Buntong assemblyman quits DAP

Monday March 31, 2008

PETALING JAYA: Buntong assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam has quit DAP, leaving the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition government in Perak teetering on the brink of collapse.


Sivasubramaniam: 'I cannot accept the decision made by the Perak DAP'
In a letter to DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng dated March 31, Sivasubramaniam said he had had lost confidence in the Perak DAP as it failed to fulfill its promise to appoint two Indian state executive council members.

He added the decision was a "big slap" in the face of Perak Indians and tantamount to deceiving the community.

"My victory in Buntong was a mandate given by the Indian community in the area, and therefore I cannot accept the decision made by the Perak DAP," he added.

When contacted, Sivasubramaniam said he would not vacate his seat and would instead serve as an independent.

“I have no intention of joining any Barisan component party but will fight for the people of Buntong as an independent,” he said.

He also questioned why DAP central executive committee member A. Sivanesan, who is from Selangor, was chosen as an exco over other Perak DAP leaders.

Sivasubramaniam claimed that he and state party committee member and Tronoh assemblyman V. Sivakumar were supposed to get the exco posts as they had worked hard and sacrificed a lot for the party.

He added that even if an Indian Perak DAP member were to get an assembly Speaker or Deputy Speaker post, it could not “do much for the Indian community.”

“This is not right. The leadership should be discussing the allocation of exco posts and other appointments with all 18 DAP assemblymen,” said Sivasubramaniam.

Of the 10 exco members sworn in on March 29, six were from DAP, including one Indian representative, Sungkai assemblyman A. Sivanesan.

In the March 8 general election, the Opposition coalition won 31 state seats in Perak - 18 seats went to DAP, seven to PKR, and six to PAS - while Barisan bagged 28 seats.

With Sivasubramaniam's resignation from DAP, the coalition is left with 30 assemblymen.

Samy wants Hindraf 5 released

Monday March 31, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has urged the Government to release the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders detained under the ISA.

He said his call was not a publicity stunt or a move to win back Indian support for the party.

“This is done in fairness, sympathy and, also, we feel that as Indians, we have to do something about it. It is not a publicity stunt,” he said.

Samy Vellu said two of the leaders – R. Kenghadaran, 40, who is very ill and M. Manoharan, 46, who won the Kota Alam Shah state seat in Selangor on a DAP ticket on March 8, – should be freed sooner.


Important speech: Samy Vellu stressing a point at the MIC divisional leaders workshop in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Samy Vellu said the wives of Kenghadaran and Manoharan approached MIC for help to get their husbands released.

He said another two, V. Ganabatirau, 34, and K. Vasantha Kumar, 34, had not been that involved in the Hindraf rally in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25 last year. The fifth detainee is P. Uthayakumar.

Speaking to reporters after opening a workshop on Rebranding the MIC here yesterday, Samy Vellu said: “I will raise it with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi after he returns from Sabah.

“If he wants to release all of them, it is up to him. We have no objections and we don’t want them to be kept inside for too long a period,” he said.

“I will also meet Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.

“I had already made some moves on this earlier but I did not tell anyone. I will now make a firm move to see what can be done by the Government with regard to their plight,” said Samy Vellu.

Samy Vellu said he was harshly criticised by certain people when he spoke to Abdullah and the Attorney-General to reduce the attempted murder charges against the 31 people detained during the Hindraf rally but had still continued to assist them.

“If they (those detained) had gone ahead with the advice of their lawyers, many things could have happened.

“They should not simply be attracted to those people who want to argue for them. Many people like to argue for them so that they can get publicity. We don’t want the publicity, we want the truth,” he said.

On claims by P. Wathyamoorthy, who is overseas, that he would face a murder charge if he returned home, Samy Vellu said this was not true and Wathyamoorthy had nothing to be afraid of.

110 MIC members join PAS supporters club

Monday March 31, 2008

TAIPING: The Kampung Jebong MIC branch in Simpang here was officially dissolved when all 110 of its members quit the party on Saturday night to become members of “Kelab Penyokong PAS” (PAS Supporters Club) instead, the former branch chairman M. Muninathan said.
Muninathan, accompanied by his former branch committee members, submitted their application forms to Bukit Gantang MP Roslan Shaharom during a function held at a temple in the village.
When accepting their applications to join the club, Roslan said the welfare of the former MIC branch members and members of the Indian community there would be taken care of.
“Don’t assume that without (MIC president Datuk Seri S.) Samy Vellu and the MIC, your welfare will be neglected.
“We will take care of you because any problem affecting the Indian community, will affect members of other communities too,” said Roslan.
Roslan said he was indebted to the Indian community here as more than 95% of Indian voters within the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency had voted for him in the recent polls.
With Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, the Changkat Jering assemblyman, and Tai Sing Ng (Kuala Sepetang) being appointed exco members, there were two representatives from the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency in the state government.
“The appointment of Tai and Mohd Osman means there will be extra allocation for Bukit Gantang residents,” he said.

Raja Petra and editors to pay RM7mil for libel

ALOR STAR: A High Court here has ordered blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the group chief editor and editor of PKR’s organ Suara Keadilan to pay a total of RM7mil to Universiti Utara Malaysia and its vice-chancellor Tan Sri Dr Nordin Kardi for libel.

High Court deputy registrar Priscilla Gengadaran made the order yesterday following a judgment in default she handed down on Feb 26 after the three had failed to file their defence within the required period.

She ordered the damages to be paid to the plaintiffs for claiming that Dr Nordin was a plagiarist on the Malaysia Today website and in the 98th edition of Suara Keadilan in November 2006.

Nordin and UUM had filed a lawsuit against Raja Petra, PKR, Suara Keadilan group chief editor and the editor. Only PKR had submitted its defence.

Priscilla ordered Raja Petra to pay RM2mil to Dr Nordin and UUM respectively. She also ordered each of the editors to pay RM1mil and RM500,000 to Dr Nordin and UUM respectively.

Dr Nordin told a press conference yesterday that the judgment showed that there was room for the public to take action against bloggers who made slanderous remarks.

“Politicians and artistes who are the usual targets should take action to ensure bloggers do not make libellous statements,” he said.

Dr Nordin said that if the defendants paid up, he would use the money for the benefit of UUM.

"Special Officer" Post Will Be Created To Help Indian Youths, Says Sabri

March 25, 2008 21:19 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- In the absence of a parliamentary secretary, The Youth and Sports Ministry will create the post of a "Special Officer" to look after the development needs of Indian youths, said its newly-appointed minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He also said that the ministry was looking at a new mechanism to channel funding to sports associations in the states of Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor.

Most likely it would follow the example of Kelantan which has been in opposition's hands since 1990, he told reporters after making a visit to the National Sports Complex in Bukit Jalil here Tuesday.

Also present were his deputy, Wee Jeck Seng, National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong and National Sports Institute director Datuk Dr Ramlan Abdul Aziz.

On Malaysia's preparations of the Beijing Olympics, he said that he would be chairing a steering committee on it next week to ensure the athletes who have qualified and others making it in time received the appropriate buildup.

He added that the ministry would also place special emphasis on using the Internet to get closer to youths as they were more technologically savvy.

