PM-Indian NGOs meeting – utter failure of MIC and Samy, reduced to silent observer/note-taker


The promise by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to look into the plight of the Indian community after meeting with 14 Indian NGOs yesterday is proof of the legitimacy of the grievances of long-standing political, economic, educational, social, cultural and religious marginalization of the Malaysian Indians and the Nov. 25 Hindraf gathering of 30,000 people despite groundless Hindraf allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide of the Malaysian Indians.

It is also proof of the complete irrelevance of the MIC as the Barisan Nasional component party for the Indians and the utter failure of Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu after over 28 years as the MIC President and sole Indian Cabinet Minister to the extent that he had been reduced to the pathetic role of a silent observer and note-taker at the meeting yesterday.

The question that Samy Vellu and all MIC leaders have to answer is why they are so articulate in their declaration that the Hindraf allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide are baseless and irresponsible but yet so cowardly and dumb in not daring to declare that the grievances of Malaysian Indians at their long-standing marginalization as equal and rightful citizens of Malaysia is a real and genuine one – and that the 30,000 Malaysian Indians from all over the country who responded to the Hindraf rally on Nov. 25 was a cry of desperation to the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional Government for attention and action to end their marginalization and not a gathering of riot or turmoil over the baseless allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

It has been reported that an appeal had been made to the Prime Minister at the meeting yesterday that the five Hindraf leaders and activists, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, M. Manoharan, R. Kenghadharan and T. Vasantha Kumar should be released from detention under the Internal Security Act and charged in court if they are guilty of any offences against the law.

There was also the call for the release of the 31 persons charged with the offense of “attempted murder” of a policeman at Batu Caves on 25th November 2007 and who had been denied bail.

The Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail is guilty of selective and malicious prosecution in charging the 31 persons, and he has said that there is an ongoing manhunt for at least another 30 persons for the same offence of “attempted murder’.

All the 31 should not only be released immediately from the Sungai Buloh Prison where they had been detained since the denial of bail, but the ridiculous charges of “attempted murder” against the 31 should be dropped and the manhunt for another 30 under the same charge of “attempted murder” cancelled.

Is Samy Vellu and MIC leaders prepared to represent in Cabinet and Parliament the sentiments not only of Malaysian Indians but all Malaysians, firstly, that the Hindraf Five should be released immediately from detention under the ISA and be charged in court for any offence to allow an open trial to be held where they could defend themselves against any charges; and secondly, that the ridiculous charge of “attempted murder” against the 31 and the manhunt for another 30 should be dropped immediately.

  1. #1 by max2811 on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 1:43 pm

    It is alright to let the Indian NGOs try to help solve the problems but not MIC. It can just observe. Samy Veloo is just interested in himself and how much money he can get from the contractors. But policies must change to help the marginalised. Is UMNaziO willing?

  2. #2 by hutchrun on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 1:47 pm

    The MCA owned Star has a valiant defese for semi value here:

    Samy Vellu said the parents had also informed him that their children took part in the illegal demonstration without knowing the consequences and the real intentions of the leaders of the demonstration.

    “They further said that their children were tricked and hoodwinked into believing that the illegal demonstration was for a worthy cause,” he said.

    He added that the parents had even denounced the activities of Hindraf after they realised the group’s hidden intentions.

    Samy Vellu also criticised Hindraf’s irresponsible action in exploiting and making use of innocent Indians, particularly youths, for their political and personal agenda.

  3. #3 by hutchrun on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 1:47 pm

  4. #4 by cheng on soo on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 1:51 pm

    Have a FREE, FAIR n TRANSPARENT referendum for all adult Indian Msian to see Semi Value or Hindraf leaders are more creditable loh!

  5. #5 by sheriff singh on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 1:52 pm

    Poor Samy, sitting quietly in the corner like a good boy playing Indian Soduko. He’s irrelevant. He’ll be remembered as the man who let the Indians down. Oh Samy, can you not read the writing on the door? It says “Exit”.

    Here. Have another banana.

  6. #6 by k1980 on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 2:18 pm

    Samy Vellu said the parents had also informed him that their children took part in the illegal demonstration without knowing the consequences and the real intentions of the leaders…

    The same parents might have also told sammy vee loo that their children join the MIC without knowing the consequences and the real intentions of the leaders…

  7. #7 by lakshy on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 2:19 pm

    Semi Value wont go. Not now when he can see opportunity coming to the indian community. He will want to grab his lion’s share as always, and the indians be damned.

  8. #8 by ahluck on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 2:28 pm

    In sungai siput Indians are doing the funnel rites for sami value with his photo. Semi value is considered dead. now he is of no value.

