Posts Tagged ‘Negeri Sembilan’

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Samy recon on Bagan Pinang

September 17th, 2009
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With a string of failed campaigns behind them, MIC hopes to turn the tables around this time. This time around, Samy Vellu is leaving it to the newly minted vice president and deputies to lead the assault, BUT he will oversee the campaign. I was surprised to read about this line “They will mobilise hundreds of (MIC) Youth and Wanita members to assist families (of voters) by staying with them,”. Whoa, to the extend of staying with them? Surely pressure to the voters la. Silap – silap become harassment case ! 🙂

Anyway, according to the fact-finding team led by Samy Vellu, majority of the voters are staying elsewhere (2000 out of 2800 Indian voters in Bagan Pinang). So, MIC is going to ensure these people return and vote for BN candidate. That’s a tall order indeed, considering the recent issues in Kg Buah Pala and Shah Alam Section 23.

PORT DICKSON: An MIC delegation led by president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu met the Indian community in the Bagan Pinang state constituency to identify their problems.

The fact-finding team comprising newly-elected MIC vice-president and Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, Negri Sembilan MIC chief Datuk T. Rajagopalu and state executive councillor V.S. Mogan were received by party members and local residents.

They spent half a day visiting the Indian-majority areas of Ladang Seliau, Ladang Arthurthen, Ladang Sua Betong and Ladang Bradwall. [I wonder what the Tamil Schools here will get as goodies. Dear HMs, make hay while the sun shines!]

Speaking to reporters, Samy Vellu said the four estates alone had 1,890 registered Indian voters from the total 2,600 Indian voters in the constituency who form 20% of the total electorate.

“According to our survey, up to 2,000 Indian voters are no longer staying in the constituency but in nearby areas, with 40% living and working in Seremban, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru,” he said.

The party’s main task was to ensure that these 2,000 Indians vote on polling day, he said, adding that MIC would soon start mobilising its election machinery that would be led by party deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel.

Nominations for the Bagan Pinang by-election is on Oct 3 while polling is on Oct 11.

The seat fell vacant with the death of its assemblyman Azman Mohammad Noor on Sept 4.

Samy Vellu said three teams would be formed headed by Dr Subramaniam and two other newly-elected MIC vice-presidents, Datuk S.K. Devamany and Datuk M. Saravanan.

“They will mobilise hundreds of (MIC) Youth and Wanita members to assist families (of voters) by staying with them,” he said, adding that MIC would adopt a different strategy to woo the Indian voters in the by-election.

“I will oversee the running of the entire team to ensure victory for the Barisan Nasional,” he said, adding that Palanivel and Dr Subramaniam were expected to hold a series of meetings with local residents and party workers.

However, there may be a silver lining for MIC because it seems both Hindraf and HRP are not decided on a stand yet. They are not supporting BN  and also reluctant to endorse PR.

It is learnt that leaders and supporters of HRP and Hindraf will meet this weekend to decide on their official stand for the by-election on Oct 11.

Earlier, there were rumours that the newly-formed HRP may field a candidate to contest as an independent.
However, according to sources from HRP and Hindraf, neither of the movements would do this.

A source said: “We will support neither BN (Barisan Nasioal) nor PR (Pakatan Rakyat). We cannot support BN, while at the same time we cannot rally behind the PR coalition either.

“We cannot support PR for two reasons: the Kampung Lorong Buah Pala controversy where Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng let the Indians down, and also the Selangor government’s poor handling of the Shah Alam Hindu temple relocation.”

Some quarters propose that the Indians abstain from voting, to show that they are unhappy with both coalitions. I’m not so sure it will help the PR coalition if that’s the stand by the voters.  In the previous election, BN won even with the Indians voting for PR candidate, so there’s nothing to suggest otherwise this time. Perhaps it will shock the PR coalition to buck up and pay heed to the Indian community. Perhaps not. The number of constituencies with Indian voters being more than 20% is just an handful.

Bagan Pinang vital stats: There are 14,192 voters in the constituency, with Malays making up 64 per cent, Chinese 10.8 per cent, Indians 20.4 per cent and other races, 4.9 per cent. There are 5,171 postal votes.

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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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SPM student taps rubber at 3am then goes to school

November 24th, 2008
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This is among the most heartbreaking news I read this year.  I really don’t know what to say!

But I know what to do:

Those who want to contribute can send cheques to the Maragatha Ambiga Fund, c/o Negeri Sembilan MIC, Jalan Tuanku Antah, 70000 Seremban or contact Rajagopalu at 019-6612337 or 06-7622609 or Tampin MIC division chairman R. Rajendran 013-3532526.

Imagine getting up at 3am and until night no rest. How would the poor girl cope with the studies? Lack of sleep, lack of rest, lack of nutrition, lack of money, peer pressure. God, if she gets good results, have to salute her! Also, I respect her for not abandoning her studies or her family. Bravo!

This should serve as a wake up call for parents and adults. Take care of your health. Don’t be a burden to your family and make them suffer.

Why her plight went unnoticed for more than a year? She kept quiet? None of her friends knew? No teachers knew? How about the people in the estate? Or the local politicians in the estate? Since the family received RM200 (not mentioned from who) for schooling assistance, there could have been some way to extend it to welfare and medical assistance as well.

SPM candidate Maragatha Ambiga wakes up at 3am to tap rubber for three hours before rushing to school.

This is what the Fifth Former, 16, has been doing since her parents fell ill in August last year.

She would ride a motorcycle to the 4.6ha rubber estate in Bukit Jalor, about 10km away, and help a neighbour tap rubber for three hours before returning home at 6am.

She would then clean up and head to SM Bukit Jalor which is 3km away.

