Najib expresses loyalty to Pak Lah

Source:MalaysiaKini

Deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak today said that he was committed in his support to the prime minister and will remain loyal to him.He added that he was not aware of any "gentlemen's agreement" between Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Dr Mahathir Mohamad that Abdullah would serve as prime minister for only one term before passing the baton to Najib.

"I don't know about that (gentlemen's agreement),” said Najib today.

“I am committed to support the prime minister and be loyal to the prime minister," he added, as quoted by Bernama.The deputy premier also said that his main focus at the moment was to make sure everything was ready for the soon-to-be-held general election.

"I want to ensure the Barisan Nasional wins big," he said.Both Najib and Abdullah has been making nationwide tours since the beginning of the year in preparation for the general election.

It is widely believed that the national polls could be called by mid March.

Najib was commenting on the claims made by Mahathir that he had extracted a "gentlemen's agreement" from Abdullah to remain in power for only one-term.

Abdullah took over the government from Mahathir in October 2003. He won a landslide victory in the 2004 general election. The coming election would be his second as the prime minister and there are no signs that he will be giving up his political career any time soon.

Only recently the premier was quoted in the local media as saying that he was in total control of the government and was looking for a big victory in the general election.

Mahathir’s mistake
Yesterday, Mahathir said that he never intended his successor Abdullah to serve more than one term.

He suggested that Abdullah should stand down.Mahathir previously said he made a mistake in picking Abdullah, and should have opted for Najib.

"That was my thinking, si he began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption. nce (Abdullah) was older than Najib, he should be PM for one term and then Najib should be able to take over," said Mahathir.

Pressed further whether he knew about the gentlemen's agreement, Najib today said: "I don't know. You have to ask the parties concerned.

"Mahathir claimed the agreement was made in 2003 when he handed over the leadership to Abdullah, however, admitted that he had no way of proving it.

Abdullah was Mahathir's hand-picked successor when he stepped down, but after the new leader dumped several of his pet projects he began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.

Hindraf leaders to contest in polls?

Source:MalaysiaKini

DAP leaders are believed to be looking into the possibility of fielding Hindraf leaders detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the upcoming general election.

Of the five Hindraf leaders held in Kamunting, M Manoharan and V Ganabatirau are the two tipped as possible candidates as they are DAP members.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng when contacted neither denied nor confirmed the possibility.

"I don’t want to discuss candidacy at this point. However, as they are party members, they are definitely qualified to be nominated," said Lim.

In 1978, the party fielded two ISA detainees Chan Kok Kit and Chang Heng Kai in the Sungai Besi and Batu Gajah parliamentary seats respectively.

Both individuals won the seats comfortably, but Lim stressed that they were both incumbents. The duo were detained for nearly five years under the ISA for alleged communist links that was never proven.

Support from community
Manoharan and Ganabatirau are by comparison less experienced in the polls. However, the former contested, and lost, once for the Segambut parliamentary seat in 1999.

Counsel for the five Hindraf leaders and DAP vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran said he had received many requests from party supporters and the Indian community to push the detainees into the political ring.

This includes nominating Hindraf’s most recognisable face, lawyer P Uthayakumar, as a candidate in Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in a face-off with MIC president Samy Vellu.

"Then again, there are also many who are against this idea because they want the Hindraf leaders to remain solely as an NGO voice," said Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP.

Elaborating, Kulasegaran said the five Hindraf leaders shot to fame not for political reasons but for organising the Nov 25 rally which drew tens of thousands of Indians calling for equal rights and an end to marginalisation of the community.

"They did not hold any political banner. They were there as a common front without portraying any political objectives," he added.

As such, Kulasegaran stressed that the chances of fielding detained Hindraf leaders as candidates would depend on the detainees themselves, public sentiment and the party leadership.

DAP to meet detainees
Another counsel for the five Hindraf leaders, A Sivanesan, told Malaysiakini that DAP leaders are expected to visit the detainees soon to discuss "political matters".

According to Sivanesan, who is also an active DAP member, he had received a letter from Manoharan which indicated that the latter was interested in "playing a role" in the upcoming general election.

Sivanesan was however declined to elaborate on the matter.

In another development, Moharan and Uthayakumar were said to be in "high spirits" following their discharge on Tuesday from the Taiping general hospital following a hunger strike.

Lawyer Edmund Bon, who was part of a Bar Council delegation to the Kamunting detention centre yesterday, said the duo appeared to be recovering from their hunger strike.

(The nine-member Bar Council team, led by vice-president K Ragunath, had visited the detention centre to visit ISA detainees and offer their legal assistance).

Uthayakumar was warded since Jan 24 while Manoharan was warded three days later. Initially, the five were supposed to be on hunger strike between Jan 21 to Jan 28 to protest their detention.

The five Hindraf leaders - including T Vasanthakumar and R Kenghadharan - were detained on Dec 13 for allegedly threatening national security. All five of them have filed habeas corpus applications to challenge their detention orders.

Opinions:
Pukal: Hindraf has to remain an NGO. This will make the Indian community have more confidence in them. The Indian community has actually lost their trust and confidence in politicians. Even before Hindraf, what has the opposition done for Indians. Did they fight and win any rights for Indians?

We respect Hindraf as an NGO but won’t as a political body. I believe Hindraf leader Wathyamoorthy doesn’t want any political influence in Hindraf. We respect Wathya’s motive and we support his move. We hope ‘Makkal Sakthi’ (People’s Power) will remain.

BS Koh: I think the five Hindraf representatives, imprisoned under ISA, know that MIC president Samy Vellu is scared of losing to the opposition in the coming polls. All Malaysians, especially the Indians, know very well that Samy Vellu is only good for gathering benefits for his own family and cronies while doing nothing or very little for the Indian community.

I strongly believe that the use of ISA to detain the five Hindraf leaders was influenced or instigated by Samy Vellu of the MIC.

PM Badawi overstaying his welcome: Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S former premier Mahathir Mohamad said on Wednesday he never intended his successor Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to serve more than one term and suggested he should stand down.

Mr Abdullah, who has had a very public falling out with the veteran leader, will contest for his second term in general elections expected to be held in March.

Mr Mahathir previously said he made a mistake in picking Mr Abdullah, and should have opted for influential deputy prime minister Najib Razak.

