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National Deepavali open house speech

November 3rd, 2009
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As we all know, national level Deepavali Open House was held in Siliau Estate, Port Dickson last Sunday. Nope, I didn’t attend.

Anyway, the interesting thing (besides food and show) is the speech. Below is excerpts from DPM Muhyiddin’s speech taken from The Star and NST:

“That is what we have been promoting under the 1Malaysia concept. We will continue to ensure that everyone gets treated justly and his or her rights will always be protected as provided for under the Constitution and the principles of the Rukunegara,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin said the Government would use “unity in diversity” as an asset and be an example to other nations on how people in a multi-racial country could live peacefully and progress as a nation.

“There is and will never be a first or second or third class society as is prevalent in some countries. This won’t ever happen in Malaysia,” Muhyiddin said at the national-level Deepavali open house celebrations held at the Siliau Estate here. Some 10,000 people attended the event.

As such, he said 15% of the 1Malaysia unit trust scheme was reserved for the Indian community.

Other measures include a RM15mil allocation so Indian youths can apply for business loans, an increase in the number of Indians in the civil service and the training of 2,635 Indian youths to become entrepreneur.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday reiterated that there is no such thing as a first or second-class citizen in the country and that all citizens have equal rights.

He stressed that the government would continue to ensure fairness and equality for all as stated in the Federal Constitution and uphold all the principles of the Rukun Negara.

“No Malaysian should feel neglected as every individual, regardless of race or religion and whether he lives in town or the outskirts, enjoys the same rights and privileges.

“There is no segregation of race or status here and there is certainly no such thing as a first or second-class citizen,” he said at the national-level Deepavali open house at Ladang Siliau near here.

Muhyiddin called on all people to set aside their differences and heed the prime minister’s call to unite as one under the spirit of 1Malaysia.

“We admit that there are some differences among us, but these should not at any point affect our relationships with each other.

“It is time for us to forget our differences and be more understanding towards one another and help each other to further enhance unity and development.”

He hoped that one day, Malaysia would become known as a country that had successfully united people of races under one roof.

Well, I’ll leave you to your own conclusions!

The Star’s article on 5/11 quoted as below:

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said the Indian community would not be marginalised and all races would benefit from government initiatives including education.

“As part of our efforts to assist the Indian community, we will also ensure more jobs for them in the public sector besides implementing other measures to improve the community’s socio-economic standing.

“Co-operation between races is essential. Differences must be set aside in order for us to progress as a nation.

We are blessed to live in a multi-racial society such as ours. There will not be first-, second- or third-class citizens here. No one will be left behind no matter if they are from the city or the most remote place in the country,” he said.

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Samy clarifies AIMST and MIED status

October 30th, 2009
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Update from the Star on 3 Nov:

Speaking on the matter for the first time since several past and present leaders accused him of planning to hijack both organisations, Samy Vellu said he had briefed the party Central Working Committee on the legality, ownership, formation and management of both institutions.

Although both are part of the MIC, he said they would function separately from party affairs.

Samy Vellu said there were five trustees and 33 members on the MIED board and all of them are party office-bearers.

“This clearly shows the close relationship between the party and the two entities. MIED was set up to achieve an educational vision for the Indian community.

“None of the trustees nor the members of the board own the MIED or AIMST and the question of hijacking them does not arise,” said Samy Vellu, hoping MIC members would regard both organisations as their own.

So, its clear that the two institution are not property of MIC. They are separate entities, with own management and owners. The MIED is mostly represented by CWC members and MIC office bearers, so it looks as if MIED will be under MIC control. But if things change? So, MIC controls MIED and MIED owns AIMST via its subsidiary AIMST Sdn Bhd.

From Malaysiakini:

MIC president S Samy Vellu today explained to the party’s central working committee (CWC) on the issue surrounding the legality and ownership of the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) and AIMST University.

“I gave them a full briefing on the formation, management and the inseparable relationship between the two entities and MIC,” he said in a statement after chairing the three-hour CWC meeting at the MIC headquarters here.

He told the CWC members that although the MIED and AIMST University in Semeling, Kedah are separate entities of the MIC, no individuals or MIC leaders owned the two entities.

