Indonesians better off than local Indians

by unknown

The Govt's announcement (26th February 2007) of its intention to build schools for 34,000 Indonesian children was applauded by the Indonesian Govt who called Malaysia its "very good friend". Not only do we provide jobs for MILLIONS of Indonesians, we will also provide quality education for free with better facilities than they enjoy back home in Indonesia.

To me, this is somewhat a surprise. The 9th Malaysia Plan provided no allocation for the building of any more vernacular Chinese and Tamil schools and when MCA youth officials questioned the absence of allocation, UMNO youth's Datuk Hashim Bin Suboh from Perlis (at the last UMNO Gen Assembly) asked Datuk Hishammudin what he was going to do next with the Keris now that he had unsheathed it, kissed it and waved it about. He was suggesting that the MCA's demands for the construction of Chinese schools be handled by more than just verbal debate.

Every single unspent Ringgit earned by the Indonesians are remitted back home whereas the wealth of Malaysia 's citizens are reinvested in the country. The Govt machinery runs on taxation income derived from its citizens but spent on the children of Indonesian immigrants who incidentally according to Police statistics account for 33% of all crime in the nation.

The real losers in this scenario are members of the Indian community. Particularly the uneducated who are deprived of the same level of educational opportunity as the children of Indonesian immigrants. And now with free and better education, we can expect even more Indonesians to come over to Malaysia as public education in Indonesia is not cheap. With the population of Indonesians already exceeding the number of Indians in the country, one wonders if there is a hidden agenda to dilute the population mix any further.

How many "Indonesian Malaysians" are currently enjoying Bumiputra benefits? How many of them are already enjoying Govt sponsorships and aid for various reasons? The answers are a well kept secret.

The MIC youth leaders were lamenting the fate of Indians in the country recently. Because of public prejudice against Indians, employers were reluctant to employ them. The police have a habit of indiscriminately arresting every Indian youth insight every time a crime occurs and keeping them in lock up for days. As a result, the youth are reluctant to return to work, unable to explain their absence. Those who do are pressured out of employment when the reason for their absence is revealed. The number of uninvestigated deaths of Indian youth in Police lock ups around the country is rising. And the MIC is looking more disempowered by the day.

The racial polarization caused by UMNO's superiority complex is creating a stronger spirit of protectionism among the Chinese which doesn't help the fate of Indians in Malaysia. Malaysia has forgotten the contribution of its Indian citizenry. Recently, the Selangor state Govt evicted 43 Indian families who had occupied a plot of Govt land in Kuala Selangor for over 80 years. Their appeal for a stay of the eviction order was denied by the Chief Minister of Selangor who incidentally is the son of
an Indonesian immigrant.

I write to appeal to you all to stop thinking of the Indian underclass as somebody else's problem. Indians are intelligent, hard working and loyal. But the level of frustration, lack of confidence and lack of entrepreneurship among them is the result of the selfishness of the Govt. With collective contribution of society, this can all change.

Why single out PTPTN defaulters only?

taken from Malaysiakini.com

by VRK

I refer to the malaysiakini report PTPTN loan defaulters will lose passport.

I am appalled at this report which says that PTPTN loan defaulters will be prohibited from leaving the country if they are not up to date with their repayments.

While I fully agree that stern action should be taken to recover the amounts owing, discriminatory and unjust actions cannot be condoned in the name of convenience.

There is inefficiency in the collection system and I understand the authorities are looking for a suitable CEO to lead PTPN. But my point is why just take this sort of action against PTPN loan defaulters only?

What about loan defaulters of JPA, Petronas, TNB, TMB, Mara, state and other statutory bodies? Why single out PTPTN defaulters only?

And how about those who owe government all sort of monies such as rates, EPF, assessment, fines, school fees, car and housing loans, stamp duty fees and so on? If one is being prohibited from leaving the country (presently only enforced for income tax defaulters) then it should be
applied to all and every one who owes government money.

Otherwise this is discriminatory and our constitution specifically prohibits it, doesn’t it?

"Malaysian Malay" by a Singaporean Malay

by Dr.Syed Alwi

As you know, I am an avid watcher of Malaysian affairs. I must confess that lately, Malaysia appears to be failing. Not a day passes by without more events that clearly highlight Malaysia's race-religion fault-line. If things keep going this way, I fear for Malaysia's future.

