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Posts Tagged ‘Politicians’

MIC team to study KL Plan 2020

June 12th, 2008

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One of those instances where MIC announces something beyond the usual stuff. Hope something good comes out of the study. The “needs of the Indian community” refers to places of worship, crematorium and Tamil schools, I guess.

Its also good to notice that MIC wants to focus on poor people and students especially on housing matters. I would also suggest that efficient transportation, Internet facilities, waste management, crime prevention, and environmental issues to be addressed as well.

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has set up a special committee comprising architects, lawyers and professionals to study City Hall’s draft plan for 2020.President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said it would make recommendations to City Hall to ensure that the needs of the Indian community were addressed.

Speaking at the opening of the Federal Territory MIC delegates’ conference here yesterday, Samy Vellu said City Hall should ensure that housing developers allocated land for places of worship, including temples. “There should also be proper infrastructure facilities to conduct rituals for the deceased in their residential areas, especially for those who live in flats,” he said.

He said City Hall should also provide hostels for students from rural areas who study in secondary schools or colleges in the city.

Samy Vellu also urged City Hall to allocate flats for the lower middle-class, rather than only to those below the poverty level.

He added that the MIC was fortunate that it had Federal Territories deputy minister Datuk M. Saravanan to ensure their requests to City Hall were addressed.

Samy Vellu said even though many squatters now enjoyed modern and comfortable housing, there were still others who lived as squatters. “We want an undertaking that adequate housing facilities be provided in areas nearer to work as well as schools when the people migrate to the city,” he said.

source

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Posted in Indian

Tags: Education MIC Politicians Poverty Religion temples

Begging successful

June 7th, 2008

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Initially, it was well reported only 34 students got the PSD’s 2000 overseas scholarship, with 194 having appealed. Later, the figure increased to 72 Indians students, with 187 appeals. Now the figures are upped to 161 and Datuk S.Subra has the gall to say that is more than last year! He totally misses the point that the students had to appeal and MIC leaders had to BEG for it! Isn’t that humiliating enough? Or is this some sandiwara to show MIC relevance? I seriously hope not since the makkal are past this kind of drama already. They are smart enough to make use of politicians and party. Come election time, makkal will teach them a lesson again.

Hopefully those who appealed really deserves it on merit instead of qualifying under some sort of quota for MIC. That will make us look like handout seekers and quota-dependent like the the privileged community.

Anyway, one good thing is that all 9As and above students will get scholarship to study in one way or another.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Services Department (PSD) has offered scholarships to 161 Indian students with excellent results in the 2007 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) to pursue their studies overseas, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said here. He said only 120 Indian students were offered scholarships last year.

In a statement, Dr Subramaniam said he met PSD director-general Tan Sri Ismail Adam yesterday over appeals by Indian students unsuccessful in getting scholarships. On May 21, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu met Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to appeal on behalf of 187 Indian students who were unsuccessful in their scholarship applications.

Dr Subramaniam said the PSD had also stated that all SPM students who obtained 9As and above last year would be offered scholarships to study basic science courses in local public universities and four university campuses recognised by the JPA – Monash, Nottingham, Curtin University of Technology and Swinburne. He said the scholarships would also be given automatically to students who had obtained places in Ivy League universities and other similar universities overseas. He urged all SPM students who had got 9As and above to go to the JPA website to find out whether they had obtained scholarships to study in local universities.

source

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Posted in Indian

Tags: discrimination Education Funds MIC Politicians

Pot calling kettle black?

June 7th, 2008

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As usual, more “reMic” effort announcement by Samy. This time, he points out that with “current” arrangements “a branch chairman would end up choosing family members to helm the respective wings”. So, he decided that Youth wings can set up their own branches and not be part of existing MIC branches.

Problem is, such efforts should be coming from the top. Relatives of leaders should not be seen to be helming entities affiliated with the party itself, or worse still be leaders in the party. If the top leaders argue that their relatives are the best for the job and earned it on merit, the branch leaders can also reply the same! Walk the talk, don’t just talk and ask others to walk.

As for plans to get Malaysian Telugus, Malayalees, etc to setup their own branches, I think this situation exists already.

MIC Youth to get more independence

IPOH: MIC Youth wings will no longer be part of their branches as part of the rebranding of the party, said Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.

He said that with the current arrangement a branch chairman would end up choosing family members to helm the respective wings.

“All this nonsense must go,” he told reporters yesterday after opening Datuk Dr S. Vasan’s orthopaedic and adult reconstruction surgery clinic at a private hospital here.

Samy Vellu said that the youth wing would be allowed to set up their own branches and have their own functions. “This is to give them greater independence,” said the party president.

He also said that the party would go all out to attract Malaysians of Telegu, Malayalee and Sri Lankan ancestry to join the MIC. The current number of Telegu, Malayalee and Sri Lankan members in the party was still small, he added. “We want to harness their capabilities,” he said, adding that they would be allowed to set up their own branches.

source

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Posted in Indian

Tags: discrimination MIC Politicians

PM website hacked

June 5th, 2008

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Got this from security.org.my. Screen capture of the hacked site is here.

At the moment (7.50pm local time), the site is “under maintenance”.

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Posted in TechStuff

Tags: Media Politicians Protest

Fuel increase and its impact

June 4th, 2008

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Today at 5pm, the Prime Minister made statements (read it at PMO’s website together with the distribution of the income) that sent shockwaves throughout the country. Many were expecting increase in oil prices, but not up to 40%. Even Taiwan increased by 16% recently, while Indonesia by 30%. India also increased oil prices today in the capital areas (refer Malaysiakini). I can accept an increase of 78 sen which is very very steep, but it could have been done gradually step-wise in 3 months instead of in one single sweep.

Diesel saw an increase of RM1 (63%) to RM2.58. But it does not affect the public transportation services.

The PM also announced new tariff for TNB which takes effect from 1st July. This means those who spend less than RM43.60 (200 kW) currently would not be affected. Those who spend more than that amount will see an increase of 18%. The new tariff is as follows:

1-200 kW = RM21.80

201-400 = Rm34.50 (increase of 19.4% from RM28.90)

for first 500 units above 400 kw is 30 sen/unit. Anything above 900 units is 46 sen per unit. Complete table is here.

He acknowledges that this is not a popular decision, but a necessary one.

“We try our best. This isn’t an attempt to be popular. (But) we have to think in the best interest of the people,” he told reporters during a 50-minute press conference held at his office in Putrajaya this afternoon.

“We can’t satisfy everyone. Anything that involves people paying more, naturally they are going to be unhappy. (I hope) they will understand the circumstances we are working under,” he added.

source
Let’s look at the benefits (for general public) being offered:

1. Those with car having 2000cc (and bikes below 250cc) and below will get RM625 (Rm150 for bikes) annual rebate when they renew road tax beginning 1st July. Those qualified are road tax from 1st April 2008. However, it is clear that the rebate will not even cover half a year’s increase in petrol price. Money will be given in form of Postal Order when road tax is renewed, so make sure your addresses are updated at JPJ.

2. For those with bigger capacity cars, they will “enjoy” RM200 reduction in road tax. Similar for bikes with more than 250cc.

3. Cooking oil prices remain.

4. Service tax criteria for restaurants increased from RM500,000 to RM3 million. Thus many restaurants are expected NOT to charge service tax. Please check before you pay.