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Malaysia gives RM1 million grant for Malay Indian tuition centre

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 18 (ANI): The Malaysian Government has allocated RM1 million to the Sri Murugan Centre to help poor and deserving Indian students excel in their education.

The centre’s director and founder, M. Thambirajah, informed about the grant after receiving the cheque from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in Putrajaya on Wednesday.

The centre was established in 1982 to focus on education. It provides tuition for UPSR, PMR, SPM and STPM students. It has 103 branches throughout the country, The Star reports.

Thambirajah said that over the years the centre had produced 16,000 graduates, and added that the funds would be used to open new centres with better facilities.

Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the National Youth Skill Training Institute’s courses would be revised to be more relevant to the job market.

He said his ministry was seeking the assistance of the private sector to identify the areas of demand so that courses could be tailored accordingly. (ANI)

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Universiti Malaya’s Indian Studies Department to remain

September 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Sep 3 (ANI): The Malaysian Cabinet has decided that the Indian Studies Department of Universiti Malaya will remain and to be headed by a qualified Malaysian of Indian origin.

Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said the Cabinet was against the decision to change the name of the department when it was brought up for discussion on Wednesday.

Dr Subramaniam, the sole Indian representative in the Cabinet, had raised the matter as the Malaysian Indian Congress and several Indian non-governmental organisations were against the name change.

“The Cabinet has also directed the Higher Education Ministry to ensure that an eligible Malaysian Indian heads the department,” he told reporters after meeting the ministry’s training providers here,” The Star quoted him, as saying.

Dr Subramaniam hoped this would put an end to speculations on the status of the department and who would head it.

There were reports that Universiti Malaya had wanted to change the department’s name to the “Indian and South Asian Studies Department”.

“I hope the Cabinet’s decision today would put an end to all sorts of speculation on the status of the department. Too many things have been said and enough is enough,” Dr Subramaniam said.

He added that the Cabinet had also discussed about the Hari Raya bonus payment for civil servants but had yet to make a stand on it. (ANI)

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Meeting to resolve relocation of temple in Malaysia

September 3, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Sep 3 (ANI): The Shah Alam Section 23 residents’ committee will meet the Malaysian Hindu Sangam Council tomorrow to resolve the relocation of a Hindu temple to the 90 percent Muslim-majority area.

They are also expected to issue a joint statement to clear the air about the use of a cow’s head in last Friday’s protest.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein told reporters about the relocation yesterday after meeting the committee members at his ministry.

He said he was convinced the protesters had no political motive or reason to egg racial or religious tension.

Hussein added that it was not the first time that the heads of animals had been used in protest, citing the time a pig’s head, wrapped in the Umno flag, was left at Menara Tun Hussein Onn at the party’s headquarters.

He said the organisers did not realise a cow’s head had been brought in until the last minute, The Star reported.

Hussein said the ministry would monitor the discussion to ensure a “win-win situation” was reached.

In Shah Alam, Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has advised residents of Taman Ixora in Section 23 to come up with constructive suggestions.

“Protesting on an issue is fine but it must be based on ethics and conscience and constructive suggestions must come forth. We will hold a dialogue this Saturday to clarify doubts and explain to the residents the proposed relocation of the Hindu temple.”

He said the Selangor Pakatan-led government inherited the problem when they took over the state.

“Now we want to resolve the issue that has been in ding-dong mode for 18 years.”

He added that in previous dialogues, suggestions had been made to move the temple in Section 19 to Section 22 or to Klang. (ANI)

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Kevin Rudd reassures foreign students about safety in Australia

July 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, July 8 (ANI): Despite a series of racially motivated attacks on Indian students in the country, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has assured foreigners that his country is a safe place to study.

Referring to the recent attacks or “curry bashings”, he said, “In every city in the world, unfortunately, there are going to be acts of violence from time to time.”

The Star Online quoted him, as claiming that he was not playing down the issue, and “one act of violence is one too many; one death is one too many,” and added that his government welcomed foreign students and took their security “very seriously”.

Rudd, who was here on Monday for a brief stopover en route to Europe, met Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to discuss bilateral issues.

“The fact that I’ve been here twice in 12 months, with no particular crisis to deal with or problem to solve, shows we take our friendship with Malaysia very seriously,” he said.

