Hindu temple saved in nick of time

KUALA LUMPUR: A temple, which was in the midst of demolition by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), was saved in Kepong today, after timely intervention of Federal Territory and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin.The Veppam Kaliamman Amman temple, along Jalan Kepong, received an eviction notice only at 8.30 this morning, and work to break down the temple began 15 minutes later.


The temple committee, stunned at the speed of the whole exercise, immediately called the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Deputy Minister M Saravanan, who is in charge of temples in the federal capital.
FMT learnt that the deputy minister had in turn called top officials of the Federal Territory land office under the purview of the ministry but they refused to take orders to stop the demolition.

Saravanan was told that the land division was only answerable to the minister and when he contacted the minister, Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin, the latter immediately ordered the demolition stopped.
“Luckily the minister was available to talk… otherwise, I do not know what would have happened.
“But within 15 minutes, before I could reach the spot, DBKL enforcement officers had already torn off the temple’s awning. I am very disappointed with DBKL. They know if any temple was to be demolished, a proper discussion must be held but in this case this was not done.

Hindraf's new neighbour raises eyebrows

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders were caught by surprise yesterday when they found out that a Putrajaya commissioned outfit, which focuses on Tamil schools, is now their neighbour.

Hindraf de facto leader P Uthayakumar expressed astonishment that the newly-created Action Plan for Future of Tamil Schools, which operates under the Prime Minister’s Department, had set up office next door.

“This is the first time that an office under the Prime Minister is positioned outside the administrative capital in 55 years.

“Clearly this is a propaganda attempt to convey the image that the government is working with the grassroots Indian community, like Hindraf,” said Uthayakumar, whose organisation is a fervent campaigner for community issues.

Uthayakumar accused Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of pretending to connect with the Indian poor in order to canvass for their support.

Kamal Haasan has been in the hot seat for some weeks now. The drama began three weeks before the Cannes Film Festival in May, when Indian newspapers and magazines ran stories, reportedly quoting him, about his latest movie, Viswaroopam, competing at the French Riviera’s 12-day annual cinematic event.

The story turned out to be incorrect. Viswaroopam was never in the race for Cannes.

So I was told by the Festival.Be that as it may, Viswaroopam (also in Hindi, and to be called Viswaroop) is now set to hit the screens soon, and Kamal is naturally on a high. What is more, he has even planned a sequel to the film, and one report says that a considerable portion of it had already been shot!

Seems like some kind of history being made with the shoot of a sequel in progress even before the first part has opened theatrically.The actor said the other day that since there was scope for a sequel, he had opted for it instead of making the first part too long. “I have enough to tell in two full-length movies”, he chuckled.

Incidentally, Viswaroopam arrives after the hullabaloo caused by Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur in two parts with a combined running time of five hours and twenty minutes. The film premiered at the Director’s Fortnight, which runs parallel to the Cannes Festival. The first part opens on June 22. Kashyap said the sequel would come to the cinemas in November.

DBKL slaps RM351k 'Bersih bill' on Ambiga, Maria

Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has sent a notice of demand to Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and committee member Maria Chin Abdullah, demanding compensation of RM351,203.45 for “losses” incurred during the Bersih 3.0 rally.

They were ordered to settle the bill together with a RM100 notice fee within 14 days of receiving the notice, failing which legal action would be taken against them.

The letter, signed by DBKL director-general Salleh Yusup, was hand-delivered to Ambiga's house this morning.

Salleh even attached an itemised bill for ‘damages’ incurred by each department of DBKL.

This included damage to landscaping and trees, the cost of setting up metal barricades, cost of transport and support staff, damage to signboards and barriers, as well as overtime allowances, food, drink and transport costs for law enforcers.

The letter says the mayor had banned the rally to be held at Dataran Merdeka because the square is a historic place and tourist attraction.

It points out that the ban was supported by the police and a Kuala Lumpur magistrate who had on April 26 issued an injunction prohibiting any rally at Dataran Merdeka from April 28 to May 1.

