Archive for the ‘Indian’ category

NEWS:Tamil ‘movie stars’ sing their hearts out to woo voters

April 24th, 2007
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Tamil ‘movie stars’ sing their hearts out to woo voters
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/National/20070424082021/Article/index_html
BATANG BERJUNTAI: Famous Tamil “movie stars” have descended on Ijok to entertain — and woo voters.
They include “Kamalhasan” and “Rajinikanth” who have been singing and dancing their way into the hearts of locals preparing for the by-election on April 28.
The local versions of the actors have been in great demand since the by-election was announced given the fact that Indians who generally love Tamil movies represent a large minority in the constituency.
Last Sunday saw them thrilling hundreds in a small hall at the Tuan Mee estate.
They were joined by director “Bharathiraja” who gave a short speech which began with his trademark greeting: “En inniya tamil makkale” (my dear Tamil people). He urged the locals to make sure they came out on polling day and voted for Barisan Nasional.
Kamalhasan and Rajinikanth also made similar appeals to the crowd.
Tamil film legend “M.G. Ramachandran” rose from the dead several nights ago to entrance the crowd with his histrionics.
The artistes were from the Kuala Lumpur-based Sangamam group, that had been performing daily in various estates in the run-up to the by-election.
Judging from the response of people at the MIC-organised event, the artistes may be crucial in tipping the balance at the polls.
Not to be outdone, the Chinese community has brought in popular local artistes Chong Sue Zhung and Li Huei Juin who belted out tunes to entertain voters.
Activities have also been held for youth from the estate who had their first taste of paintball yesterday.
They battled it out for half a day in a four-day sports carnival organised by Umno Youth.

NEWS:Selangor to help estate workersÂ’ children

April 23rd, 2007
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Selangor to help estate workers’ children
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/23/nation/17519884&sec=nation
THE Selangor government will set up a foundation to help the children of estate workers in their studies so that they will not be dependent on estate jobs, said Tamil Nesan.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the state government realised that estates had to make way for development in future and there would be less estate jobs.
He said the state spent about RM1mil last year on the education of estate workers’ children and RM2mil had been set aside for the purpose this year.
Last year, he added, the state government worked with MIC’s Social Strategic Foundation to train children of estate workers acquire vocational skills at the Inpens International College in Klang.
The daily also reported that all MIC branch chairmen in Johor had been asked to register Indian youths who attained the age of 21 as voters.
Johor MIC chief Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan said the chairmen must identify the youths and get them registered without delay

Samy and Pandithan – same stage!

April 23rd, 2007
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Old foes put aside differences
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/23/nation/17521120&sec=nation
IJOK: Their rivalry kept them apart for eight years.
But for the sake of the Indian community, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Indian Progressive Front (IPF) president Datuk M.G. Pandithan put aside their differences to campaign.
They shared the same stage during a ceramah at Taman Seri Cahaya here yesterday.
A frail-looking Pandithan said past enmity was forgotten and he urged the IPF members to work hard for the success of Barisan Nasional candidate K. Parthiban.
He said he could not describe his feelings when sitting with Samy Vellu on a same stage.
“I am very touched and happy that it is for the good of the community,” he later told reporters.
The relationship between the two leaders became strained in 1989 after Pandithan, then vice-president, was sacked for indiscipline.
Samy Vellu thanked Pandithan for taking the effort to come here to campaign although he was not in the best of health.
“In fact, I had forgotten my differences with him long ago.
“When the hearts have united, two bodies would not be a problem,” Samy Vellu said, adding that the relationship between the two parties would still continue after the by-election.

NEWS:IGP warns of group playing up religious sentiments

April 18th, 2007
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IGP warns of group playing up religious sentiments

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have exposed the activities of a group of so-called missionaries who go about criticising other religions. 

Inspector-General Tan Sri Musa Hassan said that 131 reports had been lodged by disillusioned followers, who were not happy about the activities of the group, which used Hinduism and Christianity as a front. 

“It has been found that many followers felt cheated,” he said in a statement yesterday. 

He said Selangor police were carrying out investigations based on the reports lodged by the followers. 

Musa said activities carried out in the name of religion that create disharmony, enmity and hatred could jeopardise national harmony and solidarity. It is also a form of criminal intimidation.  

He said that on April 13, representatives of the Association of Hindu Religious Leaders briefed him on the activities of the “missionaries”.  

He said the outcome of the police investigations would be forwarded to the Attorney-GeneralÂ’s Chambers for further action. 

Meanwhile, Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam said the group, operating in Kota Damansara, was active within the Klang Valley, holding spiritual talks to gain influence. 

He said they insulted the Hindu religion in their talks. – Bernama  

NEWS:Welfare brigade to help Indian community

April 17th, 2007
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Welfare brigade to help Indian community
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/17/central/17316476&sec=central
By A. LETCHUMANAN
metro@thestar.com.my
A 100-member welfare brigade has been set up by the Subang MIC division to identify the problems faced by the Indian community in the Subang parliamentary constituency.
Division chairman N.R. Krishnan said the members would also be required to attend to the needs of the community, especially in the event of a natural disaster.
“If there is a fire, the members must be at the scene to console the victims and ensure that their needs are met,” he told The Star.
He said the members had also been directed to identify those who had not registered as voters and register them as the general elections are near.
Help team: Palanivel shaking hands with members of the newly set up welfare brigade members in Subang MIC division. Behind him is Nijhar. Earlier, MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel had launched the brigade as well as the new uniform for the members.
Palanivel, who is also the Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said the members should listen to the problems faced by the Indian community and try to resolve them.
He said members would then know what was happening on the ground and ensure the party was able to deliver the needs of the community.
Subang MP Tan Sri K.S. Nijhar, who sponsored the uniform, said the members must also compile a list of the voters in their area and identify new voters.
He said the division was the first in the party to have set up a welfare brigade.