Hindu hardliners defy court order, stop women entering temple in India

Conservative Hindu groups prevented women from entering an Indian hill temple on Wednesday, in defiance of India’s top court which says a centuries-long ban at the holy site is illegal.

Kerala’s industry minister EP Jayarajan told reporters that 10 journalists, five devotees and 15 police officers were attacked by protesters and 10 buses were damaged. Police have registered cases against more than 50 people, local media reported.

For centuries, the Sabarimala temple in Kerala state has banned women or girls older than 10, but that was judged illegal by India’s Supreme Court which ruled last month that it infringed the right to worship.

Kerala’s Communist government pledged to uphold the ruling and deployed some 500 police, including 100 women officers, to the site.

“Nobody will be allowed to prevent anybody. We will do everything possible to implement the law of the land,” said inspector-general of police Manoj Abraham. “None will be allowed to take the law into their hands.”

But while thousands of bare-chested men entered the temple with offerings of tumeric and incense when it opened at 5pm for the first time since the court decision, there were no signs of any women going in.

Footage from CNN News 18 showed police chasing protesters through dense forest near Nilakkal, the main entry point to the temple, which is about 18km further away. The protesters had been throwing stones, the channel reported.

PK Sanjeev of Dharma Sena, one of the main groups organising the protests, said they were happy women had been prevented from entering.

“We will not be deterred by the police high-handedness and will continue with the protests,” he told Reuters.

Hardline Hindu groups have threatened to commit mass suicide to prevent women from going to the temple, in what has become a focal point for the debate on women’s rights in India.

The groups, that include Shiv Sena, a former ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, say the prohibition on women “of menstrual age” is required to appease the temple’s chief deity, Ayyappan, depicted as a yoga-practising god considered eternally celibate by followers.

Kerala’s government said it would impose an emergency law for two days starting on Thursday, barring groups of more than four people assembling within a 30 km radius from the temple

Kerala’s tourism minister K Surendran appealed to protesters not to “convert this holy land into a battlefield”.

A family of four from Andhra Pradesh state, including at least one woman, were shielded by police after protesters shouting slogans prevented them from reaching the temple.

Protesters smashed the windows of a car carrying a female journalist from CNN News 18, footage from the channel showed.

“It was shocking that officers were there doing nothing,” the reporter, Radhika Ramaswamy, said. “Protesters had free rein, attacking our vehicle.”

PK Sanjeev of Dharma Sena, one of the main groups organising the protests, said they were happy women had been prevented from entering.

“We will not be deterred by the police high-handedness and will continue with the protests,” he told Reuters.

Hardline Hindu groups have threatened to commit mass suicide to prevent women from going to the temple, in what has become a focal point for the debate on women’s rights in India.

The groups, that include Shiv Sena, a former ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, say the prohibition on women “of menstrual age” is required to appease the temple’s chief deity, Ayyappan, depicted as a yoga-practising god considered eternally celibate by followers.

Kerala’s government said it would impose an emergency law for two days starting on Thursday, barring groups of more than four people assembling within a 30 km radius from the temple

Kerala’s tourism minister K Surendran appealed to protesters not to “convert this holy land into a battlefield”.

A family of four from Andhra Pradesh state, including at least one woman, were shielded by police after protesters shouting slogans prevented them from reaching the temple.

Protesters smashed the windows of a car carrying a female journalist from CNN News 18, footage from the channel showed.

“It was shocking that officers were there doing nothing,” the reporter, Radhika Ramaswamy, said. “Protesters had free rein, attacking our vehicle.”

Source : - Reuters

Indian actor wishes the best to 'beacon of hope' Anwar in PD polls

Indian film actor-turned-politician Kamal Hassan (above) has released a YouTube video, extending his best wishes to Pakatan Harapan candidate Anwar Ibrahim, for tomorrow's Port Dickson by-election.

In the one-minute, 46 second video uploaded yesterday, both in Tamil, and English, Kamal describes the PKR president-elect as an exemplary leader, and a beacon of hope.

