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

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

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.

Mara oh Marah

We are just a day away from the Nomination Date for the Permatang Pauh by-election. From tomorrow onwards till the results are announced, you won't get any news coverage in the media other then Permatang Pauh.

Before that storm hits us, let us just ponder about the recent suggestion by the Selangor Menteri Besar about allocating 10% of seats in UiTM to non-Malays and the reactions to it. It was merely a suggestion, even that from a person who is not in a position to do anything about it.

Now, the reaction to that suggestion really disturbed me. Why do we need thousands of youths to march to meet the MB to voice their protest? Did they have a police permit for the march? If they did not, then it was an illegal gathering and the police should have come down hard on them, as they had on many other occasions. If they had a permit, why were they given a permit when other similar peaceful gatherings had been denied a permit?

The MB was merely giving his opinion. If you don't agree with it, just tell him so and give the reasons why. What was the need to demand for an apology? If one is to apologize each time one gives a suggestion which is not acceptable to someone else, then we will end up doing nothing but apologizing to each other.

Perhaps the Selangor MB was playing to the gallery but that is no reason to march up to him demanding he retracts his statement and apologizes. If neither Malays or non-Malays can discuss matters pertaining to 'Malay Rights', then who has the right to discuss such issues? What about citizens' right? What about freedom of expression?

Mara is a government funded organization and every citizen of Malaysia has a right to voice their views on it.

Now coming to the politics of it. I know those critical of BN will once again use this to point fingers at BN and UMNO. However, one must bear in mind that MARA opening its doors to non-Malays is not something new.

YB Dato Seri Nazri initiated the move to allocate 10% seats to non-Malays at MRSM Colleges a few years ago. At the request of MIC, the government had also allocated 660 places for our Indian Youths for the Giat Mara Scheme to ease our socio-economic burden. (The government had also promised to increase the intake of Indians under the Scheme if there were more takers. Unfortunately, each year we had to struggle to convince Indian Youths to register for the scheme). So why then did this suggestion from the Selangor MB spark such a reaction? Your guess is as good as mine.

It is unhealthy when people simply take to the streets when they disagree with a view. Let good sense prevail and let us all discuss issues in a civilized manner.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

MIC Youth bureau: 'Racist' teacher deserves sterner lesson

Source : http://www.malaysia kini.com/ news/87628


MIC Youth bureau: 'Racist' teacher deserves sterner lesson

Aug 12, 08 12:05pm

The MIC Youth education bureau is irked by how a teacher who hurled stinging racial remarks at her students had been let off the hook.

The teacher had since been transferred to another school in the same district, but the bureau argued that this was not a form of punishment at all.

In a statement, bureau chief M Saravanan expressed dissatisfaction with the Education Ministry regarding this matter.

"This is an issue which touches on racial sentiments. It does not involve an individual but refers to a large number of Indian students.

"The teacher's apology to the students and parents involved is not the best solution and does not diminish the gravity of her action," he said.

"Transferring (to another school) is not a form of punishment or harsh (enough) punishment for a teacher who crossed the boundaries," he added.

Police reports lodged

Earlier this month, two students from SMK Telok Panglima Garang in Hulu Langat filed police reports against the history teacher.

They revealed that the teacher had called Indian students 'keling pariah', 'Negro' and 'black monkeys', amongst other derogatory names.

In the 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'.

Meanwhile, Saravanan said any action taken by the ministry must serve as a strong lesson for other educators.

He said the teacher had tarnished the dignity and professionalism of her profession and therefore was not qualified to be an educator.

He also quoted Deputy Education Minister Dr Wee Ka Siong as saying during an interview that if the teacher was found guilty, stern action such as even dismissal would be taken.

"Transferring (her) to another school is not a stern action as promised," said Saravanan.

The education bureau chief also stated that the teacher must open apologise to all quarters through the media.

He also noted that other teachers might do the same thing in order to get transfers to another school.

The statement also revealed that the points raised by the bureau were endorsed by the parents and residents in the area.