    Indians hate him and his MIC leaders now. It will be miracle if he wins the next election.

  9. #9 by k1980 on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 2:30 pm

    Will the govt also raise our salary every year for a decade to compensate for hike in cost of living expenses?
    http://www.malaysia-today.net/nuc2006/news2007.php?itemid=1162
    Tenaga Nasional Bhd., Malaysia’s biggest power utility, wants the government to let it raise electricity prices every year for a decade to compensate for a planned reduction in fuel subsidies.

  10. #10 by Bigjoe on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 3:10 pm

    While not completely, the so-called 14 NGOs are disporportionately MIC/Samy Vellu lackeys/supporters. Even then, they actually supported Hindraf while toeing UMNO party line…

  11. #11 by boh-liao on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 3:28 pm

    Our hero Samy Vellu now comes to the rescue of the 31 persons charged with the offense of “attempted murder” of a policeman at Batu Caves on 25th November 2007 and who had been denied bail.

    Samy will convince the AG to let them off and they and their parents will be eternally grateful to Samy. Bollywood style.

  12. #12 by vehir on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 3:32 pm

    Now Semi Value has come forward and said that he will speak to the PM to release the 31 Malaysian chanrged for attempted murder of a policeman. This was what said in the Astro Tamil News yesterday.

    I just want to ask him one question. Where was the so called Indian Leader for Indians all this days when the 31 persons were brought to the court, charged without giving bail and send to jail.

    He is making drama to gain the support of the Indians. The so called Semi Value has supported the 5 Hindraf heroes to be put under ISA.

    Now the 5 heroes of Hindraf (lawyers) cannot argue for the 31 in court. So Semi Value took this oppourtunity which he planned for 3 weeks that after sending the 5 heroes from Hindraf under ISA, he has said yesterday he will help to the release the 31 charged and jailed for going against the police at Batu Caves.

    I appeal to the Indian community if Semi Value succeeded in getting the 31 freed without any charges, all of us as Malaysian must ask for ourself why didnt the 5 heroes could not do it ? The 5 hereos was making use of all laws to fight against the government to set them free.

    If the 31 is out, then the courts were jammed and the laws were withheld for 3 weeks just for 1 person Semi Value to get the support of the Indians.

    Its too late for Semi Value to regain the confidence from the Indians. Every Indians are boiled up with anger. Every Indian has said sayonara for him.

    The Indians are the King Maker (deciding factor) in the General Election. Now after many incidents which the government went against the Indians where MIC cannot do anything all for sure have decided take all the goods things the MIC and BN led-governments throws and gives to the Indians from now on and when the General Election comes just vote for the opposition (PAS,DAP,PKR) etc.

    The Indian have been taken fro a ride by MIC. Their investment arms MAIKA holdings took RM100million from the poor Indians.What they got back nothing. When they asked for their shares they were attacked.

    When the government gave their shares to the Indian community it also did not reach the Indian community. Where it went? Who will reply to this? Will God reply?

    The Indians gave their money but got nothing, the government gave their shares in any form also did not reach the Indian community. Who hijacked all this funds or misappropriated?

    So cast your vote wisely and vote out BN.

  13. #13 by somaris on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 3:43 pm

    TO
    AII INDIAN,
    Do not vote SAMY VELOOOO,you got much better person to vote than him.all he care is bout himself and take all the poor people money.now he is showing that he is care for the hindian .its to late now.all this his drama with the umno.
    THROW HIM OUT.
    BRING SHAME TO INDIAN.

  14. #14 by Jonny on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 4:17 pm

    Note-taking, Uncle Sami?

    Hold on … not only note-taking. Got also hotline number to record all grievances. (Record only, action or no action, we don’t know).

    He will still win in his seat la. He does not count on the Indians. Indians have lost hope in them. But not the Malays in his constituency.

    Time we need to wake up our Malays brothers & sisters.

    Are we still day dreaming of Ketuanan Melayu?

    In the new era, it shall be Ketuanan Ekonomi China, India and Singapura.

  15. #15 by Jamesy on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 4:19 pm

    “It is also proof of the complete irrelevance of the MIC as the Barisan Nasional component party for the Indians and the utter failure of Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu after over 28 years as the MIC President and sole Indian Cabinet Minister to the extent that he had been reduced to the pathetic role of a silent observer and note-taker at the meeting yesterday.”
    ————————————————————–
    Question is why Pak Lah brings along a marginalised leader in the BN like Samy Vellu into its meeting together with the other 14 Indian NGOs knowing that Samy Vellu relevancy in this meeting is reduced to silent observer and note-taker? To show the 14 Indian NGOs that Samy Vellu is a living proof of a marginalised leader within the Indian community? Hmmm…….Interesting development.

