MIC Sees Red Over Temple Demolition In Shah Alam

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu has denounced the opposition-led Selangor state government for allowing the demolition of a Hindu temple in Shah Alam today, describing it as 'an act of treachery'.

"The Selangor (state) government has committed treachery to the Hindu community by not stopping the demolition of the temple," he said when commenting on the demolition of the Mathurai Veeran Temple in Persiaran Kerjaya, Jalan Glenmarie, Seksyen U1, Shah Alam.

Samy Vellu said this was not the first incident as there was another demolition involving another Hindu temple in Selangor during the Pakatan Rakyat's rule in the state.

He was apparently referring to the demolition of the Sri Maha Kaliamman temple in Kampung Tasik, Jalan Baru in Ampang, Selangor on Sept 9 last year.

The MIC chief said despite an appeal by the Mathurai Veeran temple committee last March to the February 2009 notice sent by the Shah Alam Municipal Council (MPSA), the temple was still demolished without an alternative land offered.

"There were also no discussions with the temple committee and no recent notices given by the MPSA. They just went and demolished it.

"I salute the MPSA for taking direct orders from the Selangor government without consulting the temple committee," he quipped.

Samy Vellu also wanted the Selangor government, especially its state executive councilor Dr Xavier Jayakumar to explain the demolition, failing which the MIC would seek legal redress.

"He (Xavier) does not seem to worry about what is happening. Perhaps this (the demolition) is being carried out because the Indians are not united under the Pakatan Rakyat state government," he said.

Samy Vellu said the Selangor state government appeared to have 'a taste' for demolishing Hindu temples without first discussing with the temple committees and allocating alternative sites.

He said that if any temple were to make way for development or sitting on government or private land, the authorities should first identify a suitable alternative land for them.

-- BERNAMA

MIC Asks For 500 Places For Courses During Holidays For Tamil Teachers

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr. S. Subramaniam has requested the Ministry of Education for at least 500 places for non-trained temporary teachers (GSTT) in Tamil schools to do school holiday courses (KDC) for this year.

Dr. Subramaniam, who is also MIC vice-president, said there were now more than 1,000 GSTT teachers in Tamil schools and most of them did not have degrees.

Through KDC, these temporary teachers could be absorbed into the teaching service permanently," he said.

"I hope the Ministry of Education will consider the request as these teachers have wide experience and are committed to their profession," Dr. Subramaniam said in a statement here on Thursday.

He said although many of these teachers did not have degrees they were interested in continuing their career as trained teachers.

According to him, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Indian Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sept 28, had agreed in principle that 300 places be set aside for GSTT teachers from Tamil schools to do KDC courses this year.

However, Dr. Subramaniam said that given that there were about 1,000 such teachers in Tamil schools all over the country, he hoped the Education Ministry could take in at least 500 GSTT teachers in the KDC courses this year.

It is understood that the Education Ministry only offered 100 places for GSTT teachers with degrees to take the KDC courses this year.