The video starts: "I'm extremely happy to know that my friend Anwar Ibrahim has been released from unjust imprisonment, and has been granted a royal pardon. Bravo.

"In a global political climate that craves for exemplary leaders [...] who have the perfect understanding of the underdogs; Anwar is that perfect example, and a beacon of hope," he said.

Kamal then said Port Dickson has an opportunity "of writing a great chapter in the history of Malaysia, by bringing Anwar back to parliament, and to the nation, at large, where he deserves to be".

The actor also said that with Anwar's ascent to the top office of the country, Indian-Malaysian relationship is bound to grow stronger.

"On this occasion, I am glad to wish Anwar, and the people of Malaysia, the very best, as they embark upon this journey. My party, Makkal Neethi Maiyam (People's Justice Centre) also wishes them the very best in their political journey," he said.

Kamal, 63, is a veteran of the Tamil movie industry - having started his appearance as a child artist in the 1960s. Apart from acting, he also directs, produces, sings and writes lyrics, as well as screenplays.

He is the second biggest name in the Tamil cinema, after "Superstar" Rajnikanth.

In February this year, he started his political party, vowing it would be the first step towards the "people's rule".

This is not the first occasion that Tamil movie actors have been seen as acquainted with Malaysian political leaders.

Back in March 2017, Rajnikanth hosted former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak at his house in Chennai, during the latter's visit to India.

Najib had even posted a selfie he had taken with Rajnikanth, on his Twitter account then.

Najib also returned the favour in January this year, hosting Rajnikanth at his official residence in Putrajaya, when the latter was in Malaysia for a cultural show.

Source : https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/447051

Whither billions stolen under the guise of Indian quota?

COMMENT | Let me first declare that I am not a politician, nor am I a member of any political party. I write this as a concerned Malaysian and a keen observer of the rapidly changing climate of fighting corruption in Malaysia Baru.

Malaysian Indians contribute to some of the highest incidences of gang-related violence and other misdemeanours. They also constitute a high proportion of the significantly under-privileged in Malaysian society.

There have been several attempts to systematically uplift this community with the financial backing from the government of the day. Up until 2003, all government backing was routed via a single political party, MIC. Post-2004, however, the fourth-floor rabble was established in the PM's Office. And, with this, the government backing for the Malaysian Indians began to get diversified.

The Najib (Abdul Razak) era began to see the dilution of the backing via a slew of newly established political parties, NGOs and highly placed luminaries who were close to Najib, his wife, senior civil servants and the fourth-floor rabble.

While we may raise demands to review the excesses that MIC had taken without funnelling back to the community, we must first stop to consider the actual dilution that had been affected by the fourth-floor rabble.

The funds that Najib had handed to the community via the fourth-floor rabble was even bigger than the funds handed by any previous administration for the cause of uplifting the Indian community. But, how much was actually funnelled to the community and how much actually ended up in the hands of the few luminaries? The way I see it, a mere 2-5 percent ended up with the community, MIC took 10 percent, and the rest, 85 percent or so, was happily held by these luminaries who became overnight billionaires.

The list of these luminaries would not exceed 10-15 individuals who are seen as beacons of the Malaysian Indian community. These are the few Malaysian Indian Tan Sris, Datuk Seris and Datuks who received numerous aviation, rail, port, infrastructure, low-cost housing and broadcasting contracts that should have ultimately helped the Indian community but only ended up increasing the individual net worth of these luminaries. All handed on a direct award basis under the guise of the Malaysian Indian quota.

Maika, Tony Fernandes and Nazir Razak

One good case example is the Maika sale to help re-pay poor Maika investors.

Maika held an unutilised insurance license. This could have been monetized by Maika themselves in order to repay Maika investors. But instead, the fourth-floor rabble had to intervene to bring in a so-called “white knight”, to stand in as intermediaries while the actual license was sold to none other than Tony Fernandes and Nazir Razak who ultimately listed the entity and walked away with a tidy sum of money.

