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2004 survey shows indians earn more

December 5th, 2007
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perhaps the statistics should be separated to show malays, other bumiputras, chinese, indian, others, and foreigners.

the term bumiputra and malays are at times freely interchanged to suit certain needs and can cause misrepresentation.

Govt study shows Indians earning more

source

THE average household income for the Indian community in 2004 stood at RM3,456 a month. 

In contrast, Bumiputeras only had a monthly average household income of RM2,711, while Chinese RM4,437. "This is a five per cent improvement from 1999, where the monthly average household income for Indians was RM2,702," said Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman.

In his reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh (BN-Gerik), he said the Hindu Rights Action Front's (Hindraf) claims that the Indians were poor and marginalised in Malaysia were false. Wan Hashim had wanted to know the status of the Indian community to ascertain whether there was any truth to Hindraf's claims of marginalisation.

"Millions of our citizens live comfortably compared to those in Tamil Nadu. In BN's opinion, there is no need for Hindraf to meet the prime minister. Go through the MIC."

Zainal Abidin explained further that in 2004, Indians only registered a poverty rate of 2.9 per cent compared with Bumiputeras at 8.3 per cent, the highest in the country. Poverty rate for the Chinese stood at 0.6 per cent. "The number actually showed an improvement because in 1999, the Indian community's poverty rate was at 3.5 per cent."  He reminded everyone to base their statements on facts and figures, and not allow false stories to affect the wellbeing of all Malaysians.

Earlier, Zainal Abidin told Wan Hashim that the government aimed to reduce the poverty rate from 5.7 per cent in 2004 to 2.85 per cent by 2010, and fully eradicate hardcore poverty by 2010. "Specifically for rural areas, the government aims to reduce poverty from 11.9 per cent to 5.95 per cent by 2010, and at the same time, fully eradicate hardcore poverty," he said.

Deputy minister: Indians better off than Malays
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75602
Fauwaz Abdul Aziz
Dec 3, 07 6:31pm
There is lower poverty among the Indians compared to the Malays and the former also enjoy higher household incomes, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

According to Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Zainal Abidin Osman (BN-Nibong Tebal), the monthly household income for Indians in 2004 was RM3,456, while it was RM2,711 for Malay households and RM4,437 for Chinese.

He said this was a five percent improvement for the Indians compared to 1999 when their household income was RM2,702.

He said the poverty rate and hardcore poverty in 2004 among Indians was at 2.9 percent, 8.3 percent among Malays and 0.6 percent among the Chinese.

This was also an improvement for the Indians from 1999, where the rate was 3.5 percent.

"Because of this, we must hold on to the true facts and figures and not allow emotions and tall tales to influence the people," he said.

Explain to Hindraf

Zainal Abidin was replying Dr Wan Hashim Wan Teh (BN-Gerik) who asked for clarification of the per capita income and the incidence of poverty among the various communities.

"Let's explain this issue to (Hindu Rights Action Force) Hindraf in this august House where the ethnic Indians are situated… and the number of professionals (among Indians), isn't their percentage high in comparison with other groups?" asked Wan Hashim.

"Millions are living comfortably (in Malaysia). It is as if they are in Nirvana compared to the circumstances in Tamil Nadu." 


Wan Hashim was referring to claims by Hindraf, a group advocating rights and better treatment of Indians, who they claim have been discriminated, marginalised and exploited.

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anti crucifix MP tries to cover up

December 4th, 2007
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Wonder if this MP did read the hansard. The words used didn't merely sound like asking clarification. Even if he was raising public concern, can he quote verbatim without mentioning so? He should be refered to the BN Whip for causing religious tension. The proof is there in writing. Surely he can report MP Parit Sulong to the Whip for going against BN spirit.

I'm soooo confused…..

'Remove crucifixes' MP explains himself
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75642
Yoges Palaniappan
Dec 4, 07 4:33pm

The Barisan Nasional MP who suggested that crucifixes be removed from mission schools today explained that he was merely raising public concern.

Syed Hood Syed Edros (BN-Parit Sulong) told reporters in Parliament that he raised the issue in the Dewan Rakyat in order to get clarification from the Education Ministry.

On Oct 29, Syed Hood and Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) ( right)suggested that crucifixes in mission schools be removed and church influence over these schools be stopped.

Syed Hood told the Dewan Rakyat that he believes that the school board in mission schools are partially administered by foreign churches, for example the Vatican City in Italy.

