Jul
06
2008
We can see that many Indian barbers are actually foreigners. Just like the many food stalls being operated by Indonesians, Vietnamese, Filipinos, Myanmar, Nepalese, and China and Indian nationals. Due to the link between job and caste in the Indian culture, not many will easily venture into this occupation. However, times are changing and hopefully more youths take up this job - the income is good, especially if one can provide more than just basic haircut.
Due to the dominance of foreign Indian barbers and lack of participation by locals, Giatmara is planning to start courses for youths to be barbers. If I remember correctly, certain amount of places are allocated for Indian community, so those interested should make use of this opportunity. However, what worries me is the statement below:
We hope to produce qualified Malay barbers who can later expand their business which is now dominated by Indians,” Ayub said at the graduation ceremony of 325 Giatmara students from 10 centres in Penang at its Permatang Pauh centre here on Wednesday.
Ayub is the Curriculum Development Department head, Ayub Hamat. He added that:
He said the income of barbers was very lucrative and this had prompted many foreigners, especially Indian nationals, to take up the job. Ayub said a barber who owned a shop can earn up to RM5,000 monthly.
So, not sure if these courses will be opened to Indians. Secondly, whether Indian youths will be impeded by their cultural beliefs even if these courses are opened up.
Meanwhile, the Penang Maruthuvar Sangam (Penang Hairdressers Association) is also providing free training to Malaysians to help overcome the shortage of local Indian barbers.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Jun
04
2008
Its a bad statistic indeed if only 10 out of 300 students (3.3%) applied for the loan scheme. What could be the reasons?
- not interested?
- don’t know how/where/when/why?
- loan rules too strict/rigid?
MIC can’t be faulted here unless they did not provide awareness or proper information to the students.
RM3 million / 300 students is averaging RM10000 per graduate, which is quite a substantial amount to start small business like food stall or similar business that require less capital and investment in machineries/tools.
Only 10 of the 300 Indian students who graduated from the Giat Mara centres and National Entrepreneurship Institute (Insken) last year have applied for business loans under the Young Indian Entrepreneurs Loan Scheme run by Tekun Foundation, says MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
He urged the remaining 290 students to apply for the loan from Tekun or the National Foundation for Economic Fund Group under the Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Ministry.
“Yayasan Tekun has allocated RM3 million to be disbursed as business loans for graduates of Pusat Giat Mara and Insken,” he said in a statement today.
He said the Tekun Foundation decided to issue business loans to Indian students from Giat Mara centres and Insken following discussions between the foundation and the Social Strategic Foundation (YSS), MICs social arm, last year.
Samy Vellu said although the Tekun Foundation was meant for Bumiputera entrepreneurs, its management decided to open its business loans for Indians through the help of the then Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
He said qualified Indians engaged in small-and medium-scale businesses can apply for the loan to start or to sustain and expand their businesses, ranging from small cottage to modern technological industries, food, agriculture, manufacturing and handicraft for domestic and foreign markets.
Enterprising young Indian entrepreneurs can contact YSS at Level 5, Menara Manickavasagam, at No 1, Jalan Rahmat, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, telephone (03) 4041-5958 or Fax (03) 4041-5681.
source
Popularity: 2% [?]
Jan
19
2008
This is easier said that done. Some may claim why limit to one out of 10 grants. Others will claim that MARA (and its programs) is specifically for Malays, and other channels exists for the second class citizens. Then, if ever this proposal succeeds, how to ensure that the right candidate is given, instead of one who greases few palms along the way or is a crony of some leaders.
| Include Indians for entrepreneur grants |
| P Sivakumar | Jan 18, 08 2:24pm |
| The Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) would like to urge the Yayasan Strategik Sosial (YSS) - the social welfare arm of the MIC - to request the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Ministry to include Indians in its drive to increase entrepreneurs through Giat Mara (a Mara non-profit subsidiary which provides technical and vocational training skills).
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said on Monday that the government had identified Pahang, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Kedah as beneficiaries to for a RM10 million allocation aimed at creating at least 200 small-scale bumiputera entrepreneurs. The grants are for between RM30,000 and RM35,000.
YSS has been championing the cause of Indian youths under the Giat Mara scheme for some time. Miba is aware that a special allocation for Indians from the National Entrepreneurship Institute through the YSS to provide half-day seminars on Entrepreneur Development Programmes (EDP) is underway.
However, these seminars will only impart an introduction to business knowledge. The real help needed for Indians to gain and progress in business can only be met with a practical approach by grants being extended to Indians not unlike the ones being offered to bumiputeras.
Indian Malaysians have recently expressed great frustration and have urged the government to treat them equally in every respect. They want to be included in government initiations for economic progress.
In line with this, Miba urges YSS and MIC to appeal to the minister to give Indians at least one grant for every 10 extended to bumiputeras. This will help the Indians to catch up with the other races besides being fair play. Why not? Aren’t the Indians paying taxes and fines?
The writer is president, Miba. |
Popularity: 2% [?]
Loading ...
