Posts Tagged ‘MIC’

Govt allocated RM64.84 mil for Tamil schools says Komala

November 13th, 2007
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but she still did not answer the question on list of schools that are being helped. Is it on a ad-hoc basis based on first come first serve?

Anyway, it is well documented during the 9th Malaysian Plan (read it here, here or here) that  there's no specific mention on allocation for vernacular schools. Thus it is puzzling that suddenly there's an allocation of 64++ million for Tamil schools only. And on top of that another 100 million? Hmm…Does YSS know about this? Since they were involved in providing input to the plan way back in 2005 ?

UPDATE: According to NST report below, Komala mentioned that the RM100 million fund allocated was for government-aided schools – meaning chinese, tamil and religious schools. Furthermore, she said 163 schools received 11.6 million so far, meaning average of RM71165 per school.

TAMIL schools in the country are not left unaided as claimed by some politicians.

Education Ministry parliamentary secretary P. Komala Devi said the welfare of vernacular schools had never been neglected. Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, RM64.8 million had been allocated for the renovation, restoration and upgrading of Tamil schools.

A RM100 million fund has also been set up for government-aided schools. Komala said 163 Tamil schools had received RM11.6 million from this fund.

To a supplementary question by S.K Devamany (BN-Cameron Highlands), she said the fact that a budget had been allocated showed that no one had been sidelined.
“Schools and students are also given grants, food, free textbooks and tuition vouchers,” she said.

Gov't allocated RM64.84 mil for Tamil schools
source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/74740
Yoges Palaniappan
Nov 13, 07 6:20pm
The government has allocated RM64.84 million for fully-aided government Tamil schools under the Ninth Malaysian Plan, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Education Ministry G Komala Devi said on top of that, another RM100 million has also been allocated for these schools by the government.

"As of October, 163 government-aided Tamil schools have received RM11.6 million from the fund," she said.

Komala (BN-Kapar) was replying to a query from K Devamany (BN-Cameron Highlands) who asked the education minister to state the mid-term achievement of the Ninth Malaysian Plan on developing the infrastructure of Tamil schools.

In answering a supplementary question from Devamany, Komala said her ministry has an open mind and was always ready to assist all schools regardless of background and stream.

Opposition easily confused

Devamany asked if the ministry agreed with the accusation of a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department that the government does not care about the welfare of Tamil schools in the country.

He was referring to PPP president M Kayveas who stated that the government has ignored the plight of Tamil schools.

Komala said the ministry, besides allocating funds for a school's physical development, also provides grants for all students including free text books and tuition vouchers.

M Kualasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) asked Komala the reasons as to why the government has failed to provide the list of Tamil schools that will be built under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

"Once, the education minister said that no Tamil and Chinese schools will be built under the plan, but every time a question is raised, ministry officials say that RM64.8 million has been allocated for Tamil schools. Where are the schools being built?" Kulasegaran asked.

To this, Komala responded by saying that the opposition is often confused with statements issued by the government.

"Although we have issued many statements, the opposition often goes back to a particular statement that is no more in standing.

"I would like to stress here that the education minister has good relationship with Chinese leader (MCA president) Ong Ka Ting and Indian leader (MIC president) S Samy Vellu. Their views are often taken into consideration before any decision is made."

rounding mechanism to remove use of 1 sen coin

November 13th, 2007
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So, can expect products to be priced at RMXX.X3, RMXX.X4, RMXX.X8 or RMXX.X9 so that can earn extra 1 or 2 sen. Good if the prices go down, but in reality, the prices will go up. Anything costing RM29.99 (for example), you can expect to get the 1 sen balance, but with the new ruling, you won’t get anything back. The good thing is that business can stop advertising the XX.99 sales gimmicks!

UPDATE: according to NST, the rounding off is for the total bill and not individual item. So it may even out in the end, or you may even gain a sen or two!

Bye-bye, 1sen coin

source

By WONG SAI WAN AND ROYCE CHEAH

KUALA LUMPUR: It is no joke but by April 1 next year, you would not have to use the one-sen coin anymore thanks to a "rounding mechanism" that would be used for all over-the-counter transactions. 

The mechanism, which will be fully implemented by April 1, means all payment totals will either be rounded up or down to the nearest five sen. 

For example, if the total amount to be paid is RM82.01 or RM82.02, it would be rounded down to RM82; if the total is RM82.03 or RM82.04, it would be rounded up to RM82.05. 

