools to master the English language, "but I have to listen and heed the views and wishes of the Tamil school headmasters and parents".

"They have a right to make their own decision. We can't impose on them our views. It is a matter that concerns their children and students. As such, we will abide to their request." he said.

Headmasters, teachers and parents of Tamil school students had taken a clear stand.

It will be interesting to hear the views of parents of children studying in Sekolah Kebangsaan. They have been silent on this issue. After all, the majority of Indian students are in Sekolah Kebangsaan.

What is your view?

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Fatwa on Yoga

The National Fatwa Council on Saturday banned Muslims from practising yoga, causing an uproar among certain quarters, including Muslims.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism was however more concerned about the word "haram" that was used in the ruling then the ruling itself.

Datuk A. Vaithilingam, the Hindu Sangam President said that using the word "haram" in barring Muslims was uncalled for. He said that in a multiracial, multi-religious country, the fatwa council should be more sensitive in its choice of words. "Instead, they should used words like 'unsuitable' for Muslims. The word 'haram' should have been avoided", he said. (source NST).

Datuk A. Vaithilingam is right. The Fatwa Council could have been more sensitive in its choice of words. Perhaps the Fatwa Council saw a legal distinction between the word "haram' and 'unsuitable'. Maybe my Muslim friends can educate me on this.

Yoga is a treasure trove bequeathed to us by our Hindu ancestors and we are willing to share it with all. This is one the many ways where we Malaysians from different cultural and religious background can learn from and enrich one another. If the National Fatwa Council wishes to draw a line and rule that it is unsuitable for our Muslim Brothers and Sisters, we respect that edict and let our Muslim Brothers and Sisters to deal with it; if they have a problem with the fatwa.

Be that as it may, as a Hindu and a one time practitioner of yoga ( the real one under Divine Life Society, Petaling Jaya Sub-Branch - not the 'spiced-up' one currently making its round at our local gyms), this is what I have to say - Let them have their fatwa, its their loss, not ours.

The National Fatwa Council has the right to rule over what a Muslim should or should not do. Lets not get emotional about the fatwa without looking at it from their point of view as well.

We should look at look at the common traits that binds us as Malaysians instead of what separates us. We are after all a Nation that embrace our similarities and celebrate our differences.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

War in Sri Lanka - Round 2

BN Youth together with Youth NGOs have gathered peacefully at the Sri Lankan Embassy this afternoon to hand over a Memorandum of Protest to His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur.

This is the second time we are gathered here to present the memorandum. We were here with a smaller crowd on the 5th of November, 2008 but the Sri Lankan Embassy only permitted representatives from MIC to present the Memorandum. NGO representatives were not allowed. We found the condition unacceptable and vowed to return with a bigger crowd. This is what we have done today.

Although MIC has taken the lead, our friends from UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, PPP, IPF and NGOs are here in full support of this cause. There are even members from the opposition parties here. It goes to show that this issue transcends race, religion or politics. It is an issue that binds us all together. It is a humanitarian issue.

The memorandum was presented to register our protest against the Sri Lankan Government’s continued air and ground attacks in recent weeks that has resulted in civilians being killed and maimed; hundreds of thousands of Tamils have been displaced, literally refugees in their own country!

Without taking sides as to who is fighting the ‘right war’, Malaysian Youths are deeply concerned with the alarmingly high rate of civilian casualties in the on going war.

On humanitarian grounds, we Malaysians cannot stand-by as mere spectators, as innocent civilians especially children, suffer the atrocities of war. Malaysians regardless of race or religion are deeply disturbed by the daily reports and graphic pictures of civilian casualties of the war. Malaysians, like our fellow citizens of this world do not wish to see more lives being sacrificed in the name of war.

It was due to this reason that MIC Youth had taken the initiative to present a Memorandum of Protest to the Sri Lankan Government through its embassy here. We have been joined in this cause by our fellow brothers from Barisan Nasional Youths and NGOs.

The purpose of delivering this Memorandum is to call upon the Sri Lankan Government, in the name of humanity, to:

stop forthwith the current military attack and take immediate steps to provide necessary aid to suffering civilians;allow international aid organizations back into the affected areas so as to enable humanitarian aid to reach those in need;respect the wishes of the International Community to stop fighting and resume negotiation with all the parties concerned with a view of finding lasting peace between the Brothers of Sri Lanka.

In addition to the presentation of this Memorandum, MIC Youth, in close co-operation with NGOs, will also pursue the following actions:

Forward a similar Memorandum to our Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Prime Minister in order for our government to express, on a government to government basis, the wishes of the Malaysian people for Peace in Sri Lanka.

To work closely with the local media to raise fund, food and medical supplies in order for the same to be delivered to the suffering people of Sri Lanka.

A detailed list of the toll the war had taken on civilians is set out in the Memorandum of Protest presented to His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and attached together with this Press Statement.

We would like to register our sincere thanks to the media, NGOs, BN Youth and all present here for this worthy cause.


Thank you.