-- BERNAMA

Can Hindraf move the Chinese ground?Even fake sms causes Chinese to boycott nasi kandar

BUTTERWORTH, March 21 — In an unexpected revelation of the depth of support for Hindraf – from the Chinese community – an sms calling on Penangites to boycott their favourite nasi kandar stalls and restaurants has caused business to take a nosedive here.

"We lost customers, most notably the Chinese,” Malaysia Muslim Restaurant Operators Association president Sihabutheen Sirudu Mohamad has told New Straits Times.



He said people had been told wrongly that nasi kandar workers were involved in the illegal gathering last week to protest the Penang Government’s move not to carry out the New Economic Policy.
The Star reported that the SMS ended with the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) slogan, Makkal Sakthi (People’s Power).

Hindraf called a news conference today to deny it was involved in the sms, and called on Penangites to return to the 250 or so nasi kandar stalls in the state.

“We appeal to the people of all races to support the nasi kandar operators as the cuisine is the pride of Penang,” Hindraf national coordinator R. S. Thainenthiran said.

He added: "Business is business, and it must not be associated with politics," he said.

Nasi kandar spokesman Sihabutheen was quoted in The Star as saying: “Business has dropped by 10% to 15%.”

In the polls recently, detained Hindraf leader M. Manoharan won the Kota Alam Shah parliamentary constituency under the banner of the Democratic Action Party, a party previously seen as a rival only to the Malaysian Chinese Association, a component of the ruling coalition.

Hindraf: Don’t boycott nasi kandar

Friday March 21, 2008
MYT 3:50:46 PM

BUTTERWORTH: Penangites should stop boycotting nasi kandar, said Hindraf coordinator R.S. Thanenthiran.

The boycott apparently took effect following the circulation of an SMS alleging that nasi kandar operators were involved in last Friday’s street protest at Komtar.

Thanenthiran said the allegation was baseless and Hindraf did not issue any such statement or SMS.

“This is an act by some irresponsible parties,” Thanenthiran told a press conference Friday.

The SMS calling for a boycott of nasi kandar ended with the Hindraf slogan Makkal Sakthi (People’s Power), he said.

“People who received the SMS were misled into thinking that it was Hindraf who had sent the SMS but we did not.”

He alleged that last Friday’s protest at Komtar was started by politicians not nasi kandar operators.

“We appeal to the people of all races to support the nasi kandar operators as the cuisine is the pride of Penang,” Thanenthiran said.

Sihabutheen said if customers continue to believe in the SMS, business would see a further drop.

“As it is business has already dropped by 10% to 15%,” he said.

There are more than 250 nasi kandar outlets in Penang. The Indian Muslim fare is popular among people of all races here.

Special Prayers

Dear all,

Grand Homam & Sangabishegam to mark 101 days in ISA detention of our 5 HINDRAF leaders:

Date: 23rd March ,Sunday

Venue: Waterfall Hilltop Murugan Temple,Penang

Time: 10am-12pm

Please attend and give your support......Jai Hindraf!

ACTOR RAGHUVARAN PASSES AWAY

Raghuvaran (60) the noted character actor of Tamil cinema passed away early this morning at a private hospital in Chetpet, Chennai, due to a cardiac arrest. The actor was married to actress Rohini, but the marriage failed and they went through a messy divorce. The couple has an 8-year-old son Nanda.
Raghuvaran's claim to fame was his stylized way of acting and his dialogue delivery. He had a huge following among the masses. He stole the thunder whenever he played the villain with the swagger and with the way he drawled on his dialogues. Right from his first film Ezhavathu Manithan(1982), he created his own acting style.

But it was in the role of the villain in commercial Tamil cinema that he shone in, especially when he was paired with the superstar Rajinikanth in Baasha, Muthu, Arunachalam etc. He was the Superstar's favourite as he excelled in the role of the bad man in his films. The Superstar knew that unless the villain is given equal importance as the hero, his character will not become popular with the masses.
Raghuvaran has acted in over 100 films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Hindi films and has been praised as a natural actor. Most of his roles were of a villain or supporting actor. He has also acted as hero in a few movies, which did not do well at the box-office.
He became famous with his role as the protagonist of a Tamil soap opera, "Oru Manidhanin Kadhai" (One Man's Story), about a well-to-do man who becomes an alcoholic and faces the consequent difficulties.
Unfortunately, in real life too, he is known for his controversial drug addiction. His family split on this regard, and he has also undergone deaddiction courses.
But Raghuvaran was a very colourful person. His last release was Jayaraj's Silanerangalil (Feb 29, 2008) where he played a negative character.

I Won't Accept Minister's Post As Long As Abdullah Is PM, Says Khairy

Wednesday, 19 March 2008
KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth vice-head Khairy Jamaluddin said he would not accept any offer to join the Cabinet as long as Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is the Prime Minister.
Khairy, who is also the Member of Parliament for Rembau, said he had informed his father-in-law of the matter before the general election on March 8, and Abdullah had acepted his stand.

"That's not fair to PM (Prime Minister). I stayed out of his way as much as possible. I'm just a normal MP and want to focus on my job. There are people who are there to help and assist him," he told reporters after attending the meeting of the Umno Youth Exco and State Umno Youth heads which was chaired by the movement's head, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein at the Umno headquarters, at Menara Dato Onn, here today.

Khairy said this when commenting on the allegation that he had influenced the Prime Minister's decision in making government policies, and responding to reporters' question why he was not included in the new Cabinet line-up announced by Abdullah in Putrajaya today.

He said his focus now was to discharge his duty as a member of parliament in the Dewan Rakyat to face the opposition.

On the outcome of the March 8 general election which saw five states falling to the opposition, Khairy said it was a lesson to the BN to be more sensitive to the voice of the people.

"I have learnt that we have to listen to the people more, and the party needs to listen to the people more. We cannot isolate ourselves, we must reform the party and take note," he said.

On the claim that he was the cause for the BN defeat, Khairy said the defeat was a joint responsibility and the actual reason for the defeat would be studied.

"I'm not bothered if people make all kinds of accusations. What is important is to build up the party. If it's found that my services are not required in the party, then we will have a party election soon, let the election decide on the future of Umno leaders.

"But I will not shirk from my responsibility as the Umno Youth vice-head. I have the responsibility of regaining the strength of Umno Youth and BN Youth," he said, conceding that everyone have their personal shortcomings.

Khairy said: "All of us from the top leadership down to the grassroots including myself must do some soul-searching. Certainly from the indications given by the people, there are many shortcomings from the personal level right up to the party."

On the decision of the Umno Youth Exco meeting today which did not take any action on the Member of Parliament for Jerlun who is also Umno Youth Exco Member, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, who had called on Abdullah to step down as the Prime Minister through a letter written last week, Khairy said it was the personal view of Mukhriz.

He said further discussion on the matter was "counter productive", and what was important was that the majority of the party members supported the leadership of Abdullah and his deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, to continue to lead the country.

