Tumbuk Estate: Cleaning up MIC’s mess

Tumbuk Estate is located near the fishing village of Tanjung Sepat. It is a scenic view if one is to drive there, as one would pass by the Morib beach as well as a stretch of mangrove trees. During high tide, the sea water would splash along the road. Beautiful and breathtaking. But this scenic value gets distorted when one goes close enough to see the housing of the plantation workers who lived in Tumbuk Estate along the same road.

Tumbuk estate was at one time owned by Maika Holdings – the investment arm of MIC. One would expect a model estate since MIC is supposed to be the vanguard of the Indians. Yet Tumbuk estate remains pathetic. Except for the school, the houses for the estate workers are in bad shape, they do not have inbuilt toilets, drainage broken and houses depressing. I always wondered why didn’t MIC make this their model estate with the best facilities.

Then they could have challenged other plantation companies to do so. The situation is similar when the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) took a case against the Planters MAPA on the question of monthly wages. One of the reason for NUPW to lose the Industrial case against MAPA was that they themselves did not implement monthly wages in the estates which they owned themselves. Therefore it is difficult to champion the plight of the plantation workers if MIC itself is not prepared to do so.

On April 8, 2006, Maika Holdings and NUPW signed an agreement for a housing scheme for the plantation workers. The scheme is to build semi-D houses for 29 remaining families in Ladang Tumbuk. The agreement said that Maika shall commence construction of the houses in April 2008. Workers were also shown several layout plans of the houses to be built. The beautiful agreement had everything in it except it did not have a date of completion for the proposed housing scheme. The houses never got built and workers have remained in their deplorable quarters ever since. Not only were houses not built, MIC too faded from the scene.

In 2010, Maika after several scandals and controversy was taken over by G-Team. G Team under millionaire Gnanalingam had no patience. His task was to sell all assets of Maika Holdings and wind up the company. They told the workers that based on the agreement, there is nothing binding as there is no dateline. They offered the workers RM25,000 each. Take it or leave it and went on to sell pieces of the estate to individuals who were interested to buy. Meanwhile, water was being disrupted to the workers quarters.

At this point of time, the matter did get referred to the Selangor State Government under the excoship of YB Xavier. YB Xavier met two camps of workers and told them to decide which would they prefer – money or housing. This seems to be the offer on the table. Take the money and leave versus the group who wanted the initial agreement fulfilled. The following weeks ended with more in-fighting between these two groups.

It was at this time that PSM was approached. We went in at the time when the local union leaders had already left the estates, when the people were divided into several camps and when they were under pressure from thugs to take the offer and leave.

More than half the workers took the G-Team offer of RM 25,000 and left the estate, leaving behind 12 families who were determined to get housing as the initial agreement stated. Since October 2010, the harassment was building up on the remaining 12 to take the offer. On Nov 21, 2011, water was completely cut off. PSM then went to the ground, organised the workers, lodged several police reports against the threats, highlighted their plight in the media and held a protest outside the labour department.

The labour department then held several meetings. They were not comfortable dealing with the more confrontational PSM and JERIT and wanted the workers to choose NUPW to handle the negotiations. The workers opted for PSM as PSM had been consistent in fighting for them. Meetings in the labour department was tough with both parties shouting and standing by their ground. A combination of street protest, police reports, negotiations as well as legal option in putting a caveat on the land was employed by the workers.

These actions finally restored the water supply and after a few more meetings, the agent dealing on behalf of the new land owners agreed to build houses for the workers. It was a victory of sorts and it took many meetings between PSM representatives and a company dealing with the owners of the land. Though the housing issue was sort of resolved, other matters such as the temple, etc. remained problematic.

The land owners managed to remove the caveat in the land but they had one more bigger obstacle, that is to get the State Government approval to sub-divide the land as the land is more than 100 acres. The land owners were now finding ways to solve the problems and have allocated two acres of the land to relocate the 12 families and the temple.

As the problems from the land owners slowly subsided, a new kind of problems began to prop up. The remaining 12 families started to split into two new groups and more mistrust and unnecessary miniature fights took place. On the one hand, the new owner cannot develop the land unless he solves the workers housing problem. The land owner claims that the workers kept shifting the goal post every time a settlement is in sight.

YB Xavier, the Pakatan Rakyat State exco was firm in his dealings. He said that the Estate Land Board (ELB) approval will not be given unless the housing issues of the  12 remaining workers are resolved. A field visit by Xavier further shocked him. He could not understand how come the houses are in such a bad shape and had agreed to top up and do up the houses. He agreed to put State Government money in making built-in toilets, doing up the drainage, etc. Xavier said that the State Government will make the houses in a liveable and humane condition.

PSM worked hard to work out a proper settlement so that the remaining workers future will be protected and they will not go into a limbo like the previous agreement. After a few more meetings with the Land Owners, lawyers, etc. finally an agreement was reached and the signing took place on March 26, 2013 at the Ladang Tumbuk school.

With this agreement, 12 workers will get a free 2,600sf piece of land, eight of them who participated in the earlier scheme and who have contributed were paid a further RM25,000 each as well as will be given a renovated unit of their current houses. The temple will also be given 5,000 square feet of land free and a compensation of RM 40,000.
At the signing in ceremon,y many workers were relieved that their issue is finally settled.

Besides the involvement of the State Government, many other people also played their part in solving the issue such as representatives from JERIT, legal advisers for the workers, K Arumugam and Pasupathi, the company dealing with the owner Tamil Selvam and Vannir Selvam. The workers put their signature on 21 copies of the agreement. It is hoped that this agreement will not end up like the previous one.

It was a relief that the agreement has finally been signed in spite of the many internal conflict. Estate workers cannot go on fighting for housing every time an estate goes for development. There must be legislation protecting them. We are lucky in Selangor that the State Exco refused to approve unless housing rights for the workers are given.
Similarly the estate workers future cannot be left in the hands of the State Exco perse but needs to be protected by a legislation.

