Najib calls on MIC to return Indians as BN’s ‘fixed deposit’

Dec 9 2012 - The Malaysian Insider

The PM flanked by MIC president Datuk Seri G Palanivel (left) and former president Datuk Seri Samy Vellu at MIC’s AGM today

KUALA LUMPUR: — The MIC must reclaim Indian voters as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) “fixed deposit” in the next general elections, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

The BN chairman reminded his coalition partners of their embarrassing defeat in Election 2008 when massive numbers of Indians voted in favour of the opposition parties that led to the birth of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact, and urged them not to be swayed by empty promises.

“In the past 11 general elections, MIC was the main contributor to BN’s fixed deposit but in the 12th GE, it became something else when the government lost that fixed deposit.

“I hope in the 13th general elections, which are soon, MIC can return the fixed deposit to BN. Can, sirs?” the Umno president asked the thousands of delegates at the MIC assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here, today.

Najib, who is also prime minister, reminded delegates that a vote for the opposition is “a vote for chaos.”

“Do you still remember what happened to the Kampung Buah Pala promise? Promises remain promises, only empty promises,” he said, raising the spectre of the 2009 housing controversy in Penang that signalled the start of the Indian community’s disenchantment with the PR pact they had voted in at the 12th general elections.

The Kampung Buah Pala controversy came about when the residents, who were mostly Indian squatters, were ordered to vacate the land before August 3 following the sale of the 2.6-hectare land by the previous BN state government to Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Pulau Pinang Bhd.

The villagers — nicknamed the High Chaparral, after the late 60s Western-themed television series about ranchers — had first sought the PR government’s help to intervene after they were issued eviction notices.

They turned against the state after failing to get Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to negotiate a compensation deal to their liking with the developer.

Najib had raised the same issue yesterday during a whirlwind tour of Penang.

Najib officiates MIC’s 66th AGM at PWTC in Kuala Lumpur today

“Sirs, you must remember, a vote for the opposition means a vote for chaos. Must remember that, sirs,” he told the MIC assembly today, the last before national elections are called.

In Election 2008, decades of frustrations at being left out of development saw the Indian community flee from BN’s side, adding to the ruling pact’s historical loss of its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority. 

But since then, Najib has been actively courting the community, seen now as the possible game-changer for the coming 13th general election. 

The PM reminded delegates at the MIC assembly today that a vote for the opposition is “a vote for chaos.”

For example, the prime minister allocated RM100 million to upgrade Tamil schools in Budget 2012, the same amount given to Chinese schools and religious schools. 

The Indian vote is seen as crucial to determine BN’s future in the country as the next general election is expected to be a very closely fought battle between the ruling coalition and the fledgling PR pact.

Observers have claimed that Najib and BN leaders have lost confidence in the MIC’s ability to score the Indian vote, resulting in efforts by the prime minister to engage directly with the community, who form nearly 1.8 million out of the 28-million-strong population in Malaysia. Some 800,000 are registered voters.

Fixed deposits

Palanivel had referred to Indians as BN's "fixed deposits", that was lost during the 2008 general election but the community is now warming up to BN once again.

“Fixed deposits will be subject to ‘economic inflation’, so we must constantly upgrade and support the fixed deposit scheme,” he said.

In his speech, Najib also urged delegates to label opposition promises as Janji Buah Pala (Kampung Buah Pala Promise)

“What are their promises? Janji Buah Pala, (as in) Kampung Buah Pala.  I tell you, if the opposition makes promises, we shall equate it as Janji Buah Pala,” he said

He repeatedly egged delegates on during his speech by shouting “What are their promises?” to which delegates shout back, “Buah Pala!”

He said Pakatan Rakyat made an election promises that the traditional Indian village in Penang “can stay there forever”, but it turned out to be a lie.

'Pakatan are temple destroyers'

The village was demolished to make way for a condominium project after the developer obtained a court order to evict the squatters.

However, the state government had said it was able to convincethe developer to build houses for the displaced villagers, except for nine families that refused to sign the compensation agreement.

Najib also slammed Pakatan Rakyat-led governments for demolishing Hindu temples, saying that seven had been demolished so far while BN had never done so.

“Of late, even a private shrine in Sepang was demolished. BN will help to rebuild it.

“MIC, go and repair the shrine. If they demolish it (again), then repair it again, because this is a right that cannot be destroyed or alienated by anyone, including the opposition.

“The Indian community must fight for their rights, right or not? If you have to sue them, sue them!” he shouted.

MIC YOUTH AND NGOs PROTEST AGAINST TEMPLE DEMOLISTION BY SELANGOR GOVERNMENT

Dec 7, 2012

MIC Youth and Indian NGOs today assembled at Selangor State Secretary to protest against the demolition of 6 Hindu temples by Pakatan Rakyat govt of Selangor. The protest was led by its National Youth Chairman Sdra T. Mohan.

