Wednesday, September 26, 2012

MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel honours Datuk M. Chandran

Chandran still enthusiastic about football despite age and illness

By YVONNE LIM


KUALA LUMPUR: Neither age nor illness has dampened football legend Datuk M. Chandran’s enthusiasm for the national football team.

Chandran, 70, is now wheelchair-bound after suffering from a minor stroke in July. Four years ago, he was diagnosed with muscular atrophy in his left leg and he requires regular medical treatment.

But Chandran, who skippered the national team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, is still passionate about the game, especially the big strides made by the national team under coach Datuk K. Rajagopal.

“The national squad have shown vast improvement and we – the supporters, fans and critics – must join hands to continue supporting the team. We must give Rajagopal a chance to rectify the weaknesses in the team instead of crucifying him and the players,” he said.

Chandran also expressed hope that more local football talent will be unearthed and more parents will encourage their children to take up sports.

“It is regrettable that so many talents remain hidden among the young ones due to their parents’ over-emphasis on academic achievement, said Chandran, himself a father of two grown-up kids.
“During my time, studies were important but going outdoors to play football in the nearby field was also a daily activity.

“Today, so much importance is placed on studies, causing parents to send their children for many tuition classes. On top of that, computers and other electronic gadgets are keeping our kids out of the fields and indoors.”

He said that maintaining a healthy balance between studies and outdoor activities “is an essential element in a growing child’s life”.

Chandran said this after receiving a RM30,000 aid from MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel yesterday.
Chandran said the aid would greatly ease his financial burden.

Palanivel said the aid was to honour and acknowledge the football icon’s contribution to the country.
Chandran also led the national team to a bronze medal at the 1974 Asian Games in Teheran. He also captained the side who won bronze medals at the 1969 and 1973 SEAP Games, silver medal in the 1971 SEAP Games and victory in the 1973 Merdeka Cup.

Source: http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/09/26/chandran-still-enthusiastic-about-football-despite-age-and-illness/

UM survey points to BN win, but increased support for PR in GE13 - The Malaysian Insider



KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — A survey conducted by Universiti Malaya (UM) today showed that Barisan Nasional (BN) would likely win the 13th general election but also an increase in public confidence that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) could take over Putrajaya.

The survey “Polling Trends in the Run-up to the 13th General Election” was carried out from September 1-16. A similar survey was carried out last March.

 
University of Malaya’s Centre for Democracy and Elections (UMCEDEL) was responsible for the survey, which found that BN garnered 44 per cent of support among those polled, a drop from last March’s results that stood at 49 per cent.

For PR, the survey showed an increase in support, from only 21 per cent in March to 30 per cent.
Survey results also indicated that PR would likely hold onto Selangor and Kedah.

It, however, noted a decrease in support among Kelantan residents towards the state’s PAS-led government.
Public confidence in the PR-led government in Selangor also led to a marked increase from 38 per cent to 50 per cent in the state while for BN, there was a decrease from 28 per cent to 16 per cent.

A similar pattern was seen in Kedah, where confidence in PR rose from 37 per cent to 48 per cent, while BN saw a drop in confidence among those polled, from 40 per cent to 32 per cent.

In Kelantan, however, public confidence in PR fell from 44 per cent to 41 per cent, while the belief in BN’s ability to govern the state rose from 27 per cent to 32 per cent in September.

The face-to-face survey involved 1,536 respondents, from across all three major ethnic groups. Each person was randomly selected to answer a structured survey.

The survey also addressed public receptiveness to the prospect of a debate between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PR’s de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

It found that 72 per cent of respondents were in support of such an event, 17 per cent were against it while another 11 per cent were unsure whether it should take place at all.

The survey also showed that Najib’s popularity had fallen from 61 per cent in March to 58 per cent this month.

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/um-survey-points-to-bn-win-but-increased-support-for-pr-in-ge13

Palanivel to manage RM180mil fund for Indian entrepreneurs


KUALA LUMPUR: MIC President Datuk Seri G. Palanivel has been given the task of managing a RM180mil special government allocation meant to help Indian entrepreneurs.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the decision for him to take charge of small and medium enterprise (SME) projects for Indians was made by the Cabinet last week.

“The RM180mil fund is intended to assist all segments of Indian entrepreneurs, including micro-enterprises,” Palanivel told a press conference yesterday after handing out cheques to recipients of Community Builders Foundation (CBF) pre-schoolers aid. He said his responsibility would be to monitor the loan applications as well as engage with the public.