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal announced details of the mechanism on Tuesday, saying it would benefit both businesses and consumers. 

"It will be more convenient for both parties. Businesses will no longer have to handle the coins or ensure they have a ready supply, while consumers would also not have to worry about carrying them," he said. 

Shafie said the Government would also be able to reduce its minting costs as it was anticipated that the demand for the coin would reduce drastically once the mechanism was implemented. 

"It will also not affect the current price structure. Businesses can continue to charge RM29.99 or other odd numbers they are currently using," he said.

Perak never rejected application for temple land titles

November 13th, 2007
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Apply for land titles, temples told MIC: State has never rejected applications

By CLARA CHOOI

Perak MIC chairman Datuk G. Rajoo said he was confident the state government would not reject their applications, as it had not done so before. 

“Since 2000, the state has issued land titles to 38 temples,” he told reporters at his Deepavali open house in Ipoh recently. 

His comments came following the demolition of a temple in Shah Alam by the Selangor Government on Oct 30 that sparked off a controversy. 

On the 38 temples issued land titles, Rajoo said, some had been allowed to remain in their current location while others were given alternative plots of between 0.404ha and 0.808ha. 

“The state government also gives an RM300,000 annual allocation for the maintenance of the legalised temples,” he said. 

Despite this, he said, there were still so many illegal Hindu temples in Perak. 

“This is because the temple committees are not willing to move from their current locations. They do not apply for land titles as they may be asked to relocate to a new spot,” he said. 

He added that in Ipoh alone, at least 400 Hindu temples were squatting illegally on government land. 

“Still, Perak has never demolished temples to make way for development,” he said, adding that with negotiations, such problems could be resolved amicably. 

“However, we would like to urge all temple committees to legalise their temples and apply for the grants. 

“They must register their details with the Malaysia Hindu Sangam and their applications can be sent to the state government through the Perak MIC,” he said. 

Earlier at the open house, Rajoo donated RM5,000 each to six orphanages in Ipoh.

PM to get report on Tamil schools redevelopment

November 11th, 2007
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PM to get report on Tamil schools' redevelopment

BERNAMA

IPOH, Sun.:

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu will submit to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi a detailed report on the redevelopment of the remaining Tamil schools which are in dire need of repair.

A similar report will also be forwarded to Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein for financial aid, he said after chairing a meeting of Tamil school headmasters and Parent-Teacher Associations’ chairmen here today.

“We have rebuilt 76 Tamil schools (of the 523 Tamil schools) in the past 20 years and many more need to be rebuilt,” said the Works Minister, adding that some schools needed immediate attention.

Samy Vellu said the report would have the names of the school that required repairs and the allocation needed.

He said there was an urgent need for more allocations to provide a better environment for teaching and learning in Tamil schools.

“I strongly believe the 76 Tamil schools that we have rebuilt have created a better learning environment and facilities.

“This has provided the students with better enthusiasm, knowledge and the strength to continue with their educational excellence and also to compete with other schools in their examinations,” he said.

Samy Vellu said between RM30 million and RM40 million would have to be spent on Tamil schools’ redevelopment before the Ninth Malaysia Plan ended.

“We are thankful to the government for the yearly allocation for this purpose,” Samy Vellu said, adding that some Tamil schools needed to be relocated to other places due to low student enrolment.

“We are targeting housing areas where there are sizeable number of Indian parents who wish to send their children to Tamil schools,” he said.

The minister said the MIC would continue to negotiate with the Education Ministry to ensure Tamil schools’ survival.

Perak MIC chief urges temples to apply for land

November 11th, 2007
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IPOH: Do not wait until the last minute to legalise Hindu temples sitting on private or government-owned land, Perak MIC chief Datuk G. Rajoo said yesterday. 
 

"Some of them don't care, and some don't have a committee to deal with the matter. As long as no one is disturbing them, they are happy to keep quiet. "But I'm saying that it's better to start applying now," he said in response to the demolition of a 100-year-old Hindu temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya by the Shah Alam Municipal Council on Oct 30. Rajoo said there had been no demolition of Hindu temples built illegally in Perak and the state government had not turned down any land applications made by temples. Since 2000, 38 temples succeeded in their application for land in Perak, either to remain at their present site or to relocate elsewhere, he said at his Deepavali open house. Rajoo estimated that there were 1,500 illegal temples in Perak, of which about 400 were in Ipoh.