malaysiakini/news/248396 Thugs linked to politicians disrupted NGO meeting · Susan Loone · 1:44PM Dec 4, 2013 Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia has lodged a police report against individuals believed to be hired thugs allegedly linked to Penang’s top politicians. The association’s national adviser, N Ganesan, lodged the report at the Jalan Patani, Northeast Police Headquarters at 7.33pm yesterday. The report was received by Corporal Tanabalan Ayasami Pillai. In a press conference today, Ganesan said a meeting held by several Indian NGOs attended by about 50 people at the Caring Society along Jalan Utama on Nov 30 was violently disrupted by a few thugs. Ganesan (second from right) said the thugs threatened him with “bodily harm” and tried to prevent the group from sending a memorandum on the poor management and system of crematoriums run by the Penang Hindu Endowment Board to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his deputy P Ramasamy. The crematoriums are located in Batu Lanchang and have been a sore point for Hindus as the two incinerators have not been functioning for about six months, and their dead had to be allegedly burnt in the open. He concluded that the thugs, especially one who is known as Rajendran, had uttered words which indicated that they were allegedly linked to Lim and Ramasamy. Asked what were the words, Ganesan said the man shouted, “You cannot send this (memorandum) to the CM!” “A scuffle then broke out, someone was punched by the thugs and we had to abort the meeting. Some women were also threatened when they were verbal exchanges between them and the thugs,” said Ganesan, who held the press conference at Krystal Point. Later, Ganesan showed the media a photo taken of the alleged thug with Ramasamy and several others. “The purpose of the meeting was to get consensus from the group gathered there to send a petition to Lim for him to address the problems of the crematorium,” Ganesan added. “We see nothing wrong in that and to help us is in Lim’s best interests. We urge the police to probe the truth of our claims and establish the truth,” he stressed. Ganesan claimed that this was not the first time that NGO events had been disrupted by gangsters. Another meeting planned this Saturday Unfazed by the threat, Ganesan said another meeting with the NGOs is planned this Saturday at the same venue and a larger crowd is expected to attend. He added that the group still wants to request a meeting with Lim to hand in the memorandum, adding that the issue of the crematoriums is not a “narrow” Indian issue but is of national concern. When contacted, Ramasamy (right) denied any knowledge of the act purportedly carried out by the suspect mentioned by Ganesan. “We do not have problems with people or NGOs sending us memorandums, we have received hundreds of them. Send it to us, we will receive it,” Ramasamy told Malaysiakini. “What business is this linking the gangsters to us. Don’t be childish and immatured. I have no problems with them lodging a police report, let the force probe the matter,” Ramasamy added. On the issue of crematoriums, Ramasamy said the board has organised a special committee to handle the issue. “The concerns of the crematoriums are being looked into. They will begin operating soon. There will be significant changes as we have engaged a company to look into this,” he added.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 09:42:23 +0000
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