The Malaysian INDIAN DILEMMA by Janaki Raman Manickam

Dear All

This is the only book that compile Indian story from Bristsh colonial time until 9th MEP.
The author Mr. Janaki Raman dedicated 15 years in research to compile many photos, facts, statistic to complete this book.
Only 2000 copies were printed due to less demand in the market for Tamil books.
He also dedicated himself to social service activities for indian in estate now days.
That is job for today. But everything needs money right?
So, he asked me to promoted his finding on this book called The Malaysian INDIAN DILEMMA.
The Book cost RM 35 - RM 50.(Normal cover and Hard cover) 450 pages, all in TAMIL.
Many photograph in this book are unseen before.
Also the statistics. I can say, this is a complete version of our lost history in Malaysia.
Pls support him by buying this book, which I think every Indian must have in their house.
This will encourage him to come with more books about Indian Issues in Malaysia today.
Pls feel free to see this programme.
Above are some capture of the book front/backpage.

Where can you get the book,
Human Development and Research centre
No 5, Jalan seruling 58, Taman Klang Jaya, 41200 Selangor.
H/P : 013 - 392 7727 Fax : 03 3323 8036.
Mr. Janaki Raman Manickam.

KJ & Pak Lah

PM announces new Cabinet (2nd update)

Nation
Tuesday March 18, 2008
MYT 2:02:29 PM

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced his new administration on Tuesday, trimming his Cabinet from 32 to 27 seats, of which more than half featured new faces.

He also scrapped the post of parliamentary secretary and dropped big guns such as Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (former International Trade and Industry Minister), Datuk Azmi Khalid (former Home Affairs Minister) and Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis (former Science, Technology and Innovations Minister).

Abdullah merged the Home Affairs and Internal Security ministries, saying that they had many overlapping functions, and named former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar as its minister.

"I am still surprised with the post although I was sure I will move from the Foreign Ministry," Syed Hamid said.

"I have to learn fast to regain public confidence in security related matters. Judging from the election results, Malaysians expect some things to be done," he said.

In the 12th general election on March 8, the Barisan Nasional saw its two-thirds majority in the 222-seat Parliament pared down to a simple majority, lost control of four states including industrial centres such as Selangor and Penang, and failed to wrest Kelantan back from PAS.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, formerly Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister, said he was looking forward to the challenges of his new portfolio.

"I know the challenges in this ministry are very big and the expectations of the rakyat are very high, particularly in trying to make Malaysia the centre of excellence for higher education.

"What I know is that the work is going to be very different from the ministry I was heading before, but I will reserve my plans for the ministry until I have been briefed by the ministry staff," said the Pasir Gudang MP.

Khaled took over the portfolio from Datuk Mustapa Mohamed, who is now the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister.


The full list:

Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi

Deputy Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz
Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim
Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz

Deputy Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department
Datuk Johari Baharom
Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim
Datuk K. Devamany
Datuk Hassan Malik


Finance
Minister - Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Second Finance Minister - Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Deputies - Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Datuk Kong Cho Ha

Defence
Minister - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputy - Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop

Internal Security and Home Affairs
Minister - Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
Deputies - Datuk Chor Chee Heong, Senator Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh

Housing and Local Government
Minister -Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
Deputies - Datuk Robert Lau , Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

Works Minister
Minister - Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad
Deputy- Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

Energy, Water and Communications
Minister - Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy- Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Minister - Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputy - Datin Paduka Rohani Abdul Karim

International Trade and Industry
Minister -Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputies- Loh Wei Keong, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan

Foreign Affairs
Minister -Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputy- Tunku Azlan Abu Bakar

Education
Minister -Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputies -Datuk Wee Ka Siong, Datuk Razali Ismail

Higher Education
Minister - Datuk Khaled Nordin
Deputies - Khoo Kok Choong, Datuk Idris Harun

Transport
Datuk Ong Tee Keat
Deputy - Anifah Aman

Human Resources
Datuk S. Subramaniam
Deputy- Datuk Noraini Ahmad

Women, Family and Community Development
Minister-Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen
Deputy- Noriah Kasnon

National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage
Minister- Datuk Shafie Apdal
Deputy-Datuk Teng Boon Soon

Science, Technology and Innovation
Minister- Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy- Fadilah Yusof

Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development
Minister - Datuk Noh Omar
Deputy- Datuk Saiffuddin Abdullah

Natural Resources and Environment
Minister - Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas
Deputy - Datuk Abu Ghapur Salleh

Rural and Regional Development
Minister - Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib
Deputy- Tan Sri Joseph Kurup

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Minister - Datuk Shahrir Samad
Deputy - Jelaing Mersat

Plantation Industries and Commodities
Minister - Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy- Senator A. Kohilan

Youth and Sports
Minister - Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaacob
Deputy - Wee Jack Seng

Health
Minister - Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy- Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad

Information
Minister - Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputy- Datuk Tan Lian Hoe

Tourism
Minister - Datuk Azalina Othman
Deputy - Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abu Taib

FT
Minister - Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique
Deputy- M. Saravanan

Nizar sworn in as Perak MB

Monday March 17, 2008MYT 12:20:36 PM

KUALA KANGSAR: Perak PAS secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has been sworn-in as Mentri Besar.
The Pasir Panjang assemblyman took the oath of office before the Regent of Perak, Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah at Istana Iskandariah here at 11.45am on Monday.

Mukhriz’s Letter to PM

12th March 2008
Dato’ Seri,
Let me take this opportunity to thank you and the party’s leadership for the faith in me and the chance to contest in Jerlun as a Barisan Nasional candidate. With the blessing and hard work of the party’s leadership and machinery as well as the people of Jerlun, I have won the elections and am now a new Member of Parliament.
However, sadly enough, my victory is rendered meaningless in view of the defeat that Umno and the Kedah BN suffered in the hands of the opposition. Apart form Kedah, four other states as well as the Federal Territories also received similar humiliation in defeat.
In fact your own state of Penang was wrested by the DAP from the BN. Kelantan is again under Pas rules. In other states, the BN also suffered a similar humiliation when the level of BN support by the people has tremendously reduced. This, Datuk Seri, has never happened in the history of BN rule.
The sole intention of my letter to you is meant to save UMNO and BN from being rejected further by the people and from being no longer relevant to our religion, race and nation.
Dato’ Seri, the people are unhappy and the message from them is very clear, and that is they have rejected you as the nation’s chief executive.
Contrary to your claim that you still have the support of Umno and other component parties, the reality is that even our own party members had reneged in their voting pattern by supporting the Opposition and inflicting the BN its defeat.
Dato’ Seri, when the people held street demonstrations you openly dared them to resort to the ballot boxes to demonstrate.
They took your challenge by coming out, especially tho people in the Peninsular, and they demonstrated their feelings by voting us out at the BN at State and Parliament levels.
It is therefore clear that your leadership and your handling of the issues faced by the people and the nation are no longer accepted. Let’s not deny the truth just for the sake of keeping your seat as Prime Minister.
For the love of this country and the people, I beg that you take responsibility for the defeat. We can save UMNO, the BN and the nation only if you relinquish your positions as Prime Minister and the President of UMNO.
Dato’ Seri, I hope you will understand that I make this plea with the intention of salvaging a very dire situation. A move has been made to woo the BN representatives to join the Opposition. The enemy needs just 35 seats more to topple the government of your leadership.
If you do not resign in the near future, I fear that the situation will become untenable and that the Malay support for Umno and BN will be a thing of the past.
This plea I make without malice, and I am aware that your reaction and that of other UMNO members could very well be hostile.
But come what may, I am prepared, for the sake of the Malays and UMNO, to face the consequences of my action. With all humility, I leave my fate to Allah SWT.
Dato’ Seri, I am sure that you will do the right thing for the sake of the people and the nation. May Allah SWT bless you for the sacrifice you make by stepping down.
WasallamYours Sincerely
Mukhriz MahathirJerlun Member Parlament

Protestors at Komtar

It is an illegal gathering and why water cannon or tear gas was not being used to disperse !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Law is equal for everyone……………

FRU moves in to disperse protestors in Penang

Friday March 14, 2008
MYT 3:45:31 PM

PENANG: The Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) is moving in to disperse protestors who have gathered near the Komtar building.

Protestors began gathering in the area after Friday prayers to demonstrate against the DAP-led state government.

Earlier Friday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan had warned the public not to assemble illegally at the location.

He said those who defied the order would be arrested for illegal assembly.

Asalkan Bukan Umno / Anyone But Umno.

Mereka tidak mahu diri mereka dilihat - ini Melayu, ini Cina, ini India atau ini Bumiputera. Mereka mahu dilihat dan ditakrif bahawa mereka adalah warga Malaysia yang setaraf.
DARI JELEBU
Hishamuddin Rais
Rakyat Malaysia dalam pilihan raya ke 12 telah memilih ABU – Asalkan Bukan Umno/Anyone But Umno.
Ada masalah ke? Apa masalahnya?
Apa masalah DAP menubuhkan pentadbiran baru di Pulau Pinang? Apa hal jadi kalut apabila PKR akan menubuhkan kerajaan baru di Selangor? Apa halnya bila DAP mendapat undi terbanyak di Perak dan menubuhkan pentadbiran baru? Kedah dan Kelantan di bawah PAS ada problem? Apa problemnya?
Ada masalah ke apabila PKR akan mentadbirkan Wilayah Persekutuan/Kuala Lumpur?
Soalan-soalan saya ini timbul kerana saya terus membaca di akhbar-akbar lekeh arus perdana yang memaparkan berita yang cuba menimbulkan agenda perkauman Melayu. Saya juga menerima tek pesanan ringkas yang cuba mengapi-apikan sentimen Melayu untuk menimbulkan perasaan anti-bukan Melayu kerana rakyat telah memilih ABU.
Mari kita lihat bagaimana sebuah akhbar Melayu arus perdana yang lekeh lagi melekehkan. Lihat bagaimana akhbar ini menguruskan sentimen anti-bukan Melayu. Apabila rakyat memilih Abu kelihatan akhbar ini di laman rencana dan di ruangan surat pembaca telah cuba menerangkan kepada pemilih ABU bahawa kini ‘ ketuaan Melayu telah hilang!”
Ha ha ha … surat khabar corot ini masih lagi memainkan keset lama tentang ketuanan Melayu. Saya telah jelak , mual dan hendak muntah membaca dan mendengar agenda ketuanan Melayu. United Malay National Organistions ini cuba disamakan sebagai Melayu. Tolong sikit beeb… bukan semua Melayu berpayung di bawah agenda ketuanan Melayu. United Malay National Organisations mengakui ada hampir 2 juta ahli. Woit! Dalam negara ini ada berapa juta lagi orang Melayu?
Tidak semua Melayu di Malaysia ini bersetuju dengan konsep ketuanan Melayu. Tidak semua Melayu akan menyahut seruan ketuanan Melayu. Tidak semua Cina mahu bertuankan ketuanan Cina. Dan tidak semua India mahu bertuankan ketuanan India. Dan tidak semua Punjabi mahu bertuankan ketuanan Benggali.
Mereka yang telah memilih ABU kerana mereka mahu bertuankan keadilan, ketelusan, kebenaran dan kesaksamaan derajat. Mereka telah muak dengan agenda pecah dan perintah. Mereka tidak mahu diri mereka dilihat - ini Melayu, ini Cina, ini India atau ini Bumiputera. Mereka mahu dilihat dan ditakrif bahawa mereka adalah warga Malaysia yang setaraf. ( Kenapa berat dan ngok sangat kepala untuk memahami bahawa agenda ketuanan Melayu ini telah lama bungkus dan telah di humbankan ke dalam tong sampah sejarah.)
Apa salahnya anak muda itu di terima masuk ke fakulti perubatan walhal kelulusan anak muda ini cukup cemerlang. Anak muda ini di tolak hanya kerana dia Cina dan tidak termasuk dalam agenda ketuanan Melayu. Ini perbuatan gila. Orang sakit di Malaysia ini kalau dia sakit dia tidak mengira bangsa apa, agama apa atau dari parti apa doktor yang mengubati.
Kenapa kontrak buat bangunan sekolah itu di berikan kepada si Polan ini? Dalam masa enam bulan sesudah siap sekolah ini runtuh rahai? Jawabnya si Polan ini di beri kontrak kerana dia Melayu dan ini agenda ketuanan Melayu. Ini kerja gila. Pengundi ABU mahukan yang terbaik bukan yang TERMELAYU.
Kenapa Naib Canselor di universiti-universiti semuanya Melayu walhal kebanyakan dari mereka benak, tidak berilmu, bebal dan tidak ada mengeluarkan tulisan-tulisan ilmiah. Jawabnya Naib-naib Canselor ini dilantik hanya kerana mereka Melayu dan ini agenda ketuanan Melayu. Ini kerja gila, kerja orang bodoh. Dunia akademia bukan mahukan Melayu. Dunia akademia mahukan mereka yang bijak , berilmu dan bukan berMelayu. Ilmu datang bukan kerana dia Melayu tetapi kerana insan profesor itu berilmu dan ada keupayaan untuk berfikir, menulis dan berhujah secara ilmiah. Kaki bodek tidak termasuk dalam Cv dan biodata untuk menjadi profesor di universiti.
Dalam ruangan pembaca di media yang sama saya juga terbaca tentang ‘ survival Melayu’. Mula-mula saya ingatkan ini program TV yang bernama “ survival’ rupa-rupanya bukan. Survival yang di perkatakan oleh akhbar lekeh ini ialah survival Melayu.
Haha haha.. lawak betul akhbar ini. United National Malay Organisations bukan oksigen beeb. Tolong lah beeb... Manusia Melayu telah wujud ribuan tahun tanpa United Malay National Organisations. Pertubuhan ini pula baru muncul pada tahun 1946, ini pun kerana perancangan British yang sedang nazak dipukul oleh perjuangan rakyat Malaya yang mengangkat senjata.
Saya tidak tahu bagaimana dan apa pertalian United Malay National Organisations dengan kunun apa yang di panggil ‘survival’ Melayu. Tapi saya tahu apa yang tidak akan ‘survive’ dan pupus nanti. Yang akan pupus ialah ‘contract junkies’. Yang akan pupus nanti ialah Mat Subcon. Yang akan pupus nanti ialah mereka yang tidak berkelayakan untuk masuk universiti pasti tidak akan dapat masuk universiti. Tolong lah beeb...jangan samakan makhluk-makhluk ini dengan 300 juta susuk-susuk yang dipanggil Melayu di Nusantara.
Selepas – ‘survival Melayu ‘ muncul pula apa yang kunun dipanggil agenda perpaduan Melayu. Satu lagi lawak tengit. Apa barang yang di panggil perpaduan Melayu ini? Benda ini ada di jual di Maidin ke? Ada di jual di Chow Kit ke? Berapa harga sekilo?
Perpaduan Melayu untuk apa?
Susuk Melayu tidak pernah bersatu, tidak akan bersatu dan sampai dunia kiamat pun TIDAK akan bersatu. Susuk Cina tidak pernah bersatu, tidak akan bersatu dan sampai kiamat pun tidak akan bersatu. Susuk Arab tidak pernah bersatu, tidak akan bersatu dan sampai kiamat pun Tok-tok Arab ini tidak akan bersatu.
Jangan mimpi dan jangan berkhayal tentang perpaduan Melayu. Benda ini tidak pernah wujud. Dalam sejarah perjalanan tamadun manusia, dari semenjak manusia keluar dari gua-gua batu di Kenya Afrika susuk yang di panggil manusia ini telah terpencar-pencar dan tidak pernah bersatu.
Menggunakan satu bahasa ibunda juga tidak akan menjanjikan perpaduan. Buktinya negara Arab yang semuanya bercakap Arab. Mereka tidak pernah bersatu. Satu warna kulit tidak juga menjanjikan perpaduan. Buktinya benua Afrika – mereka semuanya berkulit hitam. Satu asal usul budaya dan bahasa yang sama juga tidak menjanjikan perpaduan. Buktinya Cina dan Taiwan. Satu agama dan satu konsep tuhan pun tidak akan menjamin perpaduan. Buktinya Pakistan Timur dan Pakistan Barat. Pakistan Timur kini menjadi Bangladesh.
Manusia bukan batu bata yang boleh disusun mengikut rasa. Manusia mempunyai akliah.
Mengapi-apikan rasa benci antara kaum dan bangsa ini adalah jenis politik bankrap. Ini jenis politik orang kalah. Jenis politik inilah yang telah di tolak oleh ABU. Mengajukan kebencian terhadap sesama manusia bukan sifat insan yang berilmu, berfikiran dan bertamadun.
Menakut-nakutkan orang Melayu bahawa mereka akan hilang Dasar Ekonomi Baru adalah cerita hantu lama. Cerita hantu ini telah menjadi tidak seram lagi. Menakut-nakutkan orang Melayu bahawa mereka akan hilang hak keistimewaan samalah seperti George Bush sedang cuba menakut-nakutkan rakyat dunia tentang ‘keganasan Islam’. Orang Melayu tidak akan ambil pot. Rakyat dunia tidak akan ambil pot.
Untuk sementara waktu ada susuk Melayu akan termakan racun bergula dari akhbar-akhbar lekeh lagi melekehkan. Ini samalah seperti ada sebahagian rakyat dunia yang termakan propaganda Bush tentang cerita seram ‘ kejahatan Islam’.
Sebenarnya di belakang agenda menakut-nakutkan Melayu ini ialah para cukong, para contract junkies, para Ali dan Baba, para Mat Subcon, para lanun dan penyamun, para perasuah dan pengguna C4, para komisen agen, para broker projek – mereka inilah yang sedang dalam ketakutan kerana rakyat telah memilih ABU – Asalkan Bukan Umno/Anyone But Umno.

