Posts Tagged ‘Politicians’

Hindraf not taking part in Bersih rally

June 22nd, 2011
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Found out that HINDRAF will not be participating in Bersih 2.0 rally. According to Uthaya, its because they don’t want to support the PR team this time.

 

Hindraf Makkal Sakti will not be participating in the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally, said its leader P Uthayakumar.

“We are not participating because Pakatan Rakyat failed to endorse our 18-point demand made in 2007,” he added in a press statement.

Uthayakumar was responding to a news report that linked the Hindraf rally to the first Bersih rally in 2007 that swung public sentiment against the government during the 2008 general election.

The former Internal Security Act detainee said back then, the movement supported Pakatan because it did not have a choice.

“Hindraf did not have a political choice but to give the unconditional political directions to support Pakatan. But after the 2008 general election, it became more plain and obvious that PKR, DAP and PAS like the Umno-BN regime only wanted Indian votes,” he said.

He added that the situation was different now because Hindraf has a political platform, namely the Human Rights Party (HRP).

However, Uthayakumar said Hindraf will back Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan on the condition that HRP is allowed to contest 15 parliamentary and 38 state seats in the next polls.

“We are committed to politically ending Umno’s rule of Putrajaya; we support Pakatan taking over Putrajaya and even Anwar becoming the next prime minister of Malaysia but on condition of HRP’s ‘Project 15/38? as the internal check and balance mechanism so that the Indian poor are not segregated or excluded from national mainstream development of Malaysia,” he added.

He also indicated that there were proposals for another Hindraf rally to be held on Nov 25.

 

SOURCE: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/06/15/bersih-rally-hindraf-opts-out/

 

MIC says 400000 Malaysian Indians not registered as voters

June 20th, 2011
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Let me clarify: Malaysian Indian here means Malaysian of Indian origin/descent/ancestry.

So, we got 400,000 makkal not interested or ignorant on voting.  That would be a big chunk of eligible makkal voters.

 

MIC leaders should register more voters to make Indians “a powerful vote bloc” as this would allow the community to get concessions from the Govern-ment.

MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel said some 400,000 Indians had yet to register as voters.

He called on the party’s 4,000 branch chairmen to get them registered, saying that they should target one new voter each month.

Palanivel said many issues were plaguing the community that needed to be resolved, especially healthcare, poverty, scholarships, allocations and employment op-portunities.

“The Government needs to address these issues because the community is not in the mainstream but has become a sub-stream community,” he said, adding that the community can de-mand for more recognition and help by forming a strong voting bloc.

 

source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/20/nation/8933538&sec=nation

 

TEKUN recipients in KL

June 10th, 2011
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Rm320k / 37 recipients = average RM8648 per person.  Was wondering when the TEKUN loan recipients was announced.

 

BEAUTICIAN Stephanie Reavathi Marimuthu has been wanting to upgrade her beauty business in Lebuh Ampang, Kuala Lumpur for a long time.

The 35-year-old is now able to do so after receiving a RM15,000 loan from the Economy Funds Venture Group (Tekun) under the Young Indian Entrepreneurs Scheme (Spumi) recently.

“I wanted to upgrade and enhance my business into an academy status, but I was not able to because of lack of funds.

“We need money to buy the right tools for teaching. Now with this loan, I will be able to move forward,’’ she said.

Dental technical support assistant Benedict Soosai also received a loan of RM7,000 to upgrade his business.

The 37-year-old said he was grateful for the loan which he would channel towards buying dental spare parts for his business.

Stephanie, Benedict and 35 other young entreprenuers received their cheques from Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan at Kuala Lumpur City Hall recently.

A total of RM320,000 was distributed to young entreprenuers and petty traders doing business in KL.

Saravanan said the scheme was introduced by the Government to help Indian traders obtain micro credit loan to upgrade their business.

He said the scheme was introduced in 2008 and RM18mil have been disbursed to poor traders.

source: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2011/6/4/central/8818559&sec=central

 

 

Tamil School in Gurun to be relocated?

June 2nd, 2011
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I think its not practical to keep the school in the same location if there’s very low enrolment. Relocation (to a better location) is good option.

As it is, if the estate wanted  the land back, the state goverment should allocate land nearby. So, our MP Kulasegaran should talk to his buddies in PR state government.

BTW, I think the school in Gurun is SJKT Kalaivaani, Padang Lembu.

 

Malaysia Nanban reported that parents of pupils studying at a Tamil school in an estate in Gurun had staged a demonstration after being informed that the school would be closed due to low enrolment.

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, who was present, said the 70-year-old school would be relocated to Gurun town as the estate wanted the land back.

According to him, the government cannot shut down a school even if there is only one student. The school has 26 pupils.

Kulasegaran said if this was allowed to happen, another 200 Tamil schools would have to close soon.

Kedah Tamil Schools Patrons Association president K. Duraisamy said parents should not register their children at the new school in Gurun.

He said that he would ask teachers to conduct classes in the nearby temple if the need arises.

source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/2/nation/8822892&sec=nation

 

ADUN Manoharan to sue Education Ministry over partially aided status of vernacular schools

May 24th, 2011
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Not sure why he wants to sue on behalf of Selangor schools only. Perhaps because he’s ADUN in Selangor. But if its applicable for one state, then can extend to others as well. Should get few ADUNs from other states to join in as well.

Obviously there are some guidelines on establishing the status of the school. The land on which the school stands on primarily is the main issue.  If any part of a schools is privately-owned, then it can’t be fully aided.  Probably the ADUN should look to change the guidelines or ensure the landowner donates the land to government.

 

Kota Alam Shah state assemblyperson M Manoharan has threatened to sue the Education Ministry for failing to recognise all vernacular schools in Selangor as fully-aided public schools. 

A notice of proceedings was issued to Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today, urging the ministry to fulfil Manoharan’s demands in 21 days, or else be slapped with the suit. 

According to the notice, there are a total of 108 national-type Chinese schools (SJKC) and 97 national-type Tamil schools (SJKT) in the state. 

“Regretfully, only 55 SJKC and 30 SJKT are categorised as fully-aided schools while 53 SJKC and 67 SJKT are categorised as partially-aided schools,” read the notice. 

Manoharan (right) argued that all schools should be treated fairly, in line with the federal constitution, to ensure racial harmony. But now, numerous schools in Malaysia’s most developed state are in deplorable conditions. 

Contacted for details, Manoharan cited the widely reported case of SJK (C) Chung Hua in Klang, which reportedly cannot even afford to pay its water and electricity bills.

“Students can’t even get decent food from the canteen because the operator cannot store food in the fridge because electricity is turned off at night. 

“This is because it is a partially-aided school. The government only pays the teachers’ salaries and nothing else,” he said. 

PE classes in carpark

He also cited the case of SJK (T) Batu 4 in Kampung Jawa where, despite having a student population of 900, there are no laboratories or library because all available space is used for classrooms. 

“There is also no field. Physical education classes takes place in the car park. Teachers, too, are affected. There are 55 of them, but only one toilet,” he said. 

He said that the situation distressed students, parents and teachers in partially-aided schools throughout the state. 

“Children must love to go to school. This is difficult for those in partially-aided schools, particularly Tamil schools. They are typically badly equipped and are as hot as boiler rooms, without proper facilities,” he said. 

Manoharan adds that he had taken up the issue because he had visited several badly affected schools in the state and is very distressed about the situation. 

“I feel it is a form of cleansing, a move to finish off vernacular schools. What is so difficult for the government to pay to upkeep the condition of schools? 

They spend millions lighting up certain places, millions on water splashing all over the place. Why can’t they afford money for education?” he asked.

 

source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/164491