Murugesan Sinnandavar
Organising Chairman
Youths for Peace in Sri Lanka

Raja Petra Released

It is good that the High Court in Shah Alam allowed Raja Petra's Habeas Corpus application and ruled that his detention under ISA unlawful. It gives us all a glimmer of hope that the courts will interpret the law in favour of a detainee where there is doubt.

Very often I have read with distress judgments where judges rule in favour of the government or prosecution where there is ambiguity. I am a firm believer that where there is grey area in law, judges should interpret the law in such a way that it advances freedom and protection of human rights.

Judges in India are famed for such inclinations and that is one of the reasons why India is able to maintain a robust democracy despite having a very corrupt political and civil service system. Good for RPK. He is a free man once more, free to speak his mind. Good for our democracy too.

Touching on the subject of ISA, MIC Youth met with Indian based NGOs again yesterday ( 7th November, 2008) to discuss what could we as a group do in order to secure the release of the Hindraf 5. The first meeting was held just before Hari Raya.

After much discussion, it was decided that demonstration will be counter-productive in this instance. It was agreed that MIC Youth together with NGOs will meet with either the Prime Minister or the Home Affairs Minister to make further representations as to why we think the Hindraf 5 are not a security threat and why their continued detention untenable.

For the nay-sayers, I have stated earlier and reiterate it here again, that we are doing this with full knowledge that we will still be criticized for taking this effort; but we are doing this on human rights ground and with the realization that it is the only right thing to do. Nothing less, nothing more.

For those that genuinely feel that the Hindraf 5 should be released, this is all I ask of you, let us do our job and you do yours. We can fight and find faults on other issues. Enough finger pointing has been going on whilst the 5 have been detained without trial and their families suffer. Lets move on.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

War in Sri Lanka - Press Report

Source http://pemudamic.org

Greetings to all, updates from the Sri Lankan Embassy Demonstration earlier today.

Photos at :- http://pemudamic.org/index.php?ind=gallery&op=section_view&idev=15

More than 200 people from MIC Youth and several non-governmental organizations staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission here yesterday.
They were protesting against the Sri Lankan government's continued air and ground attacks against Sri Lankan Tamils resulting in innocent men, women and children being killed and maimed.

The demonstration which was led by MIC Youth deputy coordinator S. Murugesan and MIC Youth advisory council chairman S. Ramis. MIC Youth coordinator T. Mohan and S. Vell Paari were present to give their moral support.

All the members wore black armbands while some carried placards depicting the pictures of the affected women, children and damaged houses.

However they decided not to submit a memorandum of protest to the High Commission after their officials insisted on only allowing MIC Youth officials to present it.

Murugesan said that it was unacceptable as MIC Youth had already informed the High Commission that they were coming together to hand over the memorandum.

"It seems that the High Commission wants to divide the MIC Youth and the ngos. Their condition is unacceptable," he told reporters later.

Earlier a High Commission official only wanted to allow two people to go into their premises to submit their memorandum but later relented to allow five of them.

The official requested for the identification cards of the five representatives including three ngo representatives which he took into the premises but later came back and said that only the MIC Youth representatives would be allowed in.

Murugesan said that they would initiate a campaign to urge Malaysians to boycott Sri Lanka products as well as the Sri Lanka airlines.

"We would be having another demonstration with a much bigger crowd in the near future. We will show our strength," he said.

War in Sri Lanka - Press Statement

PRESS STATEMENT

5th November, 2008

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

MIC Youth together with Youth NGOs have gathered peacefully at the Sri Lankan Embassy this morning to hand over a Memorandum of Protest to His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur.

The memorandum was presented to register our protest against the Sri Lankan Government’s continued air and ground attacks in recent weeks that has resulted in civilians being killed and maimed; hundreds of thousands of Tamils have been displaced, literally refugees in their own country!

Without taking sides as to who is fighting the ‘right war’, Malaysian Youths are deeply concerned with the alarmingly high rate of civilian casualties in the on going war.

On humanitarian grounds, we Malaysians cannot stand-by as mere spectators, as innocent civilians especially children, suffer the atrocities of war. Malaysians and in particular, Tamil speaking Malaysians, are deeply disturbed by the daily reports and graphic pictures of civilian casualties of the war. Malaysians, like our fellow citizens of this world do not wish to see more lives being sacrificed in the name of war.

It was due to this reason that MIC Youth had taken the initiative to present a Memorandum of Protest to the Sri Lankan Government through its embassy here. We have been joined in this cause by our fellow brothers from NGOs.

The purpose of delivering this Memorandum is three-fold:
1. To call upon the Sri Lankan Government to stop forthwith the current military attack on civilian areas and to take immediate steps to provide necessary assistance to suffering civilians.
2. To call upon the all parties in the armed conflict to respect the call of the International Community to stop fighting and resume negotiation with a view to finding lasting peace between the brothers of Sri Lanka.
3. To bring awareness to all Malaysians on the atrocities of war in Sri Lanka and do our part in giving a helping hand to our fellow brothers who are suffering from the ravages of war.