'That was my thinking, since (Abdullah) was older than Mr Najib, he should be PM for one term and then Mr Najib should be able to take over,' he told a press conference.

'I know it takes time to implement plans and projects but I think if that is to be used as an excuse to stay in power for 18 years then that will not be very welcome.'

Mr Abdullah won a landslide victory in 2004 polls when voters were enthused by his plans to fight corruption, but since then he has been widely criticised for inaction and suffered a steep tumble in popularity.

In recent months he has faced an unprecedented wave of public protests over the rights of minority ethnic Indians, as well as electoral reform and rising food and fuel prices.

'They see a government that is retreating and they want to take advantage,' Mr Mahathir said of the street rallies which would have been unthinkable during his term in power which ended in 2003 after more than two decades.

Mr Abdullah was Mahathir's hand-picked successor when he stepped down, but after the new leader dumped several of his pet projects he began launching accusations of economic mismanagement, nepotism and corruption.

M'sia's Mahathir sees no easing of rift with PM

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - FORMER Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad said on Tuesday he would remain a thorn in the side of his successor in the run-up to elections, and would continue to speak his mind.

Until subdued by heart problems last year, the outspoken Dr Mahathir was the most vocal critic of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, accusing his government of lacking 'guts' and selling out Malaysian sovereignty.

'I still disagree on several of his policies, mainly allowing Malaysians to be subject to Singapore's wishes,' the 82-year-old told select foreign media in an interview ahead of Wednesday's launch of his new book.

The book published for the first time his personal correspondence with world leaders including US President George W. Bush, on issues ranging from terrorism to Islam and Myanmar.

'We are not as independent as before in terms of our attitude towards international affairs,' said Dr Mahathir, who ruled the nation for 22 years with an iron grip. 'We tend to be very accommodative.'

Dead wood
In the interview, he took Mr Abdullah to task for 'wasting (public) money', dismissed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as a 'daydreamer' and asserted that the domestic economy was in 'bad shape' without a rally in commodity prices.

Dr Mahathir said Mr Abdullah's ruling front would be returned with a strong majority in the polls, widely expected by March, but said voters must get rid of dead wood in the coalition.

'But there are certain people whose contribution is negative. These people should not be chosen as candidates,' Dr Mahathir, wearing a collarless Nehru suit, said at his office in the 88-storey Petronas Twin Towers.

'I still support the party and I still believe the party will win with a good majority but one must not confuse support for the party with support for the individual,' he said.

On Mr Anwar, Dr Mahathir said his political enemy would not be a major factor in the coming elections.

'He's not a real factor,' he said. 'There's no more political future for him. If he thinks he's going to be the prime minister, it's daydreaming of the worst kind.'

A charismatic speaker, Mr Anwar was sacked from government in 1998 after falling out with Dr Mahathir.

Mr Anwar then led street protests before he was arrested and later jailed on what he called trumped-up charges of graft and sodomy.

Released in 2004, his corruption conviction means he cannot stand for elected office or hold political office until April this year.

Dr Mahathir, who has a history of heart problem, underwent a heart bypass in September and doctors have advised him to cut down on travel and other activities, including horse-riding.

The operation was Dr Mahathir's second such surgery since 1989 and followed two heart attacks over the past 13 months.

His quarrel with Mr Abdullah came to the fore after the government scrapped Dr Mahathir's idea to replace a causeway linking Malaysia and Singapore with a bridge.

Asked if Mr Abdullah should quit, he replied: 'It is up to him to decide. It's also up to the people to decide. If the people want him to move on, if they think his administration is not benefiting them, they should make a decision.'

Indian votes will swing unless...

Source:M'kini

Barisan Nasional (BN) risks losing Indian votes in the coming general election unless it employs drastic measures, warned a veteran MIC leader.The first step in untangling this political quagmire is for party president S Samy Vellu to step down.

Without mincing his words, the former MIC central working committee (CWC) member declared that Samy Vellu has become a liability to the ruling coalition.

"Is one man more important than the community?" This is the question posed by KP Samy during an interview with Malaysiakini recently.

"If the government feels it needs the community and is concerned about the community, then please talk to this leader. Enough, he has already been there for 28 years."

"The Indians were loyal supporters of BN. The government could not question our sincerity, so why did the government leave us in the hands of this leadership?" he asked further.

While the Nov 25 rally - which drew some 30,000 Indian Malaysians to the streets - was organised by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Samy suggested that MIC also played a major role.According to the Shah Bandaraya MIC branch chairperson, vexed Indian Malaysians swarmed the heart of Kuala Lumpur on that day because of the "total failure of the MIC leadership.

" Samy, who is a strong supporter of the MIC president's ex-deputy turned nemesis S Subramaniam, said: "Many Indians on the street feel that Samy Vellu has failed the community."

"We expected him to resign after Nov 25 by accepting that Indians came to the street because they were fed-up, disappointed and frustrated."Ninety percent of the people took to the streets because their expectations and requests were not fulfilled, the government gave us (aid) to a certain extent, but (this) never reached the poor," he added.

Temple demolition
Samy also blamed the MIC president for the incident, which many see as the catalyst behind the Hindraf rally - the demolition of a temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya in Padang Jawa, Shah Alam.A clash erupted between local residents and enforcement authorities when the latter moved in on Oct 30 to tear down the 100-year-old temple.The demolition which took place just a week before the Hindu festival of Deepavali was viewed as an insensitive act and riled up the community.

"We felt that what the (state) government did (the demolition) was wrong, but (Selangor) MB (Dr Mohd Khir Toyo) later explained that the root problem was MIC.

"The MB said 'we allocated the land and gave RM40,000' (for the temple's relocation)," said Samy, adding that a state MIC leader appointed by the party president had allegedly "failed" and this paved the way for the crisis.

(This state leader allegedly did not inform the temple committee regarding the land and allocation for the relocation)"So who do we blame?" asked Samy.

"Can Samy Vellu run away and say he is not answerable. You selected (the leader), (he is) your leader, and he failed.

"Samy also said the government should be thankful to the five Hindraf leaders, who have since been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), and the protesters for bringing the plight of the Indians to its attention.Until the Nov 25 rally, he added, the government was under the impression that the Indian community is well taken care of.

