High-rise complex instead of police station?

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) plan to develop a high-rise building on the land once occupied by the Brickfields district police headquarters has irked several groups.

Brickfields Community Neighbourhood Watch chairman SKK Naidu said the notice was placed on the land for nearly two weeks but he just realised its contents recently.

Naidu said that the government should rebuild a police station on the land to beef up security for the locals.
“The land is an institutional land. The Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Ministry promised to build a police station there. Why create another problem now?” he asked.

He was referring to The Star’s article on July 17, where minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had reportedly said that the government would build a new police station on the land.

“The details have not been finalised. The developer, police and DBKL are still discussing the matter,” Nong Chik had said.

Naidu, who claims to represent several other religious and educational societies in Brickfields, said that he would send an objection letter to DBKL tomorrrow.

He also said that DBKL should study any development in Brickfields thoroughly in order to avoid any problems in the future.

“The City Hall developed KL Sentral without building infrastructure like new roads. Now, the existing roads are very congested and locals are moving out of the place,” he said.

Brickfields Business Community (BBC) secretary A Karuppiah concurred with Naidu’s assessment, saying he would raise this matter during a dialogue session with the police soon.

“There’s nothing much to comment. We are opposed to the high-rise building project as we want a police station to be built there,” he said.

Based on the notice board, DBKL intended to convert the institutional land into a commercial land to build 34-storey service apartments.

Two blocks of office units were also slated to be developed on the prime land.

The notice also stipulated that tomorrow would be the last day for residents to object to the proposed development.

The Brickfields district police headquarters used to be situated on the land for about three decades before it was moved to Sri Petaling last year.

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/30/high-rise-complex-instead-of-police-station/

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 50

“Dirgahayu, tuanku,” sembah Maramanden sebaik aku melangkah masuk melalui pintu istana selepas menghabiskan masa dari awal pagi hingga lewat petang di makam Tamnat Gangga. Tentu dia telah lama menunggu aku di pintu istana.

“Semoga dilanjutkan usia kau juga, Maramanden.”

“Terima kasih, tuanku,” ucap Maramanden sambil berjalan mengiringi langkahku ke arah singgahsana di balairung. “Ini ada utusan daripada Baginda Bibasenam.”

“Utusan daripada Bibasenam? Apa katanya?”

Aku duduk di singgahsana.

“Ampun, tuanku. Katanya, dua musafir yang tuanku kenal itu berada di negeri Panggala.”
Aku termenung sebentar. Mustahil mereka masih berada di negeri tersebut.

“Bilakah utusan ini dikirim?” tanyaku sambil membetulkan kedudukan mahkota di atas kepala.

“Tujuh hari yang lalu, tuanku.”

“Patutlah. Mereka berada di tengah hutan bersama-sama Maharishyi Kala dan Maharishyi Kaswa sekarang ini.”

“Kedua-dua musafir itu, tuanku?”

“Ya, Maramanden, pasangan musafir itulah yang saya maksudkan. …”

Kedua-dua musafir itu masuk ke istana. Individu yang duduk di singgahsana bukan seekor kera!
Mimpi itu masih juga mengganggu fikiranku. Pasangan musafir dalam mimpi itu adalah ayah dan ibu yang menyamar menjadi orang kebanyakan sejak setahun lalu.

Hari ini genap setahun mereka pergi. Masih belum tertebus lagikah dosa mereka?

Kini mereka bersama-sama Maharishyi Kala. Bagaimana aku tahu? Bukankah aku Hanuman, kera putih bermata hijau. Bukankah aku berada di mana sahaja ayahku berada!

Akan tetapi, ayah dan ibu masih belum mengakui siapa diri aku yang sebenar. Pada usia tiga puluh tahun sekarang ini pun aku masih belum berpeluang merasai kasih sayang ayah dan ibu secara mutlak.

Dosa apakah yang aku lakukan maka Tuhan terus menghukum aku sampai begini sekali?

Aku duduk bersandar pada singgahsana di balairung. Aku pejamkan mata. Lalu aku dapat melihat ayah dan ibu dengan amat jelas. Bukankah ini merupakan salah satu daripada sekian banyak anugerah Tuhan kepadaku.

Aku nampak ayah dan ibu sedang duduk menghadap Maharishyi Kala di tempat pertapaannya. Maharishyi Kaswa juga ada sama. Turut kelihatan Maharishyi Valmiki.

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/29/hanuman-suara-hati-%E2%80%93-bahagian-50/

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 49

“Suatu hari nanti, kami akan datang selepas menyucikan diri. Berjanjilah, Hanuman, bahawa kau akan menunggu sehingga hari itu. Akan aku ceritakan segalanya nanti.”

“Saya akan setia menunggu,” aku berjanji dengan penuh harapan.

Aku sujud di kaki ayah. Ayah menyerahkan cokmar sebelum mengucup dahiku. Aku memeluk ayah. Ayah membalasnya dengan dakapan yang erat. Itulah kami, seorang ayah dan seorang anak pada malam perpisahan.

Matahari sudah mula terbenam di puncak bukit. Aku mengesat air mata dan membetulkan mahkota di atas kepala. Kemudian aku bersedia untuk meninggalkan makam Tamnat Gangga setelah bertafakur seketika.
Perjalananku pulang ke istana diiringi dentingan loceng dari kuil Mariamman yang berdekatan. Ini diselang-seli pula oleh suara bacaan mantera yang ritual daripada sami yang melakukan pooja enam kali sehari.

Kemudian kedegaran pula suara mendayu-dayu nyanyian bhajan oleh anak-anak di perkarangan kuil Vishnu di kaki Gunung Maha Purita. Sebaik sampai di hadapan kuil tersebut, entah mengapa tergerak hatiku untuk berbual-bual bersama anak-anak itu.

Melihat kedatanganku di perkarangan kuil Vishnu, anak-anak yang berjumlah sekitar lima belas orang itu berdiri menyembah. Masing-masing kelihatan agak gementar.

Aku senyum ke arah mereka. Akan tetapi, mereka terus memandang dengan semacam perasaan takut.
Aku duduk di atas lantai di dalam kuil. Anak-anak tersebut masih lagi memandangku seperti melihat sesuatu yang terlalu gharib. Aku menepuk lantai di sisi kiri tempat dudukku; menjemput mereka duduk.

Seorang demi seorang mula duduk – bukan sebagai menerima pelawaanku, tetapi lebih seperti menurut perintah. Aku lalu mengengsot menghampiri mereka.

“Kenapa kalian takut melihat saya?”

Mereka berpandangan.

“Bukankah tuanku pemerintah kerajaan ini?” Seorang anak kecil memandangku. Ah! Betapa murninya senyuman itu.

“Ya.”

“Tuanku adalah Maharaja Hanuman, bukan?”

“Benar.”

Aku mengelus rambut kanak-kanak lelaki itu yang memberanikan diri untuk bertanya.

“Bapa saya selalu bercerita tentang tuanku.”

“Ya?”

“Ya. Tuanku adalah pengikut Rama yang paling setia.”

Aku mengangkat anak kecil itu dan meletakkannya di atas ribaan. Dia tersenyum gembira.

“Kata bapa saya, tuanku amat sayang akan Rama dan Sita. Kalau dibelah dada tuanku, akan kelihatan rupa mereka berdua tertera pada jantung tuanku.”

Aku tersenyum sendiri. Kalau dibelah dadaku, mungkin akan kelihatan juga seekor kera putih yang menangis kerana rindu akan kasih-sayang ibu bapanya.

Kumpulan kanak-kanak yang sebentar tadi takut melihatku, kini mula mengerumuniku. Aku membenarkan. Seketika aku merasakan diriku seusia dengan mereka.

“Tuanku suka akan kanak-kanak?”

Aku mengangguk, mengiakan.

“Tuanku ada anak?”

Aku memandang budak lelaki itu. Aku merenung anak matanya. Aku nampak mata Tamnat Gangga. Aku nampak wajah Tamnat Gangga. Aku nampak anakku di hadapanku.

