Posts Tagged ‘Selangor’

Panasonic employees help to set up libraries

December 25th, 2007
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Set up libraries, Tamil schools urged

source

TAMIL schools have been urged to set up libraries stocked with books on culture, religion and literature to generate the interest among the young to learn about their own mother tongue, reported Makkal Osai

Schools should also instil the importance of reading habits among the school children.  

Panasonic Indian Employees coordinator S. Yathirajan made this call when launching the company's annual cultural show. 

He said funds raised from the shows had been used to set up air-conditioned libraries in some Tamil schools in Selangor. 

He said that since 2003, air-conditioned libraries had been set up at Hicom Tamil School, Glen Marie Tamil School, Emerald Tamil School, Midlands Tamil School and Highland Tamil School. 

He said that funds collected for this year would be channelled to Sungai Renggam Tamil School. 

He said that parents realised the role played by Tamil schools which have seen an increase in enrolment.  

 

Temple report task for MIC bad idea

December 25th, 2007
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Star, NST, and MK all highlighted the task given to MIC by PM, no less, to:
– look into the status of all Hindu temples
– submit a report on these temples to the cabinet periodically
– continuously monitor all temple
– submit to PM a list of temple that may be demolished due to various reason

 MIC will:
– go around the country to prepare report on number of temples and their problems
– identify illegally built and check their status (this statement sounds very confusing. identify ILLEGAL temples and check their STATUS?)
– check if there are moves to demolish or relocate the temples
– organise meetings with temple committees
– verify temple land status
– secure land reservations in new housing development areas
– seek registration of all temples
– ensure suitable alternative site is allocated before demolishment
– ensure no temples are demolished in the future (meaning from today 24/12/2007), and if need to be demolished, to ensure proper alternative site is provided.
– make sure no temples, either legally or illegally built will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC

Abdullah had assured that the government would provide the necessary support in resolving any matters involving temples as has been the case before.

That seems to be a tall order.

My opinion is that such a task should not be handed over to a political party, especially a de facto one that is part of the ruling body. It should be driven by a government department or a newly appointed permanent committee that consists of various representatives from religious bodies, government departments, NGOs etc. The people seemed to have lost faith in MIC. to entrust MIC with such task may backfire on BN since the people may take this as the govt not listening to them. Should MIC be given a chance to redeem themselves? MIC, having a vested interest, may cover things up to save their hides.

Or this can be seen as a ploy by BN to push the ball back to MIC to handle it, rather than taking responsibility collectively. Since MIC is the one perceived to cause all this problem, let them solve it. If they can, good. If not, BN can still win without MIC. Its a zero sum game.

So, if any more problem happens, can we blame MIC 100% and by extension blame the cabinet as well?

MIC tasked with temple relocations, demolitions
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76374
Yoges Palaniappan | Dec 24, 07 5:05pm

MIC has been given the task to look into the status of all Hindu temples in the country and will submit a report on these temples to the cabinet.

In line with that, MIC president S Samy Vellu will travel nationwide to prepare the report on the number of Hindu temples and their problems.

This "new approach" follows a directive by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to MIC to continuously monitor all temples in the country and to submit a report on their status to the cabinet periodically.

Samy, in a media statement today, said that Abdullah had specifically wanted MIC to forward him the list of any temples that may have to be demolished for various reasons.

"As temples are sensitive matters, a new approach is necessary to resolve them and MIC will take over completely this task," said Samy, who is also the Works Minister.

"We will identify the illegally built temples first and check on their status. We want to see if there have been any moves to demolish or relocate them," he said.

He added that he had directed Federal Territory MIC chief M Saravanan and Selangor state executive councillor Kamala Ganapathy to organise meetings with temple heads in their respective states.

The long time MIC president said the meetings would have several objectives, namely to verify the status of the land where the temples were built, to secure land reservations in all new housing development areas and to seek the registration of all temples.

"What is more important is that suitable alternative sites will have to be allocated first before any temples are to be relocated," he said.

According to Samy, a meeting to be held soon in Kuala Lumpur would be attended by 780 temple heads, whereas 870 temple heads would participate in the second meeting to be held in Selangor.

Premier's assurance

He added that similar meetings would be held in other states; with the third meeting scheduled in Perak and that he would chair all the meetings.

"I will scrutinise all matters concerning temples with a view to ensure that no temples are demolished in the future and if they have to be demolished, suitable alternative sites must be allocated so that Hindus can continue to worship," he said.

"No temples, either legally or illegally built will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC," he said, adding that Abdullah had assured that the government would provide the necessary support in resolving any matters involving temples as has been the case before.

In recent years a high number of Hindu temples have been demolished on the account of them being illegally built, causing much anger among the Indian community.

The Hindu Rights Action Force has played a vital role in defending these temples, culminating in a Nov 25 rally in Kuala Lumpur over the apparent marginalisation of the Indian community.

Since then, five leaders of the group have been detained for two years under the dreaded Internal Security Act.

Hindraf's popularity among the community in fighting for the Indian cause has come at the expense of MIC, which has for long been held as the sole Indian voice in the government.

Many segments of the community have blamed MIC for being inactive in protecting Hindu temples from being demolished.

The new approach outlined by the government for MIC to have 'powers' to protect temples now is seen as being aimed to win over the support of the community for the party.

NST:

Samy Vellu to give report on temples

KUALA LUMPUR: The prime minister has asked MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to monitor all Hindu temples and submit a report on their status periodically.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also wanted the MIC to forward to him and the cabinet a list of temples that might have to be demolished for various reasons.

"As the issue of temples is a sensitive matter, a new approach is necessary to resolve it and the MIC will completely take over the task," said Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, in a press statement.

