Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Onashamsakal (Happy Onam) to all Malayalees!
Not sure what Onam is? Read it at Wikipedia 🙂
Onam Wishes
/* September 12th, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments » Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email
MIC assured of mechanism to purchase shares and opportunity for contractors
/* September 12th, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 12 comments » Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Malaysiakini reported a great news from Deputy PM Najib. In a meeting (not the Cabinet Committee in Indian Community’s second meeting?), MIC manages to get an “assurance” that a mechanism to enable purchasing of shares by the Indian community will be created. This is crucial to reach the 3 percent equity by 2020(actually, I hope it will be revised to 10 percent equity. 3 percent is an insult to MIC and the Indian community.)
Samy Vellu said that PNB is requested to handle the scheme (I suppose to avoid another scandal ala MAIKA).
“I requested the government to arrange for Indians interested in buying shares, a partial grant and the rest of the money could be obtained through easy loans from banks,” he said in a statement.
He said Najib, who chairs the cabinet committee on the development of Indians, would discuss the matter with PNB to work out “an amicable and acceptable solution” to MIC’s request.
“The Indian community is still very much dependent on the government for assistance, especially in increasing their equity participation,” added the MIC president.
Samy Vellu also raised the possibility of joint ventures between Indian and bumiputera contractors to do government projects. He said the issues and concerns faced by Indian contractors was submitted to him by the Malaysian Indian Contractors Association recently. Many of them were finding it difficult to participate in government projects.
“I also proposed that Indian contractors be allowed to bid for selected government projects and the deputy prime minister was receptive to the idea. He said it can be worked out,” he said.
The government would work out a formula where more government projects could be given to Indian contractors provided they embark on joint ventures with bumiputera contractors.
He said Najib would resolve the issuing licenses to Indian contractors to carry out projects, especially Class F contracts.
“I am optimistic that all our requests will meet with positive outcome from the government,” he said, adding that follow-up would be done at the next meeting of the cabinet committee
RM1 quit rent for schools in Negeri Sembilan
/* September 11th, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments » Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Good news announced by the BN-led Negeri Sembilan state which is similar to Perak and Selangor (and Penang and Kedah too? – need to check). It seems that the step was taken earlier, but only recently announced by the Chief Minister.
All government schools in the state will pay a nominal sum of RM1 in quit rent and a RM1,000 one-off premium.
These rates are much lower compared to what some schools, especially larger ones, have paid in the past.
All the schools have to do to qualify is to apply to the Land and District office in their area. This includes government religious schools and vernacular schools.
“The yearly quit rent for these schools were high, depending on the size of the school and location. That is why it was decided that we impose a nominal rate of RM1 across the board,” said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan after chairing the State Executive Council meeting at Wisma Negeri.
This is to reduce the costs incurred by the school management, he said after contributing RM100,000 to the state Malaysian Chinese Association Hall chairman Lau Chee Boon at his office yesterday.
“The state government wants to see these schools properly managed without being burdened by a high quit rent. We hope the schools will concentrate on providing quality education,” he said.
ISA detainee Sanjeev Kumar released
/* September 11th, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions No comments » Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email His case was highlighted in May by his wife who made police report. Now Sanjeev is released but is paralysed and requires wheelchair. Will he sue the government?
A 25-year-old man, detained since July 28 last year under the Internal Security Act on suspicion of being a foreign spy, was released on Tuesday.
This follows a recent visit by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia to Kamunting detention centre to investigate allegations of ill-treatment of K. Sanjeev Kumar. The allegations were made by his wife, Sharmila Uthiakumar.
Suhakam commissioner Datuk Siva Subramaniam said at a press conference here they found that Sanjeev Kumar, whose left arm and leg were paralysed, did not receive the treatment he required.
He said the Abolish ISA Movement had referred Sanjeev Kumar’s case to Suhakam through a memorandum on June 4.
Sharmila had on May 20 lodged a police report against the Home Ministry, police and the Kamunting detention centre claiming her husband had been tortured.
She had also claimed her husband had become wheelchair-bound because of the torture.
Race relations not healthy?
/* September 11th, 2008 by poobalan | View blog reactions 1 comment » Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email Interesting to note that PM Badawi said the race relations was showing “not so good signs” as discussed in the cabinet. It seems this is due to number of sensitive issues that were not discussed openly previously, but now being talked about everywhere. The sensitive issues covering economy, education, religion, social, etc all revolve around one key area – lack of equal rights.
“Issues that are not normally raised are being brought up and turned into issues. Matters that have never been discussed before are being discussed now and this is bringing about all sorts of reactions.
“All this while we have been able to control the situation and prevent any untoward incident. But we cannot allow a fiery situation to prevail as it could jeopardise the peace and security of our country,” he said after chairing a special Umno supreme council meeting.
Abdullah said the respective ministries had been directed to keep tabs on the situation, and act accordingly.
“We hope the people will understand that in a multi-racial, multi-religious country like ours, we need to take care so that there will (continue to) be peace and mutual respect among us. We need harmony so that the country can develop.
“We need to do what is best for the country. We need to save Malaysia from racial fights and tension,” he stressed.
However, people still go about doing their work and make a living. All races still work together without any problem. If any problem, money is the ultimate cure. Just push some ringgit and everything can be settled – Malaya will be brothers with Chinese, Indians will be anne-thambi with Malays, etc. (NOTE: I’n not advocating bribery here, but just stating that it is one of the possible tool for racial harmony). Oh ya, forgot to add – Bangladeshis, Indonesians, Nigerians, Pakistanis, etc., all also can become brothers. Money makes wonders come true.
The problem here, as I see it is that for quite some time, things have been pushed under the carpet or discussed by the political parties behind doors. In this era of openness and freedom of information, it is futile to be doing so. Secondly, the issues more often that not favored the majority race rather than minorities. Maybe the minorities feel that this has been going on for too long and they have been pushed to a corner. This could not go on forever, and the time is here now. Looking at the responses from people from all walks of life, can we say that the last 50 years of administration failed to instill proper harmony and brotherhood feeling?
The newer generation (born after 1970s) are not much into historical sacrifices now. Only those that are indoctrinated by the education and political machineries on race supremacy, and those who come from political lineage families, still tend to hold on to the ideas that Ahmad Ismail exhibited. The current generation want things to be fair and square. They really can’t see the idea of discriminative policies, especially on a global scene. 30 years ago, maybe things could be easily explained. Not now and not in the future.
