A Thoughful Write up by Baba of Bangsar
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Najib: Crackdown on dissent averted racial clash.
I thought this reason given by the deputy prime minister for the arrest of the Hindraf leaders was indeed frivolous for a man of his stature. If not for the arrests, he said: ‘... then we have the spectre of a serious possibility of a racial clash in this country’.
What bunkum. It is totally irresponsible for the deputy prime minister of the country to issue such provocative statements of a racial nature
Political leaders who continue to influence this kind of racial politics that contribute to the perennial racial divide in this country ought to be ashamed of themselves. It is people like him who utter such irresponsible comments that contribute to the respective communities continuing to sneer and scorn at each other.
There ought to be a period to undertake the process of healing and there is no need to render such comments of this type. Reprehensible rhetoric coming from the second-most powerful politician in this country is totally unnecessary
Let us be sensible. Let us argue and debate national issues in a honest and rational manner. There is no need to be emotional in our arguments. We have just celebrated 50 years of independence and throughout all these years, until recently, we have enjoyed harmonious interracial interaction.
It does bode well for the country for such statements to spew from the mouth of no less the deputy prime minister. I don't think this deputy prime minister was aware that during the Hindraf peaceful rally, when the police fired their tear gas and water cannons, many of the Indian marchers near the KLCC had to run to nearby Kampung Baru for cover.
And guess who gave the marchers refuge? None other than some of the Malay residents of Kampung Baru.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Bumi policies affecting investment...aper nak di kato..?
Source : AFP
Image : Net
Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said today Malaysia was losing out economically to regional rivals because of long-running policies favouring ethnic Malays.
He said Malaysia's ability to attract foreign investment had been compromised by keeping the country's affirmative action policies in favour of the Malay majority.
"That policy is obsolete... We are losing our competitiveness. Malaysia is less competitive than the 1990s," Anwar, whose PKR party is formally led by his wife, told reporters in Hong Kong.
"Foreign investments, we have lost. Growth, we have lost. Attractiveness, which is key to an emerging market, is lost. Not to China and India, but to Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia because of our obsolete policies.
"If you persist in pursuing this agenda, you do it not only at the expense of the Chinese and the Indians, but also of the Malays."
Malaysia has pursued the policies for Malays and indigenous groups known as bumiputras since the 1970s to close a wealth gap with the minority Chinese community.
In recent months, the government has been shaken by rare public demonstrations which erupted last November, including against alleged discrimination against the country's ethnic Indians.
Religious controversies
Anwar added that Malaysia's creeping 'Islamisation' was also turning away foreign investors.
Malaysia has experienced a string of religious controversies in recent months.
A Catholic newspaper was banned from using the word 'Allah', in its Malay language section, while a Hindu woman lost her bid to stop the conversion of her child to Islam after Malaysia's highest court ruled that her now-Muslim husband can convert their elder son.
Anwar was sacked from the former government of Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998 after being jailed for six years following sodomy and corruption charges.
The sodomy charge was later overturned and Anwar was released but he is barred from public office or holding any position with a political party until April because of the corruption conviction.
Anwar added that an upcoming election, expected to be held in March, would be crucial in determining Malaysia's future.
"Given free and fair elections, these elections will be a defining moment for the country," said Anwar, at a press conference organised by the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission.
He added he thought his opposition PKR party would damage Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Umno in the vote.
Anwar said about 20 potential legislators running for his party were prepared to stand down once he is able to take part in a by-election after his ban expires.
Image : Net
Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim said today Malaysia was losing out economically to regional rivals because of long-running policies favouring ethnic Malays.He said Malaysia's ability to attract foreign investment had been compromised by keeping the country's affirmative action policies in favour of the Malay majority.
"That policy is obsolete... We are losing our competitiveness. Malaysia is less competitive than the 1990s," Anwar, whose PKR party is formally led by his wife, told reporters in Hong Kong.
"Foreign investments, we have lost. Growth, we have lost. Attractiveness, which is key to an emerging market, is lost. Not to China and India, but to Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia because of our obsolete policies.