Later, noting down that there are about 20,000 Malaysian students in Australia, Rudd said Australia and Malaysia would work towards expanding areas in higher education and training.

Rudd spoke of how Australia was “a nation of immigrants” where a large number of its people came from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

“Apart from anything else, you have taught us how to eat well,” the Mandarin-speaking Rudd quipped. His Mandarin has been touted as even better than one Taiwanese minister’s.

Thanks to the immigration influence, Rudd said Australia now had “some decent food”, such as Malaysian satay, Indonesia’s nasi goreng (fried rice) and the best curries from south Asia, besides Japanese and Chinese food.

“We are multi-cultural and we are proud over it. We are not a perfect society but we are completely comfortable with our future in the region,” he said. (ANI)

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Hindraf leaders no longer a threat to Malaysia: Minister

May 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, May 21 (ANI): Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has said Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders are no longer deemed a threat to Malaysia.

The Hindraf, which is a coalition of 30 Hindu non-governmental organizations committed to the preservation of Hindu community rights and heritage in a multiracial Malaysia, was declared an illegal organisation last year.

Mentioning the now-defunct Communist Party of Malaya (CPM), which remained outlawed despite its former members being freed, Nazri said: “In the case of CPM, its former members sat down with the government and pledged to abandon their ideologies. But CPM remains a banned party. It does not mean that since Hindraf leaders were released, the ban on their organisation has been lifted.”

All five Hindraf leaders held under the Internal Security Act were recently released, New Strait Times reports. peaking about the formation of the Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party by several key Hindraf members, Nazri said they had the right to do so.

Its pro-tem secretary-general, Kannan Ramasamy, had said since Hindraf was outlawed, it was timely that the movement and its support base found an alternative conduit to champion the Indian cause.

He said the new party would remain neutral and work with whichever coalition that was willing to support Hindraf’s 18-point demand. (ANI)

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HINDRAF must file an appeal first, says Malaysian Home Minister

May 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya (Malaysia), May 12 (ANI): The ban on HINDRAF will be reviewed if the organisation makes an appeal to the Malaysian Home Ministry to reconsider its status, said the country’s Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

“If they want us to reconsider the status, they have to make an appeal. When they do make the appeal, I will reconsider the status,” he told reporters after visiting the National Registration Department here on Monday.

Hishammuddin said the Government has tried to be fair by releasing them as they were no more a threat to the country, and that they should be fair in their actions in future.

On HINDRAF chairman P. Waythamoorthy’s statement that he wanted to return to Malaysia, Hishammuddin said he would not speculate on Waythamoorthy’s status, but added that the ministry would review the application, if there was any.

As to whether Waythamoorthy, currently living in self-imposed exile in London, would be arrested if he returned, Hishammuddin said he would check the matter with the police.

On HINDRAF’S legal adviser and Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan saying that he would sue the Government over his ISA detention, The Star quoted Hishammuddin as saying: “It is his right.” (ANI)

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Malaysian Indian Congress Youth lodges complaint against Indian High Commission

May 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, May 9 (ANI): The youth wing of the Malaysian Indian Congress has sent a officials at the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

MIC Youth chief T. Mohan said officers, regardless of their rank, were rude to both local and foreign visitors.

“We want to highlight to the ministry that there is no customer service counter at the high commission, and visitors have to wait for hours without any instructions or assistance from the officers,” he said.

The MIC Youth secretary C. Shivarraaj and MIC Youth social and welfare bureau head S. Subramaniam presented the memorandum to the Deputy Foreign Minister Senator A. Kohilan Pillay.

The memorandum also emphasized the inefficiency of the high commission in handling Indian foreign workers issues.

The High Commission ignored many Indian workers, who had come to the foreign land in search of livelihood, the MIC Youth complained.

In another memorandum, the MIC youth protested against the Sri Lankan government’s continued air and ground attacks on Sri Lankan Tamils in recent weeks.

They said the movement was deeply concerned with the alarmingly high rate of civilian casualties, and requested the ministry to call for and initiate international peace talks. (ANI)

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HINDRAF leaders among 13 ISA detainees to be freed

May 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya (Malaysia), May 8 (ANI): Banned Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) leaders, P.Uthayakumar, M.Manoharan and K.Vasantha will be among 13 ISA detainees to be released soon, Malaysia’s Home Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein announced in Putrajaya today.

