Sunday, March 28, 2010
MCA polls: Soi Lek is new president, Liow wins No.2 post
NGOs, MIC want to know why Hindu Endowment Board chairman changed
NGOs, MIC want to know why Hindu Endowment Board chairman changed
By K. KASTURI
GEORGE TOWN: Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and state MIC representatives are demanding to know why there was a sudden change in the Hindu Endowment Board’s chairmanship.
Penang MIC political bureau vice-chairman N. Ahilan said it was reported that former board chairman A. Tanasekharan, who had served as chairman for the last two years, was removed and would now serve as vice-chairman.
Deputy Chief Minister (II) Dr P. Ramasamy will take over as the board’s chairman effective April 1.
“The local Indian community, especially the NGOs, demand to know why there was a sudden change and also the reason surrounding the need for the change.
“There are a lot of talks and rumours going around within the community and it is only fair that the Indian community here is told certain things such as who made the decision to change the chairman.
“The present state government emphasises transparency but why was the information kept from the public, especially the Indian community?” he said just before members of several NGOs staged a peaceful protest in Bandar Baru Air Itam on Sunday.
Ahilan was commenting on a recent call made for religious-based NGOs to be given the main task of running the board.
Former Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Waterfall Hilltop Temple committee member M. Gunasegaran, who is also Jalan Udini MIC chairman, said under the previous administration, there was only one politician sitting on the board but now there were five.
“Previously when Barisan Nasional was ruling the state, they questioned why there was a politician sitting on the board but now that they are in power, there are five of them.
“It appears the current state government has converted the board into a political institution,” he said.
Bukit Gelugor Indian Welfare Association chairman K.S. Madhu said the Indian community was not happy with Dr Ramasamy’s appointment as the community needed someone who could devote more time to manage the board’s affairs.
“He is already holding too many positions. Can he devote more time to manage the affairs of the board?
“They should open it up to allow NGOs to run the board as they will have more time to focus on the board’s affairs,” he said.
Dr Ramasamy had said that the call to have NGOs run the board had come up in the past but the board does not need specialised religious bodies to run it as long as it is managed rationally and objectively.
THE STAR
Don’t jump the gun in Hulu Selangor, says EC
SHAH ALAM: Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof has warned political parties not to put up posters, flags or make political speeches until the nomination and polling dates are announced for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat.
“A date for the by-election campaign will be officially be made known and the do’s and dont’s would also be made public on Friday (April 2).
“We want all political parties involved to adhere to the regulations as to avoid problems cropping up in the by-election,” he said.
Earlier Aziz, who officiated at the Ikhtisas Federation and Selangor Bumiputra Entrepreneurs 24th annual general meeting at Kelab Shah Alam, added it was up to the local authorities and the police to take action against those who jumped the gun by putting up banners or by giving political speeches.
The Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of PKR MP Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad on Thursday night. The seat had been MIC’s stronghold until its deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel lost by a slim 198-vote majority in 2008.
This will be the 10th by-election since the March 2008 general election.
THE STAR
BN yakin mampu rampas semula parlimen Hulu S'gor
BN yakin mampu rampas semula parlimen Hulu S'gor
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Abdul Rahim Sabri
Mac 27, 10
1:54am
BN yakin mempunyai peluang untuk merampas semula kerusi parlimen Hulu Selangor dalam pilihan raya kecil yang akan diadakan ekoran kematian penyandangnya dari PKR semalam.
Pengerusi BN, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata ini kerana Pakatan Rakyat memenangi kerusi tersebut dalam pilihan umum lalu dengan majoriti tipis.
Di samping itu, katanya, kecuali kerusi parlimen tersebut, kesemua tiga DUN dalam kawasan pilihan raya tersebut dimenangi oleh BN.
Ketiga-tiga DUN tersebut ialah Kuala Kubu Bharu (MCA), Batang Kali (Umno) dan Hulu Bernam (Umno).
"Kita percaya suasana dan senario telah berubah, BN ada peluang untuk menang kali ini," kata Najib selepas mempengerusi mesyuarat Majlis Tertinggi (MT) Umno malam tadi.
"Bagaimanapun, kita mesti memberi tumpuan dan menunjukkan kesungguhan untuk kita bekerja keras untuk mencapai kejayaan," tambah perdana menteri.
Dalam pilihan raya umum 2008, calon BN, Datuk G Palanivel tewas kepada kepada calon PKR, Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad yang meninggal dunia semalam akibat barah otak.
Berikutan itu, Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) akan memanggil pilihan raya kecil bagi kawasan tersebut dalam tempoh 60 hari. SPR pula akan bermesyuarat Jumaat depan untuk memutuskan tarikhnya.