"Now the government is worried about Indian votes, the government is to be blamed because they listened to Samy Vellu who said that Indian votes are in his pocket.

"By keeping him, protecting him and saying that he has done his duty, the losers will be the government and the Indian community," he stressed.

In view of this, Samy called on the MIC president to step down or at least set a retirement date.The party veteran felt this will assuage the anger of the Indian community to a certain extent and help BN regain some lost ground.

'Not allowed to work'
On the MIC front, the branch leader accused the president of not allowing capable leaders to perform because of political differences.Citing himself as an example, Samy claimed that he was 'victimised' because of his close ties to Subramaniam.

"Another sad part about MIC is that its leaders are not created but controlled, the president endorses candidates right from the deputy president to CWC.

"Proposing is one thing, but he goes to the field and threatens the delegates and insists that his line-up should win," he said.

"So this created a vacuum, we cannot identify any capable leader after Samy Vellu," he said, adding that deputy president G Palanivel and vice-president S Sothinathan lack support from the grassroots.On that note, Samy stressed that Subramaniam, who lost to Palanivel during the 2006 party elections, is a competent leader. The MIC leadership should recognise this and consider bringing him and his supporters back into the fold, he said.

"Though he is not in a position of taking over at this time, I believe Subramaniam is the best leader at this point to lead the community"Even if he sits in office for a short term, he can manage things well for the community," he added.

Samy claimed that since the MIC president "did not allow others, including Subramaniam, to work" he should stop blaming branch leaders for the party's woes. He challenged Samy Vellu to reveal how effectively the party's CWC sub-committees - involving leaders of his choice - have performed or contributed.

"Do you have the records, can you show it to the press?" he asked.

Maika's failure
Samy also criticised MIC's investment arm Maika Holdings for failing to uplift the economic status of the Indian community despite the government giving it 'quality stocks'.

"If managed well, Maika should have become a billion dollar company. Now his (Samy Vellu's) son (Vel Paari) is the CEO, when we went to (the recent AGM) to ask questions, we were blocked by gangsters.

"Now we ask the government, you are making a lot of noise saying that the (Nov 25) protestors are gangsters but what about the endorsed gangsters (at the Maika meet)?

"Samy was also unimpressed with the recent MIC gathering themed 'An evening with the prime minister' which drew thousands of Indian Malaysians which the party proclaimed demonstrated the community's undivided support for BN.

"If the authorities give a permit, we can bring 50,000 people without spending a single sen," he said, alleging that college students were among those roped in by MIC to make up the numbers.

Meanwhile, Samy disagreed with the suggestion that the sentiments generated by Hindraf are waning.He pointed out that even when Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced a public holiday for Thaipusam at the MIC gathering, immediately the credit for this went to Hindraf.

Apart from this, he said the poor turnout at the Batu Caves temple for Thaipusam on Jan 23 also revealed that the community is still seeing red.Asked about the criticism by certain quarters regarding the Batu Caves boycott on the grounds that it is wrong to mix politics with religion, Samy said that he too felt sad.

"Batu Caves is a symbolic place. But how else could we get the message across?" he added.

Subra loyal to BN
Samy, who describes himself as a sympathiser of the Hindraf cause, explained that there are some issues which he disagrees with such as the movement's claim that the Indians here are subjected to state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing.

However, he feels that a majority of the points raised are fair and the government should pay attention to them.He also dismissed Samy Vellu's allegation that Subramaniam is behind Hindraf, asking if the MIC president is indirectly saying that the latter can mobilise 30,000 people to take to the streets.

"Even when I got involved in bailing the Hindraf protestors, there was talk that Subramaniam's key man was involved. But I told Subramaniam that I was only involved on humane grounds.

"According to him, Subramaniam also disagreed with some of the controversial points raised by Hindraf."He told me that he had explained to PM that not all who went to the streets agreed with all the points, but most of the points, the community felt are fair.

"Subramaniam has always been a loyal supporter of BN, there were times when he was offered seats by the opposition, but he turned this down," he added.

Not asking for much
On what the Indian Malaysian community wants, Samy stressed that educational and economic opportunities - and not public holidays - are of topmost priority.

He said the government should listen to the fair and reasonable requests, and give an undertaking that these will be implemented even after the general election.

"The Indian community is not asking for much. Education, equity, aid for tamil schools, temple issue. Calm us down, ensure that nothing goes wrong. If the government does not take care of us, who is going to take care of us?"

The government knows we are poor, take away (business tycoons) Ananda Krishnan and Tony Fernandes...our equity is below one percent. When are we going to reach three percent?"As PM promised, in the Ninth Malaysia Plan, he is going to give and implement.

Where's the indication?

Is there any proof, has anything been implemented? Nothing.

"You are going to call us and ask us to vote. After elections what is going to happen? BN and the opposition are going to leave us in the dark.

orchidz

Pheladenia deformis 2

showy lady's slipper

Ophrys muscifera [Sora (Barcelona) Spain]

Orchis militaris-Vitéz kosbor

Leptoceras menziesii 1d Dglm

Calochilus robertsonii 1d

bee

Arachnorchis [syn Caladenia] venusta 3f D

Arachnorchis [syn Caladenia] stricta 3d Lt Dst

Arachnorchis [syn Caladenia] formosa 5e L
















Arachnorchis [syn Caladenia] formosa 1c C

Blc.Carolina Orange Glow




Paphiopedilum Duo

vanda tokyo blue

thunia marshalliana

phragmipedium penn's creek cascade

lycaste sunray 'adeyaka'

Galeopetalum Belle Glade

Blc.skylar rayne 'krull smith'

huntleya walisii

Finding a Ghost Orchid by Chance

Dis orchid pic attracts me bcoz of d unique shape n im a orchid lover 2....well,orchids r known 4 their unique shapes...collectin all kind of orchidz tat i can find...so,if u ave any rare species 2 share with,plz do email me at rubekel@yahoo.com...thx...


When you get to see a ghost orchid up close, it is not overtly pretty as most orchid varieties usually are. Physically, it looks fragile; it’s an epiphyte which means that it’s found anchored on trees where it gets its nutrients. The ghost orchid is found in areas of Cuba, the Bahamas and Florida where its habitat flourishes in relatively moist and humid swamp lands. Unlike other monocotyledons, it doesn’t have stems and its leaves look more like scales than leaves. A ghost orchid is almost all roots which are flat and create this wild tangle on tree trunks where they get moisture.