He said he was "ashamed and disappointed" that schools in an Islamic country like Malaysia are still under the control of churches and that they display icons like crosses and statues.

However, he told reporters today that he did not raise the issue in bad faith but had merely raised the “grouses of the public”.

"As the people's representative, I hear complaints and laments from the public. And every complaint must be given a proper explanation," he said, adding that PAS would play up the issue if no proper explanation was given. 

Thanking mission schools for providing education to Malaysians in the early years, Syed Hood said: "Then, Malay parents didn't send their children to mission schools. But now that the country has developed, we have many of them doing so and we need to explain to them when they have doubts."

Explaining that Deputy Education Minister Noh Omar's reply in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday had clarified the matter, Syed Hood said: "The clarification would provide much relief to the people of all races."

Respect for religion

Syed Hood said the issue was played up in emails and blog-posts by those "who did not understand his intention".

"What I said in the Dewan does not reflect Syed Hood the MP. I, as an individual and politician, always respect other races and religions.

"I personally don't have any issue with crosses being displayed in mission schools. We have to respect the religion of others to gain their respect for our religion."

He said his eldest child had attended SMK Convent Batu Pahat when his family lived in the town.

Asked to comment on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz's statement that action would be taken against him if a police report is lodged regarding his remarks, Syed Hood said: "We have to hope for the best and prepare for the worst."

He also said that, in life, one has to make mistakes and learn from these, and if he has made one, then it can still be rectified.

'Hisham must explain'

However, Nazri reiterated today that no action would be taken against Syed Hood unless there is a complaint from other MPs.

"I am the (BN) deputy whip. I have to wait for other members to complain," he told reporters today.

Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference, urged Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to explain if it is true that crucifixes in mission school emblems have been removed and replaced.

"I call on Hishammuddin to explain how many mission schools in the country have replaced the cross in the school emblem, together with a full list of the schools concerned and the relevant particulars on the year of removal and why," he said.

He also explained that he had received complaints in his blog about several mission schools where the crucifixes on their emblems have been replaced.

"Among the schools are St David High School, Malacca (crucifix replaced with a crown), Convent Girls School, Muar (crucifix replaced with a crescent moon), and Methodist Boys Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur," he said.

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form cabinet task force to aid Indians

December 4th, 2007
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the indian community at large worry about temple, tamil schools, housing/land/TOL, govt jobs, IC/birth cert/marriage registration, minimum wage, microcredit loans, harrassment from authorities, free/cheap/reliable medical services, removal of gangs/thugs, removal of samsu shops, and education opportunities.

those in middle class and above have slightly different set of worries. their worries will be on employment, housing, business opportunities, crime rate, toll rate, petrol price, civil rights, migration, transportation problems, local council performance, children education, peace, etc.

Form Cabinet task force to aid Indians
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/75622

Dec 4, 07 1:53pm

Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang today urged the government to establish a Cabinet Task Force to find solutions to end the marginalisation of Indians and other groups in the country.

He said the task force should be headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and should focus on:

• Conversion of all partially-aided Tamil primary schools into fully-aided schools

• RM500 million allocation to upgrade Tamil primary schools

• Stop demolition of Hindu temples and other places of worship nationwide.

Lim said his proposal was in view of a 30,000-strong “cry of desperation” by those who attended the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rally on Nov 25.

“The Cabinet should end the denial about the marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia and come out with a new policy for a new deal to end the marginalisation of Indians and all marginalised groups in Malaysia,” he added in a statement.

Lim stressed that the Cabinet and MIC president S Samy Vellu cannot deny that Indians have been marginalised over the last three decades.

As an example, he pointed out that before the New Economic Policy was implemented in 1971, the civil service comprised of 17.4 percent Indians. This figure shrank to 5.12 percent in 2005. 

MIC's 'disservice' 

Since the Hindraf rally, Abdullah, Samy and other Cabinet ministers have on a near daily basis denied Hindraf’s charge that the Indian community is marginalised.

Meanwhile, Lim also accused MIC of doing a “disservice” by not properly informing Abdullah about the plight of the Indian community.

“Abdullah said he has ‘big ears’ and is prepared to hear the truth. It is shocking that nobody in the MIC leadership… is prepared and has the courage to tell the prime minister the truth.

“For decades, the Indians have been marginalised politically, economically, socially, educationally, culturally and religiously, reducing them into a new underclass,” he said.

Lim said these were the reasons why 30,000 Indians from all over the country rallied behind Hindraf.

However, he disagreed with Hindraf’s claim that the Indians are victims of a state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing.

