Somaraj cuts grass to finance studies

/* March 23rd, 2009 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Another role model for us to emulate. The boy does not make his family’s financial status an excuse to study well. He helps his father to cut grass on weekends to earn extra income. I think the hospital should also reward the student as an employee’s son had achieved 7As. Even RM5000 as part of its CSR will go some way in reducing the financial burden. Perhaps they could even offer a scholarship and bond the student for certain years.

Eighteen-year-old S. Somaraj may be a top student, having scored 7As and 3Bs in his recent SPM examination, but he is forced to help his father with his part-time job of cutting grass on weekends.

Somaraj, a Penang Free School student, hopes to become a doctor in a private hospital here, where his father, M. Sangkaran, 46, works as an ambulance driver.

“I want to make my parents proud of my achievements. But it will cost more than RM250,000 for medical studies. I hope my parents can raise the money somehow.

“With me helping my father on weekends, he can earn about RM300 extra a month in addition to his RM1,700 salary at the hospital,” he said, adding that his mother K. Dharamambal, 39, earned RM800 monthly as a factory worker.

Luckily for Somaraj, who is a keen football player, his plight has caught the attention of state MIC youth treasurer J. Dhinagaran,

Dhinagaran, who is Penang Indian Football Association president, visited Sangkaran upon learning that he, Somaraj and another son Sartish were cutting grass outside a house in Batu Lanchang, here, yesterday.

He presented RM2,001 in aid to Sankaran and suggested that Somaraj pursue his medical studies at AIMST University in Sg Petani.

Sangkaran said the aid would be used to partially finance a foundation course at the university. “I’ve heard the one-year foundation fee at the university is about RM17,000. I hope I can raise enough money for that,” he said.

Dhinagaran said he would support Somaraj’s application for a scholarship from the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), which runs the university.

“Somaraj has a bright future,” he said.

Those interested in giving Somaraj a helping hand can contact Dhinagaran at 012-4879030.

No comments »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

PSD scholarship criteria for 2009

/* March 23rd, 2009 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


12,000 scholarship and 6277 straight As students. Shouldn’t be difficult to do some matching and adjustment to ensure all the students get scholarships. Only problem will be for the field of study, or those who fail the interviews. There will be an excess of 5923 scholarships which can be allocated to those students with special criteria – poor background, sports achievement, outstanding extra curricular activities, special needs, disabled students etc. Plenty to go around with.

Do note that nothing was mentioned about the 60/40 or 55/45 ratio. Would race be a criteria? Perhaps it can be used for of the scholarship. After awarding 6277, and another 2500 special cases, let’s say we put the balance of 3300 places into 55:25:10:10 (bumiputra (not malay only): chinese: indian: others) ratio. Unless the Agong says otherwise.

From the Star:

There will be no automatic scholarships for those who score nine 1As and above in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination this year.

Public Service Department (PSD) director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam said the scholarships were only a benefit for last year.

Last year, students who got nine 1As in the 2007 SPM examination were automatically eligible for scholarships from PSD for Form Six until the first degree locally.

“Last year, if they had nine 1As and they got into Form Six, we offered them scholarships. If they did well and entered local universities, the scholarships continued.

“This year, there has been no announcement. There is no decision yet,” Ismail told the New Sunday Times.

What remains this year, he said, were the 2,000 overseas and 10,000 local scholarships.

“Within the overseas allocation, we also reserve scholarships for those who get into elite schools. It can be Ivy League schools, the top school in England or the Group of Eight universities in Australia.

“For that kind of scholarship, you have to get a place there. So it doesn’t matter even if you study on your own. Once you get a place in Harvard, we offer you a scholarship.

“But it must be in the field that the government wants. If you take classical dancing, then of course there will be no scholarship.”

Last year, said Ismail, 87 students received this type of scholarship and this year, it will be offered as part of the 2,000 overseas scholarships.

Aside from these, there are also scholarships for foreign universities that have a local campus — Nottingham, Monash, Curtin and Swinburne — as well as the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology University.

If a student gets nine 1As in the 2007 SPM examination, enters A-Levels and then gets a place in Monash University, would he still be eligible?

“Yes, he can still be considered. He can apply, but it is not automatically given. He becomes like any other applicant.”

Ismail said there would be no reduction in the number of scholarships offered by PSD as a result of the current economic conditions.

“So far, the government has said it will maintain the number of overseas scholarships at 2,000 places and local scholarships at 10,000 places.

“This year, we have 1,676 students with straight 1As and 6,277 who obtained all As. There are only 2,000 overseas scholarships.

“The problem now is that all the bright students want to do medicine in England. That is not possible.

“It is not that they don’t qualify. It is because medical schools overseas now have an international quota and we have to compete with the rest of the world as they are very selective.”