In In addition to the presentation of this Memorandum, MIC Youth, in close co-operation with NGOs, will also pursue the following actions:
a. Forward a similar Memorandum to our Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Prime Minister in order for our government to express, on a government to government basis, the wishes of the Malaysian people for Peace in Sri Lanka.
b. To work closely with the local media to raise fund, food and medical supplies in order for the same to be delivered to the suffering people of Sri Lanka.

A detailed list of the toll the war had taken on civilians is set out in the Memorandum of Protest presented to His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and attached together with this Press Statement.

Thank you.

Murugesan Sinnandavar
Organising Chairman
Youths for Peace in Sri Lanka

P/S The Memorandum was not delivered to the High Commissioner because of the conditions set by the Embassy. Follow up story on the Press Release by MIC Youth in the next post

War in Sri Lanka - Memorandum of Protest

Memorandum of Protest

5^th November 2008

His Excellency the High Commissioner,
The High Commission of Sri Lanka,
Kuala Lumpur.

Your Excellency,

We, the representatives of members of Malaysian Indian Congress Youth Wing and Malaysian Youth NGOs, hereby submit our memorandum registering our vehement protest against the Sri Lankan Government’s continued air and ground attacks in recent weeks against the Sri Lankan Tamils resulting in innocent men, women and children being killed and maimed; hundreds of thousands of Tamils have been displaced, literally refugees in their own country!

Without taking sides as to who is fighting the ‘right war’, Malaysian Youths are deeply concerned with the alarmingly high rate of civilian casualties in the on going war.

Humanitarian Crisis

Relentless aerial bombardment and artillery shelling by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces have forced more than 310,000 people to become internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Vanni District, more than 160,000 in Mullaitivu and 150,000 more in and around Kilinochi.

These displacements of civilians have in turn brought hardships such as:

· Malnutrition and it is increasing - 60% of children in the Vanni District are suffering from malnourishment or a lack of proper nutrition.

· Lack of nutritional food or food supplements for pregnant women and lactating mothers.

· Premature births and miscarriages due to the stress of displacement.

· 90% of families have lost their livelihoods and livelihood equipment – which has created high levels of stress and depression in the heads of households as they are unable to provide for their families and have no hope for their future.

· The yearly monsoon rains has led to serious health issues due to the lack of adequate water and sanitation facilities.

· Lack or non-availability of transport facilities have made the displaced persons’ mobility totally hampered.

· Costs of petrol, diesel and kerosene have become beyond the reach of the people.

· Food prices have multiplied a hundred times.

Agricultural Production

The current displacement has produced a disastrous effect on agricultural production. Farmers have been forced to abandon their paddy fields when they are displaced.

24,500 hectares have been abandoned in the following areas:

· 9,500 hectares in Mannar District.

· 4,000 hectares in Mullaitivu District.

· 5,000 hectares in Vavuniya District.

· 6,000 hectares in Kilinochi District.

Medicine and Hospitals

Only very limited supply of medicine is available and even that is becoming difficult to come by.

Lack of fuel supply restricts generation of electricity and the movement of ambulance service.

Shelter

Approximately 15,000 families are currently living under trees, while the remainder of the internally displaced persons are sheltered in public buildings or in makeshift shelters made of tarpaulin sheets.

Water, Sanitation and Health

These important requirements have become the most difficult items to reach the displaced persons.

Education

Displacement has very drastically affected the school going children. 114 schools with 36,272 students have been displaced. Examinations have been suspended.

Primary and pre-school students have stopped attending classes regularly due to shelling and air attacks.

Attack on Civilians

Civilian areas are regularly bombed and shelled by the Armed Forces. This bombing and shelling has the effect terrorising the civilian population. Many of these attacks occur at night and in the early morning and in close proximity to civilian settlements.

Our Request

We believe that the conflict between the Tamil and Sinhalese communities must be resolved peacefully, and therefore:

We, the members of the Malaysian Indian Congress of Malaysia, in the name humanity call upon the Sri Lankan Government to stop forthwith the current military attack on the Tamils and take immediate steps to provide necessary aids to suffering Tamils.

We, also call upon the Sri Lankan Government to respect the wishes of the International Community’s to stop fighting and resume negotiation with all the parties concerned with a view of finding lasting peace between the Brothers of Sri Lanka.

We, most respectfully, request His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Kuala Lumpur to submit our Memorandum of Protest to the Government of Sri Lanka for its attention and action. We on our part will forward a copy of this Memorandum to our Foreign Affairs Ministry for their action.

We remain,
Yours truly,

Murugesan Sinnandavar
Organising Chairman
Youths for Peace in Sri Lanka

Arrest of Hindraf Group

I received a text messages last night on the arrest of Hindraf supporters and was very disturbed by it. I made a few calls to verify the story. This is not something we need right now.

According to STAR, twelve people, including a six-year-old child, “representing Hindraf” were arrested outside the Prime Minister’s Office at Putrajaya yesterday. One of the three women picked up was K.Shanti, wife of Hindraf chairman P.Wathyamoorthy and the child is believed to be his daughter, Vwaishhnavi.

I am sure the police have the legal justification to make the arrest. However, I can’t comprehend the wisdom or rather the lack thereof, in making the arrest. I doubt if Hindraf supporters posed a security threat to the Prime Minister. We are not sure if the police were ‘provoked’ to make the arrest but in any event a softer approach in dispersing the supporters would have been commendable.

