Ragu, Rajeswari and the list goes on?
By Ivan Loh. The Star. 25.9.08
”They will have to issue the temporary identity card by Monday or Tuesday as ordered by the Tuanku,” said Sivanesan. ”He was very sympathetic towards Ragu and said that this (Ragu’s problem) should not have happened,” he told reporters Friday outside the Istana Kinta after meeting with the Sultan here.
Sivanesan said Ragu would need to get his temporary identity card first and apply for the MyKad later. ”I will try my best to help him with his application to get his citizenship,” he added. Ragu, who was also outside Istana Kinta here, said he was still unhappy as he had yet to obtain his citizenship.
He said the temporary identity card was for people like the Bangladeshis and Vietnamese. ”I’m a Malaysian citizen, why can't I get citizenship like anyone else,” he added. Odd job worker Ragu has been carrying a temporary identity card since 1998 because he was unable to obtain a permanent identity card.
He was abandoned by his parents at the age of four in Parit Buntar and had been under the Social Welfare Department’s care until he was 16. When he gets the temporary identity card, Ragu will need to renew it annually.
In 2004, he had his temporary identity card revoked by the National Registration Department without any reason given. He has not been able to get a job to support his family of four and has since travelled across the country with his family to appeal to the NRD to issue him with a MyKad.
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The interesting fact is Ragu had been under the care of Social Welfare Department until the age of 16. Subsequently he had been issued with temporary identity card which he had been renewing every year until NRD revoked it in 2004.
It’s very appalling as issues of this nature which involves basic rights of citizens seem to be affecting Malaysians of Indians origin more often than anyone else. Not long ago M.Rajeswari age 22, who was six months pregnant, was arrested in Brick Fields,
In both cases, the authorities involved were negligent, unprofessional and lackadaisical. They did not show any willingness to help these affected Indians. Why is this so? Is there any prejudice in this case? Or could we say this is one reason why Hindraf was born?
Not everyone out there could be Ragu nor every Rajeswari could meet a good Samaritan staff to help them out. Simply asking someone to get a certification from Sultans and ministers is nothing but a pathetic excuse to deny ordinary people’s basic rights, all in the name of requirements and procedures by unscrupulous officers whom I would regard as inhumane.
It is not suffice to propagate “I’m PM for all or I’m leader for all Malaysians. It’s time for leaders to prove to their citizens they truly care for all Malaysians. And they need to walk the talk so that the civil servants could be more caring toward all Malaysians regardless of their ethnical back ground.
Is it TRUST or TEMPLE that was demolished? updated
Photo: malaysiakini
So it’s true lah. I received a text message in the afternoon stating that the Sri Mahakaliamman temple in Ampang Jaya, Selangor was demolished on 19th Sept 08. The message carried a sender’s number which seemed to be of a third party service provider. Unsure of its fact, I wrote to Malaysiakini providing it with the whole content of text message I had received for confirmation.
And now it’s confirmed. According Malaysiakini’s report today @ http://www1.malaysiakini.com/news/90385 that says Samy slams temple demolition in Pakatan-controlled Selangor. It’s shocking; how could this happen in a state that is controlled by Pakatan Rakyat. Selangor government had promised there would never be a similar incident in the future and in less than 6 months we have to face with another demolition. The PR government owes a detailed explanation and unreserved apology to all Indians in
Or is it a sabotage by BN henchmen in PR government? There seems to be deliberate attempts by certain parties to create unrest among Malaysians of different ethic groups for political mileage. Pakatan Rakyat needs to explain before it’s too late. Those responsible for the demolition must be made answerable and prompt action must be meted out against them.
I’m very sure Indian community will be angered and it worries me!
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According to Ampang MP, Puan Zuraida, they only came to know of the temple being demolished as it was underway. As she was away, she immediately requested her party members and Aduns to rush to the scene. However by the time they reached the scene it was too late as MPAJ had nearly completed the demolition.
Zuraida also claimed that she had settled the situation with the local Indians and temple committee members and promised to do her best & take action against those responsible. The MP suspected agent provocateurs & possible hidden MIC supporters were involved and were suspected to be behind this effort. No further complaints were brought up to the opposition in regards to that and she was surprised with the police report and Samy’s statements.
Read surind blog here
You know how I feel about you Syed Hamid Albar?
WE WANT JUSTICE FOR RPK AND OTHERS
When I read Syed Hamid has signed the papers to detain Raja Petra today for the next 2 years under ISA without trial my hatred for the Home Minister grew to the size of a mountain. I despise you to the worst and you seem to me more evil than human.
You are not home minister but evil minister.
You have sinned by arresting Tan, the reporter of Sin Chew news paper
You have sinned by arresting Teresa Kok
You have sinned by arresting RPK and extended his detention for 2 years without trial
You have sinned by arresting the 5 leaders of Hindraf movement which has resulted the emotional suffering of their family members.
