Have the Government gone ‘soft’ against the practice of the principle of ‘Rule of Law’?

The handling of the Hindu Right Action Force (HINDRAF) issue has been too lame, so much so that their leaders at this point of time not only able to move around and freely continue make speeches and statements, they even had the cheek to announce their intention to meet and talk to the Prime Minister of Malaysia. That drew a lot of flak by so many quarters.

Despite so much has been said in the mainstream media and speeches, more instructions and statements were issued today, against HINDRAF.

Bernama.com has the story from Johor:

December 07, 2007 21:39 PM

PM Orders Police To Closely Monitor Hindraf’s Activities

BATU PAHAT, Dec 7 (Bernama) — Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Bahawi has ordered the police to keep a close watch on Hindu Rights Action Force’s (Hindraf) activities, including its alleged links to international terrorist groups.

“I’ve asked the Inspector-General of Police (Tan Sri Musa Hassan) to monitor the group closely,” the prime minister told reporters after opening the Johor Small and Medium Enterprises Exposition here today.

Yesterday, Musa said there were signs that Hindraf had been canvassing for support and assistance from terrorist groups.

According to the IGP, besides lobbying for support from overseas and seeking assistance from terrorist groups, Hindraf had also been raising funds for its cause.

To a question, Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, said the government would know what to do if Hindraf’s actions reached dangerous levels.

On suggestions that the Internal Security Act (ISA) be invoked against Hindraf activists, Abdullah said he had to study that option before making any decision.

In KUALA KANGSAR, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the government was monitoring all Hindraf’s activities to determine whether it had received support from abroad, especially terrorist groups.

“We’re monitoring them to see whether there are such linkages,” he told reporters after presenting prizes to pupils who did well in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination here today.

Nazri said the probe would take into account statements by Hindraf leaders who had allegedly stated that they were lobbying for support from overseas.

He said the government would also look into remarks alleging that what was happening in Sri Lanka could happen in Malaysia if problems affecting the Indian community were not addressed.

In KUANTAN, Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said it was clear that in seeking support from abroad, Hindraf was undermining the country’s sovereignty.

He said Malaysia had wise leaders who were capable of resolving the country’s internal problems without having to resort to outside help.

“I consider seeking support or assistance from foreign countries as an act of desperation,” he said.

Fu also reminded the people to be wary of groups spewing lies about Malaysian leaders and the country over the Internet or the short message service (SMS).

– BERNAMA

Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also slurred against Malaysians who go abroad to structurally discredit Malaysia. In the recent HINDRAF case, he was referring to Anwar Ibrahim, P. Uthayakumar and P. Wathyamoorty. The Star reported that the Prime Minister said that people who incite violence will not be tolerated.

Anwar Ibrahim is no stranger of manipulation of facts and taking opportunistically unproductive stance, whilst abroad. Despite his earlier statement and later, a ‘damage control’ statement, he still tried to explain the rational of his actions, whilst in India.

Bernama.com reported on Anwar’s latest attempt to manipulate:

December 07, 2007 18:59 PM

 

Anwar Explains Why He Is In India     By P. Vijian NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (Bernama) — Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had been invited to attend some conferences on democracy in India and that he had only raised genuine grievances faced by minority groups in Malaysia during his current lectures. “These conferences were planned five months ago, I gave my commitment and I attended,” he told Bernama when asked what made him come to India at this time. “The lectures were about the state of democracy and I gave my honest answers.” When asked about demands from certain ethnic Indians in Malaysia, he claimed that the Malaysian government’s response had been unwise. Anwar arrived in New Delhi yesterday to present a special lecture entitled “India and Worldwide Movement for Democracy: What India Can Learn From Others and What It Has To Give”. Last Saturday he attended the Islamic Peace Conference in Mumbai. Earlier, Hindraf leader P.Wayatha Moorthy met Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani here but failed to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Malaysian lawyer also delivered a lecture on human rights at a law symposium. – BERNAMA

Anwar Ibrahim has been said to be the ‘puppet master’ behind the HINDRAF movement. It was believed that this was planned after his personal experiences during engagements with the ethnic Indian communities and humiliating defeat despite after an intense campaign in the Ijok by-election, April 2007.

So many people, are disappointed and appalled on the authorities’ lackluster attitude in the handling on the 24-25 November 2007 illegal assemblies and street demonstrations. A lot have been said, with threats by agencies such as the Police and perpetrators been charged in court, even denied bail but it still felt not enough has been done. The IGP even issued a statement that HINDRAF is linked to international terrorist groups.

