Posts Tagged ‘Poverty’

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

Commission for minimum wage

June 2nd, 2008
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The commission is to determine (i) which sectors should have minimum wage, and (ii) how much it should be subject to periodic review. Would it be a good news for the plantation workers, dock workers, restaurant workers, etc?

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry will set up a permanent Commission of Inquiry to determine which sectors should have a fixed minimum wage, and to review these wages on an on-going basis.

Its minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the Commission would gather first feedback from the various wage councils on which sectors should have a fixed minimum wage.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in the lobby of Parliament on Monday, he said the Commission would also work with these councils on reviewing any such fixed minimum wage on an on-going basis.

source 

300 million not for MIC

May 27th, 2008
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After letters condemning MIC’s 300 million claim appears in papers (not to mention in kedai kopi and blogs too), Samy clarifies that the money WILL not pass through MIC, not even a single sen! Hmm…it would have been a non-issue if this clarified earlier. Perhaps they thought they can get away with it, but brader…this is 2008, not 1980s! Let’s hope for good news from PM in July.

Anyway, doing the maths reveals that:

100 mil  -investment fund

50 mil –  SME/SMI

30 mil – micro-credit

10 mil – agro business

50 mil – new schools

15 mil – pre-school

30 mil –  hostel

15 mil – single mothers / poor families

total: RM300 million.

» Read more: 300 million not for MIC

NUPW to renew duel with Human Resource Ministry

March 30th, 2008
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Earlier, NUPW tried their luck with Fong Chan On. Now its Dr S.Subramaniam they want to meet. Having  COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) would certainly help, but what would happen when the prices of  the commodities go down? » Read more: NUPW to renew duel with Human Resource Ministry

small houses but big dreams

March 19th, 2008
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One boy does part-time electrical wiring job after school, while another (13-years old) distributes phamplets to earn part – time. They come from low-income families but:

The dreams and determination of these teenagers certainly do not match the size of the house they live in.

This article is really touching. A family (Ramu) earns nearly RM1000 (He earns 500, his mom 300, and welfare department gives 160) yet still living in longhouse. With 5 people in the family, is RM1000 enough? Can these families be considered as poor since their income is above the poverty rate? » Read more: small houses but big dreams