Hindraf Rally : International spillover


Updated 30th Nov 2007, 1.13am

The leading English Language broadsheet daily newspaper in India, The Times of India has come out with an exclusive pullout covering special news, reviews, blog updates, opinion poll, videos and articles of the recent Hindraf mass rally in Malaysia.

The newspaper which has the widest circulation among all English-language broadsheets in India has the full story on increasing forcible conversions, discrimination and unfair treatment in Malaysia. You may want to read it HERE.


Original Posting

Besides the local medias, the spillover effect of the Hindraf rally continues to cover the front pages of International medias, as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has urged India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking the Union government to intervene on behalf of ethnic Indian Tamils in Malaysia seeking action to end “sufferings and bad treatment” of Tamils in Malaysia. Most of the International medias has echoed his concern. I produce you some:

The Hindu -
Karunanidhi writes to Manmohan
The Tribune - Karuna seeks PM’s help
News Today - Protect Tamils in Malaysia: MK to PM
Zee News - Karunanidhi urges PM to save Tamils in Malaysia
IBN Live - Karunanidhi urges PM to protect Tamils in Malaysia
Hindustani Times - Protect Tamils in Malaysia, Karunanidhi urges PM
The Times of India - Karunanidhi seeks help for Tamils in Malaysia
Rediff India Abroad - Karunanidhi protests ill-treatment of Tamils in Malaysia

Also check out Dinamalar's article on Karunathi's voice and a video clip from Makkal TV at RaajaRox

Meanwhile, in response to Karunanithis statement, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz has warned Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi not to interfere in Malaysian politics. Nazri said Karunanidhi should "look at his own backyard" before interfering in Malaysia’s affairs. Malaysiakni reports it here, The Star printed it here and India's leading Tamil daily, Dinamalar has the story too, in Tamil.

கருணாநிதி மீது மலேசிய மந்திரி கோபம் - சிங்கப்பூர்: எங்கள் நாட்டின் அரசியல் விவகாரங்களில் தமிழக முதல்வர் கருணாநிதி தலையிட வேண்டாம், என மலேசிய அமைச்சர் முகமது நஸ்ரி அப்துல் அஜீஸ் ஆவேசப்பட்டுள்ளார். மலேசிய தமிழர்கள் மோசமாக நடத்தப்பட்ட விவகாரத்தில் தலையிட்டு மத்திய அரசு உரிய நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்' என தமிழக முதல்வர் கருணாநிதி, பிரதமர் மன்மோகன் சிங்கிற்கு கடிதம் எழுதியிருந்தார். இது பற்றி மலேசிய அமைச்சர் முகமது நஸ்ரி அப்துல் அஜீஸ் கூறுகையில், இது மலேசியாவின் பிரச்னை. மலேசியாவின் அரசியல் விவகாரங்களில் தமிழக முதல்வர் கருணாநிதி தலையிட வேண்டாம், என்று கூறியுள்ளார்.
(Source : Dinamalar, 28 Nov 2007 11:02:00 PM)

Besides that, the Canadian Tamil and Time Magazine also printed about the plight of the Tamil community in Malaysia. Here are the links.

Tamil Canadian - Tamil Disobedience in Malaysia
Time Magazine - Facing Malaysia's Racial Issues

The United States has voiced out its comments as well. US State Department official when commenting on the crackdown of unprecedented street protests in Kuala Lumpur this month said that, "We believe citizens of any country should be allowed to peacefully assemble and express their views". T Kumar, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific advocacy director in Washington added, "It is a huge mistake for Prime Minister Abdullah to even consider using this unjust law to crack down on peaceful demonstrators".

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Hindraf Rally spillover


*Some of the comments have been updated recently

The spillover effect of the Hindraf rally on Sunday continues to cover the pages of the newspapers on 27th Novermber 2007. Malaysiakini compares the key news and views in major English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil dailies:


English newspapers

Both the Star and New Straits Times led with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s assertion that the government will not back down from the political challenges presented by Hindraf. The Star also front-paged the release of three Hindraf leaders and that the 105 protesters are still detained for participating in Sunday rally. The Sun reported yesterday’s release of three Hindraf leaders charged under the Sedition Act.

