Posts Tagged ‘MIC’

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KTMB approves land for school after 10 years!

August 4th, 2009
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 This news came out on Malaysiakini (July 28). The community which slogged for KTM in the yesteryears have to wait 10 years for an approval (and that too with the struggle of a political party). Syabas to KTM!  We should be thankful that at least they gave the approval.  Let’s give them full marks for the CSR.

The 10-year struggle by MIC to get railway land approval for the reconstruction of termite-infested SJK (T) Perak Sangeetha Sabah has finally seen the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel when Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) approved the application recently.

The wooden-double storey wooden building situated on a 0.3ha land along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak is in the heartland of the Indian community in Ipoh city and has an enrolment of 178 pupils.

Malaysiakini had recently highlighted this long-standing problem when the dilapidated primary school (right) could not accommodate the growing number of Indian schoolchildren in this area.

Today, Perak MIC chief G Rajoo told the media that all the pupils and staff of the school will be temporarily relocated at SK Buntong at the end of the month.

“The construction work on the new four-storey building costing RM2.3 million will commence on Aug 17 and is expected to be completed in a year’s time,” Rajoo stated.

Old school replaced

The old school, built in 1934 consisted of six-classrooms, will now make way for a 12-classroom new school.

On July 10, MIC president S Samy Vellu had expressed his frustration at KTMB’s refusal to approve the railway land for construction of the new school.

He is said to have wanted to take up the matter with Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat.

Rajoo (left) further stated that a total of RM 6 million has been allocated for the construction and expansion of three Tamil primary schools which includes SJK (T) Sangeetha.

The other two schools which will have a new extension wing each are SJK (T) Ghanthi Kalasalai in Sungai Siput with 10 additional classrooms and SJK (T) Tan Sri Datuk Manickavasagam situated in Tanjong Malim with six additional classrooms.

“Another eight Tamil schools will either undergo reconstruction or extension of the buildings,” said Rajoo.

The schools are: SJK(T) Ladang Beruang River in Tanjung Malim, SJK(T) Methodist (Malim Nawar), SJK(T) Ladang Kota Bharu(Gopeng), SJK(T) Ladang Batuk Rabit (Teluk Intan),SJK(T) Ladang Flemington(Sungai Sumun), SJK(T) Noba Scotia 2 (Teluk Intan), SJK(T) Jebong Lama(Matang) and SJK(T) Ladang Gabis( Padang Rengas).

Earlier, Samy voiced out his frustation (and he should do more of this so that the community can know who the culprits are):

“They have forgotten the sacrifices made by Indians who played a major role in the construction of the railway track from Ipoh to Padang Besar,” said Samy.

… “KTMB must remember that the railway track could not have been completed without the manpower of Indians. Many sacrificed their lives when the Padang Rengas railway tunnel was being built,” said Samy

“KTMB has conveniently forgotten the history of the Indian community’s contributions to the construction of the railway network,” he added.

He said there is a big Indian community concentrated in this area and more Indian children want to enrol in SJK (T) Perak Sangeetha Sabah.

“But there is not enough space to accommodate them unless KTMB gives permission to rebuild the school.”

Samy pointed out that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (right) had given RM100 million, and former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had allocated another RM30 million for the construction of 60 new Tamil schools.

The money is also for repairs and extension of buildings for Tamil schools in the country.

“SJK (T) Perak Sangeetha Sabah is on the list schools which is to benefit from the allocations, but KTMB is denying the Indian community the right to study in a newly-built school.

‘I’m going to speak Tee Keat’

“When we have the funds (to build new schools)… we do not have the land and, when we have the land… we do not have the funds,” said a frustrated Samy (below).

“I’m going to speak to transport minister Ong Tee Keat about this matter (KTMB’s decision not to allow MIC to build a new school),” he said.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Indian, Tamil-Schools

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Promise for shoplot school

August 4th, 2009
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I’m sure some of you guys who have received an email about a school in a shoplot. That wasn’t something that happened in a faraway land, but right here in Negeri Sembilan. SJKT Ladang Sungai Salak is the infamous school I’m talking about. It was sharing building with another school for 5 years before moving into a shoplot in July 2007. Not sure if its listed in Malaysian Book of Records for the tremendous achievement.

Anyway, the school is in the limelight again because Senator P.Murugiah (he who is often seen as butting into other people’s territory) made a visit to the school recently. He also said that the school will get their own place next year and said that he will talk to Deputy Education Minister about this problem. Following this, Deputy Education Minister Puad Zarkashi said that the Education Ministry will help relocate SJK(T) Ladang Sungai Salak, citing “the 120 pupils should be studying in a more conducive environment and not be crammed in classrooms.”

“The school can be a fire trap. We will find ways to relocate it soon,” he said after visiting SJK(C) Ladang Hillside near here.

According to Puad, the Government has allocated RM975,000 for the construction of the school but it was delayed as the school had not been able to secure a plot for the purpose. Puad said the state Education Department would help school authorities to look for a piece of land in Lukut to build a new school.