“The ownership between MIC and MIED will be a perpetual relationship and will be part of the MIC,” he said.

Samy Vellu said the MIED trustees and board members were made up of MIC office-bearers, thus cementing the link between the MIED and MIC.

“The MIC through the MIED will work closely towards achieving the educational objective and vision of the party in its capacity as an educational arm of the party,” he said.

He said the CWC members agreed that MIED and AIMST University are separate entities with the MIED formed as a company limited by guarantee.

He also urged all MIC members to regard the two institutions as their own organizations which are managed by their appointees. [is that “regard” same as when the host says “regard this as your own house” when you visit them? Its like yours, but not yours? 🙂 ]

“None of the MIED trustees are owners of the university and as such the question of hijacking the MIED and AIMST University does not arise,” he said.

Samy Vellu said the MIED had done very well to help the MIC in looking after the educational interests of the Indian community.

It has already produced 7,000 students while another 7,000 students are continuing their studies, he added.

Samy Vellu’s clarification on MIED and AIMST today came in the wake of questions posed by several party leaders, including former deputy president S Subramaniam, over the status of the two institutions.

Their concerns were raised following Samy Vellu’s remarks in September that he would be resigning soon and would be spending his time at these two NGOs, which he had claimed to be separate entities from MIC.

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New grading system for SPM for 2010

October 30th, 2009
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Hmm…and I thought they will retain the “1A”, you know, with everything being “1”ed now! 🙂

Whatever it is, with the virtual split after SPM (matriculation and STPM), it doesn’t make much of a difference in the public’s perception of fairness.

from Malaysiakini:

Starting next year, a new system will be used to calculate the merit points for Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2009 school-leavers and the exam’s equivalent, for admission into public institutions of higher learning (IPTAs).

Higher Education Department director-general Dr Radin Umar Radin Sohadi said the change was in line with the Education Ministry’s new A+ pass level for SPM 2009 leavers next year.

“The system is introduced to accept the best into the IPTAs and to distinguish the difference between A+, A and A-,” he said at a news conference here today.

Using this new system, a student scoring A will be categorised as A+, A or A- with merit points of 18, 16 and 14 respectively, compared to the previous 1A and 2A.

He said grade 3B would be changed to B+ and have a value of 12 merit points, 4B changed to B (10), 5C to C+ (eight), 6C to C (six), 7D to D (four), 8E to E (two), and 9G to G with no merit points.

However, Radin Umar said the new method would also take into account the special entrance requirement to ensure that earlier students who obtained grade 6C (credit) were not moved to a lower grade.

“The processing, calculation of merit points, university entrance requirement, programme entrance requirement and candidate selection will be carried out in two ways, which are the current method for SPM 2008 leavers and those before that, and the latest method for SPM 2009 leavers.

“This way, chances of earlier SPM leavers to further their studies at the IPTAs are not affected.”

He said the implementation of the new merit calculation method would be made known to students, teachers and parents during the Higher Education Carnival 2010 with the cooperation of the Education Ministry, from January to March next year in 10 selected zones nationwide.

“The ministry will also hold briefing roadshows for guidance counsellors and update information in the brochures and Education Ministry’s website,” he said.

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80 year old cafe demolished after 24 hour offer lapsed

October 30th, 2009
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Well, I  heard of efficiency, but didn’t expect it in this kind of situation. I think in Kg Buah Pala case there was also some “take or leave it” ultimatum to be done with short period of time. Something seems fishy here, unless its a spinned story by NST. You never know….

The operator of the demolished Waterfall Cafe at the Penang Botanical Gardens here will not get any compensation as the state government’s offer to him has lapsed.

N. Sundras, 54, whose family had been running the cafe for 80 years, since the days of his father, was apparently given less than 24 hours to accept the offer.

Now, Sundras has no home or alternative site to run his business. Neither does he have money to help his family cope with the sudden change in their lives.

The state government had offered him a nearby coffee shop to occupy temporarily. It had promised him a new coffee shop and hawker stall at the Tourism Pavilion that would be completed next year where he would run his business eventually, and RM10,000 in goodwill payment.