There are few plants more beautiful and dramatic than the orchid. While orchid growing used to be limited to the rich of society, today’s wide selection and availability of these plants has allowed anyone to enjoy them within their own homes. And although many still believe that orchids are a difficult plant to grow, most indoor gardeners have found that with a few orchid growing tips under their belts, orchids can be an attainable beauty for just about everyone.

Tip #1: The Growing Medium
The first and most important orchid growing tip that you need to know is that most orchids to not require soil to take root in. In fact, most species of orchids grow in sand, pebbles, or even on the sides of trees. One of the most common mistakes that first-time orchid growers make is to attempt to place their plant in a pot of soil. Then they wonder why their plant dies so quickly. By following the orchid growing tips of your local nursery or extension office, you can provide the best medium, for your plant to allow it to thrive.

Some orchids do best when they are allowed to attach to a piece of bark or cork. These are generally the plants that are found in the wild attached to tree trunks. You can also find commercial orchid mediums that are made from substances like bark, volcanic rock or charcoal. For your best orchid growing tips regarding the medium that your plant will thrive in, it is best to talk to someone familiar with the different types of orchids and their requirements.


Tip #2: Proper Lighting
Another important orchid growing tip to keep in mind is the amount of light that your plant will require. Most orchids do best with some shade, so a southern window will often provide the best source of bright, filtered light for your plant. However, the amount of light required will tend to vary between the different varieties of orchids, and some will do better with more or less light than southern exposure will allow. Again, for the best orchid growing tips, you need to be familiar with the exact type of orchid that you are growing, so that you can talk to an orchid expert about the specific lighting requirements for your plant. An orchid that does not get enough light will not flower, so sunlight is very important for you to be able to enjoy your plant to the fullest.

Orchids can be a beautiful addition to any home décor. By following a few simple orchid growing tips, you will rest assured that you will be able to enjoy your delightful plant to the absolute fullest.

Thought-Provoking Questions

If ghosts go through walls, why don’t they fall through the floor?

Why isn’t evaporated milk a gas?

Why was it that in all different cultures the men always used to come first and never the women?

When you feel down, why do people ask what’s up?

In horse racing, why do they award the rider and not the horse?

If insects are so obsessed with bright lights, why don’t they fly off to the sun?

What happens if you die in your dream?

Why do people more commonly skip breakfast than any other meal, considering that this is the time when the stomach is emptiest?

How are children supposed to take medicine if it’s meant to be kept out of their reach?

Why do people talk about ‘girlie’ things but never ‘boyie’ things?

If you sneezed on a computer, would it get a virus?

Can you dream of having a dream?

Why do we close doors and windows to reduce noise, considering that sound travels better through solids?

If Pinocchio said, “My nose is about to grow”, what would happen?

What did the designer of the drawing board go back to when his/her original design was a failure?

What sort of a vehicle did those huge 300kg tyres that are used in the World’s Strongest Man contests come off?

Why do we hang our clothes on a washing line and not a drying line?

Why do ‘a fat chance’ and ‘a slim chance’ mean the same thing?

Why does your nose run and your feet smell?

Why is ‘abbreviation’ such a long word?

Why are there seeds in seeded grapes, but no bones in a boned fillet?

When people go mental, why do they get physically violent?

Why do we never hear of people coming from ‘left west’ or ‘right east’?

What is an occasional table the rest of the time?

If you get a beer belly by drinking beer, do you get a pot belly by smoking pot?

Why is Friday 13th considered unlucky, considering that the Last Supper was on Thursday?

If you can enjoy yourself, why can’t you enjoy anyone else?

What would a burger of ham be called?

If dawn breaks, does dusk come together?

Why does ‘dyslexia’ have to be so hard to spell?

If you think you’re a hypochondriac, then are you one or not?

If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?

Does God believe that there are atheists?

How to Write Proper

Verbs has to agree with their subjects.

Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

Always avoid alliteration.

It is wrong to ever split an infinitive.

Contractions aren’t necessary and shouldn’t be used.

Avoid clichés like the plague – they’re old hat.

Use the apostrophe in it’s proper place, do’nt put it in the wrong place, and omit it where its not needed.

Don’t use two words where one is sufficient enough.

DON’T use too much emphasis at once.

If you’re writing web pages, never underline anything that’s not a link.

Long sentences without any punctuation are hard to read so break them up into shorter sentences and punctuate where appropriate so that everyone can read them and understand what they say.

Also, don’t write run-on sentences, break them up just the same.

Don’t exaggerate.

Eliminate quotations, as Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.”

Don’t make generalisations – they’re bound to be false.

Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.

Watch out for the many irregular verbs that have creeped into our language.

That a clause can be the subject of another is wrong.

And finally, never begin or end a sentence with and.

oppz...i juz did tat last don't rite....??

Asteroid will swing by, but won't stop

LOS ANGELES - An asteroid at least 500 feet long will make a rare close pass by Earth next week, but there is no chance of an impact, scientists reported Thursday.

The object, known as 2007 TU24, is expected to whiz by Earth on Tuesday with its closest approach at 334,000 miles, or about 1.4 times the distance of Earth to the moon.

The night time encounter should be bright enough for medium-sized telescopes to get a glimpse, said Don Yeomans, manager of the Near-Earth Object Program Office at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which tracks potentially dangerous space rocks.

However, next week's asteroid pass "has no chance of hitting, or affecting, Earth," Yeomans said.
An actual collision of a similar-sized object with Earth occurs on average every 37,000 years.

Spotted last October by the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, 2007 TU24 is estimated to be between 500 feet and 2,000 feet long. The next time an asteroid this size will fly this close to Earth will be in 2027.

Scientists plan to point the Goldstone radar telescope in California and the Arecibo radar telescope in Puerto Rico at the asteroid and observe its path before and after its closest approach to Earth. Researchers will use instruments to measure its rotation and composition.

The 2007 TU24 rendezvous comes a day before another asteroid is projected to pass close to Mars.

Scientists have effectively ruled out a collision between the Red Planet and the asteroid 2007 WD5, estimating it will pass at a distance of more than 16,000 miles from the Martian surface.

