I am taken aback by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s comments yesterday concerning Hindraf, which Utusan Malaysia used in its front-page headline: “Kecewa sikap Hindraf: Penyokong buat bising, enggan bersalam dengan TPM, Menteri – PM”
In the past few days, Hindraf has come under intense attack, with even MIC leaders like its President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Secretary-General Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam joining in the Hindraf-bashing.
Tomorrow, Abdullah would most probably be announcing that he would not be defending the post of Umno President in the March Umno General Assembly.
Whatever his announcement, among Abdullah’s last acts as Prime Minister should be to reach out to the Hindraf supporters to end the status of Malaysian Indians as a new underclass instead of excoriating and demonizing Hindraf.
Abdullah should initiate this healing process which is an important integral part of Malaysian nation-building, to end the marginalization of the Malaysian Indians in their own country – just as a similar healing process must also begin to address all other marginalized Malaysians in the country, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.
There can be no better start to this “healing process” than for the Cabinet tomorrow to release the Hindraf Five from Internal Security Act – making Deepavali this year a most significant and memorable one in making all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, feel proud again to be sons and daughters of the nation.
#1 by veddy.lum74 on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 - 9:57 pm
p…lah is very similar to taiwan ex-president chen swi-bian,he better not tendering his resignation,otherwise,he has to face the thorough punishments by the rakyat which failing to perform as a productive pm,and corrupt to the core too!
p. .lah was very-very unhappy because according to his schedules,this 2008 is a wonderfull year for him!:
January:sydney,new zealand,
Feb.:hongkong,taiwan,macao,
Mac:bangkok(still managed to skip 3 days 3 nights eventhough is GE-12!)
April:usa,canada,
May:bosnia,turky,egypt,iran,iraq,
June:Bollywood,Calcata,Calcuta,sri lanka,
July:whole of europe
August:whole of africa,
September:brazil,columbia,venezuela,peru,chile,argentina,
October:Rusia and china
November:Dubai
December:gold coast!
wow,how nice to become a malaysian prime minister,spending the stupid rakyat’s money like nobody business!
but,luckily,his plans failed,he really hates anyone that prevents him from going abroad,even they are UMNO warlords!
#2 by cemerlang on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 - 9:59 pm
Information minister said that the house might not be opened for visitors due to security threats. Well, this will definitely further worsen the relationship between the different races, between the government and the common people. P.M. was not attacked in any way and funnily, he did not even know that the Hindraf was there or he pretended not to give a sheet. Nobody would want to attack someone who is sleeping because a sleeping person is not in an attack mood. All the Hindraf wanted was to give a letter to him to read. That’s all. Who would be so stupid to start a fight there and then knowing that there are so many supporters rallying around P.M. ? Once again, set all the ISA detainees free and let them have their voices heard openly in a genuine court of law. The stone age was long gone and now we are civilized. Let Malaysians do things in a civilized, first world mentality way. Please. Please. Please. We have been to space and therefore we are more than civilized.
#3 by charlesbronsonjr on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 - 10:34 pm
Hey abunsui, by putting them at kamunting or tanjung rambutan makes you same busuk hati level like these leaders. if i to become PM,i will abolish the ISA demolish the kamunting camp and for tanjung rambutan hospital,i will upgrade it to institiute of mental health to really cure mental disease not to simply put people inside for revenge.
#4 by raven77 on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 - 10:37 pm
What to doooo…… The man is devoid of all reality…..With what conscience can you have a party while incarcerating another in a cell….PM Badawi is neither tough nor alert to what’s going around him….for 50 years the not so bright Indians toiled for the BN……in the end he just couldnt solve their problems and put all the blame on Velu instead of taking the initiative to help………
#5 by vsp on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 - 10:43 pm
vsp Says:
Today at 22: 37.24 (3 minutes ago)
limkamput & adam yong ibni abdullah:
You two lousy dogs barking at the wrong tree!
Ask yourselves: who is the government? who is controlling the purse string and with it the resources to get things done? who control all the instruments of the state? who create all the mess that we are facing today?
If the BN cannot solve all these problems after 51 years of ruling this country, you expect Pakatan, with their hands tied behind their backs to do wonders in 6 months?
Get real man!
