Tamil Migration - (1830-1950)

Proclamation of Independence

Racial Slur Legalised!

Agence France-Presse - 5/15/2009 4:47 AM GMT

Malaysian court allows use of racial slur in dictionary

A Malaysian court has said the use of a perceived racial slur in aMalay-language dictionary to describe the country's minority Indians ispermissible, according to a report Friday.The High Court allowed the use of the word 'keling', generally considered offensive by ethnic Indians, dismissing an appeal by an Indian Muslim group that had sued the government's language institute over its inclusion in theirdictionary, the Star newspaper said.The group had sought to remove the word from the dictionary and wanted it dropped from the names of buildings and roads, arguing that 'keling' wasinsulting and degrading to the Indian Muslim community, the paper reported.

The judge said the language institute was only carrying out its statutory dutyby including the word in the dictionary and that the constitutional right tonon-discrimination referred to individuals rather than institutions.The word 'keling' was originally used by locals to describe Indian migrants inthe 19th century and was used on signs and as place names by British colonial authorities.However, it is resented by some in Malaysia because it has long been used in a derogatory manner to refer to Indians.Issues related to religion, language and race are sensitive matters in Malaysia.About 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims. The country's minority Chinese and Indians are mostly Buddhists, Hindus orChristians.Ethnic Indians -- many of whom are descendants of labourers brought over byBritish colonial rulers in the 1800s -- complain they are marginalised in termsof education, wealth and opportunities.


< http://news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3314925 >

Interesting Facts on Malaysian Politics!

In Parliament

Penang State Assembly

malaysianindian1.blogspot.com

Selangor State Assembly

malaysianindian1.blogspot.com

Perak State Assembly

malaysianindian1.blogspot.com

Refugees in Malaysia

Refugees in Malaysia

Refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia,

registered with UNHCR, 2008

Country	Numbers
Myanmar	36500
Sri Lanka	1900
Somalia	580
Iraq	570
Total	41400

Source: Malay Mail, from: www.unhcr.org.my

Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Malaysia, 2006

Refugees and Asylum Seekers	152700
Philippines	66800
Myanmar	53000
Indonesia	30000
New Refugees & Asylum Seekers	10900
Involuntary Departures	210 -1000
Voluntary Departures	700
Malaysia as Source	200

Source: < http://www.une.edu.au/asiacenter/No18.pdf >

From: U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants - World Refugee Survey 2006 Country Report,Malaysia

< http://www.refugees.org/countryreports.aspx?subm=&ssm=&cid=1595 >

30,000 Malaysians living illigally in Britain!

Friday October 31

The British Government in introducing a programme to reduce the number of illegal immigrants with regards to those who have overstayed.Under this programme those who overstay "can be assisted in returning home by being given a one-way ticket to their respective countries.free flight ticket home".

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said that there were 30,000 Malaysians who had overstayed in Britain and its government would like to see as many illegal immigrants possible from that country leave.

“In July, United Kingdom gave Malaysia a six months grace period before deciding whether to impose visa on citizens of this country. “The period is used to gauge whether there is an increase in the number of overstayers or those who go in on a social visa but find employment there.

He said the British Government would decide after December whether to impose a visa on Malaysians traveling to the country but hoped that “this will not be necessary”, urging citizens to respect and abide by the laws of the country they were in.

Britain is mulling whether to impose visa on visiting Malaysians following high incidents of overstaying and illegal workers of late.

the star

Gov. condemned over ban of HINDRAF

Agence France-Presse - 10/16/2008 8:51 AM GMT

Malaysia was accused Thursday of aggravating race relations by banning a Hindu rights group whose leaders are being held without trial.

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), which represents Malaysia's ethnic Indian minority, has been declared illegal by the government which found it "posed a threat to public order and morality".

Hindraf chairman Waytha Moorthy, who fled to Britain before the group's leadership was rounded up last year, vowed the movement would continue to fight for the rights of the disadvantaged community.

"Hindraf will not flinch with these threats and will continue its struggle," he said in a statement.

The government "enjoys demonising and bullying us on the pretext of law, public order, national security, when all we are fighting for is to address the true and real condition of the downtrodden Malaysian Indians," he said.

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, president of the national human rights society Suhakam, said the ban was unnecessary and showed a lack of sensitivity to the minority community which shunned the government in March elections.

