M Kula Segaran : Call on the police to respect the people’s constitutional right to peaceful assembly

Press statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat, from Yong Pyong, South Korea, on Friday, February 26, 2011

Call on the police to respect the people's constitutional right to peaceful assembly and approve the application to protest the Interlok novel.

According to media report, the Dang Wangi police has rejected the Human Rights Party's (HRP) application for a permit to carry out a peaceful march against the novel Interlok on Sunday.

The party has on Feb 11 submitted the necessary application to the police for a permit. I call on the police to respect the people's constitutional right to peaceful assembly and approve the application to protest the Interlok novel.

The Interlok issue hurt the Indian community yet the Government has not shown the political will to quickly resolve the issue.

The Education Minister's announcement on Jan 27 that the novel would remain as the textbook for Form Five, but with amendments to those parts deemed offensive by the Indian community is not an acceptable solution.

It is puzzling how a book that is so controversial and hurtful to the Indian community could not be withdrawn.

According to new report, Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI) director Lim Teck Ghee has added his voice to calls for the novel Interlok to be removed from the Form Five Malay literature syllabus due to its perpetuation of "offensive stereotyping" of minorities.

The Malaysiakini has reported as follows:-

In remarks e-mailed to Malaysiakini today, the former academician-turned-social activist said some may be tempted to invoke freedom of expression to justify maintaining the book as required reading in secondary schools.That same "freedom to offend" would not, however, be granted if the offence were against Malays, he noted.It is most unfair that the government has not done what should be done – to withdraw the book as a school text book.

It will be doubly unfair if people who exercise their constitutional right of peaceful assembly to protest against the novel are denied such rights.

Thanks

M.Kulasegaran
Ipoh Barat MP

http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com

http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kulasegaran, Malaysians must rise to the occasion and go for change

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at the Chinese New Year gathering organized by Chui Chak Branch New Village, Langkap on Wednesday, February 16, 2010


Come next general election, Malaysians must rise to the occasion and go for change through the ballot boxes.
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Thanks to Chui Chak members for inviting us to the Chinese New Year dinner.

Among leaders present were Chairman,committee members and members of DAP Chui Chak branch,YB Seah Leong Peng, Sdr. Keong Meng Seng, Sdr. Chong Chee King, Sdr. Segaran(Chairman Ipoh Barat branch and also many locals.

Teoh Beng Hock‘s tragic death more than a year ago shocked the entire nation.

How could a young man who had made all the necessary preparations to marry his fiancée ended up dead after being called up by the MACC to assist as a witness in an investigation—this was the question that everyone asked.

And everyone wanted to know why.

However, after more than a year since his tragic death, there is still no answer as to how he died.

The Coroner’s court could only return an open verdict.

Although a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) was finally set up to investigate into the cause of Beng Hock’s death, Beng Hock’s family had decided today to boycott the RCI.

The decision came as the RCI ruled against the family's request to have the hearing postponed until the disposal of a judicial review filed by the family against the coroner's 'open verdict' on Teoh's death.

Teoh family lawyer Karpal Singh had today said Teoh's family had ordered the lawyers to withdraw from the RCI as they could not accept the attorney-general's decision to pursue a revision of the inquest's open verdict, while at the same time sending three officers from his chambers as conducting officers at the RCI.

The government and the RCI ought to know that the nation has been waiting for the truth as to how Teoh Beng Hock died and any investigation must be totally fair and independent.

The RCI must also be able to command full confidence of the Teoh family and the public.

Unfortunately, the Teoh family does not have full confidence in the RCI and the only option for them is to withdraw from the proceedings.

I call on the public to support the Teoh family’s decision to withdraw from the RCI proceedings.

It has been strongly speculated, a snap poll will be held in March or April this year.

Although the Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib has said that BN has changed and reformed, it is still more talk than action.

The fact that Najib talked about ‘BN has changed” shows that he realized the need for change.

But has BN really changed or can it change?

The answer is big NO!