Najib’s father Tun Razak started the Workers House Ownership Scheme but less than 5% of plantation implemented this. Today Sime Darby which is owned by the Government is the biggest plantation company, yet when it comes to building houses for their workers, they just end of being stingy as the game of profits and returns rules their decision. They forget about the workers who put them there. From ruins to settlement. This is the tale of Ladang Tumbuk. Soon the work to restore the houses is being done. The scenic view along this sea side village can only get better.






ArutChelvam - secretary-general of PSM

Estimated 99% Indians excluded from and schemes meant for the poor and landless Malaysians

Under Najib’s One Malaysia, an estimated 99% of even the pre-existing Malaysian Indian plantation workers as at Independence were denied opportunities in these Felda, Risda and Felcra (also Fama, the various state government land schemes and later the Agropolitan land schemes).

We are only aware that immediately after independence, only about 1% of the Felda Land schemes were allocated to the Indians. In the last 20 years we have hardly heard of in particular any Indian being granted these land ownerships schemes.

In the latest Agropolitan land ownerships schemes, we have yet to hear of a single Indian poor and landless being granted the opportunities. The UMNO controlled Malaysian government should make public at their websites the list of the poor and landless beneficiaries with their names and other details to prove One Malaysia and non-racism against especially the Indians.
UMNO has never done so as it practices open race-based politics and policies but otherwise preaches One Malaysia.

The aforesaid ‘RM 202.2 Million in dividends to Risda smallholders’ and the ‘90,000 hectares under two (recent) planting schemes involving more than 43,000 settlers’ as stated by Prime Minister Najib and Risda Chairman has obviously excluded an estimated 99% of the deserving poor and landless Indians.

Najib said ‘we want to transform Malaysia into a high income population but this must be planned carefully’ ‘Instead of relying on foreign workers to keep costs low, we want to focus on new ways and activities to raise people’s incomes’. (But again the Indians are excluded.)

An estimated 99% of the deserving Indian poor and landless are excluded from the benefit of this RM 202.2 Million, 90,000 hectares and 43,000 settlers. An estimated 99% of the poor and landless Indians even after 52 years of Independence have been excluded from the national mainstream development of Malaysia so much so that the Tamil papers repeatedly reports that Indian mothers are so poor that they cannot even afford to buy milk for their babies and instead feed them with tea and rock sugar water, stop their children from attending even primary schools because they cannot afford the school bus fare and are so backward and illiterate that they are deliberately denied even birth certificates for their children.

This critical Indian poverty could be solved by the stroke of Prime Minister Najib’s pen if only Najib and UMNO also included these poor and landless Indians on the National Policy and Agenda and include them into the aforesaid land schemes and be transparent about it as opposed to the playing politics using UMNO’s supervisor (mandores) system by creating impressions, perceptions and mere promises as has been done for over the last 52 years of independence. The only difference today that it is now under P.M Najib’s ONE MALAYSIA BUT TWO SYSTEMS.

By Thiagarajan Sasayapillai

No need for expert analysis for BN's poor performance in GE12

Why do Umno and the rest of the Barisan National component parties need to 'engage an independent body to conduct a post-mortem on their performance in the recent general election'? Were they so removed from the rakyat that they were not aware of the swelling discontentment that was swirling amongst the ordinary folk?

No wonder the political tsunami that swept across the nation with five states going to the opposition was a complete unexpected shock to Umno and the BN parties. You don’t need an expert in political science to tell you what actually caused the failure of the Barisan Nasional parties.

The principle cause of the BN failure can be attributed to the leaders in Umno. They were under the delusion that they had the majority support of the Malay populace. To a certain extent this was true before the advent of PAS and now PKR.

However failure to realise that the political landscape had changed led Umno leaders to formulate policies that antagonised the non-Malays. The non-Malays were maginalised in practically every aspect of the Umno-dominated government policies.

This marginalisation led to the loss of support for other race-based BN parties like MCA, MIC and Gerakan. In addition, the BN component parties were cowed to such an extent that religious and educational issues affecting the community did not find a voice and they were unable articulate their grievances.

Umno’s mistake was its failure to grasp the current political reality. Umno today cannot claim to be a legitimate representative of all the Malays. With the birth of PAS and now PKR, Umno at best can claim to have the support of only 30% of the Malay community.

In fact, it was reported in the main stream media that Umno's Malay support in the recent election amounted to only 29.6%. The reality of today’s political landscape clearly demonstrates that for any of the three parties - Umno, PAS and PKR - to succeed, it is vital for them to obtain the support of the non-Malays.

They were, in fact, the king-makers of the last election. As long as Malay support is divided amongst the three parties namely Umno, PAS and PKR, the fate of each of them will continue to remain in the hands of the non-Malays.

Therefore if Umno continues to plod along with its old racist and pro-Umnoputra NEP policies thinking that it will garner Malay support but in fact eroding its non-Malay support, it will most likely end up as a political dinosaur in the next general election.

PM Najib’s plea to Indians a day late and a dollar short

 

The prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pleaded to Indian community to support BN in the coming 13^th general elections. He announced that he will ensure that the Indian community will enjoy a better future, just like the other communities in the country. The prime minister added that he would discuss with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the education minister, about the possibility of converting Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) which did not receive government assistance, to be converted into fully government assisted schools, in stages. Datuk Seri Najib said Tafe College would also be upgraded to a university college status because the institution has the capability to provide technical expertise that is needed by the country. The prime minister said the government would also allocate funds to upgrade community centres and crematoriums and raise the equity for the Indian community to 3%.