Dia senyum padaku. Aku memeluknya erat, melepaskan rindu. Air mataku gugur lagi

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/28/hanuman-suara-hati-%E2%80%93-bahagian-49/

London Olympics opens with pageant for next generation

Britain's Queen Elizabeth declared the London Olympics open after playing a cameo role in a dizzying ceremony designed to highlight the grandeur and eccentricities of the nation that invented modern sport.

Children's voices intertwining from the four corners of her United Kingdom ushered in an exuberant historical pageant of meadows, smokestacks and digital wizardry before an audience of 60,000 in the Olympic Stadium and a probable billion television viewers around the globe.

Many of them gasped at the sight of the 86-year-old queen, marking her Diamond Jubilee this year, putting aside royal reserve in a video where she stepped onto a helicopter with James Bond actor Daniel Craig to be carried aloft from Buckingham Palace.

A film clip showed doubles of her and Bond skydiving towards the stadium and, moments later, she made her entrance in person.

"In a sense, the Olympic Games are coming home tonight," IOC President Jacques Rogge told the crowd.

"This great, sports-loving country is widely recognised as the birthplace of modern sport."

To underline the point, Bradley Wiggins, crowned five days earlier as Britain's first winner of the Tour de France and hoping to add more road cycling gold in London, tolled the world's largest tuned bell to begin the ceremony.

In one moment of simple drama, the stadium fell silent as five giant, incandescent Olympic rings, symbolically forged from British steel mills, were lifted serenely out of the stadium by
weather balloons, destined for the stratosphere.

And at the climax of an evening that had children centre-stage, seven teenage athletes were given the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron that will burn for the duration of the Games, in keeping with the theme of "Inspire a Generation".

Shasti Fasting: How to observe Shasthi Vratam?

Shasti Vratam is an important fast dedicated to Lord Murugan or Kartikeyan. There are two Shastis in a Hindu lunar month. One Shasthi after Amavasya and another after Purnima (Pournami). The Shasti coming after Amavasya (new moon night) is the one meant for fasting. In simple terms, the Shasti coming during the increasing or growing phase of the moon. 

How to observe Shasti Vratam?
***************************

The Shasti fasting begins with sunrise. The fast is broken on the next day morning after praying to Lord Surya (Sun God). Most people observing the fast make it a point to visit Murugan Temple on this day. It is a complete fast in many places. But this might not be quite possible for many people due to job, health and other reasons. So many people take some sort of vegetarian food on this day. This is usually a single meal in the afternoon or night.

Many people opt for a fruit diet on the day. Some avoid solid food and in several parts of Southern India in Muruga temples, many devotees eat a single rice meal at noon given from the temple. The cooked rice is consumed without any major side dishes. The method of fasting differs from region to region. But all non-vegetarian food is avoided on the day.

Devotees listen to stories related to Skanda and reading of Skanda Puranan. Another activity during the day is the reciting of Kandha Shasti Kavasam.Fasting is not just abstaining from food but it also an attempt to instil positive thoughts.

Many people use fasting as a means to fight against anger, lust, impatience and other negative tendencies. All Vratas associated with Hindu religion is an attempt to realize the Brahmam.

Forget About Chong Wei, Here Are Malaysia's Best Olympic Medal Prospects

MUCH has been said on badminton ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei as Malaysia battle for medals at the London Olympics which begins on Friday.

This is understandable as Chong Wei is the brightest prospect in getting Malaysia's very first gold medal. After all, he is always up there together with China superstar Lin Dan.

Then badminton, first introduced at the Games in Barcelona in 1992, is the only sport thus far which has produced medals for Malaysia - four to be precise.

The first was a bronze in 1992 via the doubles pair of brothers Razif-Jalani Sidek.

The Malaysians improved on this four years later in Atlanta when the doubles pair of Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock won the silver. Not only that, Rashid Sidek also brought home a bronze then.

Of course, Chong Wei won the silver in 2008 in Beijing after being beaten by Lin Dan.

So as usual, expectations are high for badminton to return home with medals. In fact, the 29-year-old Chong Wei is gunning for gold, which is understandable as this is going to be his last Olympics.

I am praying I am wrong here but it will be pretty difficult for Chong Wei to fulfill his ultimate dream.

This is because he is not that fit and has not been preparing well for his assault in London – no thanks to the ankle injury he suffered during the Thomas Cup last May in Beijing.

This could have been avoided if only Chong Wei did not play in the tournament where Malaysia did not have much of a chance to win. It would have been better for him to take a break considering the vital mission he is having in London.

There will be more Thomas Cup action in the near future but the London Olympics is going to be the last chance for Chong Wei to strike gold.

And after him, there seems to be no one taking over his place for at least another five to six years.

Sorry... Malaysia were wrong strategically or tactically here.

Now team officials may say Chong Wei is recovering well from his injury and should be all ready for action in London. But looking at the developments he is set to still  have problems fitness wise.

The body language does not look too good either.

Considering the shape he is in at the moment, it is already an achievement for Chong Wei f he can at least make the semi-finals and take it from there.    

Chong Wei is expected to meet China's Chen Long for a place in the final - based on the draw and if everyone plays true to true form.

Things do not look rosy here as Chen Long looks menacing here.
 
There is also a hidden danger earlier in the form of Japanese Kenichi Tago, who obviously has been preparing well too. Remember this is the Olympics.

Chong Wei may struggle if he is not that fit and can find himself out of the last eight.
     
So a bronze is still good enough for Chong Wei.

The doubles pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong have not been given much chance by many to win a medal, let alone the glittering gold. This is understandable as they have not performing well in recent times.

But still, it won't be a surprise if they manage to deliver a medal, whatever color it may be. This pair are talented and experienced. They are there with the best as they have proven many times before.

Their main problem is mental strength and inability to cope with pressure in decisive moments. If they can improve on this aspect, then everything is possible. Let's support them, as well.

Diving is one sport which can see Malaysia winning a medal - especially via our very own star Pandelela Rinong in her pet event the 10m platform individual. There is also this chance as well in the 10m synchro where she will be partnering Leong Mun Yee.

Pandelela and Mun Yee are world class and they have been training hard for two months in China under coach Yang Zhunliang, who is happy their progress..

Let's cheer for them and also hope that the judges will be impartial in this subjective event.

Another sport which can finally produce a medal is track cycling with Azizulhasni Awang, also known as 'Pocket Rocket Man', to the fore. He is also world class and capable of delivering despite facing some grueling challenges.

The gutsy 24-year-old became the first Asian to win a world championship medal when he won the silver in the sprint in 2009. The following year, he won the world silver behind legend Chris Hoy in the keirin.

Just watch Azizulhasni in action.

All said, the feel-good factor this time at an Olympics is that Malaysia do have the chance to win medals and not just rely on badminton.

Source:http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/73831-forget-about-chong-wei-here-are-malaysias-best-olympic-medal-prospects.html

Effingham Estate land: MIC to build hostel, sports field

The controversial 1.2ha land near SJK Tamil Effingham in Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, will be used to build a sports field and hostel for needy Indian students, MIC president G Palanivel said today.

Palanivel, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the sports field could also be utilised by all Tamil schools in the area, besides benefiting SJK Tamil Effingham students.

The hostel could also be used by outstation Indian students on a visit to the Klang Valley, he added.

Palanivel said MIC would bear the cost of constructing the hostel and the sports field, which would start next year and once ready, would be managed by Yayasan Strategic Sosial (YSS).

Earlier, he presented a cheque for RM615,000 from the Prime Minister's Department's Implementation Coordination Unit to SJK Tamil Effingham headmistress S Jayam for the building of the school's community hall.

In his speech at the function, Palanivel said he would request another RM350,000 from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak for the community hall, and expected the money to be released in two weeks' time.
'The land will not be misused'

Palanivel also pledged another RM50,000 from the Community Builders Foundation, of which he is the chairman, and another RM10,000 as his personal contribution for the school to replace broken tables, chairs and roofs.

He said the 1.2ha piece of land would not be misused for political and personal purposes, but for community projects that would benefit the Indian students.

"We assure the people that this Bandar Utama land next to the school will not be misused. Certain quarters have been politicisng this issue.

"It just isn't right, playing politics with our children's education. The land will be used for charitable and community purposes," said Palanivel.

Among those present was SJK Tamil Effingham board of governors chairman Gana Pragasam.