"If you persist in pursuing this agenda, you do it not only at the expense of the Chinese and the Indians, but also of the Malays."
Malaysia has pursued the policies for Malays and indigenous groups known as bumiputras since the 1970s to close a wealth gap with the minority Chinese community.
In recent months, the government has been shaken by rare public demonstrations which erupted last November, including against alleged discrimination against the country's ethnic Indians.
Religious controversies
Anwar added that Malaysia's creeping 'Islamisation' was also turning away foreign investors.
Malaysia has experienced a string of religious controversies in recent months.
A Catholic newspaper was banned from using the word 'Allah', in its Malay language section, while a Hindu woman lost her bid to stop the conversion of her child to Islam after Malaysia's highest court ruled that her now-Muslim husband can convert their elder son.
Anwar was sacked from the former government of Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998 after being jailed for six years following sodomy and corruption charges.
The sodomy charge was later overturned and Anwar was released but he is barred from public office or holding any position with a political party until April because of the corruption conviction.
Anwar added that an upcoming election, expected to be held in March, would be crucial in determining Malaysia's future.
"Given free and fair elections, these elections will be a defining moment for the country," said Anwar, at a press conference organised by the Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission.
He added he thought his opposition PKR party would damage Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Umno in the vote.
Anwar said about 20 potential legislators running for his party were prepared to stand down once he is able to take part in a by-election after his ban expires.
Haram makan kelapa pemujaan....aiyooo, coconut keh UP aah...!!!
Source : Berita Harian Online
Image : flickr (net)
KUALA LUMPUR: Umat Islam diharamkan memakan kelapa yang diketahui digunakan penganut Hindu untuk menyambut Thaipusam yang disambut penganut agama Hindu, semalam.
Mufti Perak, Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria, berkata hukuman haram itu kerana buah berkenaan digunakan untuk upacara pemujaan dan penyembahan yang ternyata syirik dan bertentangan dengan agama Islam.
Sehubungan itu, katanya umat Islam yang mengetahui kelapa yang dibeli itu sudah digunakan untuk upacara itu ditegah menggunakannya untuk masakan atau keperluan harian lain.
"Sekiranya kita tidak tahu kelapa itu dikutip daripada upacara pemujaan, itu tidak mengapa. Tapi kalau tahu, haram hukum memakannya dan kita tidak boleh bersubahat atas perkara yang mensyirikkan kerana benda (kelapa) yang sudah disembah, haram dimakan," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.
Beliau diminta mengulas mengenai kebimbangan orang ramai terutama umat Islam untuk membeli kelapa dalam masa terdekat ini kerana khuatir kelapa yang dibeli itu dikutip daripada upacara pemujaan.
Harussani berkata, umat Islam seharusnya tidak mengambil ringan dengan perkara itu kerana ia boleh menjejaskan keimanan seseorang.
Sementara itu, Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Bahagian Penguat Kuasa) Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP), Iskandar Halim Sulaiman, berkata penjualan kelapa yang digunakan dalam upacara memecah kelapa sempena sambutan Thaipusam, memang berlaku pada saban tahun.
Image : flickr (net)
KUALA LUMPUR: Umat Islam diharamkan memakan kelapa yang diketahui digunakan penganut Hindu untuk menyambut Thaipusam yang disambut penganut agama Hindu, semalam.
Mufti Perak, Datuk Seri Harussani Zakaria, berkata hukuman haram itu kerana buah berkenaan digunakan untuk upacara pemujaan dan penyembahan yang ternyata syirik dan bertentangan dengan agama Islam.
Sehubungan itu, katanya umat Islam yang mengetahui kelapa yang dibeli itu sudah digunakan untuk upacara itu ditegah menggunakannya untuk masakan atau keperluan harian lain.
"Sekiranya kita tidak tahu kelapa itu dikutip daripada upacara pemujaan, itu tidak mengapa. Tapi kalau tahu, haram hukum memakannya dan kita tidak boleh bersubahat atas perkara yang mensyirikkan kerana benda (kelapa) yang sudah disembah, haram dimakan," katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.
