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Puchong devotee burn himself over Temple or School issue

November 9th, 2010
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I think this is the talk of the town at the moment. This temple is near my house and I visit it few times a year. I even have its website on my blog roll. Its a well known temple, and currently they are on a donation drive to build a wedding hall. Was supposed to donate, but now I want to find out more info before giving away money.  The temple is just next to SJKT Castlefield and is blocked from from LDP by the new furniture shop.

A temple devotee (also MIC Puchong Information Chief – according to a twitter message) burned himself in protest over temple demolition. More news came out later and things became clear. There is no temple demolition, but two “structures’  – one is a toilet and the other is a large storage room to keep the temple chariot and other stuff. The story (according to the news articles below) goes like this:

  1. Land belongs to school. (But one report says the land is government reserve land).
  2. 10 years ago, temple asks the land to be temporarily used by temple and promise to return it when school needs it. School builds storage room and toilet. Some say the proposed new multi-purpose hall is proposed to be located on this land as well.
  3. School gets RM500k grant from Education Ministry to built pre-school. School says it wants the land given to temple earlier and writes to temple. Says no reply from temple. More discussions, but not fruitful. Grant will be revoked if no location is identified by year end, whereas temple wants 1 year grace period to relocate toilet and storage room.
  4. School contacts MBSJ. MBSJ issues notice to evacuate on Oct 26.
  5. After discussion, demolition postponed to after Deepavali.
  6. When the demolition team came yesterday, the guy climbed on the roof and threated to set himself on fire. One RELA member says a gust of wind caused the lighter flame to change direction and ignite the kerosene-soaked clothers. The brother claims got people instigate him. [Maybe Lord Perumal is upset and showing his power? You can’t play the fool with God.]
  7. The victim taken to hospital and buildings demolished. A meeting was held and the temple given another 7 days to relocate the storage room material. Problem considered solved by MBSJ councillor.

Its indeed a sad day for the Indian community when two of the important icons for us – the tamil school and the temple – get embroiled in such shameful incident. How can things end up like this? Lord Perumal is sure to be unhappy with this kind of attitude from His subjects.

For me, the pre-school  is more important. One friend suggested that both can co-exist, but I think this will cause problems. I can’t foresee both sides able to be tolerant, patient and well-planned in order to co-share a building.

HRP organised candle light vigil at Anwar Ibrahim’s house, attended by MIC folks as well, in protest of the incident. They also planned to submit a memorandum but its seems Anwar is conveniently missing at that time. While its OK to submit memo and do candle light vigils, I hope HRP can take other action as well, like getting the two groups (school and temple) to TALK and COME to a solution. Then, gather everyone and submit a proposal to state/federal government. That would have been a feather in HRP cap, but now, the candle light vigil and memo submission became “just another activity”. However, HRP did point out that the government reserve land next to temple can be allocated to the temple to solve the problem.

I wonder where’s the area MP and ADUN. Busy getting thrown out of parliament, visiting open houses, tired from by-elections, or simply not bothered?

News from Malaysiakini:

A temple devotee in Pusat Bandar Puchong was rushed to the hospital this morning after dousing himself with petrol and lighting up over fears that part of his temple would be demolished by the local authorities.

M Chakragunasegaran, 52, is now in critical condition at the Serdang Hospital after police and members of the temple committee doused the flames, by which time he had lost consciousness.

Temple committee secretary K Dharmalingam, 49, said he was in the midst of early morning prayers at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple – situated in a Tamil school compound – when a commotion broke out and he heard Chakragunasegaran shouting, “Don’t demolish the temple!”

NONEEnforcement officers from the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), police officers and men and members of the volunteer defence corp Rela had arrived to demolish a room that had served to store temple equipment, to make way for a pre-school.

After Chakragunasegaran was taken to hospital, Dharmalingam said, the local council personnel went about demolishing the storage room.

He said a notice had been issued on Oct 26, directing the committee members to vacate the storage room for the pre-school.

However, he is disappointed that the authorities did not give them sufficient time to vacate the area.

“It’s been 10 years since this temple was built. The land on which it stands is reserve land,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

NONEAnother temple committee member, T Pukalenthy, 42, said the school had allowed the construction of the additional building 10 years ago.

“The demolition was not appropriate. They should have told the temple management earlier,” he said.

MPSJ councillor KN Michael Tamilarason said a meeting was held late this morning, involving representatives of political parties, enforcement agencies, the school and the temple committee.

According to him, it was agreed that the demolition of the storage room would be put on hold for a week.

“The school authorities have agreed to give the temple committee seven days to move the equipment in the storage room. The problem has been solved,” Tamilarason told Malaysiakini.

Enforcement personnel have put up a fence around the area.

According to Bernama, Serdang police chief Abdul Razak Elias said Chakragunasegaran suffered burns to the body and face.

“The incident occured at 9.30am when 200 MPSJ workers, police and Rela members began the operation.

“A man shouted don’t demolish, set himself ablaze and then fainted. He was saved by members of the public,” he said.

The police had lodged a report on the incident at Puchong police station at noon today, Abdul Razak added.

From the Star:

A MAN set himself on fire in protest against the demolition of an illegal structure at a temple by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) at the Puchong Industrial Park yesterday.

The person, identified as Chakara Guna, was sent to the Serdang Hospital for treatment.

No more: The illegal temple structures, comprising a toilet and a store room, being demolished.

