http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/77389
Meenachi Indian
Jan 24, 08 3:35pm
I refer to the Malaysiakini report Hindu devotees boycott Batu Caves.I was amused to read MIC president S Samy Vellu's denial that the crowd at the Batu Caves Thaipusam celebrations this year was much less than the years before.
Samy Vellu is definitely in denial and needs to wake up to the stark reality that Indian Malaysians are no longer willing to tolerate the MIC's dishonesty and inefficiency.
Members of the community have also decided that they will no longer allow Samy Vellu's lackeys, such as the Batu Caves temple committee chairman R Nadarajah, to rip them off.
So, my suggestion to Samy Vellu would be for him to accept and acknowledge the current situation and to stop making ridiculous statements which only make him come across as a complete imbecile.
I must also say something about the so-called MIC gathering at the Cheras Badminton Stadium on Jan 20.
If Samy Vellu believes that the crowd gathered there that day reflected his efficacy as the supreme leader of the Indian Malaysian community as well as being indicative of the strong support he has, he must be delusional.
Most of them at the stadium that evening were MIC members herded there by their division and branch leaders who wanted to please Samy Vellu in the hope that he'll reward them with a parliamentary or state assembly seat in the upcoming general election.
Those at the stadium were also mostly from other states and were taken on an excursion of sorts to places such as Batu Caves before being brought to the stadium.
Most of them came for the gathering simply because they fancied a sightseeing trip to Kuala Lumpur.
Now, compare this with the countless people who paid their own passage and traveled to Kuala Lumpur on buses and trains to participate in the Nov 25 Hindraf rally.
Most of them literally spent the night of Nov 24 on the streets and walked for miles the next morning to show their support. None of them were transported to Kuala Lumpur in air-conditioned coaches and given an all-expense paid outing.
Doesn't this speak volumes?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Indians redundant in their own country
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/77256
Meenachi Indian Jan 21, 08 3:35pm
I am an intelligent, resourceful and hardworking Indian Malaysian woman. Unfortunately I have had very little opportunity in life due to several factors beyond my control.
These factors include the sad fact that my family did not have the money or the connections to obtain a scholarship or a study loan for me to read medicine, law or dentistry.
If that wasn't bad enough, I belong to a country which has policies that discriminate me simply because my forefathers did not come from the Malay archipelago.
To add insult to injury, the private sector, in which I am employed, mostly favours races other than mine.
Therefore, I can stand on my head and even roll over while somersaulting at work, but my employer may not even blink an eye.
What I am trying to say is that people like me have been rendered insignificant in our own motherland.
Our country does not need us and we are told this over and over again in many subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle ways.
All the Indians in Malaysia can pack up and go live in Timbuktu tomorrow, and we probably wouldn't be missed at all.
We are also not well-represented in the armed forces – in spite of having been the backbone of the air force and navy for many, many years after independence.
Believe me when I tell you that almost 85 percent of the pioneers in the Royal Malaysian Air Force were Indian Malaysians.
The then Telecoms Department as well as National Electricity Board were also filled with Indian Malaysians, not forgetting KTM which was also maintained by Indians.
Indian Malaysians have also played a pivotal role in the country's development by building roads, railway tracks and bridges as well as carrying out janitorial duties through their jobs in the JKR and the various City Halls and municipalities.
We have also contributed tirelessly towards the nation's economy by breaking our backs in the many rubber estates for decades.
We realise that times have changed and we can no longer expect things to be like what they were before.
We are not asking much other than some opportunities to help ourselves so that our community will not completely become insignificant in our motherland.
Indian Malaysians have now become the nation's weakest link and a majority of us, especially those whose forefathers had broken their backs for the nation, have become redundant in our own country.
Please understand and acknowledge what's happening to us.
Meenachi Indian Jan 21, 08 3:35pm
I am an intelligent, resourceful and hardworking Indian Malaysian woman. Unfortunately I have had very little opportunity in life due to several factors beyond my control.
These factors include the sad fact that my family did not have the money or the connections to obtain a scholarship or a study loan for me to read medicine, law or dentistry.