Denial syndrome must end

Nation

Friday March 14, 2008

The winds of change have swept through not only the political landscape but also the media environment. It's time for media practitioners to do some serious soul-searching to stay relevant and accurately feel the pulse of the nation.

THE SMS has got to be the most effective weapon in helping the Opposition knock out the Barisan Nasional. With over 22 million mobile subscribers, the SMS link connected urban and rural Malaysia such that news in one part of the country reached another part in mere seconds.

Three hours before polling closed, Malaysians were flooded with messages alleging electoral fraud in several constituencies contested by key Barisan leaders. That was enough to further raise the political temperatures of many Malaysians, who had already made up their mind to vote against the coalition.

There were more blows to come. Umno Youth deputy leader Khairy Jamaluddin was accused of being in a sex video. Those who took the trouble to check the blog found it didn't even resemble him, but the question remains – how many people were duped into believing this rumour or took the trouble to check?

Some of these messages were serious and direct but most poked fun at the Barisan. And certainly they worked effectively in this general election.

The bloggers and alternative media also inflicted serious wounds onto the Barisan but the impact may not be as strong as it has been made out to be. Admittedly, Urban Malaysia preferred these channels of information to the mainstream media, which certainly was part of the debacle of the Barisan defeat.

But it was the mammoth-sized ceramah, especially in Penang, that translated into votes, especially in the western states of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah.

New Media analyst Oon Yeoh correctly commented in an article that the Internet was mainly for city folk. Many rural folk do not have access to the Internet and so did not benefit from information sent via online media, blogs or e-mail, he said.

During his visit to Jelutong, where blogger Jeff Ooi contested, Oon found out that most voters had barely heard of Jeff's blog and even fewer had visited it. It was the Chinese dailies, according to Ooi, who helped make him a known face to Penangites.

Oon wrote that one of the volunteers, a 42-year-old salesman who wanted to only be known as William, confessed he had never heard of Ooi before nomination day, much less visited his blog.

Ooi himself stopped blogging midway during the campaign period, preferring to give press conferences to the print media, speak at ceramah and meet his voters directly.

It was the traditional method of campaigning that played the major role. Certainly, it was the Rocket symbol, rather than Jeff Ooi the blogger, riding on the anti-establishment mood that led to his strong victory.

Some Barisan candidates also turned to blogging, hoping to connect with the young, but they gave up because the number of visitors was just too low.

Another development was that the Internet helped raise over RM100,000 in online donations, primarily for the Opposition candidates, with a large portion coming from overseas. It is probably the first time in Malaysian political history that political donations were raised this way.

Two news websites emerged during the elections, MalaysiaVotes.com and MalaysianInsider.com, but being newcomers, it was difficult for them to compete with the more established Malaysiakini.

The websites of mainstream newspapers had an even tougher time, being overly cautious on accuracy, particularly on results, and not wanting to rely too much on unconfirmed news.

In the end, the alternative media scored better as it did not have to worry too much about accuracy. An example was the newsflash on the purported 14 unopened ballot boxes in Lembah Pantai, implying there would be rigging. The report turned out to be false.

But this election was a wake-up call to the nation, not just to the leadership, but also the media. A serious and honest soul searching is required to truly feel the pulse of Malaysians. The mainstream newspapers have to learn, quickly, or face being abandoned by their readers.

As Bernama general manager Datuk Azman Ujang rightly said, Malaysians have spoken loud and clear, “not only on what kind of government they want but also the kind of media they prefer”.

Despite the mainstream media bashing, newspapers have sold well over the past two weeks, with the Singapore Straits Times quoting a media consultant G. Manimaran as saying that “for the first time in 20 years of journalism, I am seeing people queuing up to buy newspapers”.

With opposition parties now in control of five state governments, the media, including government-run TV stations, must be prepared to relook its editorial policies. Some vernacular newspapers, too, must end their communal slant as they should take into account that the votes for the Opposition came from all races.

