Indian Students To Fill 1,500 Matriculation Seats For 2013/2014 Intake

KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 (Bernama) -- MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam has confirmed that a total of 1,500 matriculation seats would be filled by Indian Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) students, quashing claims the government did not fulfil its promise on the matter.

He said he had spoken to an officer from the education ministry, following publication of an article in a Tamil daily, which alleged the ministry had allocated only 500 places for Indians in its matriculation centres for the 2013/2014 intake.

Dr Subramaniam said the officer had informed him that all deserving cases would be offered a place and that the 1,500 places for Indian students would be filled by end of this month.

"More than 6,000 students have applied for the matriculation seats. The registration starts on May 19, and only after May 27, we will know how many students has registered and how many had rejected the offer," he told Bernama when contacted Wednesday.

Last February, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that the government would offer 1,000 more places annually for Indian SPM holders to pursue matriculation courses at public institutions. Earlier, there were 559 seats for them.

 

 (Source: Bernama)

PM: Malaysians should respect all cultures in the country

GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said he specifically learnt to play the drums in a special Chinese New Year advertisement to show his commitment to engage with the Chinese community.

"I want the Chinese community to know that I respect the Chinese culture," he added.

He also said that all Malaysians should respect the Malay, Indian and Chinese cultures in the country.

"This is the underpinning, fundamental value of 1Malaysia," he said during his speech at a dinner with the media here on Sunday.

Najib said that 1Malaysia was about unity and not about politics.

"We must rise above politics and think of the nation. As your Prime Minister, I am dedicated to bringing Malaysia to greater heights," he said.

He also said that he would not perform the Gangnam style dance at the Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year open house on Monday.

"The open house tomorrow (Monday) is for the people of Penang, because I want to be connected to the people of Penang.

"Penang is an important state for us - it is a jewel," he said, adding that a lot could be done for the state.\

(Source: The Star Online)

1MISM to launch outreach programme in Chennai

PETALING JAYA: The 1Malaysia Indian Student Movement (1MISM) is looking to expand its global outreach programme by launching its movement in Chennai, India.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Depart-ment Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who is also MIC president, will be the main guest at the launch tomorrow.

Launched in 2011 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, 1MISM was established to protect the rights and welfare of Indian university students.

It is also a platform for its members to engage in various initiatives such as professional development, cultural and poli- tical awareness as well as community services.

Two months ago, the 1MISM Global Outreach Programme launched its international wing in Indonesia.

Its aim is to function as a one-stop centre to disseminate information on the Govern-ment's Transformation Plan.

The outreach programme also seeks to promote unity and patriotism among Malay-sian Indian students abroad.

(Source: The Star Online)

‘Achamillai’ Najib sets 5-year target for Indians

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said today he hoped to see a vast improvement in the status and welfare of the Indian community in the country over the next five years.

Najib said he also wanted to see the Indian community fully integrated into the mainstream of national economic development.

“I hope that within (the next) five years, we will see the improvement of the Indian community,” he said during an hour-long interview with deejays Aanantha and Uthaya on the “Kalakkal Kaalai” breakfast show over THR Raaga radio.

“As you know, our target is to double our income level by 2020, basically to about US$15,000 per capita,” he told the listeners.

“We target better and better, and we will deliver what we promise,” he said.

Responding to a question from a listener, Najib said the government had achieved much for the Indian community over the last two years and there was greater recognition and awareness of problems faced by Indians.

He said new approaches were taken in recognising and tackling these problems, even from the time when he was the deputy prime minister and chaired the Cabinet Committee on Indian Affairs.

“Some of the things done include the allocation for Tamil schools, where it is the largest ever in our history. The latest decision, for example, is (providing) 1,000 additional places in our matriculation colleges, starting from this year. Previously, it was just 500,” he said.