Initial observations of the Mars-bound asteroid put the odds of an impact at 1 in 25, but scientists later dropped the odds to 1 in 10,000.

Don't compare Malaysia with S'pore, HK: Abdullah

PUTRAJAYA - SINGAPORE and Hong Kong are places with single-ethnic populations and their progress should not be compared directly with that of multiracial Malaysia, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said yesterday.

He told 8,000 top civil servants that the two cities are 'grapes' while Malaysia is an 'apple'.

His message was that Malaysians can do better and they should not despair by comparing Malaysia with Singapore and Hong Kong because a direct comparison was unfair.

'They are grapes...and we are apple. How can you compare grapes with an apple? We can't,' he told the annual gathering between the premier and top civil servants.

He also said Malaysia could not be compared with Taiwan because the population of the island was higher than Malaysia's.

Malaysia's 27 million population consists of 60 per cent Malays along with 25 per cent ethnic Chinese and 8 per cent Indians. The rest are from other minority races.

Datuk Seri Abdullah brought up the subject in his speech in which he said the government's efficiency was rated sixth best in the world last year, compared to its eighth placing in 2000.

Quoting the World Competitiveness Year Book released by the Swiss-based business school IMD, he said that Malaysia was ranked above the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and France in places with a population of over 20 million.

Only China, Canada, the United States, India and Taiwan were ranked better, he said.

He said there were differences between Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

The Republic and Hong Kong were single-race territories and therefore faced different challenges and drew up different human development projects. Their economies should also not be compared with Malaysia's, he added.

Datuk Seri Abdullah said that a better comparison with Singapore and Hong Kong is Malaysia's Klang Valley and not the whole country.

Take note Pak Lah, S'pore is multi-ethnic

‘Singapore and Hong Kong are places with single-ethnic populations and their progress should not be compared directly with that of multiracial Malaysia.’ - that's the latest directive to us from the prime minister.

Unfortunately, the rationale supporting his directive is flawed. While there may be doubts about Hong Kong's ethnic composition, Singapore's multi-ethnic population is well-known and celebrated.

Here are some examples of Singapore's multi-ethnicity:

Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and English are used in all official communications, and all four languages can be found on their currency notes.


The president, SR Nathan, is Indian.


A number of prominent non-Chinese Singaporeans are members of the cabinet, including Prof Jeyakumar and Dr Yaakob Ibrahim.


The speaker of parliament, Abdullah Tarmugi, is Muslim.


Mandarin, Malay and Tamil are all included in the republic’s education curriculum.


Dedicated national TV channels and radio stations exist for Malays and Indians.


Hari Raya Puasa and Deepavali are considered public holidays.
Perhaps the most important point to note is that not only are military orders for parades and functions issued in Malay, Singapore's national anthem is also sung in the Malay language. Such practices would be reflective of a Malay nation, but not a single-ethnic Chinese state.

Let us hope that Abdullah, as the leader of a nation with First World ambitions and world- renowned IT achievements such as the MSC, will not continue to make such blatant mistakes

Malaysian State Separates Shopping Sexes

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia's only state run by the Islamic opposition party will get stricter about enforcing separate lines for men and women at supermarkets, an official said Tuesday.

Authorities in the northern state of Kelantan _ governed by the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party _ will fine supermarkets and shops if they let men and women use the same lines at checkout counters, said party spokesman Anual Bakri Haron.

Chief Minister Nik Aziz Nik Mat has called for stricter enforcement "to safeguard the ladies" from being harassed and to avoid close proximity between opposite sexes while lining up to buy groceries, Anual said. "He wants the enforcement to be looked into thoroughly."

Kelantan is the only Malaysian state governed by the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party. The rest are ruled by the National Front coalition, which is made up of various parties representing Malaysia's different ethnic groups.

The coalition is dominated by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's United Malays National Organization party, which draws its support from the ethnic Malay Muslims who account for 60 percent of the country's 27 million people.

The Islamic opposition party, which has ruled Kelantan for more than 17 years, imposed the separate lineup rule as part of its agenda to promote Islamic values. In recent years, however, people ignored the regulation, and there was little enforcement.

Buddhist family in Malaysia challenges Shariah court's Islamic conversion ruling

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - An ethnic Chinese Buddhist family was appealing to a Malaysian high court Tuesday, seeking to overturn an Islamic court ruling that found their late father had converted from Buddhism to Islam, prompting his burial as a Muslim.

The family of Gan Eng Gor said a Shariah court was wrong in ruling he had become a Muslim shortly before his death.

"We want a declaration that he is not a Muslim. Our main intention is to seek justice, not just for our family but for the rest of the non-Muslim community," son Gan Hock Ming told The Associated Press on Monday.

The case was expected to be heard Tuesday at the High Court in southern Seremban state, Hock Ming said.

It is the latest in an increasing number of interfaith conflicts that have raised tensions in multiracial Malaysia.

On Monday, opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang urged the government to end "body snatchings" by Islamic authorities, warning they were aggravating racial polarization and hurting Malaysia's multiracial harmony.

About 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people are ethnic Malay Muslims. A quarter are ethnic Chinese, who are mostly Taoist, Buddhists and Christians, and 8 percent are ethnic Indians, many of whom are Hindus.

Last week, an Islamic Shariah court ruled that Eng Gor, 74, also identified as Amir Gan Abdullah, was a Muslim and should be buried under Islamic rites.

The man's body was seized by Islamic authorities shortly after his death on Jan. 20 after a complaint by his eldest son, Abdul Rahman Gan, a Muslim convert. He claimed his father had converted to Islam last July. Other relatives disputed this.

Hock Ming said Islamic authorities claimed his bedridden father made an oral declaration in Arabic to accept Islam, but the family has medical confirmation that his father was unable to speak after a stroke in 2006. He said the alleged conversion papers were also flawed because they weren't signed and certified.

"We hope the prime minister and the higher ups in the Islamic authorities review this case and ensure that the truth is unraveled," Hock Ming said, calling for all conversions to Islam to be "fair and transparent."

Authorities from the Islamic religious department in Seremban could not be reached for comment. No comment was available from the office of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Malaysia has a dual court system for civil matters with secular courts for non-Muslims and Shariah courts for Muslims. In interfaith disputes involving Muslims, the Shariah court usually gets the last word, making a favorable decision for non-Muslims less likely.