I was relieved to find out later that at least K.Shanti and Vwaishhnavi were subsequently released. Ten others were detained. It was reported that the supporters claimed that they came in their “individual capacity and not under the banner of Hindraf”.

Be that as it may, there are few questions that need to be answered.

In the first place, was there a real and urgent need to arrest the supporters? Wouldn’t a softer approach suffice under the present situation? The arrest would only further fuel the anger of Indian Community towards the government. Secondly, what is the need to arrest the women, even more so, the child Vwaishhnavi?

The government should not be surprised by the unconventional method used by Hindraf supporters. What do you expect from family members and supporters of those that are detained without trial? Had the government not resorted to detention without trial under ISA, those gathered at Putrajaya would not have had the moral platform to ‘appeal’ to the Prime Minister directly.

On the other side of the coin, there are also a few questions that need to be answered by those gathered at Putrajaya.

Why on earth do you need to “deliver their Deepavali wishes” to a man that does not celebrate it? Wasn’t enough damage done to their own cause by delivering “Hari Raya Wishes” at PWTC a few weeks ago? Please, the PM wasn’t even home. He is in China right now.

Why drag a six year old child into all these? Yes, the sight of a six year old will tug everyone’s heart string but hasn’t this sentiment been used once too often? What about the emotional scars that might haunt the girl when she grows up? We do not know for sure whether it will, but shouldn’t the girl be spared the pain when there is doubt?

And whose idea was it to say that they came “in their individual capacity?” The authorities are not THAT stupid! Yeah, now they have arrested everyone to verify if they came under Hindraf or under their individual capacity.

And who gets blamed for all this? MIC of course!

HAPPY DEEPAVALI!

Murugesan Sinnandavar

The Story of a Little Boy

I am aware that it has been quiet a while since I last posted an article here. It was partly due to the unexpected surge of workload at my Firm and also because I wanted to pay a little more attention to other aspects of my life beside politics. I took my children and nephews for a long overdue camping trip. There were a few books that I was reading and wanted to complete...

The other day I came across a very interesting story. It was a story of a little boy. A true story. This little boy picked up an interest in music. For several years, he had been learning to play the cornet. He persisted, putting in hours of practice at home each day, and there came a time, after many painful hours of practice peppered with criticism from his mother, that he was rewarded by being chosen to participate in his school's Armistice Day Ceremony.

Each year on November 11, the entire school went down to the gym for a ceremony honouring the nation's fallen soldiers. In what had become a school tradition, trumpet players stationed at doors on either side of the gym would alternate playing "Taps," one blowing the first dum da dum notes, and the other echoing dum da DUM, and so on.

That year, this boy's cornet skills had advanced enough for him to be given the part of the echo. He woke up the morning of the event, exhilarated at the prospect of performing in front of the entire school. When the big moment came, he was ready.

As the little boy stood in the doorway with his cornet, the first trumpet player sounded, Dum da DUM.

But on the second dum, he hit a wrong note.

"My whole life flashed before my eyes, because I didn't know what to do with the echo. They hadn't prepared me for this. Paralyzed - my big moment" recounted the little boy years later.

Should he copy the other trumpet player's mistake or embarrass him by contradicting what he's played? The little boy was undone. The scene scalded itself permanently into his memory. What he did next he can't remember - had become a blank.

But that little boy learned a valuable lesson that day:

It might seem easier to go through life as the echo - but only until the other guy plays a wrong note.

It is a lesson that will serve all of us well. Often, either by choice, circumstances or sheer force of habit, we end up playing the 'echo'.

That little boy grew up to be the most successful investor of all time and the richest man in the world a few years running. That little boy's name is Warren Buffet.

Deepavali is just a few days away. Lets put away our differences, even if temporarily, during this Festival of Lights, and allow time for healing.

For all readers and commentators, many thanks for your time, concern, criticism and input. For those that I have offended, I offer my unreserved apologies.

Our heartfelt prayers for those that are separated from their loved ones (and their families) during this Festival of Lights.

I would like to conclude with this Shanti Mantra,

Astoma sadgamaya
Tamasoma jyotirgamaya
Mrutyorma amrutamgamaya
Om shantih, shantih, shantihi

Lead me from the unreal to the real
From darkness to light
From mortality to immortality
Om Peace, Peace, Peace

HAVE A RADIANT DEEPAVALI. GOD BLESS.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Just a "Small" Matter of Temple Breaking

About three weeks ago Ampang Jaya Municipal Council demolished the Sri Maha Kaliamman Temple at Kampung Tasek Tambahan. There was a total blackout on the incident for more then a week... and then the facts started to trickle in and PKR's house of cards began to fall.

First, there is Anwar's famous election slogan "Kerajaan BN roboh kuil. Kalau Pakatan tubuh kerajaan, kita akan bina kuil!". There was much applause and shouts of support whenever those words were uttered. Pakatan managed to from state governments in Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor in part due to such promises.