According to the New Strait Times and The Star, the three remaining leaders are being detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and will be released soon.

Hussein said he would sign the documents on Friday.

The 13 ISA detainees include six Malaysians, two Indonesians and five Filipinos.

The other three Malaysians are Zulkepli Marzuki, Jeknal Adil and Adzmi Pindatun while the Indonesians are Zainun Rasyhid and Aboud Ghafar Shahril. The Filipinos as Sufian Salih, Hasim Talib, Abdul Jamal Azahari, Yusof Mohd Salam and Husin Alih.

Hussain added the release of the three Hindraf leaders was not politically motivated.

When he became Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak ordered the release of 13 ISA detainees, including HINDRAF leaders V. Ganabatirau and R. Kengadharan. (ANI)

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Malay Indians agitated over selling of ASM units

May 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Apr 29 (ANI): Malay Indians are reportedly agitated over the unexpected sale of Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM) units, which were specially allotted to their community.

According to The Star, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department S.K Devamany accepted that he has received at least 60 calls since last Monday from agitated Indians.

According to the callers, the banks had informed them that the units allocated to the respective branches had been sold out.

Devamany pointed out that according to the latest report from Amanah Saham Bhd, Indians had acquired only 138.15 million units of ASM, which was only 27.7 percent of the total allocated to them.

Taking the matter seriously, he called for an investigation into the charges made by Malay Indians, who were clearly told by the banks that the units have been traded.

Calling the Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), Bank Negara and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to look into the matter, Devamany inferred that there has been some loophole that has led to the banks claiming that no units are left.

Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Devamany said, “One of the reasons for this may be due to the reluctance of some bank staff to take on additional work to process the applications.”

Suspecting fraud in the procedure, he said, ” Another reason I believe is manipulation of the process whereby they blocked the shares for certain customers instead of giving them to those who had been queuing at the banks.”

The Government, he said, should also look at providing loans for Indians, especially those from the lower-income group. (ANI)

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Tamil schools in Malaysia to get RM 130 million

April 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya (Malaysia), Apr.2 (ANI): The Malaysian Education Ministry has said that it will allocate RM 130 million for Tamil schools through the Public Works Department (PWD) as it is the most effective method.

The country’s Education Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the allocation was from the economic stimulus package, and therefore, all projects must be completed by the end of the year.

“We want to do it in the quickest way possible and the PWD has the necessary expertise,” he said after Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak presented the allocation to Tamil school representatives from several states at the ministry.

Hishammuddin said the ministry was disbursing the allocation through the PWD as not all schools had boards of governors.

In an immediate response, Tamil School Headmasters Association general secretary M.S. Muthiah said he was thankful for the allocation. (ANI)

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70 percent of foreign worker permits in Malaysia slashed

March 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya (Malaysia), Mar.15 (ANI): Work permit approvals for foreign workers in Malaysia have been slashed by almost 70 percent due to an emphasis on hiring locals.

In January and February, an average of 250 permits were approved daily compared to 800 last year.

Home Ministry deputy secretary-general Raja Azahar Raja Abdul Manap told the Sunday Star that there was a time when up to 2,000 approvals were granted daily.

He attributed the decrease to a more thorough vetting process by the ministry.Those requesting for foreign labour have to prove that they have made the effort to employ locals. If they can prove it, then they will get the clearance,” he said in an interview.

Raja Azahar said representatives from the various ministries would visit the employers to make sure that there were jobs available and also check if those requesting for foreign workers provided accommodation.

The ministry approved 301,682 foreign workers last year.

Azahar also said the ministry was not extending the work permits of unskilled workers who have been here for three years.

He said his ministry was confident of achieving its target of reducing the number of foreign workers to 1.5 million by 2015. (ANI)

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Malaysian Court dismisses HINDRAF leader’s petition for release

March 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Mar 11 (ANI): Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) leader P. Uthayakumar’s appeal on his second habeas corpus application to secure his release from detention under the Internal Security Act has been dismissed by a federal court.

According to the New Strait Times, Judge Nik Hashim Nik Abdul Rahman denied Uthayakumar’s appeal after he failed to fulfill the requirement under Section 95 of the Rules of the Federal Court to file a petition of appeal within the stipulated 10 days.

