Posts Tagged ‘PPP’

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Samy:No party merger, only brotherhood

July 2nd, 2007
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By : Ranjeetha Pakiam and Suganthi Suparmaniam

 
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (right) hugging Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan as the latter was delivering his speech at the IPF annual general assembly yesterday.
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu (right) hugging Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan as the latter was delivering his speech at the IPF annual general assembly yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Mon:

The Indian Progressive Front will not be dissolved.

Instead, it will continue to work with the MIC towards the development and progress of the Indian community.

Its president, Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan, set to rest fears about a possible merger with the MIC yesterday by declaring that he would always remain "an IPF man".

He also quelled rumours about a possible return to the MIC which he left after a confrontation with MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, nearly 20 years ago.

"The question of my future is being asked. What is my future? What is the future of IPF?
"Today, I would like to emphasise that I would like to die an IPF man. IPF will never be dissolved. Instead, we will co-operate with Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and the MIC," he said.

The eagerly-awaited announcement was greeted with cheers by the 3,000 members who had gathered for the IPF general assembly at Menara PGRM yesterday.

Samy Vellu echoed Pandithan and said: "MIC wants Pandithan to continue leading the IPF. There is no question of the IPF’s dissolution."

Before the IPF general assembly, there had been wide speculation about IPF’s possible dissolution and Pandithan’s return to the MIC.

The rumours were stoked by Pandithan’s invitation to Samy Vellu to open the general assembly. Articles in the Tamil newspaper, Makkal Osai, also claimed that the IPF would soon be dissolved. Pandithan later said he would not take legal action against the paper as he claimed to have "not taken them seriously".

He also said the party would continue in its struggle to be accepted as a component of the Barisan Nasional and remained positive about IPF’s prospects, although he feels this could take time.

On IPF’s entry into BN, Samy Vellu remained non-committal. "I do not know. This is something we have only discussed in our hearts. We have no opinion on this for the moment."

While delivering his speech, Pandithan was interrupted at one point when Samy Vellu walked over to the podium to give him a warm hug.

Pandithan said he would work with Samy Vellu whom he considered as his political mentor.

"I will only leave you upon my death," he said.

The bad blood between Samy Vellu and Pandithan began in 1988 when Pandithan, who was then an MIC vice-president, was sacked from the party with 13 supporters, for holding a hunger strike in front of the MIC headquarters. They had appeared with a coffin, after being issued a show-cause letter for allegedly practising caste-oriented politics.

In August 1990, Pandithan formed the IPF.

Earlier this year, Pandithan and Samy Vellu buried the hatchet and both their political parties campaigned for the Barisan Nasional in the Ijok by-election on April 28, which was won by MIC’s K. Parthiban.

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Kiwanis help to provide daily breakfast for 100 Tamil school students

July 1st, 2007
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Isn't it sad to read that up to 100 students from  two Tamil schools need help to eat breakfast?

Pupils start the day ‘strong’, thanks to Kiwanis Club

By : Suganthi Suparmaniam

Kiwanis
Sally Goh (second from left) talking to J. Geethaanjali while Sarah Wheeler Teh (right) has a chat with S. Veeramalai at Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Sepang yesterday. The Bukit Bandaraya Kiwanis Club has been sponsoring breakfast for 90 poor pupils at two schools.

KUALA LUMPUR: For J. Gee-thaanjali, 11, breakfast is probably the best meal of the day.

The nasi lemak, an apple, a drink and a packet of chocolate, courtesy of the Bukit Bandaraya Kiwanis Club help keep her energy levels and spirits up.

Ever since her father lost a leg in an accident last year, the family has been going through difficult times. Her mother works as a cleaner to support Geethaanjali, her three siblings and her father.

Geethaanjali was among 90 poor pupils of Sekolah Rendah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Sepang and 10 of SKJK (T) Ladang Bute who met the people behind the breakfast yesterday.

"I look forward to breakfast in school as it is the best meal I have for the day," she said.

Club president Sally Goh said the club had been providing breakfast for the 100 pupils for two years now.

She said it cost RM250 to sponsor breakfast for a child for a year.

Club vice-president Sarah Wheeler Teh said members hoped to nourish the pupils’ minds by filling their stomachs.

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MIC Counselling for those who did not get IPTA places

June 24th, 2007
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MIC to take up students’ appeals

source

KUALA LUMPUR: Even with her 3.57 CGPA and a gold certificate commending on her academic performances, Mala (not her real name) was not a happy student.

For, despite her excellent results, the polytechnic student did not get any place at the public universities to study hotel management.

Yesterday, the hotel management diploma student was seen going around with her certificates and asking advice on how to appeal to enter local universities.

She was among the 200 unhappy students across the nation who gathered at a counselling session organised by the MIC education bureau at the National Land Finance Co-operative Society in Jalan Sultan Sulaiman.

She said even her lecturers were surprised that she did not obtain a place to study in university.

Sharing her woe is another polytechnic student Thilaga (not her real name) who finished her diploma in accountancy with 3.57 CGPA and a gold certificate.

"Those who could not get a place in university after SPM can look forward to it after STPM, if not after diploma. But, what about people like me? What else can I look forward to if not university?" asked Thilaga.

Unhappy parents who also attended the session raised questions on how the university entry system works. Many also complained that students with lower marks managed to obtain a place in public universities.

