'A special agency for Indians needed'
Published: May 1, 2009 3:03 PM | Updated: May 1, 2009 3:08 PM
The MIC Youth wing will be mooting an attempt to get the government to set up a special department to undertake the affairs of the Indian community.
The MIC Youth wing will be mooting an attempt to get the government to set up a special department to undertake the affairs of the Indian community.
The establishment of such a department, which can be placed under the Prime Minister's Department and be overseen by a minister, will help solve the various problems affecting the community, especially on matters relating to conversions.
"We are very serious about this. We want to propose to the government on the setting up of such a department. It can be called the Hindu Affairs Department," MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari told Malaysiakini today.
He added that he will be bringing up this issue to the party's central working committee and then propose to the party's secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam to raise the matter in the cabinet.
Subramaniam, who is the sole MIC representative in the cabinet, is the human resources minister.
Vell Paari, who is also the chairperson of the party's unity and community development committee, said the need for such a department was important for the government to solve the various issues affecting the Indian community.
"The department can be the place where a converting spouse must go to get prior approval so that the non-converting spouse is not taken by surprise with the conversion.
"The department can ensure that the conversion does not have any impact on the children and maybe can even protect the children from being converted without the knowledge of the non-converting spouse.
"At the moment, without any guiding agency, the controversies surrounding the conversions are getting messier," he said.
He also added that the department can also look into the issues of temple demolitions or the construction or relocation of temples.
Likewise, he said, the problems of visa for temple priests, musicians and sculptors too could be undertaken by the department so that the government's decision on the matter can be implemented properly without the interference of little Napoleons.
"There is nothing for the government to lose by setting up this department. In fact it will only be regaining the support of the Indian community," he added.
Indians being used by Pakatan
Yesterday the MIC Youth wing made a similar call for the establishment of a special non-Islamic affairs department.
Its coordinator T Mohan (left) said the department can handle the mounting problems arising from conversions to Islam, especially when it comes to the situation of minors and the non-converting spouses.
Vell Paari said his proposal was just an extension to that suggested by MIC Youth so that the proposed department can cover more areas of concern to the Indian community.
Meanwhile, Mohan in a separate statement, lashed out at PAS for criticising a recent cabinet decision on the plight of minors forced to convert without the knowledge of the non-converting spouse.
The cabinet decided that to overcome the agony and anguish involved in the matter, the minors should be allowed to be raised in the faith which was practiced at their home before the conversion of a spouse.
The cabinet decision was roundly condemned by PAS for being unconstitutional and betraying Islam.
Mohan said that PAS was being unfair to non-Muslims and urged Indians who supported Pakatan Rakyat to reconsider their stand.
"The Indians must realise that they are just a tool used by these political parties (PAS and PKR) so that they can achieve their aims of turning the country into an Islamic nation," he said.
He said that MIC Youth wanted the government to ensure that conversion was not used as an avenue to escape the converting party's responsibilities to their non-converting spouses.
The establishment of such a department, which can be placed under the Prime Minister's Department and be overseen by a minister, will help solve the various problems affecting the community, especially on matters relating to conversions.
"We are very serious about this. We want to propose to the government on the setting up of such a department. It can be called the Hindu Affairs Department," MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari told Malaysiakini today.He added that he will be bringing up this issue to the party's central working committee and then propose to the party's secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam to raise the matter in the cabinet.
Subramaniam, who is the sole MIC representative in the cabinet, is the human resources minister.
Vell Paari, who is also the chairperson of the party's unity and community development committee, said the need for such a department was important for the government to solve the various issues affecting the Indian community.
"The department can be the place where a converting spouse must go to get prior approval so that the non-converting spouse is not taken by surprise with the conversion.
"The department can ensure that the conversion does not have any impact on the children and maybe can even protect the children from being converted without the knowledge of the non-converting spouse.
"At the moment, without any guiding agency, the controversies surrounding the conversions are getting messier," he said.
He also added that the department can also look into the issues of temple demolitions or the construction or relocation of temples.
Likewise, he said, the problems of visa for temple priests, musicians and sculptors too could be undertaken by the department so that the government's decision on the matter can be implemented properly without the interference of little Napoleons.
"There is nothing for the government to lose by setting up this department. In fact it will only be regaining the support of the Indian community," he added.
Indians being used by Pakatan
Yesterday the MIC Youth wing made a similar call for the establishment of a special non-Islamic affairs department.
Its coordinator T Mohan (left) said the department can handle the mounting problems arising from conversions to Islam, especially when it comes to the situation of minors and the non-converting spouses.Vell Paari said his proposal was just an extension to that suggested by MIC Youth so that the proposed department can cover more areas of concern to the Indian community.
Meanwhile, Mohan in a separate statement, lashed out at PAS for criticising a recent cabinet decision on the plight of minors forced to convert without the knowledge of the non-converting spouse.
The cabinet decided that to overcome the agony and anguish involved in the matter, the minors should be allowed to be raised in the faith which was practiced at their home before the conversion of a spouse.
The cabinet decision was roundly condemned by PAS for being unconstitutional and betraying Islam.
Mohan said that PAS was being unfair to non-Muslims and urged Indians who supported Pakatan Rakyat to reconsider their stand.
"The Indians must realise that they are just a tool used by these political parties (PAS and PKR) so that they can achieve their aims of turning the country into an Islamic nation," he said.
He said that MIC Youth wanted the government to ensure that conversion was not used as an avenue to escape the converting party's responsibilities to their non-converting spouses.
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