HINDRAF was classified by renowned defence lawyer Zainur Zakaria and a group of Muslim lawyers, PEMBELA as traitors and extremist militants, equivalent of Al Maunah in year 2000. Despite so many laws available, people like P. Uthayakumar, P. Wathyamoorthy, V. Ganabatirau and other senior HINDRAF advocates are still walking free and making more detrimental speeches and statements. Earlier the applied that the Judicial Commissioner who reside their case to discharge himself.

This blog already referred HINDRAF as extremist militants, no different compared to Al Maunah, Kumpulan Militan Malaysia (KMM) and Communist Terrosists, two days before Zainur Zakaria and Pembela make the same classification.

Many are baffled with Government’s ‘soft and slow’ attitude, action and treatment of this episode. Yesterday, 395 NGOs conferred in Kelab Sultan Sulaiman in Kuala Lumpur to condemn actions propagated by groups like HINDRAF and urged the Government to take stern and decisive action, as provided by the law under the Constitution of the Federation of Malaysia. Even the Rulers has urged the rakyat to respect and obey the law, which exist by the choice and to protect the interests of the majority and not be manipulated by the minorities.

Former veteran politician and Cabinet Minister Tan Sri Aishah Ghani invoked today that the Government should deploy existing laws such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) against HINDRAF leaders if there were evidence for their incitement, instigation, sowing racial and religious hatred and of course, extremism militancy.

On top of all the warnings made against illegal assemblies and street demonstrations, especially if it contravene the Sect 27 of the Police Act, there is a still an event under the guise of “Festival of Rights” on Sunday, 9 December 2007. Earlier, the Bar Council was denied a Police permit for this planned demonstration but it was said that some lawyers will defy the law and do the walk.

It is about time Malaysia practice the Rule of Law, as civil society, as spoken by so many quarters, so many times.

Tun Dr. Mahathir happy with LIMA

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was happy with the progress and direction of LIMA, after 16 years and ninth series. His vision has now shown termendous results.

December 05, 2007 15:58 PM

Mahathir Delighted Over LIMA’s Progress

LANGKAWI, Dec 5 (Bernama) — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed delight over the progress shown by the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) 2007 exhibition, saying that it has become increasingly popular among those in the maritime and aerospace industries. The former prime minister said that the ninth edition of Lima currently underway here had provided more exhibition space to cater to an increase in the number of local and foreign participants. “Lima is progressing well…it seems that Lima has become a permanent biennial event for Malaysia and proven to be popular too,” he told reporters after visiting the exhibition here Wednesday. Lima 2007 kicked off yesterday with the participation of 450 well-known defence companies from about 20 countries. Its aerospace segment is being held at the Mahsuri International Exhibition and Convention Centre (MIEC) while the maritime portion takes place at the Awana Porto Malai. Dr Mahathir, who mooted the idea of organising Lima which was held for the first time on the resort island in 1991, said the event had spurred economic activities in Langkawi to the extent that all hotel rooms had been fully booked for the week. “Some of the hoteliers want Lima to be organised every week as it brings them good business,” he said in jest. Earlier, Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali were greeted by the country’s first astronaut Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Sheikh Mustapha when visiting the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry’s booth at the MIEC. The trio became the centre of attention as many visitors whipped out their cameras to capture the moment. – BERNAMA

Raja Munirah family appeals for help within 10 days

The family of Raja Munirah Raja Iskandar Shah, the Malaysian citizen who would be appealing in a Japanese Court soon for a seven year sentence for trafficking ‘Syabu’, is appealing for the kindness of Malaysians everywhere, to help fund the appeal procedure within the next ten days.

According to his father Raja Iskandar Shah Raja Abdul Aziz, RM 20,000.00 is required for the legal cost of the appeal. The family has depleted all savings, for the legal process all these while.

All donations could be directly channeled to his wife’s Bank Rakyat account 220591222126. All queries could be made to the number 0172672610 (Raja Iskandar).

Raja Munirah was a communications student, is now serving a seven year jail sentence for pleading guilty on 20 December 2006, to the charge of attempting to smuggle ‘Syabu’ into Japan. She was adduced my an Iranian by the name of Milad, for carrying the bag containing Syabu for him and promised a job at a Japanese travel agency.

The court did not accept a digital forensic report on the all the sms messages between Raja Munirah and Milad.