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RTM Tamil news time change

April 18th, 2009
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As mentioned by one of the readers, the airtime for tamil news on RTM2 is to be changed again from 7.30pm to 6pm. This causes a lot of unhapiness it seems, and MIC secretary general (and HR Minister) Dr S Subra has sent a letter to Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim asking that the decision to be reviewed. According to him, the majority of working Indians would not be able to reach home by 6pm.

I think the ministry or the information department must come out with the reasons for the change. Any survey done to justify the change of time? Is it due to less viewership if set at 7.30pm?

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RM80 million given to Tamil schools

April 12th, 2009
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I’m still confused over the allocation given to Tamil schools. No reply from Dr S Subra after I emailed him. Anyway, since everyone saying its RM130 million, so be it. I guess the second stimulus package allocation (RM300 million) is not equally divided.

The Sun provided following breakdown of the allocation released so far:

RM80 million, of which RM50 million comes from the first stimulus package and the rest from the Ministry of Finance allocation, was distributed by PM Najib as follows for 374 Tamil schools from eight states and Kuala Lumpur:

[I calculated the average per school for reference]
> Johor: 56 schools to get RM8.65 mil [ RM154k/school]

> Kedah: 49 schools (RM12.2 mil) [RM248.9k]

> Malacca: 13 schools (RM2.66 mil) [204.6k]

> Negeri Sembilan: 47 schools (RM1 mill) [21.3k]

> Pahang: 26 schools (RM5.28 mil) [203k]

> Perak: 85 schools (RM13.2 mil) [155.3k]

> Penang: 22 school (RM5.9 mil) [268k]

> Selangor: 67 schools (RM25.16 mil) [375.5k]

> Kuala Lumpur: 9 schools (RM5.86 mil) [651.1k]

If you total up the amount, its RM 79.91 million.

According to ex-Education Minister Hishamuddin, the money will be disbursed through the Public Works Department (PWD) as it is the most effective method, since not all schools have board of governors. All projects must be completed by the end of the year.

“We want to do it in the quickest way possible and the PWD has the necessary expertise,” he said after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak presented the allocation to Tamil school representatives from several states at the ministry.

“But if the boards of the Tamil schools are ready next time, then by all means we can go through them.”

In an immediate response, Tamil School Headmasters Association general secretary M.S. Muthiah said he was thankful for the allocation.

“Many of the schools are in rural areas so the allocation will help improve the conditions there,” he said.

Perhaps MIC wants back Work Ministry so that it could monitor the usage of the funds properly and to avoid unnecessary leakages.

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MIC to pull out of Cabinet?

April 11th, 2009
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UPDATE 12/4: As expected, there’s a slew of denial issued by Palanivel in Malaysiakini, Saravanan and Dr S Subra (NST).

“We have not heard about such a move. Whatever decision on any matter concerning the party has always been discussed with the party president in the central working committee.

“If there are any differences within the Barisan Nasional, they will be discussed behind closed doors and resolved amicably.”

————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

I was quite surprised with the title of Malaysiakini article – “MIC mulls pulling out of new cabinet“. MIC is not the type to rock the boat, and the info revealed came from a “party insider”, meaning we can expect Samy or other top honchos to issue denial tomorrow.

The reason for MIC’s anger is the treatment given to it by Najib. Not being allocated a more powerful ministry (Works Ministry is seen as more powerful than Human Resources) is seen as an insult to the Indian community. MIC have appealed many times to get back Works Ministry, but nothing materialised. So, MIC wants bigger posts, and using community name to gain it.  For them, the status of Human Resource Ministry does not reflect the position of Indians as the third largest community (err..aren’t the Indonesians more than us?)

“The decision is expected to be made soon, perhaps at the next MIC central working committee meeting later this month,” he said.

The party insider said topping the list of grouses is the fact that the Indians were still being ‘treated as second or even third class’ citizens in the country.

MIC claims to slowly getting back the support of the community as seen in the two Bukit by-elections, so the lack of reward/incentive in the new line-up is unacceptable.

MIC also find it hard to accept that parties that claim to represent communities which did not vote for BN most of the time is given more positions (MCA – 4 ministers and 7 deputy, Gerakan – 1 minister and 2 deputy).  Well, grow up la…that’s politics. The new government need to please the Chinese a bit so that can boost the economy. Indians, apa ada? duit tadak, bising banyak., semua mau mintak kerajaan. And, the other parties have changed leadership, so got some new faces. MIC apa ada? Same old faces only. I think the main problem is that the leader has not changed. So, this may be a snub to Samy rather than punishing the community.

When contacted, Samy Vellu declined to comment on the matter but those close to the veteran politician conceded that he was very unhappy with the current situation.

Well, what to do, nasi dah nak jadi bubur. If MIC pull out now, then it can be more “independent” says the party insider. But it will be toothless tiger. No one will entertain them anymore. Good opening for PPP’s Murugiah to step in and take lead.

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term limit for MIC president post

April 11th, 2009
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One would wonder why only now is there a proposal to limit the term of MIC office-bearers. I can’t remember any such proposal in the last 30 years during the MIC AGM or general assembly. Anyone can clarify? MCA had implement a limit since last two years. I think many other parties don’t have such limit, be it ruling or opposition parties.

Proponents say the limit will ensure new blood and ideas are constantly injected into the party. Detractors say there’ will be constant infighting/competition for posts and that long-term plans can’t be implemented if got term limit. But I think a 5-6 year term is more than enough to attain few milestones of a long term plan of, let’s say, 30 years. Let the next person come in and fine tune the plans put in place.

Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, who has been MIC president for 11 terms, is proposing that the party limits the term of office-bearers as part of its re-branding exercise to regain the trust of the Indian community.

This is among the last mandate which he wants to accomplish as he enters the last lap of his presidency.

He has held the post since 1979 and has become the longest-serving leader in Barisan Nasional.

Samy Vellu said that besides limiting the term of office-bearers, the party wants to attract younger leaders in an attempt to regain its position as the main party for Indians.

“We want to ensure that MIC becomes a party with equal opportunities for the young and old,” he told newsmen after meeting party leaders at a hotel here yesterday.

Samy Vellu said these were among several proposals that he wants to implement before retiring from politics.

So, what do you think? Is term limit good or bad? If good, how long should a limit be?

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New Cabinet line up

April 10th, 2009
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Old cabinet: 32 Ministers, 38 Deputies, 28 Ministries

New cabinet: 28 Ministers, 40 Deputies, 25 Ministries

Thus, nett decrease of 2 positions.

Of the ministers, 19 (65.5%) are from Umno (including PM and DPM), MCA (4), MIC (1), Gerakan (1), PBB-Sarawak (1), Supp-Sarawak (1), PBS-Sabah (1) and Upko-Sabah (1) – Total 29 Ministers (including PM, DPM and Finance Minister 2)

Of the deputy ministers, 17  (42.5%) are from Umno, MCA (7), PPP (1), MIC (2), Gerakan (2), PBB-Sarawak (3), Supp-Sarawak (2), LDP-Sabah (1), SPDP (2), PRS-Sarawak (2), PBRS-Sabah (1) – Total 40 Deputy Ministers

See chart of new cabinet (Malaysiakini)

FULL LIST

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (Umno)

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin (Umno)

Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department

Koh Tsu Koon – Unity Affairs & Performance Management (Gerakan)
Nazri Abdul Aziz – Minister in charge of Law and Parliament (Umno)
Nor Mohamed Yaakop – Economic Planning Unit (Umno)
Major Gen Jamil Khir Baharom – Islamic Affairs (Umno)

Deputies
Liew Vui Keong (LDP)
Mashitah Ibrahim (senator, Umno)
SK Devamany (MIC)
Ahmad Maslan (Umno)
T Murugiah (senator, PPP)

Finance Ministry

Najib Abdul Razak (1) (Umno)
Ahmad Husni Hanadzlan (2) (Umno)

Deputies
Chor Chee Heong (MCA)
Awang Adek Hussien (senator, Umno)

