By Thomas Bell in Kuala Lumpur
Telegraph, UK
Last Updated: 5:13pm GMT 23/01/2008
Hindus in Malaysia mortified their flesh with hooks and spears as they delivered a protest against the government which has imprisoned their popular leaders without charge.
With elections in the multi-racial country expected within weeks, ethnic grievances pose a mounting threat to the party that has governed for all of the 50 years since independence.
The annual festival of Thaipusam is big event for Malaysia’s two million ethnic Indians, who make up 7 per cent of the population.
Devotees hang limes and pots of milk from hooks in the flesh of their backs, and pierce their faces with spears, to thank the god Murugan for good fortune or ask him to grant their wishes.
This year the festival was marked by boycotts and hunger strikes.
Indians, who are the poorest of Malaysia’s communities, are angry at government policies that give ethnic Malay Muslims – or “sons of the soil” – preferential access to jobs, loans, education and housing.
Malays make up about 60 per cent of the population and there is also a large Chinese community.
A series of temple demolitions in recent years, and a new policy of refusing visas to temple musicians and sculptors from India, has further angered Hindus.
In November a peaceful rally of about 20 000 Indians was dispersed with tear gas and a water cannon.
The five organisers have been held without charge ever since.
The government says the measures were necessary to avoid ethnic conflict. “I think the government are shaken by it,” said Dr Jeyakumar, who will stand against Samy Vellu, the only Indian cabinet minister and a key government supporter, in the election.
In an attempt to assuage the anger, the government this week bowed to decades old demands and made Thaipusam a national holiday.
But devotees stayed away from the country’s most important temple, accusing its management committee – which is linked to Samy Vellu’s party – of helping to crush November’s protest.
Normally hundreds of thousands pack the Batu Caves complex on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, but this year the crowds were thin.
Television news was forced to resort to footage of last year’s event.
“The crowd is the usual crowd. I have come to Thaipusam for 60 years … I am very, very happy,” insisted Mr Vellu.
At the Hindu temple in Ipoh, 120 miles from the capital, opposition leaders launched a hunger strike in solidarity with the five men in jail and made political speeches.
Noisy Tamil music played nearby as devotees in trances, hooks hanging from their backs, staggered towards the shrine.
Such rallies are illegal but a small group of riot police watched from the back and videoed the event without intervening, apparently for fear of inflaming sentiments at a religious occasion.
“This is the year of Indian political awakening,” declared Lim Kit Siang, the leader of the tiny parliamentary opposition.
“The Indians will be king makers in the general election.”
According to him, Indians —who used to be a reliable vote bank for the government- are over 10pc of the electorate in more than 50 parliamentary seats.
But although Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi says he is braced for losses in the election, his government is almost certain to win.
And Dr Jeyakumar is pessimistic of his own chances of entering parliament.
The opposition, he says, is fractured along ethnic lines and vote buying is rife.
“And we believe the election commission have a mandate to make sure most of the ministers win,” he added.
if the chinese have little hope, the indian have none with these HP6 ministers, samy and racist govt in power
I was in Batu Caves Yesterday around 5.00 PM….agree with this article…Crowd was not like previous years.Vey easy to find parking at industrial area.Normally will be very far from Temple.
Whatever Samy Velu or Nadarajah says is not true…People go to other temple to get blessing.They are not against Temple but against the mismanagement
DO YOU KNOW?…
The income for Batu Caves? Can anyone give the correct information?
Following is not a complete list but something for us to be aware?
Minimum Estimates on INCOME FOR ONE THAIPUSAM!
a) The cost for Booths & Tents Average price @RM10k(5days) for 250 outlets = RM2,500,000.00
b) MILK-Kudam @RM10.00 for (+/-)10,000 devotees = RM100,000.00
c) Kavadi @ RM20.00? @ (+/-)3,000 devotees = RM60,000.00
d) Arrachana @RM3.00 est. 120,000 devotees = RM360,000.00
e) Hundil collection @ RM4.00 (est.) 500,000 devotees = RM2,000,000.00 (actual could be more).
f) Allocation from Tourist Ministry = RM100,000.00.
g) Donation collected from devotees @ RM10.00 est. for 10,000 devotees=RM100,000.00
TOTAL ESTIMATED MINIMUM MONEY COLLECTED BY NADARAJA FOR ONE THAIPUSAM =RM5,220.000.00 (WHAT A KIND CONTRIBUTION FROM HINDUS.!!!)