How many temples have you built PKR? None, but you have already demolished a temple!
PKR 1, Indian Community 0.

Then there was a fervent attempt to hush up the whole temple demolition episode. A Malaysian Nanban reporter that went to the site a few days after the demolition was threatened and told not to publish the news. He was also told that "Makkal Sakti" will demonstrate in front of their office if the news is published.

Interesting how anyone can claim to represent "Makkal Sakti" and threaten almost anyone with it. The temple committee itself did not raise the issue as they were Pakatan supporters. So much for transparency and openness promised before the election.
PKR 2, Indian Community 0.

Dr Xavier criticized MPAJ and washed his hands by saying that the state government had no knowledge about it. What happened to the much promised accountability during the campaign?
PKR 3, Indian Community 0.

He was also quick to point out that MIC is politicising the issue. Politicising the issue? Hello, can Dr Xavier say with confidence that PKR would have formed the state government if not for the Kg Karuppiah Temple (Padang Jawa) demolition this time last year? It was not politics then but it is politics now! Yes, right! Its is politics when its convenient for them!
PKR 4, Indian Community 0.

Dr Xavier went on to split hairs on the issue by saying that it was a "shrine" and not a "temple". According to him the temple had no permit and was on state land. Since when they started to make such distinctions? Since winning the election and forming the state government?

In that case can Dr Xavier point to one temple (or even a "shrine" for that matter) that was properly registered and built on its own land but subsequently broken by the BN government? Didn't Pakatan stoke the fire of discontent and rode to power on those sentiments? Why the double standard?
PKR 5, Indian Community 0.

The person that took the cake in this whole episode must be the Ampang MP, YB Zuraida Kaamaruddin. According to her, the temple was not broken by MPAJ but by the temple committee itself for renovation works. She must have said it in confidence that the pro Pakatan Temple Committee Members would back-up her spin. And they did by their silence! How insulting!

And what a mess they left behind when they "broke the temple for renovation!" The temple committee must have been in one big hurry as they broke the temple without removing the 'soolam' that was at the centre of worship and left the temple in one big rubble . Her statement is in direct conflict with the admission by MPAJ, Dr Xavier and YB Manikavasagam.

What does she think we are? Idiots? Instead of admitting as to what went wrong, here we have an MP who is trying to lie and spin a new story. To be fair, we can't totally blame her as we have been buying all PKR's spin so far.
PKR 6, Indian Community 0.

For those readers who would like to point out BN's poor track record when it comes to handling of the temple issue, let me save everyone's time by admitting that YES, we do have a poor record! And we paid a heavy price for it.

The previous BN state government attempted to impose the 'legality' on the temple issue with an iron fist and were shown the way out by the voters. We too, at MIC paid dearly for our failure to stop certain demolitions.

However, MIC and in particular the Youth Wing have always fought when it came to temples, even if it was against our own government. T. Mohan had demonstrated before this (much to the displeasure and anger of the former MB, YAB Dato Seri Khir Toyo and the late MIC State Exco YB Dato Sivalingam) in front of the SUK in protest of temple breaking in Puchong. I was there with my Shah Alam MIC Youths fighting our own enforcement officers against the breaking of the Kg Karrupiah Temple last year.

T.Mohan in particular and the MIC Youths in general had fought against and managed to stop many temple demolitions. Not many know about these stories because 'saved' temples are not hot issues. None of the temples saved (or those demolished) had the proper papers. But fight we did.

When it comes to temples, it is not a matter of legality but rather of prudence and care. BN ignored it and was handed its heaviest electoral loss ever. Now its Pakatan's turn and they are trying spin their way out of it.

"You can fool all people some of the time
and you can fool some people all the time
but you can never fool all people all the time".

SELAMAT HARI RAYA
MAAF ZAHIR BATIN!

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Free ISA Detainees

MIC Youth had a meeting with the representatives of 96 Indian based NGOs at the MIC HQ today. At the end of the meeting, MIC Youth together with the Indian NGOs called on the PM to release the Hindraf 5 and other ISA detainees who are not a threat to National Security.

This is not the first time MIC Youth or MIC leaders had called for the release of the Hindraf 5. Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu had called for their release at a meeting with MIC Division Chairmen in April 2008. Of course that call was scorned upon by Hindraf supporters and UMNO leaders alike. Uncle Sam was mercilessly hit both ways for the call.

MIC Youth had also made a similar call during our Election Post-mortem Session in Penang around the same time. That too had its critics.

I know this call will once again be viewed with scepticism but we are putting all that aside and will concentrate on the job at hand. Although Hindraf is highly critical of MIC and supports Pakatan Rakyat, MIC will continue to work to secure their release. It is only the right thing to do.

At times we have to make the call openly and sometimes we have to work within the system.

Yesterday YBhg Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu and YB Dato Dr. Subramaniam once again met the PM to call for the review of the detention of Hindraf 5. Hopefully, with their internal pressure together with the open call by MIC Youth and Indian NGOs, something good will come out of it before Deepavali.

I know that MIC will still be criticized by the very people whose release we are working to secure but for us that is a secondary issue. The detention of any human being without trial is inhumane and is against basic human rights. ISA was enacted to deal with armed terrorist and not with people that you strongly disagree with.