Since the election is round the corner all that is said by the prime minister can only be done after the next general elections provided he remains in office. But Dr Mahathir Mohamad who represents the UMNO hardliners have called on Prime Minister Datuk seri Najib Tun Razak to relinquish his post if he is unable to secure a two-thirds majority for Barisan Nasional in the next election. Securing two thirds majority and winning back Selangor by BN is not predicted by any independent analyst so far. Therefore Datuk seri Najib’s position after the 13^th general election is not feasible and untenable as it stands now. Even if BN wins 13^th general elections how much support and authority will he have in UMNO is anybody’s guess. Under these conditions can the prime minister fulfil his pledges and promises? Indian community has seen these election promises in the past but nothing changed.

In 1970s BN/MIC leaders have promised achieving 3% economic stakes. But Indian economic wealth has dropped to 1.2% by 2000. The prime minister is recycling the same figure 3% again. It’s quite understandable that he only realised the Indian equity is only 1.2% just before the general elections and not after he took over the premiership in 2009. Does he have UMNO and Malay bureaucracy support for his pledge? Datuk Seri Najib should get the consent of UMNO and the Malay bureaucracy before he promises. Otherwise when Indian Malaysians go to government departments on prime minister’s pledge, the counter clerk will say that they did not get orders from higher ups. Indian Malaysian had enough of political rhetoric but need actual delivery.

Prime minister’s pledge to turn all partially aided to full aided sounds hollow. Even now the full aided Tamil schools need to appeal to Indian community to refurbish depleted signboards and repair toilets. They don’t get funds on time but after 3 to 4 years and besides Tamil Schools have to run to MIC for assistance but national schools get assistance from ministry of education itself. Why the double standard Mr. Prime minister? Why not set up a department in ministry of education to develop, maintain and formulate progressive curriculum so that every Tamil school student can join form one class and cope his/her lessons and not drop out of secondary schools?

AIMST University was built with MIC grassroots’ support and government fund. But Malays get Bumi quotas and Chinese students can afford to pay but many Indian students cannot afford to pay their fees of AIMST University. Indians students study with PTPTN loan. How will converting Tafe College to university status help Indian students? Again the Malays will have their Bumi quotas and Indian students have to borrow from PTPTN. Mr. Prime minister Indians need scholarships, job opportunities, higher education places in universities and recognition that they are truly Malaysians.

The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib has been asking for trust (nambikai) again and again. For the past 55 years Indian Malaysian’s trust (Nambikai) on BN was taken for granted and their rights have been denied and ignored. Many in the community are still waiting for blue identity card and rightful treatment in government front office counters. MIC leaders like Datuk samy velu, Datuk Nadarajah etc have betrayed the Indian Malaysian’s trust once too many. But Datuk Seri Najib surrounds himself with these untrustworthy characters and asking the Indian Malaysians to trust (Nambikai) him. Will the Indian Malaysians ever trust the prime minister? Can he be trusted in the first place? Even this simple fact has eluded the prime minister.

Datuk Seri Najib’s BN government spends about RM500 million every year on BTN programs which is indoctrinating Malay supremacy (ketuanan Melayu) concept in the minds of civil servants. Will the 95% Malay civil service having attended the BTN program allocate funds to upgrade community centres and crematoriums for non Malays? The prime minister can give grand promises to gullible Indian Malaysians but will the BTN trained government department counters entertain request for temples and crematorium or do they have a policy on these matters. The prime minister’s 1Malaysia ponggal speech may be music to MIC/PPP/IPF leaders but the large numbers of Indians in Malaysia are more aware and informed now.






From the desk of Senator S Ramakrishnan

PM Najib, Please fulfill your promises to Tamil schools

The prime minister may sound very generous to Tamil schools in political gatherings but the reality is the ministry of education has their own national agenda to adhere to. Prime minister may announce the building of 6 Tamil schools in 2010. He also announced 100 million for Tamil Schools in 2012 and 2013 budgets. But till date no new Tamil school has been built and very little of the first 100 million from 2012 budget has trickled down. In fact the prime minister must order ministry of education in writing instead of making political statements in public gatherings. After Datuk Seri Najib becoming Prime Minister nothing has changed in Tamil schools despite the many announcements. I would like to highlight one of the forgotten promises of ministry of education to Tamil community in Bandar Salak, Sepang.

Lothian estate and Bute estate in Sepang was acquired to build KLIA in the late 1970s. To relocate the 2 Tamil Schools from these 2 estates, 6 acres of land near Salak town in Sepang district was given to ministry of education by the estate management. Lothian estate Tamil school was closed and the school children were transferred to SRJK (T) Salak tinggi. But the SRJK (T) Bute was not closed to accommodate the children from the nearby kg. Chincang, Salak.

Many estate workers have shifted to the housing estates (Tamans) in Salak town. This town’s proximity to KLIA has led to more housing estates in Salak town. Therefore there is a sizable Indian population to support a Tamil school. The parent teachers association (PIBG) of Ladang Bute Tamil School also supported the relocating of their school to Salak town. Since 1993 the school PIBG and the local MIC have been actively canvassing for the relocation of SRJK (T) ladang Bute to the land in Salak town given by estate management in 1978. The kg Chincang parents too willing to send their children to a bigger and better town school in Slak town. But the ministry of education is dumb and deaf to these calls.

In Salak town every housing estate has a national school (sekolah kebangsaan). There are 5 national primary schools and 2 more being built in Salak town. But the request for the relocation of one Tamil school since 1993 is not possible. The local MIC leaders themselves have given up and are now supporting the Pakatan Rakyat to relocate the ladang Bute Tamil School to Salak Town. Parents and the local Indian leaders are concerned that if nothing is done then that piece of land given by Genting plantations in Salak town may be transferred to national school.

So Datuk Seri Najib may announce anything to make Indian Malaysians feel good but the ground reality do not match his words. The officers in district education department do not follow what Najib promises to Indian community.