There are many governments with only a slim majority and yet they can govern their countries in cooperation with the Opposition. But here in Bolehland with a strong majority, still they are fighting like cats and dogs. These are the people you should be barking at.
#6 by batuputeh on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 - 11:10 pm
i completely echo ch’s viewpoint.
open house gathering has become a tradition unique only to us Malaysian. there is no restriction to anyone to come & each one come to join others in celebrating this festive moment – regardless if it’s raya, deepavali, cny, or any other occasions. foe & friend alike come with the same intention. there is nothing about politic, it is way above race, there is no other agenda accept for celebrating the moment together. that what set it so unique w/ our open house tradition. It is a symbol of our unity in this diverse culture. We got to respect that. Sad to see that the group are all donned in orange & clearly come w/ diff agenda. You want to get your voice heard, you got to be respected. and you only earn your respect by giving yours first.
i understand the emotion & the urge to act, but in no way it was right to do what had happened. i’m sure there are many brilliant ppl in the group that would find hundreds more ways that are better & far more effective avenue to deliver the msg.
it was for a noble cause, but was done in wrong way. dead wrong.
#7 by vsp on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 - 11:37 pm
batuputeh:
You want to get your voice heard, you got to be respected. and you only earn your respect by giving yours first.
BN respect your voice? BN itself does not know this philosophy of respect in the first place. Respect is not in their dictionary.
As far as I know BN has never shown any amount of charity to their opponents even in their hours of glory and triumphs. All that they exhibit are to lust for even more power and cruelty.
They are not even civilised. By sticking to the ISA they are showing that they are the prosecutor, accuser and judge all rolled into one monstrous creature that don’t understand about justice, humility and human decency.
#8 by Boneka on Tuesday, 7 October 2008 - 11:51 pm
To be fair to our beloved PM, most probably he would like to release the Hindraf Five but I think he hasn’t the authority to “order” the botha head Syed Hamid to obey him. He can’t insist too, for the botha could arrest him under ISA. The botha head has been let loose – to say what he likes, to do what he likes and PM is not in a position to rein him in. But Badawi deserves to be in this position – for not acting decisively in issues he should have. Being indecisively and ‘flip-flopping’ has made him into a weak and incapable leader. BUT IF COULD ACHIEVE THIS ONE FEAT – RELEASE THE HINDRAF FIVE WILL BE AN ACT OF GREAT LEADERSHIP FROM SOMEONE WHO LACKS IT. HE WOULD HAVE AT LEAST, IN ONE TINY WAY, DEPART AS PM FOR ALL (MALAYSIANS) AND MOST PROBABLY HE WOULD BE REMEMBERED FOR SOMETIME. YAB BADAWI PLEASE DO ONE RIGHT THING BEFORE YOU BID FAREWELL – PLEASE RELEASE THE HINDRAF FIVE AND THE FIGHTER OF WRONGS- RAJA PETRA. THESE GREAT GUY HAVE NOT DONE ANY WRONG AND YOU KNOW IT. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND OUR HEROES!
#9 by limkamput on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 12:07 am
VSP, what sh!t is vsp? Is it a lousy … I guess so. I suggest you go read properly first before putting your . comments here. You are equating PR with BN, are you? It shows you are moron. I am not interested. I expect PR to do better, period, despite whatever constraints they face. Right now it is just blaming game, with nothing to show.
Before i go, i just want to let you know that dogs are obviously better than sh!t, what more it is . ..sh!t like you.
#10 by limkamput on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 12:11 am
BY the way, . sh!t @ vsp, the last time i check PR are the governments in five states, some highly industrialised and urbanised.
#11 by BloodSucker on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 12:15 am
I just love your sarcastic words towards Pak Lah in this blog. Give him more. Thumbs up!
Hindraf detainees will have to dream hard expecting an early release since Pak Lah has negative comments about their supporters. Similar, he has promised Malaysians to “work with him” since 2004 but end up most Malaysians worked dam hard to pay taxes for his top civil servant perks and remunerations as well as high prices increase inflation today. Malaysians thanked him for sleeping in his jobs and his poor governance to let his flip flop policies ran by UMNO/BN goonies in a corrupt goverment. Malaysians cant voiced out loud because ISA is ready to silent your mouth without trial and given “dog” foods in a small cell.