You have sinned by detaining many others under ISA without trial and also made their families to suffer.
I think you have done great injustice to many innocent people. And the fact that you have made your worse actions during a fasting month, the holiest period for Muslims I believe you have condemned yourself with worst karmas that in god’s eye is not forgivable at all.
I feel very soon you are going be answerable to all your misdeeds. I believe there are thousands of them who are despising you right now. The pain and suffering of these innocent people is going make our lord you and I believe to be very unhappy.
I think your judgment day is nearing.
My prayers and wishes to RPK and all other ISA detainees and their families.
Great power MUST come with Great Responsibility
While sharing my happiness with Teresa and others on her release from ISA, I think we have a serious problem with police in
The legendary American President Franklin Roosevelt (1882-1945) have had in numerous times spoken about power and responsibility during in office.
He remarked in his 1945 state of the union address: "In a democratic world, as in a democratic Nation, power must be linked with responsibility...." (From Living Ideas in America, ed. by Henry Steele Commager, p. 703 of the 1951 Harper & Brothers hardcover.)
And in a letter dated sometime in 1908, Theodore Roosevelt said something to this effect, “...I believe in power; but I believe that responsibility should go with power..." (From T.R.: The Last Romantic by H.W. Brands, pp. 628-9 of the 1997 Basic Books hardcover; the letter was published by Harvard in The Letters of Theodore Roosevelt, 8 volumes, 1951-54.)
In discharging his duty as home minister, Syed Hamid is seen to be very negligent and irresponsible. We now know police have been blatant in some cases such as Teresa's, Tan and Raja Petra. Arresting people by solely relying on accusations that is unsubstantiated must stop.
Law and order is to safeguard the innocent public, lest that not be used for wrong purposes. Home Minister please be responsible and please remember an ex-colleague of yours who is very knowledgeable even remarked, it was strange to arrest people only to conduct investigation later. Show your good side.
Truth exposed: Prime Minister and Ministers for all Malaysians?
In his press conference on 16th Sept 08, Datuk Ibrahim had candidly acknowledged the existence of “brick walls” that had constantly stopped him carrying out his planned reforms in judiciary and other related areas in the country. Frankly, through out my adulthood life I had never seen a serving minister in Malaysia who was so honest in admitting the shortfalls of the very government he was serving.
He shared his thoughts that reflected the current position of leaders and government. He emphasized a fact that is crucial to the leadership of this country is to “TRUST” all people in Malaysia. Hence, I’m appalled to learn the inconvenient truth that the PM and his cabinet have deceived the people all this while despite his promise to be the PM for all and ministers who said they were ministers for all. Zaid’s says:-
- The government is not fully committed to the basic principles that respects all rights of all citizens that demonstrate one system, one people and one nation
- The leaders and ministers practice discrimination.
- The country lacks commitment and conviction to implement reforms
- Rule of law is merely a lip service
- The leadership doesn’t respect and trust its multi-ethnic citizens
- Leadership practices racism, ethnocentrism and bigotry
- ISA should not be invoked on ordinary citizens of this country
If these are the issues affecting this nation, it makes all the senses for Malaysians to worry. Imagine we have a government that is led by all those racists and bigots. In fact the present government has lost its moral ground to rule Malaysians with this revelation. Bangsa Malaysia will remain as another slogan and nothing more under the circumstances.
Zaid Ibrahim had this to say on his resignation, “I hope this will trigger people and government to do something about the changes that we so badly require. His action and principle deserve tribute from every citizen who truly believes as Malaysian.
Are there anymore leaders and ministers in BN who thinks Malaysian to emulate Zaid Ibrahim, in his or her spirit of true Malaysian?
Is Anwar walking the tight Rope?
916 was the day that for most of us, expecting for some “major changes”, as quoted by Anwar. It came and left with only disappointment. The two press conference (16th and 18th Sept) held by DSAI did not articulate any strategic moves nor did he name the MPs who were claimed to be supporting Pakatan rakyat.
My contention is this.
1) If the MPs are serious of Pakatan rakyat why are they keeping mum at this crucial hour? Isn’t’ this time for them to show their solidarity for Anwar, Pakatan and their commitment to this nation?
2) If the MPs are so reluctant to reveal their identities, can they be trusted in the new government? What is the level of their commitment? How to trust fence sitters who are not willing to come out of their shadows?
3) Anwar is risking his own credibility by trusting these MPs so much. The last thing we want to see, his credibility being doomed by some irresponsible MPs who are more interested in looking after their personal interest. Does Anwar realize this?
4) What if the PM refuses to call for emergency parliament session? What is Pakatan Rakyat going to do about it?
If Anwar is unsure of their commitment, it would be better that he just wait for the next parliament sitting in October which is less than a month. By then Anwar could re-strategize his next cause of action that includes “No Confidence Motion” against prime minister.