Sothinathan returns as veep

Sothinathan returns as veep

Sothinathan returns as veep

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

 MALACCA: IN one of the most closely contested elections  in MIC history, former party vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan made a remarkable comeback to  politics as he, incumbent Datuk M. Saravanan and Johor Baru MIC chief Datuk S. Balakrishnan won the three vice-presidential posts.

The official announcement of the winners was supposed to have been on Saturday night but due to discrepancies, it was only done yesterday.

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, in announcing the winners, dismissed claims of foul play in the counting of votes.

He attributed miscommunication and fatigue among volunteer vote-counters as the reason behind the delay.

"We had to bring in independent lawyers, comprising the party's election committee members, Datuk V. Sivan Paramjothy and M. Selvamookan, to recount the ballots."

The votes were tallied twice and finally ended at 5.30am yesterday.

The keen contest this time saw only one vote separating Sothinathan and Saravanan.

Sothinathan, the former natural resources and environment deputy minister, polled 717 votes.

In the 2009 party polls, the former Teluk Kemang member of parliament went for the deputy president's post against Palanivel and former deputy president Tan Sri S. Subramaniam.

He lost his bid then and was cast into political wilderness. His political comeback began when he was appointed to the MIC central working committee in July.

He said he did not rely on text messages or other mass communication mediums during campaigning, choosing to meet delegates personally.

"I was confident in this approach as I knew they trusted me."

Saravanan, the youth and sports deputy minister, received 716 votes, which were fewer than the 1,030 he garnered in 2009.

Balakrishnan, received 683 votes, rallying back from his fourth place finish in 2009, where he received 471 votes.

"I have stressed time and again that I am confident in winning this post. This is because of the immense work I have done for the party and the Indian community."

Saravanan said the single vote difference with Sothinathan did not matter.

"The important thing is we work together in the party as one to address the plight of the community."

The three vice-presidents will serve in the party's policy-making body for the 2013-2016 term.

Party treasurer-general Datuk Jaspal Singh failed to make the cut when he garnered 670 votes to emerge fourth.

Former vice-president Datuk S.K. Devamany was the biggest casualty when he failed to defend the post he won in 2009.

He came in seventh among eight candidates, securing only 332 votes. In the 2009 party polls, the Perak assembly Speaker received 1,122 votes to secure second spot in the party vice-presidency line-up.

As for others in the fray, former Youth chiefs Datuk S.A. Vigneswaran and Datuk T. Mohan received 573 and 530 votes respectively, while Bukit Bintang division deputy chief James Selvaraja received a mere 52 votes.

This is the first MIC election held under the leadership Palanivel and his deputy, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, were returned earlier unopposed.

The MIC Youth chief contest saw C. Sivarraajh beat V. Mugilan, while the Wanita wing saw Mohana Muniandy triumph over M. Vickneswari, in the two wings' elections two weeks ago. Additional reporting by Sukhbir Cheema and Kelly Koh

(From left) Datuk S. Sothinathan, Datuk S. Balakrishnan and Datuk M. Saravanan celebrating their victories in being elected to the three MIC vice-presidential posts yesterday. Pic by Yazit Razali

'Loss of 3 kids test of faith for us'

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

02 December 2013| last updated at 11:47PM

 IT was a weekend of tears and anguish for cleaners Rosdi Rani, 38, and Siti Aisyah Arifin, 40.

When their three daughters failed to return home on Friday night, they began a frantic search, lodging a police report at 2am the next day.

Almost 14 hours later, the body of the eldest of the three girls, Noor Syafikah Nadia, 14, was found in an abandoned padi field in Kampung Alor Senibong, Tajar, clad in her underwear.

Even as they were coming to terms with her death and praying for the return of their other two daughters, the couple received the devastating news that Nur Izzati Husna, 12, and Puteri Nurul Akma, 3, were found dead in an irrigation canal near Padang Petani, Langgar, 2.5km away.

The news came when Rosdi and Siti Aisyah were at Syafikah's funeral at the Masjid Assalam Alor Semela Muslim cemetery.

"This is a heavy test of faith for my wife and I. I accept their loss although I do not know how I am supposed to continue living without them," said Rosdi, 38.

Rosdi, from Kuala Besut, Terengganu, had uprooted his family back to his wife's hometown to start a new life two years ago.

A post-mortem on Syafikah revealed that she had drowned, but police have classified the case as murder. The pathologist had ruled out that she had been sexually assaulted. There were also no sign of bruises to suggest that she had put up a fight against her attacker.

State police chief Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said police believed the sisters' deaths was murder.

"This is based on the way the bodies were found and the locations. We believe there are elements of foul play and we will investigate the case as murder until it is proven otherwise," he said at the place where the bodies of the two younger sisters were found.

Ahmad said police found a T-shirt and a pair of pants, both believed to be Syafikah's, not far from where her body was found and were waiting for her parents to identify them.

The sisters' deaths were shrouded in mystery as Nor Atirah Abdul Malik, 12, the friend of Syafikah and Izzati, whom they were supposed to visit when they left home about 7.30pm on Friday, was not expecting them.