Last May, the Return Effingham Land Action Team (Reflax), a movement comprising SJK Tamil Effingham pupils, parents, teachers and the alumni, staged a hunger strike to seek the return of 1.2 hectares of land that it said belonged to the school but was grabbed by the MIC.



Source- Bernama

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 48

Sedang aku bersendirian di luar istana selepas menghadiri upacara penyerahan wasiat, ayah mendatangiku. Kami pun duduk bersama-sama di bawah cahaya bulan menikmati keindahan pelangi lunar.

“Hanuman, maafkan aku atas segala tindakanku pada masa lalu. Aku faham betapa kecewanya kau atas kematian anak kau itu. Ada kalanya manusia biasa seperti aku mengambil tindakan yang tidak betul akibat hasutan suara hati yang terlalu mementingkan diri sendiri.”

Ayah meramas bahu kiriku. Bukankah elok jika perbuatan ini dilakukannya dengan menyebut aku sebagai anaknya? Apalah gunanya ayah menyerahkan Kerajaan Indus kepadaku sedangkan ayah tidak mengakui aku anaknya!

“Mengapa perlu diceritakan semua ini kepada saya? Saya hanyalah seekor kera putih …”

Ayah ketawa kecil sambil memegang tapak tanganku di antara jari-jemari kasarnya.

“Aku sudah menyedari kebolehan kau. Kau handal. Entah apalah yang telah aku lakukan tanpa sokongan kau selepas kematian Letchumanen dahulu. Aku pasti bahawa keturunan Dravida akan tetap mengenang kau sebagai lambang keberanian dan kesetiaan.”

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 47

Hanya kerana seorang wanita, banyak nyawa terkorban. Indrajit mati lantaran tindakan taat setianya yang berlebihan; biarpun dia sedar bahawa dia berada di pihak yang bersalah.

Matinya memikul dosa. Akan tetapi, semasa tubuh Indrajit jatuh menghempas bumi, dia menjeritkan nama bapanya. Bapa yang baginya telah membesarkannya dengan kasih-sayang.

Bukankah dia lebih bertuah berbanding aku? Kalau aku dijemput Yama sekarang ini pun, aku masih tidak berhak memanggil Rama sebagai ayahku. Kalau aku cuai, ayah dan ibu boleh terbakar hangus.
Begitulah. Harapanku agar segala-galanya pulih seperti yang aku harapkan setelah kematian Ravana tidak menjadi kenyataan.

Ayah seolah-olah lupa bahawa sebenarnya, segala malapetaka yang menimpa dirinya adalah balasan Tuhan akibat tindakannya sendiri pada suatu masa dahulu.

Sesudah aspirasinya tercapai, ayah semacam diselubungi rasa keteledoran. Kealpaan. Setelah memperoleh kembali isteri dan anaknya, Tilewi, ayah lupa bahawa penculikan ibu juga adalah lantaran tindakan mereka berdua dahulu.

‘Crime rate soaring in Brickfields’

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the government’s dogged insistence that crime rate nationwide is dropping, residents in Brickfields, particularly around Scott Road areas, are saying otherwise.

According to the Scott Central condominium’s residents association, the situation has become unbearable.
Committee chairman P Subash said the crime rate has soared in his area since the Brickfields police headquarters was shifted to Old Klang Road.

“Although the Jalan Travers police station is located nearby, sometimes they refuse to take our reports and tell us to go Old Klang Road instead.

“Now we are trying to get support from other condominium managements around this area. We are planning to meet Brickfields district police chief Wan Bari Abdul Wan Khalid to find a solution to their grouses, ” said Subash.

His sentiments was also shared by fellow committee member, Chandra Ram Prakash, 45, who said that many a time passers-by had asked for the condominium management’s CCTV footage to identify the snatch thieves marauding in the area.

“These people have asked for the CCTV footage to pass to the police [to help with] investigations,” said Chandra, who works as a contractor.

The man who drove women wild

There was time in Bollywood when music made stars out of mere men. Bollywood actor Rajesh Khanna, who died in Mumbai on Wednesday, was, in an important way, a product of melody. As The Hollywood Reporter rightly argued “what Beatlemania was to the West, Rajeshmania was to India”, the commonality being music of course.

The men who literally moulded Khanna into India’s undoubtedly first ever superstar were composers RD Burman and Laxmikant-Pyarelal and playback singer Kishore Kumar. Kumar’s career was diving dangerously down when Aradhana came in 1969, and with Khanna lisping “Meri Sapno Ki Rani” and riding in a Jeep on the Himalayan highways with Sharmila Tagore travelling in a toy train along the road, history was created.

Aradhana actually made Khanna into a real hero, and   songs in the movies that followed brightened the halo around him. Numbers like “Zindagi Kaise Hai Paheli” in Anand, “Zindagi Ka Safar” in Safar, “Yeh Sham Mastani” in Kati Patang and “Karvate Badalte Rahe” in “Aap Ki Kasam” helped Khanna to turn sorrow and even death into mesmeric romance. And got hearts beating wildly.

Women kissed the bonnet of his car leaving lipstick mark, and when they got a chance, they left it on his collar. They wrote passionate letters to him in blood that they drew from themselves. They married his photograph. And wept when he fell ill.

Rajesh Khanna, 'first superstar' of Bollywood, dies aged 69

Rajesh Khanna, often referred to as the “first superstar” of Bollywood and the Hindi film industry's biggest heart-throb in his day, died today after months of being unwell. He was 69.

Khanna, who had been sick since April with an undisclosed illness rumoured to be cancer, passed away at his family home in Mumbai after being discharged from hospital yesterday, reports said.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh led an outpouring of grief on Twitter where fans reminisced over his greatest movies and wished his wife and two daughters well.

“I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and countless fans and admirers of Shri Rajesh Khanna,” said Manmohan Singh’s official Twitter feed.

Known as ‘Kaka’ (uncle) to his fans, Khanna was not from an acting dynasty like many big Bollywood names. He was born in the city of Amritsar in the northwest of India in 1942 and enjoyed being on stage from his school days.

He made his film debut in ‘Aakhri Khat’ (The Last Letter) in 1966 but his big break came with runaway hit ‘Aaradhna’ (Worship) three years later, followed by a string of successes, with Khanna typically as the romantic lead.

His prominent hits of the 1970s included ‘Kati Patang’ (Broken Kite), ‘Anand’ (Happiness) and ‘Amar Prem’ (Everlasting Love).

In total he appeared in more than 150 Hindi films.

Hindraf Makkal Shakti loses appeal

Hindraf Makkal Shakti (Hindraf) loses its appeal today to set aside a High Court’s refusal to grant it leave to initiate a judicial review application pertaining to a decision in not approving and
registering the group as a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

The Court of Appeal’s three-member panel chaired by Abu Samah Nordin ruled that Hindraf’s appeal was academic in view of the Registrar of Societies’ (ROS) letter dated Sept 22 last year to reject its application to be registered as an NGO.

Justice Abu Samah said the court agreed with the decision of the High Court judge and that Hindraf had not shown that he had erred in law and in fact in his decision.

The panel, also comprising Justices Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin and Lim Yee Lan unanimously dismissed Hindraf’s appeal and ordered it to pay RM5,000 in legal costs.

Hindraf was appealing against the decision made by Judge Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim on June 30 last year denying it leave to file a judicial review application on the ground that the ROS had not made any decision pertaining to Hindraf’s registration.

Hindraf secretary P Ramesh in his application filed on May 25 last year, named the Premier, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, the Registrar of Societies (ROS) of Malaysia and the Federal Territory ROS as respondents.

Ramesh sought a certiorari order to set aside the decision of the respondents presumed to be given on April 24 last year and a mandamus order to compel the respondents to approve and register Hindraf as an NGO.

Hindraf claimed the respondents had refused to reply to its application to be approved and registered as NGO.

In his supporting affidavit, Ramesh said the application to register Hindraf as an NGO was made on Oct 2, 2009 and that the application was made based on the rights of freedom and equality as provided under Article 10(1)(C) and Article 8 of the federal constitution.

The panel accepted the submission by senior federal counsel Noor Hisham Ismail representing the respondents that the appeal was academic in view of the ROS’ letter.

