poobalan.com

This is the first time that such a dinner ended abruptly – half an hour before it was supposed to. Samy left at 9.55pm about 40 minutes before it was supposed to end.

According to the Star, the former works minister tried to cajole the delegates to stay back.

Later, Samy Vellu gave a short speech and even sang a song. He then apologised and left.

Former party deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam said Samy Vellu was “hurt by the delegates’ action - they were chatting among themselves and not paying attention to the cultural show that was going on”.

Some insiders commented that this is sign that Samy might have lost his grip on the party and branch chairmen. However, Samy later said that the media may twist this issue and say that its a sign of protest against him. He tried to salvage the situation by saying that:

Popularity: 1% [?]

Before I go into Saravanan’s proposal, lets look at the statistics - only 34 Indians got the scholarship first, before being increased to 78. There are 180 appeals pending.

Now, why would PSD want to provide quota for the Indian community? Then, others like the Orang Asli, Kadazan, Bajau, Baba Nyonya, etc. will start demanding their part from the “bumiputra” category. This will erode the portion and break up the quota further, and may deprive more Malays of their previously easily obtained scholarships.

Secondly, there should some basis for asking 250 places for the community. Is there any proof that we have 250 top achievers year after year that should be getting scholarship? Is 250 derived from some sort of formula based on Einstenian calculation?

However I agree that interview component of the scholarship award is highly subjective and may be subject to manipulation.

Instead of asking for quota, Saravanan should ask for transparency, a well represented board of interviewers, an increase in scholarship amount or a more stringent criteria.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government must not lump Indians in the non-Bumiputera category, but fix the number of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships for the community, MIC information chief Datuk M. Saravanan said yesterday.
He said under the present system, of the 2,000 PSD scholarships awarded annually, 55 per cent was allocated for Bumiputeras and the remaining 45 per cent for non-Bumiputeras.”Out of the 900 PSD scholarships for non-Bumiputeras, Indians initially received only 34, which was then increased to 70. We are now awaiting the results of about 180 appeal cases.”The Indians are already backward in terms of education, but yet we have to compete with all the other non-Bumis. The government should allocate, on an annual basis, 250 PSD scholarships for Indians,” Saravanan, who is also Federal Territories Deputy Minister, said.

“The current selection system is also flawed. The exam results constitute 70 per cent of the eligibility marks for the PSD scholarships. The rest is made up of the interview and such, which is very subjective.
“The people want transparency. If a student is the best, then he or she must be eligible for the scholarship. Now, we have students who have scored excellent marks but turned down by the PSD on the pretext that they failed in the interview.

“That half-an-hour interview decides a student’s fate. It might have taken students five years or more to obtain excellent results. Is that fair? It is not a level playing field.” - Bernama

source

Popularity: 1% [?]

Hmm…after Samy announced that MIC will set foot in cyberworld, Deputy Minister Saravanan announces his website and blog. I dropped by his website and sent some comments. Also posted a comment on his blog. Let’s see if it gets to see daylights or ends up edited. As readers know, i don’t condone foul language or threats in my blog, and also do not post such things on others’ blogs.

He wrote about his background, thoughts and provided links for few other related URLS like the media, political parties (opposition included). I guess people can check his website and verify if its correct or not.

After Murugesan (CWC) and Kamalanathan (Putera MIC chief), Saravanan is, I belief, the third prominent MIC man to blog.

NST and Malaysiakini carried the news from Bernama:

source

Federal Territories Deputy Minister and MIC Information Chief Datuk M. Saravanan has joined the bandwagon and launched his own website and blog.
Saravanan’s website can be accessed at www.msaravanan.com and his blog at msaravanan68.blogspot.com.

The website contains articles and pictures depicting the growth of the 40-year-old politician from the time he was a “kampung boy” staying at the quarters of the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital here to what he is now.

It also contains his biodata and his vision and mission for the various segments of the community as well as an FAQ (frequently asked questions) column.

Saravanan has also created a reflections column where the deputy minister promises to post his views on issues and a column to post feedback from readers.

“This (website) will enable me to get closer to the people and hear them directly. It will also help clear misconceptions about me. The website will enable people, whoever they may be, to contact me directly,” he said.

“The blog, on the other hand, enables the people to read my views and give their reaction to issues that crop up from time to time.

“I believe the use of the Internet in the country has reached a level where people are logging in more than ever and, as politicians, we have to be on par with the current goings-on.

“I invite people to read the contents of the site and then judge me from there. Please don’t listen to rumours and coffeshop talk. If you have a doubt, mail me or get in touch with me through the blog to clear the doubt,” he told Bernama.

Popularity: 1% [?]