Beliau diminta mengulas mengenai kebimbangan orang ramai terutama umat Islam untuk membeli kelapa dalam masa terdekat ini kerana khuatir kelapa yang dibeli itu dikutip daripada upacara pemujaan.
Harussani berkata, umat Islam seharusnya tidak mengambil ringan dengan perkara itu kerana ia boleh menjejaskan keimanan seseorang.
Sementara itu, Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Bahagian Penguat Kuasa) Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP), Iskandar Halim Sulaiman, berkata penjualan kelapa yang digunakan dalam upacara memecah kelapa sempena sambutan Thaipusam, memang berlaku pada saban tahun.
Malaysian Indians urged to pursue education, enterprise...well...well...i have few questions...
Source : The Sun
Image : Net
Indians should stay united and work to improve their lot through education to 'get on par' with other races in Malaysia, a senior leader of the community has said.
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) leader and the country's Works Minister S. Samy Vellu said Wednesday that education alone would help the community to be on its path to socio-economic development and parity with other communities.
'We should be on par with other races and have thousands of graduates among us,' he told the media during Thaipusam celebrations, a festival of Tamil Hindus, at Batu Caves.
'Don't believe the opposition's stories and accusations. Yes, there are areas in which we are lagging such as in the job market, in getting placement at universities and in getting government contracts,' Vellu was quoted as saying by The New Straits Times.
'But it is not as if we are not getting opportunities at all,' said Vellu, citing examples of five Class-A Indian contractors who had successfully linked up with the Bumiputera (indigenous Malays) contractors to obtain government projects.
'You can't just sit at home and expect contracts to drop on your lap. You must be active and seek out opportunities,' he said.
Vellu said there were 3,000 Malaysian students of Indian origin overseas, 1,500 of whom were being supported by the MIC.
Vellu brushed off a question on whether the recent declaration of Thaipusam as a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya was a political ploy in view of the upcoming elections. 'You think the Indian community is that foolish? Just because the holiday has been given, they will make a favourable decision? The Indian community is very smart now. They are not like before,' he said.
The MIC that Vellu has been leading for long has been part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
There has been speculation about early general elections in Malaysia and all political parties have said that they have begun preparations for it. However, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not yet given any indication.
Ethnic Indians, predominantly Tamil Hindus who had come to Malaysia during the British Era, form roughly eight percent of the country's 27 million population.
YennaMike Says : 5 Class A - Contractor, please list them out - please just don't advertise provide the facts (are they MIC members / contributors).
Uncle Sam said there are 3,000 students overseas and you are supporting 1,500 of them and i bet this 1,500 are the kids of MIC member not the Indians that are not part of MIC. I have met fair amount of overseas Indian students and they all had bad experince approaching MIC for scholarship, in the end their parents have to "re-mortgage" whatever they have to pay for their kids education...why do we have to go overseas...?, because MIC have failed to abolish the local University quota system - i'm a victim of this qouta system as well...by the way how many students are MIC sponsoring locally and how many of them are non MIC member...??
Image : Net
Indians should stay united and work to improve their lot through education to 'get on par' with other races in Malaysia, a senior leader of the community has said.
Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) leader and the country's Works Minister S. Samy Vellu said Wednesday that education alone would help the community to be on its path to socio-economic development and parity with other communities.
'We should be on par with other races and have thousands of graduates among us,' he told the media during Thaipusam celebrations, a festival of Tamil Hindus, at Batu Caves.
'Don't believe the opposition's stories and accusations. Yes, there are areas in which we are lagging such as in the job market, in getting placement at universities and in getting government contracts,' Vellu was quoted as saying by The New Straits Times.
'But it is not as if we are not getting opportunities at all,' said Vellu, citing examples of five Class-A Indian contractors who had successfully linked up with the Bumiputera (indigenous Malays) contractors to obtain government projects.