He said Hindraf’s application for leave to file a judicial review was premature.

Lawyer P Uthayakumar, who is also Hindraf’s legal adviser, argued that the ROS’ letter was not in the record of appeal as the letter came after the High Court delivered its decision.

Uthayakumar said Hindraf would bring the matter up to the Federal Court.

Source : Bernama

Two H1N1 patients die in Kerala, India

Two persons, who tested positive for H1N1, died in the southern Indian state of Kerala even as 14 more swine flu cases have been reported, Press Trust of India quoted officials as saying yesterday.

According to a release from the Directorate of Health Services, a 59-year-old man of Pallimoola in Thrissur district died in a private hospital on July 10.

He tested positive for the swine flu virus and the death was caused by broncho pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), it said.

In another case, a 42-year-old woman from Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district, whose H1NI status was confirmed, died in a private hospital in Kozhikoide on Saturday, also due to ARDS, it said.

According to the release, 14 more cases of H1N1 have been reported since Saturday, taking the total number of afflicted patients to 359 since January this year.

- Bernama

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 46

Bibasenam memegang bahu Rama. Letchumanen sudah tidak terkapai-kapai lagi.

Aku?

“Ravana melepaskan panah Aanavam,” Bibasenam menjelaskan. “Ia hanya membunuh sasaran yang terlalu mementingkan diri sendiri. …”

Aku? Tiada bekas luka pada tubuh. Hanya darah yang mengalir keluar dari tubuh Tamnat Gangga tadi.
Ravana kembali mara di atas rata ajaibnya.

“Kau telah menderhaka, Sita!” Rama menjerit. “Kau telah menipu! Kau sengaja mahu aku mati!”

Apa yang ayah cakap ini? Aku memegang lengan ayah; cuba meredakan keberangannya.

“Dia telah menipu, Hanuman. Dia menipu kononnya nyawa Ravana terletak pada lubang hidung. …”
Ayah tersedu. Bukan ini masanya untuk menangis. Bukan ini masanya untuk menyerah kalah.

Ravana semakin mara.

“Bertenang. Letchumanen memanah kepala yang ketujuh dari sebelah kiri. Bukankah menurut Sita, nyawa Ravana tersimpan di dalam lubang hidung sebelah kiri pada kepala Ravana yang ketujuh dari sebelah kanan?”

“Benarkah begitu, Hanuman?”

Ayah kembali bertenaga. Dia mengangkat busur. Diisinya anak panah. Diacunya pada Ravana yang semakin hampir.

Ayah membusur. Ravana terkejut melihat anak panah yang tiba-tiba terbang melayang. Dielaknya. Terlambat.

Panah menikam lubang hidung sebelah kiri pada kepala Ravana yang ketujuh dari sebelah kanan. Ravana meronta-ronta. Jeritannya hampir memekakkan telinga kami, kaum kera.

Ravana mencabut anak panah itu. Darah mengalir deras. Lima tangan Ravana menghayun syamsir. Lima tangan memegang busur. Lima tangan  memasukkan anak panah. Lima tangan memacu kuda yang menarik rata.

Semakin menghampiri Rama, Bibasenam dan aku.

“Kau telah mengkhianati cinta kita, Sita,” bisik ayah sambil melepaskan busur dari tangan.Ravana terus mengamuk. Para tentera Rama dan Ravana terpaku melihat kegentingan itu.


Ayah tidak boleh menyerah kalah. Pantang keturunan Dravida mati sebelum ajal!

Aku ambil busur ayah. Aku letakkan pada tapak tangan ayah. Aku ambil anak panah. Aku hulurkan kepada ayah.

Pantang kaum Dravida menyerah tanpa berjuang hingga ke hembusan nafas terakhir! Hingga titisan darah terakhir.

“Cubalah sekali lagi. Cubalah sekali lagi,” rayuku.

Ayah mengangkat busur; mencari sasaran.

“Lihat!” Jerit Bibasenam tiba-tiba sebelum ayah sempat membusur.

Ravana sedang meronta-ronta kesakitan. Kemudian jatuh dari rata ajaibnya. Gugur menimpa bumi Langkapuri.

Alam membisu seketika.

Benarlah kata-kata Indrajit bahawa Tuhan tidak mungkin akan memberikan kemenangan kepada pihak yang bersalah.

Benarlah juga kata Sita bahawa nyawa Ravana terletak di dalam lubang hidung sebelah kiri pada kepalanya yang ketujuh dari sebelah kanan.


Source :http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/15/hanuman-suara-hati-%E2%80%93-bahagian-46/

Who should the Indians vote for - PAKATAN OR BN?

The Indian community is in the news again in the run-up to the forthcoming 13^th General Election. They are caught between voting against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), as in 2008, and voting for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) at the forthcoming 13^th GE.

The crux of the Indian plight in Malaysia is that the community has been effectively disenfranchised since independence in 1957, but this fact has yet to be acknowledged by all as being at the root of all evil for the community in Malaysia.

(Malaysiana: Indians in a plight – stateless, voiceless, poor and under siege by the state, Malays have a dilemma -- in power since 1957 including colonizing Sabah and Sarawak but unable to ever better the Chinese -- Chinese have a paradox -- richer than others and getting richer but still 2^nd class citizens).

Mother of all Evils – not even one Indian seat


The Indian community, despite having nearly one million of their numbers on the electoral rolls, doesn’t have even one state or parliamentary seat. Therein lies the mother of all evils.

Sabah in contrast with 800,000 voters has 60 state seats and 26 parliamentary seats including Labuan – still not enough given the size of the state vis a vis Malaya and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement but that – imbalance – is not the issue here and will have to be taken up separately.

Meanwhile, the 6,000-odd overwhelmingly Malay voters in Putrajaya have a seat in Parliament. In short, 6,000 have a voice in Parliament vs one million left voiceless.

Likewise, there are many other Putrajayas in Malaysia – none non-Malay needless to say -- where the number of voters on the electoral rolls numbers anything between 5,000 and 15, 000.

It’s these Putrajayas, it has been reckoned, which will ensure that the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) can win at least 112 parliamentary seats at the forthcoming General Election, the 13^th, and with just 19 per cent or 1.89 million of the votes cast out of 10-million odd (2008 figure) and go on to form the Federal Government with a simple majority.

BN doesn’t need Indian votes


So, the BN in fact can afford to sit pretty and doesn’t need to bother with the Indian votes which would be a bonus if and when they come in.

Indian voters can be pawned off with crumbs and shameless excuses pending the Final Solution.
Umno after having neutralized, isolated and marginalized the Indians through disenfranchisement and other aspects of criminalization of the state apparatus is currently set to “eliminate and exterminate” the community – including thorough Islamisation and the Syariah Court – and ultimately wipe them off the face of the Earth as a community in Malaysia.

The stages, to recap: criminalization, demonization, dehumanization, neutralization, isolation, marginalisation, “elimination and, finally, extermination”. Already, the civil service has been “ethnically cleansed” of Indians to a great extent.

This is Umno’s Final Solution to deal with the “Indian problem in Malaysia” before turning its attention to the bigger “Chinese problem”. The latter involves, as a first step, persuading them to stop eating pork if possible and stop them talking incessantly about mother tongue education after pawning them off with excuses after excuses since 1957.

One thing at a time. The Malay-led Peninsular Malaysia-based national Opposition knows the score and is crying foul even before the 13^th GE as seen in its backing for the Bersih movement which is screaming itself hoarse for free and fair elections.

Indians need free and fair elections the most


Bersih, however, is all about the Opposition coming to power despite an Indian face, and doesn’t see that it’s the Indians more than anybody else who need free and fair elections. So why should the Elections Commission care about the Indians?

Instead, there’s much hot air being ventilated on “inclusiveness” to bring the Indians into the mainstream so that they can get an identity – think stateless – and enjoy the fruits of development and materialism.
This will never happen in a million years.

One of the most pathetic excuses until of late was that the ruling party must not be seen among the Malays as giving in too much to the Indians.

How does giving in too much arise when even the little that the Indians have are being taken away from them as evident in the legal and medical professions, to cite two bastions of Indian dominance?
Nevertheless, the battle lines have been drawn in a new struggle by both sides of the political divide for Indian votes, especially those in the critical 67 parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia where the community decides.

