According to Toyo, there are 40,000 Indians without birth cert. Now, the issue was discussed in UMNO supreme council (wonder why?) and yet another committee (anyone keeping track of the number of committees now?) WILL be set up to handle this problem.

As I mentioned earlier, is this proof of sole representative of the Indian community’s failure?

More shockingly, Toyo said that PM was shocked to hear about this. Yet another proof of failure from the sole party that represents Indians?

Special unit to handle plight of Indians without birth cert

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SHAH ALAM: A special committee under the Home Affairs Ministry will be set up to handle the plight of 40,000 Indian children nationwide who do not have a birth certificate. Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the decision to set up the committee was made after he highlighted the matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during the Umno Supreme Council last week.

He said many Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had approached him to help raise the plight of the children.  “These children are unable to attend school, register for programmes or get jobs as adults.

“The Prime Minister was shocked when I informed him and immediately asked for a special committee to be formed under the Home Ministry,” he said during an Indian cultural show organised by the Barisan Nasional Volunteers Association here on Saturday night.

Dr Khir said the state government was working closely with several NGOs to get the parents to register their children. He added that the birth certificate should be issued quickly if all the requirements were met. He said the requirements included information on the hospital of birth and supporting facts from grandparents or close relatives.

“We have to be careful. We have to safeguard against foreigners who might use the chance to register for citizenship,” he said. 

Helping Indian kids without birth certs

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SHAH ALAM: The state government is stepping up efforts to gather information on Indian children without birth certificates.

It is learnt that there are about 40,000 Indian children without birth certificates in the state, many because their fathers cannot be traced.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the services of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were being enlisted to compile the number of affected children and their place of birth.

“We have to verify if they are Malaysians to sieve out foreigners claiming to be locals,” he said at a meeting with 15 Indian NGOs here.

Dr Khir said he had raised the children’s dilemma at a recent Umno supreme council meeting.  He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi instructed Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad to form a task force to address the problem immediately.

I rushed back from Maran today, but was unable to reach Cheras in time. Anyway, from the clip on Buletin Utama, the hall looked full and reports indicate 21,000 MIC supporters attended. This was beyond the estimated 15,000 people expected. No wonder SV was upbeat. 🙂

of course the highlight of the program was announcement that KL and Putrajaya is having Thaipusam as public holiday. Not sure only for this year or annually.

anyone attended?

SAMY VELLU: Indians will once again back BN in polls

BERNAMA
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KUALA LUMPUR, SUN:

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu today declared in the presence of the Prime Minister and over 21,000 party members and supporters that the MIC is more than ready to face the upcoming general election.

An upbeat Samy Vellu also pledged to deliver the Indian votes to the Barisan Nasional (BN). Samy Vellu said he had been criss-crossing the country recently, holding gatherings with MIC members, community leaders and interested groups, and “the mood is very favourable to us (BN)”.

Addressing the party’s mammoth gathering in the run-up to the imminent general election at the Badminton Stadium in Cheras here, the Works Minister said he was confident the Indian voters would once again give their full backing to the Barisan. “Let us show to the country that the Indian community fully supports the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional.

“Let us prove in the general election that our destiny rests solely with Umno, MCA and other Barisan component parties,” he told the crowd, comprising mostly youths carrying banners and placards expressing support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Barisan.

Samy Vellu called on the Indians to unite and continue to back the Barisan government for their continued survival.

In describing Abdullah as “our leader and the leader for all Malaysians”, Samy Vellu said the Prime Minister was willing to listen to the Indian community’s grievances and take steps to rectify them. “His ears are always open to listen and resolve the problems and grievances of all Malaysians,” he said.

Samy Vellu said Indians have been loyal supporters of the Barisan since the country’s first general election in 1959 and they will continue to rally behind the 14-party coalition. “Nobody can deny this fact,” he said, adding that the party admitted that Indians did not form a majority in any parliamentary or state constituency. He, however, said the Indians constituted between 10 and 30 per cent of the voters in at least 62 parliamentary and 130 state constituencies. “Our vote counts and we are not only senior but also valuable partners in the Barisan,” he said.

Samy Vellu acknowledged that there were still many unresolved grievances within the Indian community. “At the heart of the problem are many issues related to delivery and implementation by the civil service and local government. We have been asking the Prime Minister for a special mechanism which will not only monitor but also ensure many more Indians can plug into the public sector provisions,” he said. Samy Vellu said the MIC was confident Abdullah would ensure in the remaining two-and-a-half years of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, the government machinery would give special attention to the grievances of the Malaysian Indian community.

He also took a swipe at certain political forces who were working to weaken Indian representation in the government. “They continue to attack the MIC and its leaders by distorting information and confusing the hearts and minds of ordinary Malaysian Indians,” he said, urging the Indian community to be watchful against such elements.