'You can't just sit at home and expect contracts to drop on your lap. You must be active and seek out opportunities,' he said.
Vellu said there were 3,000 Malaysian students of Indian origin overseas, 1,500 of whom were being supported by the MIC.
Vellu brushed off a question on whether the recent declaration of Thaipusam as a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya was a political ploy in view of the upcoming elections. 'You think the Indian community is that foolish? Just because the holiday has been given, they will make a favourable decision? The Indian community is very smart now. They are not like before,' he said.
The MIC that Vellu has been leading for long has been part of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
There has been speculation about early general elections in Malaysia and all political parties have said that they have begun preparations for it. However, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not yet given any indication.
Ethnic Indians, predominantly Tamil Hindus who had come to Malaysia during the British Era, form roughly eight percent of the country's 27 million population.
YennaMike Says : 5 Class A - Contractor, please list them out - please just don't advertise provide the facts (are they MIC members / contributors).
Uncle Sam said there are 3,000 students overseas and you are supporting 1,500 of them and i bet this 1,500 are the kids of MIC member not the Indians that are not part of MIC. I have met fair amount of overseas Indian students and they all had bad experince approaching MIC for scholarship, in the end their parents have to "re-mortgage" whatever they have to pay for their kids education...why do we have to go overseas...?, because MIC have failed to abolish the local University quota system - i'm a victim of this qouta system as well...by the way how many students are MIC sponsoring locally and how many of them are non MIC member...??
The Indian plight...a nice write up by Mr. R. Rama Chandran
Source : Malaysia Kini
Image : Net
It is amusing to read the news and view Samy Vellu on TV talking on the status of Indians when he was in New Delhi. We know that most politicians do not have principles. Mahatma Gandhiji declared seven sins. One amongst them is politics without principles.
But we expect that at least some chaps in the Barisan Nasional will have some conscience to tell the truth and accept the truth. By constant propaganda they have penalised the Hindraf 5 leaders as terrorists, traitors etc just for seeking justice and telling the truth. Many Indian Malaysians have been highlighting the poor state of affairs of Indians in the country for the last 25 years. That is 10 years after the swirling implementation of the NEP which Malaysians then agreed in principle as necessary to bring up the poor Malays. There would be no grudge about it if it had been justly implemented. Essentially it was to see that Malays are successful in all sectors and that no race is identified or dominated in a particular sector.
But nearly 40 years after the implementation of the NEP two distinct sectors have emerged – the almost all Malay public sector and the predominantly Chinese private sector. The Malays dominate the civil service, police, army, navy and air force from top to bottom and now Rela with its more than 500,000 personnel . The entire GLCs (TNB, TM, Postal, etc ) are Malaynised with all CEOs being Malays. And the entire vice-chancellors of all public universities are Malays. The song Umno politicians sing is ‘non-Malays do not apply for government jobs and neither do they want to join the army or police.’ This is garbage!
It may be true of the Chinese not applying but certainly not of the Indians because they are primarily poor fellows just wanting jobs. They have no capital for doing business like the Chinese. However, there are also many poor Chinese wanting to be in government service for job security reasons. This is where Samy Vellu and Co miserably failed the Indians. He should have put his foot down in the Cabinet (being the sole Indian representative) that all applications for government jobs go through MIC, PPP or Gerakan and to include non-Malays on the interview panel for obvious reasons. Then we will know the actual numbers!!
At the time of Merdeka the Indians ( including the Ceylonese) were about 25 percent in the civil service, army, police etc. To day they are about two percent only. If this is not marginalisation then what is it? The Hindraf leaders have called this ‘ethnic cleansing’. What they really meant was ‘economic ethnic cleansing’ and this resulted in them landing behind bars under the ISA. The irony is MIC and Umno are still telling the world that the Hindraf leaders were lying and speaking nothing but untruth. Truth never lies. People are not fools any more with the internet media available in every home in most parts of the world..So the BN must accept their mistakes and take corrective steps forthwith to earn the people’s respect and confidence. The best response will be to release the Hindraf leaders immediately and unconditionally.