On a personal note, I would also like to call for the release of Raja Petra and all other ISA detainees that had not resorted to violence or arms to achieve their political aim. Charge them for sedition or under any other law but don't deny them their day in court!

Malaysian Indians should stop questioning each others' motive and concentrate on securing the release of ISA detainees.

In the case of YB Teresa Kok, all Chinese organizations and political parties put aside their differences and were unanimous in their call for her release. DAP didn't question MCA or Gerakan's call for her release and vice versa.

Why should Indians bicker about who is having what agenda while the detainees rot in prison?

Lets get them out of Kamunting first!

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Chill Down Our Spine

I wrote an article this July calling for the repeal of ISA. In it I noted that:

"We have a vast array of legislation that provides adequate legal frame work to deal with threats against national security. However, the executive have repeatedly chosen the easy path of invoking the ISA that deprives a man his day in court and send chills of fear down the spine of its citizens."

Well, the executive had once again sent chills of fear down our spine by arresting controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, DAP MP and Selangor exco Teresa Kok as well as Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng under ISA last Friday.

The chill down our spine is not due to fear as to who will be next but more as to where our country is heading.

One wonders who is really in charge and calling the shots. Why do we need to arrest a journalist under ISA for reporting what she saw and heard?

Shouldn't the police be taking action against the source instead of the person reporting it? Arrested for her own safety? Come on, its like putting a potential rape victim in prison for her own safety. If at all the authorities have information that the journalist's life is under threat, shouldn't they be taking action against the party posing the threat instead of the victim? Thank God they have released Tan Hoon Cheng. In any event, there goes Tan's vote and the votes of her extended family, friends and well-wishers.

I just hope the authorities complete their investigations against Raja Petra and Teresa Kok on an urgent basis and release them as soon as possible. Enough damage is done to the country's standing internationally by once again invoking the ISA.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to go to the ground and tell people that BN is a better choice when authorities use ISA against journalist and politicians. ISA was passed to deal with terrorist, not with people that you can't stand.

I salute Zaid Ibrahim for having the moral courage to stand up and walk the talk. The PM did the wise thing in not accepting Zaid Ibrahim's resignation. BN will lose further credibility if courageous individuals such as Zaid Ibrahim were to leave the government.

BN can ill afford to allow more actions that will further alienate the very people it seeks to serve and protect.

BN's Missed Opportunity

We have only five more days for September 16. The build-up and anticipation of September 16 has some what died down since last week.

It could be partially due to the absence of the 'target group', namely BN Backbenchers, from the country (according to BN, they are away on a 'study tour' to Taiwan). It could also be due to the realization of many that September 16 is just another one of Anwar 's political gimmick.

I feel BN had lost a golden opportunity to expose Anwar's lie by sending away the backbenchers for a study tour smack in the middle of the purported cross-over date. If BN is confident that September 16 will not take place, they should just postpone the trip to another suitable period. It is not as if the trip is a 'must do item' on this year's calender. Even the initial country to be visited had been changed from China to Taiwan.

Now, Anwar has another excuse to give for not delivering on his promise. He will just set another date and will leave everyone in suspense yet again.

What surprises me in all this is the silence by NGOs, human right groups and organizations purporting to promote democracy over Anwar's political manoeuvring . Just imagine the uproar if BN had announced that it is planning to take over some of the opposition held states by cross-over of PR ADUNs? BN will be accused of not respecting the will of the people and is trying to undo the results of Election 2008. Isn't Anwar's attempt amount to the same thing?

Yes, BN took a beating and were dealt a severe blow in GE 2008 but win the election it did. BN was returned to power, albeit with lesser majority, by the people. Everyone should respect that. Why is Anwar an exception?

I remember when Al Gore and George W. Bush contested for the American Presidency in 2000. Al Gore had more votes but George W. Bush had more electoral delegates. It is the electoral delegates that vote for the President of United States. There were also suits pending in respect of disputed votes. However, once it was clear that George W.Bush had the majority of electoral delegates by the slimmest majority, Al Gore conceded defeat and George W.Bush was sworn in as President. No one challenged his authority to rule despite winning by the narrowest of margin. That is democracy.

If it all Anwar has the required number of MPs, he should just get on with it. Instead, he is playing cat and mouse with the future of the country.

BN should just confront him and call his bluff. That is why I feel that BN had missed yet another opportunity to expose him. Besides, if indeed there is a risk of some BN MPs crossing over, how long can BN prevent it? We can't keep sending them overseas forever can we?

Sooner or later people will know who is telling the truth. It is just sad that in the meantime the country is left anxious about its future.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Pendatang Asing?

Dear Friends,

Thank you all for your comments and views. I have published all comments, except for those that do not carry a name or pseudonym. One comment was not published as it was a reproduction of an article published elsewhere. I value all comments, both in support and against. However, I have removed the chat-box as it is being abused to post lengthy comments and defamatory remarks.

