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THAIPUSAM COMMUNITY SERVICE PANTHAL AND 423 PAALKUDAM PROCESSION

COMMUNITY SERVICE PANTHAL

In conjunction with Thaipusam festival, Penang Island Makkal Sakthi members are organising social service activities. The social service will be provided on the eve of Thaipusam and on the Thaipusam at the PANTHAL.

VENUE :
BESIDE WATERFALL VINAYAGAR TEMPLE

DATE / TIME :
SATURDAY (07 / 02 / 09) 9.00 AM TO 10.00 PM
SUNDAY (08 / 02 / 09) 9.00 AM TO 10.00 PM

TARGET GROUP:

• Those with identity card problem
• Those with birth certificate problem
• single mothers
• poor families
• old citizens
• disabled people (OKU)

PAALKUDAM PROCESSION
Considering 423 days detention of HINDRAF Lawyers under ISA, Penang Island Makkal Sakthi organizing milk pot procession by 423 members of public. Those intending to participate Assemble with orange dress / T-Shirt and with milk pot at Sri Muthu Mariamman Temple, Lorong Kulit.
Time : 7.00 am
Public support and unity for the event is greatly appreciated.

Contact : MR.SURESH 019-4586587, MR.KALAY 012-5637614 , SARASWATHI 012-7162884 , MR.MARAN 012-5557522 , MR.SELVAM 016-4827974

Service to mankind is service to GOD, Long Life Makkal Sakthi!

Those interested to volunteer to help at the service counter:

All you have to do is to help them fill up the relevant application forms which will be provided to you. A briefing will be conducted to all those who volunteer to assist.

Duration of the service will be eve of Thaipuisam and day of Thaipusam. Worry not. You will not be station there the whole day. A shift pattern will be arranged to easy all volunteers.

We appreciate your active participation towards this noble course just for two days and who knows one day you will be proud to mention that you were part of the responsible Indian who volunteered to help and uplift the Indian community.

For the event to be successful, we need at least 75 volunteers to render their support. I’m sure many of us out there are just waiting to serve the community. You may provide your contact number to us for further communication. For any further clarification you may contact the numbers above

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The Penang Hindu Endowment Board had decided to charge RM500 for burial plots at the Batu Lanchang Hindu cemetery. Not only that, there’s a renewal fee of RM5000 to be paid after 20 years. Naturally this riles the community and some NGOs.

A group of Hindu non-governmental organisations yesterday handed a memorandum to the state government protesting a sharp rise in fees for burial plots at a cemetery here.

Hindu Action Network executive council member N. Ahilan said the board reserved the right to exhume the remains and lease the plot to others if the renewal fees were not paid within 10 years. He said that the exorbitant charges and conditions were inconsiderate.

Penang state assemblyman Rayer mentioned that Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng informed him an amicable solution would be sought, and that the issue will be discussed in the coming state executive council meeting.

Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer said he was informed by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng that an amicable solution would be sought. He said the matter would be raised at next week’s state executive council meeting.

Are the members of PHEB appointed by the state goverment? Is it still under the old management? Is this proof that PHEB is acting independently of the state government or an act of disobedience (if the board members were appointed by current state goverment)?

More importantly, is the cost justified? Are there any ways to reduce the burden of the community before considering charging them for burial of the loved ones? Its a guessing game until we know the whole story.

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We are seeing a repeating pattern here. Prof Ramasamy or the state government’s handling of Indians is condemned by the certain Indian groups, and he rebuts. First time was in April, then June, and now in July.

This time, Prof says that the claims of “Penang Indians sidelined” are untrue (refer Malaysiakini). He gives the following reasons:

1. it is unfair to expect drastic improvements to the lot of ethnic Indians less than five months after the March 8 election.

2. Within his own parliamentary constituency of Batu Kawan, Ramasamy said
Indians were appointed to head five village security and development
committees (JKKK).

“This had never happened under the
Barisan Nasional in Penang. In the last (Gerakan-led) state government,
only one Indian had been appointed to head a JKKK.

3. The DAP-led Penang government has also ensured Indian representation in
the state executive council as well as city and municipal councils.

4. awarding of land to two Tamil schools, two Hindu temples and groups of goat and cattle breeders. (Which schools and temples?)

5. A state-level committee was also set up to look into the plight of Tamil schools.

6. youth groups have been established to alleviate the problems faced by the Indian poor.

The reason Prof Ramasamy mentioned the above is because of recent complaints by HINDRAF, Pemaswa, and HAN on the “indifferent attittude of Pakatan Rakyat governments” in the three states of Penang, Perak, and Selangor.

The Prof also ups the ante by saying that the “small disgruntled group” is unhappy because these people failed to secure their own appointment as local councillors and members of a certain state religious body.

“We
can accept criticisms, but not mere attempts to discredit the Pakatan
governments. Why don’t they come and meet the state government
representatives to raise these issues?” he asked.

Prof Ramasamy also rejected calls for a special state Indian council as requested by the group. He repeats that Unlike Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Rakyat is not
merely a coalition of parties that represent exclusively the various
ethnic communities.

“I’m helping the Chinese and Malay communities as well. I’ve given financial aid for suraus
and Chinese temples. If they want state Indian councils, then should we
also set up state Malay councils? What about state Chinese councils?
What about state councils for Orang Asli?

“This is not the Pakatan formula. We are a multi-racial coalition and we work for all races,” he stressed.

Well, I’m interested to know, for a start, why the local council cancelled the land for SJKT Azad? Perhaps the good Prof can help to investigate or get his Education Exco to do it.

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