An emotionally-charged MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu made a plea to dissenting factions within the Indian community to unite for the sake of all.
“It’s almost two years since we have been divided. We must change our attitude. The Indian community must unite to have a stronger and effective voice to seek progress. This includes support from all levels - from the various MIC branches and divisions as well.
“I welcome all concerned Indians, including former MIC members and those from other political parties, to join the MIC as this is the only party that can effectively represent the interests of Indians,” he told reporters at the Thaipusam festival celebrations at Batu Caves today.
On news reports that Indian Progressive Front president Puan Sri Jayashree Pandithan has declined to forge ties with MIC, he said: “I rang her up a few days ago but she was not able to make a commitment then. Now I understand, through media reports, that she will not join the MIC. I can only say thank you very much (to her). But don’t forget that there are IPF members who are keen to join the MIC.”
Calling on the Indian community to support the government if it wanted its support, he said the government was already showing its seriousness in helping the community.
It has done so by establishing a special committee on Indian affairs to seek better educational facilities for Tamil schools, a higher quota for Indians in the civil service and a larger share of the economic pie for them via equity in public shares, he said.
Samy Vellu said the government would undertake repairs to dilapidated Tamil schools and build another 50 new Tamil schools from the RM50 million allocated in this year’s budget as well as from an additional RM30 million special allocation.
The MIC also wanted the Indian quota in the civil service to be increased from the present 4.5 to 8 per cent, he added.
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RM30 Million More For National-type Tamil Schools
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- The government has allocated an additional RM30 million to build 50 new national-type Tamil schools and to repair existing ones nationwide, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said.
He said the amount was in addition to the RM50 million allocated this year.
"I called on the Indian community to unite and support the government which has shown commitment to help the community.
"The government has done a lot such as setting up a special committee to enhance facilities in Tamil schools, to have a higher quota for the community in the public service and to increase the community's equity participations," he told reporters after attending the Thaipusam festival at the Batu Caves here today.
In another development, Samy Vellu said over 5,000 IPF supporters are expected to return to the MIC in the near future.
Asked on the refusal of IPF president Puan Sri Jayashree Gnanapandithan to merge with the MIC, Samy Vellu said, "I can only say thank you. But don't forget that there are IPF members who are keen to join the MIC."
-- BERNAMA
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Hindu Devotees Celebrate Thaipusam
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- Hindu devotees in Malaysia today celebrated Thaipusam to mark the birth of Lord Murugan by going to several temples in the country.
In KUALA LUMPUR, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu told reporters that more than 1.5 million Hindu devotees and foreign tourists had been to the Sri Subramaniyar Swami temple in Batu Caves here.
He said the this year's Thaipusam festival was on a weekend, thus making the celebration more merrier than that of last year as it allowed more people to visit the temple.
He said more than 10,000 Hindu devotees carried the "kavadi" and the "pal koodam" milk pot, as well as took part in the coconut breaking ritual to fulfill their vows for wishes that had been granted or to repent for past sins.
Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindus on the full moon day in the Thai month of the Tamil calendar, which is in January or February.
Also known as Thaipooyam or Thaippooyam in Malayalam, it is a festival to mark the birth of Lord Murugan, the youngest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
The festival also marked an occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a vel (lance) so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman.
In JOHOR BAHARU, thousands of Hindu devotees celebrated the festival by holding the kavadi and pal koodam procession.
The kavadi bearers walked for about two kilometres from Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam in Jalan Ungku Puan in the city centre to Arulmigu Thandayuthapani Kovil in Jalan Kuil.
A similar procession was also held from the Mariaman temple in Taman Seri Skudai to the Sri Bala Subramaniar Kovil temple in Batu 10 Skudai, as well as from the Sri Muniswarar temple, near Plaza Angsana to Jalan Datuk Abdul Hamid.
In PENANG, more than 50,000 Hindu devotees converged at the Sri Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani in Jalan Kebun Bunga to fulfil their vows.
Among them was student, Koh Tze Lim, 18, who was with his family to perform their prayers at the temple for the Thaipusam festival.
"We also went through the fasting ritual and only ate vegetables on Friday for four days," he said, adding that he prayed to be able to do well in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination which he would be sitting for this year.
A tourist from Canada, only known as Julien, 34, said, watching the Thaipusam festival celebration was an experience which he would share with his friend when he returned home.
Having only read about the festival in books and magazines, he said, he was amazed to see how it was celebrated.
"It is a beautiful and colourful festival and I'm impressed to see a man carrying a huge kavadi decorated with peacock feathers," he added.
In IPOH, a crowd of about 100,000 Hindu devotees were at the Subramaniar temple at Gunung Cheroh for the festival.
Various religious rituals, including the Lord Murugan procession from the Sri Maha Mariamman temple at Sungai Pari to the Kallumai Arul Subramaniar temple at Gunung Cheroh took place.
Traffic congestions were reported in the city following closure in stages of several roads leading to the Subramaniar temple since yesterday for the procession of kavadi bearers which passed through Jalan Sungai Pari, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Lahat, Jalan Sultan Yusuff, Jalan Sultan Idris Shah and Jalan Raja Muda Musa from the Sri Maha Marimman at Jalan Sungai Pari.
-- BERNAMA
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