Malay newspapers

Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian led with the deputy prime minister’s dismissal of the Hindraf protest as a politically-motivated event. Berita Harian also reported Malaysian Airline’s record earnings of RM610 million net for the first nine months of the year. Utusan Malaysia also led with the release of three Hindraf leaders and 136 protesters who will be charged.

Chinese newspapers

Sin Chew Daily also reported about the release of the three Hindraf by the Klang Sessions Court. Nanyang Siang Pau highlighted that former Unico Bhd director Tan Kai Hee refused to apologise for his defamatory statement against the company's chairman Lim Guan Teik and advisor Ngan Ching Wen. Oriental Daily reported Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as saying that the government would not back down against Hindraf's rally.

Tamil newspapers

Tamil Nesan led with DPM Najib’s vote of confidence on MIC president S Samy Vellu, calling the veteran community leader as a person who continues to fight for the community. The daily also reported on the court victory of the three key Hindraf leaders. Makkal Osai had a clarification from the police that they had dispersed a gathered crowd at the Batu Caves temple on the request of the temple committee.



The politicians have voiced out their views and comments as well pertaining the cry of desperation by the rally supporters last Sunday.

Najib Tun Razak : The Barisan Nasional Government will face the “political challenges” thrown by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) group which defied the law and went ahead with its rally on Sunday. “We will meet the challenge. We will not back down from political challenges,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said when asked if the Government was pressured by the group, which alleged that Hindus in Malaysia were being marginalised.

Samy Vellu : MIC president said he was “deeply saddened but not angry” with the Hindu Rights’ Action Force (Hindraf) for organising Sunday's illegal rally. Samy Vellu said Hindraf could have taken a better approach to air its grievances and should not have accused the MIC of failing the Indian community.
Updated Read his exclusive interview with NST.

Lim Kit Siang : The government should stop their truculent and confrontational responses to the Sunday 30,000 Hindraf demonstration. If the cabinet is truly serious about addressing the long-standing grievances of the Indian Malaysian community, it should back a proposal for a parliamentary select committee. More in his blog.

S.K Devamany : K Devamany (MIC-Cameron Highlands) said the rally organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) reflected the Indian community’s disgruntlement towards certain government policies. He added the rally proved the failure of government policies which do not benefit the Indians. Devamany said even though the government promised many things to the Indians under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the community's reaction through the rally demonstrated its frustration.

Mohd Nazri : Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, commenting on Devamany's response in the Dewan Rakyat said if Devamany feels that the government has failed, the only honourable way is for him to resign from MIC. At a today's press conference at the Parliament lobby, he said Devamany is scheduled to meet Najib, who is the Barisan Nasional (BN) chief whip, on Thursday for breaking ranks over the rally.

Updated Johari Baharom : Hindraf manipulated innocent Indian Malaysians to further the interests of certain quarters. We must see what had attracted thousands of Indians to gather on Sunday. They were there because they were given false hopes by the organisers.

Updated Abdullah Badawi : The Government will use the Internal Security Act (ISA) against street demonstrators who threaten national security and disrupt racial harmony if necessary, warned the Prime Minister. Abdullah said using the law, which allows for detention without trial, would be preventive action to spare the country untoward incidents that could affect its peace and national security.

Updated Dr Toh Kin Woon : Penang state executive councillor for economic planning, education, and human resources development, science, technology and innovation declared that he "disagreed with the country's leaders" on the issue. In his letter to Malaysiakini, he said instead of condemning, one would have thought and hoped that they should have been more concerned over the grievances, frustrations and disappointments that have brought so many thousands to the streets in the first place and to seek fair and just solutions to them.

Updated M.Kulasegaran : A revolving fund of RM1 billion should be set up to uplift the economic well being of the Indian Malaysian community, said M Kulasegaran, the DAP parliamentarian for Ipoh Barat. He also was of the view that the government must set up a department, headed by a minister, to deal with minority issues. Explaining that the protest on Sunday was evidence of the Indian community's anger, Kulasegaran said: "Even Barisan Nasional ministers, the New Straits Times and Suhakam are saying that the Indians are marginalised. They have urged the government to wake up.



