Govt will help Indian community: Palanivel

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel is confident the government will continue with its programmes to improve the socio-economy of the Indian community.

He said the government has helped to change the lives of thousands of Indians and brought them into the mainstream of the country through several business and loan assistance.

"We hope that PM (Datuk Seri) Najib (Abdul Razak) will continue to reform and bring equal opportunities in employment and entry into universities and teachers training colleges, not only for Indians but for all communities," he said.

Palanivel noted that there should be greater economic and social development for every citizen.

Since 2009, Najib has allocated RM540 million to fund development of Tamil schools; RM150 million for microcredit schemes; RM50 million for Tekun loans; and has set aside 1,500 matriculation seats for Indian students who excel in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.

GE13: Najib promises to take Indian community to greater heights if Barisan wins

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was greeted by a large crowd in Chetty Field, Klang

 

KLANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak promised Indians that he will take the community to greater heights if Barisan Nasional wins the polls.

Speaking to thousands of Indians gathered at the Chetty Field here, Najib appealed for support to ensure the ruling coalition's victory.

"This is my first election as Prime Minister and leader of BN.

"I am making a personal appeal to the Indian community for a mandate," Najib told a cheering crowd.

Najib's visit was part of the programme at the day-long Indian Community Industrial Carnival which was jointly organised by the Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tekun.

‘Najib has solutions for Indians’

KUALA LUMPUR: BARISAN Nasional is the Indian community's solution. Indians in the country recognise that the BN government has been executing tangible actions and sound policies to uplift their community.

MIC vice-president Datuk S.K. Devamany said Indians in the country had over the past few years been closely evaluating programmes implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration and concluded that Pakatan Rakyat  paled in comparison.

"They see BN's clear direction.  Najib understands and recognises the weaknesses and problems of the Indian community, and has been addressing them."

He said while the BN government had been addressing issues like their religious needs, loans for businesses and educational opportunities, the same couldn't be said about the opposition.

"In comparison, what has the opposition done in their respective states?  Selangor does not want to provide land for us to build Tamil schools while Penang gives a few thousand ringgit here and there for Tamil schools.

"The BN government, on the other hand, gave RM560 million for the development of Tamil schools in the country."

Indian Athma Sakthi Association president  and founder M. Vasantha Kumar said Indians had not only been neglected by Pakatan but its leaders who had voiced out for the community had also been "killed" politically.

"Look what happened to DAP's Professor Dr P. Ramasamy and Parti Keadilan Rakyat's S. Manika- vasagam. Those who champion the Indians are not allowed to grow. 

GE13: PM confident of Indian community’s support for BN

Full house: Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor attending the MIC function in Klang. With them is Palanivel.

 

KLANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is confident that the people, especially the Indian community, will choose Barisan Nasional to continue to govern Malaysia.

He said this view was based on the people's positive feedback to Barisan during the coalition's numerous meet-the-people programmes, which were held across the country for the past several years.

In a speech to a crowd of more than 50,000 people attending an MIC function here yesterday, Najib said the people, especially the Indian community, had shown tremendous support towards him and the party when he met them during public events.

“The Indian community realises that the Opposition had played them out. The Opposition had promised a lot of stuff before 2008 (the last general election), but not everything came true.

“Now, the Opposition has released a copy of their manifesto. What difference is it going to make? It is just another bunch of lies.

Najib's way wins over Indian voters

THE next general election will see the Indian community playing yet another pivotal role in determining not only the outcome of polls but also their own future.

Having turned their backs on the Barisan Nasional (BN) four years ago, the community is now being courted by both sides of the political divide.

However, various programmes and incentives dolled out for them by the present administration has delighted the community and the Indians now feel that their role in the country's development is finally being recognised.

This point was underscored recently when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak pointed out that the nation was indebted to the Indians, especially for their sacrifices in developing plantations, railway, utility services and public works.

Televised live during the recent Unity Pongal celebrations, Najib's speech provoked subtle smiles and a deep sense of satisfaction among many.

Malaysians may not realise it, but Indians generally feel they have played a big role in developing the country with their hard work in creating plantations out of thick jungles and building roads that cut through hills and forests.

Thaipusam: Blessed ritual to fulfil vows

What is the significance of Thaipusam? This and other questions tweeted by readers over the last couple of days are answered by MIC secretary-general Datuk S. Murugesan (pic), who is well-versed in Hinduism as well as its customs and rituals. 

WHY is Batu Caves such an important gathering point?
Thaipusam is the religious festival for Lord Muruga and Batu Caves is the biggest Murugan Temple in Malaysia. It is also close to Kuala Lumpur.

> What's the significance of Batu Caves and how did that come about?
Batu Caves was promoted as a place of worship by K. Thamboosamy Pillai (a prominent leader of the Tamil community during the pre-independence days). He was inspired by the vel-shaped entrance of the main cave and dedicated a temple to Lord Murugan within the caves.

> Why would people want to hurt themselves by piercing? Is it a must?
Hurt or pain is not a must. However, devotees might have taken a vow that they will perform such and such a deed if their prayers are answered. They might incorporate an element of pain in the act of fulfilment.