AND HOW DO THEY THANK US.!!! ‘ON 25/11/07 THEY HAD THE GUTS TO CLOSE THE GATE & ENTRAP FELLOW HINDUS THAN CALL FRU AND ATTACK THEM ON 25/11/07. SOME WERE JAILED & CHARGED IN COURT.’ WHY DOES NADARAJA THINK SO LOW OF INDIANS!
BOYCOTT BATU CAVES FOR 2008 THAIPUSAM. PRAY AT ANY OTHER TEMPLE FOR THIS ONE YEAR. WE NEED TO REPLACE NADARAJA. IT IS SAID THAT HE IS THE SON OF DATO SAMY’S FATHER’s BROTHER. LOOK AT THEIR NETWORK!!
MAKKAL SHAKTHI. – Forward to all.
Sorry ,,,,forgot to add: Archanai was RM5.00 not RM3.00
This news is true. I went to Batu Caves but the crowd and stalls are 50% less than years before. Our TV news doesn’t reflect the true picture at Batu Caves. I am impressed the way Indian stay united to fight against Samy and MIC.
finally we can see Indian-power, please do the same on coming election… un-plug the leeches that sucking your buttock all these years… :-)
Some changes have to come somehow.
This year will be the beginning of new changes for Malaysia.
What I surprises me is the way BN government manipulate stories to keep Malaysian away truth and putting Ketuanan, sitting on the top of the national constitutional to keep other races ‘checked’.
Today, it’s not only the other races ‘hurt’, the Ketuanan also felt ‘cheated’ by BN Government.
Whether it is Christianity, Buddhism, or Hinduism, it shows God is no match for the might of UMNO politics.
“In an attempt to assuage the anger, the government this week bowed to decades old demands and made Thaipusam a national holiday.”
“Television news was forced to resort to footage of last year’s event.”
_________________________________________________
The power of HINDRAF !
50% vote swing for Indian is NOT good enough. Indian’s need Anwar to attack Badawi’s Islamic credential. The Lingam Tape RCI is the key if Indian want to change it. They need Anwar to label it as unIslamic.. Its the only way.
Semi-D Value said 900k people flocked to Batu Caves. WOW!
Indian population in Msia is around 2mil? And 50% of them were in Batu Caves yesterday? And only 1000 police officers to look after them? WHat a far cry from the BErsih gathering when they hv dunno how many million police officers to take care 10000 demonstrators.
I suggest Semi-D procreate more to fill in the missing numbers!
Decades of discrimination and unfair policies implementation had done enormous damage to a multi racial and religious country.
The well informed Indians will not be easily misled this time.
Apparently Semi-Value wasn’t even at the Thapussam event in Batu Caves,and Nadarajah was supposedly had a heart attack a day before,sounds peculiar? I’d say they are afraid of the people and dare not show their face…..Its timeto wake up for all of us,Indian,Chinese,Malay,kadazan,iban and the rest,ask yourself how long do you want this corrupt politicians ruin this country and enslave us all?
This page has pictures that tells it all.
http://www.suarakeadilan.com/isi/2008/01/23/penganut-hindu-boikot-kuil-batu-caves/
I did not go to Thaipusam but one of my Chinese friend went to look at the situation, and was surprised that many of the Indians were not locals but Indians from India as they were unable to converse in Malay. Looks as as if the local Indians had actually boycotted the event and only those with vows had attended the festival due to religious commitment only. Finally the Malaysian Indians have waken up. Good for them.
How is that our newspapers are unable to estimate the strength of the crowd have to get the figures from others. In BERSIH rally they quoted IGP as saying there were 400 people. Now they quote Samy as the crowd was a staggering 950,000.
Stupid editors. If Samy says the world is flat, they will also quote him.
///Normally hundreds of thousands pack the Batu Caves complex on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, but this year the crowds were thin.
Television news was forced to resort to footage of last year’s event.
“The crowd is the usual crowd. I have come to Thaipusam for 60 years … I am very, very happy,†insisted Mr Vellu. ///
The photos appearing on the front page of ‘the Star’ and “Sin Chew’ would confirm the above report. I thought there were taken at different time of the day. But no, the Star must have used last year’s photo.
More photos at:
http://www.makkez.com/2008/01/23/crowd-for-thaipusam-at-batu-caves-deteriorated/
Well, it is true that the crowd had deteriorated badly this time! The crowds for “EVE” of Thaipusam has never been this little (refer to the pics), and on the Thaipusam day itself, everyone could walk freely without the needs of pushing each other! A lot of foods got wasted and certain shop owners ran out of business!
This deserves a place in our “Malaysia’s Book of History” …!
The Star newspaper is loosing all it’s credibility. It’s report says the crowd was much more than the past years.
