And this is why newly appointed MIC information chief P Kamalanathan believes that his party would be able to weather the storm while the rest fade into oblivion.
While stressing that MIC looked up to Mahathir, he however reminded the 84-year-old statesman that it was the MIC delegates who decide who their leader should be.
THE Negri Sembilan Putera MIC organised a buka puasa function with the children from the Aminan Orphanage at Ampangan, Seremban, recently.
Its chairman, Dr S. Thinagaraj said hosting the breaking of fast event was the wing’s new approach to promote the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said the event would help the different communities to understand and respect each other’s cultures as well remove any racial prejudices.
Thank you: Some of the Putera MIC Negri Sembilan members with residents of the Aminan Orphanage. “We should use this holy month of Ramadan to know our Muslim brothers better especially since we live in a multiracial community,” Thinagaraj said.
He congratulated Putera MIC head of Rasah/ Seremban, R. Dineshwaran for putting the event together.
Dineshwaran said more of such of activities would be held throughout Ramadan.
“We are willing to accept buka puasa invitations from any government or non-government organisations to foster good relations with everyone,” he added.
The caretaker of the Aminan Orphanage in Ampangan, Kamarul Ariffin, thanked the Putera MIC members for the invitation.
“This is the first time an Indian organisation has come forth to host a buka puasa function with us. We should this kind of activity that will unite us and make the 1Malaysia concept a success,” added Kamarul.
Congratulation's Chief
Malaya Tamil School Teachers Union National president P. Tharmalinggam said the Education Ministry had agreed to issue the appointment letters.
He said about 80 temporary teachers who had been selected to undergo teacher training during the holidays from December 2005 had completed their three-year training.
He urged the ministry to review the monthly payment of RM616 given to the teachers during their training, which was less than the amount given previously to other teachers for their training.
He also urged the ministry to consider a higher salary scale based on their previous experience as they had forgone their salary increment.
> Makkal Osai reported Putera MIC co-ordinator P. Kamalanathan as saying that ragging among Indian students in public universities has reached a dangerous level.
He said a student was sacked recently while another four were suspended.
He said the university was conducting its own investigations and if proven, action would be taken against more students.
PUTERA MIC has told Indian students not to refuse the university places that are offered because these are later offered to other communities, reported Malaysia Nanban.
Its coordinator, P. Kamalanathan said every year, about 300 students did not take up the offers citing reasons like the universities being too far and not being given the courses they wanted.
He said the list of successful university candidates would be out next Friday and urged those unsuccessful to appeal directly to the respective universities with a copy forwarded to them.
> Tamil Nesan reported that the recent liberalisation of 27 services sub-sectors provided a huge opportunity for foreign companies to start their franchise business in Malaysia.
Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said the leeway in equity control would enable foreign companies to have 100% ownership.
He said the franchise sector contributed only 6% to the country’s retail sector compared to 50% in developed countries.
> Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Aminah Ayob expressed concern over the lack of non-Malay and male teachers, reports Tamil Nesan.
Among the university’s 4,800 undergraduates, only 20% were non-Malays and 23% males, she said, anticipating a lack of Chinese language teachers in future.
THE MIC’s Putera wing added another feather to its cap with the launch of the Segambut Putera MIC division recently.
Putera MIC has a total of 20 divisions nationwide and the Segambut division is the first to be set up in the Federal Territory, with more divisions coming up.
Putera wing national coordinator P. Kamalanathan said more divisions would be set up in the FT in the next few months, and they had been going on a massive recruitment drive since the wing was created in 2007.
“The wing was created to provide an avenue for young Malaysian Indians to help the community in social and educational issues.
“Those aged between 18 and 30 are encouraged to take part in social services and welfare work and carry out programmes that benefit the community,” Kamalanathan said.
According to Segambut Putera MIC head S. Yogendran, the division has a total of 50 active members who are professionals, and they hope to carry out their social obligation via education.
“That is our core aim – to help our youth in education, ICT and career development,” he said.
“We want to steer them in the right direction. If they want to pursue their studies, set up a business or pick up computer skills – we can help,” Yogendran said, adding that members would guide these youngsters so as to minimise, and ultimately rid, the community of social problems related to gangsterism, and drug abuse, among other things.
For details, email yogendran@puteramic.net.
THE Putera MIC has launched a book donation drive campaign to upgrade the libraries in Tamil schools nationwide.
“We aim to collect 5,000 books and distribute them to at least one Tamil school in each state,” said the Putera MIC national coordinator P. Kamalanathan.
The campaign will run till the end of this year and the books will be delivered to the respective schools by the beginning of next year.