Hundreds of MIC Youth Leaders and Leaders Indian NGOs have turned up.

MIC to lay out issues at annual general assembly

Dec 7, 2012 - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC will put forward issues to be resolved by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during the party's annual general assembly on Sunday.

Its president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said the issues would be on politics, education, economic, social and loans affecting the Indian community.

“I don't think the Prime Minister will respond immediately but will discuss things with me after the next Cabinet meeting,” he said here yesterday.

Palanivel, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said 4,000 branch chairmen as well as another 1,000 branch committee members are expected to attend the second assembly under his leadership.

“The debate by the speakers will touch on politics, election machinery, education and Tamil schools,” he said.

He said the party planned to launch a helpline next year to provide assistance to the Indian community to complement the Sunday service centre which caters to about 100 people a week.

He said the Indian community including schools, temples, non governmental organisations and associations have received substantial allocation from the government as compared to before the 2008 general election.

“MIC is now a hard working party, with the leaders going to the ground to resolve problems, especially medical cases and educational loans.

“The opposition is only good at shouting but cannot perform.

“They have not resolved any problems,” he said.

Palanivel said the next general election, which is scheduled anytime, is an important watershed for Barisan and MIC.

“I believe our preparations have been very good and it is going to be very challenging.

“We cannot relax or take things for granted,” he said.

Palanivel said the Indian sentiment was good for the MIC and it was confident of regaining lost parliamentary and state seats in Kedah, Perak and Selangor as well as one of the two state seats in Penang.

Touching on the demolition of a Hindu altar at a home in Sepang, Palanivel said it was not a wise move.

“They should not do this. They must be sensitive to the feelings of the Indian community,” he said.

He was commenting on the action of about 30 council enforcement officers who had gone to the home of Umah Devi on Nov 20 and demolished an altar which was erected within the gated compound.

Disabled student can continue studies with MIC Youth’s assistance

Dec 2, 2012 - The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Disabled accident victim M. Pavitra can now concentrate on her studies. MIC Youth has helped her obtain funding.

The wing managed to collect RM60,000 to enable Pavitra, 20, to continue her higher education.

During a mock cheque presentation ceremony here yesterday, Pavitra thanked caring Malaysians who had helped her achieve her dream of obtaining a degree.

“With the money, my worries are over. I can now concentrate on my diploma in business administration,” she said.

Youth chief T. Mohan said the fund would be managed by the wing.

“The money will be used to pay for her medical, educational, home and transportation needs,” he said.

Mohan added that Pavitra needed RM2,000 for the nursing home, RM500 for transportation from her home to the university college and RM474 for her medication each month.

Pavitra was about to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia in 2009 when an accident led to her being hospitalised.

She has a disabling medical condition called post-anoxic myoclonus and is confined to a wheelchair.

Her father M. Muthukumar is a driving school instructor while her mother V. Sivapakkiam is a housewife. They have two other school-going children.

Palanivel set to rally MIC members at party's general assembly

Dec 6 2012 - The Star

PETALING JAYA: After Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's rallying call at the Umno general assembly last week, it is now MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel's turn to set the tone for his party to woo support from the people.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department will drive home a message of unity to about 1,500 delegates and 2,000 observers in his presidential address at the party's 66th general assembly here on Sunday.

Observers said the president was likely to remind delegates of MIC's commitment to championing the cause of Malaysian Indians and address pertinent issues concerning the community.

To win the support of the community, Palanivel will appeal to members to serve the people's needs in a more coordinated way. One of the approaches undertaken is turning state MIC offices into service centres for the people since last year.

Palanivel has been out to match words with deeds since taking over as party supremo from Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu in December 2010, given the setback the party suffered in the 2008 general election.

The split Indian votes caused Barisan Nasional dearly, with the ruling coalition losing its two-thirds majority for the first time.

As Prime Minister, Najib has been backing Palanivel through various initiatives, including short-term financial grants to uplift the community socially and economically.

Palanivel will surely highlight the positive results from initiatives to empower Indian entrepreneurs, namely via the RM180mil special government allocation managed by the special secretariat for empowerment of Indian entrepreneurs.

MIC secretary-general Datuk S. Murugesan encouraged delegates to focus on the six resolutions to be tabled during the one-day assembly, which will include entrepreneurship, job opportunities in the public sector for Indians, skills training for Indian youths and an education blueprint for Indian students,

“Since we are short on time, we hope delegates will focus on these topics,'' he added.

Palanivel can certainly leverage on MIC's “turnaround” since the last general election and make his case to delegates and members to go all out and give it their best shot.

Zambry: Perak gazette 11,600ha for Orang Asli settlements - Malaysian Insider

TELUK INTAN, Dec 6 – Some 11,600 hectares of land in Perak have so far been gazetted for Orang Asli settlements including for agriculture, proving that the state government has been proactive in carrying out development for this community.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said besides that, the Barisan Nasional state government was also committed to solving their basic problems by going to the ground to meet them.