As for Thefirewithin, I will try to write more often and keep it short. What to do, the nature of my profession as a lawyer had conditioned me to write lengthy 'submissions' and to cover all angels. Thefirewithin, if you had read my previous post, I don't think BN, UMNO, MIC or for that matter DSSV would be too happy about it. I pen my thoughts with my conscience, decorum and law as my guide. Thanks for enquiring about my arm; it was my right foot actually. Nice of you to enquire, really.

Now, on with our business.

It was brought to my attention the following paragraph from a Form Four Textbook, "Sejarah Tingkatan 4 (Edisi 2007) - Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka" under the heading "Kemasukan Buruh dari India", at page 255:

"Ringkasnya, kemajuan dan kemakmuran Tanah Melayu telah berjaya menarik minat imigran untuk datang ke sini dan keadaan ini berterusan hingga kini. Kita seharusnya berbangga dengan negara kita yang menjadi tumpuan pendatang asing kerana kekayaan dan kemakmurannya. Di satu sudut yang lain pula, masyarakat tempatan seharusnya lebih giat, berinisiatif dan bersedia mengusahakan sendiri kekayaan negara, terutamanya bagi mereka yang tidak bermodal besar. Jika tidak, orang asing yang sentiasa mengintai peluang untuk mengambil ruang tersebut, akan mengambil alih peranan kita, seperti yang berlaku pada hari ini."

Who are the "pendatang asing" they are referring to? If the Chinese and Indians are still referred to as the "pendatang asing", even after 51 years of "Merdeka", where does that leave us as a nation? What has become of our National Integration if our text-book refer to the Chinese and Indians as "pendatang asing"?
Remember the uproar that was caused a decade ago when Lee Kim Sai (if I am not mistaken) of MCA said that if Chinese and Indians are "pendatang", then historically Malays are also "pendatang"?

The above mentioned textbook was written from a point of view of a Malay, not Malaysian. How can we ever dream of becoming One Nation if our history is written with such myopic view?

I had highlighted this issue to the press during the press conference held in conjunction with the opening ceremony of MIC Youth's new office. I am not sure how many newspapers will carry this story but as of now I was informed that Sin Chew Daily will carry it. Probably the Tamil Dailies will too.

In any event, this issue, together with the Teluk Panglima Garang teacher's issue will be some of the matters that will be raised at the next BN Education Bureau meeting.

Before I sign off, my apologies if I write infrequently. However, I will not write unless I have some undiscovered facts or a fresh point of view to share. At times the nature of my profession is such that it throws up sudden and urgent work.

Have a good weekend. I am off to Pangkor with my division youths for a short break. God bless Malaysia.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Anwar Back in Parliament

YB Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the new Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh at the Dewan Rakyat this morning. He is also the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.

I am no fan of his but he has fought it out and made it back to Parliament. Well done and Congratulations DSAI! The people of Permatang Pauh had spoken loud and clear. We accept and respect that.

DSAI had received 67% of the Malay votes in Permatang Pauh. It ought to tell something to our UMNO brothers. Despite UMNO's campaigning that DSAI is a threat to Malay supremacy, more Malay voters voted for DSAI then the BN Candidate. UMNO leaders should think about it and realize that fewer and fewer Malays are buying into the Malay supremacy concept. Of course the Chinese and Indians are repulsed by it.

UMNO leaders must also come into terms that holding on to this concept will push BN to the brink of collapse. It is difficult to contain the fight over this concept within the four walls of BN for long as component parties are finding it hard to explain to their communities as to why they are in partnership with a party that pushes for supremacy of one race over the other. Its difficult to keep telling people that we are fighting it internally when we have very little to show for it.

Component parties in BN have three options; either push UMNO to change its course, sink with it or go our separate ways. Only time will tell.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Vasanthakumar a SB Plant? How Convenient!

The Hindraf Chairman, Waytha Moorthy realeased a brief Press Statement on the 23^rd August 2008. In it he dropped a bombshell that one of the five ISA Detainees, Vasanthakumar is a SPECIAL BRANCH PLANT!

Waytha Moorthy went on to explain that “It came to my attention in January 2008 that Vasanthakumar has been planted by the Police Special Branch to infiltrate HINDRAF and upon further investigations the fact became apparent.”

A police special branch plant? He knew it before the General Election and kept quiet about it? Why didn’t he blow the whistle then and further damage BN’s chances?

Come on, not only is this far fetched but it is such a damning accusation against Vasanthakumar. I do not know Vasanthakumar personally nor his background. However I know that this accusation must deeply hurt Vasanthakumar’s family members. To have a son, husband or father detained without trial is bad enough without having one of his fellow comrades call him a turncoat.

Not only were the five detainees denied the right to be heard in court, now one of them is being accused by their chairman of being a government spy without having the opportunity to defend himself.

Regardless of the veracity of these allegations, Vasanthakumar had been condemned to a fate worse then his ISA detention.

Despite his sacrifices, Vasanthakumar will never be able to walk tall in the community as there will always be a lingering doubt about his genuineness. It is almost impossible to disprove such an allegation.