The court also rejected his application for extension of time to file the petition of appeal.

Uthayakumar had filed a habeas corpus application in May last year stating that he needed to be released on grounds of medical neglect.

His plea was rejected then, as his claims were proved to be without merit.

Uthayakumar and four other HINDRAF leaders-Kengadharan, 41, M. Manoharan, 47, V. Ganabatirau, 35, and Hindraf coordinator K. Vasantha Kumar, 35 — filed their first application on December 26, 2007, after they were arrested over charges of sedition. (ANI)

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Malaysia Govt. cancels work visas of 55,000 Bangladeshis

March 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Mar. 11 (ANI): Malaysia’s Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar has informed that the Government has cancelled the work visas of about 55,000 Bangladeshis who have not used them so far.

“This group of workers will be affected by the current freeze and we have already decided to cancel past approvals for those coming here to work in sectors other than those approved,” The Star quoted him, as saying.

Work visas of at least 55,147 Bangladeshis, whose visas were approved as far back as 2007, have been frozen due to Malaysian Governments new efforts to reduce foreign workers in the times of gloomy global economy.

Hamid said the levy paid by these workers to get the visas would be returned to them as it involved a substantial sum.

He, however, added that foreign workers were allowed under a few categories such as plantation workers, domestic help and factory workers for the glove-making industry.

Earlier, Bangladesh High Commission labor counselor Talat Mahmud Khan had said more than 70,000 Bangladeshi workers were expected to arrive here soon to work in the plantation, construction and services sectors.

Hamid said the Immigration Department would meet officials from the High Commission to explain the Malaysian government’s stand on the freeze. (ANI)

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Malaysia to recruit more Indians-origin civil servants

February 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kuala Lumpur, Feb. 14 (ANI): Malaysia’s Human Resources Minister Dr. S. Subramaniam has indicated a major breakthrough in request by the Malaysian Indian Congress to increase non-Malay recruitments in the civil service.

Subramaniam said the matter was decided in a meeting attended by the Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Sidek Hassan, Public Services Commission (PSC) chairman Jamaluddin Ahmad Damanhuri and Public Services Department Director General Ismail Adam in Putrajaya on Friday.

“A memo (memorandum) will be issued (by the PSC) on the matter soon. Let’s wait for the memo,” the MIC secretary-general Subramaniam said.

The decision will be discussed in a Cabinet Committee meeting for Indian Development scheduled on February 23, which is expected to be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, The Star quoted him, as saying.

The Malaysian Indian Congress wants an eight percent Indian representation in the civil service.

Earlier, MIC president S. Samy Vellu had observed that the number of Indians civil servants in Malaysia was somewhere between 3.5 per cent to less than five percent.

A news report had claimed that Indians had accounted for only 2.5 per cent out of 486,802 civil services applicants in Malaysia.

However, PSD Director General Ismail had said the situation was difficult to change although the PSD was trying to reduce the gap among the races in the civil service. (ANI)

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Hindraf leaders’ remain under Internal Security Act

February 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Feb 12 (ANI): Five Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders will remain under Internal Security Act (ISA) detention as the Federal Court has dismissed a motion to review an earlier apex court decision denying their release under a habeas corpus application.

The five Hindraf leaders are M. Manoharan, P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, R. Kengadharan and K. Vasantha Kumar.

A three-man panel led by Federal Court judge Justice Nik Hashim Nik Ab. Rahman ruled the case was not fit for a review.

On May 14, 2008, the apex court had held that the detention of the five Hindraf leaders was lawful.

At the outset of court proceedings, Senior Federal Counsel Abd Wahab Mohamad argued that there was no unjust decision against the five and that the judges had applied the correct law and facts when making their ruling, the Star reported. (ANI)

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MIC seeks Indian representation in Perak Govt.

February 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Feb 11 (ANI): The Malaysia Indian Congress (MIC) is seeking Indian representation in the Government of Perak State for the welfare and interests of the Indian community.

The Star quoted MIC Secretary-General Dr S. Subramaniam as saying that MIC, which does not have an assemblyman in the state, had requested for the Speaker’s seat as under the Perak Constitution.

