Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email If not for private donors and wealthy businessmen from the community, Sivakumar argues, half of the 523 Tamil schools in the country would have been closed down a long time ago. He cites a recent example where a hall for a Yahya Awal Tamil school in Johor Baru, costing RM700,000, was built with public donations.
This made Samy Vellu quite unhappy obviously.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu has challenged the claim that half the Tamil schools in the country would have closed down without the support of wealthy Indians.
He was reacting to Malaysian Indian Businessmen Association president P. Sivakumar’s claim that if not for private donations and wealthy businessmen, half of the 523 schools would have closed down a long time ago.“The subject of Tamil schools is very dear to me because I was a Tamil school student. Since I became a minister in 1979, I started studying the position of Tamil schools. In 1981, I came out with the first programmes for educational empowerment of the Indian community. I asked JKR (Public Works Department) and my officers to study schools that needed attention.”
“I then approached then prime minister (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) in 1984 for RM5.5 million from the Prime Minster’s Fund. At that time there was scarce funds for partially-aided schools. He approved RM6 million and we built nine Tamil schools with the money.”
Later, Samy Vellu said, he approached then finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin for funds and received RM4.5 million to build more schools. He said MIC was committed to continuously seek funds from the prime minister, education and finance ministers to keep on building Tamil schools to provide a better standard of education for Indian children.
“Recently, we secured a RM30 million grant and we have allocated RM11.3 million for building 10 schools in Selangor and 15 in the rest of the country, also costing RM11.3 million. Tenders are now being called. We have also obtained RM2 million for repairs of Tamil schools in Selangor this year while the government is building a RM1.2 million Tamil school in Kampung Lindungan on a 0.6ha site. The Education Ministry is also building 15 fully-aided Tamil schools costing RM11.5 million.”
From now until the end of next year, RM43.5 million has been committed for the upgrading and construction of Tamil schools, he said.
“For me, MIC is the guardian of Tamil schools and we have set up the MIED (Maju Institute of Educational Development), Yayasan Strategik Sosial to improve the lot of Indian children.”
He pointed out that it was through MIC initiatives that on July 1, the Cabinet Committee on Development of the Indian Community chaired by the deputy prime minister had agreed in principle that all Tamil schools should be converted to fully-aided schools.
I calculated RM98.7 million based on the numbers mentioned by Samy Vellu. Since 1984 till 2009 (26 years). That’s about RM3.796 million per year. Number of Tamil schools is 523.
So since 1979 Samy knows the problem.. but the problem is still there? So whats the point of getting unhappy with MIBA president Sivakumar?
He talks of safe-guarding Tamil schools every other day, but the problem is there since 1979, as acknowledged by him. If he can’t do it, then at least let others do, or the least he should do is to acknowledge people like Sivakumar is telling the truth.
Itu pun ta mau, ini pun ta mau.. sigh..
Oh and before long someone will come on here and say he knows Sivakumar pretty well and he is a liar and stuff. My question to that person if he happens to read this.. Samy still “helping” Tamil schools from 1979.. so how long its gonna take more for the Tamil school problems to be completely over? Every other day I keep hearing same thing only..
Even if we take SV’s word and the figures which he is peddling out now – it is but very obvious he did not do a good job and it is time he moved on! He had more than 20 years to get it all corrected and squandered his chances!
It is time he handed the reins over to someone else who can have a crack at it and do SOMETHING!
The Indian community depends on the crumbs that fall off the dining table of UMNO and we have to have leaders who will collect the crumbs and send it to the most vulnerable in the Indian community and not send it to the pockets of family members and their cronies!
Wham, Bam and Thank you Sam. DSSV is a Shapeshifter, we need Winchester bros.
I remember him telling a Tamil school HM to go and ask PKR for help…sigh!!
LOL 😀 “Oh and before long someone will come on here and say he knows Sivakumar pretty well and he is a liar and stuff.” – does the person have so called “military and police” background?
“does the person have so called “military and police” background?”
Haha I dunno about that.. but its the person whom he claims he knows Mr Uthayakumar since early 90s, he knows Anwar for past 15 years, plus his never-ending sources at PR and Hindraf.. he seems to know everyone top to bottom at PR and Hindraf yet he hates them.. He is the i-know-all-but-can’t-proof type of person.
Anyways I haven’t seen his comments here for a long time now.. I wonder why..
Guys
I am back…been away on a business trip. Sometimes it gets tired of debating with a bunch of mentally challenged but proud clowns. So I need a break occasionally from you all…hahahahahaha
The fact is I do know what I am talking about and that has been proven many a times. I do have my sources all over and I make no secret of it.
Unfortunately I dont know this moron called Sivakumar but it is not difficult to guess what he is up to. I have no respect for such clowns who did nothing before HINDRAF came up. All these talks are just like hyenas after feasting on a lion’s kill…cowards…
SV is of course is correct and those who disagree please supply data to support your argument or shut up. Merely talking generalities is equal to talking rubbish.
