Exhuming Maika’s can of worms

PETALING JAYA, July 30 — The MIC’s failed investment arm Maika Holdings has emerged once again as a hot-button issue in the lead up to the party elections.

The Malay Mail’s editor Frankie D’Cruz asked S. Vell Paari, the chief executive officer of Maika from 1999 till mid 2010, to explain intense matters that party treasurer Datuk Jaspal Singh raised last week in the Dewan Negara.

FD: How fatal has Maika’s failure been to the MIC?

VP: I have always admitted that Maika’s failure was a contributing factor that weakened the support of the Indian community for the MIC and Barisan Nasional.  This was despite Maika paying out RM41 million in dividends.

And even though we returned the original RM100 million investments by shareholders, it was nothing to be proud of because the inflationary effects since the early 1980s — when Maika was set up — caused them losses on their outlay.

FD: Were you part of the G Team Resources management team that took control of Maika?

VP: No, I was not. After I resigned in mid-2010, G Team took control of Maika and I was never involved.

I suspect Datuk Jaspal keeps saying “G Team and Maika management” to implicate me as being responsible in effecting the sale of insurance company Oriental Capital to the Tune Group.

I feel there’s a hidden political agenda.

FD: Explain the sale of Oriental Capital, Maika’s prized asset?

VP: Being an insurance company, Oriental Capital Berhad is governed by the Banking and Financial Institutions Act. Only on obtaining Bank Negara’s approval can the potential buyer open negotiation with a financial institution.

Bank Negara has a say on the price. If you recall the case of People’s Insurance where although the board had agreed to sell at a certain price, Bank Negara intervened to say the purchase price was too high and told them to reduce it.

Hence, Bank Negara would and should have played the role to ensure the Oriental Capital transaction was above board.

The Malaysian Indian curse

The Indian leadership in Malaysia has always been a subject of criticism. The Indian leadership has not seen a leader with capability to steer the community for socio-economic growth.

To date Malaysian Indians are still plagued with fundamental issues of identity card issues, job opportunities, Tamil schools, poverty, displaced estate workers,university seats, alcoholism, gangsterism, etc.

The resolution for most of the issues are political in nature and merely window dressing. The outcomes are usually temporary and the issues continues to haunt Indians.

In a nutshell, the Indian leadership in Malaysia has failed to resolve the issues plaguing the community for years.

The MIC) has been the forerunner championing Indian issues for years.

MIC has launched various programmes and initiatives to uplift the community with National Land Finance Cooperative Society (NLFCS), MIC Education Fund, Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED), Special secretariat for Empowerment of  Indian Entrepreneurs (SEED), Yayasan Strategik Social (YSS), AIMST University, TAFE College, Yayasan Pemulihan Sosial (YPS), Putera MIC, Puteri MIC, Pemuda MIC and Wanita MIC.

These MIC arms have failed to achieve the objectives to uplift the Indian community. MIC leaders have been under heavy criticism and the failure of MIC has paved way for new political parties and activists to champion for Indian rights. Hindraf, HRP, IPF, PPP, etc. are result of MIC’s leadership failure.

Don't pay taxes if ministry fails to act, non-Muslims told

A MIC leader suggested that non-Muslims stop paying taxes if the Education Ministry fails to act against the school authorities who allegedly made their non-Muslim students eat in a shower room during Ramadan.

"This is ridiculous!" said party strategy director S Vell Paari in a statement. "Is this what the children of non-Muslims have been reduced to? Having to hide in washrooms to eat."

"To be honest, I am at a loss for words. The future of this country appears bleak and I fear for the future of our children which such school authorities and teachers around," he added.

Vell Paari called on the Education Ministry to launch an immediate probe and act against those responsible.

"It should not simply be a slap on the wrist, such as transferring the teacher or teachers responsible," he said.

Failing which, Vell Paari suggested that non-Muslims refrain from paying taxes.
                  
"Our tax money is used to pay the salaries of the civil service and if this is the kind of people (civil servants) we get, then we might as well stop paying," he said.

Photographs emerged online allegedly showing non-Muslim students of SK Seri Pristina in Sungai Buloh being made to eat in a shower room during fasting month.

The photographs were supposedly uploaded on Facebook by a parent.

It is alleged that school authorities made the students eat in the makeshift room, located next to the toilets.