The best alternative is to change the fed govt by the People Power today.
#12 by katdog on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 12:18 am
Sigh! more politics. It seems like we like to only discuss issues that provide good political mileage.
Don’t get me wrong i am not saying that such issues should not be brought up, but frankly i worry that such issues are the only ones that is being looked at as PR busies itself to try and take over the government.
It seems that people would rather fuss over statements made by AAB against the etiquette of Hindraf than to bring up issues on the recent floods that not only have damaged property but cost the LIVES of several Malaysians.
It seems that we are more interested in discussing the eurocopter (which IMHO is a good choice to replace the Nuri) deal that is linked to big political names than to discuss about the Health Ministry’s inept handling of the melamine contamination that poses a potential threat to the LIVES of Malaysians. Already Taiwan has identified foodstuff FROM Malaysia containing hazardous levels of melamine.
I worries me that it seems many parties appear to be only interested in pursuing political issues rather than issues that may have impact to the lives of ordinary Malaysians.
#13 by vsp on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 12:20 am
limkamput:
O ya? Who do you pay your taxes to? To Pakatan? Moron, the BN still control the purse strings.
You can wax lyrical about what must be done but if the funds are blocked, things just don’t get moving
#14 by melurian on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 12:49 am
i noticed so many hypocrites over here! “Pls think if your son or wife under ISA, whta would you do or react” if the detainee really care for his family, he wouldn’t involve in the activity that could jeopardize the nation! do you know isa too is detaining some “alleged” ji members, some gangsters, some national document forger! is like the family of murderer and thief pleading to release his son by citing his son and wife! and why don’t you think about razak baginda wife, daughter and father while he locked in sungai buloh for over 2 years! he was charged of “abetting” murder and without bail (not that he brandishing gun and bomb and committed the murder_, and how dangerous this man could be on street!
speaking of hindraf, aab mentioned it is “haram”, and they have the guts to whack polis too! “Mereka juga mengadakan tunjuk perasaan besar-besaran di Kuala Lumpur dan terlibat dalam beberapa insiden keganasan yang menyaksikan anggota polis dipukul sehingga cedera.” and don’t you think this warrant them for ISA!!!!! and this comment will be unfairly blocked coz it differs from the hypocrites!!!!!!!!
#15 by melurian on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 12:56 am
during sino-tibetan affair, some hypocrites criticized tibetans for making use olympic to highlight their plight. now aab opened house which should be enjoyed and cherished and celebrated and yet some “pertubuhan haram” (utusan quote) taking advantage to gatecrush, putting aab awkward and embarassing position! and the hypocrites hailed the gatecrusher, apalah…..
#16 by monsterball on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 1:14 am
Yes!!…That will be fun…to hear Dollah says…..”I will not step down”
That will give UMNO Supreme Council hypocrites and actors..something to think about.
In the history of UMNO…not one President have been voted out.
Dollah allowed free elections for all posts.
Had he followed what Mahathir did…no one will blame him..to be President..UNOPPOSED!!
So..in UMNO…freedom give by the President…is working.
I hope Dollah is man enough…to be a man of his words…stand up to anyone…going for his post.
Since EVERYONE is fighting for Vice President….held by Najib…this is actually forcing Najib to go against Dollah..OR.. he also need to stand up and fight his post…OR… quit.
Dollah and Najib….seems to be co-operating with each other.
So both should stand up and protect their positions.
Only this way…you will have a stronger UMNO in the future.
Anyway….tomorrow is Deciding Day …for Dollah!!
#17 by isahbiazhar on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 5:14 am
We do not want the Indians in Malaysia to be forced to become like what the LTTE is doing in Sri Lanka.If the government fails to solve the problems of Indians it would be a major catastrophe for Malaysia.We also do not want India to interfere into the plights of the Indians in Malaysia.India could have classified the Indians in Malaysia as NRIs but at the insistence of Sakty Velloo it was thwarted.Now Samy Velloo is regretting.At least the government of India with such large reserves of foreign exchange could have given the billions that Malaysian government failed to do so to its citizen of Indian origin.The rights of Hindraf should be respected.Even the Chinese in Malaysia had become vocal and very soon they will ask the government to give their share.Umno will not give in and so the possibility of winning the next election under BN is nil.The next government will be fair to all and that is what the citizens are waiting.