Both sides are taking and/or have taken their respective positions.The Opposition needs Indian votes to come to power.The BN doesn’t need Indian votes to stay in power but would definitely need them to win back its coveted two-thirds majority in Parliament.


The Final Solution proverbial Sword of Damocles


Besides, even if it can’t woo back the Indians, the BN wants to ensure the community does not vote for the Opposition. It may do this by placing a “moratorium” on the Final Solution and using this as the proverbial Sword of Damocles.

Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, demonstrating that old habits die hard, and to reiterate, is into even more hype than usual, cosmetics, gimmicks and propaganda in his bid to woo Indian votes as a bonus.
We don’t hear this time the usual Umno line that nothing can be given to the Indians lest the Malays complain, whatever that means, and lest the ruling coalition lose their (Malay) votes. But it was okay in the past to deny the Indians and even take away from them what little that they had accumulated through centuries of hard work.

So, generous allocations are being announced this time by Najib for the Indian community but with very little indication that such funds have indeed been released.

The 90 per cent Malay majority civil service, indoctrinated by the racist Biro Tata Negara set up by Mahathir Mohamad when he was Prime Minister, will never release any funds to the Indian community, and if at all, in bits and pieces and grudgingly to MIC leaders only.In any case, it’s a case of too little too late.


BN’s old song was Indian votes don’t matter


Umno’s tragedy is that it didn’t realise how important Indian votes were until the 2008 General Elections when 85 per cent of the Indian votes and most of the 67 parliamentary seats and related state seats fell to the Opposition. This was confirmed by MIC President S. Samy Vellu in a recent interview.Samy’s excuse was that he tried his best to bring up Indian issues before the Federal Cabinet but was routinely brushed aside -- “Indian votes don’t matter” – and convinced that he could not do anything for his disenfranchised countrymen, he focused on the next best objective: at least getting his share of the crumbs from the Umno table.


He did distribute some of these crumbs to the people around him. There was not enough to go around and so he faced numerous challenges to his crown all under the guise of working for the betterment of the Indian community.

MIC getting carried away by its propaganda on “returning” Indians


Post-Samy MIC, in publicly consoling themselves, keeps self-servingly repeating that Indians are returning to the BN. Their latest figures put Indian support for BN at 65 per cent but obviously such a high figure is a figment of their imagination.

If 65 per cent, the BN in that case should have no problems in wresting back many of the 67 parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia where Indians decide and which fell to the Opposition.The party attributes the return of the Indians to the community being convinced by Najib’s leadership especially after he asked them for their nambikei (trust in Tamil) and vishwas (trust in Punjabi) in him.


Najib's Indian vocabulary either ran out after that or he doesn't know or care that other Indians exist as well in the country. These include Malayalees, Sinhalese, Telugus, Gujeratis, Sindhis, Bengalis, Pathans and Gurkhas, among others. These smaller groups, unlike the Tamils, are almost wholly urban.

Votes from smaller communities can make a big difference


All things being equal, the major communities being equally united and divided, a manageable 1, 500 to 3, 500 votes in a seat from one of these smaller communities can spell the respectable difference between victory and defeat in a cliff-hanger.The Tamils, like the Malays and Chinese, may be too large in numbers to unite under one platform.


However, the Chinese proved this theory wrong by uniting under the Dap in 2008 and show no signs of splintering again, it's still 50 : 50 whether the Tamils will follow suit as in 2008, while the Malays will definitely prove the theory right as in 2008 when they will continue to remain with four political parties i.e. Umno, PKR, Pas and Dap.

Again, the Indians and Tamils in particular, are not in sufficient numbers to play the numbers game unlike the Chinese and Malays. The Malays can in fact split three ways and still stay in the political reckoning across both sides of the political divide.Indian champions such as the newly-formed Indian Rights Action Force or INDRAF are left to wrestle “heroically” with Indian issues - a lonely cry in the political wilderness and facing any number of traitors willing to sell their souls to the devil himself for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver.




Source : http://malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=36540:who-should-the-indians-vote-for-pakatan-or-bn?&Itemid=2

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 45

Tentera Vanara datang mengerumuni kami dengan linangan air mata simpati.

Ravana makin mara di atas rata ajaib. Rama dan Letchumanen terus menanti kedatangan Ravana. Sepuluh kepala Ravana menyala. Lima tangan memegang syamsir ajaib. Lima tangan bersedia untuk membusur. Lima tangan memacu tali rata berkuda sepuluh. Lima tangan memegang ekor anak panah.

Rama sedia membusur. Dia mahu anak panah mengena tepat pada sasarannya. Biar kali ini kepala Ravana tidak tumbuh kembali. Biar kali ini tangan Ravana tidak tumbuh semula. Biar nafas Ravana terhenti. Biar dia mampus.

Letchumanen turut sedia membusur bila-bila masa. Sesekali dia melihat pergerakan tangan Rama dengan ekor mata. Kemudian pandangannya tajam tertumpu pada Ravana yang makin melayang menghampiri mereka.

Saat kematian Ravana sudah semakin hampir. Ravana pasti tumpas pada kali ini.

Tiba-tiba Letchumanen membusur! Aneh. Mengapa dia tergamak memanah mendahului abangnya?

Mungkinkah kealpaan menguasai diri? Mungkinkah Letchumanen mahu menjadi wira yang membunuh Ravana?

Kalau boleh, aku tidak mahu mempercayai apa yang baru berlaku. Ke mana hilangnya kesetiaan diri Letchumanen yang Rama peragung-agungkan selama ini?

Anak panah terus melayang. Rama terpaku melihat tindakan adiknya. Anak panah terus melayang. Rama terpaku melihatnya melayang. Bibasenam juga begitu. Aku turut terpaku melihat anak panah itu melayang.
Mata Ravana terbeliak. Anak panah mengena lubang hidung sebelah kiri pada kepala Ravana yang ketujuh. Ravana meronta-ronta.

Letchumanen tersenyum. Senyum angkuh. Dipandangnya Rama yang masih terkejut. Dipandangnya aku yang masih terpaku di sisi mayat Tamnat Gangga.

Ravana pula ketawa. Ketawa angkuh. Ketawa mengejek. Rama terkejut. Letchumanen menjadi pucat.
Ravana melepaskan panah Aanavam. Letchumanen tidak sempat bertindak. Rama tidak sempat membalas. Anak panah itu terus melayang. Ravana ketawa megah.

Rama tidak harus kehilangan Letchumanen. Rama masih memerlukan adiknya. Aku mesti bertindak. Aku mesti!

Anak panah sudah semakin menghampiri Letchumanen. Letchumanen berpaling untuk berlari. Tapi anak panah sudah terlalu hampir padanya.

Aku melompat ke arah Letchumanen. Aku menahan panah Aanavam. Aku sanggup bergadai nyawa demi menyelamatkan orang yang ayah sayang.

Saat itu aku dapat merasakan anak panah menembusi dada kiri. Selamat tinggal, ayah. Ah, pada saat ini pun aku tidak dapat memanggilnya begitu.

Rama berlari ke arah kami. Letchumanen jatuh. Panah Aanavam kelihatan menerobos jantungnya dari arah belakang. Letchumanen terkapai-kapai.

Aku? Aku berdiri kaku.

Ravana menghentikan rata ajaibnya. Dia ketawa angkuh melihat keadaan Letchumanen.
“Hanuman, akar wasliwayan! Akar wasliwayan!” Rama menjerit separuh mati di sisi adik kandungnya.


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/14/hanuman-suara-hati-%E2%80%93-bahagian-45/

'Battle against Interlok may not be over'

INTERVIEW In this final part of a three-part interview, Tamil language activist Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim sounds the alarm that the battle to keep Interlok out of schools appears to just in hibernation.
He said that this is because despite numerous requests the government has yet to give an assurance that Interlok will be kept out of the Malay literature syllabus in schools.

Thasleem, who is National Indian Rights Action Team (Niat) chairperson, said he has also written to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and MIC president G Palanivel asking for written commitment on the matter.

The letters were despatched in mid-January this year, but no response has been forthcoming so far.