"Hindraf is more a wave of consciousness than an organisation and in declaring it illegal the government has possibly alienated the Indian community even more," he told AFP.

"The cause of marginalisation is a real one and if you look at Hindraf activities so far, there has been no violence and none of their activities can be described as a threat to security with the exception of last year's demonstrations."

more

HINDRAF BANNED!

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has been banned by the Malaysian government.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar yesterday issued a statement declaring Hindraf, which has been championing Indian rights and trying to prevent the demolition of Hindu temples in the country, an illegal organisation.

In a statement yesterday, Syed Hamid said the decision to declare Hindraf illegal was made as a result of investigations by the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

“The ministry found the organisation’s activities contravened the Societies Act 1966 and if left unchecked, the organisation could pose a threat to public order, peace, security and morality in Malaysia,” he said, adding that even the sovereignty of the country and prevailing racial harmony would be jeopardised.

He made the declaration based on powers vested under Section 5(1) of the Societies Act.

Five top Hindraf leaders are being detained under the Internal Security Act and chairman P.Waythamoorthy is in self-imposed exile in London where he has been lobbying international organisations on the plight of Indians in Malaysia.

Coalition of Indian NGOs secretary-general Gunaraj George said that by banning Hindraf, Syed Hamid had rendered the Indian community voiceless, but said it would not dampen the spirit of its supporters.

“I know that their struggle will go on especially to free all those detained under the ISA.”

The Star
New Strait Times
Strait Times Singapore

Sultan UNSHIELDED!

A special Malaysian court consisting of a panel of five judges ordered ex-Agong, Tuanku Jaafar Tuanku Abdul Rahman to settle a $1 million debt to the Standard Chartered Bank in an unprecedented verdict that ended a centuries old tradition shielding Malaysia's royal Sultans from legal prosecution.

"This would be an ordinary case but what is exceptional is that it involves a ruler," the bank's lawyer, Robert Lazar, told The Associated Press.

A special panel of Malaysia's top five judges unanimously ruled that Tuanku Jaafar was liable for a $1 million credit provided by the bank in a 1999 business contract involving him and the U.S.-based Connecticut Bank of Commerce. Tuanku Jaafar was Malaysia's king at the time

Lazar said Tuanku Jaafar cannot appeal the verdict and Standard Chartered will be able to recover the payment from the ruler's bank deposits.

Associated Press

Perak to shut ISA Detention Camp!

The Pakatan Rakyat government said on Wednesday that it was taking steps to shut down the infamous Kamunting Detention Camp located in the northern state of Perak where dozens of people are being held under the Internal Security Act (ISA).The 240-acre (100-hectare) site, is located in Perak but owned by the federal government.

The opposition has joined civil society groups in demanding the government revoke the (ISA) and free all 63 detainees currently being held in Kamunting.

"We want the ruling government to remove the camp from the state. The opposition alliance is dead against the ISA," he told AFP. "We are also looking at how we can acquire the land legally."

"We want to use the land for other purposes. We can put up a hospital, religious schools or develop an industrial area for the benefit of the people," he said.

...one option could be to dramatically increase the 26,000-ringgit (7,500-dollar) annual land tax that the federal government currently pays on the site.

more

Racist Remarks by Malaysian Blogger!

A Blogger known as “Sammy”, was reported to have posted anti-Indian sentiments on her blog, Life is a Drama. The blogger posted her comments after she claimed her mobile phone was stolen by two alleged Indian youths when she was having lunch on Sept 23.

Malaysiakini,
Malaysia’s leading online news portal, managed to get a copy of her original
posting, which was reported to have included comments like:
I hate Indians. It’s bad enough they are famous for being drunk and rude (most of them anyway). Now they carry the reputation of being stealer, robbers, rapist, idiots, morons, drunkard bastards and list goes on…
I am not trying to be racist but it always Indian. It’s Indian fault. I don’t care if I am sued for racism.

http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/10/03/malaysia-outrage-at-racist-blogger/

Religious Enforcement succeeds!

66 nabbed for not respecting Ramadan.

By Irene C

Number of Muslims caught for offences drops, says Daud

KUCHING: The number of Muslims caught for not respecting the month of Ramadan in Sarawak has dropped by nearly 50 per cent this year compared to 2007.

