Archive for September, 2008

Kapar MP resigns post over temple demolition

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

by Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — The Indian community is rife with talk that Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, a vocal defender of Indian rights, has resigned as Deputy Liaison Chairman of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Selangor with immediate effect.

All three Tamil dailies headlined stories today reporting his resignation in protest over the demolition of the Sri Maha Kaliamman temple in Ampang Jaya last week.

His aides said he handed the resignation letter to the PKR Selangor chairman this morning. However, Mike, as he is popularly known, later issued a statement saying his resignation will take effect unless action is taken against the errant municipal officials that demolished the temple.

“I will quit as deputy chairman of the PKR Selangor liaison committee if there is no strict against taken against the Majlis Perbandaraan Ampang Jaya officials who were trained by the Barisan Nasional government and who are not professional in carrying out their duties,” he said in the statement, adding he has met the mentri besar’s officials on the matter.

Manikavasagam called for an inquiry committee to investigate the incident and take action against the officials involved, adding he also understood that the municipal council has issued notices to demolish other temples despite the orders being cancelled.

But his website had an unattributed breaking news item confirming he has resigned in protest and wants an apology from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council for demolishing the temple, a small structure that was about 30 years old and sitting on land classified as agricultural.

Manikavasagam’s aides said he is demanding an apology from the council for breaking a promise that no temples would be demolished in Selangor without the approval of the PR-ruled state government.
In addition, his relationship with Selangor exco member Dr Xavier Jeyakumar has been heading south over this and other issues. Manikavasagam has previously claimed that Dr Xavier has failed to “defend the temples.”

Dr Xavier said last week the Ampang temple was unregistered, but did not say that was the reason it was demolished. However, Indians were infuriated by the “unregistered” remark and that is said to be one of the reasons why Manikavasagam quit today.

Dr Xavier also urged Indians to look at the bigger picture of how PKR was helping Indians and not just attack the party for “failing to defend” temples.

Manikavasagam disagrees, saying “not registered” is unacceptable as that was the excuse given by the BN government to demolish scores of temples in the state and across the country.
“The majority of Indians voted PKR to save their temples and Tamil schools. If the temples are not registered, use your power as the new government and give the necessary registration,” an aide told the Malaysian Insider.

“We voted opposition to protect our heritage, not for the new government to give us excuses,” he said.
There are over 7,000 “temples” in Selangor – from roadside shrines to the Batu Caves temple complex – and many are deemed “illegal” because they are sitting on public land, road reserves or land classified as agricultural or commercial.

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MPAJ did not inform state gov before demolishing temple

Monday, September 29th, 2008

Dr A. Xavier Jayakumarare, member of the Selangor state executive council, has said that the Sri Maha Kaliamman temple that was demolished last week was built on forest reserve land and that the temple committee was partly to blame for the demolition. He also said that the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council had not informed the state government before the temple was demolished.

from New Straits Times
Xavier: Temple was built on forest reserve

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sri Maha Kaliamman temple committee must share equal responsibility for the demolition of the temple, Selangor state executive councilor Dr A. Xavier Jayakumarare said.
Xavier said the temple was built on forest reserve land and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council was right to take action.

He said, however, the council should have sought permission from the state government before demolishing the temple.

“The state government was not informed of this matter.

“According to our guidelines, local authorities must seek permission from the state executive council before demolishing any place of worship,” Xavier said after visiting the temple site at Kampung Tasik, Ampang yesterday.
He said the council had been directed to submit a report on the demolition but declined to say if disciplinary action would be taken against anyone.

Xavier said the temple committee chairman, S. Murugiah, had also been advised to write to the state government for approval before rebuilding the structure.

He also described the demolition as a small issue.

“This is a small issue compared with other more serious problems affecting the Indian community. Why don’t we look at the bigger picture?”

Ampang member of parliament Zuraida Kamaruddin has denied that she had said “temple committee workers had demolished the temple to carry out renovation works“.

Her political secretary, who was at the site yesterday, said Zuraida was “misquoted” by several newspapers on Saturday.

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Ampang Temple Demolished for Renovation

Friday, September 26th, 2008

The Hindu temple at the heart of a new controversy in Ampang was in fact demolished by its own committee for renovations. The Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) had been accused by various parties for illegally destroying the temple, but it has emerged that this was not the case. Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin from PKR has confirmed that the temple committee itself tore down the shrine.

from The Star
Temple demolished for renovation

KUALA LUMPUR: The Hindu temple in Ampang had been demolished by its own committee to make way for renovation and a face lift.

Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin said the public condemnation of the demolition and accusation lashed at the local council and state government was unfounded.

The PKR MP said MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy’s allegations were completely unfounded and untrue.

