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SwarnaBumiputran of Malaysia

Cabinet Committee meeting only once

/* November 21st, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »

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I was wondering what happened to the cabinet committee on indian community. After the first meeting, it was supposed to have another one in August or September. No one actually talked about the second meeting. And I thought I missed. Now, Samy says only one meeting was held so far.

MIC is asking for another committee – this time to coordinate the RM50 million to help Tamil schools. Good thing – but hopefully it would hold more than one meeting every four months.

As for the proposals, the MIC is asking for speedier processing so that PNB can start selling units to Indians and schools can be renovated/rebuilt. If nothing moves in the next 6 months, then its will be a humiliation to MIC. Already 2 months over and nothing happened. How long should the community wait for “good news”, “agreement in principle”, “decisions”, “allocations”, etc to materialise?

The MIC has urged the Government to set up a committee to co-ordinate the rebuilding and refurbishing of Tamil schools using a RM50mil allocation under the stimulus package.

Its president, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, said the proposal would be tabled by secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who is also the Human Resources Minister, at the next Cabinet meeting.

“We want 60% of the Tamil schools to be rebuilt or refurbished before 2011,” he said in a statement here yesterday.

There are 523 Tamil schools in the country.

Samy Vellu said the party also urged the Government to expedite the implementation of the proposals submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to increase equity participation of Indians.

“The proposals include the setting up of a mechanism within the Perbadanan Nasional Bhd to assist poor Indians to buy shares through a 50% grant and 50% loan from the Government,” he said.

Samy Vellu said they would ask Najib, the chairman of the Cabinet Committee for the development of Indians, to hold a meeting every three months. The last meeting was on July 1.

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Posted in Indian, Tamil-Schools

Tags: discrimination Economy MIC Politicians Poverty Tamil school

MIC asks 7 percent for indians in civil service

/* November 21st, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 2 comments »

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For all categories. They are getting smart now. But should have asked for 10 percent. I think government jobs will provide stability that may encourage couples to have more than 2 children. MIC also will monitor it seems. Hopefully they will share their findings from time to time.

The Cabinet has given an assurance that more Indians will be recruited into the civil service in the near future, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr. S.Subramaniam said today.

He said the cabinet and the government were committed to ensuring that more applications by Indians would be approved based on their job descriptions and merit.

“The MIC urges the Public Service Commission (PSC) to ensure a minimum intake of at least seven per cent for all job categories in the public service,” Subramaniam, who is also MIC secretary-general, said in a statement here.

He said the MIC was monitoring the intake of Indians into the civil service and would raise the matter from time to time to ensure that the seven per cent target was achieved.

Meanwhile, Samy Vellu says they will request for more Indians in the Public Services Commission (Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam – SPA). He was unhappy that only 105 Indians were selected for jobs.

He said the MIC would also request for more Indian representation in the Public Services Commission.

“We are also not satisfied that only 105 Indians of the 2,000 Indians called for interviews by the Public Services Department were selected. Their selection was based on their CGPA grades. We feel the PSD should have also considered their SPM/STPM results.”

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Posted in Indian

Tags: discrimination MIC Politicians

Tamil dictionaries online

/* November 21st, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »

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Hmm…Prema akka asked what is “animation” in tamil. Got us stumped. And after searching the Internet, I found a list of English to Tamil dictionaries at Lexicool.

I tried the first one on that list: TamilDict and found out that animation is “asaivuuttam”.

Cool ha?

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Posted in Personal, TechStuff

Tamil League proposed by MIC Youth

/* November 20th, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 1 comment »

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I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Vel Paari is the advisor for MIC Youth. According to him, he has been the advisor since 2004. Well, good for MIC Youth. I’m sure they have strong and valid reason for the appointment. Anyway, what’s the role of MIC Youth Advisory Council headed by Ramis? Maybe they should other advisors as well – those that have some sort of academic and social standing, with more experience.

Now, for the proposal by MIC Youth. Good idea indeed. This will enhance the link between Tamil Nadu and MIC especially. Even though the current focus would be Sri Lanka situation, in the long term it can encompass all areas of cooperation among members. I’m not sure if any such groups exist solely for Tamils.

The MIC Youth has proposed the setting up of a Tamil League in a move to attract international attention to the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Adviser S. Vell Paari said the league should be a United Nations-recognised body, similar to the Organisa- tion of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

“I believe a new league of Tamils representing their resident country should be established in Tamil Nadu to diligently and vigilantly guard over the political, economic and social agenda of Tamils living all over the world,” he said in a statement.

Vell Paari said the Tamil League should have a similar framework and diplomatic status like that of the UN and each Tamil representative from member countries should be given an ambassadorship entitling them to diplomatic immunity.

“I say this to sanction a valid representation from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who can also sit within this Tamil League to voice its concerns and grievances without the fear of being detained,” he said.

Vell Paari said the Tamil League can set up a committee to discuss and negotiate with the Sri Lankan Government for a peaceful solution.

For details, please e-mail Vell Paari at tamilleague@gmail.com.

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Posted in Indian

Tags: MIC

Can we play a role in determining our deputy prime minister

/* November 20th, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments »

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As readers may know, 3 people are fighting for the Deputy President position of UMNO. That person will become the next Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, barring any moves by opposition to peacefully take over the Dewan Rakyat with the consent of the King (or something like that).

Those three candidates are Muhyiddin Yassin, Ali Rustam and Muhammad Muhammad Taib.

Now, it makes me wonder if a person like Ali Rustam or Muhammad Muhammad Taib becomes the Deputy President, what can we do to reject them as Deputy PM in the future? One issues threats (humiliated PPP at their own AGM!) and racists statements all the time. Another is well known for his $1.7 million story (and RM17 million worth of properties). There’s no election in the near future, so we can’t do much.

I’m not supporting Muhyiddin for the matter. UMNO’s elections is their own internal matter. If the members practice bribery (also known as money politics in UMNO-speak), that’s their problem. But what worries me is that the future Deputy PM is chosen by being virtue of Deputy President of UMNO. Meaning those few thousand people in UMNO who is less that few percent of the country’s population is going to make the decision.

So where does that leave people like you and me who are not in UMNO? If someone don’t like the future Deputy PM, can he/she not vote for BN regardless of who campaigns in that person’s area? Would that Deputy be a bigger liability to BN coalition partners? Can the coalition members oppose the appointment of Deputy President of UMNO as Deputy PM? Would UMNO members consider this while voting?