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Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email This report is an eye-opener of what transpired at the Evening with PM program. Thanks to Nanda who took the effort and time to write the report. There were some doubts on the number of people who attended, and according to the report below, it could be about 6000 only. » Read more: What really happened at Evening with PM
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email The comments below clearly shows what the community wants. I think the leaders have lowered themselves by offering a public holiday. Maybe lose respect among the Indian community. » Read more: We don’t only want holiday!
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email The media (Star and NST-reproduced below) were adorned with the magic numbers: 21000. Number of supporters that came to the Evening with Prime Minister program organised by MIC as a show of support for BN. MK reported 15,000 people.
however, piinangkl highlighted that the hall can only fit 3000 people in the spectator stands. I searched around and managed to find the following:
It is located at Cheras, about 8 km from Kuala Lumpur City. For KL’06, 9th FESPIC Games this venue will be used for power lifting. About 3000 spectators can be accommodated in the stadium. It has parking bays for 100 cars and 20 busses can be parked at the parking bays.
source: KL FESPIC Games 2006 website
If we can assume that the courts were used as well, maybe another 8000 people can be seated. So, 5000 + 8000 = 13000. Where were the other 8000 people?
Reports say that some were standing outside, but no numbers on that.
By : Azura Abas and K. Harideran
source
KUALA LUMPUR: A cabinet committee on the hardcore poor will be formed to lift people of all races out of dire poverty by 2010, the prime minister said.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the committee’s measures to improve the livelihood of the nation’s poorest could only succeed if all races were united.
If there is havoc, it will be difficult. If there is fighting, it will be difficult. So, don’t fight and don’t cause trouble. Instead, all of us have to work hard and unite because it gives us the strength to face all challenges. With this strength, God willing, the Barisan Nasional will continue to be the people’s choice.”
The prime minister said the hardcore poor existed among all races. “It does not exist only in the Indian community. It is also present in the Chinese and Malay communities.” He said poverty still existed in the country and much work remained to be done, especially in developing the rural areas.
“In our effort to alleviate poverty, we will ensure no race is excluded. This is my promise.” Abdullah also wanted children from hardcore poor families to be educated as it was the main route through which they could improve their lives.
On the MIC, the prime minister said the party was an old friend of Umno and the MCA. “We cannot forget the MIC. If there are problems, we (the other components in the BN) are ready to help. “The MIC can continue its struggle under the BN banner.”
The BN always stood by a common understanding among its members, said Abdullah, who is also the BN chief. “We will face the coming general election together,” he said.
Abdullah assured the Indian audience that MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu had always voiced the community’s concerns. “What I’m about to say is not because of the coming general election. I just want to tell you the truth. “Samy Vellu has always been fighting for you in the cabinet,” he said to loud cheers.
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email According to MHS:
Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam said the Hindus here are definitely happy as the organisation had been appealing for over 20 years for Thaipusam to be declared a holiday for the Federal Territory.
Wonder how long MIC being asking for it.
Thanks to Hindraf Rally, the wish is granted in 2008! Of course, having an election around the corner plays a role too.
Worst is NST who attributed the success to MIC (Headline screams: Holiday for KL, Putrajaya thanks to MIC’s efforts). In Malay, there is a proverb – “lembu punya susu, sapi dapat nama.” (the cow’s milk, but buffalo gets name).
The news came out early when PM hinted that cabinet will consider the proposal to declare Thaipusam as public holiday, when he attended the Ponggal Festival celebration at Bukit Bintang. It became reality when he announced it on Sunday evening.
Hindu groups welcome holiday
KUALA LUMPUR: More Hindus will be visiting temples throughout the country now that Thaipusam is a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam said the Hindus here are definitely happy as the organisation had been appealing for over 20 years for Thaipusam to be declared a holiday for the Federal Territory. He urged Kedah and Malacca to consider similar appeals for Thaipusam to be declared a holiday there as both states have a considerable number of Hindus.
A Hindu NGO, Mamandram, also welcomed the good news. Mamandram president Prof N.S. Rajendran said the declaration is timely and apt.
source
KUALA LUMPUR: Starting this year, Thaipusam will be an annual public holiday in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced this yesterday to cheers and thunderous applause from thousands of Indians and Barisan Nasional supporters.
He said the decision was made after several calls were made by the MIC to have Thaipusam declared a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur.
“Yes, (Datuk Seri S.) Samy Vellu kept asking for Thaipusam to be made a public holiday, especially in Kuala Lumpur. Moreover, every year during Thaipusam, the roads in Kuala Lumpur become very congested,” he said.