Temple demolitions
Much has been spoken and written about the demolition of ‘illegal’ temples. I agree that makeshift structures along some roads must go. But temples built on estate lands which were originally largely funded by European estate managements for Indian workers cannot be termed illegal because they were within the estates’ jurisdiction. The state authorities when approving land conversion for development should have legalised the existing temples as the Hindus hold them dear to their hearts and it is a very sensitive issue. If we want people to respect the law then we must make the law respectable. It is the duty and responsibility of MIC representative in the state government to ensure that this was done because the BN government is a coalition of all races.
So it is the state government that failed in its duty and illegalised legal estate temples on estate lands.We pray that at least good sense will now prevail for the better and temple demolitions should stop henceforth. Another strange thing has developed now. There are enough Indian NGOs for the Indians here. The Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS) has been doing a good job all these while. Why another Malaysian Hindu Council now?. The unseen hand is playing politics with its divide and rule principle learned from the British. For heaven’s sake be united and let MHS continue to do its job. Don’t dissipate the human resources we have in this minority community.
On Jan 8, the New Straits Times gracefully for the first time published the pictures of the state of Tamil schools. Yes classes are conducted in heat-condition and sultry cabins and store-rooms. The pictures speak a thousand words of neglect and marginalisation of Indians. The Malays too would have seen the pictures. Let them judge for themselves the condition of the Tamil schools in our developed Malaysia.
Can we blame the BN government for this alone or MIC for its ineffectiveness within the BN coalition? Let the people decide when they vote in the next general election. MIC should have only fielded candidates who could deliver. There are many young Indian professionals and graduates who are properly edified and dedicated to do an honest job as MPs and assemblymen.
They would have fought tooth and nail within the BN structure for the good of their community like what Umno is doing for the Malays. But the present leaders are indulged in self-enrichment to the detriment of the poor. The story is the same for Umno and MCA leaders. Therefore let us vote for change or at least reduce the two-third majority in the coming elections. Let there be a strong opposition for proper check and balance to take us in the right direction for nation building of this multi-religious and multi-racial country of ours.
Unemployment rate
The unemployment rate amongst Indians is the highest because they are not normally welcome in the two sectors mentioned above. But to rub salt into their wounds, there are thousands of Indians without proper birth certificates and Mykads. The blame is put on these poor souls who are illiterate. Even if they have some education they do not know how to go about matters with the government departments. So they are without these important documents which are absolutely necessary to prove their identity. They fear the Rela force in their own land!! They can be branded as illegal immigrants in the country of their birth. Now whose duty is it to put things in order. Once the estate administration did this job very well, systematically. Today many of these poor souls are thrown out or still remain without any support system unlike the Penghulu (Headmen) in the Malay Kampong who take care of the needs of their kampong folks besides Umno which is there for them.
This role should have been taken up by the MIC to ensure that every Indian born has a birth certificate and also help the poor illiterates obtain their Mykads. This should have been the topmost priority of MIC as the largest Indian political party in the country. If MIC had given serious thought to this then there will not be thousands of stateless ‘citizens’ of Indian origin today whose ancestors set foot here more than 200 years ago to clear the jungles for rubber and oil-palm plantations and to build roads and railways for the economic development of this country.
The Cabinet should address this issue as this is a national problems.These people may not have been included even in the last census. Hence the Indian population percentage has dropped from more than 10 percent to only eight percent now. Recently we read that the Home Ministry is not extending work permits for priests, classical musicians, sculptors and others which number is only about 5,000 compared to a million illegal immigrants from Indonesia that the Ministry should worry about sending back!
Besides it is a bad political decision to touch on this issue now - so soon after the Hindraf episode that is still simmering in the international arena especially in India. Malaysian politicians must remember that Malaysia can ill-afford to earn the wrath of India and China – the two economic super powers of this century. Can we imagine the magnitude of loss of trade with India and China? Don’t pick on small things and let the country suffer huge losses.