A Rela member S. Magen said the man repeatedly doused himself with kerosene and threatened to set himself on fire on different occasions around the area.

“Around 9.45am, he pulled the same stunt while holding a cigarette lighter. Suddenly, the wind blew towards him and his kerosene-soaked body accidentally caught fire,” he said.

A meeting was held later in the morning after the incident. It was attended by MIC Youth chief T. Mohan, representatives from MPSJ town planning department and MPSJ councillor Michael Tamilarason.

According to SJK (T) Castlefield, Puchong board of directors chairman Nagamuthu, the issue began four years ago when the land surveyors came and certified that the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple’s store room and toilet were built on school land.

“We wanted to apply for a land title in 2007 and a licence survey was conducted.

“We had a meeting with representatives from the education department, Land Office, Parent-Teacher Association and the temple.

“The temple representatives agreed to demolish the structures when the school needed to utilise the land,” he said.

About six months ago, the school received a RM500,000 grant from the Education Ministry to build two kindergartens.

“We wrote to the temple committee members asking them to move out but our request fell on deaf ears.

“Last month, we were informed by the ministry that the grants will be withdrawn if we did not identify the land for the kindergartens,” he said.

He added that they sought advice from the police and MPSJ to solve the issue as “the temple representatives were adamant”.

“The council put up a notice on Oct 26 that the structures be taken down in a week’s time.

“The demolition of the structures was supposed to be done last week but it was only carried out yesterday after requests from several political leaders to postpone it to after Deepavali,” he said.

At the meeting, the temple representatives asked to be given a year to relocate the temple’s toilet and store room but the school representatives declined.

Mohan and Michael were on hand to calm both parties when the discussion turned into a heated argument.

According to Mohan, it was decided the government reserve land next to the temple will be used temporarily until the temple completes the construction of the store room and toilet within the temple grounds.

Nagamuthu said the cost of the demolition and the temporary building will be borne by the school board.

The temple committee adviser could not be contacted for comments at press time.

More info from Malaysiakini, this time coverage on the brother of the devotee claiming the brother was instigated:

The younger brother of the temple devotee who burned himself yesterday over the demolition of part of his temple’s storage room alleged today that several persons were on the roof with M Chakragunasegaran and issued ‘challenges’ against the latter.

NONEM Alejandran claimed that his brother was only feigning the attempt at self-immolation, and suggested further that he was goaded into carrying out the act by the said individuals. 

“Who would want to burn himself? My brother was only bluffing,” Alegandran told Malaysiakini when contacted.

“I was told that there were individuals who had gone up to the roof to order my brother to come down, and they issued threats against him.

“Because of his fear (of them), my brother got burned,” he added.

NONESeparate police reports were lodged by family members of Chakragunasegaran as well as by the committee members of the Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple in Pusat Bandar Puchong, Selangor, where the incident happened yesterday.

In the drama that unfolded, Chakragunasegaran had climbed to the roof of the temple and pleaded for enforcement officers from the local council, police and members of volunteer defence corp Rela not to demolish a room that had served to store temple materials.

This followed the issuance of a notice directing the committee of the temple – which is situated within the compound of government school – to vacate the ten-year-old storage room to make way for a pre-school.

After Chakragunasegaran had doused himself with petrol and set himself on fire, he fell off the roof and became unconscious, and was said to have been in critical condition. 

Chakragunasegaran has since stabilised and was transferred from the Selayang Hospital to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital. 

The demolition exercise has been suspended for a week after negotiations between the enforcement authorities and representatives of political parties and the temple committee.

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Posted in Indian, Religion, Tamil-Schools

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Inter-faith and inter-racial relationship is NOT easy!

November 2nd, 2010
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I read the coverage of the final hearing for Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) draft plan as reported by The Star below, and could only shake my head in wonder. There’s so many complications and factors involved in deciding things like location of places of worship , crematorium and cemeteries, and schools. Have to consider the feelings of the various stakeholders, and the “relative” rights of individual (we live in an unequal rights country).

Its well-known that approval for non-Muslim place of worships is rarely given, thus some of them are located in shoplots and houses (can easily find many churches in my area).  Even the statistics are not proven to be correct, and often misused to say that there’s too many temples for population ratio. I think the government should fund an study to count the number of places of worship in the country. Can arrange for some research company to do it, and overseen by relevant ministries, respective state/district authorities and NGOs.

Another problem is cemetery. No one wants a cemetery next to their house (I think even mentioned in Hinduism scriptures to built house away from cemetery and crematorium) as it brings a negative conotation and usually leads to lower property value. Problem is, the people also want to have a burial place/crematorioum “nearby” for convenience, but as long as not “too near”. Its not easy to find such “ideal” location that can please everyone, but the effort must be undertaken. Let more public participation to take place so that can brainstorm better suggestions. Maybe MPAJ (or other authorities as well) can’t solve every problem because they are not smart enough or lack manpower.

Same goes for school relocation. If the majority population in an area is Chinese or Indian (or even if not majority,  25% and above will do), then should allocate enough space for both national school and vernacular school. If not, how to relocate schools from rural/underutilised areas? You can’t expect many sizeable areas to be 70-80% population by Chinese or Indian community, and then only want to relocate schools there.

THE Buddhist and Christian communities in Ampang are worried over the lack of space to build temples and churches following the final hearing for the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) draft plan yesterday.

Selangor Buddhist Development Committee (SBDC) secretary Chua Teck Seong said the Selangor Planning Guidelines and Standards from the Town and Country Planning Department, released in June 2006, stated that for non-Muslims, there should be a place of worship for every 2,600 devotees or 5,000 residents.