It turned out that Atirah and her family were away in Pokok Sena that evening. A cousin of the sisters spotted them two hours later at a coffee shop in the village.

The Honda Wave motorcycle, which the sisters were travelling on, was found abandoned in front of SK Gelam the next day, 11km away from where Syafikah's body was found.

Police are banking on the post-mortem examination of the two younger sisters, scheduled for today at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, to provide them more clues in their investigation. Additional reporting by Teoh Pei Ying

 

'BN sees to Indian needs'

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

02 December 2013| last updated at 12:01AM
By B. SURESH RAM AND CARISMA KAPOOR | news@nst.com.my

 MALACCA: BARISAN NASIONAL will continue to develop and pay attention to Indians,  said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said the ruling coalition's policies were fair by ensuring that distribution of wealth and opportunities were enjoyed by all.

Speaking at the opening of the 67th MIC Annual General Assembly here yesterday, Najib said this ensured that all communities, whether majority or minority, would have a better future under BN.

"This is what I have been looking into over the last 41/2 years, to improve the position of the Indians. After the 2008 general election, there were indications that the Indian community needed more attention from BN."

Najib said an example of BN's efforts was the national average grade (GPN) of Tamil schools, which had improved to 2.31 points in 2013 compared with 2.58 in 2010. The GPN of Tamil schools, he noted, was only 0.04 points away from those of national schools. (A lower GPN score denotes better performance.)

"This is proof that our work to improve education has borne fruit. But it is also a continuous effort. In a competitive world, quotas are not a guarantee but through better performance, it is possible," he said, adding that this was to ensure that good students were produced.

Addressing some 3,000 delegates, party members and guests, Najib offered the Tamil phrase "Unggal Ellarkum Kaalai Vanakam" (Good morning) in his opening remarks.

Present were Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, former MIC president and Malaysia's Special Envoy (Infrastructure) to India and South Asia, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and leaders of other BN parties.

Najib acknowledged that Indian support for BN had improved but there was more to be done.

He also denied claims that the 2014 Budget only allocated 0.08 per cent from its RM264 billion total to Indians, citing other allocations, such as for housing.

Najib also called on MIC to prove its worth to Indians by being more approachable, going down to the ground and listening to the people's grouses.

"Show the results of what you've done for the community. If we are sincere and nambekai (trustworthy), there is no reason the community won't trust us."

He said MIC's leaders should become tools of Indians by serving and assisting them. He said once the community was happy with the services, MIC and BN could flourish together.

"I wish to look forward, not back. We should not offer mere rhetoric but substance and meat."

Najib said next year's budget had shown that the BN government had done more for Indians than the opposition.

"We deliver, we don't just promise."

Najib said many Tamil schools did not receive funding because of the lack of school boards, which made it difficult for funds to be channelled.

"Most Tamil schools argue among themselves about who should receive the contract, but this has to be changed.

"We must move forward and be willing to transform. We cannot allow Indians to settle in the old economy as I would like to see them in the new."

The two-day assembly kicked off on Saturday with elections for three vice-presidential posts and 23 seats in the central working committee, the party's decision-making body.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (centre) with the MIC leadership and Malacca leaders at the 67th MIC Annual General Assembly yesterday. Pic by Mohd Khairul Helmy

'Siti Aishah to decide her return'

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

SEPANG: THE family of Siti Aishah Abdul Wahab will not push for her return to Malaysia,   leaving  that decision    to  her.

Her sister, Kamar Mahtum, 73, who arrived here after an emotional reunion in London on Thursday night, said she would not make further attempts to convince the latter to return.

"At least, I know she is well and I have expressed the family's grievances to her.

"That was the most important thing," said Kamar Mahtum, who was choked with emotion when met by the press yesterday, upon her arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after a 14-hour flight from London.

On her reunion with Siti Aishah, she said: "It took a while (for the reality of meeting Siti Aishah) to sink in because the first few minutes were taken up by wailing, hugging and crying."

Kamar Mahtum maintained that her younger sister, reportedly an estranged Maoist activist freed from her "captors" in South London in October, was never enslaved, but had been well taken care of by friends and comrades.

"It is not as though she never wanted to return (to Malaysia), but it is more like no one pressed hard enough for her return, and she was comfortable there.

"But, I have told her how much the family misses her."

Siti Aishah, 69, and two women, believed to be Josephine Herivel, 57, from Northern Ireland, and Prem Davies, 30, were released last month after the Freedom Charity received a call from one of the women saying they had been held against their will for 30 years.

Kamar Mahtum said Siti Aishah was not keen on returning immediately, but had promised to meet with the family next year after her "work was done".

Siti Aishah told her sister that she was still driven by her political cause and felt compelled to resolve some issues.

However, Siti Aishah has intention to return to Malaysia in nine months' time, the estimated duration for the British authorities to conduct investigations into the accusations against her "captors".

Kamar Mahtum said despite reports of her sister's condition, Siti Aishah was in good spirits and looked forward to reuniting with the family, despite having lost contact with them for 40 years.

