Charles Santiago

இண்டர்லோக் நாவலில் திருத்தம் செய்வதை விட மீட்டுக் கொள்வதே சிறந்த வலி- சார்ல்ஸ் சந்தியாகோ
Interlok panellists missing wood for trees
Remove Interlok, remove Muhyiddin
எம்பி: இண்டர்lலோக் பிரச்னையில் துணைப்பிரதமர் தோல்வி கண்டுள்ளதால் பிரதமர் தலையிட வேண்டும்
Interlok: ‘DBP rep the stumbling block’
Nuke warning to beachfront residents
‘Govt nuke friendly, not people friendly’
多国开始检讨核能安全性查尔斯促政府撤核电计划

இண்டர்லோக் நாவலில் திருத்தம் செய்வதை விட மீட்டுக் கொள்வதே சிறந்த வலி- சார்ல்ஸ் சந்தியாகோ

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 09:06 PM PDT

அண்மையில் சர்ச்சைக்குரிய இண்டர்லோக் நாவலை மீள் ஆய்வு செய்யும் சுயேச்சைக் குழுவில் உள்ள மூன்று உறுப்பினர்கள் கருத்து வேறுப்பாட்டல் விலகியதாக செய்திகள் வெளிவந்தவண்ணம் உள்ளன.

அதன் காரணம் அம்மூவர் சேர்ந்து பரிந்துரைத்த 100 திருத்தங்களையும் டேவான் பகாசா டான் புஸ்டகாவால் நிரகரிக்கப்பட்டதாலாகும்.

ஆனால், பரிந்துரைக்கப்பட்ட100 திருத்தங்களையும் தாம் நிராகரித்ததாகக் கூறப்படுவதை மறுத்த முகைதின், உண்மையில், திருத்தங்களை மறு ஆய்வுசெய்யுமாறு தாம் கேட்டுக்கொண்டதாகக் கூறினார். முக்கியமான விசயத்தை விட்டுவிலகி சின்னச்சின்ன விசயங்கள் பரிந்துரைக்கப்பட்டிருந்ததாக தாம் கருதியதே இதற்குக் காரணம் என்றார் அவர்.

ஆயினும் இங்கு எழும் கேள்வியே ஏன் தேவையில்லாமல் இந்த நாவலை திருத்தம் செய்ய கலந்துரையாடல் நடத்தப் படவேண்டும் என்பதேயாகும் என கிள்ளான் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் சார்ல்ஸ் சந்தியாகோ கேள்வி எழுப்பினார்.

இந்நாவல் பல இந்தியர்களிடமிருந்தும் பல தரப்பினர்களிடமிருந்தும் பல எதிர்ப்புகளை எதிர்நோக்கியுள்ளது. இவர்கள் அந்நாவலை மீட்க வேண்டும் என அரசாங்கத்தை வலியுறுத்தி வறுகின்றனர்.

ஆயினும் அரசாங்கம் அவர்களின் உணர்ச்சிக்கும் கருத்துக்கும் மதிப்பளிக்காது அந்நாவலை தடை செய்யாமல் திருத்தம் செய்வதாக சொல்லி காலம் தாழ்த்துவது பொறுப்பற்ற செயல் என தாம் கருதுவதாக சார்ல்ஸ் கூறினார்.

அரசாங்கம் உண்மையில் நாட்டின் ஒற்றுமைக்கும் இன ஒற்றுமைக்கும் முக்கியத்துவம் தருகின்றது என்றால் இந்தியர்களின் கருத்துக்கு மதிப்பளித்து இண்டர்லோக் நாவலில் திருத்தம் செய்வதை விட உடனடியாக மீட்டுக் கொள்வதே சிறந்த வலி என சார்ல்ஸ் சந்தியாகோ அரசாங்கத்தைக் கேட்டுக் கொண்டார்

Interlok panellists missing wood for trees

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:32 PM PDT

Source: Free Malaysia Today

Tarani Palani | March 17, 2011

Muhyiddin says while the big issue is close to being resolved, the Indian reps on the Interlok panel are fixated with the smaller ones.