“We are also asking for a representative that is the level of an executive councillor be appointed so that any issues raised by the Indian community can be brought directly to the attention of the exco.

Dr Subramaniam said Deputy Prime Minister and Perak Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak will decide on the matter soon. (ANI)

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Malay Indian appointed member of Indian global advisory council

February 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Feb. 6 (ANI): Malay Indian and the chairman of the Nam Fatt Corporation Bhd, Ajit Singh, who features in the list of 20 most prominent Indians living abroad, has been appointed as a member of the newly constituted Indian Global Advisory Council, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Indian High Commission released a press statement on Thursday saying that Ajit Singh was picked for his experience as a distinguished diplomat who had served in various positions in Malaysian missions abroad and the Malaysian Foreign Ministry as well as due to his experience as ASEAN’s first Secretary-General, The Star reported.

The council chaired by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also includes the country’s External Affairs Minister, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister, and senior government officials.

Other overseas Indians in the council are Nobel laureate and economist Dr. Amartya Sen, academicians Jagdish Bhagwati and Lord Bhikhu Chotalal Parekh, parliamentarian Ela Gandhi, industrialists L.N. Mittal and Karan Bilmoria, corporate leaders Indra Nooyi, Vikram Pandit and Rajat Gupta, management guru C.K. Prahlad, former UN under-secretary Shashi Tharoor and prominent scientist and policy-maker Dr. Sam Pitroda.

The High Commission said the council would serve as an institutionalised dialogue mechanism between the diaspora community and the highest levels of the Indian Government.

The press statement said that the council will advise the Indian Government on how to facilitate dynamic engagement between stakeholders in India and the overseas Indian community.

“It will focus specifically on promoting business-to-business partnerships and creating appropriate institutional mechanisms that can leverage knowledge, skills and expertise possessed by overseas Indians for the country’s socio-economic development,” it said.

The council is also expected to channel the Indian diaspora’s efforts in rooting out poverty, and empowering the education and healthcare sectors. (ANI)

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Malaysia frees 11 Hindraf members

October 29, 2008 By admin Leave a Comment

Putrajaya, Eleven members of the banned Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), who were arrested under the Societies Act after they held an illegal gathering outside the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday, have been released.

Their release papers were signed at noon on Sunday by Kajang magistrate’s court registrar Bonney Empoh, The NST Online reported.

Puchong Member of Parliament Gobind Singh Deo said they were released on 1,000-ringgit police bail each and would have to report to the police station in a month’s time.

“We were told that police were still investigating their cases before forwarding their recommendations to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.”

A police spokesman said all of them were freed so that they could celebrate Deepavali.

“Although the police could extend their remand orders to facilitate investigations, yet on humanitarian grounds, they were released so they can celebrate the festival.”

About 100 family members and supporters of Hindraf were outside the police station as early as 9.30 a. m. on Sunday but there was no untoward incident.

Meanwhile, there was no extra security at the MIC Deepavali open house here yesterday.

Asked if there had been any worries about Hindraf supporters turning up, MIC president S. Samy Vellu said no, adding that the event had gone on well. (ANI)

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Ten Hindu leaders in Malaysia could face jail up to 5 years

October 25, 2008 By Rajesh Leave a Comment

Putrajaya (Malaysia), Oct 25 : The ten supporters of the outlawed Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), who were arrested for gathering outside the prime minister”s office on Thursday, face a maximum five years” imprisonment if convicted under the Societies Act 1966, reports nstonline. com.

Those convicted could also be slapped with a maximum fine of RM15000 under section 48 of the Act.

Yesterday, they were produced before magistrate Nurdiana Mohd Nazir who allowed the police to detain them up till Oct 26 to carry out investigations, added the report.

Earlier, investigating officer ASP Rajali Agong applied to the court for a 14-day remand order to enable police to find out the motives of the assembly and who the organisers were.

However, counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the court that amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) only allowed a magistrate to allow a maximum seven-day detention if the offence investigated was punishable with a jail term of up to 14 years.

During the remand hearing, one of the female detainees fainted while explaining the conditions of the lock-up to the magistrate. She was rushed to a local hospital. N. Surendran, a lawyer who appeared with Amer, said the detainee was a diabetic and her legs had swollen as she had been unable to obtain insulin since her detention. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Malaysia, Putrajaya