However, yesterday morning, he was told that he would not be getting anything as he had not accepted the offer by last Monday.

“This is very upsetting. If you make a promise, you must keep the promise. We never said we did not want to move out. We will go if our problems are solved. Everything can be negotiated,” Sundras said yesterday as he watched the cafe being torn down, along with his adjoining home where he was born in 1955.

Sundras’ cafe and house, which were both on state land, were demolished yesterday afternoon to make way for the Botanical Gardens’ RM7 million expansion project.

State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang told a press conference at his Komtar office yesterday that the offer to Sundras expired on Monday.

Law said if Sundras still wanted the space for his business, he would have to apply through the proper channels.

He also said the state would no longer pay the RM10,000 initially offered to Sundras to cover inconveniences caused to his business and for alternative accommodation.

Sundras’ son, S. Anatharaj, 28, said Law had, on Monday, issued a letter to his father about the temporary coffee shop and Pavilion site offer. But the offer was only valid for one day.

“It was a take-it-or-leave-it. If my father did not take the offer on the spot, it was gone. Is this right?” he asked, adding that the letter was also forwarded to the offices of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy.

He said his family had appealed to the state government over the decision to demolish the cafe and house numerous times since June but had never received any reply.

“We even went to talk to Ramasamy at his office early last month and he said he would help. But with Law changing his mind, what now? Is this how the state government treats people?”

He said his family would put up temporarily with friends and relatives until they sorted things out.

And to further create doubt on the project, someone said the demolition may be illegal! :

The demolition of the Waterfall Cafe at the Penang Botanic Gardens may be illegal, according to a non-governmental organisation, the Cultural Heritage Advisory Team (CHAT), which stated that the demolition of the building was done without the local authorities’ approval.

The group also claimed that its findings revealed that the State Secretariat had violated Section 19 (1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, that prohibits development without planning permission.

CHAT said that planning permission must be submitted to the council’s planning department and legal procedures must be followed for demolitions, as well as for erection of any new structures.

In its statement, the group expressed its disappointment in the state government and demanded a written explanation on why the development project at the Botanic Gardens was not subject to public participation and why no planning permission was submitted on time, which could have allowed an assessment of the ecological heritage site and negotiation with the contractor to review the proposed landscape design to make it more compatible with the Botanical Gardens.

“While we feel that the Botanical Gardens is in need of a landscape review, particularly in relation to parking issues and are grateful to the Federal Government for extending the funds for the RM7 million expansion project, the state must set procedures for sensitive development via local expert consultation.”

So, did the state government commit a crime by not following rules?

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Sikh community in Perak allocated RM500,000

October 30th, 2009
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500k /28,000 = M17.85 per person. Well, something is better than nothing, as they say. And its coming from an allocated sum of RM3.5 million for the non-Muslims. So the other communities (Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, etc) are left with RM3 million.

IPOH: Half a million ringgit for a community of more than 28,000 people may seem paltry for some, but for the leaders of the Sikh organisations here, the annual allocation of RM500,000 beginning next year is their wish come true.

Union of Perak Sikh Organisations (UPSO) chairman Dheer Singh lauded Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir for providing an allocation for the state’s Sikh community.

“We never had any budget that recognised Sikhs as a community deserving of financial assistance from the government.

“I salute Zambry for the announcement,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.

On Wednesday, Zambry announced a RM500,000 allocation to the Sikhs, which will come from the RM3.5 million allocated for non-Muslim affairs in Perak.

The state government gave the allocation following talks between Zambry and UPSO over the last few months on issues facing the Sikh community.

UPSO represents eight major Sikh organisations in the state: Khalsa Diwan Malaysia, Guru Kalgidhar Diwan Malaysia, Sikh Single Mothers Association, Perak Sikh Union, Perak Sikh Youth Association, Perak Sikh Education Aid Fund, Milap Club and the Punjabi Party of Malaysia.

Zambry said he understood the plight and struggles of the Sikh community.

“I hope with this allocation, the Sikhs will be able to carry out important projects for the good of the community,” he said, adding that the state government was prepared to increase the allocation in subsequent budgets.

Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the state goverment would work with UPSO to identify how the allocation should be spent.

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