Speech By M.Kulasegaran : Why the long delay in building a new Tamil school in Merlimau?

29/01/2011 - Speech By M.Kulasegaran : DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat on:

Why the long delay in building a new Tamil school in Merlimau?

As a follow up on our visit to Merlimau, to day with local residents made a visit to the local Tamil school. I gave a speech and among other matters are as follows:

SJKT Merlimau, Melaka was built some time in 1968. It was built on government land. The total area of the school is less then ½ acre. It lacks basic facilities like a field for the children and for other recreational activities.

The Merlimau area has more than 7 estates and the bulk of the workers are Indians. Together with Sdr Guna, Sdr Gandhi and local PR leaders we visited the area.

We received numerous complaints about the school lacking up to date facilities. We were indeed surprised to see that the school is exactly the same plank built school that it was as in 1968.

With such condition which is so uncondusive for studying, it is not surprising that the school enrolment has not been encouraging. Many parents prefer to send their children to national or other schools which have better facilities.

This lack of facilities has been known to the BN leaders but the problem remains unresolved till today. In fact, over 10 years ago, the local BN leaders had promised to rebuild a new school on a 2 acre land which will also have a field and some open space. But it was an empty promise.

At every election, in order to win votes, the locals would be promised that a new Tamil school would be built. With the upcoming by election in this area, the local MIC leaders are now playing the same music again.

The latest news to go around is that a sum of RM4 million has been set aside by the state government for the building of a new Tamil school in Merlimau. If the news is true, will it be another election gimmick to fish for votes only?

Building of a school is a federal matter and since when does a state government have to take over the responsibility? Before BN makes more promises, it should at least do two things:_

1. Apologise to the Indian community for its failure to fulfil its past promises to build a new Tamil school.

2. Explain the reasons for not fulfilling its promises

Nevertheless, we are here to push for the government to keep its promise.

Questions that need answers are:-

1) Where has the land been identified for the building of a new school?

2) Will the school have the best facilities for the children?

3) What is the overall cost of building the new school and when will it be completed?

There are a total of 21 Tamil schools in Melaka. Out of this total, 11 schools are partially aided schools and are built on private land.

The Indian community has, over the last 53 years, been pushing the government to make all

partial aided schools as fully aided. But the government has been giving unacceptable excuses.

One of the excuses is that it is costly to acquire private land and/ or impossible to acquire the land.

There is a specific Act of Parliament- the National Acquisition Act which allows for the acquisition of land for public use.

This act has been used many times before and we see no reason for the government's reluctance to do what is the easiest. The government should therefore stop finding excuses.

Thanks.

M.Kulasegaran

MP Ipoh Barat

 

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M.Kulasegaran : Islamic State is not and will not be the PR's policy and agenda.

Speech by M Kula Segaran , DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Ipoh Barat at the launching of "Year of the Rabbit- Change" campaign at Jelapang Market, Ipoh on 24 January 2011.

Islamic State is not and will not be the Paktan Rakyat's policy and agenda. 

In the Galas by election, MCA had campaigned on the Islamic State's agenda of PAS. It is obvious that MCA now believes that this is the killer weapon that it can use against the DAP and Pakatan Rakyat. 

There is no doubt that Islamic State issue will be the main issue MCA will want to exploit in the coming general election.But MCA's campaign whether in the Tenang by election or coming general election that " A vote for Rocket is a vote for Islamic State' or ' A vote for PR is a vote for Islamic State ' is not true and  is a lie. 

Islamic State is not and will not be the PR's policy and agenda.DAP's stand on the Islamic State is very clear.
Our stand and principle is that Malaysia is a secular nation, with Islam as the national religion.

Malaysia is not an Islamic state and Malaysia must remain a secular democratic nation. We will not compromise our stand and principle. PR has been formed to bring about political change and save Malaysia. Islamic State is not and will not be the PR's policy and agenda.

Islamic State is therefore a false issue in Tenang and coming general election. Voters must vote for PR to bring about political change in the nation. Today, together with YB Fong Po Kuan, Chong Chee King, DAP members and supporters, we are all gathered here to launch the "Year of the Rabbit—Change" programme.

Besides spreading the political message of change, the two activities of this campaign are to register new voters and to provide checking of voting status for existing voters.

In November last year, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dato Nazri revealed that 11,381,193 citizens were registered as voters. 4,304,620 who were above 21years old and eligible have not registered as voters. Thus nearly 30 per cent qualified citizens have yet to sign up as voters.

The new voters will definitely be able to determine the outcome of many state and federal constituencies. Hence, it is imperative that those who want to see and bring political change in the next general election must quickly sigh up as voters.

Just as it is our duty to save Malaysia through political change, we also want to save the Earth by encouraging the public to minimize the use of plastic bags.

Hence, as part of our public awareness exercise, we are also giving out free recycle bags to those who come forward to register as new voters or to check their details in the electoral rolls.

Thanks.

M.Kulasegaran

MP Ipoh Barat

BN Perak State Govt promoting falsehood in a religious event

MEDIA STATEMENT

Dato Mah Hang Soon must not be allowed to promote falsehood in a religions event. The public demand a product as advertised, not a fake one.