"What we heard - and I don't know if this is reliable as it has not been confirmed - that as far as three months ago, the books collected back were not destroyed," he told Malaysiakini in an interview last week.

Niat, then known as the National Interlok Action Team, had campaigned since January last year for the novel to be removed from the Malay literature syllabus because of its racist undertones.

The cabinet then decided that Interlok would no longer be used as the Form 5 textbook beginning this school year, replacing it with another novel, Konserto Terakhir.
"The new book is the one they used from 2000 to 2010. They are using the previous book again, so what is going to stop them from using Interlok again, at some point in the future?

"Why is the minister so hesitant to say that these books have been destroyed?" asked the Tamil education activist.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/203380

'Rectify injustices suffered by Indian M'sians'

INTERVIEW National Indian Rights Action Team (Niat) chairperson Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim is not prepared to take up political office unless there is an affirmative action policy to help the Indian Malaysian community.

He was asked to comment on speculation tipping him as a candidate for menteri besar in his home state of Perak.

Thasleem confirmed that Pakatan Rakyat had approached him to contest either a state or parliamentary seat in the next general election, but that the possibility of appointment as menteri besar had not been mentioned.

Nevertheless, he turned down the offer.

“To me it’s very simple. Unless a clear cut affirmative policy for the Indian community is in place, I’m not interested,” he said, given that he has been crusading for this for more than 30 years.

Best known for spearheading the campaign against the use of the novel Interlok for Malay literature in school, the Tamil education activist said he was prepared to toe any party line - as long as it was “fair, equitable and just”, but said the injustices suffered by the community have not abated.

The Economist: Attacks on Ambiga may hurt PM

The persistent attacks against Bersih 2.0 co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan might tarnish Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, said influential international magazine The Economist.

In an article that appeared in this week's Asia edition, the magazine said Umno underlings' demonsing campaign is to likely to undo Najib's effort to brand himself as a liberal champion of multiracial politics.

The magazine notes that Najib failed to speak up against the attacks, but at the most only mildly reprimanded Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz who wanted Ambiga to be hanged.

"When under pressure, the 'warlords' of Umno who constitute its nationalist backbone have often drawn on racial politics.

"(They) play up to Malay voters the supposed threats that Chinese and Indians pose to their institutionalised privileges in jobs and education.

"Under Mr Najib people had hoped for something better. Ms Ambiga (left) accuses him of being 'wet' for failing to take a stronger stand.

"His belated rebuttal of Mr Mohamad merely urged MPs not to say things that might 'hurt the feelings of other races'," read the article.

Mohamad was among the long list of examples the article drew on to illustrate how those aligned to the federal government have been targeting her of late.

On June 26, Mohamad had asked in Parliament if Ambiga should be sentenced to hang for treason. He grudgingly retracted the remark two days later.

Indian votes affected?

Other examples cited by the magazine includes a group of Malay burgers flipping beef burgers in front of her house.

"Silly stuff, though still offensive to a Hindu vegetarian.

"Sillier still, a group of ex-soldiers marched on her house and shook their buttocks at it, calling her a subversive," the article said.

The article quickly established that the attacks against Ambiga are overtly racist.

"Ms Ambiga believes the attacks on her, all by Malay men, are racist.

"She points out that her Malay co-leader of Bersih, a famous writer called A Samad Said, has never been targeted," the article said.

It noted that the Indian community had reacted negatively to the pressures faced by Ambiga, suggesting that BN's Indian vote may be affected.

"After the BN's Indian vote fell at the last election in 2008, Mr Najib worked hard to court Indians. Now, that may have been to little avail," the article added.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/203496

Gov't anti-Bersih leaflets making rounds in KL cabs?

Government-issued anti-Bersih leaflets are among those believed to be currently circulating in taxis in the Klang Valley.

According to one passenger, Adrian Anthony, the leaflet was among many others by the Information Department distributed in a taxi he hailed this morning.

“There was a specially made casing with the TR1MA logo, which had all the leaflets,” he said, referring to the Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia programme recently launched by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Contacted today, Adrian said the casing was at the back of the front passenger seat and that the taxi he was in had a TR1MA sticker on its window.

“(The sticker) had Najib’s face on the it,” said Adrian, who said that he had hailed the taxi at Damansara Utama at about 10.30am today.

The leaflets, photographs of which are now circulating through social media, had used photographs from the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28 with the caption “Hidup biar beradab, bukan biadap!” (Live courteously, not rudely!).

The photographs used were that of the tail end of the rally, where pockets of protesters allegedly attacked a police patrol vehicle.

There is also a photograph which depicted tens of thousands of people in yellow at the corner of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Tun Perak.

MIC lost relevance 38 years ago, says Niat chief

INTERVIEW The MIC lost its relevance in politics and to the Indian community as far back as 1974, says National Indian Rights Action Team (Niat) chairperson Thasleem Mohd Ibrahim.

"It started becoming irrelevant much earlier, but (former MIC president) S Samy Vellu had his own way of making the party appeared relevant," Thasleem told Malaysiakini in an interview last week.

His statement contrasts with the popular view that S Samy Vellu, who assumed office in 1979, was the cause of MIC's downfall, culminating in the 2007 Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally, which brought some 30,000 protesters onto the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Thasleem, a long-time Tamil education activist, claimed that the MIC in 1974 forwarded a memorandum to the Cabinet Committee on Education, but its proposals got nowhere.

The memorandum, he said, called for the upgrading of Tamil schools and syllabi, better teacher training and residential schools to be set up to "enable Indian students to overcome the debilitating effects of their socio-economic environment."

"If the cabinet committee did not agree to this, why didn't (then MIC president) V Manickavasagam walk out of the Alliance Party?" he asked, adding that the time then was ripe because MIC had no competition for Indian support.

MGR – the legend lives on in Ma

FMT LETTER: From Richard Kamalanathan, via e-mail

It was by perchance that I happened to be in the vicinity of of Wisma Tun Sambanthan on a pleasant Sunday evening. People were flocking into the auditorium and curiously I followed and was informed that The Selangor and Federal Territory MGR Fans Association was celebrating the 20th anniversary of the legendary South Indian actor M G Ramachandran popularly known by his initials as MGR.

As was rightly said by the compere, Devarajan; and as he was compendiously introducing the need for such a programme, it was like telling a child the taste of an ice cream or a cookie, MGR needed no introduction amidst the sprawling spectators, who completely reduced every gap for movement in  the K R Soma auditorium by their propinquity and reverence for the actor whose demise 20 years ago had had  left behind the prosody of verses and songs though of yesteryear yet reminded the motivation of life for many of the older members, who organised and graced this particular occasion. There were some datuks amongst them, who sat amidst the crowd and endorsed the legacy of MGR in his incessant call for  duty, integrity and discipline.

The propulsive event commenced with the Praise for Tamil. This practice dates back to two thousand years, whence every Tamil or Tamil function must needs to praise the mother tongue of the race that has survived all kinds of persecution and pestilence and yet never gave up its culture and language. The praise was very unique. Seven artists all dressed in various styles depicting MGR danced in rendition of the famous song Oru Thai Makkal Naam Enbom (Let us all say we are children of one mother).

Return Waytha's passport, Malaysian gov't told

Hindu rights pressure group Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has called on the Malaysian government to return its chairperson P Waythamoorthy’s passport to facilitate his return from exile in the  United Kingdom.

Hindraf’s national advisor, N Ganesan, said Waythamoorthy plans to be on Malaysian soil on Aug 1, “with or without” his passport.

“He would like to return home with dignity and full rights as a citizen of this country and as the chairperson of Hindraf,” Ganesan told Malaysiakini.

“Therefore we demand that the Malaysian High Commission in London immediately issue him a passport,” added Ganesan, who is based in Penang.

Ganesan (right) said it was the previous prime minister and then-home minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who made the decision to withhold his colleague’s travel document.

He then called on current Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to rescind the decision and instruct the competent and relevant Foreign Ministry officials to immediately issue him a new passport.

He added that Waythamoorthy has announced his intention of returning to Malaysia after more than four and a half years in exile in the UK.This exile was imposed on Waythamoorthy by the Malaysian authorities, he stressed.