“Taking the figures from the 2000 census carried out by the National Statistics Department, there are 160,748 Buddhists in Ampang and therefore there should be 62 temples here,” he said.

He pointed out that there were only three sites in Ampang allocated in the draft plan for non-Muslims’ places of worship.

Another religion-based issue discussed at the hearing was Charis Christian Association spokesman Chok Poi Fong’s request for a Christian crematorium in Ampang.

Making his point: Ee speaking at the hearing as Lee (seated right) looks on.

“The nearest one is in Cheras and there is one in Petaling Jaya and Seremban respectively. Not only is the one in Cheras far away but it often breaks down and has a long wait-list,” Chok said during the hearing, adding that the crematorium could be shared by churches in the area.

State Housing, Building Management and Squatters Committee chairman Iskandar Abdul Samad, who chaired the hearing, said there was a discrepancy in the statistics provided by the religious groups who attended the hearing.

“For instance, we have been told at the hearing by SBDC that there are fewer than 10 temples in Ampang, but we know of two registered ones and another 24 which operate in homes and shoplots,” he said.

He said that according to state records, there were 10 Hindu temples, two Gurdwaras and 22 churces in Ampang.

“The state Town and Country Planning Department will have to meet with these groups and figure out these discrepancies,” he said.

Another issue heard was the proposal to allocate land for a Muslim cemetery in Taman Bukit Permai 2 that was met with both objections and support from the residents who turned up.

Pangsapuri Anggerik Joint Management Body (JMB) chairman A. Karim Mohd Esin said there was a critical need for a Muslim cemetery in Ampang.

“We support the gazetting of the land which is just next to our apartment and separated by a ditch.

“However, we would like to suggest that the community hall that will be built in the buffer zone to also have a surau and a funeral parlour,” he said.

Opposing the cemetery plan was resident Julia Long, 48, who said that it was unfair to the residents who had been living there since 2000 to have to put up with a cemetery beside their homes.

“When we bought our houses, the master plan indicated that the land next to our area was a forest reserve. I would prefer it to remain as such,” she said.

She added that bulldozers and excavators had tried to level the forest in 2008 without residents’ knowledge and it was only stopped after the latter appealed to MPAJ.

“A cemetery will mean increase in traffic in the area, she said, adding that she did not want any kind of development taking place at the site.

Another resident, Sara Chan, 44, said she would approve of the building community facilities like playgrounds at the site.

“Our property value will drop if a cemetery is built and I do not think that is right,” Chan added.

Another hot topic at the hearing was the issue of primary vernacular schools.

“We have received objections from five residents of Bukit Indah who do not want SJK (T) Ampang to be relocated to their area.

“We have also received petitions from residents who want part of a land to be used for a national school in Taman Saga to be given to the building of a Tamil vernacular school,” said Iskandar.

Taman Pandan Glades Residents’ Association chairman Terence Ee and Teratai assemblyman Jenice Lee voiced their support for the construction of a vernacular Chinese primary school in the open space along Jalan Perdana 6/2 in Pandan Perdana.

“I believe only a portion of the 2.45ha land is needed for such a school. The rest can still remain as an open space,” said Lee.

Iskandar said that the hearing, the last of four held for the MPAJ draft plan, was very good as residents came armed with facts and relevant arguments.

“All the information, suggestions and objections we have heard will be discussed at the State Planning Committee along with experts in December,” he said.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Religion, Tamil-Schools

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Many Schools Missing!

October 29th, 2010
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We need to bring in the big guns! We have lots of schools missing. Disappeared from the face of the earth (in Malaysia la). May need to seek help of bomohs too.

The statistics clearly show number of Chinese and Tamil schools has been reduced but the Deputy Minister said no schools was closed down and he didn’t really answer the question asked.  From more than 880 Tamil schools in 1957, now left with 523 only.

Dewan Rakyat this morning became heated up during question time, after a query by Nga Kor Ming (DAP – Taiping) on Chinese schools raised the ire of Barisan Nasional MPs.

Nga, during his supplementary question to Deputy Education Minister Dr Puad Zarkashi, questioned why the government had closed many Chinese and Tamil language schools in the country.

“Firstly, I’d like to congratulate the country for establishing 2,637 national schools from the years 1948 to 2000,” said Nga.

“At the same time, I express my sadness knowing that 48 Chinese medium schools had been shut down. The same thing is also happening at Tamil schools.”

At this point, Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis (BN – Rompin) stood up to interject, accusing Nga of uttering seditious remarks.

Read the hansard below (comments in red are interesting indeed!). Full hansard for 27th October 2010 is available on parliament website here [pdf file]. If schools were not closed down where did they go? How can number of schools reduced? Were they allowed to “die a natural death”?  Do we need Fox and Mulder to investigate?

Most funny is the questions/comments by Jamaludin Jarjis.

4. Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping] minta Menteri Pelajaran menyatakan secara terperinci satu demi satu status terkini pembinaan 19 buah sekolah jenis kebangsaan SJK(C) yang diumum serta dijanjikan oleh kerajaan pada 31 Januari 2008 serta kos terlibat dalam menyiapkan sekolah-sekolah tersebut.
Timbalan Menteri Pelajaran II [Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi]: Assalamualaikum warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh dan salam 1Malaysia. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia sentiasa berusaha meningkatkan pembangunan pendidikan dalam memastikan pembangunan modal insan lebih berkesan tanpa mengamalkan diskriminasi ke atas mana-mana sekolah yang terdapat dalam sistem pendidikan kebangsaan. Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, proses perpindahan dua buah SJK(C) telah siap dan mula beroperasi pada tahun ini iaitu SJK(C) Tai Hong, berpindah dari Kota Tinggi ke Taman Impian Emas, Johor Bahru dan SJK(C) Pai Tze dari Bukit Serampang ke Setia Eco Gardens, Johor Bahru.
Manakala perpindahan lima sekolah lagi telah mendapat kelulusan pihak berkuasa tempatan dan dalam proses pembinaan sekarang ini iaitu SJK(C) Bandar Bukit Tangga – Bukit Beruntung, Selangor – RM3 juta. SJK(C) Pay Fong 1 –
Crimson, Krubong, Melaka juga RM3 juta. SJK(C) Pun Pong – Alor Setar, Kedah – RM3 juta. SJK(C) Tung Hwa – RM3.8 juta iaitu Seremban dan SJK(C) Kiow Min – Taman Perkasa, Alor Gajah, Melaka sebanyak RM2.3 juta. Dua lagi baru selesai isu tapak iaitu SJK(C) Wu Tek – Bandar Pak Len, Kelang, Selangor. Yang kedua ialah SJK(C) Pai Chee – Bandar Jasa Cemerlang, Johor.
Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, untuk sekolah baru daripada enam yang dicadangkan, baru satu telah selesai perolehan tapak iaitu SJK(C) Emerald – Rawang. Tapak adalah ihsan daripada pihak pemaju bernilai RM3.5 juta. Manakala selebihnya, pihak Lembaga Pengelola Sekolah (LPS) dalam proses membuat perolehan tanah, penyediaan pelan bangunan atau mengemukakan permohonan kebenaran merancang untuk kelulusan oleh pihak berkuasa tempatan. Keseluruhan peruntukan yang disediakan untuk semua sekolah tersebut termasuk yang dijanjikan ialah RM95 juta. Terima kasih.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua dan terima kasih jawapan dari Timbalan Menteri. Pendidikan adalah teras pembangunan negara. Mengikut statistik yang saya ada, saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada kerajaan kerana berjaya membina 2,637 buah sekolah kebangsaan sepanjang tempoh dari tahun 1948 hingga tahun 2000. Walau bagaimanapun, saya berasa amat sedih dan kesal, pada tempoh yang sama sejumlah 49 buah sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina telah ditutup. Ini sama juga berlaku kepada sekolah jenis kebangsaan Tamil, tutup. Memang jumlah bilangan sekolah telah berkurangan. Tadi wakil kerajaan telah memberikan jawapan…
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Saya hendak minta, Tuan Yang di-Pertua, 36(6). Ini kenyataan benarkah kita tutup sekolah Cina ni?
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Ini sekarang floor saya.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Your floor, but you are seditious, how can you tuduh tidak betul.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: What seditious?
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Ini you kata tutup sekolah mana? Mana ada kita tutup sekolah Cina.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Ini saya cadangkan..
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Tidak apa Yang Berhormat Rompin, biar Menteri yang jawab nanti.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Jumlah bilangan sekolah yang… ini Duta Amerika, balik Amerika Syarikatlah. Jangan buang masa masuk Dewan.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Betulkah sekolah Cina ditutup supaya kita menang dalam pilihan raya?
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Belum saya habis pertanyaan, buat apa kacau dalam Dewan ini? Balik Amerikalah, jadi Duta Amerika, mengapa duduk sini?
[Dewan riuh]
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Ini hak saya, ini hak saya, saya ada hak saya.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Dia tidak tahu, sebab itu jangan putar belit, jangan putar belit. [Dewan riuh]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, Yang Berhormat Taiping.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Apa cakap macam ini?
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Ikut peraturan mesyuarat. Saya belum habis.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Duduk dulu Yang Berhormat Taiping. Itu sebabnya Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat, saya sering kali mengingatkan bahawa apabila berhujah, kalau boleh elakkan menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang mengundang reaksi negatif dari sebelah, fasal beginilah. Apabila saya bercakap begini ada yang mengatakan bahawa saya berkhutbah. Bagus lagi saya berkhutbah daripada mendengar pertengkaran yang tidak habis-habis. Kepada Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat berkenaan, saya sarankan supaya pergi ke Batu Sapi dan Galas. Sila, teruskan.
[Ketawa]
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua yang bijaksana. Soalan tambahan saya, tadi wakil kerajaan katakan kerajaan tidak pernah mengamalkan apa-apa dasar diskriminasi ke atas semua aliran sekolah. Maka, adalah tugas saya sebagai wakil rakyat untuk memaklumkan kepada Timbalan Menteri tentang garis panduan dan surat pekeliling kementerian yang wujud pada hari ini.
Soalan pertama saya, garis panduan dan surat pekeliling yang sedia ada menetapkan tapak rizab sekolah hanya boleh digunakan untuk bina sekolah kebangsaan dan sekolah jenis kebangsaan lain seperti Tamil dan Cina tidak diberikan layanan yang saksama.
Kedua, garis panduan dan surat pekeliling dari kementerian juga menetapkan jika Lembaga Pengelola Sekolah yang ingin memohon, merayu untuk membina sekolah baru, sebelum mereka mendapat membuat permohonan untuk permit membina sekolah, mereka perlu merayu dan mendapatkan sumbangan wang sekurang-kurangnya 80%, 80% raised baru boleh memohon.