If that wasn't bad enough, I belong to a country which has policies that discriminate me simply because my forefathers did not come from the Malay archipelago.
To add insult to injury, the private sector, in which I am employed, mostly favours races other than mine.
Therefore, I can stand on my head and even roll over while somersaulting at work, but my employer may not even blink an eye.
What I am trying to say is that people like me have been rendered insignificant in our own motherland.
Our country does not need us and we are told this over and over again in many subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle ways.
All the Indians in Malaysia can pack up and go live in Timbuktu tomorrow, and we probably wouldn't be missed at all.
We are also not well-represented in the armed forces – in spite of having been the backbone of the air force and navy for many, many years after independence.
Believe me when I tell you that almost 85 percent of the pioneers in the Royal Malaysian Air Force were Indian Malaysians.
The then Telecoms Department as well as National Electricity Board were also filled with Indian Malaysians, not forgetting KTM which was also maintained by Indians.
Indian Malaysians have also played a pivotal role in the country's development by building roads, railway tracks and bridges as well as carrying out janitorial duties through their jobs in the JKR and the various City Halls and municipalities.
We have also contributed tirelessly towards the nation's economy by breaking our backs in the many rubber estates for decades.
We realise that times have changed and we can no longer expect things to be like what they were before.
We are not asking much other than some opportunities to help ourselves so that our community will not completely become insignificant in our motherland.
Indian Malaysians have now become the nation's weakest link and a majority of us, especially those whose forefathers had broken their backs for the nation, have become redundant in our own country.
Please understand and acknowledge what's happening to us.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Yeah, what's new Uncle Samy?
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/1/3/nation/20080103164029&sec=nation
Thursday January 3, 2008
MIC to hold ‘support for BN’ gatherings
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 15,000 MIC members and supporters will gather here to pledge their support to the Barisan Nasional and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.
He said the gathering, to be held at the Cheras Badminton Stadium on Jan 20, would be the first in a series of gatherings throughout the country aimed at bolstering the party’s strength and support for the Barisan Nasional, ahead of the next general election.
He said besides Abdullah, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, Deputy Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak would also be invited for the gathering.
The Works Minister said the gatherings were also aimed at explaining to party members and the Indian community the struggles, achievements and challenges confronting the community.
“It is also to send a loud and clear message to the opposition that the Indian community will always stand solidly behind Barisan Nasional,” he said in a statement.
Samy Vellu said MIC members were united in thwarting attempts by certain quarters to stir up racial and religious issues for their own political agenda.
He expressed disgust at some opposition parties for using Hindu temples to incite racial and religious issues.
“This is a new trend where they get a few Indians to hold political ceramahs in temples, because they know that people (the Hindus) will come for prayers,” he said.
Samy Vellu urged the Indian community not to be fooled by the opposition and their stooges.
“The Indians must think of their future and the country’s well-being, and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the opposition,” he said.
http://archives.thestar.com.my/search/default.aspx?query=MIC
Wednesday January 2, 2008
Samy Vellu plans to revamp MIC
KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC will be reorganised to make it more effective and efficient in meeting the needs and demands of the Indian community, its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.
He said the 62-year-old party would undertake a “cleaning exercise” to make it more relevant to the Indians.
“The party will change its course to move more effectively to resolve the problems facing the community,” he said.
Samy Vellu said although the methods adopted by the MIC have been successful in resolving the community’s woes, a more concerted effort was needed for the “more difficult and sensitive problems.”
In a statement from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, he said the party would be managed in a different style with a higher efficiency towards serving the people.
Samy Vellu, who is the Works Minister, is in Tamil Nadu en route to New Delhi to attend a three-day conference for People of Indian Origin (PIO), hosted by the India, beginning Jan 7.
He said recently that new faces would be introduced to contest the next general election.
“The people’s expectations have changed and we also need to make changes to remain relevant,” he said.
“We will work in a manner that will benefit the community,” he said, adding that MIC understood the mode of being efficient by “doing the right things”, while at the same time, striving to “do things right”.
Samy Vellu said education would continue to be the main thrust of the party this year, with the official opening of the RM580mil Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST), a university owned by the MIC.
