Over the last week, a lot had been said about the Ampang Jaya temple demolition by Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya enforcement officials. However, till today nothing concrete has come out from the local council or the Selangor state government apart from statement after statement by these two bodies. State excos are being rhetoric, with one even saying that it was not a temple but just a shrine.
Does that give the right for improper demolition of the said temple? MIC on the other hand has asked for answers. Will the temple be rebuilt? Will it receive any form of compensation? Will the state government apologise for the demolition? etc.
These are some questions which had been left unanswered. Now there is also the question of Hindraf, which incidentially was set up to save guard temples in the country, among others. The deafing silence by Hindraf is also another issue. Why the silence? Is it because the state was run by the Pakatan government? Why are there no forth coming statements? Maybe, Hindraf is busy trying to ensure the release of its five leaders that the temple demolition had taken a backseat.
Even yesterday several thousands Indians were back on the streets of Kuala Lumpur demanding the release of the Hindraf Five. Would it be better to have staged the protest at the site of the temple? Why was not this done? Refer to a Malaysiakini report at http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/90481. Some may not be able to access this, you have to subsribe. I have reproduced it below.
Back to the question of the temple. The Selangor state government should not repeat the mistake done by the former Selangor government, who had in my view, ignored the plea of the Indian community in demolishing temples. That government, especially the then Menteri Besar totally disregarded the views of the community, MIC included. They suffered the backlash at the March general election.
Now Pakatan is going the same way. The MB has not even commented on the issue. Is it because of fear that the government might face backlash from the Malay community for speaking for Hindus?
p/s: Please come up with sensible arguements. This post is not discussing if MIC was effective in stopping demolition of temples. It is aimed at obtaining comments that would safeguard our temples in the future, may it be in BN controlled states or otherwise. It is not about MIC or Samy Vellu bashing. It is about Hindus and the Malaysian Indian community! p/s: Kavitha of Puchong please check your facts the next time you write. Also please refer to the Hindraf website. They have finally come out with a statement. And for your information even the Pakatan MP who said it was demolished for renovation has even denied saying that. Please try to have an intelligent comment after checking facts. Thanks for dropping by.
ISA detainees' wives: Hindraf has changed Fauwaz Abdul Aziz | Sep 26, 08 7:53pm
The struggle of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is different now compared to when it started some 10 months ago under the leadership of the five who are currently under Internal Security Act (ISA) detention, said the wives of two leaders today.
Dr M Kalaivani and B Buvaneswary, the wives of K Kenghadharan and V Ganabatirau, respectively, said they were not comfortable with the direction in which the movement has taken.
Speaking at a press conference in Kelana Jaya, Kalaivani said aside from the goal of obtaining the release of the Hindraf leaders, what is of utmost importance is that the Indian community's problems are alleviated.
Both these goals can be affected without rallies planned by those now coordinating Hindraf activities.
On the contrary, they said the rallies may actually serve to harm the chances of the five's release.
"What I know from my husband, the struggle was different in the beginning and it seems to have taken a different turn at the present moment. I was not involved in Hindraf at all so I cannot comment on what their principles were," said Kalaivani.
"(But) from what we see in the present leadership, we’re not very comfortable with it," she added.
Citing plans by Hindraf to gather 10,000 people at Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Hari Raya open house later next month, she said this would serve as a form of ‘intimidation’ rather than anything else.
Asked if her husband insisted on supporting the movement along such lines in the even he is released, Kalaivani said she would not support him.
"I feel that there are a lot of ways to help the community. You would have to ask my husband, but ... I would not support him if this is how the struggle is going to be.
"I personally feel there is a lot of other ways to continue helping the community, and this we would definitely do.
"If fact, I might even join him to do it together (if he chooses other means of helping the Indian community)," she said.
Samy Vellu's efforts appreciated
During the press conference, the wives also recorded their appreciation for MIC president S Samy Vellu and other quarters who are pushing for the five's release.
Commenting on the statements by certain quarters who questioned the "integrity and sincerity" of Samy Vellu in declaring he had met with Abdullah and sought the release of the Hindraf leaders, Kalaivani said her family’s only wish was to see her husband's return.
"I'm sure it’s the same for the other detainees as well and we sincerely hope that no individuals would continue questioning the integrity of any leaders or individuals from any party or question why they are asking for the release of our husbands.
"We appreciate the efforts taken by anybody to secure the release of our husbands, and we sincerely hope that the prime minister, the Deputy Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak) and the Home Minister (Syed Hamid Albar) would seriously consider their release very soon," she said.
source: Malaysiakini.