“The truth is the temple was demolished by its own committee to make way for renovation and a face lift. They did this of their own accord and did not consult nor seek approval from the state government beforehand.

“We did not even know about the demolition until it happened,” she said.

According to her, the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) was currently investigating the issue and was still waiting for the local council’s report.

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Swami Baskar Thondaiman in Malaysia

Friday, September 12th, 2008

Swami Baskar Thondaiman, a proponent of Saiva Siddhanta from India, was in Malaysia recently. He was interviewed by New Straits Times and the write-up will be available on Sunday, September 14. NST has a video clip of the Swami being interviewed, where he spontaneously burst into song.

He used the song to illustrate his teaching that everyone has a powerful inner energy and that anything is possible if this energy is awakened. He also suggests that all thoughts must be fixed on the Supreme Being. The song the swami sings a popular movie song on the mythology of Lord Shiva.

Video Clip – Swami from India who energizes people

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Tamil Nesan: Religious Education in School Curriculum

Friday, September 12th, 2008

The Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram Penang Arul Nilayam’s Silver Jubilee Dinner was highlighted on the September 10, 2008 edition of Tamil Nesan. The write-up focused on MHDM’s call to include religious education in school curriculum. The article featured pictures of the Silver Jubilee function that took place in Penang last month. Read the full article from Tamil Nesan.

Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram Article

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Racist Teacher Transfered

Sunday, September 7th, 2008

The Malay teacher in the middle of a racism scandal for the mistreatment of Indian students in Banting has been transferred to the Selangor Education Department where she will not deal with students. She has also been ordered to undergo a two-week counseling session on the importance of national unity. It is unclear whether any further punishment has been meted out to this inconsiderate, racist teacher.

from New Straits Times
Teacher counselled on national unity

KUALA LUMPUR: The teacher who allegedly made racist remarks has been transferred to the Selangor Education Department, holding a new position in which she does not deal with students.
She has also undergone a two-week counseling session on the importance of national unity.

As to whether she would be teaching again, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong was non-committal.

“It depends on the assessment of her counselors. So far, the reports I’ve received are good.”

She is expected to be transferred out of the state Education Department and Selangor altogether, but Wee refused to divulge her next destination.
“I cannot tell you. Morally, I should not tell you. It’s a matter of privacy.”

The 35-year-old teacher from SM Telok Panglima Garang in Banting, Klang, was previously sent to a smart school nearer to her house after she allegedly told students in a Form Four class that she “wanted to test their patience” and began using derogatory words on them.

The move to the smart school drew criticism as it was regarded as a “reward”.

Pressed to explain the move, Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said last month that the transfer was because the school needed a replacement Mathematics teacher.

He had said that he would not tolerate racial abuse in schools but did not want the teacher to be falsely accused.

MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, meanwhile, was satisfied with the action taken by the Education Ministry.

However, he hoped that teachers would be trained on the sensitivities of the communities.

National Union of the Teaching Profession secretary-general Loke Yim Pheng said the union had been receiving letters, emails and phone calls from teachers about the incident.

“They told us they were not happy with the way the case was being handled and the action taken against her. Some had even given their views as to how she should have been dealt with.”

But Loke declined to elaborate on their views.

“In school, all teachers should know that they should treat all children equally.”

Asked if this was the first time such an incident had occurred, Loke said: “We have had certain problems at times but we try to solve them internally or refer them to the ministry. I think this incident has been blown up in the media.”

A psychological counsellor with the Education and Research Association for Consumers, Nanthini Ramalo, said she had come across cases where teachers of a particular race looked down on teachers and students of a different race.

Nanthini, who has been counselling teachers over the last three years, said when they sought her advice on how to cope with such situations, she told them to focus on work.

“When they complain about teachers of one race abusing students of another race, I tell them to look at all students as one.

“After all, why should you feel bad when only students of your race are victimized? It should not matter what race the student is. What matters is that a student has been victimized.

“Teachers should think of themselves as teachers first, and not as a Malay, Chinese or Indian. Problems start when they see themselves according to race.”

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Deputy Minister pledges to protect Hindu temples

Friday, September 5th, 2008

Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan has pledged that Hindu temples on government land will not be demolished in the future. In the event that temples are located on land allocated for development projects, he said that the government will offer alternative land and work with temple custodians to resolve the issue. He said this after meeting with representatives of the Malaysia Hindu Council (MHC), of which Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram (MHDM) is a founding member.

from Bernama
Saravanan’s Pledge On Hindu Temples

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 – All Hindu temples on government land situated in commercial zones in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 will not be demolished, Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said Friday.

However, the prior approval of Kuala Lumpur City Hall was required for new temples to be built, even on private land, he said.

