Samy : Indians want immediate action
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 22, 2008

The MIC wants the government to speed up the implementation of the various programmes and plans that was promised for the Indian community before the last general election, said party president S Samy Vellu. MCPX

In a statement today, he said any more delays would only cause anxiety and unhappiness among the Indians.

samy vellu pc 120308 prejudice"We want the Indian community to move forward with the other communities," he added.

Samy Vellu said MIC and the Indian community will not tolerate any more excuses or delays on the part of the authorities in implementing the programmes and plans already agreed upon.

"We want immediate and concrete actions," he said, adding that MIC has already submitted several reports on how the government could help the Indians in several fields.

Samy Vellu said the Indians have slogged for the country for the past 145 years working in estates and construction sectors and now found themselves displaced after many estates were closed.

He also cited an example where many Indian families were forced to live in slumps after they were evicted from their land that has been earmarked for the double-tracking railway project.

Samy Vellu said there should be more action and less planning "because all the planning and proposals have been submitted to the government".

Help the people

He also chided the opposition for harping on what the opposition claimed as the government’s failure in addressing the problems of the Indians rather then focusing their attention on the people.

indian crowd malaysia 291107"You (the opposition) have been elected to form governments in several states. Do not just point fingers at anyone. Tell the people of your plans to uplift them socially and economically," he said.

He said now was not the time to engage in finger pointing or blaming others.

"The election is over. Let us all galvanise our energies and resources to help the people. They want results," he added.

The 72-year old MIC president was also defeated in the March 8 polls. In total, MIC lost 18 of its 28 seats.

Meanwhile, MIC information chief M Saravanan reiterated that programmes such as helping the Tamil language schools, raising the number of Indians in the civil service, training youths and improving economic and educational opportunities for them were promised before the elections.

"The government really needs to speed up these plans, which were already agreed upon earlier," Saravanan told Malaysiakini.

"If we wait until Parliament resumes, opposition parties will take advantage of the situation and claim the efforts as theirs," said the newly appointed Federal Territory deputy minister.

Though the MIC has not specified any quotas for Indians joining the civil service, it nevertheless wants a better flow of information when vacancies arise.

Saravanan, while confident that the government will meet its promises, said speed is imperative under the new political climate.

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