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One year after Hindraf Rally, are you changed?

November 25th, 2008
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On this day last year, a sort of miracle happened. It was not Thaipusam, nor was there any concert by South Indian artistes. Yet tens of thousands of Indians converged, along with other Malaysians, at KL city centre. Quite a number were blocked by the police, while some were stuck at Batu Caves. Some did not even make it to KL.

More than 30,000 people braved the threats to stand up for their rights. 69 were later arrested -some in restaurants, some just passerby. 5 leaders ended up in Kamunting. Many were treated with tear gas and chemical water. Photos from Jeff Ooi on police attacking people in Batu Caves made it around the world.

It was a defining moment. It changed the general elections results. It wiped out MIC. It revealed the deep-grained injustice. It profited the opposition.

After elections, MIC have benefited tremendously. Their voices are being heard a bit more often. They managed to get some allocations here and there. Promises are made on civil service intake, conversion of Tamil schools, mechanism for equity increase, skills training, entrepreneurship fundings etc. Cabinet committee is established. Dare anyone say this is not due to the rally? Deep in their hearts, they know its true.

One year down the lane, what have the rally achieved? What is direct benefit to you – the man in the street? I hear from friends and contacts that more Indians are voicing out if they were treated unjustly – especially in government departments. More complaints. More arguments. More claims of injustice or discrimination.

Now the focus of HINDRAF is to release the 5 detainees and to follow up on the 18 point memorandum. It has been outlawed, but Makkal Sakthi lives on. So, what have you done as a makkal?

Are our youths more aware? Any changes in the community? Less drunkards around? More people helping the poor section of the community?

I end this post with collection of photos, videos, and articles featured in this blog and others that cover the fateful day in the history of Malaysia. Will our history books ever mention this rally?

Few other blogs also write on the anniversary. Read (and see more) at:

RaajaRox

MalaysianIndian1

Doi-Moi (Revisiting 24 Nov)

Doi-Moi

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SPM student taps rubber at 3am then goes to school

November 24th, 2008
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This is among the most heartbreaking news I read this year.  I really don’t know what to say!

But I know what to do:

Those who want to contribute can send cheques to the Maragatha Ambiga Fund, c/o Negeri Sembilan MIC, Jalan Tuanku Antah, 70000 Seremban or contact Rajagopalu at 019-6612337 or 06-7622609 or Tampin MIC division chairman R. Rajendran 013-3532526.

Imagine getting up at 3am and until night no rest. How would the poor girl cope with the studies? Lack of sleep, lack of rest, lack of nutrition, lack of money, peer pressure. God, if she gets good results, have to salute her! Also, I respect her for not abandoning her studies or her family. Bravo!

This should serve as a wake up call for parents and adults. Take care of your health. Don’t be a burden to your family and make them suffer.

Why her plight went unnoticed for more than a year? She kept quiet? None of her friends knew? No teachers knew? How about the people in the estate? Or the local politicians in the estate? Since the family received RM200 (not mentioned from who) for schooling assistance, there could have been some way to extend it to welfare and medical assistance as well.

SPM candidate Maragatha Ambiga wakes up at 3am to tap rubber for three hours before rushing to school.

This is what the Fifth Former, 16, has been doing since her parents fell ill in August last year.

She would ride a motorcycle to the 4.6ha rubber estate in Bukit Jalor, about 10km away, and help a neighbour tap rubber for three hours before returning home at 6am.

She would then clean up and head to SM Bukit Jalor which is 3km away.

She gets RM20 a day tapping the rubber. If it rains, she would not get any money.

Student breadwinner: Rajagopalu (left) taking a look at Ambiga’s SPM’s revision books. With them are her father Ramasamy (right), mother Tamil Shelvy and brother Suriya. Looking on is Tampin MIC division chairman R. Rajendran (second from left).

He mother V. Tamil Shelvy, 42, became asthmatic in August last year and was unable to work. Her father P. Ramasamy, 48, was a lorry driver before joining his wife to tap rubber. He also had to stop working because he is a diabetic and has high blood pressure and heart problem.

She has a brother, Suriya, 10, who is studying in a Tamil primary school.

Ambiga’s plight was brought to the attention of Negri Sembilan MIC chairman Datuk T. Rajagopalu who visited the family in Taman Air Kuning Selatan, near Gemen-cheh about 75km from here.

Tamil Shelvy said her daughter’s rubber tapping provides the only source of income for the family in addition to the RM200 welfare assistance for the children’s schooling.

She said that her family members had refused to help her out and instead, had asked her to get her daughter married off.