“The creation of more Indian graduates will be our main objective in 2008,” he said, adding that the party’s educational arm, the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), has been supporting 1,200 medical students overseas annually.
Thursday January 3, 2008
MIC to hold ‘support for BN’ gatherings
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 15,000 MIC members and supporters will gather here to pledge their support to the Barisan Nasional and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.
He said the gathering, to be held at the Cheras Badminton Stadium on Jan 20, would be the first in a series of gatherings throughout the country aimed at bolstering the party’s strength and support for the Barisan Nasional, ahead of the next general election.
He said besides Abdullah, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, Deputy Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak would also be invited for the gathering.
The Works Minister said the gatherings were also aimed at explaining to party members and the Indian community the struggles, achievements and challenges confronting the community.
“It is also to send a loud and clear message to the opposition that the Indian community will always stand solidly behind Barisan Nasional,” he said in a statement.
Samy Vellu said MIC members were united in thwarting attempts by certain quarters to stir up racial and religious issues for their own political agenda.
He expressed disgust at some opposition parties for using Hindu temples to incite racial and religious issues.
“This is a new trend where they get a few Indians to hold political ceramahs in temples, because they know that people (the Hindus) will come for prayers,” he said.
Samy Vellu urged the Indian community not to be fooled by the opposition and their stooges.
“The Indians must think of their future and the country’s well-being, and not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by the opposition,” he said.
http://archives.thestar.com.my/search/default.aspx?query=MIC
Wednesday January 2, 2008
Samy Vellu plans to revamp MIC
KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC will be reorganised to make it more effective and efficient in meeting the needs and demands of the Indian community, its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.
He said the 62-year-old party would undertake a “cleaning exercise” to make it more relevant to the Indians.
“The party will change its course to move more effectively to resolve the problems facing the community,” he said.
Samy Vellu said although the methods adopted by the MIC have been successful in resolving the community’s woes, a more concerted effort was needed for the “more difficult and sensitive problems.”
In a statement from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, he said the party would be managed in a different style with a higher efficiency towards serving the people.
Samy Vellu, who is the Works Minister, is in Tamil Nadu en route to New Delhi to attend a three-day conference for People of Indian Origin (PIO), hosted by the India, beginning Jan 7.
He said recently that new faces would be introduced to contest the next general election.
“The people’s expectations have changed and we also need to make changes to remain relevant,” he said.
“We will work in a manner that will benefit the community,” he said, adding that MIC understood the mode of being efficient by “doing the right things”, while at the same time, striving to “do things right”.
Samy Vellu said education would continue to be the main thrust of the party this year, with the official opening of the RM580mil Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST), a university owned by the MIC.
“The creation of more Indian graduates will be our main objective in 2008,” he said, adding that the party’s educational arm, the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), has been supporting 1,200 medical students overseas annually.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The plaintive wail of an Indian M’sian woman
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/72884
The plaintive wail of an Indian M’sian woman
Dot Sep 26, 07 4:47pm
I was greatly disturbed after reading about Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's announcement recently that starting next year, public listed firms must disclose their employment composition by race.
If this move was aimed at increasing the number of bumiputeras employed in the private sector, I foresee turbulent times ahead for Indian Malaysian women.
This will shrink the Indian quota in public-listed companies and Indian men will be employed instead of women to fill in the vacancies in these establishments.
As it is, we are highly discriminated in locally-owned private companies which readily hire Indian women only as cleaners and ‘tea ladies’.
Those employed for other positions are there to make-up the racial composition and are more often than not discriminated against in terms of remuneration and opportunities within the company.
And if you are conservative and traditional in your appearance, the discrimination only intensifies. I know this for a fact because as a buxom forty-something year-old Indian woman, I have received little opportunities in the public-listed company that I work.
To make matters worse, I am conservative and very ‘Indian’ in looks - this worsens my lot even though I am progressive in thinking, farsighted and innovative.
My employers also expect me to be submissive and I am prevented from being a go-getter like other women colleagues even though I have proven more than once that I can deliver well.
Whatever little opportunities made available to Indians in my company go to my Indian male colleagues regardless of whether they can do the job well or not.