The winds of change have swept through Malaysia and the fact is everyone, especially the media, has to wake up to that reality. It should be accepted, not resisted. The denial syndrome has to stop.

Historical Moment

Dumb & Dumber

W.P.M - Worst Prime Minister Award

Penang: Muhd Fairuz, Ramasamy are deputy CMs

Beh Lih Yi | Mar 12, 08 10:45am

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today announced that PKR’s Penanti state assemblyperson Muhammad Fairuz Khairuddin and DAP’s Perai representative P Ramasamy would be made the state’s deputy chief ministers. Muhammad Fairuz will be the Deputy CM 1 and Ramasamy, the Deputy CM 2. Lim, who was sworn in yesterday, said the decision to pick the duo was to have a leadership to represent all communities in Penang. This is the first time an Indian has been awarded such a high post in Malaysia. The DAP-led opposition made a clean sweep in Penang in the last general election, totally wiping out the BN’s hold in the island state.

30 NGO India mahu Samy dilantik Senator

BENTONG 11 Mac – Sebanyak 30 pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang mewakili masyarakat India di negeri ini mahu Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu dilantik sebagai Senator bagi membolehkannya kekal dalam Kabinet.
Penyelaras kumpulan NGO itu, S. Sivalingam menegaskan, kegagalan Samy Vellu mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Sungai Siput pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 Sabtu lalu bukan petunjuk penolakan kaum India terhadap bekas Menteri Kerja Raya itu.
“Kejutan di Sungai Siput tidak mewakili kaum India kerana pengundi di kawasan itu terdiri daripada pelbagai kaum,” katanya kepada pemberita di sini hari ini.
Antara NGO yang hadir termasuk Kelab Tamil Bell, Persatuan Taman-Taman Perumahan Karak, dewan-dewan perniagaan dan persatuan-persatuan masyarakat India Pahang.
Pada pilihan raya umum baru-baru ini, Samy Vellu yang memperoleh 14,637 undi tewas kepada calon Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Dr. Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj yang mendapat 16,458 undi.
Sivalingam berkata, kekalahan Samy Vellu dipengaruhi pelbagai faktor termasuk muslihat, salah faham, masalah setempat dan emosi.
Menurut beliau, peranan media juga memburukkan keadaan apabila media kerap melaporkan kelemahan di Kementerian Kerja Raya sejak dua tahun kebelakangan ini.
“Kelemahan-kelemahan kementerian lain tidak pernah ditonjolkan dan ini membuktikan Samy Vellu sengaja dipermain-mainkan,” jelasnya.
Sehubungan itu, Sivalingam menggesa pucuk pimpinan Barisan Nasional (BN) tidak menjadikan faktor kekalahan sebagai alasan untuk mengetepikan Samy Vellu daripada barisan Kabinet yang akan dibentuk dalam tempoh terdekat ini.
Beliau juga mencadangkan pucuk pimpinan BN mengadakan mesyuarat dengan semua pemimpin parti komponen terlebih dahulu sebelum memutuskan tarikh pembubaran Parlimen dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.
Selain itu, beliau meminta wakil-wakil rakyat pembangkang daripada kaum India menunaikan segala janji yang mereka taburkan ketika berkempen pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12.
“Buktikan keberkesanan anda sebagai wakil rakyat. Dulu anda bertanya, kini tiba masanya anda menjawab segala persoalan yang akan timbul,” kata Sivalingam.

P.S.Maybe we have to prepare another petition to protest this. Do you'll think agree with me? Pls comment.

New CM waives summonses

north@thestar.com.my

PENANG: New Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has introduced a series of populist decisions from giving a one-time waiver of summonses issued by local councils to the abandoning of New Economic Policy measures by the state administration.

He said the state government also wanted to foster harmonious relations with the Federal Government in all respects and he would seek an appointment with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss moves to address the needs of the people of Penang.

He said this during a press conference after being sworn in as Chief Minister at his new office in Komtar here yesterday.

Lim said the key areas of the new agenda for Penang included the economy, governance and social needs of the people. (See chart)

He said the agenda for change would “re-establish rule by the rakyat.”

He also said that the Chief Minister, state exco members, speaker and deputy speaker, as well as the heads of the Penang and Seberang Prai municipal councils would be required to publicly declare their personal assets.

On the move to waive summonses issued by the Penang and Seberang Prai Municipal Councils before March 11, Lim said the move was to help reduce the burden faced by the people, especially the poor.

However, further offences of such nature would not be excused, he said.

Lim said he hoped to discuss with Abdullah the possibility of using Petronas’ proceeds to fully fund the construction cost of the Federal Government’s second Penang Bridge project.

He also hoped federal funding to Penang would not be affected by the change of government, adding that the funding was provided for under the Federal Constitution.

“I don't think Abdullah wants to see Penangites suffer just because they exercised their right to vote in the March 8 elections,” he said.

On how he felt being the Chief Minister, Lim replied: “Being a former prisoner, I did not expect to sit on the chief minister's chair. It is really a transformation and quite an experience for me.”

First Tamil Signboard

Thanks to our YB.Theresa KoK

Appoint Indians as deputies in state govts, says Hindraf

Nation
Tuesday March 11, 2008

BUTTERWORTH: An Indian should be made a Deputy Chief Minister in Penang while in Perak and Selangor, they should be appointed Deputy Mentri Besar, Hindraf acting chairman R.S. Thanenthiran said.

“DAP, PKR and PAS can make the necessary amendments to the state constitution to create a Deputy Chief Minister or Deputy Mentri Besar post just as the Barisan Nasional government had done in the past.

“If they are unable to provide this post, they should then allocate two or more state exco seats for Indians,” he said.

Thanenthiran noted that the three political parties had used Hindraf’s Makkal Sakhti (People’s Power) slogan to garner support from the voters.

Ideally, he said, DAP’s A. Sivanesan and M. Manoharan should be made Deputy Mentri Besar in Perak and Selangor respectively while DAP’s Dr P. Ramasamy should be made Deputy Chief Minister in Penang.

Indian Association Penang president K. Vijayakumar said Indians should be allowed to play a key role in the state administration and government agencies.

“There are many competent and qualified Indian professionals in Penang, Selangor and Perak,” he said.

Seberang Prai Indians Social Welfare Association secretary T. Vijiakumaran said the Chinese, Malays and Indians, should be given equal opportunities, especially in securing government contracts, business licences, and seats in higher education institutions.

Vijiakumaran said there should be more Indian municipal councillors as well as top-ranking officers in government departments and agencies.

