Posts Tagged ‘Marginalisation’

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Education Ministry to draw mini blueprint

June 16th, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Hmm…Education Minister can ask others about their plans, but own ministry now only  “WOULD” draw up a special “MINI-blueprint”. Reminds me of the a 50 years old gigantic pot calling the 100-days old small kettle black.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the ministry would draw up a special “mini-blueprint” focusing on the development of various types of schools receiving capital grants. This, he said, would be incorporated into the main blueprint to form a complete masterplan and would ensure that the schools receive the same attention as national schools.

“This shows how much we value Chinese schools, Tamil schools, mission schools and religious schools. “This is part of comprehensive measures my ministry is taking to help all students, regardless of what type of school they come from,” he said.

… According to Hishammuddin, the mini-blueprint will address the welfare and development needs of the schools. Aspects such as the development of basic facilities, allocation of land for building new schools, upgrading of infrastructure and other financial needs will be looked into.

source

Perhaps that’s what Samy meant when he announced recently that Education Ministry “agreed in principle” that all Tamil schools will be converted to fully-aided status. Meanwhile, PPP’s Deputy Minister Murugiah is busy talking about Tamil Schools Fund. What is actually happening? Can these two parties sit down and talk first before making further announcements that may confuse the community?

Comments Off on Education Ministry to draw mini blueprint »

Posted in BornInMalaysia, Tamil-Schools

Tags:

Tamil programmes in RTM2

June 5th, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


After MIC raised the purported ban of foreign Tamil dramas on RTM2, RTM clarified that no such ban exists. While I disagree with the issue raised by MIC in the cabinet nonetheless, I am interested in the amount of airtime mentioned by RTM. Its reported that the Tamil  (not Indian?) programmes constitute 8.63% or 14.5 hours per week. After checking RTM2‘s weekly schedule, I discovered the following:

Tamil News – 30 mins x 7 = 3.5 hours

Tamil Movie – 2.5 hours x 2 = 5 hours (but i think one of the slot alternates with other languages)

Tamil Drama – 30 mins x 5 = 2.5 hours

Karuthu Kalam Forum – 60 mins x 2 = 2 hours

Musical shows = 3.5 hours

Islamic talk = 0.5 hours

Total is 17 hours, so I’ll count the movie slot as one only to make it 14.5 hours.

News and musicals each take up 24.13%, movie and drama slots each take up 17.24%, forum is 13.79% and the balance 1.7% is the Islamic talk. The drama is aired at 1.30am on weekdays, while one of the tamil movies is on Sunday late night (Monday early morning). Thus 34.48% of the airtime is after midnight!

News is at prime time (8.30pm) and the other programmes are between 6 and 7pm. » Read more: Tamil programmes in RTM2

4 comments »

Posted in Indian

Tags:

Sabah NGO to follow Hindraf idea?

June 2nd, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Well, well, well. Looks like someone did learn from HINDRAF’s actions. Would they proceed with the petition, or merely highlight the possibility to sound a warning?

Being curious, I would like to know, how easy (or hard) is it for Sabah and/or Sarawak to leave the Federation and be a subject of the British government or declare independence? Can they do something like join Brunei, or Singapore or Phillipines, or combine and become one country? Err…my question is not seditious, is it?

A Sabah group is taking a page from Hindraf’s book – it is seriously considering petitioning the British government on the situation of illegal migrants in the state.
Having seen their proposal for a royal commission to probe the issue of illegal immigrants in the state rebuffed by BN lawmakers, the group is exploring the possibility of filing a petition to Britain through the Commonwealth office.

The Consumer Association of Sabah and Labuan (Cash), which is spearheading the move, is particularly aggrieved by the 440,000 foreign illegals, including 130,000 illegal immigrants in the state.

According to Cash, many of these foreigners, mostly from the Philippines and Indonesia were given local identity cards (ICs), according them all the benefits enjoyed by local Malaysians such as the right to vote.

Cash’s leader, Patrick Sindu, who is a Kadazan from Papar, told Malaysiakini that the setting up of a cabinet committee on illegal immigrants showed that the federal government was not serious in dealing with the situation.

“Only a royal commission has the real power to get into the bottom of the whole thing. We want to know the actual numbers of ICs given, why it was done so, who directed the government agencies and what will be done to leaders involved,” stressed Sindu (left).