#18 by taiking on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 8:51 am
What the hindraf members did was not quite proper. But look. The detention of 5 of their numbers is illegal. The hindraf movement may be unlawful. Then again, the movement came about because those bottom class citizens of malaysia have no other channel through which they could communicate with the elected umno servants.
The point is if they had not been ignored and marginalised then hindraf would not exist and the embarassing incident during badawi’s open house would not happen.
We chinese in malaysia have been grumbling and protesting all these while (of course not through mca). Now the indians too are grumbling and protesting.
Look at the number of young kampung folks now living and working in the city. They would have the same economic and financial needs like everyone else. And being non-umnoputras, they would experience the same difficulties like everyone else in satisfying their needs. Like everyone else they would be unhappy with the umno government. And they will bring their unhappy stories back home to their kampung. They too have began to grumble and protest.
A government that cannot respond to this basic situation, does not deserve to govern.
#19 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 9:22 am
Of all Sdr. Lim’s suggestion for last action by Badawi, this one makes the most sense. Its also doable. His main obstacle would only be Syed Hamid who would not just do as told.
In some ways Hindraf 5 represents in some small ways at least everything that Badawi Agenda failed to do whether its the corruption, the police, the judiciary, Islam Hadhari etc. Free Hindraf and let Hindraf grow, and those that have opposed him on his agenda have to deal with it sooner or later leaving his legacy ultimately intact.
Its why I find well, again dissapointing, that he chose to look at Hindraf’s action negatively – that he cannot see the ‘disrespect’ versus the ‘obscenity’ that is heaped upon the Indians. Again, the man keep thinking that things are as bad for those who cries for change. Saying ‘not wishing Hari Raya’ is like saying why are the Jews always talking about the Holocaust or slavery is not so bad because the blacks in America are better off in US/ than in Africa. The man is, despite his religiosity, a racist…
#20 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 2:36 pm
YB Kit,
Why nudge the PM complete reforms on his own against backdrop of his own party’s warlords and power brokers seeking to push him out and obstructing him – when it is you, Anwar and Opposition Pakatan Rakyat with 88 MPs who hold the trump card to take matters in your hands and make things work?
We don’t need 31 crossovers from Sabah & Sarawak kataks to make things work. 16th September has come and gone and Anwar could not deliver. It is time to think of the box when dealing with a strong political adversary like the BN, 50 years in power.
All you need – I suggest – are 31 UMNO & BN MPs desirous of Ahmad Abdullah Badawi “to stay” as PM until 2010 to replace – in substitution – of the 31 BN kataks who never jumped.
I suggest when Parliament resumes on 13th October, Pakatan Rakyat with its 82 members move a motion of confidence for Ahmad Abdullah Badawi “to stay” as PM until 2010 [whether or not he contests or give up contest of UMNO's president post, remains or not remain as President of UMNO].
82 PR MPs plus 30 + BN MPs on PM’ side will carry the motion “to stay” as PM until 2010 [whether or not he contests or give up contest of UMNO's president post, remains or not remain as President of UMNO] – meaning also whosoever who subsequently becomes or gets elected as UMNO’s president cannot follow convention to be a replacement PM since the post of PM of government is governed by Federal Constitution as distinct from the post of UMNO’s president governed by UMNO’s constitution, and according to the Federal Constitution the PM’s position must be given to he who, in Yang di Perttuan Agong’s judgment, commands the majority of Dewan Rakyat, with no distinction whether they are BN or Opposition’s MPs or mixed combination of both.
I will suggest reasons for my suggestion in subsequent posts. :)
.
And acc
#21 by shadow on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 5:41 pm
Mr.PM,
Please release the HINDRAF5 and RPK from the ISA detention camp before you leave. You’ll be become the champion of the Indians and Malaysians. You’ll be remembered and blessed by everyone. After leaving your position as the PM, wherever you go you’ll be appreciated. Position comes and goes but GOOD name comes once in a life time. So use your power wisely and leave gracefully. To me YOU’RE A GOOD HUMAN. God bless you.