BN has not changed as its major policies have remained.

Even on the fight against corruption, the government has not shown much political will.

BN has been in power too long to be able to make significant and real changes which can bring about a better Malaysia.

Egyptians who had long suffered the dictatorial and corrupt rule of President Hosni Mubarak had recently toppled him through in just 18 days of display of people power.

The wave of change is now sweeping across the Arab nations.

Come next general election, Malaysians must rise to the occasion and go for change through the ballot boxes.

I call on the voters to demonstrate the people power through their votes and vote PR coalition to bring about a better Malaysia for all Malaysians.

Thanks.

M.Kulasegaran
MP Ipoh Barat


http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M.Kulasegaran : Enough is enough; Lets start new journey with PR Government

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at Chineses New year function in DAP Service Centre Teluk Intan on Monday, February 14, 2011

Come next general election, Malaysians who have long yearned for change for the better should also say "enough is enough" and rise to the occasion to vote PR to form the new Federal and Perak state governments.

When delivering his speech at a Chinese New Year open house and briefing on the Malaysian Innovation Agency held at SJK (C) Sungai Way in Petaling Jaya on February 11, the Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib warned the business community that for the sake of their future, they should not take chances by supporting the opposition.

It was reported in the media that although he did not exactly indicate what he was referring to, it was indirectly meant that they should not support Pakatan Rakyat.

He was quoted as saying:-

I share your dreams and aspirations (to build the country). What I want to achieve is a tall order, and I am asking you to join me in this quest.

"The journey may be long, but let us take the journey together. This is not the time to experiment and take chances with your future. I am sure you know what I am referring to... business people are always pragmatic and astute"

I agree with Najib that business people are always pragmatic and astute. And I also agree that no one should simply take chances with their future.

But it is through change that better future can be brought about. And Malaysians must support the opposition for change.

The change that will be brought about by PR is definitely going to be change for the better.

The people's desire for change resulted in the political tsunami of the 2008 general election which caused BN its unprecedented electoral debacle.

It is coming to 3 years since Malaysian voters made the historic and courageous decision to vote for change.

What has the "change" brought about?

Better or worse for the people, including the business community, in the states governed by the PR state governments ?

In Penang, open tender system has been implemented to encourage transparency and fairness. Good FDI has been attracted. In Perak when PR was in power, various policies which would benefit the people eg freehold and for new villages, land and fund allocations for Chinese independent schools were introduced.

There are more examples which I can quote but suffice to say that the political change which took place in the last general election did not wreck businesses.

PR is therefore a coalition that the people can trust to being about a better Malaysia for all.

In fact, the business people and all other Malaysians who want a better Malaysia should vote for change through the ballot boxes in the next general election.

A few days ago, the courageous Egyptians decided that enough was enough and fought against all odds to topple the dictator Hosni Mubarak.

Come next general election, Malaysians who have long yearned for change for the better should also say "enough is enough" and rise to the occasion to vote PR to form the new Federal and Perak state governments.

Thanks.

M.Kulasegaran

Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament

http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M Kula Segaran : The might of people power in overthrowing a dictator.

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at the Chinese New Year Open House in DAP Canning service center in Ipoh on Sunday, February 13, 2011

The fall of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak shows the might of people power in overthrowing a dictator.

It was indeed a great and courageous victory for the Egyptians who had fought against all odds.

Earlier last week, Prime Minister Najib had warned against any attempt to usurp political power in Malaysia, using demonstrations like those in Egypt.

"Don't think that what is happening there must also happen in Malaysia. We will not allow it to happen here," he was reported to have said in the Star.

I wonder why Najib wanted to issue such an unnecessary warning. Opposition parties have been fighting through the ballot boxes for decades and we will aim to achieve our target of bringing about a better society for all though the electoral process.

Yesterday, he commented on the Egypt issue again. He was reported to say that one cannot equate what is happening in Egypt with Malaysia because things are very different in the two countries.