Dr M calls for Pak Lah to resign

Dr M calls for Pak Lah to resign
Mar 9, 08 2:14pm/ Malaysiakini
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has "destroyed" the ruling coalition after disastrous weekend elections.
Mahathir, who led the ruling Umno which helms the Barisan Nasional coalition for 22 years before stepping down in 2003, lashed out after its worst performance in history.
"My view is he has destroyed Umno, destroyed the BN and he has been responsible for this," Mahathir told reporters.
He suggested Abdullah should resign, and said he had made a mistake in selecting him as prime minister.
"I think he should accept responsibility for this. He should accept 100 percent responsibility," he said.
"I am sorry but I apparently made the wrong choice."
Mahathir has previously said he never intended for Abdullah to serve more than one term, and that he should have opted instead for influential Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak who is now leader-in-waiting.Worst ever result
BN suffered its worst ever result in Saturday's polls, losing its two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time since 1969 and conceding four more states to a resurgent opposition.
Abdullah was punished over rising crime and inflation in an election also tinged by rising racial tensions between majority Muslim Malays and minority ethnic Chinese and Indians.
"I think the people must have been very angry, all the races, Chinese, Malays and Indians," Mahathir said.
"The problem is we (the government) have become so arrogant. We suppress any opinion that we do not like and they begin to believe in their own reports which are not actually consistent with what is happening in the country."
Abdullah was Mahathir's hand-picked successor when he stepped down, but after the new leader dumped several of his pet projects he began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.

Samy to stay on as MIC chief

Nation STAR/Monday March 10, 2008
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who crashed to a shock defeat in the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat, will continue as the MIC president and restructure and rebuild the party.
In a statement, he said he was not feeling unhappy but reminded the MIC members that they were in a very challenging period.
“We have to move in the direction where the wind is blowing and we hope a day will come when the new wave will be with us,” he said.
Samy Vellu, who had been the Sungai Siput MP since 1974, lost to PKR's Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj by 1,821 votes.
He thanked the people of Sungai Siput for supporting him in the last eight elections since 1974.
“I am very grateful for being given the opportunity to serve this constituency and I believe I have done whatever possible to make the people of Sungai Siput happy.
“But times have changed and every good thing has to come to an end but there is always a new beginning,” he said.
Meanwhile secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who was one of three MIC leaders to have retained their parliamentary seats, said the MIC has to take cognisance of the results and the fact that the majority of the Indian community did not support the party in the elections.
“This is the first time we have suffered such a loss,” he said.
Dr Subramaniam, who retained the Segamat parliamentary seat, said that the next four years would be challenging to rebuild the confidence and to instil in the people the relevance of the MIC to the Indian community.
He said Samy Vellu was the president of MIC and should continue dictating the direction of the party.
MIC information chief Datuk M. Saravanan, who won the Tapah parliamentary seat, said it was normal for parties to win or lose seats in elections.
“Even Keadilan lost in many seats in the last general election but this time, it made some gains. Winning or losing is not all that the game is about but more about serving the people,” he said.
Saravanan, who is also Federal Territory MIC chief, said this was the best time to prove that “we are here not for position or power but

MIC chief Samy says goodbye

2008/03/09
IPOH: After having served the Sungai Siput constituency since 1974, yesterday's unexpected defeat came as a major shock to MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu. Samy Vellu, who turned 72 yesterday, made a quick exit from the Dewan Konvensyen Sungai Siput on learning the result for the parliamentary seat.

On his way out, the MIC supremo said "goodbye" to reporters and supporters who had gathered at the hall.

Samy Vellu lost to Dr D. Jeyakumar, a former chest physician, his nemesis since 1999, whom he had trounced in the last general election with a majority of 10,349 votes.

Good Bye Semi...V

Wife to seek freedom for victorious ISA detainee Manoharan

BERNAMA
KLANG, SUN

The wife of election victor M. Manoharan is to seek his immediate release from detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

S. Pushpaneela said she hoped that DAP chairman and lawyer Karpal Singh would fight for the release of her husband.

Manoharan, 46, had won the Kota Alam Shah state seat in Selangor on a DAP ticket, defeating Ching Su Chen of the Barisan Nasional (BN) by 7,184 votes.

“Since my husband has won the Kota Alam Shah seat, I hope Karpal (Singh) will fight immediately for the release of my husband. I know it will not be an automatic release,” she told reporters here.

Manoharan, a lawyer, was detained last December for alleged involvement in the organising of illegal gatherings on Nov 25 last year and making seditious statements against the government.
He is the third ISA detainee to contest on a DAP ticket in a general election. Chan Kok Kit and Chian Heng Khai contested on a DAP ticket in 1978 in Sungai Besi (Selangor) and Batu Gajah (Perak), respectively, when they were under detention, and both won.

Pushpaneela said her husband would not get to know the election result immediately.

“There is not much communication between us. I will inform him personally (of the election result) when I visit him at the Kamunting detention camp tomorrow,” said the mother of four.

Pushpaneela said all her efforts during the 13-day election campaign had paid off.

“I woke up at 5am daily to make the necessary preparations for the election campaign. Believe me, being a woman it was not an easy task,” she said.

Guan Eng will be sworn in on Tuesday as Penang Chief Minister

BERNAMA
Penang /Sunday

Lim Guan Eng, secretary-general of the DAP, which won 19 of the 40 state seats in Penang, is expected to take over the chief minister’s post on Tuesday.
He said he would be sworn in after the party and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which won nine state seats, making a total of 28, form the Penang state government with more than a two-third majority.

PKR won nine of the 16 state seats it contested, while PAS maintained its Permatang Pasir state seat, and lost the other four.

Yesterday, Penang PKR chief Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim said the party had agreed to form a joint government with the DAP, and also on Lim ’s appointment as the new chief minister.

Lim said the party would also cooperate with other opposition parties to form the government in Penang and other states.
The oposition also won big in Perak, Selangor and Kedah in yesterday’s polls.

Lim said the Penang DAP-PKR state governmemt would pursue investor-friendly policies to ensure that Penang retains its edge as the leading industrial and manufacturing hub and put public interest first in the implementation or review of any project or policy.

“We wish to assure both local and foreign investors that we are fully cognizant of the importance of their major contributions to our state economy,” he said.

“We shall be holding dialogues, discussions and consultations with industries, commerce and small and mediaum industries upon taking up the reins of government.

“The manufacturing sector comprises around 42 per cent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs approximately 200,000 workers, of which half are in the electronic sector,” he said.

We won the battle...

What a wonderful day......ha..ha...at last we manage to change the fate of Penang Island. Million thanks to everyone that voted for opposition.Not forgetting our " Hidraf Heroes" and " Makkal Sakthi" which was the root that made this tsunami victory .I was at Dato'Zahrain's ( PKR Bayan Baru) house last night when the announcement were made.....what a big relief after so much of battle.

Valgha Makkal Sakthi

Malaysian Indians aim to swing vote

By	Claudia Theophilus in Kuala Lumpur

A political awakening sweeping Malaysia's ethnic Indian community could spell trouble for the incumbent Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in the country's forthcoming general elections.

For the first time, many Malaysians of Indian origin - particularly those in lower income groups - are actively campaigning for the opposition, a departure from the traditional support usually given to the ruling coalition.

The swing has been triggered by the government's move to crush demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur in November last year to protest against alleged racial discrimination.

Riot police fired tear gas and chemical-laced water cannon to disperse tens of thousands of protestors, mobilised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), in what was one of the biggest mass protest seen in the country in decades.

Since then, many Indians have embraced "makkal sakti", Tamil for "people power", as the battle cry for political change in the elections, joining the opposition campaign to reject five decades of BN rule.

Racial politics

Internet-savvy Indians, particularly younger activists, have embarked on an extensive campaign of mobile text messaging, emails and blogs to express their frustration with the government and to urge a vote swing.