Contrasting that is the statement in the earlier posting, where school said there no cooperation and help from the authorities to secure land or place. The school obviously couldn’t find land by itself. What is the purpose of having an Education Department, one may ask.

Anyway, the issue got interesting because MIC Negeri Sembilan claims Murugiah is trying to claim credit for the hard work put in by MIC for last two years in securing land for the school. The relocation to shoplot was secured through MIC 2 years ago. If not, maybe the schools be virtually closed down without any venue. Rajagopalu, MIC state chief, also said some different about the land:

He said the party had laid the groundwork to relocate the school to a nearby land acquired by the Education Ministry for RM1.5mil.

He added that MIC secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who is also the Human Resources Minister, had already spoken to Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on the matter.

So, now we are not sure what is exactly going on with land status. Is there land available or not?

Whatever it is, hopefully the promise by the Deputy Education Minister materialises soon. No more excuse about land office not helpful or no land found etc.

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MIC Youth Press Statement on Kg Buah Pala

August 2nd, 2009
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Received via email on 25th July.

PRESS STATEMENT BY MIC YOUTH COORDINATOR T.MOHAN

25th JULY 2009

MIC Youth wants the Pakatan Government in Penang to reveal the minutes of the state executive council meetings on the Kampung Buah Pala issue after it took over the power in March last year.

We want the state government to be transparent and give a full disclosure of what transpired in the state exco meetings on the issue.

This would reveal whether the Pakatan government under Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng had the interests of the Indians, especially the residents of Kg Buah Pala at  heart or not.

The Pakatan government’s intention to declassify the minutes of the previous government was to hoodwink the people and also shift their inefficiency against them.

Based on the reports, we MIC Youth feels that the residents have a legitimate right over the land and the hisotircal facts support their existence and their right over the land.

According to National Land Code Seksyen 78(3) ,  “The land remains a state land untill issuance of Registered Title”. state could secure the village by acquiring the land on grounds of public purpose and interests, under Section 76 of the National Land Code 1965 read together with the Land Acquisition Act.

The Pakatan government had accepted payment of RM2.2 mil as the balance of the premium on March 14, 2008, six days after taking office and the land title was issued to the Cooperative and the developer on March 27, 2008.

Under Section 81 (2) of the National Land Code, the premium has to be paid within three months of the approval and failure to do so, renders the approval null and void.

It is a known fact that the former Chief Minister Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon had approved the project on April 24, 2007 and the premium of RM2.24 mil was only paid on March 14, 2008, 11 months later. This is already a strong reason for the state government to rescind the approval.So we believe there is hidden agenda

MIC Youth is bewildered as to why the Pakatan government is reluctant to take action when it is very clear that the provisions of the National Land Code has not been adhered to.

Instead of  blaming other for their own mistakes, Lim Guan Eng should do the honourable task of putting the interests of the residents of Kg Buah Pala first and cancelling the approval of the land to the Cooperative.

MIC Youth is willing to pay RM3.2 mil if the Pakatan government can cancel their approval and regain back the land which will be handed over to the people of Kg Buah Pala without any charge.

Hopefully Chief Minister Lim Guang Eng  will stand by his promises made to residents of Kg Buah Pala and not to beat around the bush and continue more political drama of his. MIC Youth will stand by our decision and settle the said amount as soon as we get the letter of offer from state government to purchase the land.

The Pakatan government has to cancel the approval for the land to the cooperative first and not try to deflect their responsibility by asking the MIC to discuss with the cooperative.

No right thinking person who had acquired the land through deception, would want to sell back the land at the same premium price when he knows that he would make a tidy profit. This is a Pakatan government mistake which they have to undo first.

The Pakatan leaders had also promised that they would not allow the Kg Buah Pala to be demolished but what has happened to their promises.

As responsible people, they should immediately tender their resignations if they were unable to fulfil their promises made during the campaign for the march 2008 general election.

MIC Youth would stand with the villagers to ensure that they were not evicted from the land. We call other right minded political parties and Indian non-governmental organizations to come and support these poor villagers on Aug 3.

MIC Youth calls on the Indians in Penang not to be hoodwinked by the claims that Pakatan government is fair to all races in the country. They had failed to ensure that the Indians in Kg Buah Pala were not cheated of the land.

—
Your’s Sincerely,

T.Mohan
National Coordinator
M.I.C YOUTH

I guess if the current government can declassify previous government’s minutes, it should have problem doing the same for those under its own administration. Just to clear the air.  Anyhow, MIC says money is ready for state government to buy back the land at nominal price. The Koperasi is adamant it won’t sell the land, even if it doesn’t get approval to develop the land. Means sit on idle land…

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Veera Muneswarar Temple demolition in Ampang

June 29th, 2009
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Hindraf’s Jayathas issued statement that the temple – Veera Muneswarar temple – in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng was demolished by gangsters associated with MIC. MIC Youth denied this and claimed that they were in the process of finding a solution to the temple issue. The temple is 20 years old, so most likely its on private land that belongs to someone else.