Ismail said the department was also working with the Higher Education Ministry this year to retain some of the top students for local research universities as part of efforts to improve the universities’ rankings.

“We will probably give them extras to retain them, and they may possibly be able to spend one semester or so overseas. I will have to work this out with the universities and the ministry.”

The selection criteria for overseas scholarships has also been changed.

“Last year, it was 70, 10, 10, 10. This year, it is 75 points for academic excellence, 10 points for curriculum, 10 points for family economic background and five points for the interview.

He said there was the interview process for overseas scholarships, but not for the local ones, which require 80 points for academic excellence and 20 for economic background.

“We still have the interview process for overseas scholarships because we are sending these students away for five or six years. We want to see if they are prepared mentally. We’ve had cases where students started feeling lonely in their second year.

“This is a big investment. When you go to medical school, we have to spend over a million ringgit. That is why the interview is important and it is the tipping point.”

For this year, the government has allocated more than RM832 million for overseas scholarships and more than RM413 million for local scholarships.

“Students wanting scholarships must keep in mind that the competition is getting tougher, because there are a lot more brilliant students than there are scholarships the government can offer.”

No comments »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

repeat call for religious education in tamil school

/* March 23rd, 2009 by poobalan | View blog reactions 4 comments »
 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


If those people who are familiar with MIC care to recall proposals/memorandums and resolutions made in the last 20 years, they’ll find that nothing much has changed. One can, to a certain extent, understand that because even the president has been around for 30 odd years. One can’t expect miracles.

Never mind that only last September this topic cropped up. I guess many of the round-table discussions, seminars, meetings, getaways, committees in the last decade or so would have suggested this idea in one way or another. Maybe they feel its not worth the time to dig back the past research, reports, studies etc., so the solution is to conduct yet another research and submit a memorandum. Where have we heard these lines before? 🙂

So, here we go again. MIC Youth has sent “a letter” to Education Minister. The leader, Mohan said that they have to start somewhere. I think he meant re-start because most likely next year this idea will come up again.

The argument is simple. Having other religions being taught will make it look like its on par or same pedestal with the religion that is official religion of the federation. For those people, their religion must be the first and the only one. The rest is sidelined, because it says so in the constitution. Liberal (one-sided) interpretation is made on the status of religion of federation, thus we have discrimination (or in better words, less emphasis) on other religions. As long as “others” can practice their religion in limited conditions, due to their tolerance and good heart, the “others” should be eternally thankful and not question at all.

Come on, when even temple height can’t be taller than their mosque height, you want to bring Hinduism to school? Even if the Tamil school got one muslim student, there will be a religious teacher assigned for him/her. That is the extent of expenses and power of the liberal interpretation of “religion of federation”.

Try suggesting a inter-faith committee, or department of non-muslim religious affairs. Try asking for tax exemption for donations related to religion or to tamil schools. Try asking for 60/40 budget for religious purposes.

We can’t argue with these people who are insecure, depend on outdated laws, and who need to resort to threats/violence. Just look at the PERKASA meeting last weekend. We have a 1/4 Indian Muslim fighting for Malay rights and yet the message is clear –  “Keep quiet or else”.

We don’t have the quality and qualified people to teach Hinduism. We don’t have enough classrooms to even run proper classes. We don’t have proper facilities in schools.

All the above sounds very pessimistic, but that’s what I feel. Deep inside, I wish the idea will succeed, but knowing the reality, its just wishful thinking.

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth has urged the Government to implement religious education in Tamil schools as a measure to overcome social ills in the Indian community.

MIC Youth coordinator T. Mohan said religious education would help steer youths away from damaging activities.

“It is saddening to see reports of Indians being involved in gangsterism and violent crimes in the newspapers of late. We believe these youths had not been given any religious education,” he told reporters after chairing the national council meeting here Monday.

Mohan said the wing had already submitted a letter to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein requesting religious education be introduced in Tamil schools.

“We are undertaking some research and will submit a memorandum to the ministry within four months,” he said.

Mohan said the results would not be seen overnight but he was sure of positive results within five years.

“We have to start somewhere to ensure that there is a future for our generation in the country,” he said.

Mohan said the wing would also have discussions with Indian-based non-governmental organisations to find ways of reducing the incidence of crime within the Indian community.

4 comments »

Posted in Indian, Religion, Tamil-Schools

Tags:

no aid if you have Tv or sofa

/* March 23rd, 2009 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Refering to the statement by the minister below, i don’t think having TV or sofa set can disqualify a family from receiving aid. That is not a good way to evaluate a family’s needs. Even foreigner settlements boasts of astro dish, waja cars, and air-cond units. A TV can be obtained free from donors or bought second hand for few hundred ringgits. It could have been hand-me-downs from relatives/siblings. Same with sofa/fridge etc. This are basic needs, so I think in this age, the criteria should be upgraded.