Garis panduan ketiga, surat pekeliling yang dikeluarkan oleh kementerian sendiri. Mana-mana pelajar yang belajar di sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina, jika hendak tukar kepada sekolah kebangsaan boleh tetapi sebaliknya jika hendak tukar dari sekolah kebangsaan hendak tukar kepada sekolah jenis kebangsaan Cina atau Tamil, tidak boleh. [Dewan riuh]
Sebab itu – Yang Berhormat Rompin, sudah lama tidak datang Dewan Rakyat, tidak tahu, maka jangan buat kacau dalam Dewan ini. Ini surat pekeliling, bukan yang dikeluarkan oleh Pakatan Rakyat. Itu dikeluarkan oleh kementerian, sebab itu saya hendak tanya, soalan saya dengan atas dasar 1Malaysia, Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan. Saya hendak memohon jasa baik …
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Okeylah, saya boleh jawab.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Bilakah kementerian akan mengetepikan…..
Dato’ Shamsul Anuar bin Haji Nasarah [Lenggong]: Yang Berhormat Taiping kena cirit birit macam Yang Berhormat Jelutonglah.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Bilakah kerajaan akan mengetepikan dan memansuhkan surat-surat pekeliling yang tidak adil ini supaya semua rakyat dalam negara ini berasa mereka diberikan layanan yang adil dan saksama? Itu soalan saya.
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Yang Berhormat Taiping ini memang kaki gaduh, sebab itulah dengan Yang Berhormat Ipoh Barat pun dia gaduh juga. Kawan sendiri pun dia gaduh. Saya hendak tanya bila hendak cium mulut dengan Yang Berhormat Ipoh Barat. Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Kementerian Pelajaran Malaysia tidak pernah menutup sekolah-sekolah SJK(C), SJK(T) dan sebagainya. Bahkan, ada SJK(T) yang tinggal satu murid pun kita tidak tutup. Sebab itulah jangan buat tuduhan yang melulu. Kita ada juga sekolah yang sudah ditutup kerana berpindah tempat lain tetapi mohon dibuka semula pun kita buka semula – kita beri. Kalau Yang Berhormat sebut tentang sekolah SJK(C), kita ada tapak untuk SK (sekolah kebangsaan) yang kita beri dengan penuh ihsan untuk membina sekolah SJK(C) seperti yang di Bukit Sentosa tadi. Kita tidak ada diskriminasi. Sebab itulah dalam Bajet 2011 dengan cukup jelas disebut kita menyediakan RM250 juta untuk sekolah bantuan modal dan RM2,000 kita sediakan untuk bayar utilities setiap bulan untuk sekolah-sekolah bantuan modal termasuklah SJK(C). Untuk makluman Yang Berhormat, kalau kita hendak discriminate, kita terima 800 guru GSTT daripada SJK(C) ke dalam program KDC. Lapan ratus orang satu jumlah yang ramai.
Bagaimana Yang Berhormat kata kita hendak diskriminasi sedangkan banyak lagi sekolah-sekolah kebangsaan juga…
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Surat pekeliling. [Dewan riuh]
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Banyak sekolah kebangsaan…
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Bagaimana dengan garis panduan…
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Yang menghadapi masalah di pedalaman – sekolah banjir, sekolah menumpang, sekolah dua sesi di pedalaman. Ini juga perlu diberi perhatian. Kita tidak ada memberikan sebarang sikap yang diskriminasi kepada SJK(C), bahkan kita membantu. Kita bayar gaji RM2,900. RM1.8 bilion untuk sekolah-sekolah SJK(C) ini – gaji guru ya. Jadi ini Yang Berhormat kena terima. Saya hendak beritahu, lima daripada sekolah yang tidak selesai tanahnya adalah di Selangor. Di Selangor, kalau boleh Kerajaan Negeri berilah tanah. Apa yang berlaku, dia ambil tanah untuk curi pasir. Itu yang berlaku sebenarnya.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Bantahan.
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Tanah untuk bina UiTM pun dia ambil.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua…
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Ini sangkaan jahat.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, Kerajaan Negeri Selangor memang ada bagi mewartakan banyak tanah untuk mendirikan…
[Dewan riuh]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Yang Berhormat duduk dahulu, duduk dahulu. Ahli Yang Berhormat duduk dahulu.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Ia ditukar untuk membina SJK(C).
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Duduk dahulu Ahli Yang Berhormat, duduk dahulu.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Mereka yang mengundang kekecohan Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Duduk dahulu, duduk dahulu.
Beberapa Ahli: [Menyampuk]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Duduk dahulu. Inilah masalahnya. Apabila soalan ditanya, bising, soalan dijawab setimpal, bising.
Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron [Tangga Batu]: Yang Berhormat Seputeh hendak register kehadiran itu.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya hendak bawa Point of Order 36(10)(c). “Adalah salah pada peraturan menggunakan perkataan-perkataan yang harus menaikkan perasaan bersakit-sakit hati ataupun bermusuh-musuhan di antara satu kaum dengan satu kaum dalam Malaysia atau melanggar mana-mana syarat dalam Perlembagaan atau Akta Hasutan, 1984.” Tadi Yang Berhormat Taiping mengatakan kerajaan menutup 40 buah sekolah Cina.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Siapa makan cili dia rasa pedas.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: You shut up!
Dato’ Shamsul Anuar Nasarah [Lenggong]: Kurang ajar ini orang.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Duduk! Duduk! Ini hak saya. Saya majoriti besar di Parlimen Rompin itu. Jangan kacau. Ini menghasut. Ini kerana apa? Ini kerana dua pilihan raya kecil di sana supaya pengundi Cina tidak menyokong kerajaan Barisan Nasional dan sanggup menghasut orang Melayu kucar kacir antara kaum, ini politik apa ini? Menyalahgunakan ini. [Mengangkat buku Peraturan Mesyuarat] Saya minta maaf. Saya sudah tidak tahan dengar. Saya diam tetapi cara ini…
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Terima kasih, terima kasih. Saya arif benar dengan peraturan mesyuarat tadi itu tetapi selama duduk di sini lebih kurang tiga tahun, saya mempunyai kesimpulan bahawa ahli-Ahli Yang Berhormat ini kadang-kadang hatihati kamu cukup keras. Kadang-kadang tidak terjolok, kadang-kadang tidak sakit, kadang-kadang tidak sensitif. Ini kerana kalau sensitif, andai sakit, tidak adalah Ahliahli Yang Berhormat yang mengeluarkan hujah melanggar peraturan mesyuarat. Terima kasih.