Kisah Viratam

Dalam kalangan masyarakat India-Hindu di Malaysia, istilah "viratam" (Bahasa Tamil) lazimnya digunakan untuk membawa maksud "puasa". Misalnya, seseorang mungkin berkata "Saya viratham pada hari ini".

Namun begitu, seorang individu beragama Hindu tidak digalakkan - serta tidak akan - mempublisitikan serta menghebohkan kepada seluruh dunia bahawa dia sedang berpuasa.

Hal ini adalah demikian kerana dalam ajaran agama Hindu, berpuasa adalah niat yang melibatkan individu terbabit dengan Tuhan. Sikap menunjuk-nunjuk dan bermegah-megah dengan memberitahu (baca:
menghebohkan kepada) orang ramai bahawa seseorang sedang berpuasa boleh membatalkan "niat" puasa itu sendiri.

Makalah ini bertujuan memberikan sedikit maklumat umum mengenai puasa yang diamalkan oleh penganut agama Hindu tanpa menyentuh - apatah lagi mempersenda - amalan puasa dalam mana-mana tradisi atau agama lain.

Atas sebab itulah juga saya tidak menggunakan istilah "noonbu" (Bahasa Tamil) yang lazimnya digunakan apabila merujuk kepada ibadat puasa dalam kalangan penganut agama Islam.

Menurut Kamus Bahasa Tamil - Bahasa Melayu - Bahasa Inggeris (Fajar Bakti,1997), "noonbu" juga disebut "tavam" yang membawa makna "penebusan dosa" (penance) dan "pertapaan berdasarkan peraturan agama yang ketat" (meditation with religious austerities).

Mahabharata – Bahagian 41

Hari sudah petang tetapi kelibat Kacha belum kelihatan. Devayani, iaitu anak gadis Maharishi Sukracharya, mula risau.

Biasanya, menjelang petang begini, pemuda bertubuh sasa itu akan pulang bersama-sama beberapa lembu yang dibawa ke padang ragut.

“Mungkinkah sesuatu perkara buruk telah menimpa kekasihku?” fikir gadis itu dengan penuh kerisauan dan asyik mundar-mandir di ashram (asrama) milik Sukracharya di Vrishaparva.

Hari sudah senja tetapi Kacha, anak Maharishi Brihaspati yang datang berguru dengan Sukracharya, tetap belum pulang. Kebimbangan Devayani sudah tidak tertahan.

“Ayah! Saya bimbang memikirkan kemungkinan sesuatu yang buruk sudah menimpa Kacha,” kata gadis itu kepada bapanya yang merupakan penasihat kepada golongan asura.

Sukracharya termenung seketika memikirkan apa yang mungkin telah berlaku kepada anak muridnya iaitu anak kepada Maharishi Brihaspati, penasihat golongan vasu (dewa).

Maharishi itu memejamkan mata dan membaca beberapa baris mantra (mantera) dalam Bahasa Sanskrit. Gambaran sekumpulan asura membunuh Kacha dan mengerat mayatnya menjadi ketulan kecil muncul dalam minda.

Vaali: The reasons he will be missed by the Tamils

Vaali, the great poet-lyricist-actor-writer needs no introduction. An active member of Tamil film industry for five decades, Vaali wrote some 10,000 Tamil songs in his career.

As an actor, Vaali appeared in Hey Ram, Sathya and Paarthale Parvasam. He has also scripted for Tamil upcoming Thillu Mullu, which is scheduled to release this year.

Vaali had also penned the biographies of Rama, Krishna and Ramanuja. He even wrote an autobiography titled "Naanum Indha Nootrandum".

Born as T.S Rangarajan, he rechristened himself as Vaali, since he was a devoted fan of artist Mali.

Before picking up the pen to write, he worked with All India Radio (AIR) for a brief period of time. He was also actively involved in Tamil theatre and even directed few plays.

He came to Chennai in 1950 and struggled for many years. He wrote his first song in 1958 for the film "Azhagarmalai Kalla", but his much needed recognition came in 1963 with the song "Idaythil Nee" from the film "Karpagam".

In 1964, Vaali penned the lyrics for the song "Thottal Poo Malurum" from the film "Padagotti" featuring late Tamil Nadu chief minister M.G Ramachandran (MGR). The song went on to be a chartbuster, and subsequently he wrote for almost all films of MGR.