Today, schools in Singapore celebrate Racial Harmony Day. I can visibly see the joy in the children's faces as they wear their ethnic costumes and have fun together at school. But in Malaysia - even the right to choose a religion has become a sensitive, national issue. No doubt, there are many in Malaysia who hate my liberal views on Islam, family included. But I will say what I must say openly. I have come to the conclusion that Malaysia cannot progress any further without first addressing fundamental questions regarding its identity and soul.

I remember the days when we can laugh at Lat's cartoons on everyday Malaysian life. But sadly, the Islamic tide has polarised Malaysians. Some people ask why I should bother about Malaysian affairs since I am a Singaporean. May I remind Malaysians that it was Tan Siew Sin who once said that Singapore and Malaysia are Siamese Twins. Should Malaysia go down - it would hurt the region tremendously. Especially Singapore.

Where do you think Malay apostates would head for if Lina Joy loses her case? Singapore of course! I find the Malaysian Malay to be very under-exposed. For them, Islam and the NEP and everything under the sun would sort itself out. I am sorry to say this - but Islam and the NEP may be the cause of the undoing of the Malaysian Malay.

There is nothing wrong with religion or affirmative action. But, like everything else in life, they must be taken in moderation and with a pinch of salt. A little doubt is good. Unfortunately in Malaysia , emotions over Islam have overcome reason. What we see today is the result of the NEP and Islamisation policies of the past thirty years or so.

No one owes Malaysian Malays a living. Let me assure you that should Malaysia fail - the Malaysian Malay will suffer enormously. And rightly so. After all - they have been pampered with all sorts of goodies over the years. They cannot now expect more goodies. Perhaps the day of reckoning for them, is near. Whatever it is, Malaysia had better wake up to the realities around her. The globalised world of the 21st century has no NEP to offer the Malaysian Malay. And humans cannot live by religion alone.

Next generation of Indians are going to suffer

Taken from Malaysiakini.com

by K Narayanasamy

It is particularly interesting to note that many Indian Malaysians throng the president's house and office to have a good breakfast and other forms of aid - and this can easily be interpreted as a creation of a big crowd of beggars who do not know where else to go for help.

It is the insatiable ego of the president that has kept the making of all major decisions to himself. Being the only Indian cabinet minister, all the 'extras' from the system within his grasp are given out as alms to those who approach him from far and near. Isn't this a wonderful feudal system to maintain loyalty towards 'the supreme one'?

If only Indians living anywhere in this country could get whatever help they needed as citizens of this nation from the local MIC service centres and government agencies without having to go on a pilgrimage to meet the grand leader. Then we could be proud of the accomplishments of the leadership of MIC. But such a practice will be possible only through a wide-based leadership development and empowerment approach.

The MIC president's success should be gauged from the manner in which government policies are implemented as he should be spending his energies in ensuring that the policies are not detrimental to the Indians - whether in the awards of contracts, in the awards of scholarships, in the recognition of Tamil schools as fully-aided by the government, in the recruitment of Indian Malaysians for employment in the public sector and the like.

We know that the president is making himself very 'visible' in 'helping' the Indians thereby projecting an image as the 'saviour' of the community. Therein lies the greatest weakness and danger for the community.

If one looks into the resolutions passed at the recently concluded general assembly of the MIC, one begins to wonder whether this is a new party just starting to champion the cause of the Indian Malaysian. Mere rhetoric at meetings and general assemblies seem to satisfy those who attend them by and large as they are well chosen to 'represent' the branches.

The present racially-segregated party system within the BN that has MIC as the sole representative of the Indians has created this ‘lose-lose’ situation for the community, except for those who are fortunate enough to be in the higher echelon of society. Unfortunately, in time to come, unless a meaningful intervention/dialogue is initiated on behalf of the community with the leaders of the other races, the next generation of Indian Malaysians are going to suffer.

The present style and modus operandi of MIC in representing the Indians may not yield the desired results for the majority of the community.

