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MP Kapar Manikasavagam in NST

October 14th, 2008
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I reproduce the full article from NST below.

I have the power to make a difference
S. Manikavasagam

I HAVE been fired from many jobs and arrested over my social activist programmes before I became a member of parliament for Kapar.
Prior to that, my whole life revolved around fighting against any injustice and issues of human rights under various non-governmental organisations like Policewatch.

My unexpected win in Kapar opened my eyes to a whole world of issues and made me realise that I had the power to make a change. After winning the Kapar parliamentary seat by a big majority, I also realised that my constituents wanted a change. They have such high hopes in me, especially the Indians who make up 13 per cent of Kapar’s 112,224 registered voters.

Kapar was a foreign area to me because I was actively involved in helping people at Batu Caves. In fact, I wanted to be an MP for Batu Caves but respected the party’s request to contest in Kapar.

As a first-time MP, I was quite nervous but my experience in dealing with constituency issues with senior MPs from PKR helped me cope with mine.
Issues in my constituency range from stateless people to clogged drains and perpetual flood problems. We have set up four service centres in Klang, one in each state assembly seat and have staff recording complaints or grouses from those who visit the centres.

They report back to me and if any of the complaints needs the state government’s attention, I bring the matter up with Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Otherwise, I try to help as many people as possible, especially with land title issues and stateless persons since I have experience in dealing with such problems. We are saddened by the fact that we have no proper allocation for remedial work such as replacing the drainage system to overcome flood problems.

There are so many economic and social issues in Kapar, including high unemployment and crime rate and investors pulling out causing some businesses to close down.

We have tried discussing with the police on efforts to reduce the crime rate but find it difficult to get cooperation. The last thing I want to do is hit out at the police. I want to work with them. There is much work that needs to be done.

Although I have to sacrifice my privacy and time with my family, I will not rest until I see a safe and well-developed constituency.

Apa macam? Boleh percaya ka? What is your opinion on Manikavasagam so far?

He is having a tough time because Kapar is a big constituency, and he is also facing a lawsuit over the Sujatha case. Kapar is also famous for its criminal activities, especially by Indians.

Do you think he can last the race? Will he be a one-term MP or continue to rise in politics?

What are the Kapar folks saying?

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MIC Youth launches eye care program

October 14th, 2008
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MIC Youth has launched a eye care program from Tamil schools students with cooperation from England Optical Group. A student just need to pay RM50 for a package inclusive of the spectacles frames for either short- or long-sightedness. If there are any students from poor family, MIC Youth will cover the cost.

The eye care company will also conduct computerised eye checks, eye washing via ultrasonic, and correction of spectacle frames throughout all Tamil schools in the country, for the next one year.

According to MIC Youth website, the MOU was signed recently, witnessed by Samy Vellu.

The official statement is on their website, together with photos

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Posted in Indian, Tamil-Schools

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Deepavali Bazaar in Ipoh set to light up

October 14th, 2008
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After a war of words between the has-been and the current boss, Ipoh’s Little India is all set to be bathed in lights today. I guess the traders and community are relieved that their rice bowl and entertainment is not affected. As I mentioned many times, people are less bothered with who does it anymore. MIC, PKR, DAP, PAS, Gerakan – doesn’t matter. There’s no more loyalty to parties. Last time MIC used to organise the Deepavali bazaar (naturally because they were part of the ruling government). Now its Pakatan’s turn. According to the Star, the rental are lower this year, and the same traders are still given chance to take up the trading lots. Part of the money collected from the stalls rental will be given as aid to Sathia Devi, and the balance to build and arch in Little India.

The Deepavali bazaar and celebrations at Little India will begin early with trading starting today and cultural shows on Thursday.

Perak executive councillor A. Sivanesan said 86 stalls had been set up for the celebrations. Local artistes will be performing daily from 7.30pm to 11.30pm in the cultural nights until the last day of the bazaar on Oct 25.

Sivanesan said Ipoh Timor MP Lim Kit Siang would launch the Deepavali celebrations at Little India.

A committee, consisting of state government officers and members of non-governmental organisations and traders’ associations, had decided to rent out the stalls to the same operators who took part in last year’s celebrations.

The stalls would be let out to traders once they have paid a fee of between RM200 and RM450. The fee is based on the location and size of the stall. Last year, the stalls were rented out for between RM500 and RM1,000.

