Samy Vellu retains MIC president's post uncontested

Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu retained the post of MIC president uncontested for the 11th consecutive term at the close of the party's presidential nomination in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, according to sources.

The nomination papers of his challenger Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan were rejected.

Muthu’s bid looks bleak

MIC presidential aspirant Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan faces a snag in his bid to challenge incumbent Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, says MIC officials.

According to them, many of the branch chairmen who nominated the former MIC vice-president also nominated Samy Vellu.

“MIC divisional chiefs who checked with the branch chairmen claim that too many nominations secured by Muthupalaniappan had dual nominees (Samy Vellu and Muthupala-niappan).

“Such nominations would be deemed as null and void.”

They said Muthupalaniappan, 66, who had many of those nominations, may not have the sufficient number to submit his papers for the president’s post today.

MIC presidential election steering committee head Datuk K. Viji-yanathan said the party’s constitution and by-laws stated that a branch chairman can only propose or second one candidate.

“If there are instances where a branch chairman nominates more than one candidate, then his nomination would be null and void. If there is more than one nomination by a branch chairman for one candidate, then only one nomination would be taken into account,” he said.

The officials said some branch chairmen had given their nomination to Muthupalaniappan to spite their ineffective division chairmen.

They said some of these chairmen realised their folly when the division leaders sought their nominations for Samy Vellu. “By then, Muthupalani-appan had already taken the forms from them and they could not withdraw their nomination for him.”

The officials said Samy Vellu had 540 nominations, while Muthupal-aniappan claimed to have secured 51.

A candidate needs to secure 50 nominations, with each nomination needing a proposer and five seconders, all branch chairmen, to be eligible to contest.

The MIC president will be picked by the chairmen of the 3,700 branches who would be required to vote in their respective divisions.

The party has fixed today for the nominations and polling on April 12.

When contacted, Muthupalani-appan said the branch chairmen who proposed and seconded him did so on their own accord.

“I did not coerce any of them to nominate me,” he said.

Muthupalaniappan said there were behind-the-scene attempts to get branch chairmen to withdraw their nominations for him.

“Some requested me to give back their nomination forms as they were afraid of being victimised,” he said.

An aide to Samy Vellu said he would respond to any allegation after the nominations.

Seven As student cut out to be a doc, not cut grass

GEORGE TOWN: Eighteen-year-old S. Somaraj may be a top student, having scored 7As and 3Bs in his recent SPM examination, but he is forced to help his father with his part-time job of cutting grass on weekends.

Somaraj, a Penang Free School student, hopes to become a doctor in a private hospital here, where his father, M. Sangkaran, 46, works as an ambulance driver.

“I want to make my parents proud of my achievements. But it will cost more than RM250,000 for medical studies. I hope my parents can raise the money somehow.

“With me helping my father on weekends, he can earn about RM300 extra a month in addition to his RM1,700 salary at the hospital,” he said, adding that his mother K. Dharamambal, 39, earned RM800 monthly as a factory worker.

Luckily for Somaraj, who is a keen football player, his plight has caught the attention of state MIC youth treasurer J. Dhinagaran,

Dhinagaran, who is Penang Indian Football Association president, visited Sangkaran upon learning that he, Somaraj and another son Sartish were cutting grass outside a house in Batu Lanchang, here, yesterday.

He presented RM2,001 in aid to Sankaran and suggested that Somaraj pursue his medical studies at AIMST University in Sg Petani.

Sangkaran said the aid would be used to partially finance a foundation course at the university. “I’ve heard the one-year foundation fee at the university is about RM17,000. I hope I can raise enough money for that,” he said.

Dhinagaran said he would support Somaraj’s application for a scholarship from the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), which runs the university.

“Somaraj has a bright future,” he said.

Those interested in giving Somaraj a helping hand can contact Dhinagaran at 012-4879030.

Vell Paari: Let me clean up Maika first - malaysiakini

Maika Holdings chief executive officer S Vell Paari today said that he would step down from his post as soon as he has restored MIC's ailing investment arm.

"My intention is to clean up the company and restore it to a strong asset based company and then step down as a CEO.

"A new CEO will then be appointed to take over the company. The last few years, I have always made this intention quite clear," he said in a statement today.

He also said that at the company's annual meeting last year, the Maika board had proposed resolutions to sell off all assets of Maika and distribute the surplus to the shareholders.

"The company would have been in a position to buy back at a minimum of RM1 per share which also includes it bonus shares. However, that plan had to be put on hold due to injunction by a shareholder to stop us on acting on those resolutions," he said.

He added that Maika directors had had discussions with the particular shareholder in trying to come to an amicable solution.

EGM proposed

At the same time, Vell Paari said, the board has also submitted an application to the High Court seeking for a date to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

"The court has set Dec 2 as the date to hear our application and if successful, we would then immediately call for an EGM to approve the said resolutions and refund the monies back to the shareholders," he said.

Vell Paari was responding to criticisms levelled against the Maika management team by former Federal Territory MIC chief VKK Teagarajan yesterday.

Teagarajan said that a weak management was to be blamed for the financial woes of Maika. He also proposed that the government pumped in RM150 million to bail out Maika.

Teagarajan, who is vying for the post of deputy president in party polls next September, also said that some of the investors were forced to sell their shares at 30 sen.

On this, Vell Paari said that he would be asking his officers to liaise with Teagarajan to obtain more details on the 30 sen deals.

A new company to take over

He added that he was also aware of some unscrupulous people who were preying on innocent shareholders so that they can make a quick minimum 70 sen profit per share.

"We have always advised shareholders not to sell below RM1," said Vell Paari, who is the son of MIC president S Samy Vellu.

He also gave his personal opinion of the way forward for Maika, based on feedback he had received from investors were not interested to cash out and wanted the company to continue.

"I suggest that the funds of the remaining shareholders who have not taken up the offer to cash out be transferred into a new company and making these remaining shareholders the new shareholders of the new company.

"Maika Holdings would be liquidated and the remaining assets of Maika Holdings are to be transferred into the new company," he said.

He said that the new company would have a new set of board members appointed by the shareholders.

"The board members have to be appointed by at least 75 percent of the voting shareholders. At least 26 percent of its shareholders have to be spread among individuals.

"Major investment decision in the new company has to be approved by at least 75 percent of the shareholders present in the company meeting," he added.

He said that MIC too can play a role by urging the government to channel some projects into the new company.

Defending his record

Vell Paari also defended his track record as Maika's CEO.

"When I took over as the CEO in 1999, Maika was technically insolvent. Now with the help of the board, we have RM150 million in gross assets," he said.

He added that the government has been helpful in solving some of Maika's financial woes through the national asset management company Danaharta.

Maika, a brainchild of Samy Vellu, was established in 1982 purportedly to enable Indian Malaysians to have a share in the country's economic growth.

Some 66,000 investors had put in about RM106 million of their hard-earned cash into the venture.

However they have grown disillusioned after seeing little returns on their investments, with many accusing the company of squandering the capital through dubious channels.

Maika Holdings chief executive officer S Vell Paari today said that he would step down from his post as soon as he has restored MIC's ailing investment arm.

"My intention is to clean up the company and restore it to a strong asset based company and then step down as a CEO.

"A new CEO will then be appointed to take over the company. The last few years, I have always made this intention quite clear," he said in a statement today.

He also said that at the company's annual meeting last year, the Maika board had proposed resolutions to sell off all assets of Maika and distribute the surplus to the shareholders.

"The company would have been in a position to buy back at a minimum of RM1 per share which also includes it bonus shares. However, that plan had to be put on hold due to injunction by a shareholder to stop us on acting on those resolutions," he said.

He added that Maika directors had had discussions with the particular shareholder in trying to come to an amicable solution.

EGM proposed

At the same time, Vell Paari said, the board has also submitted an application to the High Court seeking for a date to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM).

"The court has set Dec 2 as the date to hear our application and if successful, we would then immediately call for an EGM to approve the said resolutions and refund the monies back to the shareholders," he said.

Vell Paari was responding to criticisms levelled against the Maika management team by former Federal Territory MIC chief VKK Teagarajan yesterday.

Teagarajan said that a weak management was to be blamed for the financial woes of Maika. He also proposed that the government pumped in RM150 million to bail out Maika.

Teagarajan, who is vying for the post of deputy president in party polls next September, also said that some of the investors were forced to sell their shares at 30 sen.

On this, Vell Paari said that he would be asking his officers to liaise with Teagarajan to obtain more details on the 30 sen deals.

A new company to take over

He added that he was also aware of some unscrupulous people who were preying on innocent shareholders so that they can make a quick minimum 70 sen profit per share.

"We have always advised shareholders not to sell below RM1," said Vell Paari, who is the son of MIC president S Samy Vellu.

He also gave his personal opinion of the way forward for Maika, based on feedback he had received from investors were not interested to cash out and wanted the company to continue.

"I suggest that the funds of the remaining shareholders who have not taken up the offer to cash out be transferred into a new company and making these remaining shareholders the new shareholders of the new company.

"Maika Holdings would be liquidated and the remaining assets of Maika Holdings are to be transferred into the new company," he said.

He said that the new company would have a new set of board members appointed by the shareholders.

"The board members have to be appointed by at least 75 percent of the voting shareholders. At least 26 percent of its shareholders have to be spread among individuals.

"Major investment decision in the new company has to be approved by at least 75 percent of the shareholders present in the company meeting," he added.

He said that MIC too can play a role by urging the government to channel some projects into the new company.

Defending his record

Vell Paari also defended his track record as Maika's CEO.

"When I took over as the CEO in 1999, Maika was technically insolvent. Now with the help of the board, we have RM150 million in gross assets," he said.

He added that the government has been helpful in solving some of Maika's financial woes through the national asset management company Danaharta.

Maika, a brainchild of Samy Vellu, was established in 1982 purportedly to enable Indian Malaysians to have a share in the country's economic growth.

Some 66,000 investors had put in about RM106 million of their hard-earned cash into the venture.

However they have grown disillusioned after seeing little returns on their investments, with many accusing the company of squandering the capital through dubious channels.

Samy: Ensure rebuilding of Tamil schools proceed well

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has urged the Government to set up a committee to co-ordinate the rebuilding and refurbishing of Tamil schools using a RM50mil allocation under the stimulus package.
Its president, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, said the proposal would be tabled by secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam, who is also the Human Resources Minister, at the next Cabinet meeting.
“We want 60% of the Tamil schools to be rebuilt or refurbished before 2011,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
There are 523 Tamil schools in the country.
Samy Vellu said the party also urged the Government to expedite the implementation of the proposals submitted to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to increase equity participation of Indians.
“The proposals include the setting up of a mechanism within the Perbadanan Nasional Bhd to assist poor Indians to buy shares through a 50% grant and 50% loan from the Government,” he said.
Samy Vellu said they would ask Najib, the chairman of the Cabinet Committee for the development of Indians, to hold a meeting every three months. The last meeting was on July 1.
He said the MIC would also request for more Indian representation in the Public Services Commission.
“We are also not satisfied that only 105 Indians of the 2,000 Indians called for interviews by the Public Services Department were selected. Their selection was based on their CGPA grades. We feel the PSD should have also considered their SPM/STPM results.”
He said he met Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Sidek Hassan on Nov 13 to discuss the matter.

More Indians in civil service

PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has assured that more Indians will be recruited into the civil service.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said the Cabinet would ensure that more applications by Indians would be approved based on their job descriptions and merit.
The MIC urged the Public Services Commis­sion to ensure a minimum intake of at least 7% for all job categories in the public service, Subramaniam, who is the MIC secretary-general, said in a statement here.

MIC Youth, NGOs protest against Sri Lankan violence | malaysiakini

REF : MIC YOUTH FOR PEACE : War in Sri Lanka

MIC Youth wing and several non-governmental organisations this morning staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission in Jalan Damai, off Jalan Ampang against the civil war in that island.

More than 200 people protested against the Sri Lankan government's ongoing continued air and ground attacks against Sri Lankan Tamils.

They said that these attacks resulted in innocent men, women and children being killed and maimed.

The demonstration was led by MIC Youth deputy coordinator S Murugesan and MIC Youth advisory council chairman S Ramis. MIC Youth coordinator T Mohan and S Vell Paari were present to give their moral support.

Protestors wore black armbands while some carried placards depicting the pictures of the affected women, children and damaged houses.

The protesting entourage however did not submit a protest note to the high commission after their officials insisted on only allowing MIC Youth officials to present it.

Murugesan (photo: centre) said that it was unacceptable as MIC Youth had already informed the high commission that they were coming together with the NGOs to hand over the memorandum.

"It seems that the high commission wants to divide the MIC Youth and the NGOs. Their condition is unacceptable," he told reporters.

Murugesan also said that they would initiate a campaign to urge Malaysians to boycott Sri Lanka products as well as the Sri Lanka Airlines.

"We would be having another demonstration with a much bigger crowd in the near future. We will show our strength," he said.

The protest started at about 10.30am and ended by 12.45 pm without any untoward incident.


REF : MIC YOUTH FOR PEACE : War in Sri Lanka