Malaysian teacher reprimanded for making Hindu students shave religious beards

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - A teacher in Muslim-majority Malaysia has been reprimanded for forcing six Hindu schoolboys to shave their mustaches and beards, which they were growing for a religious ritual this month, a news report said Tuesday.

The Star newspaper quoted State Education Director Hussain Harun as saying that the teacher in the northern Perak state(SMK Anderson,Ipoh) was enforcing school regulations that require students to be clean shaven.

However, he was guilty of being insensitive to the students' feelings, and has been told off, Hussain was quoted as saying. The teacher also forced the students to remove religious wrist-strings to enforce a rule that no ornaments be worn in school.

"If need be, the teacher would have to apologize ... for hurting their feelings by being insensitive to their religious and cultural needs," The Star quoted Hussain as saying. "The best way is to ask for their forgiveness."

Hussain could not immediately be reached, and the education officer investigating the case declined to comment.

The students were growing their hair as part of a ritual for the Thaipusam festival that was celebrated on Jan. 23. Many ethnic Indians, who form 8 percent of Malaysia's 27 million population, let their hair grow for a certain period and have themselves shaved on Thaipusam day.

The Star did not identify the teacher's religion.

The incident is a reflection of growing racial friction, which threatens to unravel the country's carefully nurtured ethnic and religious pluralism.

About 60 percent of the population is Muslim Malay, and the minority Indians and Chinese are concerned that a pro-Muslim tilt in the civil service and judiciary is eroding their religious rights.
Lok Yim Pheng, secretary general of the National Union of the Teaching Profession, slammed the teacher's actions.

"Of course, we don't want the boys' beards to be too long, but we must understand these particular boys' religion," she told The Associated Press. "The teacher should be more sensitive ... They must act professionally. They cannot act out of emotions."

Information that I got:
SMK Anderson Ipoh teacher,Kamaruzaman made sone Indians boys cut their religious wrist-string n ordered them to shave although they protested it was 4 Thaipusam,with parents letter.He also uttered ‘Ini agama syaitan’

Hindraf 5: Decision on Feb 26

It will be a month before the five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders know if they can be brought to court for a proper trial as the Kuala Lumpur High Court set Feb 26 as the decision date for their habeas corpus application.

Judicial commissioner Zainal Azman Abdul Aziz said he needed more time to go through the documents before making a decision.

“Please bear with me as I would need some time to go through the authorities.

I will need until the end of February to go through all the documents,” he told the packed court.On the last day of the habeas corpus application, lawyer Karpal Singh argued that the Internal Security Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in his affidavits failed to prove ‘certain circumstances’ needed when issuing a detention order under Section 8(1) of the Internal Security Act 1960.

He said that Abdullah failed to show exceptional reasons why he bypassed Section 73 which provided for a period not exceeding 60 days for investigations including the right of the applicant to put up his defence.

“The dire lack of material in the two affidavits filed by the minister to show certain circumstances for him to have acted directly under Section 8, makes the detention orders made by him on Dec 13 last year procedurally and fatally flawed,” he said.

The Hindraf five - P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasanthakumar were detained under Section 8(1) ISA on Dec 13 last year under Abdullah’s orders.

As such they were immediately sent to under a two-year detention to the Kamunting detention centre without first having to undergo a 60-day investigative period.


Can’t challenge minister’s orders
Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail replied that the minister had made the detention orders after receiving a complete investigation report from the police.

“The minister is not solely reliant on police but also from other sources. In his affidavit, he said that the investigations were complete and perfect before he addressed his mind.

“He has a right to issue calls for investigation from his own people He has an unfettered decision on matters of national security which he would know best,” he said.

The senior lawyer added that Abdullah’s detention orders cannot be reviewed by the courts and the burden to prove any bad faith on the minister’s part lies with the applicants.Before the court adjourned, Karpal made a plea to the judicial commissioner to consider the impact of allowing the minister’s powers go unchecked.

“This is a test case and its very crucial for every citizen in the country. Can the Internal Security minister act without investigation which the law requires and arrest anybody he pleases?

“What about the grounds of the detention order which cannot be questioned by the courts? Such dictatorial powers given to minister has far reaching implications and consequences,” he said.He told judicial commissioner Zainal that the courts have to ensure that excesses of the executive does not go beyond the law.

“The little mercies left must be given attention to. The courts must apply detention laws strictly. The court must go into the position of legal implication and make a ruling that upholds the constitution.

“Detention without trial is a very cruel thing, only those who have undergone it would understand. I pray that the court would rise to the occasion and grant us our application.” he asserted.

Karpal also requested for the decision date to be as soon as possible because two detainees - Uthayakumar and Manoharan - have been warded in Taiping Hospital for dehydration after having gone on a hunger strike since Jan 22.


Wife plea to the AG’s
Meanwhile, outside the courtroom, detainee Ganabatirau’s wife Puvaneswary was seen approaching Abdul Gani near the court lifts.Covered in tears, she told the AG that her husband was innocent and expressed her concern over the fate of her two daughters.

Abdul Gani appeared calm and comforted Puvaneswary before telling her that she can get her lawyers to contact him and see what can be done for Ganabatirau.

After Abdul Gani disappeared into the lift, a teary Puvaneswary told reporters that her husband was not guilty and what was being done to him was unfair.

She left soon after with several companions.

Hindraf supporters who crowded the area outside the fourth floor courtroom also lingered at the Jalan Duta court lobby before leaving.

'Boycott newspapers, buy no lies'

Source:MalaysiaKini

Every Tuesday, lawyer-cum-blogger Haris Ibrahim will not buy newspapers. Neither will at least seven other individuals who have joined him in a boycott of Malaysia’s print media.

Haris, who runs The People’s Parliament - a website advocating change on several fronts - launched the campaign today at a press conference in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

Ironically, his intentions were announced before journalists covering the event, some of whom appeared offended by the campaign.


Also present were members of the Hartal MSM (Boycott Mainstream Media) committee formed last December.

They and a number of socio-political bloggers wore yellow T-shirts with the slogan ‘Boycott the Newspapers, No Buy, No Lies’. Haris launched the campaign this morning by sending out a text-message on this to senior staff of newspaper organisations.