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman said only 66 Muslim were caught for offences such as eating, drinking or smoking in public this year, compared to 126 last year.

Daud said he hoped the number of Muslims committing such offences will continue to decrease in time to come...

theborneopost

UPKO: NRD making locals foreigners and foreigners citizens!

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Upko is threatening to review its position in the Barisan Nasional if the National Registration Department fails to rectify its mistake of making an elderly bumiputra citizen into a permanent resident.

more

Related links

Call for Sabahan to lead state's National Registration Department

Sabah's Upko Party mulls leaving BN over NRD's incompetence



Will UPKO dare to follow the footsteps of SAPP???

Digital archive on Malaysia's political history!

Dear friends....Do make yourselves free to visit this interesting and informative site!

Introducing the first ever digital archive of significant documents and events of Malaysia which includes,press releases,speeches,party documents,reports,conferences and so on.

This new digital archive on Malaysia's political history is called - Digitalibrary

Digital Archive on Malaysia: A project of Malaysiakini.com, with assistance of Asia Foundation and Friedrich Naumann Foundation

The digital archive aims to build an online collection of historical documents, books, photos, publications and personal memoirs that is open to the public in order to build a better understanding of Malaysia's recent political history, contributing towards a healthy and informed discussion of Malaysia's political future.

Members of the public are invited to download and use the materials hosted here. Please note that materials have been released under the Creative Commons Malaysia public use license that allows reproduction of material for personal usage and non commercial purposes only. Those wishing to republish the materials MUST request permission from copyright holders.

Readers are also invited to send historical material to Malaysiakini for hosting in this archive. (Please read the release form before sending such material.) Overtime, Malaysiakini hopes to expand this collection to include any material relevent to Malaysia's history.

from digitalibrary

Happy Reading

MIC: PM to consider freeing Hindraf leaders!

Does the above sound believable?

Apparently the government is under pressure from some (BN) component parties to free them.
Here is a report by SinChew.com

Two Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, through their youth wings, are now calling on the government to release R. Kengadharan, 41, M. Manoharan, 47, V. Ganabatirau, 35, P. Uthayakumar, 47, and K. Vasantha Kumar, 35, dubbed the Hindraf five.

Senator T. Murugiah, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and PPP Youth chief, in a statement today said he met Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak early this morning to seek the release of the Hindraf leaders.

more

Today(24th) the Star reported that the Prime Minister has promised (MIC President) Samy Vellu that he will discuss this matter with the Home Minister.

“Abdullah informed me that he will study the situation and recommend appropriate action. We have full faith and trust in the Prime Minister and we believe he will do something positive on this matter,” Samy Vellu said.

more

Now everybody is trying to win the Public's trust

Anwar Ibrahim to send letter to Agong!

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Wednesday Pakatan Rakyat will send a letter to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on the transfer of power from Barisan Nasional to the opposition pact, and the request to convene a special parliament session.

more from bernama

Nuclear Malaysia???

Malaysia is planning to use Nuclear Energy by the year 2023!

This is due to the high cost of natural gas and fossil fuels therefore the government seeks to explore other alternatives and Nuclear energy appears to top the list.

Eighty five percent of electricity generated in the nation is produced by fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil and coal.

Currently, there is no nuclear power generation plant in Malaysia and neither is there a plan to embark on a nuclear power programme in the foreseeable future. The only nuclear reactor in the country is a 1 megawatt-thermal research reactor owned and operated by Nuclear Malaysia.

Why not explore the potential of wind (power) turbines, solar power and biofuel which will be cleaner and less hazardous???

My favourite is wind power or solar energy......

more

Malaysian Police powerless against curbing abuse of Indian school children????

Dont you find the above ridiculous???

Some Quotes :

...Deputy Superintendent Roslan Ibrahim said no action could be taken against a teacher accused of verbal abuse....
...the maximum they could do was to report such instances to the Education Department....
...it would be difficult to charge a teacher suspected of racially abusing a student unless there is strong supporting evidence and witnesses who are willing to testify in court...

Full Roport...

Teresa Kok released !

Teresa Kok released after being detained in solitary confinement in a 6-by-8 holding cell for seven days under the Internal Security Act (ISA)

for more...

Im not surprised at all !

Malaysia's 'worst in the world' taxis tarnish national image - Regional - MSN Malaysia News - News

Now....why am i not surprised???