The Member of Parliament for Sepang Datuk Seri Ir Mohd Zin Mohamad is busy finding fault with the Selangor government and recapture Selangor for BN. Appeals to him too fell on deaf ears. If he wills, he can solve with a stroke of a pen. Unfortunately they only want Indian votes but they couldn’t be bothered about Indians thereafter.

Mr. Prime Minister we do not appreciate all the birthday greetings and well wishes without delivering what you promised. Please deliver the basic necessities such as infrastructure for Tamil schools, more quality education in Tamil schools, education opportunities to those non Malay children who excel in studies, scholarships and job opportunities. The promises of Prime Minister should have been fulfilled in 1970s and 1980s. So it is nothing new. Will UMNO agree to these offers to non Malays Mr. Prime Minister?








From the desk of Senator S Ramakrishnan

Under BN nothing is sacred nor seditious anymore

 

The litany of offenses by the BN is now not only alarming but also is dangerous. The latest, the closed door screening of Tunda Puteri to Felda settlers is not just reckless but is begging a spark to ignite a powder keg created by the BN.
 
Mature citizens have long forgotten aberration in our history. By raising the spectra of May 13, it would seem that all rational thinking has departed the BN political mind set.
It is akin to the scorched earth policy employed by Napoleon and Hitler whose armies lay waste to the land as they retreated from the battlefield, leaving the victors nothing but a burnt out shell of the land.
 
Meanwhile, the ministry of home affairs has lifted the ban on Viswaroopam movie after much delay due to public calls. The film was banned on Jan 25 following complaints made to the Home Ministry by the Indian Muslim Congress (Kimma) and the Federation of Indian Muslim Associations (Permim).
 
The Film Censorship Board made 12 cuts on the film. But the KIMMA and PERMIM made further complaints which resulted in the ministry setting up a special panel comprising of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and censorship board officers to review the film, focusing on religious and security aspects.
 
The home affairs ministry made another 12 cuts on the movie and now has announced the lift on ban. I understand that the film distributor Lotus films don’t want to screen the movie after 24 cuts.
 
KIMMA and PERMIM are UMNO cronies and they want to be more Malay than Indian. They have more influence than all the other BN beggar parties like MIC, PPP and IPF. These Indian based parties have no backbone and are depending on UMNO and PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to win back Indian votes.
 
In India itself Viswaroopam is being screened after 7 cuts on the movie after protests from smaller Muslim groups. But in the Malaysia Film censor board has made 24 cuts before lifting the ban. Viswaroopam is just like any other Hollywood or for that matter Tamil movie. This movie has been slaughtered beyond recognition.
 
Yet, without considering the consequences and the possible repercussions, Datuk Seri Najib has ordered the screening of Tanda Putera to 3000 felda settlers. A movie criticized by many as seditious and harmful to the multi racial society is screened to targeted rural groups to poison their minds. On the other hand Datuk Seri Najib reaching out to Indian and Chinese communities with sweet promises with no results yet.
 
PM Datuk Seri Najib and UMNO are now possessed by sheer desperation to stay in power. They don’t care if its action can harm the people or the economy and take the country backwards. They are forcing Malaysians of all backgrounds to choose only UMNO/BN by hook or crook. Where is the 1Malaysia feeling and spirit in these actions of PM and UMNO. Is 1Malaysia a mere vote buying slogan? The PM must understand that action speaks louder than words.
 
In allowing venom to be spat at certain sectors of society by handpicked individuals, the BN is overtly encouraging and even supporting calls for the burning of religious books and the closure of Batu Caves just because it is inconvenient and causes a traffic jam once a year. The founding fathers of this nation, including the PM’s father would never have brooked such flagrant abuse, deprivation and deception.
 
The silence of PM on these issues is egregious and borders on utter insanity if he expects the events to lead to their calculated catastrophe. It is almost as if the BN has given up on anything clean or above board. The exposé on the number of phantoms, the torrid revelations at the Sabah RCI, should have prompted immediate action by the EC.
Instead, the chairman asks an infantile question as to what detergent to use to ‘Bersih’ the rolls! His response, is preposterous, it can only elicit shock and disbelief from right thinking citizens, coming from a person appointed to ensure free and fair elections.
And he has the audacity to say that we can expect ‘unexpected situations’ to occur! All he has to do is to carry out his appointed task with the same reverence as his appointment letter reflects.
 
By his own admission, former PM Tin Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has openly admitted that BN “is the devil you know.” There is more truth in that Freudian lip than meets the eye






From the desk of Senator S Ramakrishnan

Wheeler and dealers short change MAIKA stakeholders

In the year 2000, MAIKA, the MIC’s loss making investment arm was sold to tycoon Tan Sri Gnanalingam’s G team Resources for RM106 million. 66000 MAIKA shareholders had been clamoring for the listing of its priced asset, OCA, by MAIKA itself. But the MIC and their saviors had other plans, shattering the 29 years of hope for recovering their investment.

 

Last year (2012), Tan Sri Tony Fernandez bought over OCA from G Team Resources and renamed it TUNE insurance Bhd, marking it for listing after 6 months of acquisition. It is expected that TUNE insurance will have a market capitalization of RM1 billion.

 

Why were MAIKA shareholders left in the lurch without proper compensation? The 66000 shareholders invested hard earned RM1000 per lot of the MAIKA shares in 1981. All they got back in 2010 was RM800 per lot. And those who took loans had to pay back with interest and many relinquished their loan along the way. Many of MAIKA shareholders were poor who wanted to do their part and responded to the call of the MIC president in 1981. Quite a number died while still in debt. But at the time of selling of MAIKA holding with its priced asset OCA, all their sacrifices’ were for naught.