On 6th January, BN Perak State Government Executive Councilor, Dato' Dr Mah Hang Soon announced that the well-known Christian Music group, Hillsong from Australia will take centre stage during the Perak State level Christmas and New Year celebrations at Stadium Indera Mulia in Ipoh on 23rd January, 2011.

Immediately, on the same day, the manager of Hillsong Music, Australia Mr. Timothy Whincop issued a letter confirming that the group performing at the event is not sanctioned or endorsed by Hillsong Music or Hillsong Church.

I have been given to understand that this matter has been brought to the attention of Dato' Dr Mah. Despite the said knowledge he insisted that the group performing on 23/1/2011 be promoted as from Hillsong from Australia.

Yesterday, Hillsong issued another letter confirming that Hillsong is not and will not be performing in any event in Ipoh, Perak on 23/1/2011 and reiterates that Hillsong's name may not be used without prior permission. Copies of their letters dated 6/1/2011 and 12/1/2011 are attached herewith.

Christianity promotes truth and respect for the rights of others. It is a shameful affair for Dato' Mah to promote falsehood. Dato' Mah must let the public know exactly who is performing at the Christmas event. As the exco member in charge of consumer affairs, Dato' Mah has the duty not to mislead the public but to describe a product accurately.

Christians and other Malaysians are upset that Dato' Mah is not telling the truth. The public demand that they get the product as advertised, not a fake one.

Dated this 13th day of January 2011.


NGEH KOO HAM
Chairman of DAP Perak
MP for Beruas &
State Assemblyman for Sitiawan

BN State Government Celebrating Christmas out of season

BN Perak State Government fixing 23rd January 2011 to celebrate Christmas defeats the spirit of celebrating the event.

I note with regret that the Perak BN Government deems it fit to celebrate Christmas 2010 out of season to celebrate it only on 23rd January 2011. Christmas is celebrated worldwide on 25th December 2010.

The purpose of a celebration is to observe the significance of an event, in our instant case the birth of Christ. Apart from that, a celebration uplifts and liberates the human spirit to bring happiness, gladness and joy.

The people of Perak are starting to feel the mood of celebrating Chinese New Year which falls on 3 February 2011. Therefore, to celebrate Christmas only on 23 January 2011 when the people are in the mood of celebrating Chinese New Year will overshadow the message and significance of the Christmas event. The festivity which Christmas brings to uplift the spirit of the people will also be lost.

I hope in future the State Christmas program will be celebrated during the season of Christmas.

Dated this 12th day of January 2011.



NGEH KOO HAM
Chairman of DAP Perak
MP for Beruas &
State Assemblyman for Sitiawan

Perak DAP urge Najib to accept open Debate with Anwar

(Picture ) 1 : Nga Kor Ming urge Najib to accept open debate with Anwar Ibrahim.

(Picture) 2 : DAP Perak demanded that the Royal Commission of inquiry must probe the real cause of death of Teoh Beng Hock and none other than that in order to find out the TRUTH.

(Ipoh 12-1-11)

Perak DAP today urge the Prime Minister， Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak to accept the challenge by the Opposition Leader, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim for an open debate over Pakatan Rakyat’s 100 days new policy in order to let all fellow Malaysian to judge both the coalition’s performance.

Perak DAP Secretary, Nga Kor Ming，who is also Member of Parliament for Taiping said, as Najib had accused the Pakatan Rakyat policy been “too good to be true” and will cause the country become insolvent, it is timely that both the Top leadership from BN and PR sit at the same platform and justify their own stand.

He said， this is crucial and important as such open debate will give people a golden opportunity to assess for themselves before they decide who should lead the nation.

Quoted the American Presidential Debates and the British premiership debate, Nga said that it is timely that the leader of the nation shall advocate their views and policy in an open and neutral platform before they seek mandate from the people. He said, Malaysians deserve better and there is no reason the candidate aspired to be Prime Minister hide himself behind the media but refuse to meet face to face.

Pakatan Rakyat in its 2nd convention held in Kepala Batas on 19th of December last year resolve to a 147 new policy to govern the nation including the 100 days programme which among others promised to offer free PLUS highway, paying RM1,000 to all senior citizens and RM500 increment of salary for all school teachers. The reform policy had drew critism from the BN and Najib had even accused the Pakatan will cause the country bankrupt should they implement the populist policies.

Nga said， Malaysia will never go bankrupt if there is no corruption. He quoted Auditor General Report by saying that，under the BN, the country now suffered a huge debt of RM408.2 billion national debt, which is about 52% of the GDP. The National Debt had grown 453% since 1997 when the debt duringt that time was RM90 billion. Such deteriorating trend at the rate of 34% annually had brought fear to certain quarter that the country may be insolvent when reaching 2019.

“If we eradicate corruption, the country will safe RM28 billion annually, it is sufficient to implement all the pakatan rakyat’s policy which will benefit the people and the nation.”Nga said.

Nga issued the media statement after the dialogue and peaceful demonstration with DAP Batu Gajah Parliamentary liason committee which demand for through investigation on the real cause of death for Teoh Beng Hock. The 19 DAP branches in Batu Gajah demanded that the Royal Commission of inquiry must probe the real cause of death and not other ancilliary issue if the Government is sincere to find out the truth. At the same time, Perak DAP also offered RM40,000 to the public whoever can provide evidence which lead to the conviction of the party who caused the death of Teoh Beng Hock.