Kingdom on fire but battle rages for the throne

COMMENT The kingdom is on fire and there is a battle raging for the throne. This is a Tamil adage which best describes the conundrum in MIC.

It was once a thriving kingdom, replete with power and riches. It served as the route for Indian Malaysians, with brains or brawn, to become political titans and amass fortunes.

But this changed in 2008. The kingdom's knights and court officials suffered near obliteration while the king himself was dethroned after ruling for three decades.

Then a new king was installed amid much pomp and pageantry, with his loyal subjects hailing his ascension as a new dawn, where transparency and good governance would prevail.

But he, too, was unable to restore the kingdom's former glory.

On the contrary, the party fared even worse in the last general election under his stewardship, with the king himself scraping his elbows and knees in an uphill attempt to conquer Cameron Highlands, once considered a safe haven for MIC.

The party only won four of the nine parliament seats and five out of the 18 state seats it contested.

And whatever upward trend witnessed in the community's voting pattern for the ruling coalition was attributed to Prime Minister Najib Razak as opposed to MIC and its leaders.

Lyricist Vaali leaves a void

Lyricist and poet Vaali, who secured a place on a par with Kannadasan, at a time when the latter strode like a colossus in the Tamil film music world, died here on Thursday evening.

He was 82 and is survived by a son.

He was not well for quite some time and was in and out of hospital over the past month. The end came as one of his friends recited a few ‘pasurams’ — Ondrum marantharieyen and Oorilen kaaniyillai and Kulam tharum — from the ‘Nalayira Divyaprabandam’, a set of hymns sung by Vaishnavite minstrels.

Vaali, who had a five-decade-long association with the Tamil film industry, wrote over 15,000 songs — including 5,000 for music maestro Ilaiyaraja — for many a protagonist played by actors from M.G. Ramachandran to Dhanush.

On the one hand, he wrote songs like Madhavi ponmayilal, Ammavendrazhaikatha uyirillaye, Naanaga naan illai and Janani janani that transported the listener to a different plane, and on the other, he entertained the masses with songs such as Chikkupukku chikkupukku railay, Mukkala muqabla and Singari sarakku nalla sarakku.

Overwhelmed by the brilliant imagery of the lines in the song Pakkathu veetu paruva matchan in the film ‘Karpagam’, Kannadasan declared in a public meeting that Vaali would be his heir-apparent.

Though he wrote songs for many yesteryear and present-day heroes, his association with MGR songs is famous. The political image that MGR built for himself through his film songs stood him in good stead later when he embarked on a highly successful political career, with Vaali’s lines embodying his ideas.

Report lodged against AG over 'inaction' against Zul

A coalition of NGOs today lodged a police report against attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail for alleged abuse of power and practicing selective prosecution.

In the report filed with the Travers police station in Kuala Lumpur, the NGOs gave the police a two-week time-frame to take action against the AG.

Failing which, the NGOs warned they would lodge a complaint with the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).

"We ask that the police investigate the AG, take action against him for selective prosecuting, he has misused his power, they should arrest him immediately," said Peoples Welfare and Rights Organisation (Power) president S Gobi Krishnan.

Gobi cited the charges against bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee as well as the AG's refusal to charge Perkasa vice-president Zulkifli Noordin (right) as proof of selective prosecution.

"We welcome this news of charges against the bloggers because we don't want anyone to insult any religion, but the AG has to take action in all cases (of religions being insulted)" he said.

"Are we being told that one photo on Facebook is sufficient evidence and that a YouTube video isn't?" he asked in reference to the video allegedly showing Zulkifli insulting the Hindu faith.

Despite the NGOs having lodged a police report against Zulkifli, Gobi said the police later informed them that the AG's Chambers decided not to proceed because of "insufficient evidence."

Meanwhile, Mipas president P Raja Retinam said no one was above the law and accused the AG of only serving the interests of one community.

"He only wants to protect Muslims but what about us non-Muslims? Who is protecting us?" he asked.

The other NGOs present were WargaAman, Jingga 13 and Tamilar Action Force.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/236054

Retribution is quick if you're sex bloggers

COMMENT In a flash, the authorities cracked their whips when a non-Muslim couple, infamous for their exhibitionist sexual trysts, posted a photograph of themselves dining on pork (bak kut teh) soup.

Next to the photograph was a caption that linked the consumption of the forbidden meat to Muslims breaking their fast in the holy month of Ramadan.

The move courted an uproar and numerous quarters clamoured for the heads of Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee to roll for being so blatantly and brazenly insensitive to Muslims.

The couple later apologised but this fell on deaf ears.

One minister warned that insulting Islam on the social media is becoming rampant and this must be curbed while another declared that repentance will not absolve the offenders of their callous deed.

The authorities are now considering charging the lovebirds under the Sedition Act.

The indignation is understandable. The posting was downright ridiculous and offensive. There is no excuse to belittle a faith and the couple should have been aware of the repercussions when trampling on what is sacrosanct to others.

Mahabharata – Bahagian 40

FEATURE “Memanglah ayah kamu iaitu Maharishi Brihaspati seorang pendeta yang hebat. Atas sebab itulah juga beliau menjadi penasihat kami,” kata ketua golongan vasu kepada Kacha.

 “Jadi, apa perlunya saya pergi untuk berguru dengan Maharishi Sukracharya?” tanya pemuda itu lagi. Para vasu (dewa) ketawa. Kemudian, ketua mereka menceritakan rancangan sebenar kepada Kancha.

 Pemuda itu perlu berpura-pura berguru dengan Sukracharya. Walau bagaimanapun, misi sebenar adalah untuk mengetahui mantera rahsia yang dimiliki oleh maharishi berkenaan.

“Apabila kita sudah tahu mantera Sanjivini, golongan vasu yang terkorban dalam perang saudara dengan golongan asura dapat dihidupkan semula,” kata ketua dewa. Dipendekkan cerita, Kacha akur pada permintaan golongan vasu.

 Brihaspati juga mengizinkan anaknya pergi bagi menjayakan misi yang diamanahkan. Apabila tiba di Vrishaparva, Kacha pergi ke ashram (asrama) milik Sukracharya. Dia meluahkan hasrat mahu berguru dengan pendeta itu.

 “Ayah kamu sendiri seorang maharishi yang unggul. Saya tidak tahu mengapa kamu mahu berguru dengan saya,” kata Sukracharya dengan ikhlas. “Saya sangat menghormati Brihaspati dan tidak sanggup menolak permintaan anaknya untuk berguru dengan saya.”

Mahabharata – Bahagian 39

FEATURE Hassan dan Hussain masih belum puas mendengar pelbagai kisah daripada teks Razmnameh versi Bahasa Parsi yang dijadikan asas penceritaan oleh datuk.

Pasangan kembar itu terus teruja untuk mengetahui lebih banyak cerita yang disedut dari epik Mahabharata.

Datuk meneruskan cerita mengenai golongan sura atau vasu (dewa) dan asura (makhluk halus) yang merupakan dua golongan yang terlibat dalam perang saudara di kayangan untuk berebut hak menguasai ketiga-tiga dunia.

Golongan dewa mendapat panduan, bimbingan dan nasihat daripada Maharishi Brihaspati iaitu pakar veda yang disegani dan digeruni penduduk langit dan bumi.

Sementara itu, golongan asura yang sering dianggap sebagai pengacau dan menimbul masalah kepada golongan dewa pula mendapat bimbingan daripada Maharishi Sukracharya.

 “Walaupun golongan dewa, vasu atau sura dalam tradisi India sering diberikan imej positif dan dianggap sebagai wira dalam perang bersama golongan asura, pihak yang satu lagi juga mempunyai keistimewaan positif yang tidak dimiliki lawannya,” kata datuk.

Mahabharata – Bahagian 38

FEATURE Kebimbangan dalam diri Raja Drupada tetap tidak reda selepas kalungan malai bunga teratai yang pernah diberikan oleh Dewa Subramaniam kepada Puteri Amba berjaya dimusnahkan.

“Mujurlah aku tidak ada putera. Kalau tidak, mungkin putera itu memakai kalungan bunga berkenaan dan akan menjadi musuh yang bercita-cita membunuh Bhisma. Mujurlah.”

Sebagai langkah berjaga-laga, Drupada memutuskan untuk menghantar puterinya ke dalam hutan untuk bertapa. Sesungguhnya hanya golongan lelaki yang biasanya dihantar tetapi entah mengapa Drupada mendapat ilham untuk berbuat demikian.

Puteri yang masih kanak-kanak itu bersetuju dengan saranan dan arahan ayahnya. Dia sendiri tidak tahu dan tidak sedar bahawa dirinya merupakan kelahiran semula Puteri Amba yang membunuh diri untuk lahir semula bagi membalas dendam ke atas Bhisma.

Apabila sampai di dalam hutan, tanpa membuang masa, puteri itu memulakan pertapaannya. Dia yang sebelum ini bersikap keanak-anakan secara tiba-tiba sahaja sudah mula menunjukkan ciri-ciri kedewasaan dan kematangan fikiran.

Mahabharata – Bahagian 37

FEATURE Raja Drupada sentiasa teringat akan Puteri Amba pada setiap kali baginda melihat kalungan bunga teratai segar yang tergantung pada pagar istana.

Drupada agak hairan mengapa bunga berkenaan tidak layu walau sedikit pun selepas berbulan-bulan lamanya.

Namun, baginda tidak membiarkan perkara ini mengganggu fikiran. Baginda mendapat tahu bahawa Amba telah membunuh diri dengan melompat ke dalam unggun api di Banjaran Himalaya.

Punca puteri itu berbuat demikian masih menjadi misteri yang semakin dilupakan orang. Tidak lama kemudian, permaisuri melahirkan seorang puteri yang comel.

Drupada terasa amat gembira menerima kedatangan puteri berkenaan. Maka anak itu dipelihara dan dibesarkan dengan penuh kasih-sayang dan cinta. Beberapa tahun kemudian, pengasuh istana membawa kanak-kanak itu berjalan-jalan di sekitar istana.

Si puteri terpandang akan karangan malai bunga teratai yang tergantung pada pagar. Tanpa meminta izin sesiapa, puteri itu segera mengambil karangan bunga dan mengalungkannya pada leher.

Winning at all costs

Mariam Mokhtar | 12:05PM Jul 8, 2013

The alleged rape of a 19-year old handball official at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) last week will revive unpleasant memories for the victim and family of another teenager in Malacca. Two years ago, the victim and her family were denied justice when as a 13 year old, she was raped by a Sukma champion.

Her rapist was set free so that he could represent Malaysia in future tournaments. He was allowed to bask in the glory of representing his nation, whilst the victim would spend her life in shame and regret. Court of Appeal President Raus Md Shariff had said that “public interest would not be served” if the rapist was sent to jail as “he had a bright future.”

When will the authorities do the right thing, rather than do things so that the right Malaysian image is presented for public and international consumption? Does the judiciary realise the irony of having a rapist representing the country in sport?

If the government of the country is seen to condone rape and other crimes, what does it say about Umno Baru, the major party in BN? Does winning at all costs for Umno-Baru mean compromising principles, morals and ethics? Are rape victims convenient pawns in Umno Baru’s constant lust for victory?

Last Wednesday’s alleged rape of the Sukma participant took place at the sports village at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Our trust in the police has been eroded by its failure to serve the rakyat. For decades, Umno Baru politicians have stripped the independence of the police force and made the police serve them, as baruas, thus betraying the rakyat.

Mandela on death and dying

PRETORIA: Haunted by death during his long anti-apartheid struggle, Nelson Mandela looked toward his own “eternal sleep” as a man who fulfilled his duty to his people.

He was willing to die for democracy, the young black activist said during the 1963-64 trial that would send him to prison for 27 years.

“It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die,” he told judges of the white-minority apartheid regime.

Nearly 50 years later the 94-year-old is critically ill, fighting a stubborn pulmonary infection.

 The country’s presidency has prepared people for the icon’s passing after his fourth hospitalisation this year.

“He never gave death a great deal of thought but he never wanted anything fancy,” a family friend told the weekly Mail & Guardian.

A simple A4-page testament quoted in the paper asks a modest last resting place, true to the unpretentious image he cultivated from his presidency from 1994 to 1999.

He allowed himself one fantasy 10 years ago: fellow anti-apartheid fighter and political mentor Walter Sisulu welcoming him to paradise with mobilisation chants and an ANC enrolment form.