 

MAIKA directors and MIC promoters got away scot free and Tan Sri Gnanalingam and Tan Sri Tony Fernandez took away the priced asset of MAIKA for themselves. BN and the prime minister conveniently got themselves out of a politically embarrassing situation. But poor MAIKA shareholders who waited for 29 years were dumped. Another let down of Indian saga under BN rule.

 

The RM146 million payment for 74.1% OCA stake by Tan Sri Tony Fernandez would have left clean RM40 million for Tan Sri Gnanalingam to be redistributed to charities. Many ex-MAIKA shareholders expected that they will be included in the charities list. Unfortunately they were left out here too.

 

TUNE holding also bought another 3.75% of OCA from G team resources and 1.92% from GYRSS holdings Sdn Bhd which another investment arm of Tan Sri Gnanalingam and family. In all these wheeling and dealing of OCA shares, were MAIKA shareholders compensated? They seem to be completely left out in the disposal of MAIKA shares.

 

However the real issue is not the RM40 million gain but rather the lost opportunity by not listing OCA by MAIKA itself. It’s really perplexing why MAIKA didn’t want to list OCA on its own. Had it done so even with a market capitalization of RM300 million, MAIKA shares would be worth RM 3 each which is much better off compared to repayment of RM800 per lot of 1000 shares after 29 years?

 

Why didn’t MIC get the support of Bank Negara and ministry of finance and list the OCA in BURSA Malaysia themselves? Is MIC hiding something from MAIKA shareholders? At least TUNE insurance could have offered TUNE insurance shares to ex-MAIKA shareholders. Why the gross injustice to Indian Malaysians? Can we trust BN and prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak anymore?

 

If the Indian Malaysians don’t wake up, the MAIKA saga of Indian community will be buried and forgotten once and for all after this 13^th general election. Indian Malaysians are short changed once too often. Will the ghost of MAIKA holding resurface before the 13^th general election to haunt MIC and BN? Will the blatant betrayal of MAIKA shareholders by MIC leaders, opportunistic businessmen and UMNO leaders be held accountable?

 

Would the impending listing of TUNE Insurance cause controversy and anger among MAIKA shareholders? Are the Indian Malaysians forever left out not only in government policies but ribbed and robbed of their own hard earned assets? Is there any hope for Indians under MIC/BN rule?

From the desk of Senator S Ramakrishnan

Here are 10 reasons why the Indian community should think before voting in the next general election.

The ‘Malay Supremacy’ agenda
I would be echoing the sentiments of the great majority of Indians in Malaysia when I say they are effectively second class citizens under Umno’s rule. Umno and BN can be used interchangeably because Umno is not only the dominant party but the de facto ruling party as well.

The much entrenched ‘Ketuanan Melayu ’ or Malay Supremacy is the unwritten code of Umno’s rule. The ruling party has perfected this philosophy to the extent of rivalling the notorious racist agenda of apartheid South Africa. Basically, Ketuanan Melayu aims to contain the progress and prosperity of the non-Malays.

The Indians have traditionally looked to the civil service for employment but in the last few decades they have seen their share of public sector jobs severely curtailed. Too many Indians have to eke out a harsh living outside the comfort of the government service and the GLCs. Many resort to low paying jobs which in turn locks them in a vicious cycle of poverty. Also, the high crime rate among Indians is a direct result of the lack of access to good, high- income jobs for Indians.

NEP’s lopsided implementation
The NEP introduced in 1970 and which has set the direction of the nation ever since was designed to:

a) restructure society so that race is no longer identified with occupation, and

b) eradicate poverty irrespective of race/ ethnicity.

However, none of these noble intentions ever reached the Indian community. The implementation of the NEP has bypassed the Indians. In the past, Indians were identified with the civil service, professions and the plantations. Today, they are increasingly associated with low pay jobs and hard, physical labour.

Many flagship projects of the NEP offered little to the Indian community. Felda which transformed the landless and the poor among the Malays to proud land owners had little impact on the Indians. It was the same story with Felcra, Risda and the numerous other schemes designed to uplift the rural poor.

Somehow, the Indian poor, a large proportion of whom were in the plantations were invisible to the formulators and the implementers of the NEP. There were no quotas assigned to the Indian community for jobs in the GLCs or the private sector. If the BN government could do it for the poor Malays, why did it overlook the poor Indians?

Was not the NEP designed for all Malaysians? Why the lop-sided implementation? Today, we have an Indian community that has high endemic poverty, the highest violent crime rate and a decreasing proportion in the top professions.

The pathetic state of the Tamil schools
Any responsible government would look into the education needs of its entire people. But then, BN has never been a responsible government. The BN government has systematically marginalised vernacular education. Fortunately, the economic and philanthropic strength of the Chinese community has mitigated the many challenges facing Chinese schools.

There are 523 Tamil schools in the country, but up to 79% or some 379 of these schools are still occupying dilapidated, termite infested, semi-permanent buildings built on private land before Merdeka. The bigger majority of these schools are in a pathetic state – undersized classrooms, leaking roofs and some even without water or electricity.

Almost all face teacher shortage of some kind, some more acute than others. Promises are made from time to time by the government to improve trainee teacher intake, training temporary teachers and offering them permanent positions but the reality is the opposite. Some 40% of all Tamil school teachers are contract or temporary teachers.

This potent combination of poor infrastructure and teacher shortage is a definite recipe for the high failure rate of Tamil school students. Tamil schools are a neglected lot and the BN must be held responsible by all Indian voters.

Limited opportunities in the civil service and GLCs
Prior to the implementation of the NEP in 1970, Indians were well represented in the civil service. The lop-sided implementation of the NEP has decimated the Indian numbers in the civil service.

Indians and other non-Bumiputeras are severely discriminated both in the intake as well as in subsequent promotions.

For instance, there is not a single Indian judge in the Federal Court. The BN government must look into an Equal Opportunity Commission & an Equal Opportunity Act to redress the gross imbalance among the races in the Government service.