He said there was a serious need for good books in Tamil schools.
“We want to help within our means. Since we can’t afford to give them tables and chairs, we are trying our best to help in our own way,” he said.
According to Kamalanathan, eligible schools who request for the book aid will be given priority.
Here they are: Kamalanathan (third from right) handing over new books to Thanasekaran. Looking on are Putera MIC information chief Premnath (second from right), Uvaraja Maniam (right) and the assistant secretary Padmarajah Selvarajah “We will also be visiting the schools to ensure that they have valid reasons to accept the book aid,” he added.
He urged the public to donate unused school books and other relevant reading materials like encylopaedias, dictionaries or even religious or language-based books.
“For those who have Mandarin books or Islamic religious books, you can donate it as well and we will hand it over to Chinese or the Malay schools that need it,” Kamalanathan added.
The Putera MIC website has details of drop off zones around the country. However if the donors have difficulty bringing the books to the zones, Putera MIC members are willing to pick them up.
For more information log on to www.puteramic.net or call the project director, M. Thanasekaran at 012480 1980 or Putera MIC information chief, A. Premnath at 017-3330535.
SEVEN temples in Puchong are awaiting land titles in order to relocate.
Awtar Singh, special assistant to Seri Serdang assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohd Satim Diman, highlighted the plight of the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist temples recently.
New site: Two Hindu temples, one Buddhist temple and one Sikh temple will be built on this piece of land in Lebuh Puteri in Puchong. He pointed out that these temples had already settled the planning issues with the local council, and were waiting for the state government and Land Office to issue them the land titles.
The temples are Persatuan Penganut Devi Arulmigu Sri Nagakali Jai Muniswarar in Puchong Hartamas, Kuil Aum Sri Maha Aathi Nageswary Amman in Puchong Gateway, Persatuan Pengurusan Kuil Maha Mariamman in Taman Perindustrian Pusat Bandar Puchong, Kuil Naga Nagawasrya Amman in Taman Puchong Intan, Kuil Aaudayar Muniswarar Alayam in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Persatuan Penganut Agama Sikh in Batu 14 Puchong and Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha in Bandar Puteri Puchong.
“These temples have been given land to relocate and some have already had the structures put up by the developers.
“The land has been endorsed in the One-Stop Centre in the Subang Jaya Municipal Council and the district officer was supposed to submit papers to the state government for approval.
“Once approved, the temples will have to submit applications for the land titles.
“But the district officer hasn’t done his part yet,” Awtar said.
He said he has spoken to Selangor health, plantation workers and caring government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, who is also in the three-man committee on non-Muslim religious affairs, about three months ago but no action had been taken so far.
“I urge him to call for a meeting at the Land Office to hear the problems of these temples. The Land Office can get the paper work done immediately to send to the Selangor exco for approval,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: They have become constant targets in the Malaysian Indian blogs but the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) still wants to recognise and honour Indian bloggers.
Since the March 8 elections, the blogsphere which hitherto remained an unexplored realm by politicians has now become an important facet in the battle of minds and votes.
Recognising this, Putera MIC wants to expose more Indian youths to blogging and encourage them to be fair in their postings and content.
In view of this, the wing will be giving out the Manya Bloggers Awards for blogging excellence in August.
The latest move by Putera MIC is seen as an attempt to regain lost ground, especially after losing support from the Indian youths.
This was evident when the wing announced that 50 percent of those in the running for the awards in the different categories were critical of MIC.
At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Putera MIC chief P Kamalanathan said: "Many young Indians are still not aware of this (blogging)."
"We understand that bloggers want something good to happen in Malaysia. That is why we are encouraging fair blogging here. We are open to constructive criticism."
Nine categories
According to him, Indian Malaysian bloggers currently make up one percent of Malaysian bloggers and are mostly university students.
As for the awards, Kamalanathan said there are nine categories which cover areas such as socio-political, technology, photoblog, Tamil language and entertainment.
While the above categories are limited to Indian bloggers, two other categories - MIC Putera Choice Award and Readers' Choice Award - are open to all bloggers
The nominees have already been chosen based on suggestions from existing bloggers. The winners will be determined through a combination of a readers' poll (60 percent) and judges discretion (40 percent).
"There will be three judges who are apolitical, independent and bloggers themselves," said Kamalanathan."We will only reveal who the judges are a week before polling closes."
Polling begins at noon tomorrow and will continue until July 6. Readers can cast their votes at www.manyaawards.com.
Winners will be judged based on the quality of the articles, reactions from the public, popularity of the blog, content and framework.
Participation certificates, cash prices, vouchers and trophies await the participants and winners.