Beberapa Ahli: [Bangun]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Yang ini berdiri untuk soalan…
Dato’ Shamsul Anuar bin Haji Nasarah [Lenggong]: Tambahan.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Okey, sila Yang Berhormat Ledang.
Dato’ Kamarudin bin Jaffar [Tumpat]: Maknanya Tuan Yang di-Pertua membuat ruling menolak apa yang dipohon oleh Yang Berhormat Rompin. Terima kasih. [Ketawa]
Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron [Tangga Batu]: Kami minta ruling Tuan
Yang di-Pertua. Apa hukuman ruling untuk Yang Berhormat Taiping, ruling untuk Yang Berhormat Taiping.
Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: Yang Berhormat Rompin itu bawa perkara yang benar sebenarnya.
Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron [Tangga Batu]: Satu pandangan yang racist. Ruling untuk Yang Berhormat Taiping Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: Yang Berhormat Taiping membuat perasaan bersakit-sakit hati.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Rompin, terima kasih Yang Berhormat Rompin.
Datuk Ir. Haji Idris bin Haji Haron [Tangga Batu]: Ruling ini memang kena.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: [Bercakap tanpa menggunakan pembesar suara] Ini menghasut.
Datuk Haji Mohamad bin Haji Aziz [Sri Gading]: [Menyampuk]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Ya, ya, terima kasih, terima kasih.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Tuan Yang di-Pertua, ini kena tarik balik ini. Ini kenyataan tidak benar dan boleh menghasut yang jelas salah. Akan tetapi parti DAP untuk menang pilihan raya, apa jua mereka akan buat, tiupkan
semangat supaya orang Cina benci Malaysia. Apa ini?
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Kenapa Yang Berhormat Rompin begitu bimbang tentang pilihan raya kecil?
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Betul tidak kerajaan menutup SJK(C)?
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Yang Berhormat Rompin, Yang Berhormat Seputeh sudah, sudah.
Dato’ Seri Dr. Jamaludin Mohd. Jarjis [Rompin]: Betul tidak? Kalau betul tidak apalah, tetapi saya rasa tidak. Ini tohmah, pendustaan yang besar, fitnah
besar.
Ir. Haji Hamim bin Samuri [Ledang]: Okey Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Sila Yang Berhormat Ledang.
Beberapa Ahli: [Menyampuk]
Tuan Yang di-Pertua: Sudah saya buat ruling Ahli-ahli Yang Berhormat. Soalan yang diajukan itu kalau merupakan pembohongan, ia telah dijawab oleh Menteri. Jadi soalan seperti tumbukan kalau 50% kuatnya, jawapan pun 50%, bagi saya fairlah. [Ketawa] Sila Yang Berhormat Ledang.
Ir. Haji Hamim bin Samuri [Ledang]: Terima kasih Tuan Yang di-Pertua.
Sebagaimana yang kita sedia maklum Tuan Yang di-Pertua, bahawa semua sekolah kebangsaan dan semua sekolah menengah kebangsaan adalah untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia, tidak kira Melayu, Cina atau India. Semua sekolah menengah kebangsaan adalah untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Kita tahu kerajaan prihatin dan kerajaan tidak pernah mengabaikan soal pendidikan. Justeru Tuan Yang di-Pertua, saya ingin tahu sejauh mana – lebih daripada ini, kerajaan lebih prihatin terhadap pembangunan pendidikan sekolah-sekolah bantuan kerajaan? Ini kerana kita lihat setiap sekolah-sekolah ini menghadapi masalah seperti kekurangan guru, bangunan yang daif dan kekurangan kewangan dan sebagainya di seluruh negara. Ini adalah semua sekolah. Tidak ada sekolah Jawa, tidak ada sekolah Iban, tidak ada sekolah Banjar, Bugis dan sebagainya. Ini adalah untuk semua rakyat Malaysia tidak kira Melayu, Cina atau India. Sejauh mana kerajaan prihatin berbanding dengan keistimewaan yang telah kerajaan berikan kepada semua sekolah-sekolah lain. Sekian, terima kasih.
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Terima kasih Yang Berhormat Ledang. Sebab itulah di dalam Bajet 2011, kerajaan menyediakan peruntukan tambahan yang semakin besar untuk Kementerian Pelajaran. Bahkan untuk tujuan pembangunan, telah dinaikkan kepada RM6.4 bilion dengan tujuan bahawa dengan pertambahan yang sebegini besar – selain daripada Belanja Mengurus, maka kita dapat memastikan bahawa mana-mana sekolah yang berada dalam keadaan yang daif, sekolah yang sering dilanda banjir, sekolah menumpang sepertimana yang saya sebut masih banyak terutamanya di Sabah, Sarawak yang banyak sangat sekolah menumpang, ini kita akan dapat atasi dengan jumlah perbelanjaan yang bertambah ini. Ini tidak termasuk yang saya kata Belanja Mengurus dinaikkan kepada RM2.93 bilion.
Oleh kerana itu, saya ingin menyatakan di sini bahawa pendirian kita adalah cukup jelas bahawa sekolah kebangsaan ialah bukan sekolah Melayu. Sekolah kebangsaan ialah sekolah untuk semua rakyat Malaysia termasuk pendudukpenduduk yang berketurunan Iban, Kadazan Dusun, Kayan dan sebagainya. Oleh itu, bila kita membela sekolah-sekolah kebangsaan, maka ia juga adalah untuk sekolah semua kaum. Dalam masa yang sama, kita tidak pernah melupakan sekolah-sekolah bantuan modal. Sebab itu kita kategorikan sekolah-sekolah ini sebagai sekolah bantuan kerajaan iaitu antaranya seperti sekolah mubaligh, sekolah SJK(C), SJK(T), bahkan Sekolah Agama Rakyat dan Sekolah Agama Negeri pun kita bantu. Oleh kerana itulah, saya ingin menyatakan di sini bahawa dasar kerajaan dalam soal pembangunan modal insan ini adalah cukup adil, cukup saksama sebenarnya. Sebab kita tahu bahawa pendidikan ini penting.
Sebab itulah pada saya apa juga yang dibangkitkan oleh pembangkang terutama DAP memang adalah bertujuan politik. Mereka langsung tidak pernah membela sekolah-sekolah kebangsaan di pedalaman yang cukup daif. Mereka tidak pernah pergi pun ke Sabah, Sarawak, pedalaman ini. Yang hanya mereka lihat hanya sekolah di bandar.
Tuan Nga Kor Ming [Taiping]: Tunggu Pakatan Rakyat jadi kerajaan, kita akan pergi.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Jangan cabar.
Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad Zarkashi: Penghasut besar.
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh]: Nanti kalah.
Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Mojilip Bumburing [Tuaran]: Tuan Yang di- Pertua, pertamanya saya ingin merakamkan setinggi penghargaan dan tahniah kepada Tuan Yang di-Pertua kerana watak dan peranan sebagai Tuan Yang di-
Pertua yang world class.

