Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email issues – provide opportunity to own house, and improve spm/stpm results. also, get professionals and other NGOs to work with MIC to improve community.
Indians urged to pool resources
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/5/13/nation/17710249&sec=nation
KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian community needs to group its resources through self-help and self-reliance to compete with the other races in the economic sector.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the many qualified professionals and voluntary organisations should play an effective role to benefit the community.
“We must build effective linkages, foster closer partnerships and collaborative ventures to create awareness on human potential, promote creativity and social change,” he said in his speech at the MIC general assembly yesterday.
Samy Vellu said the party appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in creating more Indian businessmen.
“His efforts will help the Indian community improve its economic position and be able to compete with the other races,” he said.
Samy Vellu urged MIC leaders to go to the ground and identify those in need of housing and ensure that low-income families had access to basic housing facilities.
“I call this a house-owning democracy which enables each family to own at least one house. Awareness about access to housing loans and schemes will definitely assist the community to increase its wealth through property ownership,” he said.
He said MIC representatives in the local authorities must play an effective role in addressing the needs and concerns of the Indian community.
“These representatives must encourage the local authorities to enable Indian entrepreneurs to participate in economic activities through business licences, service contracts and projects.
“They must also lobby within the local authorities for adequate facilities such as community halls and recreational centres,” he said.
On education, Samy Vellu said the performance of Indian students, especially in the SPM, has not been encouraging, with 50% of them unable to get credits in Bahasa Melayu and English.
“We have also found that only 25% of the Indian students who complete SPM continue into STPM and, of that, only 14% get CPGA3.0 and above.
“We need more Indian students to be successful in the SPM and STPM to see a marked change in their employment and income,” he said.
Samy Vellu said Malaysian Indian families must encourage their children to strive hard and ensure that at least two of their children pursue higher education.
