Najib regains Indian support

A TAMIL song, Why This Kolaveri Di, written and sung by popular south Indian  actor Dhanush, is enjoying  phenomenal success far beyond the Indian state of Tamilnadu, where it was recorded and produced. 

The song, built around a south Indian folk rhythm, instantly went viral on social networking sites for its quirky "Tanglish" (a mixture of Tamil and English) lyrics.

Soon the song became the most searched YouTube video in India and an Internet phenomenon across Asia. Within days of the release of the video, it received more than 3.5 million views on YouTube and more than one million likes on Facebook.

The song is also very popular among non-Tamil speakers, probably due to the Tanglish lyrics. By November last year, the song had garnered over 10.5 million YouTube views. As of today, the song has hit more than 50 million YouTube views.

When Datuk Seri Najib Razak appeared live on local Tamil radio station THR Raaga late last month, he disclosed that the song was also one of his favourites because of its catchy tune.

Even Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh likes the song, the prime minister told listeners of the station's top-rated breakfast show Kalakkal Kaalai (morning hustle and bustle).

Far from trying to promote the song, Najib's appearance on the show was obviously aimed at further reaching out to Indians, the majority of whom are warming up to his various initiatives for the community.

Indians in Terengganu urged to ignore ‘opposition’s propaganda’

KEMAMAN, Nov 28 — The Indian community in Terengganu has been advised against being influenced by the propaganda of the opposition political parties.

Air Putih state assemblyman Wan Abdul Hakim Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar said the community should ignore attempts by the opposition to incite hatred in them against the government, and should be proud that their welfare was always taken care of by the government.

He said Malaysia continued to focus on nation building and needed the support of all, regardless of whether they were from the majority or minority groups.

“The government has met the needs and wants of the Indian community, and the Indians in Terengganu have benefited from development in various aspects, including education and health.

“We don’t want the opposition to plant untruths in the community; so, we must unite to preserve the peace and racial harmony we have enjoyed all this while,” he told Bernama after launching a Deepavali programme in Jabor, near here, last night.

About 300 Indians, most of whom worked at the Sime Darby estate in Lembah Jabor as well as rural people from Semambu, Kuantan, attended the event, organised by the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), National Security Council, Lembah Jabor Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) and the Air Putih Community Service Centre.

Meanwhile, Jabor Estate JKKK chairman Siva Kumar Sri Raman said the Indians of Air Putih were grateful that they were able to live peacefully in Malaysia and were proud of the government’s concern for them as a minority group.

“There are only 200 of us in Air Putih, but we have never felt neglected. Instead, we are always asked to give our views and cooperation for infrastructure and social development here.

“We will surely strive together to retain the present government because we are satisfied with what we have been enjoying,” he said.  — Bernama

(Source: The Malaysian Insider Website)