If Cash was to follow the example from Hindu Action Front (Hindraf), which had filed a controversial lawsuit in Britain, it would be along the similar arguments that the former colonial administration had failed to ensure that rights of Sabahans be protected.

Another possible referendum?

Sindu was also not too impressed by the prime minister’s announcement over the weekend that the Sabah Federal Development Department would be abolished, something which had been demanded by many Sabahans.

He said he was more concerned that Filipino-based groups, including the separatist Mindanao Nationalist Liberation Front, might refer the unresolved Philippines’ claim on Sabah to the International Court of Justice.

The Sabahan feared if another referendum was to be had, the Filipinos having ICs would decide the matter. The Cobbold Commission had conducted a referendum in April 1962, where most Sabahans backed the merger with Malaya.

According to Sindu, the Malaysia Agreement – which is the basis for Sabah and Sarawak to join Malaya to form Malaysia – provided for reviews every decade and this was not done. There have been other breaches to the agreement since the 1963 merger, reported Cash.

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/83809

Comments Off on Sabah NGO to follow Hindraf idea? »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

Commission for minimum wage

June 2nd, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


The commission is to determine (i) which sectors should have minimum wage, and (ii) how much it should be subject to periodic review. Would it be a good news for the plantation workers, dock workers, restaurant workers, etc?

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry will set up a permanent Commission of Inquiry to determine which sectors should have a fixed minimum wage, and to review these wages on an on-going basis.

Its minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the Commission would gather first feedback from the various wage councils on which sectors should have a fixed minimum wage.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in the lobby of Parliament on Monday, he said the Commission would also work with these councils on reviewing any such fixed minimum wage on an on-going basis.

source 

Comments Off on Commission for minimum wage »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags:

MMMM and ABIM against scholarship ratio

May 31st, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Actually, I didn’t want to dignify the MMMM and ABIM’s statements regarding PSD’s ratio with a reply. But I thought of highlighting some issues/mistakes/points in their arguement:

1. There’s not mention of 90% and 10% breakdown in Article 153 (3). It just says:

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may, in order to ensure in accordance with Clause (2) the reservation to Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of positions in the public service and of scholarships, exhibitions and other educational or training privileges or special facilities, give such general directions as may be required for that purpose to any Commission to which Part X applies or to any authority charged with responsibility for the grant of such scholarships, exhibitions or other educational or training privileges or special facilities; and the Commission or authority shall duly comply with the directions.

Clause(2) mentioned above is as below:

Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, but subject to the provisions of Article 40 and of this Article, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall exercise his functions under this Constitution and federal law in such manner as may be necessary to safeguard the special provision of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and to ensure the reservation for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of such proportion as he may deem reasonable of positions in the public service (other than the public service of a State) and of scholarships, exhibitions and other similar educational or training privileges or special facilities given or accorded by the Federal Government and, when any permit or licence for the operation of any trade or business is required by federal law, then, subject to the provisions of that law and this Article, of such permits and licences.

Since the above Clause(2) refers to Article 40, here it is:

In the exercise of his functions under this Constitution or federal law and of the Second Schedule, by him or by the Cabinet or any Minister authorised by the Cabinet, but Parliament made by law confer executive function on other persons.

This means that the Agong can decide on such porpotion that he may deem reasonable to ensure reservation for Malays and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. Maybe His Highness in his wisdom realises the 90/10 quota being used all this while is utter nonsense and outdated.  So, questioning the ratio is akin to questioning the King? Can it be called seditious? Maybe treason? Now, how many reports were made against Karpal? Perhaps we can set another record, this time against ABIM and MMMM?

2. Article 152 covers issue of language. So I think the newspaper miswrote the number.

3. The NGOs use population as a criteria to establish ratio. Fine, I guess. But what if some of the recipients in 65% group scored lower than those who did not get selected under the 45% group? Wouldn’t that be against the sense of natural justice, fair play and even any version of Islam? Isn’t it plain simple and clear that the solution is to choose the best 2000 students based on results, income, extra-curricular activities, and interview results? » Read more: MMMM and ABIM against scholarship ratio

Comments Off on MMMM and ABIM against scholarship ratio »

Posted in BornInMalaysia

Tags: