SHAH ALAM: Barely two months after its grand launch, the Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party appears to be heading towards its first major crisis.

Its central committee yesterday passed a motion of no confidence against party president R.S. Thanenthiran yesterday.

Fifteen of the 27 central committee members were present at the meeting, which took place under a canopy in the car park in front of opposite the party headquarters in Worldwide Business Centre here yesterday morning.

Party secretary-general R. Kannan said the office locks had been changed and they could not enter the premises.

Three motions were tabled, debated and passed in the meeting chaired by deputy president A. Vathemoorthy, which lasted just over an hour.

The first was a no-confidence vote against party president R.S. Thanenthiran. It was passed after 14 members supported it. Only one voted against it.

Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party central committee members, on finding the office locks changed (top), hold their meeting under a canopy in front of the party headquarters in Shah Alam yesterday.

The second motion called on Thanenthiran to resign immediately as president and a new person, other than Vathemoorthy, be elected president.

If Thanenthiran fails to resign, do so, it called for an extraordinary general meeting of party members where a motion would be tabled for a vote will be out to remove the president and elect a new one.

The third motion was is to appoint Thanenthiran as party adviser in its think-tank as he had worked hard to form the party.

Vathemoorthy said he expected Thanenthiran to challenge the legality of today’s yesterday’s meeting but remained firm that they had it followed the party’s constitution.

Despite the current issues, he said the party was sympathetic to Barisan Nasional.

Kannan said the party, which had about 11,000 members, now, had been in talks with many people, including Hindraf leaders, in its search for a new leader.

“We have spoken to Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy, K. Vasantha Kumar and also V. Ganabatirau. But they have decided to adopted a wait-and-see approach.”

He said businessmen O.M.S. Thiagarajan and Datuk Kenneth Eswaran were also possible candidates.

Among the allegations levelled against Thanenthiran is that he had caused the party to split into two factions, and that he had not been transparent and accountable in his financial dealings.



Other allegations are that he had engaged in cronyism and nepotism, and was inefficient and directionless in the management of the party.


Vathemoorthy said he was also seeking an appointment with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to brief him on the latest developments. in the party.

Thanenthiran, who could not be contacted and did not reply to messages, had previously said he was calling off the meeting and that the office building would be locked.

He had said that the last meeting was held on Nov 1 and there was no urgency in having another meeting.

Thanenthiran reiterated that there was a conspiracy to topple him but declined to name the instigator.

Vathemoorthy said: “There are no hidden hands here. We just want to move ahead here and work for the community.”

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Despite locked doors, ultimatum issued for Makkal Sakti chief to quit

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 — The central committee of the three-month-old Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party today gave notice to its president R.S. Thanenthiran to resign gracefully or face expulsion.

Fifteen of the 27-members of the committee were locked out of the party’s head office in Shah Alam but met under a makeshift tent outside and resolved to remove Thanenthiran because of his incompetence and failure to provide leadership, among other reasons.

Led by deputy president A Vathemurthy they also passed a vote of no confidence against the president.

The meeting also proved that the majority of CC members i.e. 56 per cent were behind Vathemurthy although Thanenthiran had claimed he had a majority.

If Thanenthiran refuses to resign in good time, the committee resolved, to convene an EGM within 90 days to remove Thanenthiran and install another person as president.

Vathemurthy also announced that he was not keen to be president but will support any other person other than Thanenthiran as president.

“The party needs to move ahead and take the next major step forward…I am not the man to lead the party to the next level,” he told the CC members.

The meeting was conducted in an orderly and democratic manner by CC lawyer Thakurdas Naraindas, who is also a CC member. Reporters and other observers were allowed to observe the meeting.

“We have nothing to hide,” said secretary general Kannan Ramasamy.

Earlier he and other leaders tried to enter the office but failed.

“They have changed the lock,” Kannan said.

“We will not break into our own office,” he said.

Thanenthiran could not be contacted but a CC member supporting him said their side will not accept the meeting today as valid.

“We reject their meeting and the decisions they made,” the supporter said. “We will carry on as usual without them. We might even expel all of them for tarnishing the party’s image.”

With Thanenthiran unwilling to comply, it appears the party is headed for a long drawn court battle defeating the purpose for which it was set up in the first place.

Police watched the proceedings from a distance and none of Thanenthiran’s supporters appeared to stop the meeting from proceeding.