Whichever party that forms the next government must address these pressing issues. If we love God and fear sin, then our conscience will direct us to do the right thing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. R.RAMA CHANDRAN is the former CEO of Koperasi TNB Bhd.
Image : Net
It is amusing to read the news and view Samy Vellu on TV talking on the status of Indians when he was in New Delhi. We know that most politicians do not have principles. Mahatma Gandhiji declared seven sins. One amongst them is politics without principles.
But we expect that at least some chaps in the Barisan Nasional will have some conscience to tell the truth and accept the truth. By constant propaganda they have penalised the Hindraf 5 leaders as terrorists, traitors etc just for seeking justice and telling the truth. Many Indian Malaysians have been highlighting the poor state of affairs of Indians in the country for the last 25 years. That is 10 years after the swirling implementation of the NEP which Malaysians then agreed in principle as necessary to bring up the poor Malays. There would be no grudge about it if it had been justly implemented. Essentially it was to see that Malays are successful in all sectors and that no race is identified or dominated in a particular sector.
But nearly 40 years after the implementation of the NEP two distinct sectors have emerged – the almost all Malay public sector and the predominantly Chinese private sector. The Malays dominate the civil service, police, army, navy and air force from top to bottom and now Rela with its more than 500,000 personnel . The entire GLCs (TNB, TM, Postal, etc ) are Malaynised with all CEOs being Malays. And the entire vice-chancellors of all public universities are Malays. The song Umno politicians sing is ‘non-Malays do not apply for government jobs and neither do they want to join the army or police.’ This is garbage!
It may be true of the Chinese not applying but certainly not of the Indians because they are primarily poor fellows just wanting jobs. They have no capital for doing business like the Chinese. However, there are also many poor Chinese wanting to be in government service for job security reasons. This is where Samy Vellu and Co miserably failed the Indians. He should have put his foot down in the Cabinet (being the sole Indian representative) that all applications for government jobs go through MIC, PPP or Gerakan and to include non-Malays on the interview panel for obvious reasons. Then we will know the actual numbers!!
At the time of Merdeka the Indians ( including the Ceylonese) were about 25 percent in the civil service, army, police etc. To day they are about two percent only. If this is not marginalisation then what is it? The Hindraf leaders have called this ‘ethnic cleansing’. What they really meant was ‘economic ethnic cleansing’ and this resulted in them landing behind bars under the ISA. The irony is MIC and Umno are still telling the world that the Hindraf leaders were lying and speaking nothing but untruth. Truth never lies. People are not fools any more with the internet media available in every home in most parts of the world..So the BN must accept their mistakes and take corrective steps forthwith to earn the people’s respect and confidence. The best response will be to release the Hindraf leaders immediately and unconditionally.
Temple demolitions
Much has been spoken and written about the demolition of ‘illegal’ temples. I agree that makeshift structures along some roads must go. But temples built on estate lands which were originally largely funded by European estate managements for Indian workers cannot be termed illegal because they were within the estates’ jurisdiction. The state authorities when approving land conversion for development should have legalised the existing temples as the Hindus hold them dear to their hearts and it is a very sensitive issue. If we want people to respect the law then we must make the law respectable. It is the duty and responsibility of MIC representative in the state government to ensure that this was done because the BN government is a coalition of all races.
So it is the state government that failed in its duty and illegalised legal estate temples on estate lands.We pray that at least good sense will now prevail for the better and temple demolitions should stop henceforth. Another strange thing has developed now. There are enough Indian NGOs for the Indians here. The Malaysian Hindu Sangam (MHS) has been doing a good job all these while. Why another Malaysian Hindu Council now?. The unseen hand is playing politics with its divide and rule principle learned from the British. For heaven’s sake be united and let MHS continue to do its job. Don’t dissipate the human resources we have in this minority community.
On Jan 8, the New Straits Times gracefully for the first time published the pictures of the state of Tamil schools. Yes classes are conducted in heat-condition and sultry cabins and store-rooms. The pictures speak a thousand words of neglect and marginalisation of Indians. The Malays too would have seen the pictures. Let them judge for themselves the condition of the Tamil schools in our developed Malaysia.