Sivanesan, who visited Little India yesterday, said the committee estimated the stalls would yield a collection of some RM25,000. Part of the proceeds collected would be donated to the family of student S. Sathiah Devi, 23, whose mother and the family’s sole breadwinner died recently in Sitiawan, he added. “The balance will be used to build an arch in Little India,” Sivanesan said, adding that there had been requests from the people for an arch.

If anyone can take some pictures of the bazaar, please share!

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Samy Vellu to be last man standing

October 12th, 2008
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I think after the Sarawak CM retires, Samy Vellu will be the only leader from Mahathir era left. While calls are always there asking him to retire, it comes from ex-MIC members or the opposition (well, we can disregard the public’s voice since no one listens to us). After PM Badawi announced his retirement plan, the focus shifts to MIC:

Calls for president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to follow suit are getting
louder, with the latest coming from former vice-president Datuk M.
Muthuppalaniappan.

He said Samy Vellu should not seek re-election when his term expires in March.

“It may be difficult to give up power after enjoying it for over 30
years. But Samy Vellu should follow the wisdom of other BN leaders who
have announced their desire to retire and pave the way for new leaders
to take over,” he said.

There is also fear that Samy Vellu may pick his own man to take over the leadership.

“If he thrusts his cronies to the leadership, then Samy Vellu will be
the shadow president and MIC will continue to remain irrelevant,” said
Muthuppalaniappan.

Former central working committee member K.P. Samy said an open and free fight should be allowed for the party’s top posts.

“It will determine a president of the grassroots’ choice, reflect the
credibility of the elected president and avoid a shadow leadership.”

Don’t expect anyone from MIC to say otherwise. Following that lead is T.Mohan:

However, Samy Vellu loyalists are sticking with their boss in wanting to see him re-elected.


Youth chief T. Mohan said the MIC needed Samy Vellu’s guidance to recover after the March 8 polls.

“He is contributing to the party and is rebuilding it through a re-branding exercise before handing over to the next president.”

He said that Muthuppalaniappan’s statement was expected as it was widely known that he could not get along with Samy Vellu.

Mohan said it was unfair to ask Samy Vellu to follow Abdullah’s footsteps as the scenario in Umno was different from the MIC.

A leader who manages to oustay all his competitors is really good. Many pretenders came and left, but Samy Vellu is still around.

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7 temples still waiting for title in Puchong but no action from Xavier

October 10th, 2008
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Reading this article, it sounded positive because 7 temples are being relocated from their respective places and put in the location (land presumably provided by IOI). I think I know this place. May have passed by this area without knowing it. Need to verify again.

However, the problem is with the land titles. Still no sight of them. According to Avtar Singh, he’s spoken to Xavier 3 months ago, but no news yet. Looks like Xavier is getting more bad publicity.

Awtar Singh, special assistant to Seri Serdang assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohd Satim Diman, highlighted the plight of the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist temples recently.

He pointed out that these temples had already settled the planning issues with the local council, and were waiting for the state government and Land Office to issue them the land titles.

The temples are Persatuan Penganut Devi Arulmigu Sri Nagakali Jai Munis­warar in Puchong Hartamas, Kuil Aum Sri Maha Aathi Nageswary Amman in Puchong Gateway, Persatuan Pengu­rusan Kuil Maha Mariamman in Taman Perindustrian Pusat Bandar Puchong, Kuil Naga Nagawasrya Amman in Taman Puchong Intan, Kuil Aaudayar Muniswarar Alayam in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Persatuan Penganut Agama Sikh in Batu 14 Puchong and Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha in Bandar Puteri Puchong.

“These temples have been given land to relocate and some have already had the structures put up by the deve­lopers.

“The land has been endorsed in the One-Stop Centre in the Subang Jaya Municipal Council and the district officer was supposed to submit papers to the state government for approval.

“Once approved, the temples will have to submit applications for the land titles.

“But the district officer hasn’t done his part yet,” Awtar said.

He said he has spoken to Selangor health, plantation workers and caring government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, who is also in the three-man committee on non-Muslim religious affairs, about three months ago but no action had been taken so far.

“I urge him to call for a meeting at the Land Office to hear the problems of these temples. The Land Office can get the paper work done immediately to send to the Selangor exco for approval,” he said.

In this case, I find hard for Xavier to give any excuse. He can’t blame the local council, the district officer, nor the land office because he was given earlier alert by Avtar Singh. So, the fault should be on Xavier. Unless of course, such actions take months to clear. Still unacceptable because its the job of the EXCO to solve the problem if already know about it.

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