He would travel to all states soon to prepare a report on the number of temples and their problems. "We will identify the illegally-built temples first and check on their status."

Meetings with the heads of temples in each state would be organised. The Federal Territory and Selangor meetings would be attended by 780 and 870 temple heads, respectively. It was to verify the status of the land where the temples were located, to secure land for them in all new housing areas and to seek registration for all temples.

"I will scrutinise all matters to ensure that no temples are demolished in the future or suitable alternative sites are allocated to temples that have to be demolished so that Hindus can continue to worship. "No temples, either legal or illegally built, will be demolished without a thorough check and discussions with the MIC," Samy Vellu said.

PM asks MIC to change approach for temple demolition

December 24th, 2007
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BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR, MON:

The government has asked MIC to continuously monitor all Hindu temples in the country and submit a report on their status to the cabinet periodically.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wanted the MIC to forward to him and the cabinet the list of temples that may have to be demolished for various reasons.

“As temples are a sensitive matter, a new approach is necessary to resolve the issue and the MIC will take over completely this task,” he said in a statement here today.

Samy Vellu said he would travel to all the states soon to enable him to prepare a report on the number of temples in the country and their problems for submission to the cabinet.

“We’ll identify illegally-built temples first and check on their status. We want to know of any move to demolish or relocate them,” he said.

Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, said he had asked Federal Territory MIC chief Datuk M. Saravanan and Selangor state executive councillor Kamala Ganapathy to organise meetings involving temple chiefs in their respective states.

mic youth to go to the ground

December 24th, 2007
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the milder version:

‘Opposition exploiting illegal rally issue’

source

KUALA LUMPUR: The Indian community must not be duped by the activities of the group that is behind the illegal assemblies, which have in turn been exploited by the opposition. 

MIC Youth chief S.A. Vigneswaran said the opposition had caused confusion within the Indian community to woo their votes. “The opposition leaders, especially the Indians, are also trying to use this opportunity to champion this group's leaders,” he told reporters here on Saturday. 

He said all divisional MIC Youth leaders had been asked to go to the ground to study the unsolved problems and have discussions with the Indian groups in their areas beginning yesterday. “I want a more aggressive and effective network of cooperation in the MIC Youth,” Vigneswaran said. 

He said this after chairing a two-hour meeting attended by about 200 youth members and leaders from the 19 Selangor divisions.  

Vigneswaran said all races had their problems, adding the government did not practise favouritism and would strive to maintain racial cooperation and unity in the country.

read the stronger version here: http://poobalan.com/blog/indian/2007/12/23/more-comedy-from-mic-youth/

samy wonders why temple was demolished

December 23rd, 2007
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He said Indians had taken part in the illegal demonstration recently to register their anger over the inadequacy in the implementation of projects by the Government.”Their anger is not because I had not raised questions about or fought for the plight of the community. We have done this many times and I have the documents to prove this if anyone says I did not raise these in the Cabinet,” he said.
[ so problem is whatever raised not taken into consideration? He admits that the Indians march for a correct reason?]

“I was angry because there was no order to demolish the houses, temples and mosques. They did not give orders for the temples and mosques. They only had an order to get the occupants to vacate the houses. “But I am still wondering why they wanted to demolish the temple first. I think there must be a personal reason or someone could have hated the temple,” Samy Vellu said. He said he would raise funds to construct a temple at a new site in Padang Jawa and hand it over to the people.
[looks like he is unhappy with the immigrant MB. Now, which one is lying, Selangor MB or SV? Why need to raise funds? Selangor govt said will pay for the cost already. Developer also agreed to provide land help shift. What is this…miscommunication or lying at the highest level?]

Below is excerpt from the Star today:

He said Indians had taken part in the illegal demonstration recently to register their anger over the inadequacy in the implementation of projects by the Government. “Their anger is not because I had not raised questions about or fought for the plight of the community. We have done this many times and I have the documents to prove this if anyone says I did not raise these in the Cabinet,” he said. 

Samy Vellu said he was not the kind of representative who would ignore the people's problems and “have fun” instead. “I work from the time I wake up in the morningtill 1am. Why? I do so for the betterment of the community. 

“Many say the community has not improved. I can’t believe this. If they say what we have got is not enough, I’ll agree and I’ll request more. I have demanded for opportunities according to our population size, not only with the current Prime Minister but also with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Hussein Onn,” he said. 

On Tamil schools, Samy Vellu said that he and MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting have been fighting in the Cabinet for a long time for all vernacular schools to be turned into government-aided schools.  

He said there are 522 Tamil schools in the country, of which 180 are government-aided and the rest are partially-aided. “From 1983 till today, we have rebuilt 76 Tamil schools. I don’t know whether some people have eyesight problems or those schools are 'magical' schools. I can see them but others can’t. At all times, Tamil schools are being built,” he said. 

Samy Vellu said he had asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi not to allow any quarters to demolish any temples in the future. 

“Whichever temple it may be, no one should go to the extent of demolishing it. If a temple has a problem, it should be brought to my attention. I’ll visit the place and I’ll get the appropriate allocation from the Government and make the necessary arrangements to rebuild the temple. I’ve said firmly that only then can a temple be relocated,” he said. 

He said the temple in Padang Jawa was built on private land and the land owners had obtained a court order two years ago to get the people staying there to vacate. 

“I was angry because there was no order to demolish the houses, temples and mosques. They did not give orders for the temples and mosques. They only had an order to get the occupants to vacate the houses. 

“But I am still wondering why they wanted to demolish the temple first. I think there must be a personal reason or someone could have hated the temple,” Samy Vellu said. 

He said he would raise funds to construct a temple at a new site in Padang Jawa and hand it over to the people.