The newspaper is a shame to journalism. It has become dogs of BN.
SV can lie thru his teeth that he has never seen this much crowd before. Bro..give me a break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SV hasnt seen such big crowd before? Obviously he hasnt been to Zakaria’s open house during raya.
Samy Velu today spoke the ultimate truth for once when he said yesterday:
“You make me laugh. Do you honestly think Indians are that stupid?†he asked.
HINDRAF has awakened the the Malaysian Indians’ intelligence and herein the political death of Samy Velu beigins.
Elswehere he said he will get at anyone who threatens him within 5 hours.
Four weeks ago I sent him this email and I am still waiting at my doorstep with my wife’s slipper, he is yet to show up:
http://hindraf.org/content/samy-velu-once-has-spoken-truth
Why people cannot count ah? Why people must spread untruth here?
SV said more than a million people turned up at Batu Caves yesterday. Are people saying SV tak tahu kira and bohong?
According to the Star (24.1.08):
The large number of people at these temples did not cause a fall in the numbers at Batu Caves, according to MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
Speaking to the press at Batu Caves, he said the numbers there were the same as in previous years.
He said more than a million people turned up yesterday but they came at different times. About 950,000 turned up the night before.
from the Star:
Big turnout of devotees
More than a million people turned up on Wednesday at the Batu Caves Temple in Kuala Lumpur, while the Sri Bala Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Port Klang saw the largest-ever crowd in its 160-year history with thousands of people gathering to observe Thaipusam.
WOW ONE MILLION people (mostly Indians)! Assuming that Batu caves is 50 acres, that would be one person per two square feet.
http://carcino.gen.nz/images/index.php/00b9a680/0a0b3d0c
BERNAMA carried out a report in which Samy spoke triumphantly about people showing up, ignoring the smses. People showed up, yes, but it was not because they wanted to make a statement that they support you sir, its because they have conscience and they have their personal commitments to their Gods and also due to responsibility. A word that may be alien to some people.
Bernama carried out report with the headlines ‘Call to boycott Thaipusam ignored, 1 million turn up.’ And in the article, it mentioned ‘at noon, not less than 500 000 turn up.’
That’s a blatant lie. I was there.
http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/
The Indians are no more the third largest racial group…..they have been replaced by the Indonesians…..
This propaganda By the corrupt Samy is not gonna work this time, he is then worst liar MIC has ever produced.
It is right to declare Thaipusam a public holiday in KL, but the move is costing the country hundreds of million loss in business, with the Busar Malaysia closed, banks and financial institutions closed, and other international trading houses stopping business for a day.
Perhaps, the FT Day holiday should be changed to the first Saturday of February each year, instead of Feb 1, which often falls on a weekday. In this way, we can compensate for the financial loss from the extra holiday of Thaipusam.
The King’s official birthday was changed by Tun Mahathir from the first Wednesday of June to the first Saturday of June for the same reason.
is it true the TV stations used last year footage….
wow! lame lame excuse by the gomen
Malaysia already has too many public holidays.
It has always been a complaint among foreign investors with factories to operate. Expatriate staff in banks etc work during public holidays when foreign exchange markets the world over are open though Malaysia’s closed. Those with factory operations consider the low worker productivity as a result of the many public holidays when deciding to invest in Malaysia.
So another public holiday added to the already long list of public holidays is a bad move.
Do not belittle the Indians!
Do not force and try to assimilate all Minority Groups!!
Do not give them hardship like what UMNO gives it
to the Chinese and others!!
BN is insensitive to all the Dilemma faced by all the
Minority Groups like Indians, Chinese, Ibans, Kadazans
…!!!
Ketuanan Melayu and UMNOputras think they are the
‘Kings’ and are above the laws…! They can do anything
they like to do under the sun…!!
Vote only the Opposition Parties except BN!!
This time may be the Indians are really really angry. The catalyst is essentially due to Hindraf. Now, what will happen when PM, at the eve of general election, releases all the Hindraf leaders presently under ISA detention? The Indians have already got their Thaipusam holiday. I think in desperation, the Government may just release the Hindraf leaders. Will it make a difference?
“The Indians have already got their Thaipusam holiday. I think in desperation, the Government may just release the Hindraf leaders. Will it make a difference? limkamput
It makes a difference to you because you feel Indians are a gullible lot and would vote for BN now that Thaipusam has been declared a public holiday!
Stop admonishing the Indians. They can think for themselves. They are not stupid nor gullible as you make them out to be.
Stop insulting their intelligence!
Dark Horse,
What’s the point? Half the time this limkamput doesn’t even understand what he is saying. You don’t expect him to understand what others are saying. Do you??