“...but you (Ambiga and Maria) had gone ahead to hold the Bersih 3.0 rally on April 28, 2012, which went out of control and caused chaos in Kuala Lumpur city and damages to public properties.

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 38

Letchumanen mengumpulkan panah dan lembing untuk digunakan pada esok hari. Anbala dan Ankada, anak-anak kembar seiras Belia Raja, sedang membantu.

Aku duduk di hadapan unggun api. Dari dalam khemah-khemah, terdengar suara erangan tentera kera yang cedera parah. Jika semua ini berterusan, apakah akhirnya? Aku pasti bahawa itu juga persoalan yang difikirkan oleh ayah.

“Hanuman.”

Entah bila ayah keluar dari khemahnya. Dia sudah duduk bersila di sisiku. Aku bingkas bangun sebagai tanda hormat. Tapi ditahannya. Ayah menarik lenganku; selaku mengisyaratkan supaya duduk di sebelahnya.

“Hanuman, mungkin kau masih tidak memahami segala apa yang berlaku ini. Maafkan aku kerana melibatkan kau dalam semua ini.”

“Tapi saya melakukan semua ini secara rela.”

Aku senyum sambil memandang ayah. Pada usiaku dua puluh empat tahun ketika itu, Rama masih belum mengakui aku anaknya. Entahlah apa punca sebenar kebongkakannya.

“Entahlah, Hanuman. Mungkin salah aku. Mungkin semua ini ada kaitan dengan hukum karma dan dharma. Mungkin juga benar bahawa semua yang terjadi adalah kerana dosaku pada masa lalu.”

Ayah memandang kejauhan sambil berkata-kata begitu. Kemudian dia memandang ke dalam unggun api.

“Dosa?” Sengaja aku bertanya setelah beberapa ketika.

“Kau tidak perlu tahu. Kau tidak akan faham.”

Ayah menghulurkan tepak sirih kepadaku. Aku mencapainya dengan penuh hormat.

“Hanuman, boleh kau lakukan sesuatu untukku?”

Aku berhenti menyapu kapur pada daun sirih. Aku memandang ke dalam mata ayah yang redup.
“Nyatakan; apa sahaja.”

“Maafkan aku kerana memperkecilkan kebolehan kau selama ini.” Ayah meminta maaf dengan pandangan matanya. “Aku perlukan bantuan kau. Menurut Bibasenam, Ravana hanya dapat dibunuh dengan cara memanah tepat pada tempat di mana nyawanya disembunyikan.”

Aku mendengar dengan penuh teliti setiap kata yang diucapkan oleh ayah.

“Kau pergilah kepada isteriku di istana Ravana. Bertanyalah kalau-kalau dia tahu di mana letaknya nyawa Ravana. Boleh?”

“Tentu sahaja!” pantas aku menjawab.

Ayah tersenyum. Aku juga.

Itulah kami. Seorang ayah dan seorang anak. Betapa indahnya apabila dapat bersama ayah. Tapi malang. Ada kejadian masa lalu yang memisahkan kami.

Bilakah penyeksaan batin ini akan berakhir?


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/17/hanuman-suara-hati-%e2%80%93-bahagian-38/

Hanuman: Suara Hati – Bahagian 37

Ayah melepaskan panah Vishnuasara. Kena bahu Ravana. Lengannya putus. Jatuh ke laut. Tumbuh yang baru!

Ravana melontar lembing. Nyaris mengena leher ayah. Terus menjunam ke bumi. Berdentam-dentum. Membunuh kaum kera dan tentera ayah.

Ayah melepaskan panah Shivasara. Kepala Ravana gugur. Tumbuh yang baru. Tangannya putus berganti baru.

Ravana melepaskan panah nagi. Ayah membalas dengan panah kiri. Kedua-duanya bertempur di langit terbuka. Akhirnya gugur berdentum-dentum ke bumi Langkapuri. Para raksasa lari mencari suaka.