So if the private sector is forced to take in more bumiputeras, we Indian women will be the ultimate victims. Most public-listed companies are Chinese-owned and therefore employers will ensure that the number of Chinese employees in the organisation is maintained.
I do not blame them as they are merely protecting their community's interest due to the country's highly discriminative bumiputera-centric policies.
I am sure that local Indian public-listed companies would do the same but unfortunately, due to the community's fetish for medicine, law and engineering, public-listed companies within the community are scarce.
I am not a racist and I hate myself for thinking this way, but sadly this is the stark reality that faces us today. Doesn't the government owe us a duty of care as well?
Not a day goes by now without me kicking myself for not packing up and emigrating to other countries, like many of my friends, when I was still young and without baggage.
I am indeed a fool for having believed that my place is where my heart is - my motherland Malaysia.
The plaintive wail of an Indian M’sian woman
Dot Sep 26, 07 4:47pm
I was greatly disturbed after reading about Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's announcement recently that starting next year, public listed firms must disclose their employment composition by race.
If this move was aimed at increasing the number of bumiputeras employed in the private sector, I foresee turbulent times ahead for Indian Malaysian women.
This will shrink the Indian quota in public-listed companies and Indian men will be employed instead of women to fill in the vacancies in these establishments.
As it is, we are highly discriminated in locally-owned private companies which readily hire Indian women only as cleaners and ‘tea ladies’.
Those employed for other positions are there to make-up the racial composition and are more often than not discriminated against in terms of remuneration and opportunities within the company.
And if you are conservative and traditional in your appearance, the discrimination only intensifies. I know this for a fact because as a buxom forty-something year-old Indian woman, I have received little opportunities in the public-listed company that I work.
To make matters worse, I am conservative and very ‘Indian’ in looks - this worsens my lot even though I am progressive in thinking, farsighted and innovative.
My employers also expect me to be submissive and I am prevented from being a go-getter like other women colleagues even though I have proven more than once that I can deliver well.
Whatever little opportunities made available to Indians in my company go to my Indian male colleagues regardless of whether they can do the job well or not.
So if the private sector is forced to take in more bumiputeras, we Indian women will be the ultimate victims. Most public-listed companies are Chinese-owned and therefore employers will ensure that the number of Chinese employees in the organisation is maintained.
I do not blame them as they are merely protecting their community's interest due to the country's highly discriminative bumiputera-centric policies.
I am sure that local Indian public-listed companies would do the same but unfortunately, due to the community's fetish for medicine, law and engineering, public-listed companies within the community are scarce.
I am not a racist and I hate myself for thinking this way, but sadly this is the stark reality that faces us today. Doesn't the government owe us a duty of care as well?
Not a day goes by now without me kicking myself for not packing up and emigrating to other countries, like many of my friends, when I was still young and without baggage.
I am indeed a fool for having believed that my place is where my heart is - my motherland Malaysia.
I started having some respect for Samy but then...
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/74443
I started having some respect for Samy but then...
Dot Nov 6, 07 5:23pm
I almost fell off my swivel chair laughing when I read that the MIC’s elected representatives would be holding their open houses after all (MIC retracts ban on Deepavali events).
Party president S Samy Vellu had initially issued a statement banning all open houses by the party’s elected representatives as a mark of protest over the demolition of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam recently.
I started to have a little respect for him when I read this. He then went on to revoke the ban in less than three hours after making his initial proclamation.
The reason given was that there was ‘overwhelming requests from members of the community for the ban to be overturned’.
Fiddlesticks! Wake up, Uncle Samy! Do you think the average Indian actually cares?
The real reason behind the about-turn is probably angry protests by the elected representatives themselves as many would have already prepared for their respective open houses to be held in venues such as clubs and dewans.
However, this quick about-turn is also reflective of two things. Firstly, it is a clear indication that Samy Vellu is losing his grip on the party as well as its members as he can now be forced to retract his edicts.
This would never have happened during his heydays as Samy Vellu’s commands were fastidiously adhered to.
Secondly, it is indicative of the MIC’s wishy-washy approach when dealing with real problems faced by the grassroots.
For the poor Indian, his neighborhood temple is the pulse of his existence and to rob him of this is akin to confiscating the crutches of a cripple.
It would have been the right thing to do if the community’s leaders had indeed cancelled their open houses as a mark of protest.
Most importantly, it would have earned them much support from the people they profess to represent.
I started having some respect for Samy but then...
Dot Nov 6, 07 5:23pm
I almost fell off my swivel chair laughing when I read that the MIC’s elected representatives would be holding their open houses after all (MIC retracts ban on Deepavali events).
Party president S Samy Vellu had initially issued a statement banning all open houses by the party’s elected representatives as a mark of protest over the demolition of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam recently.
I started to have a little respect for him when I read this. He then went on to revoke the ban in less than three hours after making his initial proclamation.
The reason given was that there was ‘overwhelming requests from members of the community for the ban to be overturned’.
Fiddlesticks! Wake up, Uncle Samy! Do you think the average Indian actually cares?
The real reason behind the about-turn is probably angry protests by the elected representatives themselves as many would have already prepared for their respective open houses to be held in venues such as clubs and dewans.
However, this quick about-turn is also reflective of two things. Firstly, it is a clear indication that Samy Vellu is losing his grip on the party as well as its members as he can now be forced to retract his edicts.
This would never have happened during his heydays as Samy Vellu’s commands were fastidiously adhered to.
Secondly, it is indicative of the MIC’s wishy-washy approach when dealing with real problems faced by the grassroots.
For the poor Indian, his neighborhood temple is the pulse of his existence and to rob him of this is akin to confiscating the crutches of a cripple.
It would have been the right thing to do if the community’s leaders had indeed cancelled their open houses as a mark of protest.
Most importantly, it would have earned them much support from the people they profess to represent.
On Hindraf 31: AG drops attempted murder charge
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/76274
Meenachi Indian: I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I read the headlines of a Tamil vernacular daily a day after the attempted murder charge was dropped against the Batu Caves 31.
The paper's headlines congratulated MIC president S Samy Vellu for a job well done. The article which followed claimed that Samy Vellu had successfully bargained for and obtained the AG's Chambers to drop the charges.
In their desperation to prop up Samy Vellu's flagging popularity, his spin doctors had made the AG come across as a Samy Vellu lackey.
And of course they have also successfully managed to make the senior politician appear to be a clueless imbecile.
Anyone worth his or her salt would know that the charge cannot stick as no one knew who threw the rock which cracked the policeman's head.
It is hard to understand as to why Samy Vellu's spin doctors ran the article even after AG Abdul Gani Patail had clearly stated that his decision was strictly based on a point of law and that he was not doing anyone any favours.
Meenachi Indian: I did not know whether to laugh or cry when I read the headlines of a Tamil vernacular daily a day after the attempted murder charge was dropped against the Batu Caves 31.
The paper's headlines congratulated MIC president S Samy Vellu for a job well done. The article which followed claimed that Samy Vellu had successfully bargained for and obtained the AG's Chambers to drop the charges.
In their desperation to prop up Samy Vellu's flagging popularity, his spin doctors had made the AG come across as a Samy Vellu lackey.
And of course they have also successfully managed to make the senior politician appear to be a clueless imbecile.
Anyone worth his or her salt would know that the charge cannot stick as no one knew who threw the rock which cracked the policeman's head.
It is hard to understand as to why Samy Vellu's spin doctors ran the article even after AG Abdul Gani Patail had clearly stated that his decision was strictly based on a point of law and that he was not doing anyone any favours.
WHY I DECIDED TO BLOG
As an Indian Malaysian woman, I face discrimination in every sphere of my life.
Even some ignorant menfolk from my own community feel and believe that Indian women should not be assertive as their Malay, Chinese and lain-lain bangsa sisters.
To add insult to injury, most Malaysian policies are very discriminatory against Indian Malaysian women.
Not able to take the shit any longer but powerless to do much, I decided that the only way I could let off steam was via blogging.
I also write under the pseudonym Dot and hope to rid my being of all angst through this newly created blog.
I bet this would take years and I would probably face discrimination until the Grim Reaper drags me into my grave.
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