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convert cant renounce yet

December 3rd, 2007
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Convert will have to wait for decision
source
Opalyn Mok
PENANG (Dec 3, 2007): A Chinese convert seeking to renounce Islam will have to wait longer before the Penang syariah court can deliver a decision on her application as another mention date was fixed for the case.

The last time the case came up in court in August, it was supposed to deliver a decision on Siti Fatimah Tan Abdullah's application but the decision was postponed after she was ordered to attend counselling sessions first.However,when the report of her counselling sessions was submitted to the court today, Siti Fatimah and her lawyer were not present.Syariah court judge Mohd Zawawi Nor fixed Dec 31 for mention to enable the court to study the report. Ahmad Munawir Abdul Aziz, representing the Penang Islamic Religious Council, had submitted the report to the court this morning.

Siti Fatimah, previously known as Tan Ean Huang, 38, from Nibong Tebal, filed her application to renounce Islam on July 10 last year. In August, she was ordered by the court to attend counselling sessions and a report was to be submitted to the court for a decision on her application.In her affidavit, Siti Fatimah claimed she converted to the religion on July 25, 1998, in order to marry an Iranian man, who later left her.She stated that she had never practised the faith since embracing the religion and had continued to eat pork and practised the Buddhist faith. She filed the application to renounce Islam after her husband left her.

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hindraf should meet PM without conditions

December 3rd, 2007
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No conditions must be attached if PM meets Hindraf, says Nazri
source
 Husna Yusop
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 3, 2007): If there is going to be any meeting between the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, it must be done without any conditions and in a mutually-agreed manner, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said. 

Otherwise, he said, Hindraf would be seen to be giving an ultimatum to the government, and the government will not bow to this.

While stressing that he was only giving his personal opinion, he also said that should the prime minister agree to meet the group, it must be with the presence of the MIC. "Otherwise, we may be interpreted as having lost confidence in the MIC in handling Indian issues. These are just my thoughts. The PM will have the last say."But, in my opinion, any meeting should not leave out the MIC because it has always been our partner for the last 50 years with regards to matters relating to the Indians," he said in Parliament lobby today , after the opening of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Caucus for Good Governance.

Yesterday, Hindraf called for a dialogue with Abdullah to discuss the social and economic problems faced by the Indians. This was following an illegal rally staged by Hindraf in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 25, to voice concerns on the issues faced by the community. At least 94 people have been charged for allegedly being involved in the illegal assembly.

Asked why the government did not allow peaceful demonstrations, Mohamed Nazri said there were historical reasons for this, citing the May 13, 1969, incident when demonstrations led to racial riots. "There is no point talking about rule of law when many lives have been sacrificed," he said. He added that in multi-racial Malaysia, some of the issues raised by certain groups may be interpreted as challenges to other groups.He also said the government was responsible for ensuring the country remained peaceful and stable.

"If we do know a demonstration can lead to something which may be explosive and violent, [but we still allow it], if anything happens later, the buck stops at the government. People will ask, ‘Why did you allow it when you know it was bound to happen?’ "I have respect for human rights but I am prepared to withdraw the human rights of three or four people in order to protect the human rights of the majority," he said, adding that the Nov 25 demonstration was instigated by a few people and that the majority of the Indians were happy with the government.

Asked to comment on Hindraf legal adviser P. Uthayakumar’s remark that Hindraf had resorted to the rally because it had exhausted all avenues to overcome the community’s problems, Mohamed Nazri said it was not a valid claim. "Whatever you do, you cannot have it your way all the time," he said. He advised Hindraf supporters to work with the government or register the group as a political party to face the ruling government in the general election.

On Hindraf’s request for a special committee and hotline at the Prime Minister’s Office to respond to issues concerning the Indian community, Mohamed Nazri said: "This is a government which listens but it must be done in a proper way."

Asked to comment on Hindraf’s complaint about the demolition of temples, he said he agreed it was insensitive of the officials in Selangor to tear down the temples on the eve of Deepavali."I agree that was stupid of the officials not to be considerate in sensitive matters like this. It could have been done in a better way if we had just waited a few more days and let the Hindus celebrate Deepavali. "[But] I do not think the Mentri Besar [Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo] has a personal vendetta against the Hindus. I think, we put it to experience, which he probably lacks. I agree that matters touching on religious issues should be handled more cautiously and not be done in a wanton way according to one’s whims and fancies," he said.He added that the public must understand that the relocation of temples or surau on government land was common in the process of development.

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