Penang gov't denies demolishing Hindu shrine

The Pakatan Rakyat government in Penang continues to be assailed by allegations that it is out to marginalise the Indian community. The latest rumour circulating via the SMS accuses the state government of demolishing a shrine in Kampung Jawa, Seberang Jaya, causing panic among Pakatan supporters.Only last week, one calling for an anti-DAP rally at the party's Penang headquarters had irked its leaders, who claimed the message was circulated by "racist elements" ahead of the state convention in December.

Few turn up in sign of Hindraf’s flagging support

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — Only a handful of Hindraf supporters showed up today to participate in a hunger strike to mark the third anniversary of its mass rally in the federal capital — an indication of the group’s waning influence.Thousands of ethnic Indians rallied at the Petronas Twin Towers on November 25, 2007 to protest the government’s alleged discrimination against the minority community.But the gathering at the Suria Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) entrance today, however, saw only about 30 members turning up.

Hunger strike to mark Hindraf's epic protest .

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi will hold a hunger strike at the entrance of the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) on Nov 25 to commemorate the massive Hindraf rally three years ago. In a press statement, its chairman P Waythamoorthy said a five-member delegation would also hand a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Office at 10am.

Samy Vellu to make major announcements Monday

MIC president S Samy Vellu, who is to step down soon, said today he would make some major announcements concerning party affairs at the central working committee (CWC) meeting on Monday."For your information, at the CWC meeting on Nov 29, I will present a lot of things to the CWC and then they will decide what to do next.

'Racist' relocation plan by Kepong Umno under fire .

KUALA LUMPUR: Jinjang Utara Rumah Panjang residents are unhappy over what they claim is a 'racist' relocation plan by Kepong Umno which neglected the other races.Last Friday, Utusan Malaysia reported that 300 Malay residents would be moved to the Kepong PPR (People's housing project) by January.
It quoted Kepong division head, senator Rizuan Abdul Hamid, who expressed gratitude to Federal Territories Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin for approving the relocation.

Banished teen to know if he can go home on Dec 1

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — Teen Jiegandran Panir Selvam who was banished to Negri Sembilan by order of the Home Ministry earlier this year will know if he can go home this December 1. The Selangor-born who was suspected of being involved in armed gang theft at four schools was arrested by the police last year and later locked up for 60 days under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) while still a minor.

Don't worry, I'll quit as promised: Samy

S Samy Vellu said today that he will step down as MIC president in January next year as he had announced, ignoring speculation casting doubt on his intention.He said the speculation and negative reports on his resignation would not affect his thinking on his responsibility to the party.

Ex-servicemen launch broadside at Zahid Hamidi

When Admiral (rtd) K Thanabalasingam ascended to the position of the nation's first ever local chief of Navy,it would have never crossed his mind that his loyalty to the country would be questioned.Having spearheaded the navy's mission to protect Malaysia from numerous threats that arose in the 1960s-1970s period, the former naval chief spoke in disbelief at Defence Minister Zahid Hamid's recent statement that patriotism among non-Malays was "not strong enough" for being reluctant to sign up with the Armed Forces.

Rental hikes and lack of parking bays a bane in Little India .

KUALA LUMPUR: After the pomp and pagentry at launch of 'Little India' in Brickfields on Oct 27, the lights have dimmed and a pall of gloom has decended in the area. Traders and businessmen at the 3km stretch of Brickfields are at crossroads with the prospect of 'impending' rental hikes and dwindling sales due to the absence of car parks.Several businessmen voiced their frustration over these two issues which could hamper trade in the bustling area, where one could purchase almost all items found in India.

Banting murders: Disposal of evidence appeal on Nov 25 .

SHAH ALAM: The High Court here today fixed Nov 25 to hear the appeal of farm worker K Sarawanan who had been sentenced to seven years' jail for disposing of evidence in the murders of cosmetic millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya and three others. On the same day, judge Wira Mohtarudin Baki will also review the sentence handed down by the Telok Datuk Magistrate's Court on Sarawanan and another estate worker, U Suresh.

MIC slams S'gor non-Muslim house of worship curbs

Selangor's decision to bar the establishment of non-Muslim places of worship in residential areas has irked the MIC, which has demanded that the ruling be retracted. Describing the decision as short-sighted, MIC president S Samy Vellu said that the Selangor government has demonstrated a lack of understanding in managing race relations.

A Politicized Self-Immolation

EDITOR'S PICK A weak or bastardized political structure will result in the downfall of a community and that is what exactly the Indian community is experiencing. From day one, MIC has been echoing their call for transformation but up to date, not many changes have been observed despite their loud speeches. Whereas on the other side, we have Human Rights Party bashing the government, protesting here and there without any proper measures to tackle the problems.

48,327 UPSR candidates score all As

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 11 — A total of 48,327 or 10.02 per cent of the 482,334 Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) candidates this year obtained all As.The percentage is higher than the 9.51 per cent recorded last year.Education director-general Datuk Abdul Ghafar Mahmud said this was the best achievement in four years based on the national average grade, the index used in measuring the achievement of school examination candidates nationwide.

'Ambassador' Samy to quit end of the month .

KUALA LUMPUR: Long-serving MIC president S Samy Vellu would quit the top post end of this month and not in January next year as announced earlier.Party sources revealed that the 74-year-old veteran leader has informed those close to him that he would vacate the number one seat end of November to enable him to take up the ambassador-at-large position offered by the government.

Improve quality of life of Indians in S'gor, urges MP .

PETALING JAYA: The state government should work concertedly on solving the ills plaguing the Indian community in Selangor, said Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San. The Indian community is still suffering from social problems such as high rate of unemployment, low level of education, and low household income."These problems faced by the minority group remain unsolved till now," said Lau when debating the Selangor government's Budget 2011 yesterday.

Muslim convert Deepavali ad: Finas in hot curry .

PETALING JAYA: A Deepavali advertisement by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) about a Muslim convert has drawn flak from MIC Youth and a DAP senator. MIC Youth chief T Mohan demanded that the advertisement, which was aired on TV, be retracted and Finas apologise to the Indian community.

PTPTN under PAC microscope

Problems with the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) today became the first of the nine serious concerns raised in the Auditor-General's Report that are to be scrutinised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)."We are looking at the hows and whys of the fund still being defective after 13 years, especially in collection and the tracing of information. What we see is that the fund is unable to sustain itself. Expenditure is in excess of income," PAC chairman Azmi Khalid said.

Two individuals sue Sosilawati's cosmetics company .

KUALA LUMPUR: Two individuals have filed a suit against the late cosmetics millionaire Sosilawati Lawiya's company, Nouvelle Beauty Centre Sdn Bhd, for breach of agreement in the sale and purchase of a property, worth RM3 million, in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

Gunasegaran inquest: Appeal against open verdict

R Gunasegaran's sister has filed an appeal to revise the open verdict in the recently-concluded inquest into his death while in police custody.R Ganga Gowri, 34  said the verdict does not explain why her brother died at the Sentul police station."And all I want is simply for someone to tell me how and why my brother died," she told reporters when met at the Kuala Lumpur court complex today.

Vote BN as Deepavali gift, says MIC

GUA MUSANG - Voters from among the Indian community in the Galas state constituency are asked to vote the Barisan Nasional (BN) as a Deepavali gift, said MIC Youth chief T. Mohan.He said the Deepavali celebration on Nov 5, one day after the by-election for the Galas state seat, would be more meaningful if the BN were to win.

Suaram: Selva beaten in police custody

Human rights group Suaram has claimed today that detainee K Selvasanthiran was "beaten, kicked and punched" by police officers since he was arrested last Monday on a drug charge.In a statement faxed to the press this afternoon, Suaram coordinator E Nalini said Selvasanthiran , told his wife Saraswathy  who visited him this morning, that he was having hearing problems after being allegedly badly assaulted during his first two days in detention.

'Umno will lose 70 seats without our support' .

SUNGAI SIPUT: MIC president S Samy Vellu today poured scorn on the storyline that Umno can win the next general election without the support of the Indians and Chinese.He took particular aim at Titiwangsa Umno division chief Johari Abdul Ghani who recently said that Umno could take the Titiwangsa seat if it could convince 70% of the Malay voters to back the party.

Hilary Clinton arrives Monday to begin official visit

KUALA LUMPUR - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will begin her three-day official visit to Malaysia begining Monday.In a statement, the foreign ministry said this was the first bilateral visit to Malaysia by Clinton since the 1995 visit of Secretary Warren Christopher.Most recently, Secretary Condoleeza Rice visited Malaysia in a multilateral context to attend the Asean Regional Forum in 2006.