Indian groups fed up with Pakatan gov'ts- Malaysiakini

My expression : MIC & HINDRAF - Kenapa tidak? - Bahagian II

Several Indian civil movements are fed up with the indifferent attitude of Pakatan Rakyat governments.

MCPX

Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), Penang Makkal Sakti Welfare Association (Pemaswa) and newly formed Hindu Action Network (Han) want the new Pakatan governments to form state Indian councils led by the menteri besar or chief minister.

The suggested councils will plan and implement beneficial programmes for the Indian community, with short, medium and long term goals.

According to Hindraf national coordinator TS Thanenthiran, the Pakatan governments have failed to fulfill their promises.

He said during the elections, Pakatan used the Hindraf tagline Makkal Sakti but since winning they have not unveiled any policy to benefit the community.

"Pakatan Rakyat ruling parties, be it DAP in Penang, PAS in Kedah and Perak and PKR in Selangor, seemed to have made empty electoral promises to the Indians," he added.

He stressed Hindraf would continue to fight along the movement’s 18-point memorandum submitted to the federal government last year.

Temple demolitions, non-existence of kindergartens in Tamil schools, private and public sector marginalisation and high suicide rates, are some of the issues the memorandum covers.

'Reps betrayed the community'

Meanwhile, Pemaswa president G Asoghan claimed that Indian leaders in the Pakatan government have "betrayed the Indian community’s trust in them" to deliver the goods.

"Until today, the state governments, particularly Indian leaders, are resting on their laurels," he said.

He claimed that more from MIC, PPP and IPF have benefited from the DAP government in Penang than genuine Hindraf supporters.

Han coordinator G Mugunthan (left) criticised Penang’s elected Indian assemblypersons of protecting their chronic self-interests when they rejected a previous DAP proposal for a state council.

Though DAP members were keen for a one-stop council, the DAP Indian assemblypersons rejected it as "it will put undue pressure on them to deliver."

"Now they are freely doing anything according to their whims and fancies," he said, adding that the appointment of an Indian as Penang deputy chief minister has been more "a curse than a blessing" to the community.

"It has only helped some chronic characters from BN."

Hindraf, Han and Pemaswa plan to organise a joint dialogue session with all relevant Pakatan Rakyat heads of state governments over the issue.

Letter to MB on Tamil Schools and Temples

Y.A.B. Tan Sri Dato’ Abd Khalid Bin Ibrahim
Menteri Besar Selangor

Pejabat Menteri Besar Selangor Tingkat 21,
Bangunan Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Tel: 03-55141119/55447013
40503 Shah Alam Fax: 03-551 90032
e-mail:khalid@selangor.gov.my

21/07/08

YAB

Re: (1) Land for SRJK (T) Seaport, Petaling Jaya and Simpang Lima, Klang
Tamil Schools.

(2) Land for a Tamil School in Lindungan with 10,000 Indian families.

(3) Land for all Tamil Schools, Hindu Temples, Hindu Crematoriums and

Burial Sites further to Section 76(AA) of the National Land Code.

With reference to the aforesaid matter, we hereby formally apply to the Menteri Besar of Selangor for state freehold land for the SRJK (T) seaport SS7, Petaling Jaya and the Simpang Lima Tamil School, Klang.

The Tamil Nesan and New Straight Times 14/07/08 at page 13 reported that the Parent Teachers Association of this SS7 Seaport Tamil School Mr. Purshothaman at a public meeting with MIC President had asked the present 0.6 hectare land to be increased to 1.2 hectares, Samy Vellu replied “Why don’t you see Pakatan Rakyat?” for the extra land. You people don’t understand how it works (i.e. under UMNO it does not work) Tamil School.

In the same news report the Kg. Lindungan area which has 10,000 Indian families also in need of a Tamil School. The Tamil Nesan in its front page report on 14/07/08 reported that the Simpang Lima Klang Tamil School which is the biggest Tamil School in Malaysia with an enrollment of 2,152 students and 97 teachers are having a shortage of land space and classrooms. They had asked the Deputy Education Minister who had visited the school for land for this school to be expanded.

We hereby apply that land be alienated to those Tamil Schools and the intended Tamil School in Kg. Lindungan according to Section 76 (AA) of the National Land Code where the State can alienate freehold land for a public purposes or when there are special circumstances (NST 01/06/08 pg 14).

To the Menteri Besars of Selangor, Perak, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan further to our letters to Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim, YB Lim Kit Siang and Dato Seri Hadi Awang dated 21st April 2008 we hereby appeal that state government land be alienated further to Section 76 (AA) of the National Land Code to all Tamil schools, Hindu Temples, Hindu Crematoriums and Burial Sites in these five States. With this state land these Tamil schools will automatically become fully aided government schools and will not be looking like cow sheds any more. The Hindu Temples which are also the heritage of this country will stop being demolished. The Hindu Crematoriums and Burial Sites will no longer demolish and/or relocated at the smallest excuse of development.

This our appeal is not excessive as almost immediately after taking over power in Selangor, and Perak 130 hectares and RM 100 millions approved for the pig farm project and 60,000 TOL occupants of New villages in Perak were given freehold titles (Utusan 05/04/08 pg 14). After all this Indian appeal is, for public and not private or commercial purposes as above.

Thank you,

Yours faithfully,

P. Waytha Moorthy

Hindraf: Why so few Indian councillors in Perak? - Malaysiakini

My Expression on news below:MIC & HINDRAF - Rela Demi Masyarakat India???

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) Perak branch is unhappy with the PAS-led Pakatan Rakyat Perak government over what it describes as “continuous marginalisation of Indians

ala Barisan Nasional.”

In its memorandum delivered to Menteri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin’s office in Ipoh today, they criticised the state government for shirking on its 60 councillors in 15 local authorities promise.

A 15-member Hindraf delegation led by its coordinator A Vathe Murthi met Nizar’s special assistant in charge of Indian affairs M Nadaraja.

Their ire is directed at the reduced 48 Indian councillor appointments from a possible 338 which Vathe lambasted as “not proportionate to represent the interests of the already marginalised Perak Indian population.”

The Perak government did promise Hindraf and other state Indian groups 60 councillors.

300,000 Indians

The previous BN government had 41 Indian councillors across the state.

According to the Statistics Department, Perak houses some 300,000 Indians, or 13 percent of the state’s population, the country's second biggest after Selangor with 600,000.

He wants Nizar to revert back to the originally promised number.

Additional to that, Perak Hindraf is asking for affirmative policies to provide vast opportunities in all fields in both public and private sectors to marginalised Indians.

"It’s pointless to merely talk on correcting the wrongs done by the previous BN state government when one failed to prove it’s a government with a difference.

Nizar according to Perak Hindraf has to act firmly and fairly and meet its demands to prevent the movement resorting to other means to voice out their disapproval.

Vathe believes Pakatan Rakyat leaders should not forget the massive contribution of Makkal Sakti, one of Hindraf’s monikers.

The councillors

A total 338 councillors were appointed by Perak on Monday.

Among them were 134 Chinese, 124 Malays, five representatives from special groups, such as Orang Asli and disabled people, and 27 from NGOs.

Besides Ipoh City Hall the other municipalities are Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Manjung and Teluk Intan Hilir Perak, and the district councils of Grik, Kerian, Kinta Barat, Kinta Selatan, Lenggong, Pengkalan Hulu, Perak Tengah, Selama, Tanjung Malim and Tapah.

The other controversy present is the appointment of Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran as councillor in the city he represents in Parliament.

He is likely to be made deputy mayor, a move heavily criticised in Perak as driven by “greed and lust for power and control.”

“Kulasegaran should have given the post to another political worker,” lamented a politician from Pakatan Rakyat.

A certain number of Pakatan members are miffed by the large number of non-political appointments. They were made councillors at the expense of political members who toiled for Pakatan’s electoral success.

Among the non-political appointments were 18 engineers, 16 architects, 13 doctors, 11 lawyers, two professors, 12 honorary doctorates, 16 ex-teachers, 16 corporate managers, nine housing developers, 16 contractors, 65 businessmen, eight consultants, two supervisors, one former court president, eight datuks, one datuk laksamana and 18 NGO leaders.

Only 12 political workers were appointed, with the majority of political appointments going to political leaders.

The grassroots have rued that their political leaders have inherited ‘BN’s nepotism and cronyism’ in appointing their relatives and friends as councillors, while neglecting and ignoring them.

My Expression on the news above:MIC & HINDRAF - Rela Demi Masyarakat India???

MIC wooing Hindraf, says Samy

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC says that it has been wooing the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in secret discussions but the group has rejected this claim outright.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the party had been holding discussions with Hindraf youth leaders in Kedah, Perak and Selangor, which he said went well.

He said the Hindraf leaders realised that the MIC was also fighting to upgrade the living standards of the Indian community.

“Whatever happened in the past, especially in the March polls, is history. We must work together for the betterment of the community,” he said, claiming that some of the Hindraf leaders also regretted supporting the Opposition.

In an immediate response, Hindraf national event co-ordinator Kannan Ramasamy pooh-poohed Samy Velu’s claims, saying none of the group’s 10 coordinators had met MIC leaders.

“Hindraf does not have a membership roll. It is led by P. Waythamoorthy who is assisted by 10 co-ordinators and as far as I know, none of us had met anyone from the MIC,” he said when contacted.

He stressed that Hindraf never regretted convincing the Indians to vote for the Opposition in the March general election, as the move had brought much improvement for the community in some parts of the country.

“We have noted that a lot of improvement has taken place for Indians in the five states led by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition since the election,” said Kannan.

Hindraf national coordinator R.S. Thanenthiran agreed with Kannan, saying the best thing that happened from supporting the opposition was the awareness created on the plight of Indians.

MIC leader lashes out at ‘political addicts’ in party

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu lashed out at certain leaders who he said had started campaigning 10 months ahead of the party polls, likening them to “political addicts.”

Comparing himself to them, the former Works Minister who lost his long-held Sungai Siput parliamentary seat in the general election said he had been working tirelessly to regain the Indian community’s support since.

“We lost the election, we lost the support of the Indian community. I sit in the office and work for 10 to 12 hours (daily) trying to bring the community back to us but there are people in the party who only think of positions.

“These people don’t care about the Indian community,” he told reporters after opening the Koperasi Pekerja Jaya annual general meeting yesterday.

Samy Vellu clarified that he had never endorsed anyone for any position at the party polls scheduled next June, when elections for the deputy president, three vice-president’s and 23 central working committee posts will be held.

The MIC presidential elections will be held earlier in March, with Samy Vellu expected to defend his post.

Samy Vellu described it as “bad practice” to campaign for positions without working for the party.

“We should not encourage. I have said before, if anyone thinks they have the support of delegates, they can contest ... nobody is stopping them from contesting.”

“Even if somebody wants to contest for the presidency ... let them contest. It is up to the delegates to decide,” he added.

Samy Vellu , Datuk S. Gopalakrishnan and Tan Sri G. Pasamanickam retained their positions as Koperasi Pekerja Jaya directors while Datuk M. Davendran edged Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan to clinch the fourth directorship.

MIC, Hindraf in secret talks ... NOT!

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC says that it has been wooing the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) in secret discussions, but the group has rejected this claim outright.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the party had been holding discussions with Hindraf youth leaders in Kedah, Perak and Selangor, which he said went well. He said the meetings went well as the Hindraf leaders realised that the MIC was also fighting to upgrade the living standards of the Indian community.

"Whatever happened in the past, especially in the March polls, is history. We must work together for the betterment of the community," he said, claiming that some of the Hindraf leaders also regretted their decision to support the opposition.

Hindraf national event co-ordinator Kannan Ramasamy, when contacted, said he was baffled by Samy Velu’s claims as none of the movement’s 10 coordinators had met any MIC leaders.

“Hindraf does not have a membership roll. It is led by P. Waythamoorthy who is assisted by 10 coordinators and as far as I know, none of us had met anyone from the MIC,” added Kannan.

He said Hindraf has never regretted convincing the Indians to vote for the opposition in the 12th general election as the move had brought much improvement for the community in some parts of the country.

“We have noted that a lot of improvement has taken place for Indians in the five states led by the Pakatan Rakyat coalition since the election,” he said.

Hindraf national coordinator R.S Thanenthiran concurred and added the best thing that happened from supporting the opposition was the awareness created that Indians mattered in the country.

“For the first time ever, it has been made known to the minority Indians that they had the power to bring changes through the ballot box,” he added.

Both Thanenthiran and Kannan advised Samy Vellu to back off and concentrate on rebuilding the MIC.

MIED's study loans

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC-owned Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED) is once again offering study loans to Malaysians enrolled in or applying to study in local or foreign institutions.

Although preference will be given to those enrolled at the Kolej Tafe in Seremban or the AIMST University in Kedah, students from other institutions can also apply so long as they have proof of rejection of their loan applications from their respective institutions, or for courses which are not available at Tafe or AIMST.

Applicants pursuing diploma programmes must have a minimum of four credits, including English and Mathematics for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia while those pursuing degree programmes should have a minimum of three Principle D in the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia or its equivalent. Overseas loans are limited to students studying medicine in Asia.

The MIED loan application forms are available online at its website www.mied.com.my. Completed forms must reach the MIED office by Aug 15.

PM to explain Umno-PAS meetings to component parties

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will explain to Barisan Nasional component parties the Umno-PAS meetings that were held after the March 8 general election.

He is expected to do so at a Barisan full council meeting to be held a few days after the management committee meeting on Aug 6, said Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

"We will get a date from the PM, maybe a few days after the Aug 6 meeting," he said, adding that Abdullah would explain to parties like MCA, MIC and Gerakan what the meetings were on.

He was speaking to reporters Saturday after opening the Bunga Matahari Umno branch meeting here.

When asked what Abdullah would explain in the meeting with component parties, Tengku Adnan said:

"To us it is good ... we don't have two-thirds (in parliament), certain laws need to be passed with two-thirds, so we need help.

"The only person that we can talk to at this moment is PAS," he said.

On the Umno-PAS talks, Tengku Adnan said it was still on and that it was at a different level, adding that it would not jeopardise the relationship between Barisan component parties.

Asked about PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's confidence to take over the Federal Government on Sept 16, Tengku Adnan said that Anwar was trying to confuse and divert attention of Internet readers from the sodomy case.

Stating that it was not possible for Anwar to take over the Federal Goverment on the said date, Tengku Adnan added that the former had also failed to mention who are the Members of Parliament (MPs) to defect.

"We have 140 MPs. By right we should look for another eight to make the two thirds, (but) we don't make any noise," he questioned.

Tengku Adnan also said that Umno was working closely with the Anti-Corruption Agency to weed out corruption from the party by referring suspected cases to the agency before the case is heard at its party disciplinary board level.

Only cases of money politics and finance would be discussed at the disciplinary board, he said, adding that smaller problems such as not having enough quorum at meetings would be discussed at the management committee level.

Don’t question benefits given to non-bumis, says Subra

FORMER MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam said that no one should question benefits given to the non-bumiputras by the Government, Tamil Nesan quoted him as saying.

He said that Indians also should not question the benefits given to the other races, referring to the questions raised in Parliament regarding the 55:45 allocation of scholarships to bumiputras and non-bumiputras as announced recently.

He said that the Government had taken the decision after considering the plight of the Indian community but pointed out that the bumiputra quota had not been reduced.

He was speaking to reporters after addressing an educational seminar organised for pupils taking the UPSR in Gopeng yesterday.

Kidney patient appeals for aid

KUALA LUMPUR: When housewife P. Sivasakthi, was first diagnosed with kidney failure in September 2006, she ignored her doctor’s advice to go for dialysis and opted for traditional medicine.

But today, after using up her retiree husband N. Jayapragasam’s savings and going through much physical distress, the regretful 54-year-old now has no choice but to undergo dialysis three times a week.

Her family is struggling to meet her dialysis bills of about RM2,000 a month and Sivasakthi approached MIC Youth coordinator T. Mohan for help.

She also needs RM70,000 for a kidney transplant.

At a press conference, she said that in 2006 she suffered giddiness and vomiting and was referred to a private hospital where doctors confirmed that she had early signs of kidney failure.

“A friend suggested traditional treatment but there has been no improvement. I started dialysis last month,” she said.

Jayapragasam, 57, who retired as a security officer two years ago, said that his Employees Provident Fund savings had been also depleted by treatment for his diabetes and hypertension and that he was depending on their two sons for their living expenses.

“One son is earning RM1,500 while the other has only started work and is earning RM800,” he said, adding that he was reaching out to caring Malaysians for help to save his wife.

Mohan, who is also the MIC Youth social and welfare bureau chairman, said Sivasakthi's brother was willing to donate a kidney if the money could be raised for the transplant in South India.

He said the MIC Youth had started the Sivasakthi Fund with an initial donation of RM2,000.

Donors can send cheques to Sivasakthi Fund, c/o MIC Youth, No. 12, Jalan PBP 5, Taman Industri Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor or deposit their donation at Alliance Bank (account number 120880020084551).

For enquiries call Mohan at 019-222 3000 or S. Subramaniam at 019–351 7474.

Let us take Tapah back, says Samsudin

TAPAH: Tapah Umno wants the Tapah parliamentary seat to be returned to Umno to prevent it from falling into Opposition hands in the next election.

Its chief, Datuk Samsudin Abu Hassan, said the Barisan Nasional stronghold had been given to component parties for five terms since 1981 but was now in danger of going to the Opposition.

“We are not making threats or giving a warning but this is what the grassroots want,” he told reporters after opening the Tapah Umno’s branch, Wanita, Youth and Puteri meetings here yesterday.

He said this when asked to comment on a motion on the matter, which received the support of all 83 branches at the meeting.

In the March 8 general election, the MIC’s Datuk M. Saravanan won the seat by a 3,200-vote against Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Tan Seng Toh. – Bernama

PM announces steps to enhance education among Malaysian Indians

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Saturday announced immediate steps to enhance education among Malaysian Indian students, either at school or university level.

He said among others, the Government had agreed to turn more capital-aided Tamil schools, many of which are in the rural areas, into fully-aided schools.

"The Government will also speed up the process of merging and consolidating the Tamil schools that have less than 50 students," he said in his speech when opening the 62nd MIC Annual General Meeting at the Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre here.

Abdullah said the Government also agreed that students from the MIC-run Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) University in Kedah would be allowed to apply for scholarships from the Public Services Department.

The move would make AIMST University the fifth private university to enjoy such a facility after institutions like the Monash University, Swinburne University and the University of Nottingham, among others.

Also present at the one-day meeting were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and some 3,300 delegates, including MIC branch leaders nationwide

Govt approves RM120m for Indian community

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has approved a RM120mil allocation for the development of the Indian community for four years following a request by the MIC.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the RM30mil allocation each year would be used to help single mothers become self sufficient as well as for youth programmes and other programmes to help the needy.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi gave the approval recently," he told reporters Saturday after the end of the one-day MIC general assembly here.

He said that the allocation was part of the RM300mil sought from the Government in May to help poor Malaysian Indians.

The assembly went smoothly without any untoward incidents as Samy Vellu was in his element, ticking off delegates as well as cracking jokes. He also urged the branch chairmen to read the various booklets and use them as "ammunition" to answer the party's critics.

Several delegates touched on education, economy, employment and party unity while some spoke on the need for the president to continue to lead the party.

Former MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam, who also spoke, called on members to forget their differences and work together towards strengthening the party.

"I am saddened with the party's loss in the elections. We have to find the weaknesses and rectify them," he said, adding that the MIC was a strong party.

Subramaniam said the party did not take heed of the activities of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) as they were deemed to be fighting for the rights of the Hindu religion.

"But they (Hindraf) were hijacked by the Opposition and they fell for it, requesting the people vote for the Opposition. This was a big disappointment to us," he said, adding that the challenge is to bring them to the MIC fold.

He also praised Samy Vellu for not giving up but continuing to work for the betterment of the Indian community.

The assembly passed five resolutions. One of the resolutions expressed support for Abdullah’s leadership as PM.

The MIC also urged the Federal Government to establish representative committees at the state and district levels to serve the people in the five Opposition-held states.

This was necessary, as MIC has no representation at the state and local governments in Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Penang and Kelantan.

In another resolution, MIC urged the Government to monitor the delivery and implementation mechanisms in order to achieve the targets within the specified time frame and to allocate sufficient funds and personnel.

The party also called on the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to set up enforcement squads to monitor the prices in rural areas and to prosecute retailers and shopkeepers found to have raised prices without approval.

MIC Leaders Meet To Chart The Partys Future Direction

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 -- After its worst ever performance in the March 8 general election, the MIC will push ahead with reforms when its 3,300 branch chairmen gather here tomorrow to chart the future direction of the 62-year-old party.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will open the partys 62nd general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre where he is expected to "open the path" towards the party's rejuvenation, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Friday.

"The delegates will hear from the prime minister himself on what and how the government and the MIC can work hand-in-hand to better serve the Indian community, he said in a statement to Bernama here.


He said the one-day assembly would receive a further boost with the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The focus would be the MICs rebranding exercise.

"Our objective is to introduce the concept of rebranding to all branch and divisional leaders to ensure that it is well understood by them," he said.

He said the MIC would conduct 18 workshops with 72 training sessions with 50 participants for each session. A total of 3,600 grassroot leaders would be involved.

"This exercise is aimed at generating new ideas from the branch and divisional leaders. We will conduct the training sessions to ensure that the concept of rebranding is accepted in the hearts and minds of every leader, he said.

To achieve that objective, the party had developed a Rebranding Manual which will guide the leaders to implement changes and transformation at the branches and divisions, he added.

Another area of concentration at the assembly would be the governments decision to form the special Cabinet Committee, chaired by the deputy prime minister, to look into the needs of the Indian community.

He said that at its first meeting on July 1, the committee, among others, agreed in principle to convert the 372 partially-aided Tamil schools into fully-assisted schools and ensure at least eight per cent of Indian representation at all levels in the civil service.

The committee also decided that the MIC-run Asian Institute for Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST) be re-categorised as one of the five private universities which recognise government-sponsored students to boost the intake of Indian students into critical sectors like medicine and engineering.

It also agreed that Indian entrepreneurs be given more opportunities in the development of vendor development schemes through companies like state-owned oil firm Petronas and national car-maker Proton, while there would be easier access to government loans for Indian entrepreneurs, he said.

Other decisions included more taxi and bus permits for Indian companies and increasing the Indian corporate equity from the current 1.1 per cent to 1.5 per cent in 2010 where the government was planning to set up a unit trust scheme based on the Permodalan Nasional Berhad model to allow Indians to invest in the scheme to increase their equity in the market.

"These are some of the decisions made by the Cabinet Committee. It is a step in the right direction," Samy Vellu said, adding that the party would raise more issues at subsequent meetings of the committee.

He said the biggest challenge now was to ensure that these decisions were implemented, and to achieve that, a monitoring team would be established within the MIC.

-- BERNAMA

Harakahdaily: Isu Himpunan Protes, Dr Hatta beri penjelasan

KUALA LUMPUR,9 Julai (Hrkh) -Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Himpunan Protes Turun Sejuta Rakyat, Dr Hatta Ramli menyampaikan permohonan maaf secara rasmi kepada semua penyokong Pakatan Rakyat atas insiden yang berlaku dalam himpunan tersebut.

"Sebagai penganjur, saya memohon maaf kiranya ada yang tidak menepati kehendak dan selera peserta Himpunan," katanya ketika ditemui Harakahdaily di lobi parlimen semalam.

Sungguhpun begitu, beliau menjelaskan bahawa pihak Protes telah pun menyediakan garis panduan bagi memastikan program tersebut dijalankan secara tertib serta mencapai matlamat.

Mengulas mengenai insiden penyanyi kumpulan Carburator Dung, Alak, Hatta berkata pengerusi program persembahan, Hishamuddin Rais telah memohon maaf secara terbuka sebaik sahaja situasi tersebut berakhir.

"Kita telah berjaya mengawal rasa tidak senang yang timbul apabila Hishamudin mengambil tanggungjawab menyatakan permohonan maaf atas apa yang berlaku," katanya.

Apa yang penting ujarnya, Protes dianjurkan meliputi seluruh lapisan rakyat yang mencakupi pelbagai latar belakang bangsa, agama dan minat.

"Ini isu rakyat, dengan sebab itu kita menyediakan pelbagai program seperti tarian singa, tarian gendang, dikir barat dan sebagainya.

"Tetapi kumpulan dikir barat dan nasyid telah menarik diri pada saat akhir dengan alasan pengumuman kerajaan bahawa perhimpunan tersebut dianggap sebagai tidak mendapat permit," ujarnya lagi.

Sungguhpun begitu, Hatta yang juga merupakan Bendahari PAS menegaskan bahawa agenda lain berjalan lancar setelah keadaan kembali tenang terutamanya acara kemuncak Himpunan iaitu Ceramah Perdana pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat pada sebelah malam.

Beliau turut melahirkan kekesalan serta kecewa dengan tindakan pihak berkuasa iaitu polis dan tentera yang melancarkan kempen antimidasi (gangguan).

"Mereka membuat pengumuman tentang latihan bersama antara tentera dan polis di premis perhimpunan dirancangkan, serta mengadakan sekatan-sekatan jalan raya di seluruh jalan menuju ke lokasi perhimpunan.

"Ia secara tidak langsung telah menjejaskan kehadiran pengunjung yang berhasrat mahu menunjukkan rasa protes pada isu kenaikan harga minyak.

"Inilah perhimpunan yang terbesar berjaya dianjurkan Protes selepas siri-siri perhimpunan Protes sebelum ini dibuat di beberapa premis," katanya.

Hatta juga merakamkan penghargaan kepada semua pihak yang memberikan kerjasama dan terlibat dalam menjayakan program tersebut. - mks._

Rock singer’s show upsets crowd

PETALING JAYA: A singer pulled down his trousers and showed his boxer shorts during a concert at the anti-fuel price increase rally in Kelana Jaya Stadium yesterday.

The lead singer of rock band Carburettor Dung was halfway through a song when he dropped his pants and showed his boxer shorts.

His antics saw the audience hurling abuses and throwing bottles at him.

In the 7pm incident, PKR Youth security volunteers had to escort the singer and his band members off the stage while event organisers tried to calm the crowd.

It is learnt that prior to his strip performance, the singer was singing a song that included lyrics poking fun at the sodomy allegations against PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

A member of the audience who did not want to be named described the act as inappropriate as there were children present at the event.

Another man, who also wanted to be anonymous, said it was very unprofessional of the singer, adding that he was very upset because many VIPs, including Anwar would be present.

As the situation came under control, event coordinator Hishamuddin Rais came out to apologise for the incident.

The organisers then called for a break for Maghrib prayers.

Pas anggap Protes gagal capai matlamat

SHAH ALAM 8 Julai – Pas Selangor menyifatkan Perhimpunan Protes Sejuta Rakyat-Protes Sampai Turun di Kelana Jaya, Ahad lalu, sebagai tidak relevan dan gagal mencapai matlamatnya.

Pesuruhjaya Pas Selangor, Datuk Dr. Hassan Mohamed Ali berkata, perhimpunan itu gagal selepas tindakan penganjur mengundang kumpulan muzik underground sehingga mencetuskan insiden aksi penyanyinya melondehkan seluar pada persembahannya.

Katanya, pihak penganjur seharusnya peka dengan budaya serta agama kerana tindakan penyanyi kumpulan Carburetor Dung, Alak jelas bertentangan dengan budaya dan agama yang diamalkan di negara ini.

Menurut beliau, insiden berkenaan juga dilihat tidak menjurus kepada matlamat sebenar perhimpunan itu diadakan bagi membantah kenaikan harga minyak yang dikatakan membebankan rakyat ketika ini.

‘‘Saya tidak nampak apa relevannya pihak penganjur mengundang kumpulan itu mengadakan persembahan sedemikian kerana ia jelas tidak sesuai dengan tujuan sebenar perhimpunan itu. Malah, ia juga dilihat seolah-olah satu pertunjukan hiburan.

‘‘Saya difahamkan juga, ketika perhimpunan itu, kira-kira 700 orang Unit Badan Amal Pas turut menarik diri sebagai urus setia dan saya tak salahkan mereka.

‘‘Tetapi saya fikir, jika itu (persembahan) merupakan tarikan orang ramai hadir ke perhimpunan tersebut, saya anggap ia tidak mencapai sasaran dan tidak berjaya,’’ jelas beliau yang juga Exco Hal Ehwal Islam, Adat-adat Melayu, Infrastruktur dan Kemudahan Awam Selangor, di sini hari ini.

Nik Aziz kecewa perhimpunan ‘seronok-seronok’

KOTA BHARU 8 Julai – Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat kecewa dengan perjalanan perhimpunan Protes Sejuta Rakyat-Protes Sampai Turun kelmarin yang bertukar menjadi majlis ‘seronok-seronok’.

Menurut Nik Abdul Aziz, beliau tidak terfikir program yang digerakkan oleh pakatan pembangkang bagi membantah kenaikan harga minyak turut diselitkan dengan persembahan muzik liar dan melampau itu.

“Saya kecewa betul, saya tak terfikir benda tu boleh berlaku, macam mana saya pun tak faham,” katanya yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan kepada pemberita selepas sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri di sini hari ini.

Sehubungan itu, katanya, beliau bersetuju dengan tindakan ahli Pas termasuk unit amalnya yang dikatakan bertindak keluar dari stadium kerana tidak menyenangi apa yang berlaku.

“Saya memang setuju, buat apa kita turut orang, turun dari rumah kita nak protes, tiba-tiba sampai di sana, orang lain buat cara bukan nak protes, tapi nak seronok-seronok, tak boleh,” katanya.

Jangan ikut emosi - Saravanan

KAMPUNG PANDAN 6 Julai - Timbalan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan, Datuk M. Saravanan meminta penduduk di Indian Settlement Kampung Pandan bersabar dan tidak terlalu mengikut emosi dalam isu perpindahan yang diarahkan oleh Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL).

Malah, beliau memberi amaran kepada penduduk terbabit supaya tidak mengugut serta mencabarnya dengan mengadakan demonstrasi, seolah-olah beliau tidak berusaha untuk menyelesaikan masalah berkenaan.

Bercakap di hadapan 500 penduduk terbabit yang berkumpul di Dewan MIC di sini baru-baru ini, beliau menggesa penduduk menggunakan saluran yang betul bagi mengadu masalah mereka.

"Isu ini tidak perlu dibesar-besarkan kerana saya selaku Timbalan Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan dan Ketua Penerangan MIC sedang memujuk pihak DBKL agar menangguhkan sementara perancangan pemindahan penduduk Indian Settlement.

"Saya memahami masalah penduduk di sini kerana sebelum ini saya sendiri pernah tinggal di perumahan setinggan Jalan Raja Muda berhampiran Hospital Besar Kuala Lumpur,'' katanya.

Saravanan berkata, beliau juga sebenarnya kurang bersetuju penduduk di situ dipindahkan ke Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) Kampung Muhibbah, Puchong memandangkan mereka telah lama tinggal di Kampung Pandan.

"Memandangkan kos sara hidup pun sudah bertambah tinggi, saya berpendapat tempat yang sesuai untuk mereka berpindah ialah di PPR Seri Alam, Sungai Besi,'' katanya.

Walaupun begitu, beliau tetap menyimpan harapan agar kawasan tersebut boleh dikekalkan sebagai penempatan kaum India seperti yang dinikmati oleh orang Melayu di Kampung Baru.

"Saya akan cuba menjadikan kawasan ini sebagai penempatan kaum India kerana mereka semua telah tinggal di sini lebih 30 tahun, namun ia bergantung kepada hasil perbincangan dengan pihak atasan,'' katanya dalam pertemuan itu.

Sementara itu, Ahli Parlimen Titiwangsa, Dr. Lo'Lo' Mohd. Ghazali yang turut menghadiri pertemuan tersebut, berpuas hati dengan hasil perjumpaan itu.

Baginya, kerjasama positif yang ditunjukkan oleh Saravanan dalam menyelesaikan masalah penduduk tanpa melibatkan sentimen politik amat dihargai.

Selain itu, beliau berpendapat isu berkenaan masih boleh diperbincangkan ke peringkat tertinggi kerana Draf Pelan Kuala Lumpur 2020 masih dalam peringkat bantahan dan segala perancangan pembangunan masih boleh ditangguh atau dipinda.

Dua ahli MIC fail saman pemula

KUALA LUMPUR 7 Julai - Krisis dalaman MIC semakin meruncing apabila bekas Ketua Penerangan Pemudanya, K. Raja Kumar dan bekas Ketua Pemuda Kuala Selangor, L. Sivasubramaniam memfailkan saman pemula terhadap parti itu.

Saman pemula tersebut bertujuan mendapatkan pengisytiharan mahkamah bahawa ahli Pemuda MIC yang dipilih ke Majlis Tertinggi Pemuda MIC Kebangsaan melalui pemilihan pada bulan Mei 2006 dibenar menamatkan tempoh jawatan mereka yang hanya akan berakhir selepas tiga tahun dari tarikh pelantikan.

Mereka memohon pengisytiharan bahawa had umur yang termaktub dalam Artikel 4.18.3 Perlembagaan MIC tidak terpakai kepada penamatan mana-mana jawatan yang dilantik secara sah dan penyandang sebelum seseorang Pemuda MIC mencapai umur 41 tahun.

Mereka juga memohon pengisytiharan bahawa keputusan Jawatankuasa Kerja Pusat MIC pada 12 Jun lalu yang memutuskan Ahli Majlis Pemuda MIC Peringkat Cawangan, Bahagian dan Kebangsaan secara automatik dilucutkan jawatan masing-masing apabila mencapai umur 41 tahun adalah terbatal dan tidak sah.

Selain itu, mereka memohon pengisytiharan bahawa perlucutan jawatan Ketua Pemuda MIC Kebangsaan, S.A. Vigneswaran, adalah terbatal dan tidak sah kerana beliau dipilih sebelum mencapai umur 41 tahun dan tidak terikat kepada mana-mana had umur menurut Perlembagaan MIC.

Saman pemula itu difailkan di Mahkamah Tinggi, di sini hari ini, melalui peguam George Varughese dari Tetuan George Varughese & Co.

Place party’s interest first, Subra tells MIC members

FORMER MIC deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam has told party members to place the party's interest before theirs, Malaysia Nanban reported.

The daily quoted him as saying during an interview with Bernama TV on Saturday that the party was more important than the needs of any individual.

He said this when asked to comment on the resignation of MIC Youth leader S.A. Vigneswaran and several others from the movement.

Subramaniam, who is Seputeh MIC division chief, said that a leader should be with the party through thick and thin.

He said the decision by the MIC central working committee that Youth leaders who had passed the age limit of 40 should relinquish their posts was to encourage more young professionals to join the party.

Vignes failed to help Indian youth, says Samy

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MIC Youth chief S. A. Vigneswaran was good at chairing meetings but failed to come out with clear programmes and policies to uplift Indian youths, said party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu Sunday.

In his first attack after his former protege asked him to step down, Samy said Vigneswaran had failed in his responsibilities, as there were more cases of Indian youths involved in juvenile problems and murders reported in the newspapers.

“He (Vigneswaran) should have focused his attention on the problems faced by the Indian youth apart from resolving the problems within the MIC Youth,” he told reporters after the joint opening of the MIC Wanita, Youth, Puteri and Putera MIC wings annual general assembly.

Vigneswaran, who was asked to relinquish his Youth chief post after having passed the age limit of 41 years, announced his resignation from the party on June 29.

He had said that he would only rejoin the party after Samy Vellu steps down as the president.

Samy Vellu said that he would not be cowed by threats from people who want to disrupt his functions in the various states.

“I know who is behind this. It is coming from Selangor. We are not be afraid of their sandiwara,(drama) ” he said, adding that elected leaders were required to work for the community.

He said that he had picked Vigneswaran from the streets, appointed him to the youth chief's post and recommended him to contest for the parliamentary seat and made him a parliamentary secretary.

Samy Vellu said Vigneswaran was now the loser as he could have waited and contested for a higher post in the party elections.

Earlier in his speech, Samy Vellu said certain leaders of the party's youth wing were only interested in achieving their political ambitions through cheap publicity.

“These leaders refuse to thrash out matters involving the party and the community through discussions but prefer to engage in cheap publicity stunts that could only damage and weaken the party.”

He said the 41-year age limit was imposed to provide more opportunities to capable and eligible younger generations to serve in various capacities in the youth wing at the divisional and state level.

Samy Vellu said the new state youth chiefs had been appointed while those who had already reached 41 years, would be given a role at the divisional and state levels.

Subra: New plans show Indians not marginalised

MIC leader Dr S Subramaniam has described the series of measures unveiled by the government recently to help the Indian community as a sign that it never marginalised the community.

On Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has announced several policies to help uplift the community’s opportunity in the fields of education, business and civil service.

The announcement was made by the deputy premier after chairing the cabinet meeting on Indian community. Also present were various government agencies and MIC top guns like party president S Samy Vellu.

Subramaniam, who is the party secretary-general and human resources minister, acknowledged the announcement was a government response to the March 8 polls result.

“As a responsible government, not only has it responded to the message (by voters), it also sent the message back to the community that ‘look here, we never intended to marginalise you’.”

“We (government) have been helping (the community) and if there are issues now, we will continue to address them and we are sincere in wanting to address them,” said Subramaniam during an interview at his ministerial office in Parliament earlier this week.

‘Major achievement’ for MIC

He described the outcome of the meeting as a “major achievement” for the MIC and praised the government for their commitment to address the Indian community’s problem.

“The government has been very sensitive to the requirement of the community and is actually committed to address the Indian community’s problem so that it can be at par with the other communities,” Subramaniam said on the outcome of the meeting.

The MIC suffered it worst electoral outing in the last general election, having only won three parliamentary seats out of 140 that the ruling BN controlled. Samy Vellu also lost his Sungai Siput seat which he held since 1974.

Among the key decisions or those agreed in principle by the government at the cabinet committee include:

- To convert 372 partially-aided Tamil schools into fully-assisted schools.
- Consolidate schools which had an enrolment of less than 50 students.
- To ensure at least eight percent of Indian representation at all levels in the civil service. To achieve that, it will also see more promotions for Indian civil servants.
- The MIC-run Asian Institute for Medicine, Science and Technology (Aimst) to be re-categorised as one of the five private universities which recognise government-sponsored students to boost the intake of Indian students into critical sectors like medicine and engineering. At present, students who receive government scholarship were only given a list of choice of universities which does not include Aimst.
- To allow Indian contractors to take part in government projects at all levels. For government’s mega projects, it is suggested that certain sub-contract jobs be given to Indian contractors.
- Indian entrepreneurs to be given more opportunities in the development of vendor development scheme through companies like state-owned oil firm Petronas and national car-maker Proton.
- Easier access to government loans for Indian entrepreneurs.
- More taxi and bus permits for Indian companies.
- To increase the Indian corporate equity from the current 1.1 percent to 1.5 percent in 2010. To do this, the government is planning to set up a unit trust scheme based on the Permodalan Nasional Berhad model to allow Indians to invest in the scheme to increase their equity in the market.

Grab the opportunity

Elaborating, Subramaniam said the cabinet committee will have a monitoring team, led by his ministry, to check implementation progress of these policies.

He also called on the Indian community to take up what was offered by the government.

“It's for the community to move forward now and avail themselves to these opportunities. Of course the opportunity can be given but the person must also take the initiative to come forward,” said the MIC leader.

To another question, Subramaniam said bumiputeras are not affected with the government’s decision to give certain government projects to Indian contractors.

“It will be done in a way that will not be detrimental to the bumiputera community as far as their opportunity or rights is concerned,” he added.

MIC Youth To Recruit Additional 50,000 Members, Says Samy Vellu

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- More than 50,000 Indian youths are expected to be recruited by the "re-energised" MIC Youth wing by the end of the year, bringing the total membership of the movement to 150,000.

MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said Thursday that the new coordinator of the youth wing, T.Mohan, 35, had been entrusted with the task. Currently, the MICs membership stands at 630,000, with 100,000 members from the youth wing.



"The Youth wing will embark on a nationwide recruitment exercise to register at least 50,000 new members by the end of the year," Samy Vellu told a news conference after chairing the partys Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting here.

He said the "re-energised and more youthful" wing of the MIC would chart a new strategy to woo more youngsters to join the party.

Mohan took over the movements top post from S.A.Vigneswaran, 42, had to vacate the post last month because the MIC constitution states that MIC youth leaders who have reached the age of 41 years must vacate their posts in the wing.

Mohan, who is the MIC Youth Social and Welfare Bureau chief, contested and lost the Batu Caves state seat in Selangor on the Barisan Nasional ticket in the last general election while Vigneswaran lost the Bukit Raja parliamentary seat in Selangor.

Last June 29, Vigneswaran quit the MIC in protest of the CWC ruling on the holding of posts by youth leaders who had attained the age of 41.

Samy Vellu said Mohan would be assisted by S.Murugesan, a CWC member and a former Youth national committee member. Murugesan too lost when he contested the Subang parliamentary seat in the last general election.

He said Mohan and Murugesan would run the movement based on the advice of the newly-formed National MIC Youth Advisory Council headed by S.Ramis who had to vacate the MIC Youth deputy chief post due to the age limit ruling.

"Mohan and Murugesan will be the coordinator and deputy coordinator respectively until the next Youth wing elections in the middle of next year," Samy Vellu said.

He said that after the election of the new MIC Youth chief next year, the posts of coordinator and deputy coordinator would be discontinued.

He said the CWC would stick to its ruling on the age limit for the Youth wing. "We want to give opportunities to the thousands of youths out there who want to serve the party," he said, adding that the Youth wing "must look and act like a youth movement".

He said many youths had complained that the Youth wing was not representing the youths who, they said, should be 40 years and below.

-- BERNAMA

Unit to keep track of Tamil schools

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will set up a special unit under the Education Ministry to monitor the development of Tamil schools as well as their problems.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the unit would identify the schools to be converted into fully-assisted schools as well as consolidate those which had an enrolment of less than 50 pupils.

“For these schools which will be consolidated, we will propose that dormitories and other facilities be built for the students.

“For schools which have too many students, cabins will be built as additional classrooms for them,” he told reporters after chairing a Cabinet committee meeting on social problems facing Indians at the Parliament building here yesterday.

Najib said the committee also proposed that an institute set up by MIC – the Asian Institute for Medicine, Science and Technology – be re-categorised as one of the five institutes to receive aid from the Government as a measure to boost the intake of Indian students into critical sectors like medicine and engineering.

The institute, he added, would then sponsor Indian students to pursue courses in critical areas in institutions of higher learning.

Other matters raised during the meeting included more taxi and bus permits for Indian companies, better business opportunities and easier loans for entrepreneurs from that community, and more vocational training places for its youths.

“We would also like to see more opportunities for Indians in the development of vendor programmes with companies like Proton and Petronas.

“The committee also notes the lack of Indians in the civil service. We will raise this matter with the Public Service Department,” said Najib.

Najib said the committee would also discuss with Permodalan Nasional ways to increase the Indian hold on equity in the Malaysian market.

MIC: Check unit trust scheme for Indians

THE Government should set up a committee to monitor the progress of the proposed unit trust scheme for Indians aimed at increasing their corporate equity ownership by 2010, Malaysia Nanban reported.

MIC information chief Datuk M. Saravanan said the Government should also ensure fair Indian representation in the committee.

The scheme aims to increase the corporate equity ownership from the current 1.1% to 1.5% by 2010.

He said the scheme must receive equal distribution of unit trusts for the Indian community and nobody should be left out.

Saravanan, who is also Deputy Federal Territories Minister, also requested the Government to provide a one-off grant to Tamil schools to remedy whatever shortfalls they had.

He said that the grant could be used to improve the infrastructure in the schools, as there are many schools in terrible condition.

MIC in a quandary

MIC Youth leader S.A. Vigneswaran has resigned and threatened to open his former mentor’s Pandora’s box. These are signs that something is really not right in the party.

IT IS rare for leaders in MIC to resign. The usual way to disconnect with the party is through expulsion.

Therefore it was a rare occasion for MIC Youth leader S.A. Vigneswaran, a one time blue-eyed boy of party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, to announce on Sunday his immediate resignation from the party.

They had a fallout after Vigneswaran indirectly sided with rebels in the MIC whose aim is to pressure Samy Vellu to quit.

Vigneswaran or Vicky as he is known to those close to him, gave a rambling press conference going back and forth about Samy Vellu and how the March 8 election disaster is all Samy Vellu’s doing.

The departure has left many in the MIC and outside speechless at what they say is “the waste” in Vicky's resignation.

Samy Vellu’s opponents had hoped Vicky would stay in the party and fight the MIC president from inside and hopefully force him to quit.

Others had hoped he would be such an irritant to Samy Vellu in the MIC that the party supremo would be forced to sack him and in the process incur the wrath of the party’s Youth wing.

In the end it appears Vicky, who first became Youth leader in 2002, was not cut out to be the hero the “rebels” in the MIC and outside had hoped for.

“He is not the man to bell the cat,” said a disappointed member of the MIC central working committee.

“He does not have the guts or the vision.”

Besides, a big question mark hangs over Vicky’s political career.

He lost badly in the last general election and remains generally unpopular in the community largely because of his “arrogant” ways and the strong support he had always given to Samy Vellu.

Nevertheless his resignation hits Samy Vellu hard in several areas and at a time when pressure is mounting on the MIC chief to leave the political stage, taking responsibility for the election disaster.

One is at a personal level. Vicky’s father M. Sanasee was a close personal friend of Samy Vellu in the 70s and 80s and a strong ally who helped Samy Vellu rise up in the Selangor MIC.

After Sanasee died in 1982, he promoted his brother Datuk K. Sellathevan up the ladder and later gave a helping hand to Vicky when he was hanging around in Klang town and not making any headway in life.

“It was Samy Velu who took care of his education and promoted him in the MIC, all because of the heartfelt gratitude, the party supremo has for his late friend Sannasee.

“It will hurt deeply that it is a son of Sanasee who has stabbed him publicly,” said a former Selangor MIC leader.

On another level, Vicky’s resignation leaves the party president without a strong arm to enforce his rule in the party and at a time when his leadership is being questioned.

Vicky founded and headed a paralegal force called Pani Padai or Briged Putera, believed to be a vehicle to enforce order and compliance at MIC and Maika Holdings gatherings.

While many were Indians youths genuinely interested in helping the MIC, some of the members were of questionable background, party insiders said.

Vicky on Sunday announced that the 20,000-strong brigade would be disbanded probably to deny Samy Vellu use of its members.

But party sources said Samy Vellu is already working to reconstitute the force and has asked Datuk M. Saravanan, a new rising star in the MIC and Deputy Federal Territories Minister, to either temporarily head the unit or find a new leader.

Samy Vellu will need all the help he can get as despite the pressure to quit, he is seeking re-election as MIC president for a final term in March 2009.

As for Vicky, he is heading for something called the Malaysian Indian Youth Development, a private vehicle that will allow him to remain afloat and take constant snipes at his former mentor.

He has also promised, now that he is no longer an MIC member, to open the Pandora’s box of misdeeds by Samy Vellu.

Likewise it must have crossed Samy Vellu’s mind to return the favour by opening the lid on his former blue-eyed boy’s box

New head for Penang MIC Youth

BUTTERWORTH: A new person will soon temporarily helm Penang MIC Youth as its head R. Palaniappan, 42, has been directed by the party to step down effective Monday.

Palaniappan, who will be 43 in September, said he would happily pave way for the transition although his second three-year term has been cut short by a year.

“I was appointed to state party Youth chief in 2003 and was reappointed for another three-year term in 2006.

“I will abide by the directive to vacate the post as there are plans to appoint me as an advisor to the state Youth co-ordinator,” he told newsmen yesterday.

Palaniappan is among several Youth leaders who have been directed by the party’s Central Working Committee to vacate their posts since they have reached the age of 41.

Besides Penang, other state leaders affected are from Perlis, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Johor.

On Sunday, MIC Youth chief S. A. Vigneswaran quit the party following differences with party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu over the move to force him to vacate his post following the age directive.

Overhaul for MIC Youth wing

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has revamped the Youth wing by appointing an advisory council and two coordinators to strengthen it until the party elections next year.

Party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said former Youth deputy chief S. Ramis would head the advisory council while Youth social and welfare bureau chief T. Mohan would be the Youth coordinator.

Mohan, 35, who is a businessman, had unsuccessfully contested for the Batu Caves state seat in Selangor on a Barisan Nasional ticket in March.

Samy Vellu said former Youth secretary S. Murugesan has been appointed to assist Mohan in the running of the Youth wing.

“I have directed Mohan and his team to take advice from the newly set up Youth advisory council in carrying out activities and programmes until the Youth elections next year,” he said.

Samy Vellu said Mohan and Murugesan’s first task would be to organise the national Youth annual general assembly scheduled for July 6.

He said the advisory council would comprise former Youth leaders who had already passed the age of 40.

He said the party leadership was now reorganising the MIC Youth section in line with the constitutional requirement of the party.

“And as such, the decision was made to allow younger members to join the wing and hold posts. The Youth advisory council will further strengthen and oversee the functions of the Youth movement,” Samy Vellu said.

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has revamped the Youth wing by appointing an advisory council and two coordinators to strengthen it until the party elections next year.

Party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said former Youth deputy chief S. Ramis would head the advisory council while Youth social and welfare bureau chief T. Mohan would be the Youth coordinator.

Mohan, 35, who is a businessman, had unsuccessfully contested for the Batu Caves state seat in Selangor on a Barisan Nasional ticket in March.

Samy Vellu said former Youth secretary S. Murugesan has been appointed to assist Mohan in the running of the Youth wing.

“I have directed Mohan and his team to take advice from the newly set up Youth advisory council in carrying out activities and programmes until the Youth elections next year,” he said.

Samy Vellu said Mohan and Murugesan’s first task would be to organise the national Youth annual general assembly scheduled for July 6.

He said the advisory council would comprise former Youth leaders who had already passed the age of 40.

He said the party leadership was now reorganising the MIC Youth section in line with the constitutional requirement of the party.

“And as such, the decision was made to allow younger members to join the wing and hold posts. The Youth advisory council will further strengthen and oversee the functions of the Youth movement,” Samy Vellu said.

MIC Youth chief Vigneswaran quits party

SHAH ALAM: Former youth and sports parliamentary secretary S.A. Vigneswaran has quit the MIC over the move to force him to vacate his party Youth chief’s post.

Announcing his decision, Vigneswaran criticised party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for humiliating him by accusing him of supporting others against the party chief.

“I have no more confidence in the party chief so I am quitting and more people will follow because in the coming weeks I will open the Pandora’s Box.

“I hereby declare that I shall effective from 3.45pm today (yesterday) quit as a member of MIC, a membership I have proudly held for the past 25 years,” Vigneswaran said at a press conference here yesterday.

He added that he had no immediate intention of joining any other party or returning to MIC even if Samy Vellu quit.

Vigneswaran said he was also considering legal action against Samy Vellu over allegations that Vigneswaran supported the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf).

He said he was upset with claims made by Samy Vellu that a parliamentary seat candidate from Klang who lost the recent elections had been conspiring with Hindraf to organise a demonstration in front of the MIC office.

“If he is a true gentleman and is so sure of his sources then he should come out in the open and name me,” Vigneswaran said.

Vigneswaran said he had come to realise that all that he had done during his time with MIC had been to serve the party chief and not the organisation, so it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to continue serving.

“From the feedback from the grassroots, it is not the MIC that the people feel strongly against but the party president for failing to address the needs of the community and yet he announces that he will seek re-election for another term,” he said.

He said Samy Vellu should emulate MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting, who refused a ministerial post despite winning his seat and decided not to stand in the next party elections.