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has downplayed the walkout staged by three Indian members on the independent panel, tasked with amending the controversial Interlok novel.

Speaking to reporters in Parliament, Muhyiddin, who is also the education minister, said MIC president G Palanivel was taking care of the matter.

"I was informed by Palanivel… and he has informed them that they must remain (on the panel). He will handle the three," said the deputy prime minister.

It was reported that the three panellists were upset that Muhyiddin had rejected all the 100 amendments suggested.

However, Muhyiddin explained that the suggested amendments were "minute" and did not concern the main issue, which was the offensive terms.

"For example, they want the letter 'T' referring to 'Tuhan' to be changed to upper case. If (the amendments) have nothing to do with the main issue, then why bring it up?" he said.

No reason to revoke the 'good' novel

Muhyddin said that the main issue, which revolved around the word "pariah", was close to being resolved but there were still certain details which needed to be ironed out.

"The main issue appears to have been solved, the pariah issue… but that will take some time," he said, adding that there was no need to revoke the book.

"That question (revoking the book) does not arise; we need to just correct the contentious issues. To us there is no problem, the novel is a good novel," he said.

Asked how long the panel would take to deliberate on the changes, Muhyddin said that it could take some time due to the sensitivity of the matter.

"We want to put a full stop to this (controversy)," he stressed.

Muhyddin also dismissed the opposition's claim that the Interlok issue had caused the Indian community to lose faith in him.

Referring to DAP MP Charles Santiago, the deputy prime minister said: "He is not resolving the matter, he is merely stirring it up."

When contacted, one of the three Indian panellist Uthaya Sankar SB said he heard media reports that Muhyiddin wanted to meet all three Indian panellists.

"However we haven't received any invitations yet," he said.

Remove Interlok, remove Muhyiddin

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:27 PM PDT

Source: Free Malaysia Today

Tarani Palani | March 17, 2011

In a collective stand, Pakatan MPs call for the revocation of the controversial book and for Najib to replace his deputy in the deliberation process.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat MPs today made a collective stand, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the Interlok novel.

They also wanted Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to be removed from the deliberation process based on the three Indian representatives quitting the independent panel, tasked with amending the book.

"Muhyiddin should be taken out and (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) should replace him," DAP MP Charles Santiago told reporters in Parliament.

PKR MP Johari Abdul urged the government to take heed of the people's voice. "If the people say it is sensitive, accept it lah."
Johari also took a swipe at the government's decision to edit the book after a firestorm of protest, especially from the Indian community.

The book, penned by national laureate Abdullah Hussain, courted controversy when it was introduced as a component for the Malay literature subject for Form Five students this year.

"This is the work of a national laureate, how are you going to edit the gist of the work (without violating the author's right)?" asked the PKR MP.

DAP's Teluk Intan MP M Manogaran said the matter must be resolved quickly as the students would sit for their SPM examination in November.

He urged the government to apologise and immediately retract the book from the syllabus.

The press conference was also attended by MP Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor), M Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) and R Sivarasa (PKR-Subang).

The three panellists had walked out complaining that 100 suggested amendments were shot down, but Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said this was because it concerned "minute" details.

எம்பி: இண்டர்lலோக் பிரச்னையில் துணைப்பிரதமர் தோல்வி கண்டுள்ளதால் பிரதமர் தலையிட வேண்டும்

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 05:37 AM PDT

மூலம் :- மலேசியா இன்று

17 Mar | செய்தி.

இண்டர்லோக் புத்தகத்தைப் பள்ளிக்கூடங்களில் பயன்படுத்துவது மீதான சர்ச்சைக்குத் தீர்வு காண கல்வி அமைச்சருமான முஹைடின் யாசின் அமைத்த குழு அதன் சட்டப்பூர்வத் தன்மையை இழந்து விட்டதால் அந்த விவகாரத்தைக் கையாளுவதற்கு இனிமேலும் முஹைடினை நம்ப முடியாது என எதிர்த்தரப்பு நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.

