An Indian umbrella group today said that the government should increase the allocation for MIC representatives in the cabinet from the present one minister and two deputies.
The Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisation - or known as Prima in Malay - said that the present allocation for the party was dismal, echoing similar calls made by several party leaders and other community movements.
The organisation's president A Rajaretinam said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should have included at least three ministers and five deputy ministers from MIC.
Najib's cabinet which was announced on Thursday only had places for MIC secretary-general S Subramaniam (human resource minister) (photo), information chief M Saravanan (deputy federal territory minister) and party supreme council member SK Devamany (deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department).
These are also the only three candidates from the party who had won in the last general election.
"In the 1970s MIC used to preside over two full ministerial positions," said Rajaretinam in a statement today. He is known for his close links to the party.
He added that extra allocation for MIC in the cabinet would allow the party to work in achieving more for the community and regain their support for Barisan Nasional.
Prima's call for extra slots in the cabinet resonated the thinking of some leaders in the party who feel that the community could be better served by increasing the quota in the cabinet.
MIC itself is about to discuss the matter at its central working committee meeting this Thursday.
The party is said to be upset that it has not been given additional slots in the new cabinet whereas both MCA and Gerakan were given additional posts.
It must also be noted that apart from the three MIC leaders in the government, there are two other Indian deputy ministers - senator T Murugiah (from PPP in the Prime Minister's Department) and A Kohilan Pillay (from Gerakan and in the Foreign Ministry).
New realistic formula needed
Apart from the dissatisfaction over the cabinet quota, Prima also urged the government to set up a non-Muslim affairs unit under the Prime Minister's Department to deal with sensitive matters involving other religions in a professional and effective manner.
The organisation also appealed for inclusion of more non-bumiputeras in the civil service.
"The participation of non-bumiputeras in the civil service should be increased to at least 30 percent by 2015," said Rajaretinam.
He said that the organisation also sought for all partially-aided Tamil vernacular primary schools to be upgraded to fully-aided status.
And on education, the organisation also objected the teaching of science and mathematics in English.
Prima said that the use of English - and not mother-tongue language - to teach these two subjects has deteriorated the progress of children who live in rural areas.
These matters were passed by Prima on Saturday following a special dialogue with 38 of its supreme council members.
The meeting had also resolved that although Prima gave their full support to Najib, the government must work out a new realistic formula to ensure that all races are equally bestowed with socio-economic advancement without sidelining any members of minority groups.
Rajaretinam said that Prima was officially recognised in 2007 as a platform to champion issues affecting the minority communities.
It comprised of some 200 non-governmental movements focusing on the welfare of the local Indian community.
The Federation of Malaysian Indian Organisation - or known as Prima in Malay - said that the present allocation for the party was dismal, echoing similar calls made by several party leaders and other community movements.
The organisation's president A Rajaretinam said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should have included at least three ministers and five deputy ministers from MIC.
Najib's cabinet which was announced on Thursday only had places for MIC secretary-general S Subramaniam (human resource minister) (photo), information chief M Saravanan (deputy federal territory minister) and party supreme council member SK Devamany (deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department).These are also the only three candidates from the party who had won in the last general election.
"In the 1970s MIC used to preside over two full ministerial positions," said Rajaretinam in a statement today. He is known for his close links to the party.
He added that extra allocation for MIC in the cabinet would allow the party to work in achieving more for the community and regain their support for Barisan Nasional.
Prima's call for extra slots in the cabinet resonated the thinking of some leaders in the party who feel that the community could be better served by increasing the quota in the cabinet.
MIC itself is about to discuss the matter at its central working committee meeting this Thursday.
The party is said to be upset that it has not been given additional slots in the new cabinet whereas both MCA and Gerakan were given additional posts.
It must also be noted that apart from the three MIC leaders in the government, there are two other Indian deputy ministers - senator T Murugiah (from PPP in the Prime Minister's Department) and A Kohilan Pillay (from Gerakan and in the Foreign Ministry).
New realistic formula needed
Apart from the dissatisfaction over the cabinet quota, Prima also urged the government to set up a non-Muslim affairs unit under the Prime Minister's Department to deal with sensitive matters involving other religions in a professional and effective manner.
The organisation also appealed for inclusion of more non-bumiputeras in the civil service.
"The participation of non-bumiputeras in the civil service should be increased to at least 30 percent by 2015," said Rajaretinam.
He said that the organisation also sought for all partially-aided Tamil vernacular primary schools to be upgraded to fully-aided status.And on education, the organisation also objected the teaching of science and mathematics in English.
Prima said that the use of English - and not mother-tongue language - to teach these two subjects has deteriorated the progress of children who live in rural areas.
These matters were passed by Prima on Saturday following a special dialogue with 38 of its supreme council members.
The meeting had also resolved that although Prima gave their full support to Najib, the government must work out a new realistic formula to ensure that all races are equally bestowed with socio-economic advancement without sidelining any members of minority groups.
Rajaretinam said that Prima was officially recognised in 2007 as a platform to champion issues affecting the minority communities.
It comprised of some 200 non-governmental movements focusing on the welfare of the local Indian community.
No comments:
Post a Comment