Indian unity meet makes list of demands to govt

By G Vinod - Free Malaysia Today

KLANG: The Indian unity gathering in Dewan Hamzah, Klang yesterday urged the government to look into several issues of concern to Malaysians, in particular the Indian community.

“We want new schooling age for children to be set at five, as this will allow the nation to tap into invaluable human capital much earlier,” said R Kenghadaran.

Kenghadaran, one of two Hindraf leaders at the gathering, the other being VGanabatirau, also urged the government to reduce personal income tax from the current 27 percent to 10.

“This is taking into account the volatile global economic conditions and also the tax reduction will allow people to have more liquidity in their hands.

“The extra funds available can be used by the people to establish education funds for their children to reduce dependency on scholarships and education loans,” he added.

Kenghadaran also urged the government to reduce voting age from 21 to 18.

“The current age limit is outdated as it was mooted by our former colonial masters. I also urge the government to register voters automatically once they attain the minimum age.”

Kenghadaran wants the government to offer Tamil as a core subject in national schools and establish kindergartens within the Tamil schools itself in a bid to preserve the language.

“We are also working hard to establish a private Tamil school in Malaysia that will offer primary and secondary level curiculum,” he said.

Module to rehabiliate prisoners

In a bid to promote workers' rights, the ex-ISA detainee urged the government to establish a pension scheme that will cater for private sector employees.

“If the government needs help, we are prepared to assist them to formulate the scheme. In addition, we also want the government to redefine the poverty range into urban and rural poverty.

“We urge the government to set a mimimum wage of RM1,500 for those in rural areas and RM3,000 for the ones in urban areas,” said Kenghadaran.

The organisers also urged the government to set up a module to rehabiliate prisoners.

“We have drafted a module on rehabilitating prison inmates and we hope the Home Ministry will open its arms to study and implement the proposal,” said Kenghadaran.

The gathering organised by ex-MIC CWC member KP Samy was marred by a ruckus when a pro-S Samy Vellu faction led by Selangor MIC information chief L Siva Subramaniam entered the hall.

The faction claimed the gathering was aimed at discrediting the MIC chief and that it was a pro-opposition event. The police intervened swiftly and allowed the organisers proceed with the meet.