The party was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Oct 10 in the hope that it could win over working class Tamils who had voted for the Pakatan Rakyat in the 2008 general election.

Kannan, as secretary general, had already “taken possession” of the party’s files, membership application forms and keys to the office but sometime late last night someone had changed the locks preventing them from entering the office.

The upcoming battle between the two factions is for the right to use the phrase Makkal Sakthi which was PR’s rallying cry in 2008.

The breakup of the party is a major embarrassment for Najib.

The MIC, which was worried a major contender had arrived for Tamil working class support, is delighted with the imminent break-up.

The CC meeting today was called by Kannan over the objections of Thanenthiran who had ordered Kannan to “postponement” it to January.
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Leadership dispute in Makkal Sakti

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 — The new Indian-based Malaysia Makkal Sakti Party was meant to be Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s answer to MIC, whose unpopular chief Datuk Seri Samy Vellu is staying put.

But the splinter group which arose from the banned Indian rights movement Hindraf is now in trouble itself.

A rival faction is keen to oust Makkal Sakti chief R.S. Thanenthiran just two months after it was launched.

A central committee meeting is being planned today to move a motion of no confidence against him.

His critics say he rules with an iron fist and likened him to Samy Vellu, who is seen as a liability to the MIC after he lost his long-held seat in last year’s general election.

Among the complaints levelled against Thanenthiran: he makes decisions without consulting other leaders, and spends lavishly. There are also claims of cronyism and nepotism.

“He wants to be another Samy Vellu. People still believe in Makkal Sakti, but if we don’t do anything, we will end up like MIC,” party secretary-general Kannan Ramasamy told The Straits Times.

Kannan said that among the potential candidates to replace Thanenthiran are party deputy A. Vathemurthy and businessman O.M.S. Thiagarajan.

In a statement, Thanenthiran said the planned motion was unconstitutional as it did not comply with the party constitution.

But Kannan said the meeting would be held according to proper procedures.

Najib is banking on Makkal Sakti to win over the Indian working class, political sources say.

It is seen as an alternative within the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to cater to Indians who do not favour the MIC or the opposition.

The trouble in Makkal Sakti underscores a bigger problem faced by Indian voters.

They are split many ways, with at least seven major parties representing a community that makes up only 8 per cent of Malaysia’s population of 28 million.

A month prior to Makkal Sakti’s formation, some activists formed the Malaysian Indian Democratic Action Front.

There is also a Malaysian Indian United Party set up by businessman S. Nallakaruppan, a one-time ally of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

And then there are the pro-Barisan Nasional parties — People’s Progressive Party and Indian Progressive Front.

In July, Hindraf leader P. Uthayakumar, who led a huge anti-government rally in November 2007, set up the Human Rights Party to focus on Indian grouses.

The MIC was previously the main party for Indian voters, and has been led by Samy Vellu for 30 years. But it has been much weakened after failing to woo back Indian voters.

Analysts note that the large number of Indian-based parties could affect their power to negotiate, which would be a setback for a community which has long felt marginalised in areas such as the economy and education.

Makkal Sakti’s split could also potentially have an impact on Najib’s leadership, said P. Sivamurugan, an analyst from Universiti Sains Malaysia.

“The dilemma is whether this party will remain loyal to BN and to what extent it will be able to win back Indian voters who are still divided,” he told The Straits Times.

He said it would be better for Najib to reconcile support from Makkal Sakti until the MIC can regain the confidence of Indians.

“Time is still with Najib because Pakatan Rakyat has yet to show any improvement in uplifting the Indians.

“He should focus on those who are below the poverty line,” said Sivamurugan. — The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 — PAS president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang suggested today that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was in no hurry to be formally registered, in remarks that appear to indicate ideological differences with its political partners remained an obstacle.
“We do not want to act in a hurry to register Pakatan.

“Pakatan does not necessarily have to become a single party. What is important is for us to bring out what we have in common, and to put off things which we do not agree on,” he said after a special meeting with political bloggers here today.

Hadi’s remarks come just a day after the PR coalition held its first ever convention. A common policy framework was also tabled at the convention.

His comments today suggest PAS may still have doubts about joining a formal coalition.

The PAS leader pointed out that the three PR parties — PAS, PKR and DAP — still have ideological differences, and the time was not right for the alliance to be formally registered.

In pushing for a delay in formalising the coalition, PAS has put into doubt the step made by PR coordinator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to register PR.

Zaid is understood to have already submitted a formal application to the Registrar of Societies to register PR as a legal entity.

At yesterday’s PR convention, the leaders of the three parties had also taken great pains to put on a united front amid rousing speeches outlining their intention of ousting Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general elections.

But Hadi’s statement today is likely to cause some uncertainties again among fellow PR leaders about PAS’ commitment.

“It is not time yet for the three parties to be registered, and PAS has not made a decision yet on registration,” he said.

He said, however, that while it was not the right time for PR to cement their relationship because of differences in ideology, the three parties still had common ground in issues like justice and poverty eradication.

Hadi pointed out that it was important for the three parties to first work on common ground, and “talk of other things later.”

On the question of the next general elections, Hadi said that “when the time comes we will discuss the matter.”

The PR alliance was formed soon after the results of Elections 2008 when DAP, PKR and PAS combined to deprive BN of its traditional two-thirds majority and won control of five state governments.

It has taken PR leaders nearly two years to put together its first ever common policy framework, with an eye towards formal registration.

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairperson P Waythamoorthy has sent a demand letter to four of his former comrades asking them to retract defamatory statements made to the media, failing which he will exercise the right to sue them.

The four are Penang DAP Deputy Chief Minister 2 P Ramasamy, Sungkai assemblyperson A Sivanesan and two other Hindraf activists, V Ganabatirao and K Vasanthakumar. Ganabatirao is also a DAP member.

They were said to have made defamatory statements which were published in English and Tamil dailies as well as in news portals, including Malaysiakini.

The articles called in to question Waythamoorthy's sincerity and asked him account for an alleged RM700,000 that was collected for the Hindraf cause.

The articles included a Malaysiakini interview with Ganabatirao entitled, Hindraf: Where's the money, buddy? and one in which Sivanesan asked Waythamoorthy (right) to account for allegedly RM700,000 of Hindraf funds.

Following these statements, Waythamoorthy did threaten to sue all three DAP members in August this year.

The demand letter was sent to the four via his lawyers Kumar, Hashimah & Co. Waythamoorthy wants them to retract their statements and make an apology.

He also wants a written undertaking that the four would not make similar allegations in the future and want the respondents to pay indemnity costs.

Schism within Hindraf

Waythamoorthy, Ganabatirao and Vasanthakumar along with M Manoharan, P Uthayakumar and R Kenghadharan were key individuals behind the Hindraf rally on Nov 25, 2007.

All five, excluding Waythamoorthy, were detained under the Internal Security Act. Waythamoorthy was on a pilgrimage in India, before imposing self-exile.

During the ISA detention of the five, Waythamoorthy carried the Hindraf mantle in the international arena.

All of them have been given a week to to respond to the demand letter.

For the third time in history, the orthodox Islamic PAS is trying to form an alliance with the secular left-leaning DAP, this time through the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

However, contentious issues remain rife - chief among these is PAS' continuing attempts to introduce Islamic polices and laws, to consistently vehement objections from DAP.

The noises have been somewhat muted since Pakatan's unprecedented success in the last general felection, in which the coalition initially wrested five states from Barisan Nasional and had to work out a power-sharing formula.

However, this does not mean that PAS had compromised its religious ideals, said its spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, 78.

It is the religious duty of every Muslim to ensure that the laws of God, or Syariah law, are implemented on earth.

Given that this does not go down well with political leaders in a multi-racial society, Nik Aziz has offered to explain the PAS stand to DAP.

Excerpts follow from an interview at his office in Kota Bharu last week - the content has been edited for language and brevity.

Malaysiakini: At a recent party seminar, an academic delivered a paper claiming there is evidence of young people becoming disenchanted with PAS. Your thoughts?

Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat: It doesn't matter whether they are young or old. They are not exposed to Islam. They are exposed to democracy, socialism, nationalism and communism but not to Islam... They are influenced by the western stereotype of Islam - that it is about terrorism, that it does not being development and is backward. They have no alternative (to this kind of thinking).

But exposure is increasing. We need to create more awareness for youths through seminars and camps. (We need to expose them to Islam because) the world was not made by a person. It was made by God.

During the Bagan Pinang by-election, it appeared that non-Muslims did not back PAS. Why was that?

It was not just a by-election. There were other factors. Blood was spilled. Malaysians must understand that when people get hurt, it is not a by-election. There was assault (on PAS workers) and threats. Umno often threatens people. They threaten (people with) the Internal Security Act and withdrawal of subsidies.

Within Pakatan Rakyat, there is frequent objection to issues like hudud law or the Islamic state. How far is PAS willing to compromise? For example, DAP usually has a different opinion on these issues.

No man can have it easy all the time. Some times we fall ill. Even doctors fall ill. God has created the world this way - there are angels and demons, good and bad, heaven and earth. As Muslims, we live by the teachings of the Prophet. When someone is lazy, we preach about diligence. They then become hard-working. Cowards are told tales of bravery. They become brave. The wayward are taught about the pious (and) become religious.

There is no need (to quarrel). Say what you want, but listen to our reply. Don't make accusations and (then) when I reply, you don't listen. Tak boleh! (This won't do). Islam means you should ask questions. If you don't understand (our policies), ask.

So you mean that PAS cannot compromise on its position on hudud law and the Islamic state?

How can we compromise? This is our ibadat (religious obligation). If we reject the meaning of Islam, we are rejecting our ibadat. God created man to follow ibadat, which is not restricted to just praying.

So how will PAS go about this? Some younger people in DAP can accept PAS, but veterans like national chairperson Karpal Singh, are more adamant about the party's secular position.

Tidak apa (It is no big deal). Karpal Singh is someone very senior. Sometimes, when people kacau (agitate) us, we have to look at them first. Sometimes, we look at them at say, 'Let him be. He is old. Let's respect him'.

People who speak like Karpal Singh are getting fewer. He is a watak lama (old player).

So Tok Guru, you are willing to talk...

Yes. We can discuss. I like it very much when people ask me questions. If I can answer, I will. If the topic is beyond me, I will ask the person to ask someone else.

There is a suggestion by PKR politician Zaid Ibrahim that you should chair the Pakatan Rakyat coalition as spiritual leader, when it is registered. Have you considered this?

I am currently the spiritual leader elected by the PAS central committee. What is wrong with being the spiritual leader of Pakatan? If you want to listen to me, thank you. If not, sorry. If they listen and reject, I'll ask them why. This is Islam.

So you are willing to take on this added burden?

It is not a burden. It will increase my following. I would be happier leading open-minded Chinese than narrow-minded Malays. (smiles)

How is your health?

Alhamdulillah. It is all right. If I stand for too long, I get tired. Doctors have told me not to (go on the ground) if I am tired. I'm old, and the 'battery' in my heart is weakening.

Other than taking medicine, I pray (for good health). Even the Chinese are praying for me. When they see me, they tell me Jangan mati lagi, (don't die yet), Tok Guru. (laughs)

Even the Chinese are forbidding me from dying. They are more willing to listen to me than to the people from Umno.

Are you going to take a break from politics?

I cannot take a rest from politics. I can only take a break from the party. The party and politics are different. In politics, no one can be excluded. But I can take a rest from the party.

There is talk about a succession plan being put into place in PAS. Why has this come up?

Those who want (me to step down) are from Umno, not from PAS. This has always been the case.

Recently, Mohd Nik Amar Abdullah (state exco member) said it would be appropriate for you to name a successor...

You should ask him about that... (chuckles).

So, for now, the issue of picking a successor does not arise...?

It does not. PAS has been supporting Tok Guru. Look at what happened last Friday (when) there was a spontaneous gathering. It was raining , but they came with umbrellas.

In 2004, you said that a succession plan was in place - Nik Amar and Husam Musa were told not to defend their parliamentary seats, but to contest at state level. What is the status of the succession plan?

I have three deputies. There is the Dewan Harian (management committee) and the state leadership. These are all layers... I don't need a succession plan. When I'm too old, others will replace me. Recently, when I wanted to go to Mecca, I wrote to the (Kelantan) sultan to inform him that I have delegated my duties to my deputies. This is normal. Since I couldn't go to Mecca, I withdrew the letter. This is normal.

So this means that, in Kelantan, there is no need for a succession plan as everything is based on the hierarchy?

It is 'automatic' according to party methodology. It is a form of preparation. We must have an umbrella ready before it rains. This is practised all over the world. Even group of thieves have their 'layers' (hierarchy).

In this case, does it mean that the 'first layer' will be Ahmad Yakob?

Ahmad is the first layer. Whether or not he is accepted by the people, that is up to God. But he is deputy menteri besar. A lot of my duties have been delegated to him.

Much of the talk about succession has stemmed from an article written by your son Nik Abduh. He said that anyone who stops you from stepping down is stupid. The article came out of the blue...

You should ask him (to explain). I don't teach him politics. Politics cannot be taught. It is an experience. No one taught me. I read books and (articles on) the Internet and listen to advice. That is politics. It cannot be taught.

How long more do you intend to serve as menteri besar?

How would I know? How old am I? Will my body take it? As long as PAS accepts me, I will remain. If PAS ask me to leave this afternoon, I will stop.

If Umno tells me to step down, I'd reply: 'If not for you, I would have stepped down a long time ago...'. I feel proud if Umno hates me. It proves that I have kacau (shaken) them (up).

There is a claim that, in Kelantan, only Tok Guru can hold the PAS government together and that if you take a break from the party, your successor will be attacked easily.

When I am too old, the task of preaching Islam will be taken over by others... When I am old, it is no longer my obligation, but that of others. It is not like a dynasty. The person will be accepted if he is Islamic.

To fight Umno, we can't use our fists. It has to be contest of minds. My body is weak, but Alhamdulilah, I am still sane.

Do you think that Umno is trying to provoke the three deputy state commissioners to fight one another?

If Umno doesn't provoke, what else can they do? They talk about (economic) development. We have developed Kelatan. But none of their state assemblypersons talk about this in the state assembly...

Anyone can bring about economic development - whoever is in power will bring development, whether you are communist, socialist... In the five states that we (initially controlled), we brought development, not Umno. Umno has run out of ideas. If it loses the 13th general election, what kind of development can it bring?

This is why, in Kota Seputeh (Kedah), Umno is trying to avoid a by-election although the incumbent (is from Barisan Nasional). They have taken the issue to court because they are kecut (cowards).

People have begun to hate them, such as in Perak. (What happened there) is not democracy because they took the state government and speaker's seat by force. I am embarrassed by this as a Malaysian. Umno took the state by hiding (three defectors from Pakatan) for three or four days and suddenly they become (BN-friendly Independents). What kind of democracy is this?

Member of parliament for Ipoh Barat M Kulasegaran today lodged a police report against Malay daily Utusan Malaysia over an article deemed to be seditious and irresponsible.

Kulasegaran, also the DAP vice-chairperson, named the daily and its writer Awang Selamat over the article which he claimed can incite racial hatred and cause public unrest in this country.

The article was published yesterday in the daily's Sunday edition Mingguan Malaysia and touched on the issue of Malay supremacy. The article also questioned Kulasegaran for allegedly questioning the issue of Malay supremacy.

The report was lodged at the Dang Wangi district police station at about 2pm. Kulasegaran was accompanied by DAP's MP for Teluk Intan M Manoharan, MP for Seremban John Fernandez and Kuching MP Chong Chieng Jen.

In his report, Kulasegaran said that he had never questioned the special privileges as set out in Article 153 of the federal constitution or any rights of the Malay rulers.

"We urge Utusan not to play with fire," he told reporters outside the police station, after making the report.


'This is my country too'

Kulasegaran said that Awang can be misguided and have a wrong understanding of the Malay supremacy concept, but he must not make baseless, false and dangerous accusations against him and DAP.

Also present was A Rajaretinam, president of the Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisations, better known as Prima. He questioned why the paper played the racial card, inciting racial animosity.

"We are all Malaysians and this is my country as much as yours," he said.

He also questioned the lack of action by the Home Ministry against Utusan. He said that if it was published in another newspaper, the publication would have been asked for a show-cause letter.

Further, he told reporters that the Malaysian Indian NGOs will stage a protest against Utusan Malaysia later this week.

Senator S Ramakrishnan who was also there says the article is a form of racial incitement and that this sort of reporting should stop.

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has called on the Government to ensure Indian small entrepreneurs are able to obtain loans from commercial banks.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the matter had been brought to the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Indian Affairs recently.

“We have also asked the Finance Ministry to review the conditions for granting loans to make it more flexible,” he told reporters after handing over loan cheques from the National Tekun Foundation to 109 Indian entrepreneurs here yesterday.

He said many Indian entrepreneurs had difficulty obtaining loans from commercial banks, although they were qualified.

MIC wants the government to close down the infamous Simpang Renggam detention camp in Johor, dubbed Malaysia's Guantanamo Bay, as it has outlived and probably deviated from its purpose of rehabilitating inmates.

Party president S Samy Vellu said MIC felt the detention camp built in 1986 to act as a rehabilitation centre, has become a "breeding ground" for more criminals, especially among the Indians, instead of rehabilitating them.

"Petty criminals who are sent there (the camp) graduate to become hardcore criminals," he told reporters after opening the MIC Youth workshop on crime prevention among Indian youth in Petaling Jaya.

To a question, Samy Vellu said he was aware that several non-governmental organisations also wanted the camp to be closed.

The camp houses detainees held under the Emergency Ordinance and the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985, as well as convicts and remand prisoners.

Relocate inmates to modern prisons

Former detainees, the Bar Council, and the parliamentary caucus on human rights have described poor conditions of detention, overcrowded cells, inedible food infested with worms, limited access to fresh air or exercise, and unhygienic living conditions.

Samy Vellu who visited the camp in 2007 as the then works minister, pointed out that the camp was also overcrowded and inmates were living in "filthy conditions".

It was reported that the camp could only accommodate 2,000 inmates but was now catering for more than 4,000 inmates.

Samy Vellu suggested that inmates who were serving their jail sentences, be relocated to modern prisons such as in Sungai Buloh, while inmates who were yet to be charged in court be brought before the courts to face punishments.

"For inmates who could not be charged in courts for various reasons, we feel they should be made to do community service and transferred to another rehabilitation camp with modern facilities," he said.

The former works minister said during his visit to the camp, he had personally talked to several inmates who complained that they were supposed to be detained for two years, but claimed that the authorities had extended their remand.

Samy Vellu said he was confident Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein would consider the MIC's request or find an alternative solution to it.

The Umno-owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia has once again trampled on racial sensitivities, earning it another two more police reports.

The reports were filed by MIC Youth's racial integration bureau chief MT Padmanathan and PKR Batu Youth member V Ravindran with the Sentul police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Both parties were incensed by a column published yesterday under the heading 'Alkishah India di India dan India di Malaysia' (The tale of Indians in India and Indians in Malaysia).

Among others, the writer Zaini Hassan said Indians in India and Malaysia are "loudmouthed and always making noise."

He then zeroed in on DAP MP M Kulasegaran for 'making noise' over the special privileges accorded to the Malays.

Zaini penned: "Dia tahukah apa yang dia cakap? Tapi yang pasti kenyataannya itu cukup sensitif dan akan membuat kumpulan lain marah. Tapi seperti biasa orang Melayu marahnya tidak lama."

(Is he aware of what he is saying? One thing is for certain, his statement is very sensitive and will anger others. But as usual the anger of the Malays will not last for long).

"Tak apalah. Orang Melayu tidak seperti orang India, walaupun ada juga Melayu yang darah keturunan keling (DKK), tapi darah Melayu yang lembut banyak menguasai mereka."

(Never mind. The Malays are not like Indians, although some of them have 'keling' blood, but the 'soft' Malay blood in them is more overwhelming).

Noisy...that is their culture

In the article, Zaini also related his experience in visiting India recently, where he witnessed the hustle and bustle of the densely-populated nation.

"India tetap India. Orang India ialah masyarakat yang begitu unik. Jika kita sering tengok wayang Tamil atau Hindi, itulah budaya mereka. Kecoh, kecoh dan kecoh."

(India is India. The Indians are unique. If we watch Tamil or Hindi movies, that is their culture, noisy, noisy and noisy).

"Namun, kita di Malaysia pun ada orang India. Kecohnya pun lebih kurang sama. Mereka ini rata-ratanya terdiri daripada ahli-ahli profesional, peguam dan kini menjadi ahli politik."

(There are also Indians in Malaysia, and the noisiness is about the same. These are the professionals, lawyers and now politicians.)

Last year, Zaini had also attacked DAP MP Teresa Kok, whom he accused of ordering a mosque to lower the volume of its Azan prayers.

The issue had even led to her brief detention under the Internal Security Act.

Kok, who denied the allegation, subsequently filed a suit against the writer.

Public apology sought

In his police report, Padmanathan said the article contained elements that degraded the Indian community.

"Utusan Malaysia has crossed the line. Such statements not only ridicule the Indians, but have the potential of stirring racial unrest," he said, adding that Indian Malaysians are enraged by this.

Padmanathan urged the writer to publicly apologise to the Indian community here.

Meanwhile, Ravindran stated in his police report that the article reeked of racism and went against the 1Malaysia concept espoused by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Also present was DAP's Teluk Intan parliamentarian M Manogaran.

This morning, Human Resources Minister and MIC vice-president Dr S Subramaniam also criticised the daily for using offensive words.

In a related development, Malaysian Hindu Sangam president RS Mohan Shan also urged Utusan to apologise.

He also countered Zaini's statement that Indians in Malaysia were troublemakers.

"We are not troublemakers. We are willing to work with anyone. Zaini is the troublemaker," he said.

Mohan also defended Kulasegaran as a legislator who was defending the rights of the Indian community.

"You cannot consider him a troublemaker. He and the rest of the Indian legislators were only defending our rights," he said.

▲

Yet again another PKR Subang Indian MP mandore does a wayang kulit. He announces a Tamil school in Kota Damasara planned to be built and RM 7, 000.00 from the Selangor State and another RM 1, 000.00 of his personal donation. This is to divert attention away from the real issue ie where is the land title for this Kota Damansara Tamil school and this local Tamil school and Selangor state government land for all 97 Tamil schools, all hindu temples and hindu crematoriums in Selangor which is the very basic needs of any community. This Indian PKR mandore MP is not able to deliver these land titles. How then is he different from his predecessor UMNOs’ mandore from the MIC in Subang Parliament? Get to the point Y.B!

P. Uthayakumar

Oleh Zaini Hassan, Utusan Malaysia

(yang berada di kota raya Hyderabad, India dari 29 November-4 Disember menghadiri Forum Editor-Editor Sedunia)

BERADA di kota raya tua India, Hyderabad selama seminggu minggu lalu amat memberi kesedaran kepada diri ini. Setiap inci persegi tanah di kota-kotanya dihuni oleh ratusan insan. Setiap kilometer persegi dihuni oleh ratusan ribu insan dan setiap bandar raya di negara keramat itu dihuni oleh jutaan manusia. Dan India ialah tanah bagi 1.2 bilion umat manusia. Angkanya bertambah setiap saat.

Berada di India bererti kita berada dalam satu realiti kemanusiaan yang sebenar. India ialah tanah bagi manusia ramai. Jurang hidupnya adalah antara langit dan bumi. Yang papa terlalu papa, yang kaya terlalu kaya. Yang kaya, tidak pandang ke bawah, yang bawah tetap di bawah.

Kasta, darjat atau keturunan masih diamalkan secara tebal di seluruh India. Ia semacam satu agama. Kasta atas tidak boleh bersatu kasta rendah.

Jalan rayanya haru-biru. Suasananya hiruk-pikuk. Bas, lori, kereta, basikal, teksi roda tiga, kereta lembu, kuda bersimpang siur. Bunyi hon adalah wajib. Pegang sahaja stereng, bunyi hon dulu. Di belakang bas dan lori tertulis `tolong hon’. Tiada siapa marah jika dia dihon. Hon ialah nyawa.

Semasa dalam perjalanan menghadiri makan malam perpisahan di Istana Chowmohalla (dibina pada 1780 oleh Nawab Nizam Ali Khan, Asaf Jah II), pemandu bas yang membawa kami tiba-tiba turun lari meninggalkan bas yang dibawanya. Hilang dalam lautan manusia dan kenderaan. Kami terpinga-pinga. Dua lelaki preman masing-masing memegang submesingan jenis sterling yang mengawal keselamatan kami dalam bas berkata ``jangan bimbang’’. Pemandu tadi sebenarnya turun untuk meleraikan kenderaan-kenderaan yang sudah berpintal di atas jalan raya. Dia bertindak menjadi polis trafik.

Sambil dia menyelesaikan kekusutan itu, saya melihat di seberang sana seorang penumpang turun dari teksi roda tiga yang dinaikinya menolak kenderaan itu yang mati di atas jalan raya. Tiada rasa marah pun di muka penumpang itu yang menolong menolak teksinya yang rosak.

Tiada siapa peduli apa yang berlaku di sekeliling mereka. Polis trafik pun menjalankan apa yang terdaya, tanpa memperlihatkan sedikit pun kekerutan di dahinya. Trafik lalu lintas tetap berjalan lancar, walaupun dalam suasana kekecohan.

Sebelah malam, di tepi-tepi jalan insan-insan tidur merata-rata. Ada yang telah nyenyak membungkus tubuh dengan kain selimut daripada kedinginan kota itu. Yang belum tidur, duduk mencangkung sambil memandang ke satu tujuan yang tidak diketahui.

Hampir dua jam bergelut kami tiba di istana bereka bentuk masjid itu. Di sepanjang dinding tembok istana tertulis tulisan dalam bahasa Inggeris ``Ini tempat suci jangan kencing’’. Kencing berdiri sambil si anunya memancut ke dinding adalah pemandangan umum yang biasa. Mungkin kerana terlalu ramai manusia, tandas bukan lagi pilihan. Awas, setiap pagi berhati-hati berjalan di kaki-kaki lima kerana terlalu banyak jerangkap samar dari isi perut manusia berlonggok di sana-sini. Suasana serupa juga juga khabarnya boleh dilihat di bandar raya lain termasuk di Mumbai.

Sampainya di istana itu, kami dibawa masuk ke dalamnya. Satu suasana antara langit dengan bumi. Kawasan istana lama itu diwarnai dengan lampu-lampu berwarni yang menyenangkan perasaan. Bagaikan berada dalam kisah Hikayat 1001. Tarian-tarian Bollywood dari era 50-an hingga kini dipersembahkan kepada kami. Selesai persembahan kami dijamu dengan juadah Hyderabad tersohor di dunia, nasi beriyani.

Kami makan beriyani kambing dan ayam, tanpa mempedulikan apa-apa lagi. Ia terlalu sedap tanpa boleh ditandingi oleh mana-mana restoran Malaysia, waima Hameediah di Campbell Street, Pulau Pinang mahupun Mahbob di Bangsar.

Di luar tembok sana, suasananya adalah terlalu kontras. India yang penuh warna-warni. India yang penuh dengan drama. Di dada-dada akhbarnya konflik di mana-mana. Di Parlimennya pun haru-biru seperti di atas jalan rayanya juga. Televisyen memaparkan bagaimana seorang speaker dewannya tidak diendahkan oleh ahli-ahli Parlimen yang memboikot sesi soal-jawab. Akhbar Deccan Chronicle dalam karikatur muka satunya (macam Senyum Kambing) keesokan harinya mencuit: Mengapa mereka tidak mahu buat sesi soal-jawab dalam kantin saja, kan di situ tempatnya ahli Parlimen selalu melepak?

India tetap India. Orang India ialah masyarakat yang begitu unik. Jika kita sering tengok wayang Tamil atau Hindi, itulah budaya mereka. Kecoh, kecoh dan kecoh.

Namun, kita di Malaysia pun ada orang India. Kecohnya pun lebih kurang sama. Mereka ini rata-ratanya terdiri daripada ahli-ahli profesional, peguam dan kini menjadi ahli politik. Di Malaysia hanya orang India yang pandai-pandai sahaja yang sering buat bising. Mereka menguasai Majlis Peguam dan kini mereka sudah ramai di Parlimen, bukan mewakili MIC, tapi mewakili DAP dan PKR.

Kerana mereka lantang dan suka buat haru-biru, suara mereka sering kedengaran. Salah seorangnya ialah N. Kulasegaran yang kini memegang jawatan Naib Pengerusi DAP Perak. Beliau lantang mempersoalkan hak-hak orang Melayu.

Katanya, beliau tidak faham mengapa setelah bertahun lamanya masih ada kelompok manusia percaya kepada warna kulit atau penampilan yang lebih tinggi daripada satu kaum lain.

Kita tidak pasti apakah beliau ikhlas dengan kenyataannya itu. Dia tahukah apa yang dia cakap? Tapi yang pasti kenyataannya itu cukup sensitif dan akan membuat kumpulan lain marah. Tapi seperti biasa orang Melayu marahnya tidak lama. Tak apalah. Orang Melayu tidak seperti orang India, walaupun ada juga Melayu yang darah keturunan Keling (DKK), tapi darah Melayu yang lembut banyak menguasai mereka.

Jika di India, mungkin kita akan sentiasa dikawal oleh pengawal bermesingan. Kulasegaran perlu mengambil cuti. Pergilah melawat ke India, dan hayatilah erti kehidupan di sana, hayatilah erti kasta dan darjat, miskin dan kaya, seperti yang saya alami minggu lalu.

Seburuk-buruk Malaysia, inilah tanah tumpah darah kita.