‘It will save all the embarrassment’


Ganesan was referring to Waythamoorthy’s passport being withdrawn by the UK Border Agency on April 28, 2008, at Gatwick Airport, UK.

It was withdrawn on instruction from the Malaysian authorities via a letter dated March 17 the same year.
Ganesan reiterated that Waythamoorthy plans to be on Malaysian soil on Aug 1 although he may not be issued his travel documents by then.

“It will save all the embarrassment and problems associated with this to all concerned, if  the Malaysian government will issue him a passport in the amicable manner that we request,” said Ganesan.

“He has since utilised the time in exile to make the necessary preparations for the historic suit against the British government on behalf of all the marginalised and poor Indians in Malaysia,” he added.

“This is for the role the British government played in their current depressed and marginalised state in Malaysia,” he stressed.

Ganesan said that since the case has been registered on July 2, Waythamoorthy is ready to return to Malaysia to continue his human rights work from within the country.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/203062

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 44

“Hanuman, sudah kau dapatkan petua daripada Sita?” Ayah menghampiri kami sedang Ravana masih mengamuk.

“Lihatlah, wahai Rama! Anak saya sedang berperang dengan maut. Apa yang harus saya lakukan?”

“Tiada apa-apa yang yang boleh kau lakukan. Kita sudah kehabisan akar wasliwayan,” ayah menjawab.
Aku memeluk Tamnat Gangga. Darahnya banyak yang mengalir keluar lalu melekat di dadaku.

“Sudah! Apa petua yang Sita berikan?”

“Tamnat Gangga anak saya! Apa yang perlu saya buat untuk menyelamatkan nyawanya, wahai Rama?”

“Biarkan sahaja. Kita tidak akan kehilangan apa-apa dengan kematian seekor kera.” Ayah bagaikan tidak mengendahkan perasaanku. “Apa yang Sita beritahu?”

Ravana semakin mara di atas rata ajaib.

Aku tersandar lemah pada makam Tamnat Gangga. Aku cuba menghentikan tangisanku kerana bimbang kalau-kalau penjaga kubur itu nampak.

Tapi kali ini aku sudah tidak dapat mengawal air mata yang gugur menimpa makam anakku. Setiap kali aku terkenang akan kejadian itu, setiap kali itulah juga aku benar-benar kecewa dengan sikap ayah yang meminta aku membiarkan sahaja anakku mati.

Apakah pada pandangan ayah, nyawa seekor kera tidak bernilai langsung? Lupakah ayah bahawa dia dan ibu sendiri pernah menjadi kera sebelum melahirkan aku?

Tidakkah sedarkah ayah bahawa kera juga ada perasaan? Tidakkah ayah ingat bahawa semasa Letchumanen mahu memanah ibu yang menjelma menjadi kera dahulu, ayah telah datang mempertahankannya? Bukankah itu tanda kasih?

Sehingga kini aku masih dapat membayangkan kejadian itu: Letchumanen mengangkat busur Rama. Dimasukkannya panah. Diacunya tepat ke arah Sita. Rama menyerang dari belakang. Letchumanen menangkap Rama. Rama meronta. Letchumanen melepaskan Rama jatuh ke dalam telaga. Sita berlari pantas ke arahnya. Rama jatuh ke dalam telaga berair keruh. Sita turut serta.

Sedih hatiku pada setiap kali memikirkan bagaimana ayah sampai hati untuk tidak mengambil kisah tentang Tamnat Gangga yang berperang dengan maut.

Sebaliknya, ayah terus mendesakku agar menceritakan petua daripada Sita. Dengan perasaan sedih, aku pun menceritakannya.

Rama dan Letchumanen berlalu setelah kuceritakan petua tersebut. Tinggallah aku dan Tamnat Gangga. Apa yang patut aku lakukan, anakku?

“Siapakah itu yang tiada rasa belas kasihan, ayah?”

“Rama.” Aku tersedu.

“Anak Dasaratha?”

Aku memandang Tamnat Gangga. Dia melutut sambil meletakkan kedua-dua tangan pada dada kiri. Aku mengangguk lemah.

“Ayah lebih mulia daripada—”

Tamnat Gangga jatuh terkulai di kakiku.

“Anakku!”

Untuk inikah kita dipertemukan? Untuk berpisah?


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/08/hanuman-suara-hati-%E2%80%93-bahagian-44/

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 43

Aku bergegas keluar dari bilik. Aku mahu mendapatkan Tamnat Gangga. Aku akan membawanya pergi. Akan aku tunjukkan kepada ayah.

Mungkin kemudian ayah akan mengakui siapa aku sebenarnya.

“Ayah!”

Tamnat Gangga berlari masuk. Dipeluknya aku pada leher. Kemudian di belakangnya hinggap sebatang tombak!

“Anakku!”

Datang sebatang lagi tombak. Aku sambut. Aku lepaskan kembali ke arah raksasa pengawal istana.
“Ayah. …”

Aku memapah Tamnat Gangga. Untuk inikah aku diketemukan dengan anakku? Untuk dia menggantikan tempatku menerima tusukan tombak musuh?

“Ayah, tinggalkanlah hamba di sini. Pergilah ayah meneruskan tanggungjawab ayah.”
“Tidak, anakku!”

Aku mencabut tombak yang hampir mengena jantung Tamnat Gangga. Aku menuntunnya keluar dari istana Ravana. Aku membawa anakku terbang ke tempat Rama.

Air mataku bersatu dengan darah anakku lalu jatuh menimpa bumi Langkapuri yang dengan rakus segera menyerapnya.

Perjalanan kami terasa amat jauh. Aku seperti sedang terbang di titik yang sama sahaja. Istana Ravana sudah lama kami tinggalkan. Tapi kubu Rama masih tidak kelihatan.

Tamnat Gangga mengerang. Setiap kali nadinya berdenyut, setiap kali itulah juga darah tersembur keluar dari bekas tikaman pada tubuhnya.

Anakku! Jangan tinggalkan ayah. Aku sudah kehilangan segala-galanya. Aku sudah kehilangan isteri. Aku kehilangan kasih ayah. Aku kehilangan kasih ibu. Aku tidak sanggup kehilangan anakku pula.
Aku memeluk erat Tamnat Gangga.

“Bertenang, anakku. Kita akan segera sampai di tempat Rama. Ayah akan mengubati luka ini dengan ubat akar wasliwayan. Kau belum tahu kemujaraban akar itu, anakku. Ia dapat menyembuhkan segala macam luka. Kau akan sembuh dengan segera. Bertenanglah. Ingat akan Tuhan.”

Ah! Mengapa perjalanan terasa terlalu jauh?

Darah Tamnat Gangga dan air mataku terus jatuh mewarnai tanah Langkapuri.

Di kejauhan, kelihatan kubu Rama. Ravana kelihatan sedang terbang menggunakan rata ajaibnya. Ayah sedang menepis serangan. Letchumanen sedang memberi arahan kepada para tentera.

Bibasenam menjadi penasihat kepada ayah. Surgiwa pula sedang merawat tentera yang cedera. Ratusan mayat kaum Vanara terdampar di sana sini.

“Kita sudah sampai, anakku!”

Aku mendarat di sisi Letchumanen.

“Letchumanen, berikan ubat akar wasliwayan!”

“Sudah kehabisan, Hanuman.”

Aduh! Mengapa pula pada waktu begini? Aku telah membawa akar wasliwayan untuk mengubati tentera Dravida dan Vanara yang cedera. Akan tetapi, apabila sampai pada ketika menyelamatkan nyawa anakku sendiri, mengapa akar itu harus habis?

Untuk memaksa aku melihat kematian anakku sendiri?


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/07/hanuman-suara-hati-%E2%80%93-bahagian-43/

Ex-Bukit Jalil estate workers to meet PM on July 10

Former Bukit Jalil estate worker families will get their long sought-after meeting with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on July 10, next Tuesday.

The families have sent numerous letters requesting Najib’s help since 2011, but have never received any final word on their situation.

Finally, after camping outside the Prime Minister’s Office for two days in May, they were promised a meeting with the prime minister himself.

The meeting’s date was subsequently confirmed in a phone call from the PMO, said Ladang Bukit Jalil action committee treasurer K Balakrishnan when contacted by Malaysiakini.

