Who paid for that 'OPEN House of the PM'? Why target HINDRAF and not the other anti-ISA protesters?

Now in the Utusan Malaysia, there is a report that our Home Minister has warned HINDRAF but then he makes no mention about the others who went there (that bloggers support group) that were there protesting the arrest and detention of RPK and others held under the ISA...

Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar memberi amaran keras kepada pertubuhan haram Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supaya tidak menjadikan toleransi antara agama dan kaum di negara ini sebagai ‘bahan uji kaji’.

Katanya, tindakan mereka menyerbu majlis Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Perdana Menteri dan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet beragama Islam kelmarin adalah satu bentuk provokasi yang melampau dan menakutkan.

Sehubungan itu, beliau mengingatkan penyokong Hindraf supaya tidak menyalahkan orang lain sekiranya pihak berkuasa bertindak kerana perbuatan mereka itu bertentangan dengan tatasusila.

“Jangan uji banyak sangat tahap toleransi, mereka kena fikir perasaan orang lain. Janganlah hingga melampaui batas.

“Mereka tidak sensitif dengan agama orang lain dan itu bukannya ajaran agama Hindu,” katanya ketika dihubungi Utusan Malaysia di sini hari ini.

Beliau mengulas perbuatan sekumpulan penyokong Hindraf yang menimbulkan kekecohan pada majlis Rumah Terbuka Hari Raya Aidilfitri Perdana Menteri dan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC) kelmarin. - Utusan Malaysia, 3/10/2008, Hindraf diberi amaran

They were there to voice their protest to the Prime Minister (irrespective whether they are Muslim or otherwise) - and it is very wrong for the Home Minister (as reported in the Utusan) to try and spin it around and make it a 'religious tolerance' issue.

I do not think that it an issue of disrespect to any religion or religious practice....it is the Minister who is trying to twist and turn matters...

Hindu Rights Action Force members' "intimidating" actions at the ministers' open house on Wednesday were described yesterday as being disrespectful and inappropriate.

Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said the group's boldness at the function also constituted an insult to Islam.

The event was hosted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Syed Hamid said that the group should have known better than to hamper the spirit and celebration of a religious occasion with a political message.

"If they wanted to join in the celebrations, that's fine. But they came wearing T-shirts of the same colour and making it very clear that they wanted to deliver a message to the prime minister.

"That crosses the line and is just unacceptable, especially at a public function.

"There are other days to voice their protest or send a message. There are other avenues to bring up their disagreements."

A group of Hindraf supporters brought a Hari Raya card and a teddy bear which they handed to Abdullah.

The card, delivered by Vwaishnnavi, the 5-year-old daughter of Hindraf leader in exile P. Waythamoorthy, urged Abdullah to release the movement's leaders detained under the Internal Security Act.

The group led by Waythamoorthy's wife K. Shanti had gathered outside the building at 11am - The New Straits Times, 3/10/2008 - Hindraf ticked off for 'disrespect' at open house

The failure to reprimand (let alone report) the other group who also protested the ISA detentions in both the Utusan and the NST reports also raises questions. Was that because that other group was multi-racial and multi-religious? Or was it again an act of discrimination?

Several supporters of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin

T-shirt condemning use of ISA on Raja Petra

Visitors to the open house at the buffet spread

Hindraf activists walk orderly in single file through a banquet hall while looking for the prime minister

Abdullah smiles as he greets the activists. Looking on is his wife Jeanne Abdullah and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak

Bloggers pose after accomplishing their mission

[Photos by Andrew Ong]- Malaysiakini.

By the way protesting at the Prime Minsiter's Open House is definitely safer - because less likely they will use water cannons and tear gas?

They always talk about "There are other days to voice their protest or send a message. There are other avenues to bring up their disagreements." - BUT what exactly are these. When actually can you get to the Prime Minister to voice your protest and concerns. I remember, even when the Malaysian Bar led by its President went to the PM's office in Putrajaya - the police were around - and neither the PM or the DPM had the courtesy to come and receive the Memorandum...

Another question that must be raised is WHO IS PAYING for that open house? Is the the rakyat's money?

Whose open house is it? The PM or the UMNO open House or the open house of the "Perdana Menteri dan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet beragama Islam..."

My suspicion is that it is the government's money that is being used here....not the PM's money or ....some other person's money...

Previously, the PM used to have his open house at his house - I remember going to Sri Perdana several years ago for Mahathir's open house. Minisiter's also had their own open houses. I believe they would have been paying out of their own pockets for these open houses...but then I may be wrong.

It is funny how they call it their open house - and use OUR money to finance it...mmm

The wealth and the monies of the nation MUST and can only be used for the people (the rakyat). If the PM wants to have an open house - then he must use his opwn money. If UMNO or Pakatan want to have somne victory celebration, then they must use the party funds...This must be a STRICT rule that should be followed by all in government.

I hope that someone ask in Parliament as to who pays for this OPEN HOUSE and how much of the government money and money's worth was expended for this open house...