Dark Deepavali for residents of Malaysia’s demolished village

October 15th, 2009 MIRI - Deepavali this year has special significance for the Indian community settled in this eastern state of Malaysia as the Miri Indian Association is now 70 years old. Indians, mainly from Punjab, came here during the colonial era to help in oil exploration.

October 14th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - A Malaysian restaurant in London will host a "Banana Leaf Food Festival" in conjunction with Hindu festival Deepavali. The Awana Restaurant at 85 Sloane Avenue will organize the revelry till October 21 to promote Malaysian cuisine, in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

October 12th, 2009 GEORGE TOWN - As Malay-Indians get ready to celebrate Deepavali in their traditional north and south Indian ways, a couple in George Town has merged both traditions to make the most of the festival of lights. Administrative assistant Ramesh Sharma, 48, of North Indian origin, is married to Sumathi Sharma, 48, a Tamil.

October 9th, 2009 GEORGE TOWN - Malaysia's "Little India" area in George Town has come alive with shoppers flocking to buy clothes, prayer paraphernalia, provisions, traditional Indian delicacies and decorative pieces in preparation for Deepavali, the festival of lights. The shops are decked with festive decorations and, in the background, popular Tamil songs from the latest movies are blasting away on speakers placed outside the shops to the sweet smell of incense wafting in the air.

October 9th, 2009 SELANGOR - Authorities in the Malaysian state of Selangor have put off the demolition of the 130-year-old Sri Maha Mariamman temple, which is located in Jenjarom. A decision to put off the demolition was reached after an agreement between the temple committee, the developer and the Kuala Langat police, reports The Star.

October 8th, 2009 PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has reportedly cleared a proposal that instructs state education directors to approve requests from schools for an extra day off on October 20 to celebrate Deepavali. "The decision was made to enable parents to make plans for their families to travel earlier and avoid traffic jams," The Star quoted him, as saying after he had inspected students sitting for the first day of the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) at SMK Presint 8 (1) yesterday.

October 8th, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian Indian school children will get an extra day off to enjoy the coming Deepavali festival, the government has decided following numerous requests from schools and parents. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced Thursday that the states' education directors had been told to approve requests from schools for an extra day off Oct 20.

October 7th, 2009 MALACCA - Deepavali came early for 500 underprivileged families here who received cash aid totalling RM100,000 from the Malacca Welfare Department. According to The Star, Malacca Chief Minister Mohammad Ali Rustam, who presented the money to the families, reminded them to cherish the stability in the country and to not sow discord among the races.

October 6th, 2009 GEORGETOWN - The Hindu Endowment Board of Malaysian state Penang has proposed to convert a site in Balik Pulau as a Hindu burial and cremation ground. Keeping in view the overcrowded Hindu cemeteries in the state, the board had estimated the need 20,334 square metre land.

September 29th, 2009 GEORGE TOWN - With only three weeks remaining, 'Deepavali' preparations are going on in full swing in Malaysia's 'Little India'. Colourful banners proclaiming "Deepavali sales" are strung across the streets in the Penang's Indian enclave, which encompasses Market Street, Penang Street, Queen Street and King Street, The New Strait Times reports.uring this festive season, the whole area takes on a carnival atmosphere as temporary stalls selling colourful Indian sweets, delicacies, clothing and decorative items are set up by the roadside.

September 1st, 2009 KUALA LUMPUR - Muruku, the savoury Indian snack, is on its way to fast become one of the most popular bites during the festival of Eid ul-Fitr, also known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, in Malaysia. Primary school headmaster D.

August 14th, 2009 TAIPEI - About 300 people are estimated to have been killed by a massive landslide that wiped out much of a village in southern Taiwan, news agency reports quoted a government official, as saying on Friday. The tragedy is said to have taken place in the village of Hsiao Li.

July 6th, 2009 IPOH - The Democratic Action Party chief of Malaysia's Kedah state, Thomas Su, has claimed that illegal Hindu and Chinese temples are about to be demolished in the state, and he has evidence to back his claim. His revelation is set to widen his rift with Kedah Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) Azizan Abdul Razak, who had accused him of stirring up racial issues.

June 7th, 2009 GEORGE TOWN - Residents of Penang's sole Malay Indian village, Kampung Lorong Buah Pala, have urged Pakatan Rakyat leaders to save their village which faces demolition threat due to a development project. The village's residents' association chairman, M.

May 5th, 2009 ANKARA - Unidentified gunmen killed 44 persons attending a wedding party in a village on Monday. Reports from the village of Sultankoy in Turkey's south eastern Mardin Province, quoted acting governor Ahmet Ferhat Ozen as saying that:"The assailants, wearing masks, stormed a building in the village of Sultankoy, some 20 km (12 miles) from Mardin, and opened fire on wedding guests." Hospital officials said that apart from the 44 killed, at least 17 others were injured.