Kamar Mahtum reunited with Siti Aishah during a 40-minute meeting at a secret location in London, made possible with the help of British police and the Malaysian High Commission there.

The reunion ended with Siti Aishah writing a note for her family that was handed to her sister.

Kamar Mahtum, a former teacher, was accompanied by activist Hishamuddin Rais during the visit.

She said she was grateful to be given the chance to meet her long-lost sister.

She was also relieved that Siti Aishah appeared to be in good health, contrary to reports that her condition was deteriorating, with some suggesting she was wheelchair-bound.

"I was worried about her, but she is in the pink of health. She is even fatter than me," Kamar Mahtum said, adding that her sister was under police protection.

She thanked the Malaysian High Commission for assistance while she was in London.

Siti Aishah Abdul Wahab's eldest sister, Hasnah (right), is embraced by a family member as Kamar Mahtum recounts the reunion with their long-lost sister at their house in Jelebu, Negri Sembilan, yesterday. Pic by Iqmal Haqim Rosman

Ooi 'sorry' for insulting MPPP

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

02 December 2013| last updated at 11:41PM
By PHUAH KEN LIN AND PREDEEP NAMBIAR | news@nst.com.my

 GEORGE TOWN: JELUTONG member of parliament Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun  finally apologised for labelling low-ranking Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) workers as kucing kurap.

His apology, however, smacked of arrogance, as he made it after being reprimanded from DAP chairman Karpal Singh and secretary-general Lim Guan Eng at the state DAP convention here yesterday.

He told the 1,000 people present at the convention-cum-state party election that he was apologising for the sake of the party's top leader.

"No one can ask me to apologise other than the Tiger of Jelutong, Karpal Singh.

"I will not apologise or retract my comments, but in this case, whatever the Tiger wants me to do, I will do it.

"I would like to apologise to those who were hurt by my comments and I sincerely apologise if it has hurt anyone," Ooi said, to both thunderous applause and boos, especially from the back of the hall of the Georgetown City Hotel here.

Karpal had, in a speech earlier, ticked off Ooi for his derogatory remark, an expression which means low-life in Bahasa Malaysia.

He threatened to direct the DAP central executive committee to force Ooi to apologise or face disciplinary action.

At one point, Ooi jumped off his seat and rushed to the stage immediately after Karpal finished his speech.

He then hugged Karpal.

Ooi was noticeably alone during the convention, as other delegates seemed to stay away from him.

He appeared stoic even as he sat in the middle of the hall, with both seats on his immediate left and right sides empty.

Lim also made his unhappiness known to Ooi by urging the latter to heed Karpal's intructions and respect the party's decision.

Ooi later told reporters he was adamant that MPPP should be cleansed of "Little Napoleons", whom he had earlier claimed led to inefficiencies in the local authority.

He said he was happy to have brought up the matter, as he had wanted the council's president and departmental heads to be made more accountable.

He urged for elections of local authorities to be re-introduced at the MPPP and Seberang Prai Municipal Council for councilors to better represent the people.

"The recent episode has made me more determined to push for reforms.

"The Little Napoleons must be weeded out to reform the two councils."

A solemn-looking and composed looking Jeff Ooi who is Jelutong Member of Parliment, sitting alone during the state DAP ordinary convention at Georgetown City Hotel in Penang yesterday. Pic by Asman Ibrahim

Robber killed in shoot-out

Posted: 01 Dec 2013 08:01 AM PST

02 December 2013| last updated at 11:39PM
By KALBANA PERIMBANAYAGAM | news@nst.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: POLICE shot dead a robber and wounded another after the duo and an accomplice broke into a double-storey house in Persiaran Syed Putra yesterday.

The accomplice, however, escaped in the 4.30am incident.

City Criminal Investigation Department deputy chief Assistant Commissioner Khairi Ahrasa said the trio had tied up the houseowner Lim Teik Ee, 60, his wife and their daughter and they ransacked the house.

"The robbers, however, did not realise there was a fourth person in the house -- Lim's 20-year-old son. The son alerted the police."

Two patrol teams arrived at the scene followed by a CID response team.

"The policemen noticed the suspects were armed.

"One of the suspects held Lim at gunpoint, forcing him to open the automated-gate."

When the robbers came out of the house and were about to get into a black BMW, they saw the police and opened fire.

"Identifying themselves, the police ordered them to cease fire and surrender. However, the shooting became intensified."

He said one of the robbers, aged 33, was shot in the head and died at the hospital.

His accomplice, 22, suffered injuries to the chest and stomach. The third managed to flee.

"Police have launched a manhunt for the third suspect and are combing the area for him."

Khairi said checks revealed the 33-year-old suspect had seven previous convictions for theft and drug related offences.

Police seized a Walther 9mm pistol from one of the suspects.

"We believe there might be more than just one firearm used by the suspects and the third accomplice might be armed."

Forensics policemen inspecting the robbers' car outside the double-storey house in Persiaran Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur, early yesterday. Pic by Kamarul Izzat Rahim