MIC education bureau head Professor Datuk T. Marimuthu said Mala and Thilaga are bright students with good CGPA. He promised to take up their matters and appeal based on their results.

He said students who failed to get a place in university and those who got courses other than their eight choices can appeal.

Besides Marimuthu, Professor Dr. NS Rajendran and Sri Murugan Centre co-director Prakash Rao were also present to give direction and advice to the students.

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EU Envoy blasts NEP

June 24th, 2007
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“As part of the NEP, all public-listed companies are required to allocate 30 per cent of their shares to the Malays. Companies without Malay directors or employees are excluded from lucrative government contracts,” he said in a speech to local and foreign businessmen last Thursday. He also urged the Malaysian government to roll back its affirmative action policy for the Malays, saying it was discriminatory and amounted to protectionism against foreign companies.

Is that a fact the envoy mentioned? Ooops, looks like the world wants a piece of Malaysia. As it is, the pie is not enough until have to start grabbing others' share, now have to worry about foreigners.

What was raised can certainly be disputed in terms of the fact,” the Deputy Prime Minister said

don't we all love to see those facts our DPM will produce soon.

Don't meddle in Malaysia's domestic affairs, warns Najib
BERNAMA

KUANTAN, Sat.:

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today expressed regret over the statement by the Ambassador and Head of the European Commission Delegation to Malaysia with regard to the New Economic Policy (NEP), saying that the envoy should not interfere in Malaysia’s domestic affairs or policy.

Refuting the facts submitted by the envoy, the Deputy Prime Minister said that as an ambassador accredited to this country, Thierry Rommel should play a role to forge closer relations between the two countries.

“Normally, an ambassador or envoy does not comment on the affairs of the country to which they are accredited. This has been the practice because when we comment on the policies adopted by the country concerned, it means that we are intefering in the affairs of the host country,” he told reporters after launching the national level Campaign On Early Intervention To Prevent Children’s Disability, here.

Najib said this when asked to comment on Rommel’s statement yesterday which was carried by a foreign wire agency, The Associated Press. Rommel was quoted as saying that the NEP gave a host of privileges in jobs, education, business and other areas to the ethnic Malays. He also urged the Malaysian government to roll back its affirmative action policy for the Malays, saying it was discriminatory and amounted to protectionism against foreign companies.

“As part of the NEP, all public-listed companies are required to allocate 30 per cent of their shares to the Malays. Companies without Malay directors or employees are excluded from lucrative government contracts,” he said in a speech to local and foreign businessmen last Thursday.

On Malaysia’s action or official protest against the statement, Najib said: “Wait first, I will seek the opinion of Wisma Putra (the Foreign Ministry). The role of the ambassador is to forge closer relations between the country he represents and the host country. In terms of diplomatic principles and practice, his action contradicts the practice that we adopt.

“What was raised can certainly be disputed in terms of the fact,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Also present at the launch were BAKTI Vice-President Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

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IPF veterans meet over rumours of merger with MIC

June 14th, 2007
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IPF veterans meet over rumours of merger with MIC

source

 
Pandithan says he will answer all questions on the rumours of a merger with MIC at the IPF national conference on July 1.
Pandithan says he will answer all questions on the rumours of a merger with MIC at the IPF national conference on July 1.

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Indian Progressive Front veterans and former members met on Sunday in what was billed as an effort to save the party.

The meeting came in the wake of rumours that its president Tan Sri M.G. Pandithan was planning a merger with the Malaysian Indian Congress.

Pandithan was sacked as the MIC vice-president by party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu about 20 years ago.

He went on to set up the IPF, but the two men appeared to have left that episode behind.

His presence at the MIC general assembly recently has exacerbated the concerns of some of his followers.
About 50 of them, including party loyalists and some of those who were sacked from the MIC together with Pandithan in 1988, passed a resolution at the Sunday meeting calling on him to leave the party.

The IPF’s former secretary-general K. Panjamurti said it would be unfair if the party was to be dissolved because of Pandithan’s personal interest and asked him to leave gracefully if he wanted to join the MIC.

Panjamurti said he had confronted Pandithan, but the latter had denied he was planning anything.

"We are still concerned and worried," Panjamurti said.

"Many branches have been closed down. All the 57 branches in Perak have been dissolved as a result of Pandithan’s failure to submit their accounts for years. Now we don’t know how many branches are still registered."

Panjamurti was one of the 13 supporters of Pandithan who was sacked from the MIC.

M. Kanagasabai, who said he was the founding president of the party in 1990, said almost 90 per cent of the people who originally supported Pandithan had left the party over the years as they were unhappy with his leadership and administration.

"The last straw came when he became friendly with Samy Vellu. He wants to patch up and ditch us, which is okay, but to dissolve the party is terrible. We will not accept it," he said.

Sunday’s meeting also asked Panjamurti to lead the party.

"We will announce this at our annual general meeting on June 24," Panjamurti said.

Pandithan dismissed the allegations against him.

"Anyone can say anything. I cannot be responding to everything they say. Furthermore, these people are no longer in the party. They left 10 to 15 years ago," he said.

Asked about the possibility of the IPF being dissolved and a merger with MIC, Pandithan laughed and said he would announce his decision at the party’s national conference on July 1.

"I will answer all questions there."

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