Samy Vellu, MIC and Malaysian Indians

by prabu

The only so called champion for the Malaysian Indians in the last 3 decades is the one and only Samy Vellu. His journey to where he is now has not been easy. He worked his way up from rags-to-riches. However scandals, gangsterism, corruption, swindle, empty promises have marred his reputation but his iron-fist autocracy in his party has ensured his survival. He remains the undisputed most powerful leader of a political party in the nation.

Apart from the infamous Maika and Telekom scandals in the past, the recent toll hikes, MRR2 flyover incidents, public building mishaps, deplorable conditions of Tamil schools, his ignorance the recent temple demolition sphere by local governments and the Hindu-Muslim couple apostasy cases have thrown his sincerity of being the Malaysian Indians champion into question.

In the past he might have got away from this type of incident, however people are well informed now with the progress of internet. He could claim that in the recent Ijok by-election, results show 80% of Ijok Indian voters crossed BN on the ballot paper. However this people are basically rural folks and would be happy if their basic amenities and infrastructure are taken care of. Thus, they were bought over with instant road resurfacing, street lights, temple renovations promises and election ang-pows. This officially turned the by-election to a buy-election. According to Malaysiakini, thugs were even used to block the ingress of opposition to the their residential area during the by-election. They would also most likely regularly watches the RTM Tamil News and reads Tamil Nesan which is a propaganda arm of MIC and Samy Vellu.

How is he going to win over urban folks? His got a mountain to climb. I personally have witnessed my friends from all walks of life changing their perception about the Malaysian government and MIC when they are exposed to the news blogs and electronic media where government has virtually no control. These blogs are not only run by the oppositions, but rather more and more unhappy Malaysian like myself find this as a their way of sharing their thought with fellow countrymen throughout the world. Being in a foreign land where most of the government policies are made transparent and debatable gives a more secured feeling than living in a country like Malaysia where most government is a policy comes with a hidden agenda and not questionable.

Albeit all this, it is undeniable there have been some contribution from MIC to the Indian community. This is especially in the education sector, where we have seen the emergence of TAFE College have played a major role in moulding vocational and technical skilled personnel among the middle class and lower class Indian, MIED Education Fund have helped hundreds of Indian student to continue their higher studies, though it comes with a 6% interest rate. Indians would have been a better community if Samy Vellu had managed to eradicate nepotism and caste based politics MIC, more thorough action to address gangsterism among Indians youths, more funds for Tamils Schools and upgrade of living standards of estates and rural Indian folks.

Failure of MIC to get another ministerial post for MIC in the cabinet, increase the number of Excos in State Assemblies and MPs have significantly reduced their credibility to fight for Indian plight in Malaysia. Samy Vellu failures to choose a creditable candidate but rather those who scratch his back nearly cost them a seat in the name of Ijok. This was voiced by the Ijok locals where they claimed they have hardly seen previous ADUN K. Sivalingam in the constituency since the last election. The last thing we want in our voted representatives, are those who take up the position merely to expand their businesses and personal wealth rather than serving the public.

Barisan Nasional and Racial Polarisation

by prabu

Barisan National or The National Front can be seen as one of the main cause on why the multiracial society remain unintegrated. The racial based party coliation is the core to the other racial based organisation in the country. Racial based societies are even encouraged at school levels. This should be replaced with National Societies (Persatuan Kebangsaan) which comprises all races. This promotes participation of all races in any single racial based activity.

Though the UMNO (United Malay National Organisation) led National Front coliation implemented various projects and activities at all levels to strengthen racial integration but as long as racial politics are practiced in Malaysia, there does not seem any real inspiration within the society towards real integration.

The ultimate barrier from forming a single party to replace the coalition certainly is the Bumiputera (son of the soil or generally Malays) special rights which being strongly upheld by UMNO even after strong opposition by the non-Bumiputeras (mainly Chinese and Indian). This recently intensified after a government agency recently published a statistic which showed the Bumiputera have achieved the initial 30% economic equity target in the country as outlined in the first New Economic Policy (DEB) in 1971.

On 31 August 2007, Malaysia shall celebrate 50 years of independence. The National Front has been the government since the British granted Malaysia independence from British Colonial rule. However, it would appear that any move to dissolve the coalition to form a single party remains almost an impossible task due to strong racial divides in the party system.