Waytha Moorthi also accused V.K.Regu the ex-Pro tem Secretary and Ramachandran Meyappan alias Ramaji, the Spiritual Advisor of HINDRAF of colluding with Vasanthakumar to “take over the leadership of HINDRAF.”

Now this raises questions about the transparency and the judgment of those that lead HINDRAF. Ramaji is the “Spiritual Advisor” of HINDRAF. If your spiritual advisor is not in sync with your cause, one wonders who is?

How did you go about choosing your spiritual advisor in the first place? Isn’t he supposed to be your organization’s internal compass? Either you chose a faulty compass or your ship is sailing in the wrong direction. Either way you got it wrong!

Waytha Moorthi went on to apologize for concealing these crucial facts all these while. According to him, he did this “solely to protect the unity and integrity of HINDRAF and to avoid the breakup of HINDRAF”.

One begins to wonder what else is Waytha Moorthi concealing from the public in order to avoid “the breakup of HINDRAF?” Perhaps he will one day admit that the people’s genuine support for HINDRAF had been hijacked by certain political personalities for their own agenda?

If it is true Vasanthakumar is an agent of Special Branch, one wonders who else in HINDRAF is an agent of God knows what agency from God knows what country?

Instead of such outlandish accusations isn’t it better for the leaders of HINDRAF to look at their internal squabbles and settle it internally?

In a way, I do understand the dilemma faced by HINDRAF’s leadership. As in any organization, when it grows bigger and becomes more powerful, internal pressure and human nature will make it more difficult to maintain a cohesive front. It is something that they must deal with. This is when the original aim and its delivery on promises will be tested. It is time to walk the talk, not a time to keep blaming others.

How long will HINDRAF keep on blaming everything that is wrong on the BN Government and MIC? Now that they have internal squabbles, there it is again, the convenient bogeyman to point the accusing finger.

Recently someone wrote in Malaysiakini that HINDRAF had been betrayed by the PR in the four new states ruled by them. The writer went on to state that nothing much had changed and PR failed to deliver on the election promises.

Actually, PR didn’t betray the Indian Community.

We were betrayed by the people that asked us to vote for the PR blindly!

PR was just being a political organization that made use of the opportunity.

Mind you, BN had its faults and that is the reason why we performed poorly on GE12. It wasn’t anyone’s doing but ours. We admit that.

Likewise, whether HINDRAF is to progress as an organization or falter will depend entirely on HINDRAF and not outside forces.

Please stop blaming everything on the Government, BN and MIC. Perhaps MIC’s splinter group could be up to something with HINDRAF’s splinter group. We do not know.

MIC has no time or the inclination to meddle into the affairs of others. We are busy getting our act together and reinventing ourselves in order to serve the community better.

Stop crying wolf all the time for people will stop paying attention after a while.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

MIC bureau: 'Racist' teacher issue not solved

Source : Malaysiakini MIC bureau: 'Racist' teacher issue not solved

Aug 23, 08 3:04pm

MIC Youth education bureau has begged to differ with the Education Ministry that the issue involving a teacher who hurled racial abuses against her Indian students has been resolved. MCPX Bureau chief M Saravanan voiced his dissatisfaction that no stern action had been taken against the 35-year-old teacher despite numerous calls to do so from various quarters. “Parents, MIC and NGOs are unhappy with this and want the ministry to take severe action against the teacher. Failure to do so will only cause more anger,” he told Malaysiakini yesterday. Saravanan was responding to education director-general Alimuddin Mohd Dom who was quoted as saying in the Star on Thursday that the teacher had been given an administrative warning and transferred to another school. He said all parties agreed that the issue had been resolved and hoped that they would not raise the issue again. “The Kuala Langat district education office also obtained the assistance of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator T Murugiah on Aug 5 to set up a meeting between the parents and teachers,” he added. Alimuddin also revealed that the teacher was placed temporarily in the Selangor education department’s counselling unit. ‘Everybody knows she was wrong’ Meanwhile, Saravanan said this was not an isolated incident and therefore the action taken must serve as a lesson for other teachers not to repeat the offence. “Everybody knows the teacher committed a serious offence, but even under such circumstances no serious action has been taken,” he said, expressing both disappointment and bewilderment. Saravanan stressed that the education bureau will continue to raise this issue if the ministry did not act accordingly. He also said that Murugiah had told a recent meeting on the issue that the transfer was only a temporary measure and a more serious punishment would be meted out. “However, this has not happened,” he said, adding that the deputy minister should have pursued this matter further. Early this month, two students from SMK Telok Panglima Garang in Kuala Langat filed police reports against the teacher. They revealed that the teacher had called Indian students 'keling pariah', 'Negro' and 'black monkeys', among other derogatory names. In their reports, the Form Four and Form Five students said the teacher also told students during class that 'Indians came from dogs', Indians are 'children of prostitutes' and the community is 'stupid'. She also supposedly stated that the community's youths 'do not have testicles', 'always menstruate' and indulge in 'thuggery and theft'. MIC leaders, including its president S Samy Vellu, and various NGOs had expressed dissatisfaction with the ministry and called for stern action to be taken against the teacher. A MIC deputy minister had also suggested that the teacher be sacked.