#22 by batuputeh on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 - 9:26 pm
vsp:
so what is your point?
if BN is not civilized, dont hv respect in their dict, dont understand justice/humility/human decency etc etc…
then is the action of those group reflect the opposite? no! it just show that they’re the same & no better than BN – not civilized, dont hv respect in their dict, dont understand justice/humility/human decency etc etc… SAME!
giving our respect doesnt meant we’re weaker & submissive to our foe. it shows our maturity & putting us a level higher than them.
what happened was a wrong action in their part. dead wrong. there is no excuse & nothing justify it.
# vsp Says:
Yesterday at 23: 37.09
batuputeh:
You want to get your voice heard, you got to be respected. and you only earn your respect by giving yours first.
BN respect your voice? BN itself does not know this philosophy of respect in the first place. Respect is not in their dictionary.
As far as I know BN has never shown any amount of charity to their opponents even in their hours of glory and triumphs. All that they exhibit are to lust for even more power and cruelty.
They are not even civilised. By sticking to the ISA they are showing that they are the prosecutor, accuser and judge all rolled into one monstrous creature that don’t understand about justice, humility and human decency.
#23 by truemalaysian57 on Thursday, 9 October 2008 - 10:59 pm
There has been much talk of the heroism of the Hindraf 5 and people especially from the indian community pratically worships them as the liberators. But those who have put on the thinking cap, will realise that Hindraf has made a fool of everyone especially the poor. One has only to read the memorandum to the Queen and also the 18 points demand as well as the allegations of genocide and ethnic cleasing to realise how we have been taken for a ride by the H5 supremos.
All of my indian friends from childhood days are very much better off from our father’s and grandfather’s time. They have a good jobs and their standard of living have improved from their childhood days. The only ones who are affected were those ignored by the indian community itself. There are the indian in the estates who were exploited by Indians managing the estates. Then there are the poor indians whose families are torn apart by the drunken head of the house and the surrounding which is not conducive.There are many more examples which i can quote that actually brought the downfall of indian community. This are the same problems are faced by the malay communities and that is why there are many poor malay families despite them being a priviledged lot.
Let us ask ourselves sincerely, is not Hindraf a tinderbox?? Their views are extremely extremist and their actions are very erratic and irresponsible. If the government were to free the H5, then it would be simply granting them victory to do more damages to the country and very particulary to the indian society.
The goverment did the right thing in arresting the H5 and therefore prevented the country from being engulfed in a damaging situation.
The DPM has apologised on behalf of the PM to the indian community, Hishamuddin has apologised for waving the keris but when are the leaders of Hindraf going to apologise for tarnishing the image of the country.
Why till to-date, there is not even one opposition party leaders who is brave enough to question the Hindraf leaders?
What are they fighting for ?? Is their struggle really for the poor poor indians? How will their 18 points demand improve the lot of poor indians? What is their defintions of poor indians? How are they going to change the mindset of the indians if they keep blaming the govt for the problems faced by indians?
What is their vision and mission?
Have they forgotten that there are many more poor malays than indians as well as poor chinese too in this country??
Maybe perhaps if Hindraf is ready to apologise for their actions and ready to work with other parties e.g MIC, PPP, etc etc for the betterment of the indian community, then we can confidently call for their release from the ISA detention.
At the end of day, we should see and know the elements that is trying to destroy the peace and unity of this country and pro-actively reject the so-called elements that can destroy 50 years of nation building in a single day.
All i ask is that the society be informed of the true nature of Hindraf. Just as we criticise the government for their failings and shortcomings, let us also be fair to all sides and fairly investigate the claims of Hindraf in the so-called documents and memorandum it issued in december 2007. Let us not be freed from the chains of the ruling elitist only to be held hostage by the so-called “struggles” of Hindraf.
#24 by malaymind on Monday, 13 October 2008 - 4:26 pm
Well, some will say desperate condition will yield desperate measures.
However, the govt so far had been given opportunity for the Indian to use the proper channel to voice out their dissatisfaction.
Even with baseless accusation that UMNO is killing indian everyday, the govt had not react. So as the Indians who knew the truth about it.
Before wild accusations take place and the condition is irreversible, ISA should be used.
Everything has its limit.