Interlok: NGOs tell Malays not to vote for Indian candidates in GE

More than 100 NGOs under the Malay Consultative Council (MPM) coalition have vowed not to support any ethnic Indian leader from any political party in general elections after this.This is because, according to the coalition, Indian leaders and activists have distorted and influenced the government into bowing to threats and pressures over the 'Interlok' novel controversy. “This is our first step in spreading awareness of this movement so that Malays do not give their support to any ethnic Indian leader, whether in the BN or the opposition, starting this general election,” said the coalition in a memorandum they submitted yesterday to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Demand inquest, custodial death victims' kin told

Family members of detainees who die in police custody have been urged to be more proactive in demanding an inquest into such sudden deaths, so as to help prevent these from recurring.

"When a person dies in custody, the family must take the initiative and demand their right to an inquest," Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) secretary-general Mohamad Raimi Ab Rahim.

"In some cases, I do not blame the family members, for many may not be aware of this right. Those in the know should proceed with their demand for an answer. They should not wait until a NGO makes a move," he told Malaysiakini.

As many as 147 deaths in police custody have been reported since 2000 and several NGO activists have demanded guarantees from the Home Ministry and the police that such deaths will no longer occur.

Hindraf to rally nationwide against racism

KOTA KINABALU: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi is planning a series of demonstrations against racism after its Feb 27 rally at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) against Interlok, the controversial novel that Form Five students use as a literature text.Hindraf not only wants Interlok out of the schools, but also seeks to put related issues under public scrutiny, according to its chairman, P Waythamoorthy, who spoke to FMT last night from London, where he has political asylum.

School reports student with ‘inquiring mind’ to police

SUBANG JAYA: Teachers in a school in Brickfields have allegedly lodged a police report against a 17-year-old student who questioned the 'celebration of independence' and the tenets in the Rukunegara.Nicol Paul Miranda, an ordinary Form Five student, who has since left SMK Vivekananda after his SPM, said the school is also threatening not to release his school leaving certificate which is a requirement to further his tertiary education.
Relating the reasons for his suspension, Nicol said: "I questioned why are we celebrating independence when our democracy has not evolved. It is still under the BN regime."He said his second brush with the authorities took place via his Civics answer sheet for the SPM trials.The question was on the pros of Rukunegara.

Egypt: M'sian student sleeps with knife out of fear

Parents of Malaysian students in Egypt who are increasingly worried over their children's safety due to the violent revolt against the Egyptian regime, are urging the Malaysian government to immediately bring these students home.One of the parents, Salahul Ahmad Jamal Mohd, 57, said his son who was studying in Mansoura, Egypt had told him that he had to sleep holding a knife out of fear due to the uncontrolled and worsening turbulence in that country.

Hindraf-HRP to be neutral in Merlimau

GEORGE TOWN: The Human Rights Party (HRP) - Hindraf Makkal Sakti political axis will take a neutral stand in next month’s Merlimau state by-election.HRP pro-tem secretary-general and Hindraf legal adviser P Uthayakumar said the stance was adopted due to the indifferent attitude shown by Pakatan Rakyat towards the Indian community.“We will not participate in the campaign to woo Indians for Pakatan. So long as we are not there, Pakatan will never secure the majority Indian votes,” he told FMT, adding that HRP-Hindraf would never back Barisan Nasional either.

They're Back! HINDRAF Accuses UMNO Of Engineering Racism, Plans Protest March

Kuala Lumpur - The Hindu Rights Action Force of HINDRAF is back in the limelight after a long hiatus. This time, it plans to organise a protest March, scheduled on February 27 at KLCC to “show solidarity against racism perpetrated by UMNO and its allies.The coalition of several mostly Indian-based NGO’s have laid low for three years, following the acceptance and launch of BN friendly Makkal Sakti party by Prime Minister Najib Razak.