Even support from family member is not strong reason. When family members having financial problem, they may stop contributing or give less.

I think the criteria should be simple – earn RM720 or less and you will get some welfare money. By having extra cash, the families can plan for better things.

What happened to plan to raise the poverty bar? I think many sane Malaysians know that a family can’t live with even RM1500 per month, especially in urban areas. Rent, transportation, food, schooling, utilities, medical costs and such, is very high.

BTW, one can call Talian Nur to highlight any poor family in your area. The number is 15999.

TAIPING: Some 52,000 poverty stricken families have successfully applied for welfare aid under Projek Cari programme of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said each family would receive RM100 to RM450 a month.

She said some 40,000 applications received since the programme started in October were rejected because they did not fulfil certain conditions.

“One of the criteria is that household income cannot exceed RM720 a month,” she told reporters after visiting the homes of several poor families yesterday.

Others were rejected because the applicants still had the support from family members and their homes enjoyed facilities such as television and sofa sets.

The Government had so far allocated RM850mil to the ministry for the aid.

Dr Ng stressed that families should not survive solely on the welfare aid as the ministry could only help with the basics necessities.

Citing fisherman Mohd Idrus Mohd Rashid, whose dilapidated home she visited, she said the father of five must show commitment and take advantage of the many government schemes to aid the poor.

No comments »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Sothinathan on MIC Rebranding

/* March 23rd, 2009 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »
 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


The following interview is with Sothinathan of MIC who explains a bit on MIC’s rebranding exercise.

Q: What is the status of the rebranding exercise?

A: We have briefed more than 3,000 branches on our re-branding programme. We have to brief 210 more branches in Negri Sembilan and another 430 in Selangor.

The branches briefed are already adopting our new approach in handling the people’s problems, including assessing the situation, analy-sing how we have been doing and getting feedback.

Q: What next?
A: We have to engage the people and tell them what we are doing to improve their status.

We were approaching things in an individual manner, meaning the branch leader was approached with a problem and he would take it to the MIC leadership.

Now, we have changed the approach. The branch leader will form a small team, whose members include professionals, to listen to the people’s problems.

The team will bring up the issue with the elected representative of the area.

The people’s problems are not communal. We cannot operate on communal lines anymore. Operating on communal lines is why the problems of certain communities are never-ending and that is what contributes to dissatisfaction.

It is not only the party’s responsibility to solve the problem, it is the elected representatives’ responsibility as well.

The branch leaders have to solve the problems at their level with the help of the elected representatives.

The party’s top leadership should not be burdened with minor issues. It has to tackle issues at macro level, such as increasing Indian employment in government service or formulating ways to increase the community’s economic wealth. But, for that, we need the government to offer jobs and licences to the Indian community so that it can raise its equity in the national economy.

We are also proposing a unit trust fund with government guarantee for the community.

Q: How sure are you that the new approach will work?

A: There are only three MIC representatives and it is difficult for them to solve the problems of more than two million Indians. Furthermore, the problems faced by Indians in Malaysia are not the responsibility of MIC alone but that of the Barisan Nasional as well.

Everyone in BN is duty- bound to help people regardless of their racial background. This way, many of the problems affecting the Indian community or other communities can be solved and there will be no resentment against BN.

It has to be a collective effort on the part of BN at the grassroots level onwards, no more communal-based, from local councils up to the state government and then the Federal Government.

For instance, if there is an opening for 10 positions in a local council, the Indian community should be considered for some of the positions. Otherwise, where can the Indians go to become council members?

Q: How about in the Pakatan Rakyat-held states? How will the approach there be?

A: It is the same approach.

Branch leaders should take up the issues with the relevant government departments. This is the time for branch leaders to play their part, to win back the confidence of the people.

Q: How are the branch leaders taking to this new approach?

A: There is a lot of enthusiasm and they are ready to face the challenges. There is nothing for them to lose.

Q: How successful do you think the rebranding exercise will be?

A: MIC on its own can achieve success only to a certain extent. BN, also, has to undergo a rebranding exercise. Many component parties, including Umno, are talking about it.

We have to prove that BN component parties can work as a team. We may have done some things wrongly in the past. It is time we put it right.

Q: What about Hindraf?

A: It is a banned movement. The Indian community wanted an umbrella movement to voice their problems. It turned to Hindraf but that organisation could not help it.

MIC did not make itself easily accessible to people to voice their issues. But all that is changing. We have to serve the people. This is not the time to abandon those who left us.

No comments »

Posted in Indian

Tags: