Palanivel sees 'blue wave'

KUALA LUMPUR: The prime minister's assurance a few days ago that problems affecting Malaysian Indians would be addressed is music to the ears of Indian voters, said MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's pledge would also ensure the community's continued support for the ruling coalition, contrary to the opposition's belief that there would be a swing in Indian votes this general election.

"The prime minister's assurance shows his sincerity in wanting to help the (Indian) community. But it does not mean that the MIC has done nothing.

"There is only so much we can do."

Palanivel said the recent announcement by Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein that the ministry would set up a special fund to help 85,000 Indian children in estates had also gone down well with the community.
On another note, Palanivel, who is contesting the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat, said he was happy with the "blue wave sweeping through the constituency".

"As for Hulu Selangor, I have held negotiations with UMW Bhd, the owners of Serendah estate (in Hulu Selangor), and they have agreed that a Tamil school be built on their land. Once ready, parents need not send their children to Rawang.

"(Selangor) Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has also allocated a plot of land for the relocation of the Ladang Escort Tamil school."

Palanivel, who is the deputy minister in the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, also said the government would construct a dedicated goods train track linking Serendah and Port Klang, which would spur industrial and housing development in Serendah, Bukit Beruntung, Bukit Sentosa and Taman Bunga Raya in Hulu Selangor.

Asked on the support for BN in the parliamentary constituency, he said the Malay, Chinese and Indians were backing BN fully.

"Our ceramah are popular. I know the support will be translated into votes for BN."

Palanivel will face Parti Keadilan Rakyat's Zainal Abidin Ahmad.

Hulu Selangor has some 58,000 voters. In 2004, Palanivel beat Ismail Kamus of Pas by 14,483 votes.

I'll do this until I stop breathing-Dato Seri

HE has been jeered at, threatened with stones, had his car blocked and even had to cancel rallies for security reasons.

Datuk Seri Samy Vellu took time out from campaigning to have coffee with The New Paper reporter.

But in his backyard of Sungei Siput, where he has been Member of Parliament since 1974, Datuk Seri Samy Vellu is still king.

His posters are all over town, and he is greeted like royalty wherever he goes, by all accounts.

So it came as a surprise to this reporter, while chasing for an interview with DatukSamy Vellu at a coffee shop in his stronghold, that a man came up unannounced to vent his feelings against the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) leader.

Noticing my notebook and camera, Mr S Ponnudurai, 45, approached my table and asked if I was a reporter.

And once he heard that I was, the venting began.

'Last time, (I gave) 100 per cent support to Barisan Nasional (in which the MIC is a coalition party). Now, I am upset with the petrol price increases and demolished temples,' said the father of four.

The businessman went on to pledge his support for recent protests by the Hindu Action Rights Force (Hindraf), and started complaining about the lack of educational opportunities and amenities for Indians.

Just then, another coffee shop patron, an Indian man who had probably overheard the rather loud conversation, started shouting: 'The Minister has done a lot for the community, he has!'

Wanting to be fair, I asked the stranger if he could cite some examples. But the unidentified man, clearly upset with Mr Ponnudurai's comments, went back to eating his roti canai (roti prata) without acknowledging my questions.

Nothing further was said by either party, and the palpable anger in the room diffused.

In his Sungai Siput stronghold, the Malaysian Works Minister remains as popular as ever. He is greeted by members of the community with enthusiasm when he makes his rounds.

A few hours later, in an exclusive interview with Datuk Samy Vellu, I asked him about the obvious tension in the Indian community, but not before being reminded of life's priorities.

'Drink the coffee first, then we talk. It won't be nice if it gets cold,' he said, after buying me coffee and kaya toast at his favourite eatery, Kedai Teratai.

Once that was done, he was prepared to get down to business.

So, Datuk Samy Vellu, how do you answer your critics like Mr Ponnudurai? Is the Indian community in trouble?

'I don't think it (the Indian community) is backward (by) 50 years. There is 30 per cent poverty faced by the Malays and Indians, and the Chinese population is at 12 per cent.

'But if you compare with the Chinese community, they are self-motivated and hardworking. The Indians are hardworking too, but somebody has to guide them.'

The Malays are getting guidance from the government, he said.

But why are the Indians so far behind in economic terms?

Hindraf and Malaysian opposition politicians have painted a very negative picture of the status of Indians in Malaysia, pointing out that they own less than 2 per cent of the economy, despite forming 8 per cent of the population.

But Datuk Samy Vellu, who is also Works Minister, believes that such statistics are working against the psyche of the average Malaysian Indian.

'If you tell a man he is having cancer, you really kill him, because psychologically, he feels he hasn't got much of a chance,' he said.

He added that his opponents have been throwing 'bombs' at people, telling them that they are 'sick' and cannot achieve anything.

On Sunday, in a heated press conference, the MIC leader had released his own statistics, showing what the BN government had done for the Indian community.

He said almost RM100 million ($43.5m) had been allocated to rebuild Tamil schools, as well as RM1m annually for the building of temples. He also cited examples of how Indian youths are getting many opportunities in institutes of higher education in Malaysia.

Calling the Malaysian opposition 'the greatest liars', he challenged them to produce their own solutions to help Indians find better jobs and improve their lot.

Why did he react so angrily?

'I feel very sad when someone insists that they are a beggar.

'I have, all the while, represented the community. I have fought so many battles in the cabinet,' he said, forcefully.

Then, in a rather frank appraisal of the task he faces, he admitted: 'Sometimes I say I don't agree with it (government decisions), I don't like it, and it's not the way to do it.'

He trailed off at this point, without elaborating on the battles he faces in Cabinet.

But it is clear that he is frustrated at being singled out as the man responsible for the problems facing the Indians in Malaysia.

Nevertheless, he puts on a brave face.

'I'm not affected by it (the accusations), but I feel sad for them (my opponents). They have done something without any solutions for it.'

But could all the anger he has seen in the past few months be the reason he has declared this as his last election campaign?

Datuk Samy Vellu looked away as if to reflect for a moment before answering: 'I want to make the last round. I think all my heart and hard work (goes) to the people.'

But he stressed that he wants to continue doing social work once his tenure as a politician ends, apart from going back to becoming a practising architect.

'All this will keep me going until I stop breathing.'

As if on cue, he then took a final gulp of coffee, before being ushered out to his next function at Kamuning Village.

Om Shakti Part 25 New Generation In MIC

ELECTION 2008: Chandra breaks silence on Anwar

(from left)Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

PETALING JAYA: "If Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim becomes the prime minister, it will be an unmitigated disaster for Malaysia."

That was the unhesitating reply of former Parti Keadilan Nasional deputy president Prof Dr Chandra Muzaffar who broke his silence on his years as Anwar's trusted lieutenant when asked a question on the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat's de facto leader at a forum here yesterday.

Asked why he was breaking his silence now, Chandra said it appeared that people were being deceived by Anwar.

"It is something for which I am prepared to go on record now so that people will not be deceived," he said.

Chandra, an academician who founded the reform movement Aliran and has also previously been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA), was among many professionals and intellectuals who formed Keadilan because they were enraged with Anwar's sacking as deputy prime minister, his beating at the hands of then Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Rahim Noor and his subsequent charge for sodomy.
He was deputy president to Anwar's wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail from April 1999 until he quit over differences with the party in December 2005. He contested the 1999 general election as a Keadilan candidate but lost.

Since then, Chandra has refused to publicly state his reasons for leaving the party nor voice his differences with Anwar.

Yesterday, Chandra said that while Anwar was an engaging orator, he was now "speaking differently" from when he was in government.

Chandra said many non-Malays in the country were being gulled by Anwar's multi-ethnic stand.

"Today he is taking a totally different image and it is sad that quite a lot of non-Malays believe in this man. He is saying today that he wants to abolish the NEP (New Economic Policy) and that is music to their ears.

"We are so communal that we cannot evaluate a person objectively," said Chandra, who was one of five speakers at The Star-Asian Centre for Media Studies Public Forum on the 2008 general election held at Menara Star yesterday.

Chandra said when Anwar was education minister he had forced a change in the nomenclature from Bahasa Malaysia to Bahasa Melayu, which set back national integration.

"Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted the use of Bahasa Malaysia to bring all the communities together and he (Anwar) forced Bahasa Melayu upon the school system," he said.

The government reverted to use of the term Bahasa Malaysia last year.

"Anwar (when he was Education Minister) was also responsible for appointing non-Chinese administrators in Chinese schools, which led to a political crisis in 1987," Chandra said.

He said many people did not remember the role Anwar played in resolving the Kampung Jawa clash between the Hindus and Indian Muslims in Penang.

"He said he would make sure the temple bells would not ring in the country anymore if his dictum was not accepted," Chandra said.

Speaking about the future of Malaysia, Chandra said the most important quality of a leader in a multi-ethnic country was honesty and consistency.

"When a leader speaks on sensitive ethnic issues he must say the same thing to the non-Malays as he does to Malay audiences. You cannot play games because it is very dangerous," he said.

Chandra also said that although the Barisan Nasional was flawed, there was no other viable coalition in the country.

He recalled his "bitter experience" trying to form an opposition alliance called the Barisan Alternative comprising Pas, the DAP, Parti Keadilan and Parti Rakyat Malaysia, whereby his task was to form a Just Malaysia manifesto for the 1999 election.

"The BA did very well and it was one of the best performances by the opposition but after the election Pas decided to pursue an ultraconservative Islam in Terengganu and this made it difficult for us.

"The DAP emphasised an aggressive type of secularism which does not understand the role of religion in the country. A deep chasm developed and the opposition could not hold a middle ground and I don't think they can for many, many years," Chandra said.

Nalla: Anwar only cares for himself

KUALA LUMPUR: He was Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s “closest friend” for almost 30 years and was better known as Anwar’s “tennis partner” when the former deputy prime minister made headlines in 1998.

He even “went to jail for a year for Anwar”, stood by his friend after that and gave in to Anwar’s wishes for him to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat in 2006.

"His goal is to be Prime Minister, and he will do anything to make this happen" -DATUK K.S. NALLAKARUPPAN

But now, Datuk K.S. Nallakaruppan is going around campaigning for the Barisan Nasional telling the people that they should not be blinded by Anwar like he was.

“I thought he was a friend but he was a ‘friendly-user’. No one knows him as well as I do. I can say that he only cares about his own interests.

“His goal is to be Prime Minister, and he will do anything to make this happen,” said the former Magnum Corporation Bhd executive director, who added that he “wanted to save a friend”, only to be betrayed.

“I don’t hold a personal grudge against him. I just don’t want him to destroy our nation,” he added.

Nallakaruppan, 61, was charged with unlawful possession of live ammunition, which carried a death sentence, when police found live bullets in his home in the course of investigations into the book 50 Dalil Mengapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi PM in 1998.

The charge was amended and he pleaded guilty, but was acquitted and released on appeal in August 1999.

“I sacrificed my wife and two young children. Anwar’s wife did not even visit them when I was in jail. My lawyer asked him to help me and he said there was nothing he could do.

“Still, I believed in him,” said Nallakaruppan who returned from Australia when Anwar and wife PKR president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail urged him to join PKR in 2006 to take care of Indian affairs and recruit Indian members.

He said Anwar had suggested he contest the 2007 Ijok by-election but “quietly told Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (who became the PKR candidate) to set up his operations centre.”

He quit PKR after Anwar told him to withdraw from the contest for the party’s vice-presidency so that Azmin Ali could take up the post.

“He told me the next time he would field an Indian in Ijok but he has retained Khalid. I left PKR because I knew I couldn’t serve the Indian interest,” said Nallakaruppan who launched the Malaysian Indian United Party last November.

He said that when Anwar was still in power, he had told a crowd that he would “make sure the temple bells never rang again” following the Muslim- Hindu clash in Penang.

“I confronted him over his remark and he said I shouldn’t ask him anything,” he said.

Nallakaruppan said Anwar had not declared his support for the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) but now used Hindraf to gain Indian votes.

“If he declares support for Hindraf he will lose the Malay votes. He does not care for the Indians,” he said.

Future Of The Indian Community:Outside the Bn or Within the Bn?

I truly believe in the concept of sharing power and power sharing. I believe in the concept of a multiracial Malaysia. I believe that we should live in a harmonious way. I believe we should have a spirit of give and take and above all, to be fair to all communities in the country.
There are many positive developments and progress in the Indian community. Since Independence we can see that the Indian community has indeed progressed. But if there arelegitimate needs we have to address and do something about them. There are aspirations and legitimate grievances of other communities in the country as well.

Something More for Indians

I want to tell you on behalf of the PM and BN, that we are going to do something more for the Indian community. I am not saying this because of the 12th general elections. I do not want the BN government to be judged by false promises. We also know that in four or five years time we will face the 13th general election.
So, if we make false promises, if we only say in term of political rhetorics or I am saying this because I am talking to 3,000 MIC delegates, I am sure at the 13th general election BN’s credibility will be seriously affected. I am saying this because there is sincere commitment on the part of the present BN leadership to improve the conditions of Malaysian Indians.
How do we go about it? What can we do? What are the policies? What are the programmes? What are the mechanisms? These are the matters that we can discuss in the cabinet.

Dato Seri Samy Vellu & Cabinet role
I can tell you that even though, Dato Seri Samy Vellu is the only Indian representative in Cabinet, he is equivalent to several ministers. I cannot divulge the proceedings of our cabinet but I can tell you that in terms of the time he takes in cabinet, it is disproportionately more compared to others.
So, if people accuse Dato Seri Samy vellu of not fighting for the Indian community, I will be the first to deny, because he has fought for Indians. He has fought hard for the Indian community. He has spoken with full passion for the Indian community. He is very colourful in his presentation. And he does that because he is the leader of MIC and of the Indian community.
I have noted some of the major issues highlighted by Dato Seri Samy Vellu in his opening address.

Indian Future

Therefore, the Indian community has to ask itself, where does the future of the Indian community lie? Is it outside the BN or within BN?
.Will your future be better if you work within the system or work against the system? If you work outside the system, it means you work against the system, you are against the government.
The Indian community’s future lies within BN. So work within the system. We cannot have a great Malaysia or a developed Malaysia by 2020 if the Indian community is marginalised. We cannot be a developed nation if any community is marginalised for that matter. So, it is important for us to send the signal to the Indian community that their future lies with BN. We value the role of MIC. MIC and the Indian community at large have always supported BN. UMNO owes it to you. Make sure MIC continues to be relevant and have the support of the Indian community.
Let me assure you if there are legitimate and relevant issues of the Indian community, genuine issues, both the PM and I are ever willing to consider those requests of the Indian community.

BC & Indian Kids
Recently in cabinet we discovered that there are Indian kids born in the estates who do not have birth certificates. And we decided that if there are cases of children born in the estates without a birth certificate and if they can get the certification from the penghulu or ketua kampung then they are entitled to enrol in our schools.
There cannot be any kid, any child in this country denied of access to education, even if they do not have BC but they are born in Malaysia. Then they must have access to education. We have instructed the Ministry of Education to ensure this happens.

Education - Tamil Schools
I have other ideas that I have to discuss with Dato Seri Samy Vellu and the Minister of Education on how we can help meet the educational needs of the Indian community Tamil schools have to beconsolidated and need to be strengthened. We should review access to premier schools, in order to increase the Indian intake.
These are the things that we can do within the system. These are the things that cannot be obtained if people continue to demonstrate, and shout outside. Demonstration on the street is not the way we solve our problems in Malaysia.

Civil Service Employment Opportunities
On the issue of greater employment opportunities for Malaysian Indians in civil service, I have asked our Chief Secretary on behalf of the Cabinet to increase the number of Indians and non bumiputras in the civil service. I am not saying that the standard should be reduced or sacrificed but those who are good must be given opportunities in civil service. This approach will increase the employment opportunities for Malaysian Indians.

Scholarships
On the matter of more scholarships particularly for the local universities, there should be greater access. Some good ones could secure opportunities to go to foreign universities. When these scholars return, they should work for the civil services.

Micro Credit
Micro – credit is another area. We should increase the amount of micro-credit because people have to work to earn a living.

Metal Traders
Recently I spoke to the MB of Selangor stating that there are many Indian metal traders in Selangor. While some may be involved in criminal activities but many others are undertaking legitimate metal trading in Selangor. It is the policy of the BN government that if someone is undertaking a legitimate business, then their licenses should not be revoked from them.
I am trying to encourage Malaysian Indians, to take up jobs. Don’t just depend on imported labour.

Training Indian youth as Barbers
I had friendly discussions with Dato Seri S. Samy Vellu. He wanted more Indian barbers from India. I keep telling him to train our local Indians and let them become barbers. Can they become barbers? Yes, they can become barbers. We can even establish a special college to train them as barbers. Traditionally Indian barbers are very good in hair cutting.

Training Local Priests
What about Hindu priests? Try to produce Malaysian Hindu priests. If necessary have a college to train local priests. We should not depend on religious teachers from other countries. We must produce our own.

Temples
You have so many temples. Let us work together. Let us not have a repeat of the Shah Alam temple incident. If there is a need to relocate the temple, work with local MIC leadership, move the temple, make sure the deities are not desecrated.
In Shah Alam, the deities were not desecrated. I have checked and asked the PM, the IGP, and some Indian friends. The deities were not desecrated. Except of course Hindraf gave different information.
The only thing I must admit that was at fault was to move the temple one week before Deepavali. That was wrong on their part. The local authority had waited for 3 years. Why can’t they wait for one or two months more. Let us admit that we were at fault. If we have made a mistake, let us not cover up our mistake. Let us admit that we have made a mistake and apologise to the Indian Community.
We are sorry for that and in future let us not repeat that kind of a mistake. Let us fully respect other religions in this country.

Thaipusam Holiday
The PM before he declared Thaipusam a public holiday for the Federal Territories, he called me up and asked what did I think of that idea? I said, yes let us give a public holiday for Thaipusam. Dato Seri Samy Vellu has been fighting for many, many years. I know recently he brought up this matter when I was chairing the cabinet. I was happy, I had a public holiday too.

Malaysia our home
So, that is Malaysia. It is a great country. This is our home. This is your home. Believe me, we are together here as a family.
We can work together. UMNO, MCA, MIC, Gerakan and all the other parties together will work to build this beautiful and wonderful country we call home, Malaysia.
You must be proud to be a Malaysian. I am proud to be a Malaysian and I am proud to stand before all of you today. Let us continue to believe in the BN, this is our future for all Malaysian Indians and all of us.



OM SAKTHI!!!

MIC Chief Details List Of Govt Assistance For Indian Community

KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 (Bernama) — MIC President Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu Sunday unveiled a host of statistics on various affirmative action plans in financial aid and other assistance provided to the Indian community to counter allegations by opposition groups that the community had been neglected by the government.

In a blow-by-blow account of the various aid programmes to produce better trained and skilled Indians for the job market, he said the government had provided a grant of RM300 million over the last few years to build the MIC-run Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University in Kedah.

Almost RM100 million was allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to assist in the rebuilding of fully-aided and partially-aided Tamil schools, of which RM30 million were approved recently, he said.

“The government also gave us an initial grant of RM8 million to build the TAFE College in Seremban, which has to-date produced 44,000 para-professionals,” he said in a statement to refute allegations that the government did nothing or little to help the Indian community.

The Opposition, he said, has spread “lies after lies” to win the election.

“They tell the people that this Barisan Nasional government does not help Indians. They are the greatest liars.”

Samy Vellu said the federal government also allocated RM1 million annually for the building of temples besides apart from providing land for their establishment.

“For the first time, Indian students were allowed into Giat Mara centres to pursue their education,” he said, adding that over 1,000 Indians had benefitted from this move.

He said the government also provided places for high achieving Indian youths at Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM).

“These institutions were traditionally accessible to only Bumiputera youths.However, through the efforts of MIC, Indian youths have begun to have access these resources now,” he said.

Samy Vellu also said that Indians youths received a special allocation of RM4 million through the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister’s Department in 2007 of which RM1 million was allocated to 200 Indians from urban poor families who could not secure a place for in an existing skills training institute.

The remaining RM3 million had been used as a revolving micro loan fund with Yayasan Tekun, he said.

He said the government also allocated RM5.4 million to the MIC-run Social Strategic Foundation to undertake social programmes between 2004 and 2008.

Under the 2008 Budget, the Finance Ministry allocated RM3 million for micro loans of RM3,000 each through Amanah Ikthiar Malaysia for 1,000 Indians who are undertaking or interested to undertake micro businesses.

The government also allocated RM5 million to enable 1,000 Indian youths who had failed their PMR or SPM examinations to enrol themselves in skills training courses plus residential facilities and pocket allowance through Giat Mara, INPENS International College in Pulau Indah and other state-run skills training institutes.

“I want to ask the opposition:tell me what are your plans for the Indians and what have you done for them?”

Sammy Vellu said all the Opposition was interested in was to attack and belittle the BN government.

“They have no (concrete) plans to help the Indians,” he stressed.

OM SAKTHI!!!