Begitulah sehingga malam berlabuh. Selagi Ravana belum kalah, selagi itu Rama belum menang. Selagi Rama belum menang, selagi itulah Ravana tetap menang!

“Tuanku.”

Ah! Penjaga kubur itu lagi. Bukankah sudah aku pesan kepadanya supaya membiarkan aku bersendirian?
“Ada apa?” Aku masih berupaya untuk bertenang.

“Ini ada orang suruhan dari istana,” kata si penjaga kubur sambil tangannya masih menunjukkan tanda vanakam. “Hamba sudah katakan yang tuanku tidak mahu diganggu, tapi dia tetap mahu berjumpa tuanku.”
Aku memandang orang suruhan yang sedang berdiri di sebelah si penjaga kubur.

“Ampun, tuanku. Kalau boleh, memanda Maramanden meminta tuanku pulang segera. Kata memanda, ada utusan penting daripada Baginda Bibasenam. Lagi pun, hari sudah petang. Tuanku belum bersantap sejak pagi tadi.”

Aku sekadar mengangguk kosong. Orang suruhan dan penjaga kubur itu pun berlalu setelah tercegat seketika. Aku harap mereka tidak akan datang menggangguku lagi. Aku mahu bersendirian. Aku mahu meneruskan lamunan ke masa silam.

“Ravana tidak alah pada mana-mana panah yang aku lepaskan. Jika beginilah seterusnya, sampai bila-bila pun perang ini tidak akan berakhir.”

Suara ayah terdengar lagi di telingaku. Selaras dengan itu, gambaran peristiwa masa lalu juga mula terbayang di depan mata.

“Kita semakin kehabisan stok akar wasliwayan,” Surgiwa pula mengingatkan sambil mengubati tentera Dravida dan Vanara yang cedera.

Aku lihat memang benarlah akar wasliwayan tinggal sedikit sahaja. Mungkin boleh bertahan untuk tempoh sehari lagi. Kami terpaksa cermat dalam menggunakan akar sakti itu. Jika habis bekalan ini, habislah semuanya. Sudah tiada lagi baki pokok wasliwayan di Banjaran Himalaya.

Aku harap Ravana akan dapat dikalahkan sebelum bekalan akar wasliwayan benar-benar habis. Aku tidak berani membayangkan kemungkinan-kemungkinan yang boleh berlaku jika bekalan akar sakti berkenaan habis sebelum Ravana tewas!


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/16/hanuman-suara-hati-%e2%80%93-bahagian-37/

Deaths in custody - the hurt lock-up

COMMENT Three years is not a long time. Here in Malaysia, it's just a year short of how long a regime can legitimately hold on to power before it needs to hold an election to get the endorsement of the voting public to remain in power.

Three years for ‘causing hurt' to A Kugan is what an officer of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) received.

The truth will never be known in this case or in the hundreds or perhaps even thousands of others who have suddenly died in police custody, immigrant detention camps, police shootouts and jails over the years. We will never know the anguish of families of those killed or who have died in custody due to negligence.

We may share their sense of outrage but our outrage is diluted with our disdain for the systemic corruption that permeates every level of government.

Our outrage in some cases is also dependent on the guilt of the parties involved. We are indifferent to the fates of convicted inmates and the unsanitary (and most often criminally negligent) conditions they are housed in when it is the responsibility of the state to administer their welfare.

Our parasitic relationship with ‘foreigners', legal or otherwise, does not leave much room for empathy when it comes to their welfare while in custody for whatever reasons.

And before anyone accuses me of conflating various issues of our penal and enforcement systems, let me remind you that to this system, everyone who died is guilty or at least that is the presumption.

And like many Malaysians of a certain class (and perhaps because of my previous professions) my interactions with the PDRM has been positive for the most part - so-called illegal rallies excluded - but personal anecdote has no place in the face of the historical and current corruption of the system.