  16. #16 by chgchksg128 on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 5:56 pm

  17. #17 by don on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 6:58 pm

    Listening is the best way of communication. Look the whole episode about the 14 NGOs were to do a damage control exercise in which Sami wld take centre-stage to claim he will be ‘fighting’ the authorities to bring the 31 heroes who are in jail. Later he’ll play a game that his interference had made the 5 ISA detainees to be released. Whatever said & done, damage has been done. All MIC representative would be shown the exit door come this GE. No reincarnation of MGR, live duets of RajniKanth or pat on the back by the CM of Tamil Nadu will be able to rescue the Malaysian Indian Crooks. The nature will take its course. We have lost a generation because of these [deleted].

  18. #18 by jbhlee on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 6:58 pm

    Jonny,..I think many Malays also voted against Samy so don’t generalise. We ave to win them over not chastise them. Only UMNO, MIC, MCA and POSTAL VOTES gave him the win. I believe in the last election many Chinese and Indians also voted for Samy..not just Malays. So do more analysis before opening your mouth!

  19. #19 by raven77 on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 7:15 pm

    For generations to come, Samy Velu’s name will be the curse of every Indian in this country [deleted]……The man doesnt believe in the saying that ” a man is remembered by his good deeds”….this man will be quickly forgotten, as will Badawi and Mahathir……

  20. #20 by k1980 on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 7:25 pm

    Hindraf detainees is equivalent to Guantanamo Bay captives— but how many people have Hindraf killed? How can one be a terrorist without ever killing anyone?
    http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2109905/Article/index_html

  21. #21 by hutchrun on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 9:26 pm

    With scant knowledge, once again Najib shows he is unfit to be the next PM.
    Guantanamo is for those caught in the war zone. Hindraf members did not resort to arms.
    Under the US anti-terrorism bill, offenders are brought to court. Some get freed on account of leftist jurors who intimidate other jurors. Others like this latest:

    SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) – Two of four men accused of plotting attacks on Southern California military sites and Jewish targets have agreed to plead guilty to terrorism conspiracy charges, prosecutors said.
    Kevin James and Levar Haley Washington were set to enter the pleas Friday in federal court in Santa Ana, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a statement. Both were indicted in 2005 on federal charges including conspiring to wage war against the U.S. government through terrorism.

  22. #22 by Cinapek on Saturday, 15 December 2007 - 11:09 pm

    The moment I read about the meeting in the papers, the first thought that came to my mind was would AAB have bothered to meet the Indian NGOs if the Hindraf march had not happened?

    To my mind, the whole intention of the meeting was an attempt at damge control when it dawned on AAB that his goons had gone overboard with their temple demolitions and the tragic circumstances of the various Indian convert cases which have finally driven the Indians over the wall and force them to take to the streets. In the process, AAB also is trying to salvage support for the MIC by including them in the meeting because he knows they have lost the Indian support.

    But by meeting the NGOs only after the Hindraf march, AAB has slapped himself in the face. On the one hand, he and his Govt. had tried to demonise Hindraf and thie cause yet by meeting the NGOs, he has conceded that Hindraf was right and the Indians do have serious dissatisfactions. He has also slapped MIC in the face because by meeting the NGOs, he is in effect saying that the MIC has failed to fight for the rights of the Indians all along. What happened to all those claims AAB has made about regular discussions in the Cabinet and regular feedbacks from MIC? If this meeting has to take place for AAB to hear directly from the NGOs it would mean:

    1) The MIC has neglected to feedback all along or feedback the wrong message
    2) AAB never bothered to listen
    3) Those purported feedbacks never took place

    None of which speaks well of this BN Govt.

    I wonder if the same mess happens to the other races though I am sure AAB gets his feedback from the UMNO members at their meetings. What would the other races need to do to get AAB to meet them and hear them directly instead of through their self proclaimed but useless representatives such as the MCA?

  23. #23 by muscaa on Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 12:04 am

    see this samy vellu video in parliament:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_dcV9ZjmTc

  24. #24 by noblepath on Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 1:52 am

    Haha… what a stage up by BN. NGOs they said huh, are they really independent? I don’t think so, they are all linked to MIC or Samy Vellu… does the goverment think we are so dumb? At least, I am not… !

  25. #25 by Bigfoot on Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 3:23 am

    Where was Badawi’s big ears when many NGO’s tried to talk to him about what was happening to the Indian community? Even HINDRAF claims that they wrote to him. So where was he then? Why didn’t Badawi take the time to meet with them and listen, if he is indeed the PM of all? Why didn’t Badawi act?