Walaupun ia merupakan kerusi majoriti Melayu, tetapi ianya diperuntukkan kepada MIC. Palanivel menang pada 1999 dan 2004, tetapi tewas kepada Zainal Abidin pada 2008.
Zainal Abidin mendapat 23,177 undi untuk menang tipis dengan 198 undi. Palanivel pula mendapat 22,979 undi.
Menurut Najib yang juga presiden Umno, jentera pilihan raya akan digerakan di bawah timbalan presiden Umno, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin sebagai ketua keseluruhannya.
Manakala Datuk Noh Omar dilantik sebagai pengarah pilihan raya kecil tersebut dan ketua Umno bahagian berkenaan, Datuk Mohamed Idris Bakar sebagai timbalannya.
Ditanya mengenai MIC yang mahu terus meletakkan calonnya di situ, Najib berkata, perkara itu akan dibincangkan dengan Presiden MIC, Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu terlebih dahulu.
Semalam, Samy Vellu berkata MIC akan mencadangkan Palanivel yang juga timbalan presiden parti itu sebagai calon BN dalam pilihan raya kecil Parlimen Hulu Selangor.
Ditanya mengenai gesaan akar umbi yang mahukan Umno meletakkan calonnya di situ, Najib menjawab: "Nanti dulu... janganlah... sabar."
Ini merupakan pilihan raya kecil kesepuluh selepas pilihan raya umum 2008 dengan Pakatan memenangi tujuh daripadanya dan BN pula menang dua kerusi.
Sementara itu, perdana menteri berkata, mesyuarat MT malam tadi juga turut menyentuhkan tentang langkah kerajaan Kelantan melantik ahli parlimen Gua Musang, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah sebagai perunding mewakili kerajaan negeri dalam isu tuntutan royalti minyak.
Najib berkata itulah adalah keputusan kerajaan negeri Kelantan untuk melantik Tengku Razaleigh.
"Wang ehsan atau sumbangan kita buat mengikut perlembagaan. Apapun ia adalah untuk kebaikan rakyat Kelantan," katanya.
Semalam, Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Perancangan Ekonomi, Kewangan dan Kebajikan negeri, Datuk Husam Musa dilaporkan berkata, mesyuarat mingguan exco negeri itu membuat ketetapan tersebut dan surat pelantikan akan dihantar segera.
Husam berpendapat, pelantikan tersebut adalah satu penghormatan buat Tengku Razaleigh berdasarkan kedudukannya sebagai bekas Pengerusi Petronas dan menjadi orang yang merangka Akta Petroleum 1974.
Selain itu, kata perdana menteri, mesyuarat MT malam tadi juga turut membincangkan tentang ekonomi dan juga langkah pemulihan ekonomi yang dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan.
Katanya, mesyuarat itu juga mendengar pandangan ahli MT mengenai model ekonomi baru yang akan dibentangkan oleh kerajaan, agar ia mencapai objektifnya, untuk mentransformasi ekonomi menjadi sebuah negara maju dan meningkatkan pendapatan yang lebih tinggi.
Sementara itu Najib mengesahkan bahawa Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Anifah Aman kini semakin pulih selepas menjalani pembedahan pintasan jantung minggu lepas dan akan menyambung tugasnya seperti biasa apabila pulih kelak.
Mesyuarat tersebut turut mengadakan upacara mengangkat sumpah anggota T yang baru, Datuk Hamidah Osman yang mewakili pergerakan Wanita Umno.
Najib berkata pelantikan ketua penerangan Wanita yang juga ahli exco kanan kerajaan Perak itu adalah berdasarkan perlembagaan parti yang baru.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
MIC Ready to Submit 10th Plan Proposals
The MIC has finalized its recommendations for the inclusion and participation of the Indian community in the 10th Malaysia Plan. Party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the recommendations, draf-ted with the cooperation of 75 Indian-based non-governmental organisations and Universiti Malaya?s Ethnic Studies Department, would be submitted to Minister in the Prime Minister?s Department Tan Sri Mohd Nor Yakcop in Putrajaya on Friday. ?The recommendations include an emphasis on setting up pre-school classes and upgrading standards and infrastructure in Tamil schools. ?We are also seeking special initiatives for Indians in education, economy, training, housing, employment and women?s affairs,? Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu told reporters after chairing the party?s Central Working Committee meeting here yesterday, He said the Government had recently approved a RM160mil allocation for the refurbishment of Tamil schools but more funds were needed to upgrade another 200 Tamil schools. | |
| Source | : MIC HQ |
| Date | : 23 March 2010, 11:23 AM |
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
MIC ready to submit 10MP proposals
MIC ready to submit 10MP proposals
By A. LETCHUMANAN
KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has finalised its recommendations for the inclusion and participation of the Indian community in the 10th Malaysia Plan.
