December 9, 2007 MUSLIM PROFESSIONALS FORUM STATEMENT
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana (1863-1952) The Muslim Professionals Forum (MPF) view with much concern the events that have unfolded the past few weeks which only testifies to the wisdom of the abovementioned verse. Civil society and the world at large has been treated to dark images of the streets of Kuala Lumpur due to memory lapses on the part of both the government and the governed. The unprecedented, highly inflammatory and malicious statements issued by P. Uthayakumar, as legal adviser to Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Force), failed to recognized the decorum of civilized discourse and was calculated to incite racial and religious discord among Malaysians. The perennial denial of her citizens to a peaceful assembly and the inappropriate show of force by the police only serve to demonstrate an unduly autocratic political governance out of sync with the higher aspirations of the democratic process. THE MUSLIM PROFESSIONALS FORUM (MPF) TAKING COGNISANCE OF THE ABOVE DO HEREBY: 1.. URGE the leadership of Hindraf to furnish the legal evidence for their alleged grouses and grievances and cease the distortion and falsification of historical facts; b.. URGE the leadership of Hindraf to exhaust all the legal avenues within the Malaysian legal and judicial system to seek redress of their alleged discrimination and marginalisation; c.. URGE the government to respect and honour the fundamental right of the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly of her citizens; d.. URGE the government through the office of the Inspector General of Police to not inflame further the situation by its high handedness but instead observe due restraint; e.. URGE the government through the office of the Attorney General to study the Court action filed by Hindraf in the UK and to take the necessary preemptive steps relevant thereto; f.. CONDEMN in no uncertain terms the veiled threat of violence by some leaders of Hindraf if its demands are not met; g.. SUPPORT the aspirations of all Malaysians to treasure the peace and harmony we have thus far enjoyed and protect it against all forms of subversive elements. Dr Mazeni bin Alwi Chairman Muslim Professionals Forum Berhad