They want an end to what they say has been a spate of demolitions of Hindu temples and discriminatory policies in education, business and housing.

Slightly more than half of Malaysia's population is ethnic Malay, followed by about 36 per cent Chinese and 8 per cent Indian.

Malaysia's political system is run along ethnic lines, with BN made up of 14 race-based parties and the core parties of the coalition - the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) - representing the three major ethnic groups respectively.

Ethnic Indians say the unequal distribution of wealth has denied them their rightful share of the economic pie, charges the government has repeatedly denied.

Since the Hindraf rally, many Indians have been campaigning to not only bring down the BN, but also to deny Samy Vellu, the head of the MIC and the de facto political leader of the community, a ninth term in office.

Frustrations

The disfranchisement felt by many Malaysian Indians marks a significant shift in the country's political scene.

M Ganesan, 31, who works in a private company in the northern state of Perak, said the fact that many ethnic Indians had travelled from across Malaysia to attend the Hindraf rally in Kuala Lumpur pointed to the widespread anger among the community.

"I don't understand why the government is blaming us for demanding our rights," he told Al Jazeera in Sungai Siput, the constituency Samy Vellu has held since 1974.

"We must deny the BN a majority. If they have overwhelming support, we will be in trouble because they will come after us."

Ganesan said most Indians were still angry that the government felt justified in using force against protesters during the November rally.

"We know that the statements assuring Indians that temples will not be demolished is a mere eye-wash," he said.

"If the government takes care of its people, they will surely support it," he added. "If not, they will definitely oppose it."

Samy Vellu's challenger, Jeyakumar Devaraj, a candidate for the opposition Keadilan party, is trying for the third time to unseat the incumbent.

"No doubt the Indians are very upset and I'm confident of a vote swing for the opposition," Jeyakumar told Al Jazeera at his operations centre.

"But this is also the best opportunity for all Malaysians to show their unhappiness with government leaders in other constituencies."

'Dent the armour'

G Kavitha, 32, a mother of three, conceded that the votes of Malaysia's relatively small and widely scattered Indian community would not be enough to change the government. "What is more important is for Indian voters and the opposition as a whole to put a dent in the BN armour," she told Al Jazeera in Sungai Siput. The "makkal sakti" grassroots movement may have caught on with the masses of lower-income Indians, but many middle-class ethnic Indians are still to be convinced that the ruling coalition has failed to deliver on its promises. S Muthu, a self-employed youth in the capital, says the BN has done "many good things for the people". "We must continue to support the government so that our country can see more development and become the best in the world," he told Al Jazeera at an opposition campaign rally in Klang, about 30km south of the capital. It is a message not lost on the government, with Malaysia's overwhelmingly pro-BN press running numerous articles by prominent Indians including wives of former politicians and young businessmen praising the government for progress and stability. The central theme of all the articles is a call for Indians to "vote wisely" for continued peace and to remember the benefits gained since independence in 1957. To counter a strong vote swing in crucial seats, Abdullah Badawi, the prime minister, has pledged fresh initiatives to help poor Indians living in remote rubber plantations. "This is not mere lip service," he was quoted as saying while campaigning in his Penang constituency. "It is a serious promise and we will do it." Speaking to a gathering of local Indians he assured them that he would deliver "all that you ask for" if they return BN to power.

Source: Al Jazeera

Posted By : arun

DAP - Rocks Penang ,60,000 crowd and Rm123,000 on site donation

The March 6 DAP Ceramah held last night at Han Chiang High School, located with the Jelutong parliamentary constituency rocks Penang last night

People came in red and white, DAP's colours. About 50,000 people gathered within the football field and the school compound, with another 10,000 surrounding the perimeter fencing by the roadside.

On-site donation broke a new record for DAP ... a whooping RM123,000.00. I was there personally with my bro in law shouting " Jom Ubah" and "Makkal Sakthi'' slogan's. Even though it started to rain for a bout 30 minutes, non of the supporters moved from the Han Chiang field. We were fully wet but our spirit's were heated up.It was truly an unforgettable experience in my life . Hope the crowd that turn up yesterday could change the fate of Penang tomorrow.

Photo: Courtesy from TV SMITH

Regards: arun

This is who we call " Imam Hadhari"

The True Barisan Nasional Logo

Samy Vellu posters in Kulim Kedah

Mahathir: Samy stifled Indian voices

Mahathir: Samy stifled Indian voices
Soon Li Tsin | Mar 6, 08 2:47pm
The problems plaguing the Indian community could be resolved by removing MIC president S Samy Vellu who stifled Indian voices, said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday.
In the second part of an exclusive interview with the Malaysian statesman, Mahathir said removing the MIC leader would allow more Indian voices to be heard.
"I know their main grouse is not with me, their main grouse is with Samy Vellu because with him there, another Indian has been deprived of the chance to come up," he said.
Speaking to Malaysiakini at his Perdana Leadership Foundation office in Putrajaya, Mahathir deflected allegations that the root cause of the Indian community’s strife was due to his pro-Malay focus during his tenure as PM.
"So they want to blame me? It is not that. Samy Vellu did not ask for assistance. The problem is that he is preventing other Indians from having a say.
"(Indian Progressive Front president MG) Pandithan was got rid of, (former MIC deputy president S) Subramaniam was got rid of, K Pathmanaban died but of course before that, he was (former MIC vice president).
"That is his (Samy Vellu) way of doing things and of course the other voices cannot reach me. And of course, he doesn’t say there is this battling among the Indians," he explained.
Pandithan, who was formerly with MIC, started IPF in 1990 after falling out with Samy. The two parties have been at odds with each other despite being in the BN coalition.
Both Subramaniam and Pathmanaban have a history of bad blood with Samy in their failed attempts to challenge for the party presidency.
Mahathir also said in jest: "You know Indians are very political. Tunku Abdul Rahman used to say if there is one Indian, there is one political party. If there are two Indians, there are two political parties."
‘Don’t stay too long’
In the interview that lasted almost an hour, Mahathir also alluded that people should not stay in power for too long and chances should be given to others.
"It is up to him to decide (to step down). A lot of people will say "if you step down, we will step down" and they will cry and all that. But when I step down, nobody stepped down," he mused.
Samy Vellu who is the works minister and the longest serving Cabinet minister has been the MIC president since 1979 for 10 consecutive terms.
Mahathir also criticised Samy for creating excuses about bringing up Indian issues at the Cabinet level.
"That is his excuse. I know how much he talks in the Cabinet. Don’t (say) something that others cannot prove because nobody heard him in Cabinet except us.
"He talks, but these things were not the issues that he raised - like the recovery of money for the Indian community who were brought here by force and all that.
"He never mentioned that, I’ve never heard him. He never said that the Malays were committing genocide and ethnic cleansing. He never said that. Why didn’t he say that?" he asked.
Asked to comment on the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), the former PM said their demands were unreasonable.
"Quite a lot of their demands were quite unreasonable - practically denying the position of the Malays as the indigenous race on this country. You know this is something very sensitive to the Malays.
"If the government tell the Malays ‘sorry you’ve got the same status is the Indians’ I think there will be a big drop of support for the government from the Malays", Mahathir added.