    Only now after the HINDRAF demonstration does he call for a meeting with Indian-based NGO’s. And after screwing up, Samy now wants to play hero and appeal to the A-G to release the 31 who are being unjustly held, while sticking it to the 5 HINDRAF leaders.

    Couldn’t all of this have been prevented if Badawi really listened and tried to resolve things properly? But no, he holds his AGM on Deepavali, while his son-in-law complains that Indian newspaper men aren’t delivering his father-in-laws speech.

    This whole episode, plus the cast of characters, is totally pathetic. Badawi and Samy are equally responsible, if not more responsible, for this mess than anyone else, including HINDRAF.

  26. #26 by Godfather on Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 9:47 am

    Semi Value is more bumiputra than most bumiputras in Bolehland. Semi Value is the enforcer for UMNO contracts, which is why he is indispensable as works minister. In fact the billions of RM of contracts recently announced by AAB – the Penang Bridge, the Railway Double Tracking – require that Semi Value continue in his role of counting the chips for UMNO. One for you, one for me……on behalf of the den of thieves.

  27. #27 by oknyua on Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 8:45 pm

    I’ve just been back visiting some flood victims. One I met was an Indian doctor who retired from the army. His comments on Hindraf:

    1. I promoted two junior MO under me, but later, one became my boss and the other was at par. Hindraf is highlighting people like me, but the gov’t ignored that and instead highlighting the attempted murder. I don’t want to deny them their promotions but what I deserve, don’t take it from me!

    2. I am forced to continue working as my son hasn’t completed his degree. As an ex-gov’t servant, what is the difference between mine and their sons? Hindraf saw this imbalance but many issues raised were twisted to make Hindraf looked stupid. But is there any point talking? We talk, we are bad. We don’t talk we are victimised.

    3. Samy Vellu? How could he agreed about the income earned by Indians? Just take off his salary and the salaries of his few friends, the average earnings of Indians can’t even reach RM1,000. He can’t even accommodate those who disagree with him. If half of the Indians don’t see eye to eye with him, doesn’t he realise that this group are neglected? Samy can’t represent the Indians.

  28. #28 by Old.observer on Sunday, 16 December 2007 - 10:02 pm

    This is what happens when the government tried to suppress the Hindraf Rally. Everybody linked to the BN government looks silly as a result. MIC looks impotent and irrelevant. Semi Value looks impotent and irrelevant. And then, we have ISA invoked, making AAB becoming even more unpopular. In short, when a first wrong is done, it needs 1,000 more wrongs to cover up the first wrong, that it is a complete waste of time, resources, monies, unnecessary suffering, etc. for everyone directly and indirectly involved.

    Now, imagine if the opposite scenario had happened, and the government had allowed Hindraf to rally under pre-agreed circumstances. Imagine the rally happening on certain selected routes with less traffic and business interruptions. Imagine fewer police required and Hindraf also shares in ensuring peaceful marches. Then, no tear gas, no chemically laced water, no attempted murder charges, no ISA, no adverse public reactions. And when rally ends, everyone goes home. And Hindraf can still work with MIC and government to address Indian causes after that. Isn’t this a clearly much better situation for everybody? So, why didn’t the government let Hindraf to rally first? Not Malaysian way and Not Malaysian culture? So, police violence, suppressing genuine messages and invoking ISA is part of proud Malaysian culture then?

    When situation has developed to the extent that people feel the need to rally, it is futile to suppress it. Let the people express their views, and then, listen to the message and work on that message. Then, the public will clearly respect the current leadership, and will unanimously vote BN in the next election without a doubt. Why? Because then, it would be a mature and responsible leaderhip. Instead, we have this circus of destructiveness, and a country run by clowns.

    Sigh. Somehow, I wonder if the perpetual clowns still “gets it”.

    Old Observer.

  29. #29 by ktteokt on Monday, 17 December 2007 - 9:43 am

    They say they are democratic, they claim to be democratic. But are their actions and reactions the least bit DEMOCRATIC???

  30. #30 by anakbaram on Monday, 17 December 2007 - 2:45 pm

    At least now the spotlight is focused on the Malaysian Indian. We the minoriuties in Sarawak and Sabah suffer the same predicament. Do we need to go on the street like our Indian friends before we are heard? Please help us. We can not even make the number of 30,000 if we go on the street like the Indians. Perhaps we should go and make a pack with the other races.

  31. #31 by Furiousity on Monday, 17 December 2007 - 8:35 pm

    well good luck on voting out samy bulu out lol
    i doubt that its going to work although i wish it will happen for the of indians :)

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