..did i missed anyone? Hope not. Well, here I share some of the views from relevant NGOs. Check out what they have in their mind.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s Dr. Kumar has written a well thought critics of the rally saying this local fight-backs must continue whenever any community is faced with bullying by developers or government. But national level mobilization should be of all ordinary Malaysians (from all races) and not of Indians only! Perhaps, you may want to read the full comment at Malik Imtiaz's Disquiet.

Updated Malaysia Hindu Sangam said the authorities must listen to the grievances aired by some 30,000 Indian Malaysians who participated in Sunday’s rally. Describing it as a “wake up call for all Malaysians”, the influential Hindu umbrella body saud the government must stop “festering wounds” within the Indian community from becoming worse. Its president, A. Vaithilingam said t is clear that there are tens of thousands of Indians in Malaysia who feel the government is not protecting their best interests.

Updated Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Prof Khoo Kay said that the Indian community is not doing so well compared to other races in this country. I believe that the rally was well-intended unlike the many accusations that the rally was racially-driven. According to Khoo, the rally provided a clear picture of how the Indian community has suffered prolonged marginalisation before and after the country achieved independence from the British.

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HINDRAF Rally : More in pictures & news

Now let the pictures do some talking.

Boys in blue getting ready

Part of the crowd walking towards KLCC

People are being attacked with tear gas

and chemical-laced waters by FRU


Check out more of the pictures here, here and here.

And, here are the videos of Hindraf Rally from Youtube, CNN, and Al-Jazeera

Let's see what the medias have in their hands for today.

Reports on Hindarf Rally in local medias : Check out Malaysiakini here, here, here, here, and here. The Star has it here and here and check out here for NST. The Sun reports here and here. Utusan Malaysia has the news here. Also click on Berita Harian and Metro.

What did the world read? Here are some of the the reports from International medias : CNN reports here and check out for Al-Jazeera here and here. Associated Press talks here. Channel News Asia of Singapore has the stories too.


Updates :

Harakah Daily,
Asia Sentinel, BBC, Reuters,
Agence France-Presse
Malaysiakini has more stories here and here.
Watch the video clip of Hindraf Rally report with YB S.K Devamany here.

YB Devamany said the government's policies have failed the Indian community.
Malaysiakini reports it here

More video updates at Bolehland
More pictures of the Rally at Raajarox

Another round of snaps of the rally.

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The world looked down as people stood tall


Massive police lockdown and roadblocks all over the country as early as three days ahead the rally;


Stern warnings were issued repeatedly by MIC president, Dato' Seri Samy Vellu to Malaysian Indians not to attend the rally;

Prime Minister has said it earlier during UMNO general assembly held on Deepavali, "Saya pantang dicabar!";

The boys in blue have made it much clearer and louder by obtaining a court order;

Buses carrying thousands of rally participants were turned back home at various roadblocks set up by the police;

All the major roads in KL leading towards British Embassy was completely closed down for traffic hours before the rally;

Public transport services were interrupted and LRT did not to stop at KLCC and Ampang Stations on Sunday morning;

More than 4000 police officers and FRU guarding Kualal Lumpur day and night to hack the rally down;

Canistors and water cannons were made stand by and ready to shoot anytime needed;

Law extends its arm with arrest warnings on any Hindraf supporters who attends the rally;

And again, Police IGP issued the last warning a few hours before the rally.



And yet, for the first time ever, the world looked down the towers as 30,000 people stood tall at the bottom of KLCC supporting Hindarf's call to attend the rally on Sunday. An estimated 10,000 gathered along Jalan Ampang, near Hotel Maya, with a further 5,000 on Jalan P Ramlee just before Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) to join the rally.


Tear gas and chemical-laced water were fired on Hindraf supporters who defied police orders to disperse from the banned rally for nearly six hours. Musa said no tear gas or water cannons were used at the demonstrators during the incident at Batu Caves temple compound. But, some of the photos have proved him wrong. You may see it for yourself. Besides that, Police used water cannons on the crowd who had gathered near the iconic Petronas Twin Towers but the protestors refused to budge while some threw the tear-gas canisters back. Haris Ibrahim, a member of the Bar Council monitoring team led by Edmund Bon, was stunned by the heavy-handed police action against the protesters. On the other hand, a police officer on duty got injured as he was attacked on head with stones and broken bottles during the rally. He is also suffering from bruises on his arms, shoulders and legs.