“This is to ensure that genuine and deserving Indian entrepreneurs have access to finance to grow their business,” he said, adding that those interested to apply should contact SME Corporation Malaysia.
The RM180mil loan was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak last month at the Malaysian Indian Economic Conference.

Earlier this year, Palanivel was appointed as the lead minister in charge of economic transformation for the Indian community.

On the CBF pre-schoolers aid, Palanivel said about 1,257 children from poor families have been able to attend pre-school with the assistance.

“CBF have spent about RM695,000 to help these children attend pre-school,” said Palanivel, who founded the foundation in 1994.

On another matter, Palanivel said the decision on where he would contest in the 13th general election would only be made after the dissolution of Parliament. “I can stand anywhere, in Cameron Highlands, in Sungai Siput or Teluk Kemang. But right now I am only concentrating on how to win more Indian votes. Whatever decision will only be made after Parliament is dissolved,” he said.

Palanivel said MIC would field a mixed list of new and old faces for the elections.

“We will retain some old ones, but others who are deemed to have overstayed or are not popular will be dropped,” he said

Palanivel: MIC will field women candidates in next polls

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel has given an assurance that the party would also select women as candidates in the coming general election (GE).

He hoped Wanita MIC members would dismiss unfounded rumors that the party would not field female candidates in the GE.

"I will, of course, choose women candidates. It's only fair for us to give such opportunity to the women's wing. The selection of candidates will be a key element in re energising MIC and Barisan Nasional.
"I am not going to remove the 'roses' from the list of candidates," he said when launching Wanita MIC's election machinery at the party headquarters here Friday.

Palanivel, urged Wanita MIC members to get in touch with schools, non-governmental organisations, temples and other relevant authorities to better understand the needs of the Indian community. - Bernama

Palanivel: MIC requests special allocation under Budget 2013

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has requested a 5% special allocation for the Indian community's development activities in Budget 2013.

President Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said he had submitted the request and a 'wish list' to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak recently.

"This special allocation, if approved, will be used for various development projects to enhance the living standard of the Indian community, in education and development," he told reporters after opening the 1st Malaysia India Builders Exhibition in Brickfield here.

The prime minister will table Budget 2013 on Sept 28.

Palanivel, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said the government allocated RM100mil this year for renovation and upgrading works at Tamil schools.

On another matter, Palanivel said the MIC was working with the Public Service Department to increase the number of Indian civil servants by 3,000 by year-end.

"At the same time, we are also working to push for the promotion of Indian staff, especially those who have been long in the service," he said, adding that it would be carried out in stages. - Bernama

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025 - the way forward


 PM Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak has launched the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013 - 2025 on Sept 11, 2012 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. It was a “frank and bold” which faces up to weaknesses in the education system and pushes for excellence among teachers and students.


 Perak MIC Youth supports such a forward looking approach to ensure that Malaysian stay competitive in the coming years. PM Najib said, “In the new economy, the thrust is knowledge, innovation and technology. Our system must meet these needs. We must prepare our children for jobs that are yet to exist.”

The blueprint aims to produce students with six key attributes knowledge, thinking skills, leadership skills, bilingual proficiency, ethics and spirituality, and national identity.


In his speech, DPM Tan Sri Muhyiddin outlined the blueprint's 11 areas of reform or “shifts” which will be implemented over the next 13 years in three phases or “waves”.

They are:
> Increase access to education while improving quality to match international standards;
> Ensure that every child is proficient in both Bahasa Malaysia and English;
> Develop values-driven Malaysians and promote unity among the races;
> Transform teaching and ensure that only 30% of the top graduates are admitted into the profession;
> Ensure high-performing school leaders in every school;
> Empower district education offices, state education departments, and schools;
> Improve ICT in schools such as WiFi access;
> Transform the Education Ministry in order to deliver results;
> Involve parents, communities, and the private sector;
> Ensure student outcomes are proportional to the amount of government spending on education; and
> Increase transparency in the ministry's progress of the targets set in the blueprint.

The changes proposed would be carried out in three stages: from 2013 to 2015; 2016 to 2020; and 2021 to 2025.

The Malaysia Education Blueprint will be able to produce high quality and skilled human capital. Summary of the blueprint is as follows: (Source: Malaysiakini)





Pakatan Rakyat will always find issues in any initiatives brought by the BN government. They poisoned the mind the the layman by telling them that there are a lot of weaknesses in the previous blueprints. BN is bringing change that will push our rakyats to a level with competitive advantage.