KUALA LUMPUR: All the hard work done for the Indian community by the MIC is being "jeopardised" by the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and other opposition parties.
The struggle and welfare of the community had been addressed by the government since independence, said MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu(Pic Left)
"Hindraf has only emerged now but the MIC has been at it for 50 years," he said.
"They (the protesters) are fighting to create problems. They are troublemakers."
He said MIC had been fighting for the Indians through consultation and dialogue in the spirit of the Barisan Nasional.
"Being a multi-racial society, we have to take into consideration the sentiments of the other races and BN component parties."
Samy Vellu, who is also works minister, said although all its proposals and requests could not be entertained, the MIC had achieved a degree of success, given the political scenario in Malaysia.
"We find it disturbing for others to think otherwise. Their actions are in fact jeopardising the positive efforts being considered and undertaken for the community," he said at the parliament lobby yesterday.
Samy Vellu said the MIC was aware of issues confronting the community, concerning education, housing, employment, health, the economy and religion.
"It may appear that the MIC leadership is doing little to address these issues, when in fact they are highlighted almost every week at cabinet meetings and even in parliament, sometimes to the ire of BN leaders.
"We fully understand the shortcomings. These issues cannot be addressed over-night. There is so much more to be done over a period of time."
ON EDUCATION
Samy Vellu said more Indian students were being given government scholarships, study loans and opportunities to pursue technical, business and professional courses locally and abroad.
This comes by way of the Tamil School Action Council, Yayasan Strategik Social, Maju Institute of Educational Development, Tafe College and the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology.
"They can be poor but if they have brains we will not deny them a sound education.
"To date, the MIC has secured financial aid to the tune of RM94 million for 14,300 students, including 1,300 to pursue medical studies in Russia, the Ukraine and Indonesia.
"This includes Public Service Department scholarships for 176 deserving students last year. The government has also approved 500 seats for matriculation studies annually, while Giatmara has allocated a 10 per cent quota for Indian students to pursue technical courses," he said.
On Tamil schools, 180 new schools were built in the last two decades, while another 80 are in the pipeline.
More Tamil school teachers are being employed. In 1970, there were 3,258 teachers compared with 7,126 this year, an increase of 118.7 per cent over the past 37 years.
These efforts have produced exemplary UPSR results with 45 students securing 7 As in 1995, 202 in 2002, 579 last year and 573 this year.
The Tamil language has been accepted at STPM level as a critical subject for admission into the Arts Faculty in Universiti Malaya.
ON RELIGION
Temples are being relocated or built in a systematic way so that they can better serve worshippers. This has been one of the main issues.
After the furore caused by the demolition of a 100-year-old temple in Shah Alam last month, the government has now made it mandatory that demolitions and relocations of temples be made after consultation with the MIC chief.
ON HOUSING
Samy Vellu said more homes had been allocated for Indian squatters.
"In the federal capital, 1,500 houses have been given to displaced squatters. Another 2,700 will soon benefit."
ON EMPLOYMENT
He said opportunities for Indians in the civil service used to be a mere two per cent but the representation is increasing.
"We have even fought for estate workers to get better monthly wages," he said.
Samy Vellu said the MIC also undertook efforts to improve the community's economy through various channels like the chambers of commerce and industry and business associations.
In a separate interview with Reuters, Samy Vellu said:
"We have fought worse battles than this during elections (referring to Sunday's rally organised by Hindraf).
"We don't worry about this. We are confident of winning the next elections hand-somely."
Several thousand Indians participated in the rally and had to be dispersed by water cannon and tear gas.
"I'm not going to lose sleep over this demonstration. To me, I can throw the records on the floor on what I have done. I am not a man on the streets. I am a man on the job."
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