As expected, the local medias, Both NST and The Star printed it as defiance! Malaysiakini reported that like Gandhi, the Hindraf supporters were out to show mass civil disobedience and it was prominently shown by a crowd of almost 5,000 near the Hotel Maya at Jalan Ampang. Meanwhile, in some instances the police appeared to exercise their duties with obvious signs of restraint, when compared to the many past brutal crackdowns on public dissent. CNN and Al-Jazeera gave a live update of the event giving a chance for the world to observe themselves of what happened under the shadow of twin towers.


This rally is a loud wake up call for the government and MIC that the marginalised Indian in this country are really upset with its policies. Over the last 50 years Indian have been marginalised and felt neglectedin this country. And they now want the same rights as enjoyed by other communities. Hindraf legal advisor P Uthayakumar, has declared the movement’s rally “a success” despite not being able to hand a petition to the British High Commission. He said the petition would be delivered to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in London instead.


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MIUP : New political pary launched


Newly formed Indian-based party, the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), vowed to support the Barisan Nasional-led government, believing that by doing so, opportunity to elevate the social status of the Indian community would be better. The party's launching ceremony was held yesterday afternoon at Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur after Nalla has announced the formation of the party a month ago.


Around 700 supporters witnessed the party launching by its president, Nallakaruppan. In his opening speech, he mentioned that, MIUP was formed as there is still space for another Indian based political party to exist in Malaysia and he was sure MIUP would feel the vacum with great success.. Nalla explained the scenario of Malaysian Indian who are still lagging behind in many ways and stressed that Indians have a very poor political knowledge of where they have failed to obtain their rights in proper ways. Thus, he said, MIUP will be creating the political awareness among the Indian community and vowed to help them at its own way and style. He assures the party will play its role in a very effective way in bringing up the Indians in Malaysia using a fresh approach in a quick way. The crowd cheered loudly as Dato Nalla said his way will be very unique indeed, quoting the punch dialogue of Tamil Superstar Rajnikanth in the movie Padayappa. He expect others to not interfere in his way of doing the necessary help for the community as the party's main aim is to help Indians and not to play politics. Nallakaruppan was also quick to stress that there was no intention of discrediting the much-established Indian-based party MIC. Nallakaruppan said that MIC should continue with their agenda and that the MIUP will also concentrate on its mission though the latter might have different approaches to issues.


The party supporters were made clear of the stand of MIUP where the party will not go against BN, and will continuously support the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime minister. MIUP will extend its arm to support whatever policies done by Barisan Nasional. Yet, MIUP will not join with any other parties and will function as a stand alone entity in Malaysian politics. But, Dato' Nalla cleared that his party willing to accept other parties interested to merge themselves with MIUP in the future. He also said that his party would be first launching plans to establish an independent Tamil secondary soon. According to him, his party has started the ground work for the effort and its 10,000 supporters are standing with him in making it real. After the party president's speech, Nalla introduced his 11 leaders on stage while all of them shouting, "Kita sokong Barisan Nasional". Then, Dato Nalla and Datin M.Vijayakumari received their membership cards and it was also mentioned during the ceremony that the party logo and colour concept was designed by Datin M.Vijayakumari.


Before the ceremony ends, Dato Nalla thanked all the supporters and expressed his disappointment as more of his supporters from other states were sent back during the police lock downs to prevent Hindraf Rally. He further promise that MIUP believes in transparency and will uphold the open policy in political arena.


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Hindraf Rally : Al-Jazeera Live coverage


Here's the live update by Al-Jazeera during the Hindraf Rally this morning. I was only managed to catch the scenario of the rally towards the end. Pockets of Indians were seen all around KL after the rally over around 2.00pm.


I'll be leaving KL in a while with more updates of the official launching of Malaysian Indian United party (MIUP) held at Hotel Istana, Kuala Lumpur at 2.30pm. The party president Dato' Nalla revealed the crucial need for another Indian base political party in this country. More updates later.

Meanwhile if you guys have any snaps of Hindraf Rally, please email them to me. I'll share some of the beautiful and ugly ones here. Thanks.

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