“I want my daughter to study hard and be somebody in life.

“I have confidence in her,” she said.

Ambiga, who is currently sitting for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, said she had to work for the sake of her family.

“I am confident of passing and hope to secure a place to attend teacher training course as I want to become a teacher,” she said.

Rajagopalu said he would assist the children with their education.

He had also made arrangement for Ambiga’s parents to receive treatment at Seremban Hospital and for a contractor to do some repairs to their house.

Those who want to contribute can send cheques to the Maragatha Ambiga Fund, c/o Negeri Sembilan MIC, Jalan Tuanku Antah, 70000 Seremban or contact Rajagopalu at 019-6612337 or 06-7622609 or Tampin MIC division chairman R. Rajendran 013-3532526.

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Friend

November 24th, 2008
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Sometimes is not easy to see things clearly. For example, imagine being informed that your good friend (who is like a sibling) just gave birth (as in a baby!). Well, for one, that means we have not met face to face for such a long period of time! That’s life in the fast lane. Even though we live within traveling distance, but very hard to meet. Can’t believe its been months.

But wait a minute, we do chat and email every other day. Not to mention plenty of SMSes and phone calls. It kind of substituted the need for physical meeting.

A friend would share the good things and the bad things with you.  People have reasons for not sharing things. To protect others, for example. Or lack of trust. Or its just their nature. Perhaps its quite personal.

So, what is a friend actually?

One thing for sure, no one is like me. There’s only one Poobalan. 🙂 I learnt to appreciate myself recently.

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Posted in Personal

pensioners can work as bloggers

November 24th, 2008
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Yup, you read that right. Pahang is the place to be for pensioners. The state government is offering jobs as bloggers to retirees. So, all datuk and nenek, please apply now! Benefits include Internet access at your homes.

Their jobs is to “thwart slanderous comments and allegations posted on the Internet.”

So, the number of professional bloggers (who blog for a living) will increase tremendously.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, TechStuff

Silibin remains, so no referendum?

November 23rd, 2008
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The family of late Patto rejected the proposal to rename Jalan Silibin to Jalan Patto. They were quite distressed and unhappy that the contributions and sacrifices of Patto were belittled or even unknown to the residents. Some excerpts from Star below:

Patto’s widow Mary, 59, said the decision was out of respect for the Silibin residents, who had protested against the proposed name change, and not out of fear.

“I am very sad and hurt to say that as a family, I will reject the offer to rename Silibin Road because of the controversy and uproar,” she told a packed press conference at Wisma DAP here on Saturday.

Speaking softly and passionately, Mary said she and her daughters were greatly distressed by newspaper articles suggesting that Patto had not done anything for the people.

The widow described her husband as a simple and humble man who wanted unity for all races, who often gave up his time with his daughters and wife to travel around the country.

“It was for the people that he lived for. When he lost his parents in Bagan Serai at a young age, he went through a lot of hardship and found many people living that way too.

“Those feelings stayed with him until he decided that he should work for the voiceless and that he would sacrifice his life for the less fortunate,” said Mary.

Lashing out at critics saying her husband had done little for his constituents as the Bagan MP, Mary said Patto was a national leader who struggled for everyone.

“He spent 18 months under ISA detention because of that struggle. What has Patto done to you?

“I am asking the public: Please do not attack us anymore. We have suffered enough. He is not here to defend himself,” she said with emotion.

To a question, Mary said the family was open to any other suggestion by the Pakatan Rakyat government to honour her husband.

Patto’s daughters Shaalini Anne, 27, and Kasthuriraani, 29, were of the view that it was not right that the people should remember their father because of a tussle over a road.

“My father’s struggle was not superficial. The newspapers have been quoting the minority who protested. What about the thousands of people who agreed to renaming Jalan Silibin?” said Shaalini.

Possible that the current generation does not know about Patto, what more of his contributions. People move out, businesses take over premises, things happen. Unless its properly documented somewhere. We can trust the history text books (and really, how many students love to study history subject?). Some won’t even know the name of all 5 prime ministers, what more of a opposition MP.

I guess the Silibin people have moved on. They really don’t see the need to rename the road. Purely viewed from economic and practical points.

However, does this rejection mean there won’t be any referendum to reveal the wishes of the people?  Since the road won’t be renamed, obviously no need to ask for opinions. I was looking forward for the referendum as it provided people a chance to directly have their say. Looks like have to wait for next controversy to come along.

It seems now that a new DAP research centre will be set up and name after Patto. The ‘P. Patto Research Centre’ will be its name.

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