Citizens denied citizenship
Almost 300,000 Indians who are eligible for citizenship do not have MyKads. They are children born to citizen parents whose births were not registered for one reason or another. In a nutshell, they have been denied citizenship due to a government bureaucracy that is callous to their plight. Many dreams have been shattered, jobs and careers foregone and households mired in poverty due to citizenship denied.

Almost all are deserving cases because most were born in Malaysia or have lived here all their lives. Of late, the MIC has organised citizenship for about 4,000 cases but this hardly scratches the surface of the problem. It is more of a publicity stunt for the BN to dupe the Indian electorate as many of the cases publicised in the media are senior citizens in their twilight years and well past their prime.

Sadly, it is a case of political gimmicking taking precedence over resolution of people’s grievances.

Highest unemployment rate
Indians have the highest unemployment rate among the major races in the country. The neglect of the Tamil schools means it ill-prepares the students for secondary school and beyond. Many Indian students lack the linguistic and numerical skills needed for today’s job market.

Moreover, Indians do not have access to skills training institutes like GiatMara, polytechnics, Mara Training Institutes, vocational schools and numerous other training institutes’ set-up with public money at the state and national levels. Certainly, there is a lack of concerted action by the BN government to train and equip Indian youths with the necessary job skills.

The typical response by BN leaders is that Indians do not apply for these opportunities. How can Indians apply for these places when it is not made known to them?

As a result, the majority resort to the private sector. With low levels of education and absence of marketable skills, they are forced to work as lorry drivers, road sweepers, dishwashers, free-lance house maids, cleaners, despatch clerks, personal drivers, etc. These jobs are shunned by the other races because of the low pay, long working hours and physical risks involved.

The situation has got so bad that Indians are forced to compete with foreigners for these very jobs.

Extremely high crime rate/custodial deaths
The poor state of the Tamil schools which contributes in large part to the high school drop-out rate and school leavers with limited skills for the demanding modern job market means that crime is an attractive option.

BN government initiatives are focussed on the symptoms and not the causes. Therefore, we have a high violent crime rate that contributes to a disproportionate high number of detainees in the detention centres and remand prisoners in the police stations. Racial profiling and a very reactive, single race monopolised police force keen on violent interrogation procedures has led to an astronomical high number of unaccounted deaths in police custody.

The way BN chooses to put up a charade that all is well and often providing the most ridiculous of answers to custodian deaths points to a police force that belongs to the bottom tier of the 3rd world.

The politicisation of Batu Caves Sri Subramaniam Temple
For some time now, the BN has used the Batu Caves Sri Subramaniam Swamy Temple for political capital. The temple committee played a pivotal role in the arrest of the Nov 25, 2007 Hindraf rally supporters who had gathered at the temple grounds on the eve of the historic event.

The presence of PM Najib Tun Razak on Thaipusam Day to endear himself to the Hindu electorate is an affront to the Hindus performing the sacred duty of fulfilling their spiritual vows. And most recently, we have the issue of the 29 storey condominium.
Vedic teachings tell us that a temple is a sacred place where one goes for peace of mind and to commune with the Almighty. But MIC and its cohorts have reduced Batu Caves to a political pawn to wage war against its political rivals. We must stop them from this sacrilege.

The labelling of Hindraf as a terrorist organisation
Until today, despite removing the ban on HINDRAF, the police chief and the police force as well as the Home Ministry have yet to apologise to Hindraf, especially the five leaders detained under the ISA, for wrongfully and maliciously labelling Hindraf as a terrorist organisation detrimental to the security of our beloved nation.

Racist agenda against Indian leaders
We see a racist agenda in demonising Indian leaders who choose to stand out and fight for our rights. S Ambiga, Dr Xavier Jeyakumar and P Uthayakumar have all been labelled unilaterally as enemies of the nation by Umno and the BN. This is done surreptitiously by pro-Umno blogs and the mainstream media as well as other radical organisations which are funded by Umno and enjoy the tacit approval of the top BN leadership.MIC, the BN designated representative of the Indians chooses to play mute, so as not to offend its political master.







 

Lawyer M Manoharan is DAP’s Kota Alam Shah state representative. He was arrested under the Internal Security Act for his involvement with Hindraf.

The great Maika Holdings and Telecom shares betrayal by MIC & Samy Vellu

The entire Indian community awaits your response and our votes hang on your action.

The great Maika Holdings and Telecom shares betrayal by MIC & Samy Vellu

It is very apparent that he keeps a very tight hold on Maika. That being the case, how could Maika undertake any business venture without his knowledge and blessing? Shouldn’t he be part of the debacle that is haunting Maika today? Shouldn’t he also shoulder the blame for "the dismal performance of the Maika management?"

Dear Mr Najib Razak, we the Indian Community in Malaysia present the story below and we are not sure in our hearts if you will respond

Maika Holdings was touted as an economic vehicle and a miracle to lift the Indian poor from the shackles of poverty, Maika was launched with much hype and hope. The poor Indians – traditional MIC supporters, the lower middle-class and the working class Indians as well as a vast majority of plantation workers – were mesmerised into responding enthusiastically.

The poor plantation workers put their life savings into the venture, some scraping the barrel, others mortgaging their property and pawning the last of their jewellery. A vast majority also took loans at exorbitant rates to invest in a venture that promised dreams of hopes and tantalising prospects.

It’s not only the poor Indians who responded to this call to rally behind MIC’s efforts to secure seven percent of corporate ownership for the Indian community – which at that time had been stagnating at under one percent since 1960.

Although the original plan by the MIC was to ensure that at least RM30 million worth of Maika shares were subscribed, so successful was the promotion campaign that by 1984, a phenomenal RM106 million was raised from almost 66,400 shareholders.

