Palanivel tells urban poor to work in estates

First.. let me laugh out loud first.... this is the article taken from malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/157861)


MIC president G Palanivel has asked members of the Indian community, who are unable to make a living for themselves in towns and cities, to come back and work in the plantation sector, including in estates owned by government-linked companies.

Palanivel (left), the deputy plantation industries and commodities minister, said the government had agreed to a minimum wage of about RM700 a month for the sector, compared to RM300 previously.

There were also other facilities available in estates, including free transportation for students in estate areas and free housing, he said, adding that the cost of living in estates was also low.

"The ties among estate communities are also close and the environment is secure because they are guarded round-the-clock," he told reporters after visiting the party's community service centre at Wisma MIC, here.

He explained however that the call was meant for those who were unable to get used to urban life and were mired in hardships, particularly single mothers.

He said estates owned by GLCs such as Sime Darby were facing shortage of workers.

Rather than taking foreign workers from Indonesia and Bangladesh, it would be better that the shortage be filled by Malaysians, he said.

Tackling poverty

Palanivel added that poverty was among problems faced by the community and that the MIC was striving to find a solution to it.

On whether the Indian community now recognised the MIC after rejecting the party in the 2008 general election, Palanivel said he was confident that the community would support the party in the coming election.

On the demonstrations staged by Hindraf in the national capital last month, Palanivel said the protest was not about fighting for the Indian community.

"I want to ask you, was the demonstration held to uphold the struggle for the Indian community, to highlight problems of poverty? The demonstration was against the use of the novel 'Interlok'.

"They are not fighting for the Indian community," he said.

- Bernama
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Are we living in 2011 or in some dark ages where our forefathers just arrived from India? Why did the estate workers move out to the cities… was it the lure of city living or was it the hope for a better living..

I am baffled by our so-called leader’s statement.. As a leader of a community.. you seem to be living in a la…la.. or leh..leh.. land..

Wages of RM700 


How is anyone to live with that kind of wages with 3 or 4 kids in a household. I am wondering if you stripped off all your riches.. would you be able to last with RM700 for a month?

If GLCs are looking for estate workers, then it’s high time that they start relooking at the wage structure.. they are raking in billions of profits, are they not so why can they not share it with their employees..

In tackling poverty..

there are always alternatives to working in the estates.. In many developing countries to eradicate the poor, they work towards empowering them.. not giving them money but teaching them skills for sustenance of income.. But do enlightened me, how do you tackle poverty with a monthly wage of RM700.

We are supposedly a developed country.. and our supposed leaders are sending the Indians back to the estates to continue to be low wage labourers if not bonded for life..

Why are we not looking at a more integrated approach to empower these women by starting out cottage industries.. or something that will supplement their current income..

There are solutions to the current issues plaguing the community.. if only leaders will stop making a mockery and start listening to the actual issues…

Wise or Otherwise.. 
dhena

Interlok - Wise or Otherwise

The past week or so i have heard many ramblings about this book.. have received numerous emails and sms as well.. First I wanted to take the neutral approach.. but that is going to be a wee bit difficult in this sense.. 

The author states that he wrote this book after much research about the community in India.. I have nothing against him.. the society in India is dated to at least 5,000 years ago.. they were far more civilized than the west, look out for the Lost City of Dwarka.. there are evidences proving that..

The word in question 'p****h' is a term used to define a person’s occupation.  As time evolved, just the way we tell our children if you don’t study you will need to sweep the drains.. the word evolved into a derogatory term.  Even here, in Malaysia we have ‘hush’ words that all of us were allowed to use freely now is forbidden to use because the word/name belongs to the supposed ‘superior’ race..

 A close friend, Dr Ganesh Ramachandran’s take on the usage of the 'p****h' term..

"The caste system as a matter of fact in Indian society is true but it must also take into account the efforts of the community to rid itself of this blight.  The problem is perspective..... if this book is introduced into the curriculum, would it legitimize the usage of the p word when referring to Indians?  Would it legitimize the racial abuse of teachers and other civil servants in the recent past?  Is the caste system a part of the Hindu religion? In the first place people must realize that the so called Hindu religion never started out as a religion, it was a code of behaviour and a system that spelled out a particular way of life."

"The caste system as it started out was a method of dividing society according to their trade or occupations.  No one was born into a particular caste. If you look objectively a subtle form of cast or class system exists in all societies." 

We need to look at this objectively?  Not with emotions, but with logic.. We want to expose our children, the future of our generation to negative or the positive aspect of history.  My friend Dr Ganesh also highlighted the following:

“We should not allow a book that presents Indians in a negative light to become part of the national curriculum especially in Malaysia where racial undertones colour almost every sphere of activity, it's not like the so called ‘p****hs’ who migrated to Malaysia did good, many are still caught in the web of poverty that brought them here because we have a subtle caste system of our own in this country that resolutely prevents them from ridding themselves of that yoke of poverty.  At the same time you also have to recognize the efforts in India to overcome the caste system.”

Coming back to the book, the author Datuk Abdullah Hussain comments can be viewed here.. http://thestar.com.my/news
/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F1%2F16%2Fnation%2F7810859&sec=nation

The question is not about the intention of the book, or person who authored it – please get that straight?  Its about the government who in the form of Ministry of Education that decided that this book was suitable for our children.. This is the same government that preaches 1Malaysia.. Do you not think that in realising the dream you need to look at what you feed the young minds as well?  Personally I do know the sales of this book has sky rocketed.. the author and of course the distributor will be pleased.. but the team that approved this book to be included in the national syllabus has to answer.. whose making the bucks here is my next question..

Please stop pussy footing and start with putting your money where your mouth is. 

wise or otherwise, 

dhena 

p/s some interesting articles on Interlok 

http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=%2F2011%2F1%2F13%2Fcolumnists%2Falongthewatchtower%2F7789113&sec=alongthewatchtower

http://www.klik4malaysia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8730%3Acan-common-sense-unlock-the-interlok-stalemate&catid=57%3Apolitics&lang=en

http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/01/18/interlok-in-schools-a-bad-idea/

http://dinmerican.wordpress.com/2011/01/14/interlok-distorts-history/

Signs of Economy = Potholes on the Roads in Malaysia

Traversing in wonderful city of Kuala Lumpur.. the land of dreams and wonders for many.. turned out to be a ride like on a bullock cart.. 

The past few weeks, my travels to the city has been somewhat interesting.. I am talking here about the hub of business, the hustle and bustle for many.. but what happened to the roads leading to and within the city.. 

Jalan Ampang - where the majestic Suria KLCC and many embassies are housed is a road of horror as one has to has to learn how to maneuver to ensure you dont hit a pot hole.. then of course, we have  Jalan Sultan Ismail, and Jalan Raja Chulan not spared as well.. The supposed Golden Triangle of the city is now the Golden 'Pothole' Triangle... 

As I ponder about this further, it of course dawned upon me.. 

The Signs of Malaysian Economy = Potholes on the Roads in Malaysia 

Why do i say this.. the past six months, we have heard of price hikes on petrol, sugar and other necessities.. but little have we heard of the status of the economy.. So where is the supposed allocated funds going to.. surely not on the roads that leads many investors to 'multi billion dollar' corporations in the city.. 

I am a tax payer and I have every right to expect some changes be done.. enough lipsyncing about 1Malaysia.. something that I believe will take another 15 years for Malaysia to achieve.. Please look into matters at hand and work on them.. And please dont take us the rakyat (or immigrant as some may call me) for suckers.. 

Wise or Otherwise, you decide

dhena