He said the first priority of the campaign is to create awareness among the public that newspapers often “do not tell the truth”, and that the committee is not overly concerned about the number of people who support the campaign.

“When you want to push change, there will be a price to pay.” he said.

While acknowledging the legal constraints that journalists face, he said the committee had reached breaking point over such failings as “false reporting (as well as) non-reporting and distortion of facts”.

In relation to this, he picked out examples from today's edition of the pro-government New Straits Times to illustrate the spin on reports involving political parties.

Haris called on the media to uphold “honest reporting”, saying that readers deserve this because they pay for newspapers. He emphasised that the boycott has a long-term goal that goes beyond the 12th general election, widely speculated to be held in March.

“Although this is a baby step, I have confidence in the public. Now the rakyat is in the mood and ready to shake our society, to reclaim space guaranteed by the constitution,” he said.

Asked to explain why the committee has chosen Tuesdays for the boycott, he said this was to cater to those who may not want to miss out on the weekend supplements and Monday edition of newspapers.

He further said that the campaign does not involve any political parties, but that the committee is ready to work with any political party that shares its vision.



‘Keeping up momentum’
Committee-member Helen Ang said the campaign colour - yellow - was chosen because it is a symbol of people power and that the group wants the momentum to continue.
Centre for Independent Journalism executive director V Gayathry (photo) said that, based on her experience as a journalist, there are newspaper editors who are ready for change. However, they are restrained by pressure from the government.

The committee challenged newspaper organisations to report the campaign, but this drew mixed reactions from journalists who expressed concerns about the impact on their jobs.


Haris, acknowledged that bread-and-butter issues are involved, but said the boycott is directed at the authorities, and not editors and journalists.

Journalists from vernacular organisations commented that their newspapers are not ‘guilty’ of the wrongdoings leveled by the committee.

Haris, however, said there has been censorship of issues linked to Article 11 (freedom of religion) which ought not to happen.

He added that the committee would rely heavily on the Internet media, as well as explore other avenues - including social networking sites like Facebook - to get its message across.

The print and broadcast media in Malaysia are severely restricted by a slew of laws - notably the licensing provision of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 - that have an impact on press freedom, freedom of expression and right to information.

In addition, most newspaper organisations are either owned or heavily influenced by component parties of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

Anbe Sivam Care Centre - Taman Sri Andalas Klang

Recently I was introduced to the above Care Centre which is located at Taman Sri Andalas Klang. I took their brochure which i have posted below for your reference.

I'm waiting for confirmation to help funding a 7 years old to walk again. The cost of treatment is not much but it's alot for the Centre and the boy's parents. They have been waiting for response from the Walfare Department for nearly a year. A year means a lot to a 7 years old...

THEY NEED OUR HELP....!!!

The Centre also collecting recycle items such as Plastics, Old New Papers / magazines, metal and so on to be self sustained. I was impressed with the whole idea and thumbs up for the Centre Organisers for their great effort.

SO FOLKS PLEASE LEND A HAND TO THEM...GOD BLESS...

THE BIOCHEMISTRY OF HOPE

I often think that most people die of boredom, depression, despair, of not loving and not being loved. Perhaps we die mainly of having run out of reason to live. On the other hand, while the connection between mind and physiology is undeniable (though Western medicine still can’t quite get it), one can also push it too far.

No matter how enlightened one becomes, the body can apparently last only so long. Caroline Myss says: "Biography becomes biology," but even she doesn’t "reach for immortality."
As someone said, there is no such thing as "false hope."

Hope is a physiologically beneficial state, even if there is no logical basis for it. Even if we eliminated all disease, learned to be happy and fulfilled practically all the time, and maybe had organ transplants thanks to transgenic pigs, one day we would still keel over due to mitochondrial failure. Our energy-producing organelles appear to be the weak link.

While our nuclear DNA is wonderfully protected, unfortunately we seem stuck with poor mitochondrial DNA repair capacity, and can take only so many free-radical "hits."

I do know that the "immortalist" school of thought does have some answers to that, proposing gene therapy, as well as putting our brains on the hard drive (I’m not kidding!), but for our generation at least, death and taxes seem a certainty, regardless of spiritual development.

Still, it is amazing to contemplate the power of mind to keep us healthy. As long as you eliminate junk food and eat enough quality protein (animal protein is much better assimilated) and raw food, diet probably is not anywhere as important for cancer and heart disease prevention as staying happy.

Diet may be primary for adult-onset diabetes, but that’s probably the only disease where the diet link is obvious: too many carbs, blood sugar sky-high, too much insulin, cells can’t accept any more glucose, insulin stops working.

Almost everything else, we see depression lurking. And then, who knows, even in diabetes depression may be hiding in the background -- why do those people eat a whole bagful of cookies or a whole cake in one sitting?


So I believe that indirectly depression is the #1 killer, across the board, and possibly all over the world (it’s sadly ironic that one can get just as severe immunosupppression when depression is combined with excess sugar as when it is combined with malnutrition, especially protein malnutrition).

We can certainly die of depression, of the physiological devastation caused by negative emotions. And interestingly, many nutrients that have been found to be life-extending are also described as mood lifters.

positive emotions equals a better health + longer life

Closely knit communities, social and/or religious, appear to provide the affection and sense of being needed that may account for the longevity of their members. And it’s well known that pet owners are healthier and likewise enjoy a longer life expectancy. So do married men, benefiting from the nurturing of their wives. For women, however, the situation is more complex; single women do very well as long as they have close women friends.

Deeply religious people also enjoy better health and longer life, showing that in a sense it doesn’t matter where your positive emotions come from: a relationship with your mate, friends, pets, work, or, indeed, from having a personal relationship with God. However, I repeat: I don’t believe that we could live forever just by thinking positive and experiencing lots of positive emotions. Sooner or later free radicals would take their toll regardless.

But by staying happy, and I mean happy in a deep sense, the soul sense of leading a meaningful, productive, loving and maximally fulfilling life, we could probably live much longer and stay free of major diseases, until the free radical-caused mitochondrial failure forces a quick exit. When? At 120, or at 300?

Some scientists refuse to speculate, seeing the rapid progress in the field of anti-aging medicine. In spite of the official philosophy of Western medicine, unofficially many doctors probably know that emotional health is primary.

