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NEWS
EVENTS
Syarahan Umum
CLASSIFIEDS
Seeking clarification from a young Hindraf member, I asked him if the issues were mainly about compensation and constitutional rights, as widely reported. He said by and large, the destruction of Hindu temples is the core issue, everything else is complementary. He added that when such temple demolition is being seen as desecration, the issue takes on another dimension. According to him, in 2006 alone, about 70 temples were brought down. It comes to an average of five to six temples a month. He said that Hindraf members are aware of the statistics and are ready to remobilise on short notice. I reminded him of 1969 when people ran amok and racial strife ensued. I told him the government at that time misread this and allowed people their constitutional right to assemble. When violence erupted and Malaysians at large faced the specter of the amok, it was too late. In essence, the constitutional rights of a few jeopardised the freedom and safety of many. There was no religious factor in the equation then. Subsequent governments faced the delicate balancing act of pleasing a myriad of cultures and religions, managing to keep the peace so far, which is an amazing feat by any standards. With the Article 11 road shows recently, the government micro-managed this to avoid the specter. Although constitutional rights were compromised in the process, the safety of the masses were ensured. I remember one Malay minister who said, "It is not for no reason that the word amok comes from the Malay community." I thought the minister's self-critique was misplaced but I am certain he was managing the balance even when he bandied the Internal Security Act then, as he is doing now. I told the Hindraf member that history has shown religions to be impetus to actions, sometimes detrimental ones. I told him destruction of temples, churches and even mosques, pales in comparison when the safety and well-being of our children are at stake. Therefore defending religion in the public domain should not even be considered if the response is likely to result in anarchy. I told him to look at religious and cultural oppression in other parts of the world and he will realise that the safety and well-being of our children is paramount, everything else is complementary.
ADVE
Commission: Act against Dr M, five others The royal commission's key findings Litigants should now 'seek review of Lingam cases' Hindraf chief's passport 'revoked' Gov't slammed for passport cancellation Passport cancellation: 'Gov't owes an explanation' Half-a-mil gone in 44 days, residents turn to ACA Cop admits Tian could not have breached police cordon Ex -commando trainer defends 'robust' methods Uthayakumar given medical treatment 10 times
COLUMNS
After Nargis, security dilemma Harassing Haris and snuffing candles Alas, the mainstream media sloth awake Keep hunting 'dem rats Cyclones Nargis and Najib The power paradigm Sedition Act or Sedation Act? Umno must go! DAP, a mirror version of MCA + MIC? Is saying 'swine' seditious?
OPINIONS
Food riots coming to the US Hybrid rice not the answer for M'sia Time for the daring questions Sultan Azlan Shah,
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Diy D
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/75472
In
seeking
clarification
from
a
young
Hindraf
(Hindu
Rights
Action
Force)
member,
I
asked
him
if
the
issues
were
mainly
about
compensation
and
constitutional
rights,
as
widely
reported.
He
said
by
and
large,
the
destruction
of
Hindu
temples
is
the
core
issue,
everything
else
is
complementary.
He
added
that
when
temple
demolitions
are
seen
as
desecration,
the
issue
takes
on
another
dimension.
According
to
him,
in
2006
alone,
about
70
temples
were
brought
down.
It
comes
to
an
average
of
five
to
six
temples
a
month.
He
said
that
Hindraf
members
are
aware
of
the
statistics
and
are
ready
to
remobilize
on
short
notice.
I
reminded
him
of
1969
when
people
ran
amok
and
racial
strife
ensued.
I
told
him
the
government
of
the
day
misread
the
tealeaves
and
allowed
people
their
constitutional
right
to
assemble.
When
violence
erupted
and
Malaysians
at
large
faced
the
specter
of
the
amok
it
was
too
late.
In
essence,
the
constitutional
rights
of
a
few
jeopardized
the
freedom
and
safety
of
many.
continued
I pointed out that there was no religious factor in the equation then and that subsequent governments faced the delicate balancing act of pleasing a myriad of cultures and religions, managing to keep the peace so far, which is an amazing feat by any standards and with the Article 11 road shows, the government had to micro-manage the religious factor to avoid the specter and although constitutional rights were compromised in the process, the safety of the masses in general were ensured. I pointed out that a Malay minister said, "It is not for no reason that the word amok comes from the Malay community and that although the minister's self- critique was misplaced I am certain he was managing the balance even when he bandied the Internal Security Act then, as he is doing now. I told the Hindraf member that history has shown that religions have an impetus to actions, sometimes detrimental ones. I told him that destruction of temples, churches and even mosques, pales in comparison when the safety and wellbeing of our children are at stake. Therefore, defending religion in the public domain should not even be considered if the response is likely to result in anarchy. I told him to look at religious and cultural oppression in other parts of the world and he will realize that the safety and wellbeing of our children is paramount, everything else is complementary. Words Tommy Peters