According to media report, the premier also later said that it is the BN's 'People First' policies that will ultimately be the main difference between Malaysia and former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak's 30-year regime.

It is true that the conditions in Egypt and Malaysia are not totally similar. However, there is one similarity. People do want change for the better.

In Malaysia, the desire of the voters for change has resulted in the BN suffering its most unprecedented and unexpected electoral debacle, losing its traditional parliamentary majority in the Dewan Rakyat as well the governmental power to rule in five states.

Malaysians' power lies in their votes. In a democracy, change will be brought about through the ballot boxes and Pakatan Rakyat is determined to call on the people to vote for change in the next general election.

The Egyptians' victory against the dictator has also shown the power of social networking media and internet tools in organizing and mobilizing people.

In preparing for the coming general election, PR must maximize the effective use of these tools to effectively spread our message of change to the voters.

It has been speculated for some time that a snap poll will be held in March or April this year.

The Prime Minister's meeting with Umno divisions is certainly another reason why it is likely that a snap poll will soon take place.

The coming general election is undoubtedly going to be the most important election in the nation's history.

Unlike all previous elections where the talk and possibility of the Opposition toppling the BN government would be regarded as a political joke, the political landscape since the 2008 general election has changed.

In the coming general election, BN will have to face with the real possibility of being toppled from power. Hence, we can expect the coming electoral battle to be the dirtiest in the nation's history as BN will do all it can to cling to power.

Pakatan Rakyat must therefore be better prepared.

I therefore propose that the PR leadership Council to immediately set up a Seat Negotiation Committee to begin the process of seat negotiations among our component parties, including if need be and for strategic reasons, the swapping of seats.

Thanks.

M.Kulasegaran

Ipoh Barat Member of Parliament
 

http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula

M Kula Segaran : BN government simply cannot change ; A new PR government to bring about a better Malaysia for all

Speech by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at the DAP Hutan Melintang Dinner held on Monday, January 31, 2011


BN government simply cannot change. Come next general election, Malaysians must support a new PR government to bring about a better Malaysia for all.

BN has won the Tenang by election as expected. PR did not expect to win but we had hoped to reduce the BN’s majority of 2492 obtained in 2008 general election.PR has to conduct deep analysis into the result to understand how the voting trend will affect or help in our electoral objective of Marching towards Putrajaya.

From the preliminary analysis, it is obvious that as consistent with past public survey findings, the Malay support or rather the rural Malay support for BN has increased.It also appears that there was increased Indian voter support for the BN candidate.This is an important area that PR must look into and quickly plan new strategies to win the people’s support.

Nevertheless, It is very encouraging to note that the Chinese support for the PR candidate in the Tenang by election has increased by some 10 %., despite the fact that the PR candidate is from PAS and MCA has campaigned hard on the Islamic state issue to frighten the Chinese voters.

Somehow MCA still believes that Islamic state issue is its” killer weapon” against the PR, especially the DAP.

But the result has proven that the lie that “a vote for PR is a vote for Islamic state “cannot work anymore.

However, in order for PR to achieve our target of capturing Putrajaya, we will need the support of all races in the country, Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans, Orang Asli and all other minorities.

It has earlier been strongly speculated that a snap poll will be held in March or April this year. It is imperative that PR must reach out more to all communities and to effectively spread our message of Change to them.

It will soon be 3 years since BN was dealt its unprecedented electoral debacle. But has it truly learned its lessons?

According to 9th Malaysia Plan, the government allocation per student per month is as follows:-

National school- RM33.30
Tamil school –RM 10.55
Chinese school –RM 4.50

How could the deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong justify his claim that the BN government has been fair to all schools?

Why the disparity of expenditure of monies between the 3 type of schools on our school going children? Are all our children not born under the Malaysian Sun?

BN government simply cannot change. Come next general election, Malaysians must support a new PR government to bring about a better Malaysia for all.


Thanks.


M.Kulasegaran
MP Ipoh Barat
http://ipohbaratvoice.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/mkula