ஆகவே நீண்ட காலமாகத் தொடரும் அந்த விவகாரத்தைப் பிரதமர் நஜிப் அப்துல் ரசாக்கே தீர்க்க வேண்டும் என கிள்ளான் எம்பி சார்லஸ் சண்டியாகோ தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

"அந்தக் குழு முஹைடினை நேற்றுச் சந்திப்பதற்கு முன்பு ஒப்புக் கொள்ளப்பட்ட அனைத்து 100 திருத்தங்களும் தூக்கி எறியப்பட்டு விட்டதால் அந்தக் குழு தனது சட்டப்பூர்வத்தன்மையை இழந்து விட்டது."

"பறையா' என்னும் சொல் பயன்படுத்தப்படுவதற்கு முஹைடின் ஒப்புக் கொள்கிறாரா ? பிரதமரும் ஒப்புக் கொள்கிறாரா? துணைப் பிரதமரிடம் அந்த விவகாரம் இனிமேலும் விட்டு வைக்கப்படக் கூடாது" , என சண்டியாகோ நாடாளுமன்ற வளாகத்தில் நிருபர்களிடம் இன்று கூறினார்.

Interlok: ‘DBP rep the stumbling block’

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 03:30 AM PDT

Source : Free Malaysia Today

March 17, 2011

MIC president G Palanivel tells why the three Indian representatives quit the independent panel to review Interlok.

KUALA LUMPUR: The three Indian representatives of the independent panel to review Interlok quit because because every amendment they proposed was objected by the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka representative, MIC president G Palanivel said today.

"The other panellists agreed to the removal of one sensitive word pertaining to caste. The Indian panellists had brought out many amendments which they had classified as sensitive or hurtful to the
Indians," he said in a statement.

Yesterday, one of the the three Indian panellists, G Krishnabhagwan, an ex-civil servant, also claimed that "Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin wanted us (panellists) to cut back on the amendments at a meeting we had with him in Parliament".
The two other Indians on the eight-member are Global Aminuddin Baki Universiti education centre director Prof NS Rajendran and Kavyan Writers Association chairman Uthaya Sankar SB.

Palanivel also urged the Education Ministry to take a firm stand on the Interlok issue, as it has the potential to become divisive during a time when unity should be a common goal.

"Since we are moving towards the much-touted 1Malaysia concept, it is important that this whole Interlok issue be handled well."

Palanivel also said that he had been in communication with the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Muhyiddin regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, opposition MPs, disheartened by this turn of events, laid the blame squarely on Muhyiddin, who is also the education minister, for the fiasco.

"Muhyiddin clearly is not interested in amending Interlok as it will rattle Malay rights group, Perkasa," said DAP's Charles Santiago.

"They are promoting racism and Malay supremacy in literature," added Santiago who is Klang MP.

Perkasa and a host of other Malay NGOs supported moves for the book to be retained as it is.

Action plan

National Interlok Action Team (NIAT), a coalition of Indian NGOs against the usage of Interlok in schools, said it was disappointed in Muhyiddin for interfering in the issue.

"Who is the education minister to ask the independent panel to review the recommendations?" asked NIAT chairman Thasleeem Mohamad.

"In doing so the panel is no longer independent," he said.

Thasleeem also revealed that NIAT would continue with its action plan which includes a nationwide hunger strike this month.

Interlok, written by Abdullah Hussain, is being used as a literature component for Bahasa subject for fifth formers in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

Several groups have claimed that the novel contains elements racist to the Indian community.

Besides, many NGOs have also found that the book contains a number of historical errors and misrepresentations.