A letter was sent to the PMO yesterday to request that the residents be allowed to send five representatives, but their request was declined in another phone call today.

Only three residents will be allowed to represent the group, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general S Arutchelvan will not be allowed to take part in the proceedings, said Balakrishnan.

They had wanted Arutchelvan to act as an adviser to the group during the meeting, but the PMO objected to his presence on the grounds that he was not one of the residents.

However, Balakrishnan is still hopeful that Najib will help resolve their issues, calling on him to emulate his late father and former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein.

“He is always saying nambikei... We expect our problems to be solved by the prime minister,” he said in reference to their request for four acres of land for housing.

After the estate’s land was acquired by the government in 1980, the families continued working as rubber tappers as the government sold off the land portion by portion to private developers.

Only 26 acres of the original 1,800 acres remain, and the families have been fighting off eviction notices from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) since 2007 as most of them refused the government’s offer of low-cost flats as compensation.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/202878

Pakatan leaders used me, says dad

PETALING JAYA: A father who lost his daughter to a freak accident in 2009 at the Kuala Dipang 1Malaysia camp has taken several Pakatan Rakyat leaders to task for allegedly manipulating his plight to seek justice.

T Nathan, who lost his daughter Dinadevi to the accident, slammed his own lawyer and Perak DAP vice-chairman A Sivanesan, for allegedly making money and gaining political mileage from the case.

Dinadevi, 11, along with M Devatharshini, 11, and V Divyashree, 12, drowned after a suspension bridge at the Kuala Dipang 1Malaysia camp gave way, causing them to fall into the Kampar river that flowed below.

The kids were on a four-day 1Malaysia camp organised by the Education Ministry to foster better ties between the various races in the country.

Soon after the incident, many Pakatan leaders were quick to condemn the Barisan Nasional government for its negligence on the matter.

Sivanesan, it was reported, had offered free legal aid to the families of victims in their effort to seek justice from the government over the incident.

On Nov 20, 2009, the families had filed a RM105 million suit alleging negligence on the part of 10 parties including the government.

However the case was settled out of court and FMT learnt that each family received RM100,000 in compensation.

However, soon after the out-of-court settlement, Sivanesan allegedly sent an invoice to the families claiming RM19,080 from each of them as a legal fees.

Speaking to FMT, Nathan said sending the invoice was unfair as Sivanesan himself had gone on record to say that he would provide free legal aid for them.

Manchester United picks NYSE for IPO

LONDON: Manchester United Ltd picked the New York Stock Exchange to make its market debut, ending months of speculation over where the world’s best-supported soccer club would list.

The former English soccer champions pulled a planned US$1 billion listing in Singapore because of market turmoil. It had earlier eyed a Hong Kong IPO.

Thomson Reuters publication IFR reported last month that the football club had dropped its plans for an Asian listing in favor of a US listing.

Manchester United has a global fan base of 659 million, according to a survey commissioned by the club and carried out last year by market researcher Kantar. Almost half of United’s supporters were in Asia-Pacific.

“It remains to be seen how much the football club is going to benefit in the US where the sport is not very popular … The perfect place for it to have listed should have been London,” Jay Ritter, a University of Florida IPO expert told Reuters.

The club, founded in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR Football Club, plays its home games at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester.

The club’s American proprietors, the Glazer family, are well known in the United States as owners of American football team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

However, they have faced opposition from United fans after taking over the club in 2005 in a leveraged buyout that left it saddled with hefty debt repayments.

The club’s total debt as on March 31 was 423.3 million pounds (US$663.67 million), according to the filing.

It intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay debt.

“It is going to come down to the valuation. US investors are not going to jump on it right away,” Josef Schuster, founder of Chicago-based financial services firm IPOX Schuster LLC.

IPO details

Manchester United filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday to raise up to $100 million in an initial public offering of its Class A ordinary shares.

The Glazer family will hold class B shares, which will have 10 votes each, representing 67 percent of the voting power of all shareholders, effectively keeping the club’s management within its control.

Jefferies, Credit Suisse, J P Morgan, BofA Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank Securities are underwriting the IPO, Manchester United said in a preliminary prospectus. This leaves out Morgan Stanley, which was one of the investment banks originally expected to underwrite the Singapore listing.

United, which has been English league champions a record 19 times and has featured players such as England’s David Beckham and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, intends to list on the New York Stock Exchange.

The filing did not reveal how many shares it plans to sell or their expected price.

The amount of money a company says it plans to raise in its first IPO filings is used to calculate registration fees. The final size of the IPO could be different.

Source : Reuters

Hindraf re-files civil suit against UK government

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) yesterday filed a legal action against the United Kingdom government for marginalising the poor Indian community during its colonisation of Malaysia.

The application was re-filed at the High Court of England and Wales yesterday, where among others they sought for the British government to share responsibility to what is happening among the poor Indians in Malaysia after they came to the country in the 19th century.

Hindraf also questioned whether it was part of the UK’s post-colonial imperial design to leave the Malaysian Indians to continuously be exploited, and claimed when the British left, the Indians were continuously entrenched into a two-tiered citizenship by an institutionalised racist regime.

These are among the key issues raised in the legal action filed by Imran Khan and Partners.

Hindraf also claimed that the British were only interested in looking after their strategic and security interests in the South-East Asian region. So to preserve their wealth in Malaya, Singapore, Sarawak and Brunei, the British would collude with the local new elites to whom they hand over power.

Hindraf in a statement questioned the role of the British colonial government which created the politico-legal system in Malaya after the UK’s departure. 

“This is Hindraf’s case in its essence - if you care to understand it in its depth and with an open mind,” said a statement by its national adviser N Ganesan (right).

“We are human rights defenders of a different order and we use the little resources that we have the in the best way we can, for the interest of Malaysia and all Malaysians. This case against the UK government is for real. Win or lose, the Malaysian people will win with this case just coming to the fore,” said Ganesan.

Ganesan had previously said that the suit is backed by P Waythamoorthy and his team’s four years of research into historical records of the British colonial governments gained from the British archives in London and other sources in the Indian and Singapore records offices.

“New information is going to surface (to show)... the process of marginalisation of the descendants of indentured Indian labourers... was not an accident of history but was an act of conscious omission by those in power,” he had said.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/202598

Sodomy II written judgment: Unsafe to convict based solely on Saiful’s testimony

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan’s allegation that he was sodomised by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was uncorroborated and a conviction based solely on the accuser’s testimony would have been unsafe, the Kuala Lumpur High Court concluded in its written judgment of the opposition leader’s Sodomy II trial that was released today.

High Court judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah said in his 80-page written judgment that it could not be 100 per cent certain about the integrity of DNA samples examined by government chemist Dr Seah Lay Hong. He ruled that it is not safe to rely on the results of Dr Seah’s examination of the DNA evidence.
“There was no evidence to corroborate the evidence of Saiful on factum of penetration,” he said.
“The court is always reluctant to convict an accused person based solely on the uncorroborated evidence of the complainant. Therefore the accused is acquitted and discharged of the charge,” he ruled.
On January 9, the High Court acquitted Anwar of a charge of sodomising his former male aide Mohd Saiful .

Speaking in court then, the judge had ruled that the prosecution had not done enough to prove Anwar had committed sodomy against Saiful. Anwar, 64, had been similarly indicted of sodomy over a decade ago and was found guilty. He spent six years in jail before being exonerated.The High Court’s decision this time had given a boost to Anwar’s Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact’s plans to take over Putrajaya.


The prosecution says it plans to appeal the decision and has 10 days from today to do so.
In the written judgment released today, the judge addressed the question of the integrity of the DNA samples. The judge pointed out that the DNA samples collected had been placed in individual plastic receptacles, labelled and sealed at Kuala Lumpur Hospital, but were subsequently open by the police investigating officer DSP Jude Pereira.


“According to him (Pereira), it was done for the purpose of individually re-labelling the receptacles. In my view, this was not necessary since the receptacles were already packed and labelled by the experts who collected them,” he said.


Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/sodomy-ii-written-judgment-unsafe-to-convict-based-solely-on-saifuls-testimony/