The poor Maika investors got a minuscule payout while these luminaries significantly increased their individual net worth with a dormant Maika asset.

Why couldn't Maika have sold the asset directly to Fernandes and Nazir in the first place? Was the introduction of the “white knight” merely to handle future payouts for the various luminaries and the fourth-floor rabble?

Another case example is the Malaysian Indian Blueprint unveiled by Najib in April 2017.

While it could be hailed as a nice effort on the part of Najib, one should ask who really benefitted from this? Who was the consultant brought in to write a blueprint with no specific or measurable action items? How much was paid to this consultant? What criteria was used to distribute the Sedic and Seed funds? Who were the real beneficiaries of these funds? How much has the net worth of the individuals heading Sedic and Seed grown with the establishment of these individual units?

It is a well-known fact that several senior most civil servants in Malaysia highlighted by Najib himself during the launch of the Malaysian Indian Blueprint were actually business partners of some of the above Tan Sris and Datuks.

The key modus operandi was to have intimate business meetings in the private rooms of Madras Cafe in Jalan Ipoh, KL. Lucrative business deals were consummated between these luminaries and these civil servants over a hot masala chai specially made by the proprietors of Madras Cafe.

Let us not overlook the fact that the primary consideration for these luminaries to secure these major rail infrastructure, aviation infrastructure, port infrastructure, broadcasting, or advertising contracts on a direct appointment basis was not the individual luminaries' business background or their stellar credentials. It was their proximity to Najib's power-base, the business relationship with the particular senior most civil servants, the cosy relationship with the fourth-floor rabble and the fact that they were utilising the Malaysian Indian quota.

The resultant effect was that these luminaries made billions of ringgit, the senior civil servants grew their individual net worth, the fourth-floor rabble got their fair share.

But, how many Malaysian Indian small and medium businessmen got sub-contracts from these large deals? How many Malaysian Indian professionals got high paying jobs? How many Malaysian Indian educational institutions got sizeable grants? How many Malaysian Indian students got scholarships? The list of questions abounds.

What I am highlighting here is the tip of an iceberg of financially lucrative programmes that have been hijacked by the few who have used their know-who as opposed to know-how. These were actually financially lucrative projects that were ultimately meant to help uplift the marginalised Indian community. Unscrupulous individuals have greedily hijacked funds that were meant to help this community, all under the guise of the Malaysian Indian quota.

Forensic audit of all funds allocated

Fighting the scourge of corruption is a major priority of the Malaysian electorate. There must be a clarion call from society at large to stop rent-seekers from stealing funds meant to uplift marginalised Malaysian communities. We must immediately call for a forensic audit of all funds that were allocated by the previous administration(s) in the name of uplifting the Indian community.

We must ascertain if these funds were indeed utilised to help uplift the community as opposed to self-enrichment.

Let us not seek fresh funds to be allocated from the government of the day until we have a salient plan to claw-back the funds from the above-mentioned luminaries, the heads of Sedic and Seed, and the fourth-floor rabble as a genuine example of reforming the Malaysian Indian community.

Let us institute tangible actions that will help to economically progresses this community. Let us apply true governance as we drive the economic reform of this community under the new dawn of Malaysia Baru.

Let us avoid, yet again, being misdirected by the very wolves in sheep skin who used the Malaysian Indian quota to steal the funds handed to improve the economic status of this community. Let us stay vigilant lest these individuals enact a silent getaway to safe havens to enjoy their stolen wealth.

---

RAVINDRAN DEVAGUNAM is the former director of fighting corruption, PEMANDU, JPM.

Source : https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/434433

In memory of Nhaveen, a victim of school bullying

SPECIAL REPORT | Stepping into T Nhaveen’s home, one will notice a faint fluorescent light and an altar in the living room.

The portrait of the young boy was placed on the table, framed with white garlands, surrounded by fruits and flowers. The floor was full of trays holding rice, petals and spices.