I’ve come across this message from a cancer survivor: "At the age of 28 I was told I had maybe six months to live. I just turned 43. In that time I have given birth to a daughter who is now 12. My oncologist gave me one hope. This is what he said:
"If you think you are going to die, chances are you will. If you think you are going to live, you have just increased your chances significantly. Eighty percent of your cure is your attitude."

And some doctors have expressed the fear that saying to a patient, "You have only 3 months to live" acts practically like a voodoo curse. It can produce almost instantaneous deterioration, rapid aging and decline until the patient does, indeed, "die on time." It doesn’t happen in all cases - for one thing, we have learned to seek a second opinion - but the fact that it can happen at all shows us the power of "programming."

But I also think we have some built-in defenses against negative programming. And this relates to what Ariel refers to as connecting with one’s higher self. I think there is something at the core of each person that I like to call the Observer. Maybe that’s not the best term - "a small still voice" is more poetic - but for me "Observer" fits because I sense a certain detachment about the Observer.

The Observer is never depressed, never sucked into insanity, and best of all, never damaged by the various traumas that happen to us. The Observer watches the traumas and KNOWS that’s not right, but if we get hysterical in response, the Observer also calmly points out that that’s wrong, with a sort of "here I go again" internal little sarcasm. If we start doing something obsessive, like accumulating possessions, the observer calmly points out that all this stuff is really a pile of trash.

And I think the Observer is FEARLESS even in the face of death, because the Observer is terrifically curious about any adventure, and this is perhaps the ultimate adventure to watch. I feel that the Observer part of me is so intensely curious about life that there are times when I may be weeping over some crisis while the Observer is dancing, happy to be learning so much.


isn’t it ironic that we worry so much about the carcinogens in our food + so little about carcinogenic emotions?
After endless profiles of centenarians whose main health practice includes never going to a doctor, having a drink a day, a pound of chocolate a week (Jeanne Calment), and above all an active mind (generally a high IQ is a good predictor of longevity), a feisty attitude, and a sense of humor, no one can argue that the secret of long life is this or that diet, and just so much exercise, and these particular supplements, and so forth.

Yes, diet and exercise do have an impact, and I think we are on the verge of creating more sophisticated supplements that truly work, but it’s probably always going to be secondary next to the mental/emotional factors.

We don’t just believe, we KNOW that thoughts and emotions have a tremendous impact on our health, probably greater than anything else, and that the biochemistry of hope and joy is the biochemistry of health and longevity. It would not be all that surprising if ultimately THE VERY EXPECTATION OF A LONG AND PRODUCTIVE LIFE had a tremendous influence on actual longevity, together with the emotional strength and joy that come from being connected to the center of one’s existence (whether we call it the higher self or soul or "Observer" or whatever makes sense to us).

The factor of having a nurturing relationship with a life partner (or, for women, with a network of female friends) is also very important, according to a recent book, "Secrets of the Superyoung." Having a good relationship with oneself probably falls into this category, too - can you nurture yourself as much as you can nurture somebody you love? Ask a mother if she can imagine treating herself as she would a beloved child. But suppose that the effect is not all that strong. It is possible that the power of viruses and free radicals is ultimately what counts.

My father liked to point out that even if we wiped out all disease, cosmic radiation would still destroy us in the end. Given our mortality, is there a rationale for living in a soul-nourishing way?

I think so, because joy is its own reward. And it makes us more capable of connecting with others, with nature, with all that is. As William Wordsworth writes, "With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things." And as someone whose name escapes me said, "We weren’t born to survive, only to live."

THE BLUE PARTY

YOUTH'08 IS JUST 4 MORE DAYS:Wow! The long awaited Youth'08 just 4 days away! Don't miss it.

Date: 18th - 20th January 2008

Venue: Putra World Trade Center (PWTC)
Time: 10am - 10pm.

See you there!

More details,log on www.youthmalaysia.com.

Penang Hindu Board not 'a BN political tool'

The Penang Hindu Endowments Board has defended itself against allegations that it has become a political tool of the MIC and Gerakan in Penang and that it is acting beyond its powers.


K Kumaraendran rebutted the claim that political considerations have been the yardstick for the appointment of commissioners and committee- members, who manage the five temples in the state.



A commissioner and lawyer, he was commenting on a Malaysiakini report last Friday, in which United Hindu Religious Council president G Mugunthan had alleged there is rampant political meddling in the annual appointments.



Said Kumaraendran: "The board has never been a political tool of the ruling coalition. (Its) commissioners and temple management committee-members have always been appointed based on merit and (their) credentials, (not) political affiliation as alleged.


"They are all appointed by the state governor on the advice of the state government based on their track-record as persons of high esteem in the society.”


Hindu endowments belonging to the hilltop Waterfall Temple - Sri Balathandayuthabani Kovil,Sri Ramar Kovil in Dhoby Ghaut, Sri Kunj Bihari Krishan Mandir, Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil in Lebuh Queen and Sri Maha Mariamman Kovil in Butterworth are administered by the board.

Under the Hindu Endowment Ordinance, the state governor on the advice of the state executive council appoints a board of commissioners, one of whom must be a government officer.



The board then sets up an endowment management committee consisting of members of public professing the religion applicable to the endowments - in this case, Hinduism.



'Orderly festivals'
According to Mugunthan, political-based appointments of commissioners have become a norm since the 1980s.

Even the board chairperson is a politician, he said, referring to former MIC state chairpersons T Suppiah and K Rajapathy, and current state deputy chairperson PK Subbaiyah.


Over the years many MIC division leaders and prominent Gerakan Indian leaders have been appointed as commissioners.


Reliable sources had claimed that Penang Chief Minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon has insisted on "his men from Gerakan" being appointed.



Kumaraendran also refuted the allegation that the board had overstepped its jurisdiction. The board is entrusted with managing the temples and their endowments and to organise their religious festivals, he noted.

In this respect, it has a legal obligation to ensure that religious festivals are celebrated in correct and orderly manner.



This involves implementing measures to regulate tanneer panthal (refreshment booths) and installing a centralised system to control the type of music played during Thaipusam each year.


"Various quarters have commended the board for its actions to bring more order into Hindu religious festivals," he added.