Dare to take up my challenge ?
Welcome back.. I was getting worried that you were missing in action. 😉
Say, why don’t you open a blog eh? Since you have a lot of deep throats and sources, we would love to read your articles on the other side of PR. What say you?
“Unfortunately I dont know this moron called Sivakumar but it is not difficult to guess what he is up to.”
That’s a bit rude, isn’t it? You don’t know the guy, yet you say he hasn’t done anything. Syabas. And look who is asking us to supply data? You don’t know him, you call him coward, you call him clows, and yet you can’t come with a proof, whereas you’re asking us to supply proof. You’re an irony.
Well its a good thing I kinda predicted what you will be saying, i.e. in my first comment to this post. I know you would come along and say something bad about Sivakumar.
In fact, I don’t know Sivakumar myself or what he has done (or not). I am only disappointed at Samy Velu with not letting Sivakumar speak up. As for me supplying you the data, I hereby invite you to read MP’s article again, where Samy himself acknowledges that since 1979 the Tamil school problems still exist.
So are you saying that Samy Velu has already solved the Tamil school problems? And you still haven’t replied to my first comment, and in case you have selective amnesia, I am asking you again:
“Samy still “helping” Tamil schools from 1979.. so how long its gonna take more for the Tamil school problems to be completely over?”
Interesting enough, i was think the same as sactyr@naga!
Killer, looking at the amount of comments you posts, i seriously think you should start blogging. it will be great to have a well read and well connected blogger from the indian community. i don’t think there’s anyone else who comes close to you. at the moment, we have anil netto, b mahendran, raajarox, saravanan MIC, G Krishnan, and few others (apologies if i missed out anyone else).
Poobalan
You are joking right ?
I think there are far too many bloggers who muddling the water. The last thing Indians need is another opininated blogger. Anyway you are the only Indian blogger that I frequent, because I believe even though we don’t always agree, I beleive your sincerity in helping the community.
Sactyr :
I wish the issue of Tamil school is so simple that can be solved with a magic wand. Perhaps this shows your shallow understanding of the issue. I know you come from a privilaged background and never been to a Tamil school or even a local univ. As such I forgive you for being totally clueless on Tamil schools.
As for Sivakumar, he is a moron by any count. Well I don’t know him before Nov 2007 and this guy just parachuted into the scene after that. If he is sincere in helping Indians he would have contributed and I would have known. All he does is make political statements of no value. I think we Indians have far more talkers than doers. So I would not miss him if he suddenly checks in into Kamunting Hilton.
for the first time i agree with you that Indians have far more talkers than doers . Which is why mic been neglected by Makkal .
You speak as you were the only Indian studied in Tamil school and local Uni .
I speak because I am from an estate , Tamil school and local uni background. So I so know what I am talking about. Unlike many of the people who only know how to talk but without substance or proof.
Well why don’t you get down in the mud and clear it up? Since you have so many so-called sources and deep throats, maybe you can enlighten us right? So what you’re scared to blog now? Scared of taking responsibility?
So, if I went to Tamil school or from a non-privileged background you think the Tamil school problems will be solved? How smart of you. Yea MIC needs more people like you. Syabas.
Again, you didn’t answer my question in this post. And twice I have directed my question to you. So is this how you debate? Beating around the bush, avoiding the questions?
In case you claim not to see my question, I hereby post it for the third time, and it is directed to you Killer:
“Samy still “helping” Tamil schools from 1979.. so how long its gonna take more for the Tamil school problems to be completely over?”
Answer my question, or else don’t bother replying.
And you said:
“I think we Indians have far more talkers than doers.”
Again, what a sense of irony.
“Samy still “helping” Tamil schools from 1979.. so how long its gonna take more for the Tamil school problems to be completely over?”
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Bro, Tamil school problem is not Samy’s problem or his responsibility alone to solve. It requires the efforts of the entire community. Unless the whole community supports it, the problem won’t go away. How can we solve it when people like you avoid Tamil schools but then put yourself on a high horse and question others on why these schools are backward.
There are many other reason why Tamil schools are not as successful as the Chinese schools but the biggest reason is Indians themselves. The well to do Indians do not send their children to these schools or support these schools financially. Unlike the Chinese community, we are totally dependent on the govt’s aid and the efforts of MIC. Perhaps you should also question HINDRAF / PKR on their contribution to Tamil schools.
People yourself and HINDRAF are good in talking and shouting but no finding anwers. The contribution of MIC to Tamil schools are undeniable. Only people who know nothing about Tamil schools will question MIC’s contribution.
Killer,
If he is sincere in helping Indians he would have contributed and I would have known classic example of inferiority complex & NPD..sigh