A large majority of the shareholders are poor plantation workers. The largest individual shareholder with almost 2.8 million shares was former MIC president S Samy Vellu. The amount invested in Maika was even larger than that obtained by MCA’s Multi-Purpose Holdings when the company commenced business.

When it started operations, Maika had one of the biggest cash reserves among Malaysian companies. At a time when business conglomerates like YTL, Berjaya, Malaysian Mining Corps, etc were practically unknown entities, Maika was already well known and if properly managed, would have been a billion dollar company now.

However, in its 25 years of tortured history, Maika investors have known nothing but pain and sorrow. The new dawn of a golden opportunity that was promised to the Indian poor never arrived. Instead, each passing year only witnessed dashed hopes and broken promises that littered the chequered history of Maika. Many of the investors had since passed away, their spirits broken by the betrayal of the leader they trusted.


What went wrong?

It is a case of bad management, poor investment, sheer arrogance and pure greed.

In spite of a number of major acquisitions made into some important companies – like the United Asian Bank (UAB), United Oriental Assurance (UOA), Malaysian Airlines System (MAS), Malaysian International Shipping Corporation (MISC), TV3 and Edaran Otomobil Malaysia Bhd (EON) – Maika’s performance has been mediocre.

There wasn’t any fanfare when Maika was allotted 10 million shares of Syarikat Telekom Malaysia Bhd (STMB). It was assumed in 1990 that Maika had been allotted all the shares it had subscribed to. No details were made known at that time.

Sometime in the middle of February 1992, the shroud of secrecy surrounding the Telekom shares allocation was ripped apart. Then, all hell broke loose.

A journalist from Watan disclosed that "there could have been some hanky-panky in the allocation of Telekom’s shares to Maika Holdings.

This was then followed by another report in a Tamil magazine, Thoothan on April 1, 1992, which disclosed that there could have been some discrepancy in the distribution of the 10 million Telekom shares allocated to Maika by the Finance Ministry. Malaysians learned for the first time (two years after the share issuance), that Maika acquired only one million and not the entire 10 million shares that were allotted to Maika Holdings.

Samy Vellu, through the Tamil Nesan and at MIC meetings, tried to explain by insisting that the cash flow problem faced by Maika did not allow Maika to take up all 10 million shares. But, one of the directors, a one-time ally of Samy Vellu, Vijendran, issued a statement insinuating that the truth may not have been told.

When this matter was raised in parliament, then finance minister Anwar Ibrahim disclosed that since Maika had stated that it could take up only one million shares, the remaining nine million shares were allocated to three companies proposed by Maika because to his "ministry’s knowledge, the three companies represented the interests of the Indian community" (The Star, April 30, 1992).

Note: At the time of share allocation in 1990, Tun Daim Zainuddin was the finance minister.


Maika did not reject the shares

The mystery deepened and bewildered the shareholders when another Maika director, Pasamanikam, contradicted the statements made by Anwar and Samy Vellu. According to Pasamanikam, Maika did not reject the Finance Ministry’s offer and did not propose that the nine million shares be allocated to any other company. He further revealed that Maika had indeed raised a RM50 million loan to facilitate the acquisition of the entire 10 million shares even before the Finance Ministry had withdrawn its offer.

A tidal wave of questions engulfed the share holders:

1) Why did the Finance Ministry cancel the initial offer of the 10 million shares and subsequently allot only one million shares to Maika?

2) Who was responsible for the retraction of the original offer?

3) Who lied to the Finance Ministry?

4) Who informed them that Maika had recommended that the nine million shares be given to three companies?

5) Who supplied the names of these three companies?

6) Who coerced the Finance Ministry to change their mind?

7) Who aborted this offer? (There was no earthly reason for the Finance Ministry to change its mind on its own after having allocated 10 million shares).

According to GK Rama Iyer, former managing director of Maika Holdings Bhd – as revealed in his press release dated May 16, 1992 :

Samy Vellu was informed at 6.10am on Oct 5, 1990, that Maika had been offered 10 million STMB shares and of the probability of obtaining full loan financing and that Maika intended to take up the entire allocation of 10 million shares. Indeed, a letter dated Oct 5, 1990, from Arab-Malaysian Merchant Bankers Bhd. (AMMBB) – offering RM50 million to finance the purchase of the 10 million shares was received on Oct 6, 1990.


There must have been a mistake

He further clarified that Samy Vellu replied that "there must have been a mistake. The offer to Maika should be for one million and not 10 million"

According to Samy Vellu, the remaining nine million shares were for allocation to "other MIC bodies".

"Further, Samy Vellu stated that he would contact the ministry to clarify the position."

It was then, after Samy Vellu had contacted the Finance Ministry; that the letter of offer was retracted and Maika’s allocation reduced to only one million shares.


Why did Samy Vellu prevent Maika from acquiring the 10 million shares?

Wasn’t Maika his brain-child to raise the corporate wealth of the Indian community so that their economic welfare would be secured?

Wasn’t he the leader of MIC which launched Maika as a business venture to enrich the community which had long been associated with deprivation and poverty?

This was God-sent wealth. Why did he prevent this wealth from reaching Maika?

Imagine how much Maika would have made from these shares for which it only paid RM5 per share. When Telekom shares were first traded, it fetched a price of RM6.15 per share and that too during a bearish market. By mid-1992 the share price was hovering around RM11-RM13.

According to an article in the Aliran Monthly – 1993:13(10):

Samy Vellu had taken away from Maika RM120 million in profits (which it would have attained had it just held on to the 10 million shares until 1993).


They don’t deserve 10 million shares

Samy Vellu made it extremely clear that he personally decided to allocate only one million shares to Maika. According to Samy Vellu, "I could have given all the shares to Maika Holdings if not for their past business record. They don’t deserve 10 million shares because of the dismal performance of the Maika management. They have to learn to do business on their own and not depend on shares and make money out of it". (New Straits Times May, 16 1992)

His autocratic style and arrogance comes through so forcefully: "I could have given all the shares to Maika Holdings…," he boasts. "They don’t deserve 10 million shares…," he berates.