Education Ministry Muhyiddin Yassin (Umno)

Deputies
Wee Ka Siong (MCA)
Puad Zarkashi (Umno)

Transport Ministry Ong Tee Keat (MCA)

Deputies
Abdul Rahim Bakri (Umno)
Robert Lau Hoi Chew (Supp-Sarawak)

Plantation Industry and Commodities Bernard Dompok (Upko-Sabah)

Deputy
Hamzah Zainuddin (Umno)

Home Affairs Hishammuddin Hussein (Umno)

Deputies
Abu Seman Yusop (Umno)
Jelaing Mersat (SPDP-Sarawak)

Information, Communication, Arts and Culture Rais Yatim (Umno)

Deputies
Joseph Salang Gandum (PRS-Sarawak)
Heng Seai Kie (senator, MCA)

Energy, Green Technology and Water Peter Chin Fah Kui (Supp-Sarawak)

Deputy
Noriah Kasnon (Umno)

Rural Development and Territories Shafie Apdal (Umno)

Deputies
Hassan Malek (Umno)
Joseph Entulu Belaun (PRS-Sarawak)

Higher Education Khaled Nordin (Umno)

Deputies
Hou Kok Chung (MCA)
Saifuddin Abdullah (Umno)

International Trade and Industry Mustapa Mohamad (Umno)

Deputies
Mukhriz Mahathir (Umno)
Jacob Dungau Sagan (SPDP-Sarawak)

Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Maximus Ongkili (PBS-Sabah)

Deputy
Fadillah Yusof (PPB-Sarawak)

Natural Resources and Environment Douglas Uggah Embas (PPB-Sarawak)

Deputy
Joseph Kurup (PBRS-Sabah)

Tourism Ng Yen Yen (MCA)

Deputy
Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib (PBB-Sarawak)

Agriculture Noh Omar (Umno)

Deputies
Johari Baharom (Umno)
Rohani Abdul Karim (PBB-Sarawak)

Defence Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Umno)

Deputy
Abdul Latif Ahmad (Umno)

Works Shaziman Abu Mansor (Umno)

Deputy
Yong Khoon Seng (Supp-Sarawak)

Health Liow Tiong Lai (MCA)

Deputy
Rosnah Rashid Shilin (Umno)

Youth and Sports Ahmad Shabery Cheek (Umno)

Deputies
Razali Ibrahim (Umno)
Wee Jeck Seng (MCA)

Human Resource Dr S Subramaniam (MIC)

Deputy
Maznah Mazlan (Umno)

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno)

Deputy
Tan Lian Hoe (Gerakan)

Housing and Local Government Kong Cho Ha (MCA)

Deputy
Lajim Ukin (Umno)

Women, Family and Society Development Sharizat Abdul Jalil (senator, Umno)

Deputy
Chew Mei Fun (senator, MCA)

Foreign Anifah Aman (Umno)

Deputies
A Kohilan Pillay (senator, Gerakan), Lee Chee Leong (senator, MCA)

Federal Territories Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin (Umno)

Deputy
M Saravanan (MIC)

Dropped Ministers:

1. Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar (Home)

2. Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed (Works)

3. Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique (FT)

4. Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Tourism)

5. Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib (Rural)

6. Senator Datuk Amirsham A Aziz (EPU)

7. Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan

All MIC reps kept their old posts. Gerakan’s Kohilan Pillay is moved from Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry to Foreign Ministry.

Other surprises include MCA Wanita Chew Mei Fun who is appointed as Senator and will be Deputy Minister in Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

Rais Yatim, as widely predicated, is retained in the new cabinet.

However, the biggest surprise comes in the form of snub to Khairy (UMNO Youth Chief). Not only he did not get any post, his deputy  Razali Ibrahim was appointed as Deputy Minister in Youth and Sports Ministry. His enemy Mukhriz Mahathir got himself a Deputy Minister post in International Trade & Industry Ministry. Whatever the logic or reason given by PM Najib, it will be seen as influence from Mahathir.

So, will it work? The new team will need some time to prove itself. One year?

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