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Posted in BornInMalaysia, Tamil-Schools

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Coalfields Estate problem never ending

August 3rd, 2010
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Then (2007):

Workers get option to buy houses:

Workers of three estates belonging to Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) Bhd will be able to own single-storey terrace houses after KLK implements the housing schemes.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the company had already agreed to implement the scheme after obtaining the approval from the relevant authorities.

“The workers in Tuan Mee, Caledonia and Coalfield estates will be the main beneficiaries,” he told voters at a community centre.

Tuan Mee’s senior manager Chuan Chong Meng, National Union of Plantation Workers general secretary Datuk G. Sankaran, MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel and other MIC leaders were present.

Samy Vellu said the estate workers had put forward a proposal for the houses two days ago.

“This is how the Barisan Nasional Government works. We discuss and got the approvals within a short time for the benefit of the estate people,” he said.

Samy Vellu said estate workers who wanted to upgrade their houses or even own bungalows could do so after discussions with the company, which is constructing the houses.

He said that there would also be other infrastructure like schools, temples and a playing field that would help to upgrade the standard of living of the people.

Officials said the estate workers would be given priority to buy the houses at RM35,000 while others would have to pay RM42,000 for the two-room houses. [still got two room houses ah???]

Samy Vellu also added:

KL Kepong Berhad will be asked to allocate land for housing and agriculture for workers in the Tuan Mee, Caledonia and Coalfield estates, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.

He said this came under the Selangor government’s regulations requiring estate owners to provide housing schemes for the workers.

Samy Vellu said this following a request for land by Tuan Mee Estate MIC branch chairman K. Ramavellu at a meet-the-people session at the estate last Sunday.

“I will have discussions with KL Kepong, which owns the estates, on the matter. We will urge them to allocate land for housing for the more than 200 workers in the three estates.

“We will also ask for agriculture land so that the people can farm and cultivate vegetables to raise their income,” he added.
He said that more than 56 housing schemes for estate workers had been implemented by the various estates in the country, with the first scheme in Dovenby Estate in Sungai Siput.

Earlier in his speech, Samy Vellu said the estate workers in the country were being paid a monthly wage because of his relentless efforts in compiling a working paper for the Cabinet.

He claimed that when opposition candidate Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was at the helm in Guthrie, he had opposed housing schemes for estate workers.

“He (Khalid) was the one who insisted in putting the estate workers in low-cost apartments. If he had the interest of the estate workers in mind, he should have approved the housing schemes for them.

in 2009, Xavier said this:

Xavier said one of the conditions imposed by the state government concerning land status conversion was that approval for estates larger than 40ha would only be sanctioned if the landowners agreed to provide housing for the displaced estate workers.