There are few things that I like to note:

1. Vel Paari is right in the sense that just complaining is pointless. HINDRAF is limited to doing just that – protest because they don’t have locus standi to do anything else, save initiate legal proceedings. No one will accept their memorandum or ideas or solutions. They are considered “outlawed” organisation which is not even registered.

2. If I’m not mistaken, Deputy FT  Minister Saravanan did pledge that no more temples will be demolished without proper alternative or solution. Looks like another broken promise for MIC?

3. Where/what is Hindu Sangam’s role in this? No statement yet from them.

4. What is DBKL’s role in this? Where is their committee on temple issues?

5. At least the developer removed the deities before demolishment, unlike the gangsters in local councils and their henchmen.

MIC Youth is unhappy with being blamed for playing a role in the demolition of a 20-year-old Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

The temple – Veera Muneswarar Alayam in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng – was demolished by some unidentified people and had prompted both Hindraf and MIC to converge at the scene to help the temple committee save the place of worship.

Hindraf, which for long has been in the forefront when it comes to protesting temple demolitions, issued a press statement immediately after the demolition, putting the blame on MIC, among others, for the demolition.

Hindraf’s S Jayathas bluntly blamed “MIC gangsters who worked with the developer” in demolishing the temple.

He also claimed that the police and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) had failed to protect the temple and its devotees while allowing others to demolish the temple.

“It is disappointing that the police did not do anything despite the temple committee launching police reports previously against any attempts to demolish the temple,” he said.

But the main plank of his complain was against the MIC.

“Around 35 Indian guys that we suspect were MIC gangsters demolished the 20-year- old temple,” he said in a statement.

MIC Youth was naturally unimpressed with Jayathas’ sweeping accusations.

“This is what he does best – making such clumsy statements and then going away until another temple is demolished,” said MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari.

MIC Youth in talks with developer

Vell Paari added that MIC was not involved in the demolition of the Jalan Yap Kwan Seng temple. On the contrary, he said, the movement was deeply involved in getting the problem solved.

“We have been following up with this temple case from the beginning. We have spoken to the temple committee about three weeks ago and they told us that they wanted to deal directly with the developers.

“And when the demolition took place yesterday, we immediately sent our people over to see what was happening. We contacted DBKL who confirmed that they were not demolishing the temple,” he added.

He said that the demolition was done by the developer who had paid some people to remove the deities from the temple before tearing it down.

“Even then, it was MIC Youth members who helped the temple committee in sorting out the issues. We were there when they lodged a police report after one of them was hurt in the demolition process,” he said.

Vell Paari said that MIC Youth was now working with DBKL and the developer so that some form of arrangement can be made to save or relocate the temple.

“They want to remain in the same place. That will be tough but we are trying to find a best alternative spot for them as well as with adequate compensation from the developer,” he said.

Start finding solutions

He also challenged Jayathas to come up with a proper solution for the Jalan Yap Kwan Seng temple.

“He should not just talk and make wild accusations. Can he sort out the mess for the temple committee? No point in making any noise but without being able to find solutions,” he said.

Temple demolitions have been a thorny issue for the past few years. In 2007, at the height of temple demolitions throughout the country, Hindraf capitalised on the issue by evoking raw emotions among the members of the Indian community.

The anger of the community towards the Barisan Nasional government was apparent when the ruling coalition, including MIC, was roundly routed in the 2008 general election.

Since then MIC had been playing a more proactive role in solving the issues concerning the Indian community.

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Putera MIC online chat on education opportunities

June 27th, 2009
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Putera MIC conducted their first ever (and I believe a first for any Indian political party) online chat on tertiary education for students. The chat was on their website. According to Malaysiakini:

The discussions – which lasted for seven hours – involved more than 50 people who were eager to find out about opportunities available in universities and other colleges.

The discussions dealt with a number of issues including grouses by students who had been offered courses that they did not apply for and the apprehension some had in studying at Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Labuan and the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu in Kuala Terengganu.

There were also enquiries pertaining to the availability of scholarships, study grants and loans.

According to the panel of moderators, one option was for students to explore the Higher Education Ministry’s post-graduate study grants.

Students needing financial help were asked to check several websites (link is down – I checked twice in space of 11 hours) to find a comprehensive list of scholarships and grants available from various sources including the private and public sectors.

The MIC wing also offered students the option to check on job vacancies and scholarships via Facebook.

The online chat began at 10.30am and ended at 5.30pm.

The session was moderated by Putera MIC members who were former university students as well as several local university staff members.

Putera chief coordinator P Kamalanathan said he was happy with the response to the live chats.

“Based on the good response, we would extend this chat session to discuss other issues as well,” he told Malaysiakini.

Its a good effort. However, they should have done more publicity by informing the cyber community in advance of such a chat session.

Secondly, the Facebook link points to a group called United Malaysian Indian. Not sure how the two entities are related as I believe the FB group is not politically-affiliated with any party. Anyway, possibly a misreporting or just ad-hoc c0operation between them.

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