“Perak has 250 Orang Asli villages and an additional 15,000 hectares of land will be gazetted for the Orang Asli,” he said after opening the “Semarak Kasih Bersama Masyarakat Orang Asli” programme at the Redang Penggor Orang Asli village, here, today.

Zambry said the state government had allocated RM1.5 million in this year’s budget for the development of the Orang Asli community and the amount would be increased in the 2013 budget to be announced at the state assembly sitting soon.

At the function, Zambry also handed over residential land titles to 160 Orang Asli from Kampung Palawan, located in the Teluk Intan parliamentary constituency.

Earlier, he performed the ground-breaking for the 10-storey low-cost flats comprising 150 units.

The RM17.9 million project carried out by the state government with the cooperation of the federal government, in Jalan Laksmana, here, is expected to be ready in July 2014.

He said the units were for low-income earners and the hardcore poor, especially squatters. – Bernama

Kegigihan BN di Perak Utara — Zulkiflee Bakar - The Malaysian Insider

October 10, 2012

Oct 10 — ‘‘Dulu kita undi pembangkang sebab mereka janji mau tolong kita, sekarang yang banyak tolong kita BN, jadi pilihan raya nanti kita akan undi BN...’’

Itulah kata-kata seorang penduduk berketurunan Tionghua ketika ditemui penulis di Kuala Kurau, Perak pada Sabtu lalu.

Sememangnya tidak dapat dinafikan sokongan rakyat kepada Barisan Nasional (BN) di Perak semakin meningkat. Namun persoalannya mampukah BN bertahan di negeri itu dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-13 nanti?

Tidak dapat dinafikan tumbangnya kerajaan BN biar pun hanya 11 bulan di negeri tersebut dalam Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12 adalah mimpi ngeri untuk parti berkenaan.

Jika keputusan pilihan raya umum lalu dikaji, fakta jelas menunjukkan BN tidak akan tumbang di negeri berkenaan jika parti itu berupaya mempertahankan kelima-kelima kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) di kawasan Perak Utara khususnya di Parlimen Parit Buntar dan Bagan Serai.

Bagaimanapun rakyat kawasan itu membuat keputusan mengejut ‘menyerahkan’ kedua-dua kerusi Parlimen berkenaan kepada Pas dan Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), mengekalkan BN di kerusi DUN Alor Pongsu dengan majoriti 95 undi dan mengundi kedua-dua parti pembangkang itu untuk menguasai kerusi DUN Titi Serong, Kuala Kurau, Gunung Semanggol dan Selinsing.

Walaupun keputusan berkenaan mengecewakan BN, namun parti tersebut tidak mahu terus bermuram durja selama-lamanya, BN Perak di bawah kepimpinan Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr. Zamry Abdul Kadir bangkit daripada kekecewaan dengan melaksanakan pelbagai projek pembangunan di kedua-dua kawasan Parlimen dan empat DUN di kawasan tersebut biarpun berada di bawah pembangkang.

Langkah itu dilakukan kerana kerusi-kerusi berkenaan harus dikembalikan kepada BN dalam usaha memperkukuhkan kedudukan parti itu di Perak. Sebab itulah seperti mana kata, Ketua Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Bagan Serai, Sharudin Ahmad, BN melalui Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan Zambry memastikan kedua-dua kawasan Parlimen itu tidak ditinggalkan.

‘‘Kita mahu buktikan kepada rakyat bahawa hanya BN yang paling layak membela nasib mereka dan kini mereka melihat sendiri bagaimana bersungguh-sungguhnya kerajaan Pusat dan kerajaan negeri membangunkan kawasan mereka,” katanya dalam pertemuan khas dengan Utusan Malaysia di Bagan Serai, Sabtu lalu.

Menurut Sharudin yang menganggotai Majlis Tindakan Pembangunan Daerah Kerian, ketika ini BN melaksanakan pelbagai projek bernilai jutaan ringgit untuk mengubah wajah Parlimen Bagan Serai dan Parit Buntar. Projek itu termasuklah Rancangan Tambatan Banjir yang bernilai RM460 juta, pembinaan persimpangan bertingkat dan Plaza Tol Alor Pongsu serta mini kompleks Sukan dan Dewan Milenium .

‘‘Semua projek ini apabila siap kelak akan mampu meningkatkan taraf hidup penduduk di kedua-dua kawasan Parlimen itu,” katanya.

Sebagai seorang pemimpin yang sentiasa turun padang bertemu masyarakat termasuk generasi muda, Sharudin amat memahami keperluan penduduk khususnya di kawasan Parlimen Bagan Serai.

‘‘Selain projek itu, apa yang ingin kita lihat ialah kawasan Parlimen Bagan Serai terutamanya dibangunkan sebagai sebuah kawasan industri.

‘‘Langkah ini penting kerana kita ingin memberi jaminan masa depan kepada penduduk-penduduk khususnya generasi muda yang mengharapkan peluang pekerjaan supaya mereka tidak berhijrah ke kawasan lain,’’ katanya.

Kesungguhan BN membangunkan kawasan Parlimen Bagan Serai dan Parit Buntar turut diakui oleh Pegawai Daerah dan Tanah Kerian, Kamaruddin Awang yang yakin bahawa banyak lagi limpahan pembangunan akan dinikmati oleh penduduk jika kedua-dua kawasan itu dikembalikan kepada BN.

‘‘Sepanjang saya berada di sini, saya dapat melihat kesungguhan kerajaan Pusat dan kerajaan negeri membangunkan kedua-dua kawasan berkenaan.

‘‘Pelbagai projek dilaksanakan, selain pembangunan, tumpuan juga turut diberikan untuk meningkat keselesaan hidup rakyat seperti pembinaan hospital pakar yang boleh menempatkan 150 katil, bantuan membaik pulih rumah golongan nelayan dan bantuan memperbaiki masjid,’’ katanya kepada penulis.

Keyakinan Kamaruddin ini tidak seharusnya dipandang sepi oleh pemimpin-pemimpin BN khususnya UMNO dan rakyat di kawasan-kawasan tersebut.

Sebaliknya, mereka perlu bersungguh-sungguh untuk memastikan impian tersebut tercapai kerana menguasai semula kerusi Parlimen Parit Buntar dan Bagan Serai serta memastikan panji-panji BN berkibar semula di Titi Serong, Kuala Kurau, Gunung Semanggol dan Selinsing bukanlah suatu misi yang mustahil.

Kawasan-kawasan berkenaan sebelum ini adalah milik BN dan berdasarkan kepada kegigihan Najib, keprihatinan Muhyiddin dan kesungguhan Zambry melaksanakan pelbagai projek di situ maka sudah pasti langkah itu akan menambat hati rakyat.

Apa yang perlu BN dan UMNO Perak lakukan ialah meletakkan calon sesuai yang boleh diterima oleh rakyat atau istilah calon boleh menang.

Dari segi masalah dalaman, penulis diberitahu, perkara itu sudah ditangani dengan penuh kebijaksanaan oleh kepimpinan Pusat dan negeri.

‘‘Kini tumpuan kita untuk mencari calon, saya berpendapat kegigihan dan semangat yang ditunjukkan oleh pemimpin muda seperti Sharudin yang sentiasa turun bertemu rakyat dan mendampingi generasi muda serta memahami kehendak mereka perlu diberi perhatian.

Sdra Mohd Salleh atau lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Cikgu Cop

‘‘Begitu juga dengan sikap dua ADUN yang tewas dalam pilihan raya umum lalu iaitu Mohd. Salleh Mat Disa (Kuala Kurau) dan Abu Bakar Mat Ali (Titi Serong. Mereka ini tidak pernah kenal erti kecewa selepas tewas, sebaliknya terus berbakti kepada rakyat. Pandangan ini berdasarkan kepada maklum balas yang diterima daripada rakyat di kawasan mereka,’’ kata satu sumber kepada penulis.

Sememangnya, Parlimen Parit Buntar dan Bagan Serai tidak memerlukan calon bidan terjun dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Keadaan itu memandangkan di kedua-dua kawasan berkenaan penulis difahamkan UMNO mempunyai ramai calon-calon yang boleh diketengahkan di kalangan generasi muda termasuklah yang memegang jawatan di peringkat bahagian.

‘‘Berilah peluang kepada mereka kerana kita mahukan calon yang apabila menang sentiasa berada di kawasan dan bukannya pulang seminggu sekali.

‘‘Begitu juga dari segi umur, pilihlah calon yang boleh memenuhi cita rasa pengundi muda kerana golongan itu merupakan pengundi terbanyak, contohnya di Parlimen Bagan Serai akan dapat tidak kurang 11,000 pengundi muda yang kali pertama akan mengundi,’’ kata seorang pemimpin UMNO Perak ketika dihubungi.

Apa pun kerusi Parlimen dan DUN di Parit Buntar dan Bagan Serai amat penting untuk BN kerana kawasan berkenaan bakal memastikan ‘tragedi 2008’ tidak berulang.

Setakat ini peluang BN agak cerah kerana rakyat di kedua-dua kawasan berkenaan semakin memahami parti mana yang menepati janji dan puak mana pula yang sekadar saudagar mimpi. Namun tugas BN belum selesai kerana keyakinan rakyat itu perlu diterjemahkan dalam bentuk undi bagi memastikan sebuah kemenangan sejati.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.