Can we blame the BN government for this alone or MIC for its ineffectiveness within the BN coalition? Let the people decide when they vote in the next general election. MIC should have only fielded candidates who could deliver. There are many young Indian professionals and graduates who are properly edified and dedicated to do an honest job as MPs and assemblymen.
They would have fought tooth and nail within the BN structure for the good of their community like what Umno is doing for the Malays. But the present leaders are indulged in self-enrichment to the detriment of the poor. The story is the same for Umno and MCA leaders. Therefore let us vote for change or at least reduce the two-third majority in the coming elections. Let there be a strong opposition for proper check and balance to take us in the right direction for nation building of this multi-religious and multi-racial country of ours.
Unemployment rate
The unemployment rate amongst Indians is the highest because they are not normally welcome in the two sectors mentioned above. But to rub salt into their wounds, there are thousands of Indians without proper birth certificates and Mykads. The blame is put on these poor souls who are illiterate. Even if they have some education they do not know how to go about matters with the government departments. So they are without these important documents which are absolutely necessary to prove their identity. They fear the Rela force in their own land!! They can be branded as illegal immigrants in the country of their birth. Now whose duty is it to put things in order. Once the estate administration did this job very well, systematically. Today many of these poor souls are thrown out or still remain without any support system unlike the Penghulu (Headmen) in the Malay Kampong who take care of the needs of their kampong folks besides Umno which is there for them.
This role should have been taken up by the MIC to ensure that every Indian born has a birth certificate and also help the poor illiterates obtain their Mykads. This should have been the topmost priority of MIC as the largest Indian political party in the country. If MIC had given serious thought to this then there will not be thousands of stateless ‘citizens’ of Indian origin today whose ancestors set foot here more than 200 years ago to clear the jungles for rubber and oil-palm plantations and to build roads and railways for the economic development of this country.
The Cabinet should address this issue as this is a national problems.These people may not have been included even in the last census. Hence the Indian population percentage has dropped from more than 10 percent to only eight percent now. Recently we read that the Home Ministry is not extending work permits for priests, classical musicians, sculptors and others which number is only about 5,000 compared to a million illegal immigrants from Indonesia that the Ministry should worry about sending back!
Besides it is a bad political decision to touch on this issue now - so soon after the Hindraf episode that is still simmering in the international arena especially in India. Malaysian politicians must remember that Malaysia can ill-afford to earn the wrath of India and China – the two economic super powers of this century. Can we imagine the magnitude of loss of trade with India and China? Don’t pick on small things and let the country suffer huge losses.
Whichever party that forms the next government must address these pressing issues. If we love God and fear sin, then our conscience will direct us to do the right thing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. R.RAMA CHANDRAN is the former CEO of Koperasi TNB Bhd.
Big turnout of devotees...enna vilathu ithu - we all know about the turnout...!!!
Source : The Star
Image : Net
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sri Bala Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Port Klang saw the largest-ever crowd in its 160-year history with thousands of people gathering to observe Thaipusam.
An estimated 100,000 people converged at the temple over the past two days. Twenty thousand devotees, including those carrying paal kudam (milk pot) and kavadi, were at the temple on Tuesday night.
A large crowd again turned up yesterday morning to offer prayers.
Temple chairman R.S. Maniam said the temple in Jalan Limbongan usually received just 1,000 paal kudam bearers making their 3km journey from the Harikrishna Alayar Temple in Jalan Tengku Badar.
“This has never happened before but we are happy to see such a large congregation and we are discussing ways to make it more festive if the trend continues next year,” he said when met at the temple yesterday.
At Batu Tiga, Selangor, the Murugan Temple also saw an unexpectedly larger crowd yesterday. According to temple committee member Indra Veerapan, the crowd was double that of the previous year.
“Last year we had about 1,500 people while this year, more than 5,000 showed up,” she said.