Also present were Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Chai Ho.
Thaipusam is currently a state holiday in Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johor. Thaipusam is also celebrated at the Sri Subramaniar Temple on the Cheroh mountain in Ipoh, Perak and in Jalan Waterfall in Penang.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithilingam welcomed Abdullah’s statement. He added that for more than 20 years, Hindus had been asking for this.
Vaithilingam also appealed to Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam to gazette Thaipusam as a public holiday in their states as there was a large number of Hindus who visited Sungai Petani and Malacca to celebrate the festival.Thaipusam holiday for KL and Putrajaya
By JANE RITIKOS and MARTIN CARVALHO
KUALA LUMPUR: Thaipusam will be a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who announced this yesterday to more than 20,000 people from the Indian community at MIC’s Gathering with the Prime Minister at the Badminton Stadium in Cheras yesterday, said he had considered the request by the MIC to declare Thaipusam a public holiday. “We discussed this matter. They said that during Thaipusam there would be traffic jams everywhere in Kuala Lumpur and it is difficult to get to work. So let it be a holiday,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
Thaipusam, which falls on Wednesday, is already a public holiday in Selangor, Penang, Perak, Negri Sembilan and Johor.
The crowd starting cheering and clapping even before he made the announcement. They cheered as soon as he first brought up the subject by relating how the Indian community at the Ponggal event in Bukit Bintang on Saturday night had reacted excitedly when he promised to consider their request.
When the crowd cheered, he said: “Why are you all cheering?” and the people replied: “Cuti! (Holiday).” “But we must continue to work. When it is a holiday, we have a holiday. But when it is time to work, we must work hard. Promise this, promise this,” he said.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu thanked Abdullah for the public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. “The Hindus in Malaysia have been waiting for a long time for such good news, and I hope they will not be disappointed,” he said.
He told reporters that although a national holiday had not been declared, the MIC was happy with the news. He added that the party would forward its appeal for the event to be declared a public holiday in Kedah and Malacca to the states’ mentri besar and chief minister respectively.
Earlier in his speech at the gathering, Samy Vellu said the MIC had also brought up the Thaipusam holiday request with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique.
He added that MIC was confident the Indian voters would steadfastly remain with Barisan Nasional. “Let us show to the country that the Indian community fully supports the Prime Minister. We will swim or sink with Barisan,” said Samy who called Abdullah “our leader and the leader for all Malaysians”.
Samy Vellu admitted that there were still many unresolved grievances within the Indian community. “At the heart of the problem are many issues related to delivery and implementation by the civil service and local governments,” he said.
He took to task “certain political forces” trying to weaken Indian representation in the Government.
| Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe to poobalan.com by Email According to Toyo, there are 40,000 Indians without birth cert. Now, the issue was discussed in UMNO supreme council (wonder why?) and yet another committee (anyone keeping track of the number of committees now?) WILL be set up to handle this problem.
As I mentioned earlier, is this proof of sole representative of the Indian community’s failure?
More shockingly, Toyo said that PM was shocked to hear about this. Yet another proof of failure from the sole party that represents Indians?
Special unit to handle plight of Indians without birth cert
SHAH ALAM: A special committee under the Home Affairs Ministry will be set up to handle the plight of 40,000 Indian children nationwide who do not have a birth certificate. Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the decision to set up the committee was made after he highlighted the matter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi during the Umno Supreme Council last week.
He said many Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had approached him to help raise the plight of the children. “These children are unable to attend school, register for programmes or get jobs as adults.
“The Prime Minister was shocked when I informed him and immediately asked for a special committee to be formed under the Home Ministry,” he said during an Indian cultural show organised by the Barisan Nasional Volunteers Association here on Saturday night.
Dr Khir said the state government was working closely with several NGOs to get the parents to register their children. He added that the birth certificate should be issued quickly if all the requirements were met. He said the requirements included information on the hospital of birth and supporting facts from grandparents or close relatives.
“We have to be careful. We have to safeguard against foreigners who might use the chance to register for citizenship,” he said.
SHAH ALAM: The state government is stepping up efforts to gather information on Indian children without birth certificates.
It is learnt that there are about 40,000 Indian children without birth certificates in the state, many because their fathers cannot be traced.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said the services of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were being enlisted to compile the number of affected children and their place of birth.
“We have to verify if they are Malaysians to sieve out foreigners claiming to be locals,” he said at a meeting with 15 Indian NGOs here.
Dr Khir said he had raised the children’s dilemma at a recent Umno supreme council meeting. He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi instructed Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad to form a task force to address the problem immediately.
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