She gets RM20 a day tapping the rubber. If it rains, she would not get any money.

Student breadwinner: Rajagopalu (left) taking a look at Ambiga’s SPM’s revision books. With them are her father Ramasamy (right), mother Tamil Shelvy and brother Suriya. Looking on is Tampin MIC division chairman R. Rajendran (second from left).

He mother V. Tamil Shelvy, 42, became asthmatic in August last year and was unable to work. Her father P. Ramasamy, 48, was a lorry driver before joining his wife to tap rubber. He also had to stop working because he is a diabetic and has high blood pressure and heart problem.

She has a brother, Suriya, 10, who is studying in a Tamil primary school.

Ambiga’s plight was brought to the attention of Negri Sembilan MIC chairman Datuk T. Rajagopalu who visited the family in Taman Air Kuning Selatan, near Gemen-cheh about 75km from here.

Tamil Shelvy said her daughter’s rubber tapping provides the only source of income for the family in addition to the RM200 welfare assistance for the children’s schooling.

She said that her family members had refused to help her out and instead, had asked her to get her daughter married off.

“I want my daughter to study hard and be somebody in life.

“I have confidence in her,” she said.

Ambiga, who is currently sitting for her Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, said she had to work for the sake of her family.

“I am confident of passing and hope to secure a place to attend teacher training course as I want to become a teacher,” she said.

Rajagopalu said he would assist the children with their education.

He had also made arrangement for Ambiga’s parents to receive treatment at Seremban Hospital and for a contractor to do some repairs to their house.

Those who want to contribute can send cheques to the Maragatha Ambiga Fund, c/o Negeri Sembilan MIC, Jalan Tuanku Antah, 70000 Seremban or contact Rajagopalu at 019-6612337 or 06-7622609 or Tampin MIC division chairman R. Rajendran 013-3532526.

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Cooperating to eliminate estate slavery

September 24th, 2008
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Last week, NST wrote on slavery in estates, citing the case of a family who escaped from one such estates. Then, MIC-owned YSS gave the following comments via its assistant director Vanita Ramany, who said YSS had brought cases to the police, but not enough attention was given:

She cited a case where an 18-year-old worker escaped from an estate in Bahau, Negri Sembilan, in March after enduring years of abuse.

“The girl sought our help and we referred her to the Bahau police. But till now, nothing has been done.

“She is currently under the care of a welfare home,” said Vanita, who added that she had contacted Negri Sembilan police chief Datuk Osman Salleh over the matter.

While Osman was helpful, she said some policemen did not share his enthusiasm.

Vanita also referred to one case in Malacca which was reported to the police. But the victim was arrested for armed robbery when he showed the scars on his body.

“The next day, he was released after the police realised they had made a mistake.”

Vanita said there were also six other estate workers who had sought help but they never “showed up at our office again”.

More recently, the YSS, MIC and Negeri Sembilan police had a meeting to further discuss this problem:

Police met representatives of several bodies recently to discuss how they could work together to resolve the problem of “slavery” in several estates in the country. They included the Welfare and Manpower Departments, MIC’s Yayasan Strategik Social (YSS) and state executive councillor for estate affairs V.S. Mogan.

State police chief Datuk Osman Salleh said they were committed in their efforts to put an end to such incidents and would work closely with the various bodies and political parties concerned.

“We want to get to the root of the problem and resolve it once and for all. We have yet to establish the extent of the problem as we were unable to get sufficient information from the few alleged victims who came forward.”
Osman said their investigations revealed that some such alleged cases were linked to bad debts between the workers and their employers, which carried on from one generation to another.

“These cases of bad debts are prevalent in many estates and sometimes the next generation is made to work to pay off the earlier loan taken by the person’s father or even grandfather.

“However, we are determined to get to the bottom of this and put an end to such things.

“We are in the process of investigating how these debts originated and how they grew to such enormous amounts. We are also hoping that someone from the estates allegedly involved will come forward to help us.”

He said the recent call by the government for all estates to register their workers would be a great help to the police and Manpower Department as it would enable them to keep track of any untoward activities in estates.

From 2005 till now, he said police had received five reports on estate slavery, of which three had been investigated and the papers handed over to the deputy public prosecutor.

“However, these three cases were marked as NFA (no further action) after the DPP was unable to find sufficient evidence to prosecute.

“As for the two other cases, they are still under investigation.”

On the meeting with YSS and Mogan, he said the MIC had expressed its appreciation to the police for their co-operation in investigating such cases.

“The YSS and state MIC leaders are working closely with us. We assure you that such cases of slavery in estates will be a thing of the past.

“We will continue to hold regular meetings with the agencies and bodies concerned and together we will resolve this problem.”

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RM1 quit rent for schools in Negeri Sembilan

September 11th, 2008
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Good news announced by the BN-led Negeri Sembilan state which is similar to Perak and Selangor (and Penang and Kedah too? – need to check). It seems that the step was taken earlier, but only recently announced by the Chief Minister.

All government schools in the state will pay a nominal sum of RM1 in quit rent and a RM1,000 one-off premium.

These rates are much lower compared to what some schools, especially larger ones, have paid in the past.

All the schools have to do to qualify is to apply to the Land and District office in their area. This includes government religious schools and vernacular schools.

“The yearly quit rent for these schools were high, depending on the size of the school and location. That is why it was decided that we impose a nominal rate of RM1 across the board,” said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan after chairing the State Executive Council meeting at Wisma Negeri.

This is to reduce the costs incurred by the school management, he said after contributing RM100,000 to the state Malaysian Chinese Association Hall chairman Lau Chee Boon at his office yesterday.

“The state government wants to see these schools properly managed without being burdened by a high quit rent. We hope the schools will concentrate on providing quality education,” he said.

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