Posts Tagged ‘Marginalisation’

Tamil schools to be made fully aided?

May 30th, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Well, if this becomes true, it will be a big victory for HINDRAF and makkal sakthi. They managed to achieve something even though MIC will get the name. This possibility would have not been even dreamed of by the community if MIC was still in absolute power. A good kick in the back does work wonders.

Of course, its just an agreement in principle, and Cabinet is yet to see any details yet. The implementation, if it happens, may take decades.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the Education Ministry had agreed in principle to convert all partially-aided Tamil schools into fully aided schools, the Tamil Nesan reported.

However, the Cabinet still has to endorse the decision first.

Of the total 524 Tamil schools, 322 were partially aided while the rest were fully aided.

source

PRIMA supports who?

May 29th, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Well, never heard of PRIMA before this, but it seems that they represent 115 organisations.  They are asking for quota in civil service, reverting to mothe tongue for science and maths, setting up of non-muslim affairs department, and to free Hindraf 5. Note that they also mentioned that “They no longer want political parties to handle the matter and said that it would speed things up if it is handled within departments” regarding to religious matters.

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to set aside at least 35 per cent of its civil service sector for non-Malays. The call was from the Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisations (Prima), an umbrella body for 115 Indian-based organisations.Its president A. Raja Retnam urged the government to ensure fair distribution of jobs for all ranks in the civil service.  “We are not asking for much. If you go to Putrajaya, you can hardly see any Chinese or Indians working in the government departments,” he said yesterday.

Prima also called for Science and Mathematics to be taught in the pupils’ own mother tongue, either Mandarin or Tamil in Chinese and Tamil schools respectively next year. Raja Retnam said the move to teach Mathematics and Science in English was not successful especially for students from rural areas who found it difficult to cope. “Before it was taught in English, the students were doing well but their performance had declined now.   “Moreover, early education is better taught in the pupils’ own language,” he said.

The federation also called for the setting up of a Non-Muslim Affairs Department in the Prime Minister’s Department to handle sensitive issues pertaining to religious matters. They no longer want political parties to handle the matter and said that it would speed things up if it is handled within departments.

Raja Retnam also called on the government to free the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders currently held under the Internal Security Act and to charge them in open court.

source

Now, its interesting to read what Saravanan says after meeting the same group. Here it is reported that the group represents 47 organisations (but the article from NST above says 115). He met with the NGOs for two hours, and summarised that NGOs support BN ( by extension MIC) and still come to MIC to help solve problems – even in opposition held states. » Read more: PRIMA supports who?

Nazri reveal 10 percent scholarship quota

May 28th, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


Alamak! Looks like Minister Nazri had unwittingly proven what parents and disgruntled Malaysians suspected all along. 10% quota allocation for normal Malaysians for PSD scholarships all this while. He clarified that 7282 students were shortlisted from 15220 (previously, PSD director gave a rough estimate of 7500 out of 15000 students).
» Read more: Nazri reveal 10 percent scholarship quota

Samy goes begging again for scholarships!

May 22nd, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


I remember Samy saying “no more begging” when Pahang EXCO line up did not have any Indians in it (well, only one candidate is available!). I suppose he only meant for that specific case. Now its that time of the year (nope, not X’mas or Deepavali) where a short serial drama is played out.

This time, only 72 out 2000 (3.6%) recipients were Indians. Stories are aplenty about students with lesser As getting scholarship due to their privileged status. Just check the letters section in The Star yesterday for some examples.

As usual, the aggrieved students and parents have no choice but to approach political parties (heard PKR’s Gopalakrishnan is organising a meeting as well, while Sivanesan had done so in Perak). Then, the party will be made to look like saviours when in fact it was their failure that bought the community down to this level in the first place. I think the parents and student are more mature now. They’ll just nod their heads at Samy’s speech, agreeing to everything he says, put up with “words of advice” until their kids get the scholarships. But when come to election time, another rout for MIC is expected. Don’t think that the community can be fooled by this kind of drama. » Read more: Samy goes begging again for scholarships!

PSD claims cream of crop selected for scholarship

May 18th, 2008
|  Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email


After Dr S.Subra suggested automatic scholarships, and many disgruntled SPM achievers gathered at Perak and Selangor, PSD comes out with explanation. How nice if this explanation is given earlier. It would answer many questions.

Now it is revealed that minimum of 13A1s is the cutoff point for academic criteria. In others, all the 140 students who complained earlier don’t stand a chance. Not qualified la! PSD should make the criteria public as soon as the closing date for application is reached. This will ensure students and parents would not wait anxiously and can make alternative plans. In fact, data on number of A1 achievers should be read from MES and matched with the number of scholarships available. In this way, it is possible to know how many A1s is needed to qualify for academic criteria. Probably, if 2000 places are available, PSD can pick the top 4000 or 5000, and do their shortlisting from there. » Read more: PSD claims cream of crop selected for scholarship