In the future, custodians of temples affected by development projects would be given alternative land to relocate the houses of worship, he told reporters after a meeting with representatives of the Malaysian Hindu Council on the draft city plan.

Saravanan said there had been no demolition of temples on government land in the Federal Territory.

He also said that the ministry would allow the various communities to build their houses of worship in housing estates.

At the meeting, Saravanan clarified a statement by the Malaysia Hindu Sangam on Aug 29 that several Hindu temples were missing in the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020.

He said the ministry had not received any written complaint from any quarters on the purported demolition or absence of temples in the draft plan.

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Work permits for Hindu temple workers from India

Friday, September 5th, 2008

The issue of hiring Hindu priests and artisans from India which cropped up again in recent days due to the rejection of many fresh applications looks set to be resolved. The Home Ministry has sent a written directive to state Immigration department officials to issue three-year work permits to these applicants who meet the requirements. The government recently removed a blanket ban on visas for Hindu priests and artisans but the move was not implemented properly until now.

from The Star
Three-year permits for temple workers

PUTRAJAYA: The problem faced by Hindu and Buddhist temples and Sikh gurdwaras when applying for priests, musicians and artisans from India looks set to be resolved after the Home Ministry sent a written directive telling the Immigration officials to issue three-year work permits to these applicants.

Its Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the new ruling to allow temple workers to get the work permits had not been passed down to state Immigration Departments, causing many applications to be turned down.

“Now we have given a written directive to state Immigration officers to do the needful.

“If there are still problems, the matter can be referred to my ministry and we will try to solve it,” he told reporters after discussions with Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam on foreign worker issues at the Home Ministry here yesterday.

It is learnt that around the time the Cabinet passed the new ruling, some top officers in the Immigration Department were moved, resulting in the directive not being implemented at state offices.

Syed Hamid was commenting on Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam’s complaints that although the Cabinet had lifted a blanket ban on Indian priests and temple workers imposed last December, the Home Ministry was blocking the process.

However, he continued to stress that it was still better to get locals trained as priests, musicians, and artisans for temples in Malaysia.

Syed Hamid said applicants must still adhere to terms and conditions, such as being 30 years and above, and that during their three-year working stint in Malaysia they were required to train locals to do the job.

“These people must also have certificates and be acknowledged by the local community, such as through the MIC,” he said, adding that approval by the Human Resources Ministry, which conducts induction courses, was also required.

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Hindu priests issue to be solved soon

Thursday, September 4th, 2008

Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar has promised to ensure that the removal of the blanket ban on the hiring of Hindu priest and artisans from India will be implemented by the state Immigration departments soon. He said that many fresh application were recently rejected because the new ruling to allow Hindu priests, musicians and artisans to get three-year work permits had not been passed down to these departments.

from The Star
Problem of Indian priests, musicians to be solved soon

PUTRAJAYA: The problem faced by Hindu and Buddhist temples and Sikh gurdwaras applying for priests, musicians and artisans from India is temporary and can be solved, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

He said the new ruling to allow these priests, musicians and artisans to get three-year work permits had not been passed down to state Immigration Departments causing many applications to be rejected.

“Now we have given a written directive to state Immigration officers to do the needful and they will be monitored.

“If there are still problems, the matter can be referred to my ministry and we will try to solve it,” he told reporters Thursday after having discussions with Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam on foreign worker issues at the Home Ministry here.

It is learnt that when the Cabinet passed the new ruling, the Immigration Department had changes made to its top officers resulting in the directive not being implemented at state offices.

Syed Hamid was commenting on Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam’s complaints that although the Cabinet had lifted a blanket ban on Indian priests and temple workers imposed last December, the Home Ministry was blocking the process.

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Cabinet Decision on Hindu Priest Applications Unchanged

Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008

Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam has commented that the Cabinet decision on fresh applications for Hindu priests, musicians and artisans from India. He said that new applications will be valid for a period of three years.

from The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: There is no change in the cabinet’s decision to consider fresh applications from Hindu temples and Sikh gurdwaras for priests, musicians and artisans from India, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said Wednesday.

“This issue has been clarified in the media many times, and I wish to state here that there is no change in the Cabinet’s decision,” he said in a statement here.

He said the decision was that the visas and permits for priests, musicians and artisans from India among fresh applicants would be valid for a maximum period of three years and based on a set of strict guidelines.

If there are any weaknesses at the state level or the Immigration Department on the implementation of the Cabinet decision, they will be rectified, he said.

“We will monitor the implementation of this decision and should there be any weaknesses, we well take steps to correct them,” he said.

He advised temple committees to contact his senior private secretary, Manikumar, at 03-8886 5003 or 012-3887 350 for any queries.

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