Last Thursday, in my “Do we stand by Selvach or…?” post, I shared with you the concerns we had about ensuring Selvach remained unmolested and free of any police harassment on his way to or from the Kuala Lumpur High Court to testify in the on-going trial of the civil suit in connection with the death in custody of Guna.
Then, on Saturday, I put up a short post to inform you that arrangements had been made, but held back on details so as not to compromise those arrangements.
Selvach commenced his evidence-in-chief in the afternoon on Monday, 21st January and continued yesterday. He has been cross-examined and re-examined and I have been informed by counsel representing the family of Guna in the suit that Selvach has completed his evidence and has been released as a witness and will not have to go back to court.
We had initially proposed to have Selvach moved from his home before the trial commenced and have him placed in a hotel not too far from the court complex and after he had finished his testimony, to have him moved out of Kuala Lumpur for at least a month or at least until judgment in the suit had been delivered.
Selvach, however, was concerned that, in his absence from the family home, his wife and children may face harassment, and instead elected to have his entire family relocated to a ‘safe house’.
We went along with that.
Selvach and family will continue to remain at the ‘safe house’ until it is safe for them to return to their family home.
We have made arrangements to afford him and the family a reasonable allowance.
You may recall that when Guna’s family had successfully applied for an order of court for a second post-mortem, I had appealed to you for funds to meet the cost of that procedure and had subsequently sought your permission to help out Guna’s family with the funeral expenses.
After accounting for those expenses, there was a balance sum of RM8,500.o0.
I had then proposed applying the balance towards a Project 1805, but nothing came of it.
I have taken the liberty of applying some of those funds towards the allowance to Selvach and the family.
I will keep you informed of developments from time to time, if the circumstances permit me to do so.
mike
January 23, 2013
once again, Haris, I salute you for what you have been and are doing to ensure justice, human rights, true democracy, ABU, SAMM and so much more for our country…i am an overseas anak bangsa malaysia so I can only support the cause financially. If more is needed to support Selvach and his family, than what your balance funds allow, do post an appeal and i will contribute
Thank you Bro, and God bless
Another Anak Bangsa Malaysia
January 23, 2013
Haris,
I seldom see you quoting huge slabs of the Qur’an to tell everybody what a good Muslim you are.
You are a man of deeds, not words unlike those pretenders I have seen recently on your blog.
I know it is pointless to tell you that any funds I have contributed is to be applied as you wish because you will insist on presenting audited statements anyway.
More power to you, Haris Ibrahim.
shakuntala
January 23, 2013
Support this cause Haris….. and you may depend on whoever comes forward to help these families, in need
chong
January 23, 2013
Haris, keep up the good deeds. Good days will surely follow you. You are indeed an excellent muslim brother who built bridges amongst the rakyat of different religions and a great sacrify to clear misconception created by Umno and the Gov’t. We needed more like you. Thnks bro.
Muhammad Azman
January 23, 2013
An open letter to Haris.
As you are aware, I hold back my opinions towards articles appearing at your blog eventhough I read them all, lately. Sometimes, I can’t contain myself but to express. Why?
Haris, why ABU/BN? Do allow me to refresh your own belief/ideology which I strongly share.
Why do we say ABU/BN? The basics and reasoning are simple, Malaysia Sejati’s interest comes first, right? Then what should follow through from People’s Parliament blog are issues related to independance of our judiciary, anti-corruption bodies, and election commission. Apart from this, formation of IPMC and making Petronas accounts tranparent will surely add color in ensuring the success of Why ABU/BN.
If we were to pursue administrative issues like kalimah Allah, dead of detainees at lock ups, and so forth, then we have lost track of our ultimate goal. I am not saying this issues are not important, indeed it is very critical issues.
But my believe is, those issues are for human rights champions blog and like minded NGO’s.
When we speak of BN’s weakness, you would agree they have done well in administrating through our civil servsnts well. We have good roads, marvellous medical services, acceptable educational facilities and opportunities. Most of our government department works and well to.