Nuke warning to beachfront residents

Posted: 17 Mar 2011 03:17 AM PDT

Source: Merdeka Review

Patrick Lee | March 17, 2011

Malaysian nuclear power plants are likely to be located near water, says DAP's Santiago.

KUALA LUMPUR: Beachfront property owners may find themselves living near nuclear power plants if Malaysia goes ahead with its current energy plans.

The MP for Klang, DAP's Charles Santiago, told reporters at Parliament lobby here today that waterside residents were at risk because nuclear power plants need a lot of water to run.

"Now as you know, nuclear power plants require lots and lots of water, so they have to be near the sea," he said. "So, all you people living near water, you are targeted. The government is going to target your land and your area for construction."

The government intends to build two 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plants by 2021, according to its Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

Despite heavy criticism, especially since the unfolding of the nuclear crisis in Japan, the government appears to have no qualms about adopting nuclear energy.

It plans to allocate an estimated RM21.3 billion for the two plants.

Rasah MP Anthony Loke Siew Fook, also of DAP, said the party would start a signature campaign against the nuclear plans this weekend.

"DAP Youth will launch a mass signature campaign to oppose this project," he said, adding that it would start in Miri, the parliamentary constituency represented by Peter Chin, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister.

He said DAP was confident of quickly meeting its target of 100,000 signatures.

He accused Chin of evasion in answering questions about Malaysia's nuclear plans at a press conference yesterday.

"He did not give straight answers," he said.

Chin, who called the press conference to talk about electric scooters, was bombarded with questions about the nuclear plans instead.

He claimed to have little knowledge about them, saying the Malaysian Nuclear Power Corporation was the best source of information.

Tags: Charles Santiago, Anthony Loke, DAP, Japan, Peter Chin, nuclear energy, Japan earthquake, Japan tsunami, Malaysian Nuclear Power Corporation

‘Govt nuke friendly, not people friendly’

Posted: 16 Mar 2011 11:52 PM PDT

Source:Free Malaysia Today

Patrick Lee | March 16, 2011

DAP accuses the government of capitulating to voices of nuclear energy lobbyists and choosing to ignore public opinion

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin appears to have been swayed by nuclear energy lobbyists over public opinion, said DAP's Charles Santiago.

The Klang parliamentarian said that Malaysia seems to suffering from the same "cosy relationship" enjoyed between private corporations and the state.

"The nuclear energy industry is under the control of nuclear lobbyists. It is riddled with lies and falsification," he said.

Malaysia plans to build two 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plants by 2021. Santiago referred to a news report where Japan's biggest power company, Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco), was accused of faking safety data over its nuclear reactors.

The Reuters report said that Tepco's president and four of its top executives were forced resign in 2002 after falsifying nuclear plant safety records.

In 2006, the Japanese government ordered Tepco to check its data of coolant water temperatures at its Fukushima Daiichi plant when it was found to have been falsified.

Three of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors exploded following earthquake in Sendai recently.

Despite these issues, Muhyiddin appeared to have no qualms about building two 1,000MW nuclear power plants in the country.

DPM highly irresponsible

The government had announced a possible RM21.3 billion budget for the project under the much-hyped Economic Transformation Programme.

This readiness for nuclear energy worried the DAP MP, who said that Muhyiddin was both highly irresponsible and down-right ignorant of state responsibility.

"Are they (the government) under the control of the nuclear lobbyists? Have they bought into the story of the nuclear industry, lock, stock and barrel?" he asked.

Santiago said that many in the world have had second thoughts about continuing their nuclear energy programmes following the Fukushima Daiichi crisis.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a shutdown seven pre-1980 reactors during a three-month review of nuclear plant safety, as well as a rethinking of its nuclear strategy.

Santiago also said that the Swiss government was putting its nuclear plans on hold until a review of safety norms.

Malaysia, in comparison, would be left in the dark if there was a problem with its nuclear reactors.

Going by Tepco's example, he said that the nuclear energy industry would most likely lie to Malaysia's leaders over its safety protocols.