------------------------------------------ end of report ----------------------------------------

Note: Mr. M.Saravanan will be meeting the Minister of Education YB Dato Seri Hishamuddin personally to convey the people's dissatisfaction and present a memorandum pressing for harsher punishment.

Murugesan Sinnandavar

Don't Sweep it Under the Carpet - Punish Her!

Good day! Some readers were kind enough to remind me that I had not posted any article for more then a week. Thanks. I was busy with office work and the Rebranding MIC Workshops that I was unable to pen my thoughts on recent developments.

Two issues have cropped up in the last 10 days. The first is the racial slurs by a school teacher in S.M. Teluk Panglima Garang, Banting. The other is the demonstration by certain groups against Bar Council's open Forum on Conversion.

Racist Remarks

I heard of the first issue a few days before it was exposed in the media. The newly appointed MIC Youth Education Bureau Chairman, Mr. M. Saravanan (not the Deputy Minister YB DatoSaravanan) brought to my attention the concerns of some parents from SM Teluk PanglimaGarang about a certain teacher who had repeatedly scolded students with racist remarks and used harsh punishment methods.

Saravanan was given a free hand to handle the issue. After discussing with the parents, he brought NTV7 together with other members of the media that cared to come to the school. I believe some NGOs were also involved. What the teacher said and did is well known by now and there is no need to repeat it here.

Subsequent to the exposure, other political big guns descended on the issue and attempted to settle the matter with a handshake. That's the Malaysian spirit! Settle a matter with a handshake... or are we sweeping dirt under the carpet?

Here is a teacher who has been entrusted to educate and nurture our children to be good citizens. She is not an ordinary lady, sorry, woman that we bumped into at the pasar malam and shouted racial abuses at us. She is a teacher. A role model. Paid salary with the tax-payers money. Our money.

The latest I heard was that she will be transferred to a nearby school and from what I understand, a school of equal standing with the one that she is being transferred away from.

How is transfer a solution when she has not been punished for her transgression? She actually got away scot-free! People are given the impression that action has been taken when no real action has been taken. What assurance do we have that she will not repeat it at the new school? Transfer her again?

As I write, the MIC Youth Education Bureau will be calling for a press conference together with the parents and the PIBG representatives to demand that disciplinary action be taken against the teacher. Hopefully, the non-Tamil media will also carry the story.

So far the teacher had not denied her action nor openly apologized for it. That being the case, how are we to tolerate or condone such racial remarks from a teacher? She had breached the Government's Standing Order and as a government servant, disciplinary action must be taken against her. What message are we sending to our students? What is the signal we are sending to other civil servants by our inaction?

On the same issue, another cause for concern is the deafening silence by our Malays brothers both from BN and BR. We could have sent a clear signal that we are moving away from racial politics if any of our Malay brothers had stood up and said what she did was wrong. As simple as that. Please tell me if there had been any such statement as I could have missed it.

Although the issue might be viewed as minor by some, MIC Youth had taken a stand on it. We have for far too long settled problems with a handshake without dealing with the real issue. Unresolved issues will rear its ugly head as another problem at another time.

Acts of Hooliganism

Another issue that had cropped up is the demonstration and the disruption by certain groups against the Bar Council's Forum on Conversion. MIC Youth had taken a stand on this issue. The National Youth Coordinator, Mr. T.Mohan had issued a strong press statement against such unruly and unlawful disruption against a peaceful and open discussion. No one is questioning Islam. Bar Council merely organized the forum to enable scholars, lawyers and members of public to air their views and give their opinions. Surely we can discuss issues in a civilized and educated manner without having hooligans disrupting our forum.

Mr T.Mohan had also challenged Hindraf to make a stand on BR MPs that took part in such unruly behavior against an open forum.

The above two issues, thou unrelated, shows a worrying trend in our national integration. Those with moral courage must stand up and be counted. We can't afford to allow the extremist view of a few to move the Nation away from the centre of racial harmony. I would like to hear your views on this. Thanks.

Murugesan Sinnandavar