> I thought Thaipusam was only a few weeks ago. How are these dates set annually?
That was not Thaipusam, it was the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai which fell on Jan 14 this year. Thaipusam is celebrated annually on the full moon in the month of Thai, which falls around the end of January or early February. All these dates are set out in the Hindu calendar, which varies from the English calendar. Thaipusam got its name as it falls on Pusam natchatiram (Hindu astrological star) in the month of Thai.

Abdul Ghani: Important for Indian community to support ruling party

Traditi onal ceremony: Abdul Ghani lighting a lamp during the special dinner organised by MIC Johor with the Indian community at the Dewan Raya Bandar Putra in Kulai.

 

JOHOR BARU: There will be many plans to further develop the Indian community and create inclusive policies that will help the community in future.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said that it was important for the Indian community to continue supporting the ruling Government as many problems faced by them are slowly being solved.

“So far the Government has helped in the development of Hindu temples, Tamil schools and more job opportunities for the Indian community especially in Governmental organisations,” he said.

He was speaking during a special dinner with the Indian community held at the Dewan Raya Bandar Putra in Kulai here recently.

The dinner which was attended by more than 3,000 people was also attended by MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, Johor state MIC chairman Datuk K.S. Balakrishnan and other state representatives and officials.

'Najib's policies will win hearts and minds'

KUALA LUMPUR: Former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu believes that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's dynamic leadership and affirmative policies will win the hearts and minds of the people and lead Barisan Nasional to victory in the next general election.

He said the new brand of politics advocated by Najib through his transformation policies and the 1Malaysia concept, which called for the acceptance of the country's diversity as a source of greater unity, has proven that Najib "is a leader for all communities".

The elder statesman of Malaysian Indian politics said Najib's outreach programmes to all communities and his advocating of moderation or wassatiyah through dialogue and peaceful co-existence, had won the hearts and minds of many who had turned their backs on BN in 2008.

"I have been in politics for more than 30 years and I know what the Indian community is thinking now. Never have they seen such a leader who has been so kind to them.

"The (majority of the) Indian community has come back strongly for BN this time around because their grievances have been heard," said Samy Vellu, who became a minister in 1979 until his retirement in 2008.

Samy Vellu noted that there were sizeable numbers of Indians in the Bersih 1.0 and Bersih 2.0 demonstrations in the past, but very few in Bersih 3.0, and this showed that they now felt that "they have a government that was prepared to look into their plight."

Furthermore, Samy Vellu said Najib had won a lot of admiration from the Indian community, especially the Hindus, from his visits to the Sri Subramaniya Temple at Batu Caves during Thaipusam.

Samy Vellu, who has been appointed the country's special envoy with ministerial rank for infrastructure to India and Southern Asia since January last year, said he was happy to be able to use his experience of almost 30 years in government to support Malaysian companies in their overseas expansion for infrastructure projects. Bernama

(Source: www.nst.com.my)

MIC PROMISES BIG WIN: Only PM & BN "capable" of shaping Indians' future - Palanivel

KUALA LUMPUR - The MIC has promised a big victory for the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), based on tremendous support from the Indian community after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took over the reins in 2009.

Party president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said the support was stronger for the ruling coalition after receiving great benefits, particularly in education, public service development programme, economy and social programmes initated by Najib.

"Up till 2004, our vote was a fixed deposit. But we lost our fixed deposit in 2008. We now assure that the fixed deposit is backing the prime minister.

"Today, the community realises that only the BN government and the prime minister are capable of shaping their future.

"The Indian votes are important to BN, and saying this, the MIC can bring back at least 600,000 votes to the BN," he said during his speech at the MIC's 66th Annual General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre here Sunday.

The assembly was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Also present were former MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Senate president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang and BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Palanivel, who is also minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the Indian community had always placed Najib as a special leader who could uplift their social and economic status.

Najib calls on MIC to return Indians as BN’s ‘fixed deposit’

The PM flanked by MIC president Datuk Seri G Palanivel (left) and former president Datuk Seri Samy Vellu at MIC’s AGM today.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 — The MIC must reclaim Indian voters as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) “fixed deposit” in the next general elections, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

The BN chairman reminded his coalition partners of their embarrassing defeat in Election 2008 when massive numbers of Indians voted in favour of the opposition parties that led to the birth of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact, and urged them not to be swayed by empty promises.

“In the past 11 general elections, MIC was the main contributor to BN’s fixed deposit but in the 12th GE, it became something else when the government lost that fixed deposit.

“I hope in the 13th general elections, which are soon, MIC can return the fixed deposit to BN. Can, gentlemen?” the Umno president asked the thousands of delegates at the MIC assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here, today.

Najib, who is also prime minister, reminded delegates that a vote for the opposition is “a vote for chaos.”

“Do you still remember what happened to the Kampung Buah Pala promise? Promises remain promises, only empty promises,” he said, raising the spectre of the 2009 housing controversy in Penang that signalled the start of the Indian community’s disenchantment with the PR pact they had voted in at the 12th general elections.

The Kampung Buah Pala controversy came about when the residents, who were mostly Indian squatters, were ordered to vacate the land before August 3 following the sale of the 2.6-hectare land by the previous BN state government to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang Bhd.

The villagers who occupied the land — nicknamed the High Chaparral, after the late 60s Western-themed television series about ranchers — had first sought the PR government’s help to intervene after they were issued eviction notices.