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ON 25 Nov 2007, the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) burst into public consciousness through a mammoth street rally. Few doubt that Hindraf was pivotal in swinging Indian Malaysian votes away from the Barisan Nasional (BN) three months later in the March 2008 general election.

On 2 July 2009, Malaysiakini reported that Hindraf has submitted an application to the Registrar of Societies to found a new party known as Parti Hak Asasi Manusia (Paham).

But apart from Hindraf, the emergence of other Indian Malaysian political parties is a trend that warrants attention. All claim to want to represent and improve the lot of Indian Malaysians. What does this say about the community itself? And what impact do these divisions have on BN and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)?

PUTRAJAYA, July 2 – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, already facing a political crisis as his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners continue a very public argument, failed in his bid today to shift his Sodomy II trial back to the sessions court.

He will face what he has claimed is a politically-motivated sodomy charge, his second in 10 years, in the High Court instead. Barring any further challenges, the trial is set to start next week.

“I am very disgusted with the decision by the Court of Appeal. Listening to the grounds, I am perturbed that the assurance given by the former prime minister Tun Abdullah Badawi that the AG would not be involved does not mean anything,” Anwar told reporters here in an immediate reaction.

GEORGE TOWN: It was a tense moment at Kampung Buah Pala Thursday when three court bailiffs came to serve eviction notices, but police managed to control the highly-flammable situation.

Still, angry residents have threatened to send a letter to the United Nations for George Town’s Unesco World Heritage Site status to be revoked should the state government fail to help them with their land problems.

Kampung Buah Pala Residents Association chairman M. Sugumaran claimed the state government was “killing” the living heritage of the village, which is popularly known as Penang’s High Chaparral.

PETALING JAYA, July 2 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has blamed the pullout of Kedah DAP from Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) coalition government in the state on "the failure of the PAS-led government to give equal treatment to all Kedahans."

In a press statement, the Bagan MP acknowledged a breakdown of trust within PR in Kedah, leading to the state DAP's decision which he called "a serious matter with large adverse national ramifications."

"It signals the complete lack of communication and respect from the Kedah PAS-led government... unlike the respect accorded to PAS in Penang," the Penang chief minister said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Rakyat Members of Parliament have formed parliamentary committees in tandem with 25 government ministries.

PKR vice-president Azmin Ali said each committee member will be tasked with handling specific issues related to his or her respective ministry.

“The committees were created to help prepare our MPs for better parliamentary debates with government ministers.

JULY 2 — Public procurement is the single most important source of corruption in any country, including ours. This crucial process remains a great mystery to the public at large because it is shrouded in secrecy.

The mystery is heightened by the Official Secrets Act (OSA). The OSA has become a permanent fixture in many jurisdictions, and the Malaysian government is not about to toss it out of the window any time soon. The OSA hides a multitude of sins and it is an impediment to transparency.

KUALA LUMPUR: The judge might have been away, but this did not stop the prosecution and the defence from arguing their case in the High Court here Thursday.

It was supposed to have been the first day of hearing for the return of documents, tissue samples and bodily fluids of suspected car thief A. Kugan who died while in police custody, but Justice Muhamad Ideres Muhamad Rapee was away in Kedah.

Nevertheless, the prosecution and the defence carried on with their arguments before a stunned court official.