“The luckiest lot come from the Bukit Raja Estate in Klang where they recently signed the S&P with Sime Darby for terrace houses costing RM70,000 each but valued at RM150,000,” he said, adding that Coalfield Estate workers in Subang also successfully fought for their cause.

In late 2009, there were attempts to relocate workers to other estates. Also, workers couldn’t afford to buy the houses allocated to them due to inability to obtain loans.

Now:

July 2010 saw Palanivel visiting the estate:

A 15-year dispute between workers and palm oil estate owners over their residence and job has yet to be solved, although numerous promises.

The 30 families of Coalfield estate are hoping for terrace houses and better facilities where they are now, instead of forcing them to a new housing area – located across the road from the estate.

Yesterday, when Datuk G. Pala­nivel visited the estate, they told the Plantations, Industries and Commo­dities deputy minister that they were tired of the empty promises made to them since 1995.

“We were living without water and electricity supply since December,” said Coalfield estate action committee chairman Lobat Rajoo.

“But yesterday (Thursday), the utilities were restored.”

He said their woes began after a change in ownership of the estate in 1995.

Lobat said that in 2009, the previous owner, claiming to be their current employer, had told them to vacate their quarters at Coalfield Estate by June 30, last year.

“They wanted us to move to Desa Coalfield by purchasing houses there but not all of us can afford a RM35,000 house with our RM21 pay a day,” he said after handing a booklet documenting their plight to Palanivel.

The minister, who met the estate management, said: “I have told them not to be harsh on the workers but adopt a give-and-take attitude.

“Their (the workers) requests are simple and they are poor.” [so what? you think these companies care about this?]

As of yesterday, the school also asked to be moved:

MALAYSIA Nanban reported that parents of students in Ladang Coalfield Tamil School in Sungei Buloh will stage a protest against the plantation owner and housing developer.

The estate workers, who defied an order to vacate their homes, have now been asked to move the school.

A spokesperson for the parents, Lobat Raj, slammed the management and developer KL-Kepong Sdn Bhd, for using various tactics to shift the school and two places of worship, a church and a temple. The oil palm estate has been earmarked for a housing project.

He said that the developer and the management are more interested in making profits rather than considering the welfare of the estate workers.

He said that the estate workers want the school to be located near their houses instead of the present location which is about 4km away.

About 400 people, comprising parents and locals planned to gather at the school field yesterday.

Lobat said that no state government representatives have been invited because the parents have no faith in the exco in charge of Indian affairs, PKR’s Dr Xavier Jeyakumar.

Firstly, these folks should ensure they are registered voters. Then talk to politicians. Who can solve this problem within 2 months, gets their votes in next election. If nobody helps, then you realise that you are indeed worth less in their eyes.

Anyways, 4KM is still OK as long as the school is not in middle of cemetery, next to electric cables/sewerage pond/industrial plots or other unimaginable places (which seems to happen to Tamil schools). Probably the parents can try negotiate for a school bus or two vans as well to ferry some of the poor children.

As for housing loan, there are schemes to help people with low or fluctuating income to obtain loans. They should be guided on this procedures. Who will do it? MIC or HRP or DAP/PKR? Who will help the folks from A-to-Z of getting their houses?

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give funds directly to PTA says association

August 3rd, 2010
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The news below appeared over a week ago. Interesting to read the reasons given by the president. Yes, it does seem logical. On the other hands, giving the funds to established NGOs who have been involved in Tamil schools for two decades or so, also makes sense. So, which is better option.

Giving money to NGOs can help in terms of organising events on larger or coordinated scale. The NGOs have experience of conducting various events, so it will be easier. However, the downside is that the NGOs may only be focusing on areas or schools which they are familiar or comfortable with. Some schools may not have a strong PTA, thus having NGOs organising events and program will help reduce burden on PTA and teachers.

As for giving money to PTAs, I’m sure readers are aware that a number of PTAs have connections with political parties. Some do see the position in PTA as some sort channel for income for their business as caterers, contractors, printers etc. The chances of funds being misused exists, especially when the PTA people are in cohort with the school management. But on a positive side, all schools will have opportunity to do some events for themselves. Schools may most likely know what they need and can fine-tune programs to meet those requirements.

I would agree with the proposal to split the funding into two: NGOs and PTAs. This will help to cover all bases and diversify the channels. For example, state level Science Fair can be given fund under NGO category (organised by Tamil Foundation). School-level canteen day or UPSR motivation talk can receive funding via PTA.

But I’m surprised if words such as “irrelevant” is used by the PTA association in reference to EWRF or Tamil Foundation. These NGOs are well known in Tamil School environment, so “irrelevant” is an amusing choice of word.

THE Tamil Schools Parents’ Association in Selangor is demanding that the RM4mil state government allocations for Tamil schools be channelled directly to schools’ parent-teacher associations (PTAs) and not via irrelevant third parties, reports Malaysia Nanban.

Its president S. Murali said the demands would be highlighted in an eight-point memorandum to be presented to the mentri besar within the next few days.

He said the PTAs would be in a better position to manage the funds as they had first-hand information on the situation in their respective schools.

Murali said that although the Selangor Government had allocated RM4mil in annual funds last year for Tamil schools, only RM2.4mil was dispersed while the rest was channelled to three non-governmental organisations to carry out Tamil education development programmes in the state.

He suggested the state government allocate separate funding for the NGOs.

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Posted in Tamil-Schools

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