Posts Tagged ‘Politicians’

Effigy Burning???

November 29th, 2009
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I don’t believe in the mentality of burning effigies like in  movies. I think someone should advise the PKR guy to behave himself and not subscribe to such gimmicks. Enough of effigy burnings in South Asia, Middle East etc. There’s many way to protest, be creative and useful la…

MIC Youth has criticised a PKR leader for threatening to burn an effigy of Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam over the Tamil literature issue.

Its information chief S. Subramaniam said PKR Puchong’s Muralee Subramaniam had not made any attempt to seek clarification from the MIC vice-president over the matter.

“Dr Subramaniam has promised to raise the issue in the Cabinet after 11 Indian organisations submitted a memorandum to the Education Ministry early this month,” Subramaniam said.

“We should wait for the outcome,” he said at a press conference here yesterday.

Also present were several branch chairmen and representatives from the Youth and Women wings in the Puchong MIC division.

The information chief, who is also the Puchong MIC Youth chief, said Muralee was previously a member of MIC, but defected to PKR when he was not given any position.

“He (Muralee) is trying to gain cheap publicity through these stunts. The Indian community knows who really cares for them,” he said.

It was reported that Muralee was planning to undertake the burning of the effigy today as a protest against Dr Subramaniam’s failure to get the ministry to allow Indian students to take Tamil literature as an additional subject in the SPM examination next year.

Subramaniam said Muralee had also wanted to take about 100 people to MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s house to enquire on the Maika Holdings issue last month but failed to carry out his threat.

Subramaniam said Muralee should not waste his time on petty issues, and instead, try to help Indians who had problems.

“I also call on the Indian-based societies and non governmental organisations not to support Muralee’s irresponsible action.”

As for the SPM subject crisis, I’ll write about it in the next posting.

one fasts while the other feasts

November 26th, 2009
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While the real Hindraf was at KLCC and Putrajaya yesterday, another HINDRAF was holding a dinner for 1500 people in Klang. One was fasting while the other feasting! What a contrast!

The other Hindraf, led by Vasanthakumar and Ganabatirao held a dinner in Klang, attended by PKR boss, Anwar Ibrahim. He praised these guys.

Speaking at a function to commemorate Hindraf’s second anniversary in Klang, Anwar heralded Vasanthakumar as a “hero”.

“How long have BN ruled the country? 52 years. In Selangor, we have not governed for even two years. If you want us to resolve all problems, we cannot,” said Anwar.

Well, no need to solve all the problem. Start with one first – get land for the partially funded school. Try for 5 schools every year. Or even three. Or even one. At least will be better rate than the previous government. Most of the cases being highlighted now are leftovers of previous government (Midlands, for example). Can state government show one example where their OWN initiative took place to identify and relocate a school OR purchase land for a school?

This Hindraf is supporting PR coalition, so obviously the leaders have plenty to say, including a challenge, a resolution,  memorandum, and hints of scandal/crime:

“I challenge you, Najib. Your father led the education committee report in 1956 (Razak Report) that guarantees recognition for all schools.

“Can you convert all partially aided schools in Malaysia into fully aided schools?” he asked. [one wonders why he never ask the guy sitting next to him at the dinner table. Selangor, Penang, and Kedah haven plenty of Tamil schools!]

He also said that Najib should provide homes for all plantation workers as envisioned in the National House Ownership Plan 1974.

Vasanthakumar and another Hindraf leader V Ganabatirao also handed over a 10-point memorandum to Anwar on the plight of the Indian community.

Vasanthakumar said that Hindraf – his faction – will support Pakatan in the attempt to change the government in the central. On the other hand, Waythamoorthy’s Hindraf has decided to remain apolitical with its political wing, the Human Rights Party, intending to contest in the next general election.

Although Waythamoorthy and his brother Uthayakumar were understandably not present at this event, their reputations however suffered heavy hammering in the hands of most of the speakers, much to the jubilation of those present.

At the end of the day, a resolution had been passed to sack Waythamoorthy from Hindraf. It is uncertain how this will affect Waythamoorthy’s role as the chairperson of Hindraf.

Vasanthakumar said that Waythamoorthy has acted in a cowardly manner by going to the UK when the government came down hard on Hindraf activists in the run up to the 2007 rally.

“If someone does something wrong, can I not question them? When I asked them on the legal suit against the UK government, they are silent. When I asked on Selvarani’s death, they are silent,” Vasanthakumar told the crowd.

(P Selvarani was a lawyer with Uthayakumar who had fallen to her death from her 17th floor apartment unit in June 2007.)

Finally, they get some hope…

November 24th, 2009
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Not sure if readers remember the case of Bukit Kiara estate residents. After 23 years of staying TEMPORARILY in longhouses, there’s a glimmer of hope for them. Still need to wait two years (in time for next GE) for their actual own houses. Hopefully it will be a dream come true for them.

TAMIL Nesan reported that Bukit Kiara Estate residents who have been living in temporary longhouses for the past 23 years will be able to move into new houses in the next two years.

Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said the workers were moved to the longhouses after the estate was taken over by the Government for redevelopment.

They were promised houses and the longhouses were for an interim period of two years but the workers had been staying there for the past 23 years.

Saravanan said the 103 families would be given houses as promised. He said three locations had been identified within a 3km radius and the type of house to be built would depend on the land area.

tussle over SJKT Midlands location

November 20th, 2009
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SJKT Midland’s story is here. Below is an video interview with EXCO Xavier and PIBG representatives. From Malaysiakini via youtube.

UPSR 2009

November 19th, 2009
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Some interesting statistics from NST, Star and Malaysiakini:

  • National grade average increased by 1 percent
  • all As students increased from 9.19 t0 9.51 percent
  • Minimum C students increased to 63.03 percent compared to 62.56 in 2008.
  • All Es declined to 0.64 percent from 0.66 percent.
  • 506,620 pupils sat for the UPSR this year compared to 507,320 last year.
  • Gap between rural and urban pupils achieving excellent results this year was 3.64 per cent compared to 4.22 per cent last year.
  • Gap for good performance between the two areas is 5.55 per cent this year compared to 6.25 per cent last year.
  • Tamil language showed a strong improvement in A students, which is 3.6 per cent
  • Mathematics also showed a strong increase, which is 4.2 per cent.
  • Divyashree who died in the Kuala Dipang Kampar bridge tragedy got 4As and 3Bs.
  • 3,937 out of 44,856 pupils or 8.8 percent scored straight As in Perak compared to 9 percent last year.
  • 27,709 pupils or 62 percent passed the examination in Perak.
  • 817 Tamil school students scored 7 A’s this year compared to 725 last year, an increase of 92 students or 12.6 percent.
  • Selangor again emerged as the school with highest 7As students from Tamil schools.
  • 2 schools in Johor had 23 7As.
  • Samy Vellu attributed the students’ success to the hard work put in by them and their parents as well as the strategy implemented by the MIC through MIED (including printing and distribution of UPSR revision books to Tamil school students every year.)