It is very apparent that he keeps a very tight hold on Maika. That being the case, how could Maika undertake any business venture without his knowledge and blessing? Shouldn’t he be part of the debacle that is haunting Maika today? Shouldn’t he also shoulder the blame for "the dismal performance of the Maika management?"

And why should he give nine million shares to three obscure companies?

SB Management Services Sdn. Bhd and Advanced Personal Computers Sdn Bhd were in fact shell companies with paid-up capital of RM2 each. The third company is Clearway Sdn. Bhd.

Samy Vellu decided on the shares allocation – not the Ministry of Finance!

On what criteria did Samy Vellu decide that the three companies deserve to get the Telekom shares instead of Maika?

What business experience and success could these companies boast about to warrant their being chosen from among all the other Indian businesses in the country?


Serious conflict of interest

There was a serious case of conflict of interest involved in this scandal. A director of Maika was also a shareholder and director of one of the three companies, all of which divided the nine million Telekom shares equally. Lim Kit Siang named this person as R Selvendra on May 7, 1992.

Two of the three companies – Advance Personal Computers and SB Management Services – shared the same business address: Level 2, Block F-North, Damansara Town Centre, Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur.

These two companies had the same company secretary: S. Balasubramaniam.

Significantly, S Balasubramaniam and S Sothinathan were both directors and shareholders of these two companies.

Note: Sothinathan is none other than the former MIC vice-president and former MP for Teluk Kemang.

Samy Vellu rewarded a person who helped him hijack the Telekom shares by making him a deputy minister and could also probably groom him for future leadership of MIC.


Do we need leaders like this?

If the 10 million STMB shares were allocated for the MIC, who would be the natural inheritors of these shares on behalf of the Indian community – Maika with its 66,400 shareholders or three insignificant private companies with six shareholders? Does this information in any way suggest that these three companies represented the interests of the Indian community?

Who lied to the Finance Ministry that these "three companies represented the interests of the Indian community"?

What was the motive for diverting nine million shares to three private companies?

Those who sought to find the answers were threatened or beaten up. One brave soul who went on a crusade to expose this scandal was stabbed in Penang. Whenever questions regarding Maika were raised at MIC meetings presided by Samy Vellu, it was alleged that thugs would suddenly appear beside the person asking the question and that would be the end of the affair to seek answers.

On May 13, 1992, the then Selangor assemblyman for Seri Cahaya S Sivalingam (now deceased), had also acted as a thug when he led an assault on Maika shareholders who were peacefully picketing against the Maika Telekom shares scandal outside the Maika headquarters.

In October 2006, the MIC Johor assemblyman for Tenggaroh, the late S Krishnasamy assaulted M. Kulasegaran the DAP MP for Ipoh Barat at the Maika annual general meeting (AGM) at Legend Hotel. Even though Kulasegaran lodged a police report, no action was taken against Krishnasamy.

Some years ago, it was claimed that at one particular MIC meeting at the Dewan Sri Pinang in Penang, chaired by Samy Vellu, a Maika shareholder wanted to know the position of Maika. It was alleged that Samy Vellu told this shareholder that he would provide the answer after the adjournment for refreshment. In the meantime two thugs confronted this shareholder and told him that if he wanted to return home in one piece it was the right time to go home.

When the meeting resumed, Samy Vellu reportedly called for the shareholder to repeat his query. But since he wasn’t there, Samy Vellu continued with his meeting without touching on the subject of Maika.

What is puzzling is the fact that in spite of so much overwhelming evidence, the Anti- Corruption Agency (ACA) after 17 months of investigation cleared Samy Vellu of any wrong-doing but unfortunately without clearing the doubts in the minds of the Malaysians.

In 1994, the then chairman of MIC public claims committee, V Subramaniam – also known as Barat Maniam – made a startling public accusation. He charged that the accounts were fabricated to make it appear as if all the profits from the sale of Telekom shares were channelled to MIED. In challenging Samy to take him to court, he declared, "I have come out with this statement to prove that Samy Vellu is a thief. He has stolen (Telekom) shares from the Indian community."


Maika Scandal refuses to be buried

In spite of 25 years of history, the Maika scandal refuses to be buried. It keeps on surfacing, haunting and hounding the perpetrators of a crime that robbed the poor of their fair share.

The controversy surrounding the Maika-Telekom shares scandal appears to be far from over.

Promises were made; time and again, that Maika shareholders will get their hard earned money back. But not a penny was paid. At each Maika annual general meeting, the shareholders continue to press for answers. Often the meeting degenerates into violence as ‘thugs’ linked to the MIC president rough up those who dare ask questions.

Samy Vellu appointed his son Vell Paari as CEO of Maika Holdings in 1999. He was asked  to sell off the few remaining assets of Maika Holdings.

Samy Vellu is very much in control of MIC, and he runs the party as a feudal organisation where he makes all the decisions. He has systematically hounded many capable leaders out of MIC to maintain his iron grip in the party. His deputies and committee members are loyal minions who will not hesitate to do anything and everything he says. After years in power, MIC is now a rotting mass, particularly in the head. Instead of serving the Indian community, MIC has become a party that serves only its leaders while millions of Indians face untold misery. The poor Indians have remained poor while those close to Samy Vellu became rich beyond their own expectations.

MIC exists for the benefit of its leaders, not the poor Indian community.

Now Mr Prime Minister, can you just ignore these contentious issues that have destroyed the lives of thousands of your citizens?

The entire Indian community awaits your response and our votes hang on your action.

 

 

 

 

 

edited from Malaysia Today.com