Party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the recommendations, drafted with the cooperation of 75 Indian-based non-governmental organisations and Universiti Malaya’s Ethnic Studies Department, would be submitted to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Mohd Nor Yakcop in Putrajaya on Friday.
“The recommendations include an emphasis on setting up pre-school classes and upgrading standards and infrastructure in Tamil schools.
“We also seek special initiatives for Indians in education, economy, training, housing, employment and women’s affairs,” Samy Vellu told reporters after chairing the party’s Central Working Committee meeting here Monday.
He said the Government had recently approved a RM160mil allocation for the refurbishment of Tamil schools but more funds were needed to upgrade another 200 Tamil schools.
Monday, March 22, 2010
MIC Not Against BN Proposal To Allow Direct Membership –Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu
KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC is not against the Barisan Nasional (BN) proposal to allow membership for friendly individuals, political parties and non-governmental organisations. Rather, party president Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu said, the party would assist and support Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to strengthen the coalition. "The proposal to have direct membership will be discussed thoroughly by all component parties, in the spirit of mutual understanding and brotherhood," he said on Tuesday. He was asked to comment on a news report today, quoting political observers as saying the MIC would resist the proposal as the party would lose its 'monopoly' at the BN supreme council when Indian issues were involved -- in the event other Indian-based political parties were allowed in. Last Friday, Najib announced that the BN would amend its constitution to admit BN-friendly individuals, political parties and non-governmental organisations. Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu said the question of rejecting the proposal "never existed" and the party would continue to support any proposal to strengthen the BN. "The prime minister wants to bring in people who support the BN. He is trying to rebuild the BN and we (MIC) will give our support," he said, adding that the party had also undertaken several efforts to rebuild and strengthen the BN. Samy Vellu said the MIC would discuss the proposal "behind close doors" and would participate actively in the discussion "when the time comes". "The MIC's official stand with regards to the direct membership proposal is that we did not reject it at any point of time. I want this to be clearly understood by all quarters," he added.
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| Source | : MIC HQ |
| Date | : 23 February 2010, 04:34 PM |
Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu To Consult MIC Members On BN Open Membership Proposal
KUALA LUMPUR: MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu on Sunday maintained that the party was not against the Barisan Nasional's (BN) proposed open membership system but stressed that he would still have to gauge the feelings of party members on the proposal. He said the MIC, being the third largest BN component party, did not object to the proposal mooted by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the BN Supreme Council meeting on Feb 19. "The prime minister wants to further strengthen the BN, and we will back him in his efforts. However, we have to know what our members feel and think about the proposal," he told reporters before handing out diplomas to the party's TAFE College students here today. Najib proposed the move to allow individuals and non-governmental organisations friendly to the BN to be part of the BN in a move to strengthen the coalition, especially to face the next general election. Samy Vellu said a sub-committee headed by him would be formed to study the proposal. "The matter will also be discussed at the MIC Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting so that we can get a collective view on the matter. There may be differences in opinion and we have to come to a consensus," he said. He said the party's views and recommendations would then be submitted to a committee formed by the BN Supreme Council and headed by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to study the proposal. "This proposal has to be deliberated and studied carefully by the respective component parties. The important thing is to get the feedback of their (respective) members. This is what we will do," he said. Samy Vellu said the implementation of the proposal could not be rushed as time was needed to gauge the feelings of the members of the component parties. The MIC chief said the party acknowledged the role of the NGOs, especially in mobilising the people's support for the BN. "The MIC is already working closely with several NGOs and we have also formed consultative councils involving the MIC and NGOs in many states like in Perak and Johor," he said. Samy Vellu said the MIC had also roped in the NGOs to discuss and make their recommendations on several issues affecting the Indian community such as the 10th Malaysia Plan. On another matter, Samy Vellu urged school drop-outs and unemployed Indian youths to enlist with the various government-run skills training centres as some of the institutes have relaxed their entry requirements. He said the MIC, with the cooperation of NGOs, would initiate more campaigns and publicity drives to recruit Indian youths to register with the institutes.
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| Source | : MIC HQ |
| Date | : 01 March 2010, 09:17 AM |
Sunday, March 21, 2010
மாஇகா ஷா ஆலாம் தொகுதி 16வது மாநாடு
Opening Speech by Dato'G.Palanivel
(National MIC Deputy President & Selangor MIC Chief)
MIC Shah Alam division 16th AGM
Registration for Delegates
Grand stage of VIP