“Today is actually one year after he left us. For us, the pain is still the same, nothing has changed,” said Nhaveen’s mother Shanti Dorairaj. There was a long silence after Shanti uttered those words.

In June last year, Nhaveen was attacked violently on his way home. He was found and sent to Penang Hospital the next morning, and eventually passed away. At the time, Nhaveen was 18.

With news on the new Pakatan Harapan government and the accusations against former premier Najib Abdul Razak getting all the attention, quietly in a flat at Bukit Gelugor, Penang, Nhaveen’s family held a memorial prayer.

The dimly-lit living room was filled with smoke as a Hindu priest led the family to recite prayers for Nhaveen.

The male elders, who were in their white robes, were sitting on the floor citing mantras, while Nhaveen’s mother, aunts and grandmas were staring at his portrait, gently wiping their tears.

Widow applies for citizenship, NRD renews red IC instead

A septuagenarian who applied for citizenship four years ago is frustrated that the National Registration Department renewed her red identification card instead.

Letchumie Sinnan, 74, first applied for citizenship about 20 years ago and has since made over 30 visits to the NRD. Her latest attempt to secure a Mykad four years ago was her fifth try.

"I have a red IC (for permanent residents). I applied for citizenship (and the Mykad) but to this day, it hasn’t been approved," she said.

"Every time I asked the NRD, they said my application was being processed. Finally, what I received was a renewed red IC.

"But my application was for a MyKad. I had submitted related documents required to obtain a Mykad," she told Malaysiakini.

Letchumie alleged that her application for a Mykad at the NRD was changed to an application to replace a lost IC.

World is watching us on Zakir Naik – Ramasamy tells Putrajaya

Is Putrajaya waiting for controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik to commit a crime before extraditing him, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy asked today. 

Urging Pakatan Harapan leaders to make a stand, he noted how the Indian government has accused the Zakir of numerous crimes, including those related to terrorism. 

In view of this, Ramasamy said the focus should be on the extradition order, and not if the Indian-born preacher had committed crimes in Malaysia.

"What is a crime in one country must be a crime in another country.

"How did you all deport China's Uighur minority? It was just a request from China, all they had to do is make a phone call and Malaysia did it. Likewise, how did you deport Sri Lankan refugees?

"The world is watching why the Malaysia government is reluctant to deport Zakir," he told Malaysiakini.

Indian actor Vivek admires ‘stylish’ Dr M

PETALING JAYA: It looks like former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not only held in high regard by his Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters, but has also earned the admiration of popular Indian actor and comedian Vivek.

In a Twitter post, Vivekh, better known as Vivek, expressed his admiration for the PH prime ministerial candidate although he did add a year to Mahathir’s age.


“Look at the majestic stylish walk of Dr Mahathir the ex-prime minister n the maker of modern Malaysia, at the age of just 94!!!!” Vivek tweeted.

For the record, Mahathir turns 93 in July.

Vivek’s tweet was accompanied by a 30-second video of Mahathir at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. The video has been viewed 18,300 times, re-tweeted 384 times and liked by 2,700 of Vivek’s followers.

The actor has won three Filmfare Best Comedian Awards for his performances in Run (2002), Saamy (2003) and Perazhagan (2004).

Vivek’s tweet also received more than 70 comments. Among them was from Nalini who tweeted: “Yeah sir… he is the greatest man of Malaysia… our lovable Tun Dr.Mahathir! The power of country! Thank u sir.”

Another follower, Navinraja, posted a picture of Mahathir cycling, and said: “He even cycles at this age.”

Many have admired the former prime minister for his apparent boundless energy despite his age. However, the hectic schedule he has been keeping as he tries to drum up support for PH has taken a toll on his health.

Mahathir was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) last month for a chest infection. It was the second time in 19 months that the PPBM chairman had been warded there for chest infection.

The last time he was admitted for treatment and observation was in August 2016.

Mahathir underwent coronary bypass surgery in 1989. He had another heart bypass surgery in 2007.


Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/03/05/indian-actor-vivek-admires-stylish-dr-m/