So how do we beat them? Not by critising the miserable handouts being made lately for sure. Not by talking about lock up deaths. Not by disagreeing on kalimah Allah issue for sure as well.
There is indeed an urgent need to educate the rakyat on why MACC should come under parliament jurisdiction. Highlight serious corruption issues which till today BN has conveniently avoided to explain or even when an explanation is given, how idiotic those reasonings are.
Educate us why we need an truely independent Judiciary. Cite the choice of previous and current Federal Court judges and throw in question on wether they can be impartial when delivering politically inclined verdicts.
Narrate the importance of an independent Election Commission. The immeadiate benefit will be, rakyat’s choice of government will indeed be realised, and not some government that comes to take the chair by mischievious methods.
Tell the rakyat that Petronas makes two types payment to the government, one by way of corporate tax, that we all know, and the being dividend payout, which apart from the Prime Minister, no one knows where it goes. Enlightent them the amount is also very substantial, similar in amount to tax paid.
And in summary, as long as BN is in rule, the will of seeing this institution being return to the rakyat will never see it’s daylight. Emphasise that with the alternative government, the chances are better to realise this divine wishes of ours.
Bread and butter issues are no longer we Malaysian’s seek. Haris, we have come a long way since 1957.
S. Menon
January 24, 2013
I can agree with SOME of the things you say. Yet, I do not feel that Haris’s fears for Selvach are entirely irrelevant. It may not have much to do with ABU per se, but reflects more on Haris’s sense of justice and fair play which no one should cavil at.
However, I DO take exception to the following statement of yours: “When we speak of BN’s weakness, you would agree they have done well in administrating through our civil servants well. We have good roads, marvellous medical services, acceptable educational facilities and opportunities. Most of our government department works and well to.”
Really? I, for one, most certainly DO NOT agree with it. Which cloud-cuckoo world do you live in? Perhaps you wear rose-tinted spectacles?
Our civil servants, expecially those in the upper echelon, are Little Napoleons, a law unto themselves while their minions, for the most part, are utterly disfunctional.
Our good roads are heavily taxed, badly lit, with poor signages and, often, not built to international standards.
Our so-called “marvellous medical services” exist only for those with deep pockets – have you EVER been to the small hospitals in the smaller towns and seen just how chaotic they are?
And we MOST CERTAINLY should not settle for “acceptable educational facilities”. In my day, many of my fellow class got direct scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge. Now, only a very small number get good enough grades to gain admission to some of the lesser-known British universities, that too after a year at Brighton to improve their miserable standards of English!
You are obviously quite a well-educated person but, I fear, you set too low a standard for your fellow Mala
Ellese
January 24, 2013
Though I don’t agree with all your points but this is a good write. It’s fair and balance.
E
January 23, 2013
Thank You.
Lynn Cheang
January 23, 2013
Haris, it is good to know that you are positively doing something directly to help the families of those who died in police custody and the witness protection programme such that the witness get to testify and ensure successful prosecution of perpetrators. The reality is that the victims are usually Malaysian Indians and they are by far the most marginalised and I am really thankful they have someone like you to see that they get the justice they deserve. Bless you.
siebel
January 23, 2013
Thanks, Haris for the update. What a relief to know that Selvach + family are in a safe house.
How about giving Selvach+family all of RM8.5K? They will need it especially with children in tow.
Do another donation drive for Selvach………I will definitely contribute to this cause.
I still fear for his life…….fear that those walking excrement in blue will come, beat him up and take him away again.
You are so full of compassion and kindness….I never forget how you’ve helped Guna’s family. God will bless you +family.
shakuntala
January 24, 2013
Mohammad Azman…..in a way you are teaching Haris to suck eggs……sorry. To me your views are so depressing, you have no idea what Government of the People, for the People and by the People is all about…..these ideals have been fought for by persons who had vision, for the sake of Mankind..
Do you know, or have you ever thought, that for 40 percent of Malaysians, ie the marginalized, the bread and butter issues that you so carelessly set aside, are the be all of their existence.