What bothers posters is his inability to reason and hold on to his argument without having to resort to name calling. He’s back to his usual self and that’s disturbing to those who want to debate on the issues.
Telling us in The Star does not serve any purpose. Not sure what they reported (or how the bullshit) in Tamil Nesan and Malaysian Nanban.
Big blatant lies by The Star.
Can we make a police report for public misinformation by The Star?
Can anyone here enlighten me how to put a stop to such an abuse of public domain by BN through their control on their dogs in the media?
“Big blatant lies by The Star.”
It would be an actionable tort if you could prove that you have been personally defamed by what is written. Otherwise printing incorrect and inaccurate information is not a crime.
As for filing a police report anyone could file a police report. The reason why we file a police report is to initiate police investigation. What crime has been committed in this case?
Bro Indians,
The guy has problems with numbers, figures etc proof being, look at his highway, byway, flyovers constructions, all cracking up, collapsing and what more further happenings yet to be seen.
Heard from alot of our Hindu Brothers that they are going into fasting and sacrificial mode to seek divine intervention in this coming election to overturn the tables on BN.
Hope and pray THE ALMIGHTY GOD ANSWERS THEIR PRAYERS AND SACRIFICE AND PRAY GOD FULFILLS THEIR HOPES AND INTENTIONS.
IT IS A GOOD SIGN. ONLY THE ALMIGHTY GOD CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE IN TIMES OF DESPAIR AND FRUSTRATION AND SUFFERINGS.
GOD BLESS US ALL AND FREE US FROM THIS BONDAGE
AT LEAST INDIANS HAVE GONE ONE STEP FORWARD TO VENT THEIR GRIEVANCES, GROUSES AND FRUSTRATIONS BY BOLDLY HOLDING DEMOSTRATIONS AND RALLIES DESPITE BANS FROM THE AUTHORITIES.
AND NOW THE DETAINED HINDRAF LEADERS ARE ON HUNGER STRIKE, EVEN PUTTING THEIR LIVES AT STAKE.
A SHAME AND A DISGRACE TO YOU BN INDIAN LEADERS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR THE INDIANS????????
YOU HAVE NOT EVEN GIVEN AN IOTA OF YOUR EFFORT TO FIGHT FOR US INDIANS
LEMBU PUNYA SUSU SAPI DAPAT NAMA
We can talk racism, religious fanaticism and all kind of hatred. It must be made clear that we must join force to voice out and expose massive discrimination of certain parties against the marginalized communities (not just Indians but also many other minority communities). In the process of voicing out our dissatisfaction let us don’t forget that not all Malaysians are bad. Mr. Anwar Ibrahim was once part of the ruling coalition and he acted accordingly. The Kampung Rawa Temple demolition issue in Penang some years back, is something unforgettable for many years to come and Anwar was one of those perpetrators. Now, he is opposing the very hands that once sheltered him. Fine. Unless, the combined force of the oppositions can bring about a realistic and not too ambitious election manifesto, it can never win the minority votes. I hope Mr. Anwar and Mr. Lim Kit Siang will reach a solid compromise on a firm footing to convince the voters, particularly the disgruntled Indian community, where majority of them are Tamils. WILL YOU, Sirs??
It’s time for the Indians and Chinese to make a change. We do not deserve a racist government. The Indian leaders or Barisan Nasional are useless. Do not let them influence you. The biggest culprit is Mr. Samy Vellu. He should be behind bars for all this.
Stop leting Indonesians in our country. They are bigger than the Indian community now. Is this the governments plan to have more muslims in the country?
Shame in Barisan Nasional and all indians who support them!!!
Regarding on the HINDRAF rally, it is a meaningless and a waste of time to protest against the government knowing that their act will not bear any fruits at the first place. I would suggest they stay united together to vote for right leader, not only voters from chinese and indian but also the malays.
was in oz when demo took place.Aussie friends were asking why we put up with such behaviour from the government.I was speechless and rather shameful because it was me and every one
else,well,almost everyone else who let it happen.We just sat on our arses and hoped that our so-called Mr.Clean(Haha) would keep his so-called promises.Time to right the wrong.
You’re history,bn.
let’s pray to Lord Ganesha. hoping that the DAP candidate for P76 teluk intan, can defeat the deputy trade minister. and DAP(M. Manogaran) a lawyer with DAP, promises that he will bring this HINDRAF issue to parliament if he won the seat. and he’s now in charging of the HINDRAF leader case. then, for everyone info, he’ll be an author for a interesting book in special edition. lastly, all the best for DAP, PKR and PAS.