The large number of people at these temples did not cause a fall in the numbers at Batu Caves, according to MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
Speaking to the press at Batu Caves, he said the numbers there were the same as in previous years.
He said more than a million people turned up yesterday but they came at different times. About 950,000 turned up the night before.
Devotees who went to Batu Caves yearly said the crowd this year was smaller than in previous years. They said people were streaming freely through the gates of the Batu Caves temple when in the past, they virtually could not move because of the crowd. Traders also said there was less business this year.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithylingam said he received word from members that the turnout was lower this year.
“Although I did not go, I received a lot of calls from members of the sangam and people who went to Batu Caves and they said the turnout was smaller,” he said.
In Penang, George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid said the Thaipusam crowd over the last two days were more or less the same as last year’s.
“More than 80,000 devotees are in Penang. The morning and afternoon crowd were about the same as those in previous years,” he said.
It was earlier reported that more devotees were expected to converge on the island from Tuesday because of the call to boycott the celebrations at Batu Caves.
YennaMike Says : Looking at the pictures sent by other bloggers such as Doi-Moi, Unitedmyindians and Makkez...eeemmm the crowd seems to be far less than previous years, taking into account that KL and Putrajaya had it's first Thaipusam Public Holiday yesterday...earlier reports says the Shop keepers are not making a lot due to the turn out - but Uncle Sam still thinks the crowd is same as previous years...now who is lying The Poor Shop Owner or The Rich Politician...enna vilathu ithu...!!!
Image : Net
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sri Bala Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Port Klang saw the largest-ever crowd in its 160-year history with thousands of people gathering to observe Thaipusam.
An estimated 100,000 people converged at the temple over the past two days. Twenty thousand devotees, including those carrying paal kudam (milk pot) and kavadi, were at the temple on Tuesday night.
A large crowd again turned up yesterday morning to offer prayers.
Temple chairman R.S. Maniam said the temple in Jalan Limbongan usually received just 1,000 paal kudam bearers making their 3km journey from the Harikrishna Alayar Temple in Jalan Tengku Badar.
“This has never happened before but we are happy to see such a large congregation and we are discussing ways to make it more festive if the trend continues next year,” he said when met at the temple yesterday.
At Batu Tiga, Selangor, the Murugan Temple also saw an unexpectedly larger crowd yesterday. According to temple committee member Indra Veerapan, the crowd was double that of the previous year.
“Last year we had about 1,500 people while this year, more than 5,000 showed up,” she said.
The large number of people at these temples did not cause a fall in the numbers at Batu Caves, according to MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
Speaking to the press at Batu Caves, he said the numbers there were the same as in previous years.
He said more than a million people turned up yesterday but they came at different times. About 950,000 turned up the night before.
Devotees who went to Batu Caves yearly said the crowd this year was smaller than in previous years. They said people were streaming freely through the gates of the Batu Caves temple when in the past, they virtually could not move because of the crowd. Traders also said there was less business this year.
Malaysian Hindu Sangam president Datuk A. Vaithylingam said he received word from members that the turnout was lower this year.
“Although I did not go, I received a lot of calls from members of the sangam and people who went to Batu Caves and they said the turnout was smaller,” he said.
In Penang, George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid said the Thaipusam crowd over the last two days were more or less the same as last year’s.
“More than 80,000 devotees are in Penang. The morning and afternoon crowd were about the same as those in previous years,” he said.
It was earlier reported that more devotees were expected to converge on the island from Tuesday because of the call to boycott the celebrations at Batu Caves.
YennaMike Says : Looking at the pictures sent by other bloggers such as Doi-Moi, Unitedmyindians and Makkez...eeemmm the crowd seems to be far less than previous years, taking into account that KL and Putrajaya had it's first Thaipusam Public Holiday yesterday...earlier reports says the Shop keepers are not making a lot due to the turn out - but Uncle Sam still thinks the crowd is same as previous years...now who is lying The Poor Shop Owner or The Rich Politician...enna vilathu ithu...!!!
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